R obert had come with a horse and cart today hoping that Diana would accept his offer of the picnic .

He helped Diana into the cart after she had secured herself a sunhat and shawl as it was only early April and could still be chilly .

“Go on,” Robert instructed the horse and snapped the reins .

“Where are we headed?” Diana asked .

“I have a small house further down on the Cam and I keep a punt there .”

“Your own punt? My, how convenient .”

“I like to take a break from Balfour and my sister from time to time without going all the way to London .”

Diana cast a quick glance at Robert. “Your sister… she is older than you are ?”

“She is, and helped raise me after our parents died .”

“You must love her dearly .”

Now Robert gave her a quick glance. “I do. But… well, she can be difficult. We do not always see eye to eye on many issues and it has been difficult for her to transition from being in control of me to me being in control of her as the new head of the household .”

“I see .”

“But I do love her dearly and wish that she might find herself a husband .”

Diana laughed. “To take her away ?”

“Yes, I am ashamed to admit .”

“I observed at dinner the other evening that she seemed to be trying to set you up with Lady Wilton. Did I misread the situation ?”

“You did not. However, the rather rowdy and inebriated Viscount seemed to be demanding her attention—much to the chagrin of my sister I noticed .”

Diana laughed. “Ah, the best laid plans …”

Before long they arrived at the Earl’s house on the Cam, and Robert transferred the picnic basket from the cart to the punt .

And once Diana was settled comfortably in her seat, Robert pushed away from the dock and began poling their leisurely, late-morning way down the river .

As Robert punted, he observed Diana enjoying the view along the banks. She was so totally at ease and secure in herself. He knew they would be spending a lot to time together. Especially after the book was published and she would be attending many publicity functions which he also planned to attend .

Each time he was with her—particularly when they were alone together—he grew ever fonder of her, and regretted that she was engaged. Of course, that was very selfish, and he wished her all possible happiness. But he also sensed that, for some unknown reason, her engagement was not all that secure .”

“Ah, here we are. This is the spot where I love to picnic,” Robert said as he guided the punt to shore. He hopped off, secured the boat, and then helped Diana ashore, taking her warm hand and regretting letting go .

“Do you bring many of your lady friends here to picnic?” Diana asked teasingly .

“By the dozens. But not all at the same time,” he teased back .

They proceeded to spread out a blanket and prepare the picnic lunch .

“I have a lovely Beaujolais that I think you might enjoy,” he said, as he uncorked the bottle and poured them each a glass .

As they lunched, Robert began talking about his book and familiarizing her with the basic elements of the plot .

“Of course, once the galley prints are ready I will get you a copy of your own to read .”

“That will be helpful,” she said. “But tell me, have you yet read any of my books?” she asked pointedly .

Robert felt embarrassed to admit. “Quite honestly, I have not. And I am so sorry .”

“Then, when we return, I shall give you copies of my books. Autographed, of course,” she added with a smile .

“And I promise to read them all .”

“But only if they amuse you. You might find them too tame for your taste. Do not feel obligated to read further if the stories do not grab you .”

Robert nodded, and then looked up at the sky .

“It seems to be clouding up. We might want to return to the dock. If it starts to rain we can let the storm pass, sheltered in my house. I can start a fire and brew up a pot of tea .”

“As you like .”

They packed the picnic hamper and returned to the punt and Robert began poling up river .

“How are those amusing friends of yours that we had tea with the day of our walk in the meadow ?”

“Quite as bizarre as ever, I assure you. But I quite enjoy their company, and they seem able to put up with me .”

As they went up river, they passed under a weeping willow tree and a wayward branch caught hold of Diana’s hat and snagged it into the river .

“Oh…” she exclaimed, as she reached quickly for the hat. But she had reached too far and, before she knew it, she tumbled over the side of the punt, causing Robert to struggle to remain standing, as she landed in the river. But as the river was quite shallow at this point, she managed to stand upright—the water only coming up to her waist. Her hair had come loose and hung matted around her face as she picked river weeds from her hair and dress, and spitted out river debris .

Robert could not help but laugh out loud .

Diana was not pleased with that and she sputtered as she tried to lift herself into the boat, nearly tipping it over and sending Robert into the drink as well .

“Stop. Let me help you or you will send us both floating out to sea .”

He took her by both arms and lifted her high enough so that he could grab her by the waist and place her safely in the punt .

“My hat,” she explained, as she turned to see it floating down river .

Again, Robert could not help but laugh. “I will buy you a new one. In fact, I shall buy you a whole new outfit, as I am sure your dress is ruined as well .”

Finally, after recovering from the shock of falling in, Diana began to laugh. “This only tops off my rather bizarre last few days .”

“We are not far from the house now, and I shall get you inside and dried off before you know it. I think my sister keeps some dresses at the house and we will see if we can find you something to wear until we can get you back home .”

“This has certainly been a memorable outing. I am so glad we left before it began to rain. Just think what might have happened if it had .”

That set them both laughing .

And within the next hour Diana had dried off, Robert had lit a fire, and Diana, wrapped in a dressing gown with her legs curled under her, seated on a comfortable chair by the fire sipping tea. Amelia’s dresses had not fit Diana so they had her dress drying by the fire .

“This is a lovely little house,” she said looking around the parlor .

“It is a nice place to get away to. I sometimes come here to write when the pressures at home get to be too much .”

“It is difficult for me to imagine that you have too many pressures as an Earl .”

“You have no idea. Property and money bring a whole set of their own problems. I sometimes think about what it must be like to live the simple life of say… an academic like your father. The life of the contemplative appeals to me greatly .”

Diana laughed. “Until your leasehold runs out and you are forced to scramble to keep your home .”

“That has happened to you?” Robert asked with concern .

“It has. But, thankfully, it has also been remedied .”

“I am glad to hear that. The threat of losing one’s home is certainly tragic .”

Robert could see Diana had become lost in thought as she gazed into the fire and finished her tea. Then she looked up and their eyes met. Her gaze almost took his breath away. Seated by the fire, her face and hair bathed by the warm light of the fire, Robert felt overcome with passion and concern for this lovely lady. He could not help but admire her beauty and tenderness, but he was also filled with compassion for what he knew were her and her family’s struggles .

Still holding their gaze, she smiled sweetly and he yearned to reach out and take her lovely hand. But he knew it was an impossible situation. She was engaged and they had an important business relationship that must not be damaged by rash behavior. Not to mention what his sister might say if she knew he was courting a woman as common as she perceived Diana to be .

Finally, he turned away from looking at her and picked up the teapot .

“May I offer you more tea?” he asked to cover his confusion .

“Thank you, no. I really should be getting back home. I have ever so many daily chores to finish after being whisked away to a delightful picnic and an almost tragic drowning .”

“Yes, I shall refrain from suggesting nautical adventures in the future,” he said, determined to regain his gentlemanly composure .

* * *

R obert was insistent on fitting her out with a new outfit before they returned back to her house. It was late afternoon by the time Robert drove the cart up to the front gate .

“I shall get you the copies of my books, as I promised,” she said as she hopped down from the cart .

He jumped down and followed her inside, carrying the boxes of her new clothes .

Diana was still dressed in her old soiled, but now dry, clothes as she went into the house .

“Diana?” a voice called out from the front room .

“Oh, Adam…” she cried out as she burst into the sitting-room, Robert following behind her. “I totally forgot you were coming by this afternoon .”

Adam stood up, scowling, from the chair where he had been waiting .

“What happened to you?” he exclaimed with concern. “You look terrible .”

Diana looked down at her dress and she started laughing. “Oh, I fell into the Cam.” She turned to Robert. “We were having a picnic and, as we were punting back, my hat fell into the river and I tried to catch it, but… as you can see, I lost my balance and plunged into the river .”

“Diana…” Adam responded crossly .

“It was really quite funny .”

“I guess you had to have been there,” he replied with definite anger in his voice. “I could have lost you .”

“I hardly think so,” Diana said amused. “The Cam is very shallow and I could easily have walked to the shore .”

Robert stepped forward and offered his hand. “You must be Diana’s fiancé… I am Robert Donnelly,” Robert introduced himself .

Adam took his hand and shook. “Adam Hardy,” he replied curtly .

Diana turned to Robert briefly. “Oh, I am sorry for not introducing you.” Then she turned back. “Yes, Adam, the Earl and I were going over the outline of the book he will be publishing under my name…” Then she suddenly looked distressed and she turned to Robert. “Oh, that is supposed to be a secret, is it not ?”

Although Robert was a little disturbed by the revelation, he kindly said, “That is quite all right. As your fiancé, he should know the situation and the agreement between us .”

Diana seemed flustered as she turned first to Adam and then to Robert. “I am so sorry, there seems to be a lot of confusion right now. Let me sort this out.” She turned to Robert. “Let me get you the books, then you are free to be on your way .”

“Let us do that another time. There is no rush. You have much more pressing business with Adam. And I shall just let myself out .”

“And thank you for the new outfit,” she added .

Robert put the boxes on a nearby table, nodded to Adam, and then to Diana, and left .