Page 39 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

Chapter 10

The next dayafter the dinner party, Diana realized she had a lot of work to do—not only on her book, but also with the wedding, getting the leasehold renewed, and working with Robert on the presentation of hisbook.

That morning at breakfast, Diana looked up from the breakfast table as her father came in and sat opposite her at the table. Mother came over with a soft-boiled egg in an egg cup and placed it beforeFather.

“There you are, my dear, just as you like it,” shesaid.

“Thank you,Mother.”

“Father, I forgot to give you the cheque for the advance lastnight.”

“You have that already?” he asked. “I thought you needed to submit the contract to our solicitor forreview?”

“I do not believe it is necessary. I trust both Sir Cecil and his Lordship. We signed the agreements last night and Robert gave me the check for the down payment. So, it is time for you to contact Mr. Hardy about the loan for the balance on the leasehold. It is important that you get that all arranged before thedeadline.”

“When will you be seeing Adam again?” Father asked as he tapped on the top of his boiled egg to remove theshell.

“This afternoon. He is coming by atteatime.”

“Let me think. I believe I have a tutorial this afternoon about then. But I can rearrange it if you think it necessary for me to meet withAdam.”

“Not at all, Father. I can get all the information I need for you to proceed from Adam and I can pass it on to youlater.”

“Verywell.”

“But if you would, on your way to the college, please deposit the check in your account, then we should be ready to move once we are ready to sign the newleasehold.”

“What a thoughtful and capable daughter you are, my child. I sometimes get so caught up in my wooly head that I tend to let important things slip through myfingers.”

Diana placed her hand on top of her father’s, and then said gently, “Yes, Iknow.”

After finishing her breakfast, it was time to return Miriam’s borrowed dress. She wrapped it in tissue paper and folded it carefully and carried it to the Sinclair’shouse.

Geoffrey answered thedoor.

“So you have not been shipped off to the army, I see,” Dianateased.

Geoffrey leaned in close and said softly, “Almost as bad. I am to be apprenticed as a shop assistant. Me—retail, can you imagine? And an apprentice… how difficult can it be to sell shirts, ties, and stiff collars? Why an apprenticeship? Now if I were selling expensive jewelry… then maybe. But undergarments and socks…?Please.”

Geoffrey noticed that Diana was carrying a parcel wrapped in tissuepaper.

“It is for your sister. It is the dress she lent me for the dinnerparty.”

“Oh, the party. How did it go? Did the Earl sweep you off your feet and whisk you to some enchantedland?”

“Geoffrey, stop being silly and tell me where your sisteris.”

“She is out. Shopping for our supper Ibelieve.”

“Then let me hang this up in herarmoire.”

Diana pushed past Geoffrey and started up the stairs, but Geoffreyfollowed.

“Have you set the date for your wedding yet? What are you doing about a dress? Have you met the rest of Adam’s family? Does he have brothers and sisters?” Geoffrey kept pounding away at her withquestions.

Diana went to Miriam’s armoire and hung up the dress, then she turned to Geoffrey. She reached over and pinched hisnose.

“Ouch, that hurt,” heprotested.