D iana and Robert went into the gallery .

“Mother, might you be able to close the gallery early today? I have something I urgently need to discuss with you and Father .”

Mother looked at her with some concern. “Is there anything I should worry about ?”

Diana laughed. “Not at all. But can you close now, please ?”

Mother checked the clock. I do not see why not. It has been a slow day. You go on and I will be right in .”

Diana took Robert’s hand and led them to the cottage .

“Father,” Diana called out as they entered .

“Yes, my dear,” he answered from the sitting room .

Diana led Robert to where her father was seated by the fire with a book .

“Oh, Milord,” Father said as he attempted to rise .

“No, please, stay seated,” Robert insisted .

“And to what do we owe the honor?” Father asked .

Diana went over to his chair and kneeled down beside him. “Father, Robert and I need to have a very important discussion with you and Mother. And she is on her way .”

“Oh, my, nothing serious, I hope,” he said anxiously .

“It is serious, Father, but not unpleasant .”

“That is a relief,” he said relaxing back into his chair .

“I can see you have not started supper yet,” Mother said a little irritably .

“No, Mother. But I will. Come sit. Robert and I need to speak to you both .”

Mother sat in the chair opposite her husband as Diana and Robert remained standing. Diana turned to Robert and indicated he should speak first .

“Professor and Mrs. Browning,” Robert began. “Your daughter and I have been working together many months. And over that time, we find that we have both developed deep feelings of affection for one another .”

Mother let out a little gasp. “Oh, Diana …”

“Of course, I understand that she is already engaged to Adam Hardy, but, nonetheless, I have asked Diana to be my wife and to become the Countess of Donnelly .”

Both her parents were stunned .

“And I know that this may come as a shock and a surprise, but Diana assures me the feelings are mutual and she would like to break off her engagement to the young man .”

Father spoke up, “Diana, is this so ?”

“Yes, Father it is .”

Father looked over at Mother. “Whoever would have thought… Mother, what do you think about this ?”

Mother was wringing the handkerchief in her hand. “I do not know, George. The wedding planning is well along. What do we do about that? And have you spoken to Adam?” she asked Diana .

“Not yet. Robert and I have only just now declared our love for each other .”

Father added, “But Diana, there is the loan, and you accepted his proposal because Adam helped us. Certainly, you do not forget that .”

“No, Father, I do not .”

Robert spoke up. “Sir, I would like to address that issue, if I may.” George nodded. “Do you have a formal agreement in writing stating that the loan was conditional to the marriage ?”

“No, it was more of an implication than a formal agreement .”

“Then, let me tell you a fact that you may not know. My family owns many properties in London. These are the basis of our income. However, I also own various other properties around the country and it seems I own a number of properties right here in Cambridge—and one of them happens to be the leasehold on your cottage .”

“Good heaven,” George spoke up, “Your name was not on the papers we signed when we renewed the leasehold .”

“No, they were in my company’s name. You had no way of knowing I was the owner of the freehold. And my thought is this. I will refund the amount you paid for the leasehold and turn the freehold title over to you as my wedding present to Diana. You can use that money to repay the loan to Adam’s father and then Diana can break off the engagement if she so wishes .”

“I do wish, Father, Mother .”

Father seemed troubled. “I do not know. That does not appear honorable to me. You made a commitment at the time, and even if we were to repay the loan, I think you must still honor that commitment .”

Now Mother spoke up, “George Daniel Browning, how can you say such a thing? You would jeopardize your daughter’s future happiness for such a trifle? Think again .”

Father was clearly chastised by Mother, and he said, “Well, when you put it like that …”

“I do. And speaking of honor, how honorable was it for the Hardy family to tie the loan to Diana agreeing to marry Adam. Was that not a bribe or even worse, blackmail? You are not going to convince me that our Diana should suffer a loveless marriage to satisfy some dubious case of honor .”

Mother sat upright in her chair, hands folded, and clearly relishing her moral high ground .

Robert then turned to Diana and said, “Then I shall ask again Diana Browning, will you marry me and be my wife ?”

“Oh, yes, Robert, I most certainly will .”

* * *

A fter the meeting with her parents, Robert said he wanted a private moment with her, and she led Robert out into the back garden for a stroll .

“Are you content?” he asked .

“I am. But I am still overwhelmed and anxious about breaking off the engagement with Adam .

“I can understand that. Is there any way I can help with that ?”

“No. I must do it myself .”

“Then let us forget all about that for this evening and go out for a celebratory dinner .”

“Oh, Robert, I cannot. I promised Mother I would start the dinner .”

Robert looked at her and smiled. “My darling… first of all, how happy I am to be able to say that now. My darling, we are to be married. You will be living with me at Balfour . I hope you do not plan to rush home each evening to start dinner for your parents .”

Diana laughed. “No. I think not. But I need to ease them into the fact that I will be leaving .”

“But not tonight. Tonight we are going to dine at the finest restaurant and drink endless champagne. We need to celebrate .”

“And to discuss the wedding,” she reminded him .

“And that .”

Diana went back inside to her parents and informed them that she would be dining with Robert this evening .

Mother pouted, but said, “Very well. I guess it is a special occasion. You may go .”

Diana smiled. “Mother, I do not need your permission .”

“No, I guess not .”

“Are we to address you as the Countess of Donnelly now?” Father asked wryly .

“No, please spare me that. I am still your daughter, Diana. And I always will be. And if I ever become haughty, then let me know immediately and I will come back down to earth .”

* * *

D iana had to smile as she and Robert were seated at the exact same table that she and Adam had sat when he brought her here for their celebratory dinner not all that long ago at the hotel restaurant .

“Champagne? Robert asked .

Diana laughed. “Yes, anything but Piper-Heidsieck .”

“And what do you have against that particular brand ?”

“Nothing really. But it has associations I would rather not revisit .”

“I understand. But I prefer Dom so that is not a problem for me .”

Robert ordered the champagne and, unlike Adam, he let Diana choose for herself what she wanted for dinner .

“What would you think about a Christmas wedding?” Robert asked .

“That sounds lovely. Do we have enough time to plan ?”

“It is only late September. If I can organize the Queen’s visit in less than two weeks I believe we can organize a wedding in less than three months .”

“But you will have a lot of important guests, will you not? Will there be enough time for them to plan with their busy schedules ?”

“If not, then let them suffer the loss .”

She laughed .

“I should like you to come to Balfour tomorrow so that we may announce our engagement to Amelia and my staff. I will send the carriage for you in the morning. And your parents may want to join us. I shall also arrange a luncheon if that suits you. Will ten o’clock be satisfactory ?”

“Yes. That will be fine .”

The waiter brought the champagne and they toasted .

“To my future bride .”

“To my beloved husband .”

“And one more thing, then we can just relax and enjoy our dinner,” Robert added .

“Yes?”

“Since Amelia is also to be married I was wondering how you might feel if we held both weddings at the same time ?”

“Oh, my… what do you think Amelia would think about that? Might she feel there would be less attention on her if it was also the Earl’s wedding ?”

“No, I think she would like it and feel honored .”

“I have no problem with that, but I do think you should ask her first. And how do you feel about sharing your wedding with the Viscount? It is my impression that you are not—best of friends .”

Robert laughed. “That is an understatement. But I feel it might help heal that relationship if we were to be married at the same time. But I want you to be certain you want this. It is your wedding too. Perhaps you may not want to share it with Amelia .”

“No, I would like that. And it would give us an opportunity to get to know one another if we are to plan our weddings together .”

“Then I will suggest the dual wedding tomorrow when we are all together. And while I think of it, when do you plan to go to London to meet with Adam ?”

“Oh, dear, yes, I still need to face that, do I not ?”

“Do you want me to go to London with you? You can stay at the London house. Amelia may be there as well, as she is ordering her wedding dress. And perhaps she might help you with yours .”

“Yes, I might like that, but I do not want you to go with me when I meet with Adam .”

“No, I understand that. But while I am in London, I will arrange for the papers to transfer the leasehold to the freehold for your father, and I can give you the funds at that time to repay Adam’s father for the loan.” Diana looked dejected. “It is not a very happy conclusion, I know. But it is necessary if we are to move forward .”

She looked up at Robert. “I know .”

The waiter brought the soup course and served .

As they started to eat, Robert said, “Enough about wedding details for one evening. Let us just enjoy our time together and our new relationship. You have no idea how much I am looking forward to having you as my wife, Diana. Now Amelia will have no more excuses to thrust eligible young maidens at me .”

“And I shall stop bracing myself to accept Adam as my husband .”

* * *

T he Earl’s coach had come to collect Diana and her parents the next morning as planned. There had been champagne toasts, well wishes, a few tears and an agreement by Amelia to hold their joint weddings at Christmas—pending Ludlow’s approval. And as the festivities died down, Amelia asked Diana to meet with her privately, for a brief moment, before the scheduled lunch .

Amelia welcomed Diana into her chambers and bade her take a seat by the fire. She sat opposite, studying Diana until Diana started to become uncomfortable .

“Amelia… I may call you Amelia now, may I not?” Diana asked .

“Of course .”

“Did you invite me to your rooms to discuss something in particular ?”

“You are very clever, Miss Diana .”

“I beg your pardon,” Diana said, “You say that as though it was an insult or an accusation .”

“Oh, no. It is just a recognition that you are much more cunning than I expected .”

“Cunning? And how do you figure that ?”

“You played Robert so beautifully .”

“Played him? Excuse me, but I have no idea what you are talking about. How, exactly, did I play him ?”

“Oh, the little innocent… Always playing so charming and naïve. But, in the meantime, manipulating Robert, the Earl of Donnelly, to find her so alluring that he just has to marry her .”

Diana signed. “Oh, Amelia, I do not want our relationship as sisters to start out like this .

“No. No. Brilliant.” Amelia threw her hands up in the air and paced as she spoke. “A simply brilliant stroke to convince Robert to accept the canal deal. Thinking by that you would win me over and insinuate yourself into this family and become the Countess of Donnelly. Just perfect .”

Diana could not understand what was happening here but defended herself by saying, “Wait. Wait. I do not understand. Robert told me you encouraged him to ask me to marry him .”

“Well, I have changed my mind .”

“Why do you do this? Do you want to make him unhappy? Do you want to anger him? I cannot understand your motive .”

“I do not trust you .”

“And why not?” Diana said determined not to be intimidated .

“I see me in you. Cunning, manipulative and ruthless. I see behind your façade of sweetness and innocence. As they say, ‘it takes one to know one .’”

“I am truly sorry for you, Amelia. You totally misunderstand me. I have only Robert’s best interests at heart and I would never use falsehood to get my way. And I will do everything in my power to show you my real self and convince you otherwise.” Diana stood. “I will not tell Robert of our conversation. I do not want him to know how unkind you have been to me .”

“And you say you never use falsehood. Is that not exactly what you are threatening to do now ?”

Diana shook her head, and then she realized what actually might be happening here. “Amelia, I believe you are playing a game with me. Is that not so? You are playacting with me. You mean absolutely nothing of what you just said, do you ?”

Amelia said nothing for a moment but smiled. “Brava. You are as astute as Robert says you are. Now we can be the very best of friends. And you must come shopping with me when you are staying with us in London. I know all the best shops and we will make sure you have an absolutely divine wedding gown .”

As Diana left the room her head was spinning. She had absolutely no idea who Amelia was. Should she tell Robert what just happened or not? But she had to laugh because if she did not tell him, then Amelia would be right—she would be engaging in falsehood .