Page 49 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

The two sisters looked at each other and nodded. “Come in, then,” Kittyoffered.

Diana carried the pot to thekitchen.

“Your mother makes delicious soup. Thank her for us, willyou?”

“Thank you, Kitty, Ishall.”

After placing the soup on the stove, Diana turned to the sisters, folded her hands before her, and asked, “Now, I do have the time to hear your nephew’s letter—if you still wish to read it tome.”

The two sisters looked at each other again and then Abigale said, “Very well. If you are certain it will not be boring to hear news from our moronicnephew.”

Diana shook her heard. “What an idiotic thing to say. You must please forgiveme.”

“Very well. If you will come with us we have the letter in the parlor. And I do believe you will be amazed and pleased with some of the surprising things he has tosay.”

“I look forward to being surprised,” Diana said with just the slightest amount ofirony.

After Diana was seated, Kitty took the letter from the mantelpiece and opening it began toread.

Dearest Aunts Kitty andAbigale,

I have the most exciting news. We are to get a new roof on thehouse!

Kitty put the letter down and savored the astounding news once again. “You see,” she said to Diana, “I told you it would be surprising.” Then shecontinued.

As you might remember from my previous letters, the family has been suffering from numerous leaks for the past few months but we have been unable to pull together the funds for the repairs. But now—wonders of wonders—I received a most welcome bonus from the bank and, of course, my first thought was to tackle the task of repairing the roof. Is that not a blessing indisguise?...

* * *

Diana had enduredthe reading of the long letter with great patience. But it appeared to be worth it, as she left the Goodwin sisters in good spirits and filled with gratitude to her for having let them read the entire letter, including all their side comments of admiration for their beloved nephew. Although, she suspected they might have been punishing her by prolonging the reading as long aspossible.

But now she was finally home and back at her desk, and it was time to continue her sample chapter for SirCecil.

“Tommy,” the sister asked her brother, “do you think Mother will have the day off onChristmas?”

“I believe the mill closes on Christmas… at least it did lastyear.”

“Now that we have given our presents to Grandma we need to find just the perfect gift for Mother—and maybe a Christmas tree. Do you have any ideas?” the sister, Doris,asked.

Tommy thought about that. “Maybe I could find a few days of work at the butcher’s. He once asked if I could help him carry some carcasses into theshop.”

“But Tommy, you are so small, how could you lift a heavy carcass? You might hurtyourself.”

“He might have other tasks. It cannot hurt to ask. Maybe if I work really hard he might give me a chicken instead of payingme.”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea. You do that and I will see if I can find us a tree,” Doris said, suddenly believing they might yet have a realChristmas.

There was a knock at her bedroomdoor.

“Yes?” She calledout.

Father stuck his headin.

“So sorry to disturb you, but you never came by yesterday to read mychapter.”

Diana sighed. “No, and I am sorry, Father. But you might remember I had a rather troubling afternoon, after falling in the river and needing to dry out and clean myselfup.”

Father laughed. “Oh, yes. But what sort of Cambridgian are you if you do not know your way around a punt? You put us all toshame.”