Adam stood. “Very well then, I shall leave you alone to compose yourself. But we must speak about these things soon. And if you decide you still want to marry me, think about where you might like to go on the honeymoon. The sooner we can book the trip thebetter.”
“Yes, Adam,” she said turning away from him with her head still on herarms.
* * *
Diana spenta restless night with very little sleep. She could not believe she had behaved as badly as she had with both Adam and the Goodwin sisters. And when she finally got out of bed she felt fatigued andwretched.
She stumbled down to breakfast to find her father at breakfast reading through his latest manuscript. He looked up as she came into thekitchen.
“Good morning,daughter.”
“Father…” she said collapsing into a chair and staring blankly intospace.
“I ran into Master Adam yesterday afternoon and he gave me a note and asked me to give it to you.” He fumbled in his coat pocket and produced the envelope. “Here you are, my dear,” he said, handing it toher.
Diana opened the envelope andread,
My Dearest Diana,
Tempers were high this morning during my visit. And I wish to let you know that I am partially to blame. I have not given enough consideration to your need to write undisturbed each morning, and I shall endeavor to keep my visits to theafternoons.
However, it is not always possible for me to give you advance warning of my arrival and I think that as your fiancé I must be given some liberty to call on you without notice each time I need to seeyou.
That is… if I am still yourfiancé.
“Please regard this as notice that I shall call on you later tomorrow afternoon so that we may conclude our interrupted conversation from thismorning.
Ever yourdevoted,
Adam
Oh,dear… she thought. He is still upset. She must make things right with him… and the Goodwin sisters. But first things first—Adam. She had made a conscious decision to marry him for the good of her family and she must not jeopardize that arrangement in any way. She must confirm the marriage and allow the loan toproceed.
Father spoke up. “Oh… I got the details of Adam’s father’s address when I saw Adam yesterday. There is no need for you to acquire that informationtoo.”
“Thank you for letting me know,Father.”
As Diana was late coming down to breakfast her mother was already at the gallery. Shortly, her father finished his breakfast and rose. “Are you not eating any breakfast?” heasked.
“I shall. I did not sleep well and am still a little befuddled. I will make something for myselfshortly.”
“Very well, my dear. I shall be working at home on my manuscript today. So, you may find me in my study if you needme.”
Father started to leave but asked, “Will you be writing today? I was thinking if not, you might want to review my last chapter. I think it will do, but I always value input from yourexamination.”
“I am not sure if I am of much use to any one today—to either myself or to you. However, if I feel up to it later I will stop by your study and take a look at thechapter.”
“Thank you, mydear.”
* * *
Diana satat her desk staring at her manuscript. She read through what she had written recently but could not concentrate, so she decided to abandon any thought of work today and began to go through her clothes and see if any needed cleaning or if any were ready to be discarded if they were too worn or littleused.
However, by ten-thirty, she was so tired she lay down on her bed and drifted off tosleep.
She awoke in time for lunch, much refreshed. She detected cooking aromas coming from downstairs and she went to investigate as she had skipped breakfast and was nowhungry.
As she entered the kitchen she found her mother and Robert at thestove.
