A fter that most embarrassing kiss, Diana and Robert avoided each other during the months of July and August. Any business regarding the book promotion was, from that point on, conducted by correspondence between them and with Sir Cecil .

Diana had dutifully written her preface to Robert’s book which explained that she desired to tell her new tale from the male point of view and had written an adventure/romance story with a man as the principal character. It was similar to Robert’s prologue, but it was more clearly written in her voice, and both Robert and Sir Cecil agreed to use her preface in the book .

It was now early September and almost time for Robert and Diana to go to London for the official publication of his book and the start of the promotional tour. Robert was in the library dealing with some last-minute paperwork prior to leaving. A stack of advanced copies of his book stood on his desk and, even though he had admired them many times, he could not help but pick up one and flip through it again, stopping to read some of his favorite sections .

Sithens came into the room. “The morning post, Sir,” he said, offering it to Robert .

“Thank you .”

Robert sorted through the mail and found a letter from Diana, which he opened immediately .

D earest Robert,

I am looking forward to our pending trip to London for the publication of your novel. I feel certain it will be an exhilarating event for you and will lead to a resounding success for you as an author .

I want to thank you for offering to let me stay at your London house during the events, but I feel that might not be wise in light of our rather uncomfortable encounter just after the Queen’s visit. Therefore, I feel it best if I stay at Adam’s parents’ house during our time in London .

But the arrangements we have made to travel down to London by train together are still satisfactory, and I look forward to traveling with you in your carriage to the train station .

I have received several advance copies of your book and I must say, it came out very well. I have started rereading it again in its published form and am enjoying it again very much .

I shall be ready and on time when you call for me on the day of our departure .

Your sincere friend ,

Diana Browning

R obert put down the letter. Oh, how bleak was her closing of Your sincere friend. But he found he was still anguished by his behavior that afternoon at Diana’s house. The kiss. Oh, yes, that kiss. Even now, the thought of that warmed him and sent a shiver of desire through his body .

However, she was absolutely right not to stay at his London house. It would have only added to his torture of not having her romantically in his life .

He remembered that the date of her marriage was to be in about a month, and he resolved to start weaning himself from thoughts of her. He knew now, any hope he had of winning her was now past, and he must move on. But the dreary candidates that Amelia always presented to him depressed him to no end .

Amelia came into the room and stood looking at him from the entryway .

“Amelia? Is there something you need ?”

She took a few steps forward and said, “How long will you be in London? I assume you will be staying at the house .”

“I will .”

“Then I should like to come along. I was never able to finish my shopping after you so rudely yanked me from London for the Queen’s visit .”

Robert found he had no fight in him regarding his sister. “Very well, you may come along. But remember I am traveling with Miss Diana, and I know you two do not get along very well .”

“I shall take an earlier train.” She turned as though to leave but added, “The Viscount will be accompanying me, although he shall be residing at his Belgrave Square house. He finds he’s discovered a whole new appreciation of literature and plans to accompany me to the launch of your book .”

“But he does not know I am the author, does he?” Robert asked with some apprehension .

“I simply told him you are the patron of a local author whom you admire, and that you are attending the book launch of her new novel .”

Robert nodded. “That better be the case. You know how angry I would be if there was any revelation about me being the author .”

“Of course, I do,” she said, giving him her forced smile. “And you have absolutely nothing to worry about .”

* * *

R obert was all gracious smiles as his footman brought out Diana’s luggage from the cottage. Both her mother and father were standing at the doorway giving their good-byes to her before she turned and approached the carriage .

“Good morning, Robert,” she greeted as he assisted her into the carriage .

After the luggage was stowed, the carriage headed toward the railway station .

Robert thought Diana seemed a little nervous or apprehensive. They had not seen each other since the kiss and there was an awkwardness about their first interactions .

Robert was the first to speak and he wanted to put Diana at ease if he could. “How are your dear parents ?”

Diana looked up after gazing down at her gloved hands folded in her lap. “Ah, both are fine, thank you. There were no repercussions from Mother’s summer cold .”

“I am so happy to hear that. And those spunky twins? Still basking in their Queen’s garter honor ?”

“I have not seen too much of them these past few months. Geoffrey has actually been able to hold down a job for more than a week. And Miriam is studying philosophy at the new women’s college at the university .”

Robert chuckled, “She’s at Newnham ’s. How spunky of her. And philosophy? Now there is a stretch ?”

Diana laughed. “Why not? Who better to shake up the foundations of philosophy than Miriam ?”

That interchange seemed to relax them both .

“And Geoffrey, what career has he finally settled into ?”

Diana tilted her head. “Settled into? I am not too certain about that. However, he seems to be holding his own as a teacher of youngsters .”

That set Robert laughing again. “Now that seems just perfect. I cannot think of a more suitable Pied Piper, can you? I can just see him teaching children from the viewpoint of a child. I predict he will be very successful .”

“I quite agree .”

Having come to the end of that segment of conversation, they stared out the windows until they arrived at the station .

Luggage was transferred from the carriage to the station platform and the footman waited with them until the London train arrived and their luggage was loaded into the luggage compartment of the train .

Robert found their first-class compartment and they boarded .

After the train got underway they were both lost in their own thoughts until Robert said, hesitantly, “Diana, I hope you have forgiven me for my inappropriate kiss .”

Diana looked up at him. “Of course, Robert. And I must admit I was partially to blame, as well .”

This shocked Robert, as he had no idea that she might have responded positively to the kiss. Even with all his new resolve to not be affected by Diana, what she had just said, again enflamed his passion, over which he seemed to have no control. He could not speak immediately. He rested his head against the seat back and took several deep breaths to calm himself. His mind was swirling with new thoughts about the possibility of having Diana in his life once again .

Then she said, “However, my slipup has led me to strengthen, even more, my commitment to marry Adam .”

This statement sent Robert back into despair and abolished his new and fragile hopes for a romance with her. Robert turned away and stared out the window at the passing landscape .

Diana opened her traveling bag and took out a book which she proceeded to read for the rest of the trip to London .

Robert got up from his seat without a word and left the compartment and headed to the dining car where there was a bar and he had two cognacs in quick succession. He leaned against the bar and began to calm down. Once again, he had been led astray by his feelings for Diana. He strengthened his resolve before heading back to their compartment .

“We will be approaching London shortly,” he said, as he examined the few hand bags they had carried into the compartment when they boarded .

“Might I drop you off at where you will be staying?” he asked without looking at her. “My London carriage will be waiting when we arrive and it will be much easier to have my footmen care for the luggage .”

“If it is not too much trouble. I do not want to take you out of your way .”

“It will be my pleasure. And we can make arrangements to meet tomorrow at Sir Cecil’s office before the book launch .”

Diana looked at him. “You must be very excited,” she said with her sincerely sweet smile. “I remember my first book launch. I was in such a fit. I was both so nervous and so excited .”

“I have to admit, I am somewhat excited but much more apprehensive,” he said as he opened the compartment door and offered his hand to lead Diana out of the compartment .

“Ah, but you will not be the one who is the focus of attention. It will be me,” she reminded him .

Robert chuckled. “Indeed it shall. And how grateful I am for your assistance in the launch of my book.” Robert looked around the train platform and saw his London footman with a trolley accepting their luggage from the baggage compartment. Robert waved at the man. “There is our luggage. Let us follow him to the carriage .”

For the next few minutes, all attention was focused on getting to the carriage, loading it, and preparing to leave the station .

As the carriage started toward Adam’s parents’ house where she would be staying, Diana said, “Then I expect we shall meet tomorrow morning with Sir Cecil before the launch .”

“Yes. I can pick you up if you wish .”

“No thank you. Adam will be accompanying me to the publishing house and he plans to stay for the launch .”

“I see,” Robert said solemnly .

The carriage moved haltingly through London’s congested streets. Robert had nearly resigned himself to the fact that Diana would be marrying Adam. He gazed at her as they neared their destination, but she was absorbed with the sights of London and was paying no attention to him until they pulled up in front of the house where she was staying. Then she turned to him .

“Thank you for the ride, Robert. It was most gallant of you .”

“Not at all, Miss Diana. The footman will take your luggage to the door and we shall wait until you are inside .”

“Then we will meet again tomorrow at the publishers .”

“We shall.” Robert tipped his hat and the footman opened the carriage door and assisted her to the sidewalk .