“I am going to call for your carriage. You are unsuited for civilized company for the rest of thisevening.”
“But I need to tell Robbie all about mycanal.”
Amelia sighed in disgust. “Not this evening you won’t. And you will be lucky if he ever speaks to you again. And I would not blamehim.”
* * *
Robert stoodat the conclusion of the dinner party. Amelia had only just returned—without theViscount.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he announced, “It is customary for the ladies to leave the gentlemen at table after such a fine meal for drinks and cigars. However, this evening I must beg you to forgo this custom, as I must meet privately with a few of you on a matter ofbusiness.
“Amelia, if you would be so kind as to escort the rest of our guests to the parlor where drinks and coffee will be awaitingyou.”
Amelia nodded to Robert with a most contrite looking expression, and said, “If you will follow me, I have asked Lady Hortense to entertain us with a recital of her beautiful piano renditions, and after there will be cards for those who are soinclined.”
As Amelia and the guests left for the parlor, Robert led Sir Cecil and Diana to the library for their meeting. Diana’s parents went with Amelia and the otherguests.
One of the footmen offered drinks and coffee to Robert’s guests as they came in. And once they had settled in the seating area by the fire, Sir Cecil stood and, holding his brandy snifter, said, “I have made all the arrangements for our deal to go forward—if both of you are in agreement.” He handed Diana and Robert copies of the contracts. “Robert, your manuscript is in the editing process and I hope to have galley proofs for you to examine within the next month orso.
“And Miss Diana I have set up an aggressive marketing campaign for your next novel when it is ready. You will find the details in your agreement. You will be published under the pen name of Jessica Dowling. And how soon do you think your next book will beready?”
Diana hesitated briefly. “I am not certain, but I would certainly hope to have it for you by the end of thesummer.”
“We would very much like to have it available well before Christmas. Might you be able to aim for mid-summer?” Cecilasked.
“I will certainly try. In fact, the book will have a Christmas theme and it would be most appropriate to have it in the bookstores before Christmas. I will concentrate very hard to get it to you intime.”
“That is excellent news. Perhaps you might send me a sample chapter that I might use in your publicity campaign—Miss Dowling,” he said with a littlelaugh.
“I will do that as soon aspossible.”
“And you will find in your agreements that Robert will be granting you fifty percent of all of the royalties he earns from publishing under your name and he will be issuing you his down payment cheque for one thousand guineas—not pounds—he informs me, once these agreements are signed by the both ofyou.”
“I shall write you the cheque this very evening to show my good faith,” Robertsaid.
“I assume you wish to have your solicitor review the documents?” Sir Cecil askedDiana.
Diana looked up at Sir Cecil. “I trust you, Sir Cecil. Your contract for my other novels passed the inspection of my solicitors, so I have no reason to think this would not as well.” She turned to Robert. “I am ready to sign if you are,Robert.”
Robert felt a welling up of deep affection for Diana. She looked radiant in the light of the fireplace. Her rosy cheeks and lips were heightened by the fire’s warmth. How pale and insubstantial seemed all the other ladies Amelia had sent his way compared to this most lovelywoman.
“Of course, I will be happy to sign my contract and issue the cheque rightaway.”
“Excellent,” Cecil hailed. “Then it is not too early to start thinking about launchingThe Adventures of Hudson Hardingin London and around the country sometime in the early autumn.”He turned to Diana. “You realize you will need to be the public face of the book, and you will be required to be in attendance at all promotionalfunctions.”
“Oh, I did not think aboutthat.”
“Of course, all of your expenses will be covered during theseevents.”
“It is not the expense. It is the time I must take away from my writing,” she said a littleapprehensively.
“But it is for the good of the book. And, of course, for your portion of the royalties,” Robert remindedher.
Sir Cecil added, “And Robert, leading up to the public events, I suggest you and Miss Diana spend time together so that you can prepare her when it comes time to present your book to thepublic.”
Robert smiled at that thought. Any time spent with Diana would be a great treatindeed.
