Page 92 of Diana Adores the Puzzled Duke

Chapter 22

Afew daysafter the investiture, Diana was returning from the post office after posting her Christmas chapter off to Sir Cecil, as he had requested. She stopped by the green grocer’s for a number of items and stopped at the Goodwin Sisters’ to return a shawl they had left in the gallery the day they were attending to the gallery during thefete.

“Oh, Diana, thank you,” Kitty said, “I wondered where that had gotto.”

Abigale appeared at the door with a book in her hand. “Do you have time to stop for tea?” sheasked.

“Thank you, but I do not. I need to start supper soon as Mother is still somewhat recovering from her illness and I do not want her to overexertherself.”

“How very sensible you are,” Kitty said, touching Diana’s arm in sympathy. “I have always said you were the modeldaughter.”

“Thank you, dearladies.”

Then Diana scurried home. Not to start supper right away but to take a few moments for herself. It had been a rather hectic week and now she wanted to contemplate what her next writing would be after delivering her chapter to SirCecil.

The celebration at her father’s college had gone well. But in the few days since, he had seemed tired, and his afternoon naps often stretched until supper time—while often dozing off in his armchair afterdinner.

Diana was on her way to see her mother in the gallery about a supper detail when Robert rode up and stopped outside the gardengate.

“Good afternoon, Diana, I have just finished a few errands and I thought I might stop by to see if you were free to go over a few details about the presentationschedule.”

“I am, Robert. Let me just stop in to speak to Mother then I shall make us some tea and we canvisit.”

“Excellent, let me stable my horse and I shall be rightback.”

He rode off and she visited briefly with her mother before returning to the house and starting thetea.

Robert came into the house and found Diana in thekitchen.

“I hope you do not mind my letting myself in,” hesaid.

“Not at all. You seem almost like family now. And once we start publicizing your book we will be practically brother andsister.”

“That sounds lethal. I hope we will not fight constantly as the twins do, or as my sister and Ido.”

“Oh, no. We shall be ever so genteel and civilized,” she teased. “And tell me, have you recovered from the Queen’svisit?”

“Mostly. However, there are still many small chores that need doing to get the house back to smoothrunning.”

“And Her Majesty was satisfied with thevisit?”

“More than satisfied. I believe the highlight for her was the three-legged race. She commented on it several times during dinner later that evening. It seems herQueen’s garterwas an impromptu response to the twins’ bold win. She assured us there had never been a previous award of such nature until thatafternoon.”

Diana was amused. “I shall inform the twins, who have not stopped talking about the event since we returned home. I am about to throttle them if they do not keepquiet.”

Diana prepared the tea tray and she led the way to the sitting room. “I thought it best if we have tea in here. It is more comfortable and will allow us to discuss the schedule with moreease.”

After Diana served the tea she said, “I am about a third of the way through your book, Robert, and I have to say, it is quite a thrilling read. Did you really do all of thoseadventures?”

“Well, there were embellishments or deletions here and there. One does not want to read about days and days of trekking through dusty deserts, or the boredom of river trips filled with mosquitos. But the actual events are all quitetrue.”

Diana was still concerned when she said, “As I read your book, I am constantly aware that the story is very much from the male point of view. It seems to be such an abrupt departure from what I have been writing. I worry that my readers may be disoriented by that and you may get negative reviews from those accustomed to my previouswork.”

Robert seemed to consider her remarks and then said, “I do understand. And here is what I have written as a preface to the book.” He then handed it to her. “And have you had an opportunity to write your prefaceyet?”

“Oh, Robert, I am so sorry, but I have not. I was focused on completing my Christmas chapter for SirCecil.”

“Then read what I have written and we can discuss itlater.”