Chapter 27
Robert rode directly towardBalfour,not returning to the river cottage. What had just happened? He was filled with conflicting thoughts and emotions. Diana had so simply and clearly made him see where he was in error in his thinking about the canal. And now, he felt a great relief. He could see the obvious benefit in the canal, and he also felt relieved that his secret would now be safe and he could continue to write—when his writer’s block was broken. However, it might take some time before thathappened.
And then there was Diana. Once again, he was in turmoil over his feelings for her. But he still had to face the fact that she was unavailable. But was she? He could not help but notice and feel that she responded to him in ways that were beyond mere friendship. And however much he would love to linger in thoughts of her, he had reached home and needed to deal with other more pressingissues.
Robert strode into Amelia’s rooms beforedinner.
“Robert, you missed tea,” Amelia said coolly, as she fingered her black moonstonebracelet.
“I have been pondering the Viscount’sblackmail.”
“Oh, Robert… really… such a crude characterization of his more than generousoffer.”
Robert did not want to reveal his thoughts to her for the moment and said, “Can you arrange a meeting with the Viscount for tomorrow morning ateleven?”
“May I tell him the purpose of the meeting?” sheasked.
“Is it not obvious? I have but two days left in my week and I wish to conclude thisfarce.”
Amelia smiled slyly. “Then you are ready to agree to histerms?”
“I did not saythat.”
“Then you must have a strategy. How clever. Care to share it withme?”
“Tomorrow at eleven. The library,” he said, then turned andleft.
* * *
When Ameliaand Ludlow entered the library the next morning they seemed surprised to see Ernest Cluett, the Mayor of Cambridge, already inattendance.
“Amelia, Berwick, you already know His Honor, the Mayor,no?”
Ludlow nodded, “Ernest. I am surprised to see youhere.”
“Urgent summons from His Lordship. Thought I shouldattend.”
Amelia stepped to the side of the room seemingly eager to observe themeeting.
Ludlow stepped forward. “Then you have an answer for me,Donnelly?”
“Ido.”
“Then it must be a yes since you have the Mayor inattendance.”
“I am willing to accept the proposal that the delegation presented to me, which is more generous than the one you originally gave me. And I have His Honor present to confirm what that offerwas.”
The Mayor held up a paper. “I have it inwriting.”
Both Amelia and the Viscountbeamed.
“Excellent. Then we have a deal?” Ludlow said, extending his hand for ahandshake.
Robert declined to take his hand and said, “I want your assurance that the other matter…” He did not want to mention his authorship in front of the Mayor. “The matter which involves the deadline. I want yourwrittenassurance that that matter is dead and buried. Never to be resurrectedagain.”
Ludlow hesitated, then responded. “No, Robert. I am not willing to bury that matter. It is far too valuable to me. However, I promise that it will lay dormant for now, once the sale of the land has gone through and we begin construction on thecanal.”
Amelia frowned and came over to Ludlow, taking him aside and whispering heatedly withhim.
