Page 60 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

“And flowers? Will there be judges for best roses, and dahlias and snapdragons and such?” Miriamasked.

“There will, but the judges for that event are rather specialized and they are the same each year. So, pies and cakes are all I can offeryou.”

“That willdo.”

“Want some beans?” Geoffrey offered. “We got bushels andbushels.”

“I will take some,” Diana said. “Robert? How aboutyou?”

“No thank you. Cook takes care of all of that. And she is a fierce warrior if I intrude into her domain. And now I best be going,” he said nodding good-bye.

“I will get some of your beans when they are all sorted,” Dianasaid.

“Bye, bye,” Geoffrey said, waving to them as he closed thedoor.

“Those two amuse me greatly. You should put them as characters in one of your books,” Robert suggested as they headed back toward Diana’shouse.

She laughed. “No one would believe them if Idid.”

Reaching the front gate, Diana handed Robert a bunch of her flowers. He seemedsurprised.

“Forme?”

“For you. And whynot?”

“I am afraid they might get damaged and not survive my ride home. Why not give them to yourmother?”

“These are for my mother,” she said, holding up the second bunch offlowers.

“Then for your father… or even yourself. They would be lovely next to your inkwell when writing, would theynot?”

Diana smiled. “Perhaps.”

Robert tipped his hat. “Thank you for your time this morning and ourconversation.”

“Thank you.” Shenodded.

“And I will work on a preface for the book and we can compare them when you have finishedyours.”

He turned and left and she watched him walk down the street until he disappeared around a corner. She recognized the warm glow she always felt in his presence, and could not stop thinking of how much she enjoyed hiscompany.

She looked down at the flowers in her hand and she went first to thegallery.

“Mother, I picked these for you in the meadow. It is so lovely just now. You and Father should take a strollthere.”

“Oh, thank you, dear. They are lovely. If you would… put them in a jar and I will place them on mydesk.”

Diana did that and then decided the second bunch should go to the Goodwin sisters. She hoped they had sufficiently forgiven her for her rude outburst as she headed toward theircottage.

* * *

After her unexpected morning break,Diana was back at her desk once again. She reread what she had previously written andcontinued.

Tommy fought to keep awake until he heard Mrs. Cartwright leaving for the bakery, then he got up and dressed as quietly as hecould.

He found a few spoonsful of soup in the pot from last night’s supper and had that for his breakfast before slipping out thedoor.

He ran all the way to the butcher’s shop as he wanted to be early to earn the butcher’s respect. And he was early—too early. And, as he had no coat, he nearly froze waiting for his boss toarrive.