Page 75 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

Adam turned to look at her. “At my parents for the timebeing.”

“Oh…”

“That does not suit you?” he asked somewhatannoyed.

“Well, I was hoping we might have our own house orflat?”

“At London prices? Unlikely. My starting wages at the publishing house will be quite modest, to begin with,” Adamdeclared.

“But I have income,” Diana remindedhim.

“Yes. But it is my responsibility as your husband to provide for myfamily.”

“Oh, Adam… If we are man and wife might we not share all we have with eachother?”

“It is not proper. You will need your pinmoney.”

Now, this irritated Diana. “I make considerably more than just pin money, Adam. I fully expect to contribute equally to the family. And, if that is the case, might we not afford a decent home, separate from yourparents?”

“Is there something wrong with my parents,” Adamdemanded.

“Absolutely not,” Diana insisted. “But I do not want us to be an imposition on them. And I believe we deserve our privacy so that we may entertain and I mightwrite.”

“Entertain? Why ever would we do that?” Adamasked.

“I have new responsibilities now as the Earl’s representative of hisbook.”

“Oh, that…” Adam did not seem at all pleased to be reminded of that fact. He stood up and walked away down the garden path. Then turned and said, “I just hope you remember to whom you are to be married,Diana.”

“And just what does that mean?” she asked as she now stoodup.

“It means that I feel that I am being pushed to the side as your career seems to be taking precedence over ourmarriage.”

Diana stopped and just looked at Adam. “Oh, my darling, you know that is not so.” She went to him and took him by the arm, and then leaned in and gave him a kiss on thecheek.

“But that is how I feel sometimes,” he addedpouting.

“I am sorry. I certainly do not mean to make you feel that way. But you know how Father’s investiture, my writing, the Earl’s publication, and our marriage are all coming together at the same time. It will not always be like this. Things will settle down once we are married and living inLondon.”

“Willthey?”

“I certainly believe so,” Diana said, but in her heart, she was not all that certain. “Come, I am feeling a chill. Perhaps you would like some after dinner coffee now?” she asked, then leaned over and gave him another reassuring kiss on thecheek.

“That does soundnice.”

By now the sun had set, there was a definite chill in the air, and the sky had turned a pale lavender with streaks of pink. Diana gave a slight shiver and Adam put his arm around her shoulders as they strolled leisurely toward thehouse.

Just before they entered the house, Adam turned to her and said, “I will look into finding us our own residence. And to be quite honest, I think being at my parents’ would be an imposition for them aswell.

* * *

The next dayat morning tea time, Diana went down to fetch her mother as usual. As she entered the gallery she saw her mother was with a customer. She mimed that she would start the tea. Her mother noddedback.

Diana went into the cottage and began heating the kettle and laying out the teaservice.

Shortly her mother joinedher.

“India or China today, Mother?” Dianaasked.