Page 32 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

Robert drained his glass and placed it on the sideboard. “I should be going. Dinner will be Friday at seven, with drinks at six. I hope both of your parents will joinyou.”

“We look forward toit.”

“Do you need transportation? I can send my carriage for you if needbe.”

“Oh, no, we shall be fine. Father has an arrangement with a local stable owner to use his horse and small carriage whenever weneed.”

“Then good-day, MissDiana.”

“Good-day. And thank you for the lovely orchid. I believe I have a gardening book that will explain itscare.”

“My pleasure,” Robert said, then turned and abruptlyleft.

Diana watched from the window as he walked down the garden path and turned onto the road toward the inn where he stabled hishorse.

She felt a strange sadness. She was happy to accept his proposal, but she felt that once she mentioned her upcoming marriage, Robert suddenly cooled toward her. And the warm feelings he exuded when they first met seemed to be missing. Was it at all possible that he might have feelings for her, and when she announced that she was engaged, he wasdisappointed?

She thought back to that first time when they went walking in the meadow and had tea with the Sinclair twins. He was so open and almost boisterous. Now, he seemed guarded and shutdown.

And she had to admit to herself, truthfully, that seeing Robert again stirred something within her that Adam did not when he was withher.

But she was engaged and, in any case, he was the Earl of Donnelly and she was but the daughter of a university professor. She had no title, no wealth, and nothing to offer a man like him—except her acceptance of hisproposal.

She shook her head and dismissed any further thought about the Earl—if shecould.

* * *

Diana’s motherand father agreed to accompany her toBalfourfor the Earl’s dinner party on Friday. Mother seemed flustered about what to wear, and her father promised Diana he would not fall asleep after dinner when he usually snoozed by the fire with his pipe beforebedtime.

Diana was not concerned about what she would wear until she started looking through her dresses. She noticed that her best dress had a nasty rip at the waist and any home repair would be noticeable. What to do? She decided to confer with Miriam to see if she had anysuggestions.

As Diana left the house, she noticed that any number of plants were sending up their spring shoots, seeking the warmth of the early April sun. She also saw the dead growth from last season had not been cut away and she promised herself she would spend an afternoon gardening quitesoon.

As she walked down the street toward the Sinclair’s house, she saw the stile that led to the meadow up ahead and thought about the delightful afternoon she had spent with Robert when he came to offer his publishing proposal. She was overcome with a moment of sadness as she realized her engagement to Adam cut off any prospect of getting to know Robert beyond their businessrelationship.

But she had a present task and she marched up to the Sinclair’s door andknocked.

The twins’ mother answered. “Good day, Diana. Are you looking for the terribletwo?”

“Good day, Mrs. Sinclair. Actually, I am looking for Miriam. I have a dress emergency and I need herhelp.”

“Then you are in luck, as she is here but Geoffrey is not. Come in. Miriam is in her room. You may go onup.”

“Thankyou.”

Diana went up to Miriam’s room andknocked.

“Do not want tea. Do not want biscuits. Do not want to be disturbed,Mother.”

“And what if it is not your mother,” Diana asked through thedoor.

“Oh, Diana, you can come in. Sosorry.”

The door flew open and Miriam ushered herinside.

“Mother has been pestering me all morning. Miriam do this… Miriam do that… She has suddenly got it in her bonnet to do spring cleaning and every time I see her she is shaking a dust rag atme.”

“Where is Geoffrey?” Dianaasked.