Page 53 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

“But he refuses to see you. How can I set up an appointment between the two ofyou?”

“Because he will not be setting up an appointment withme.”

“What?”

“I am putting together a most persuasive delegation to convince your brother of the great value our canal can be to thecounty.”

“A delegation? Who would be onit?”

“I have several mayors, a bishop or two and a handful of most influential businessleaders.”

Amelia smiled and sidled over to Ludlow and put her hand on hischest.

“Are you not the clever one? Mostingenious.”

Ludlow reached over and put his hands around her waist and drew her tohim.

“And this time you will succeed in arranging ameeting?”

“Most assuredly,” she said and they leaned toward each other for akiss.

* * *

“IpromisedI would collect the copies of your books,” Robert said as he stood at the Browning front doorsmiling.

Diana was surprised and briefly flustered for a moment, as she had not been expecting Robert tocall.

“Do come inside, and I shall fetch the books foryou.”

She led him down the hallway to the sitting-room. “I have already signed them, and they are sitting on my dresser just waiting for you tocall.”

“I hope I am not disturbing you at your writing. But you said you wrote in the morning so I purposefully came lateafternoon.”

“And you are correct. I am currently at the glorious task of peeling and chopping onions for oursupper.”

Robert laughed. “Then I have interrupted yourtears.”

“And a grateful interruption it is. I will just fetch thebooks.”

When she left Robert alone, he looked around and studied the pleasant room. How different her life was from his. This simple cottage with its quaint pleasures was so different from the huge estate house that he managed and inhabited with its large staff, spacious rooms, galleries, and individual suites. And once again, he reflected on the pleasures and virtues of the simple life of a university professor. How much he had enjoyed his brief years atuniversity.

“Here you are,” Diana said as she reentered the room. “My humble offerings to the world ofromance.”

“And I look forward to readingthem.”

Diana seemed to hesitate but then asked. “Would you like some tea? I have some quite nice muffins that mother made for breakfast thismorning.”

“Thank you, no. I do not wish to keep you from your chopping andtears.”

“Then come join me. I shall offer you a glass of sherry and you can sit at the kitchen table and criticize my choppingtechniques.”

“For a short while, I still have some business to conduct in town before I returnhome.”

Diana led the way to the kitchen, poured Robert his sherry and resumed her foodpreparation.

“No sherry for you?” Robertasked.

“Not while I am still wielding a sharp knife,” she saidlaughing.