Page 12 of A Wanton Adventure
Diana walked withArthur, the Earl of Tremont, along a pathway in Hyde Park as Robert raced ahead chasing squirrels. His governess, Miss Melanie, the saint she was, kept up with him. She smiled as he looked over his shoulder at Miss Melanie, grinning mischievously.
“It’s a beautiful day to take such a charming lady for a walk,” Arthur said.
They had long ago agreed to do away with formality when it was just the two of them. He’d become a dear friend as she dealt with the impacts of losing Stuart. In truth, before her husband’s passing, Diana doubted she’d spoken more than a few words to Arthur, but death, she supposed, brought people together.
He stopped suddenly. Diana followed suit. Robert and Miss Melanie darted off to explore a wooded area.
Turning back to Arthur, she asked, “Is everything all right?”
He nodded and motioned to a bench. “Would you please join me?”
Diana frowned, perplexed by his actions. What she enjoyed so much about Arthur was how at ease they were with one another. He seemed nervous, making her anxious. Still, she sat, and he joined her.
“Diana—”
“Mummy, look at this beetle,” Robert said, now only a few feet away from them.
She’d been studying Arthur so intently she didn’t realize he’d come to see them. She smiled patiently, leaning forward to examine the insect in his hand. It was a tiny thing, but Robert grinned proudly.
“It’s lovely.”
“Yes, I agree,” Arthur said impatiently. He waved Miss Melanie over. “Can you please take him to play? I need a moment of his mother’s time.”
Robert’s excitement diminished. Miss Melanie ushered him away, and Diana turned back to Arthur with a frown. He held up his hands. “I’m sorry. I have been building up the courage to speak with you for weeks, or I wouldn’t be so dismissive of the boy.”
What was he going on about? She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
He took a deep breath and pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket. Horror filled her as he showed it to her. It was the caricature of the uneventful lady. What was he doing with it?
“Diana, I admire you for all your wonderful qualities. You are a virtuous lady. Recently, I came across this article, and it only increased my admiration for you because you personify every trait that keeps society together. I shall read it to you.”
“No! Please don’t,” Diana interrupted him.
The harshness of her tone caused Arthur to jerk back. She could not sit here and listen to him recite the list she knew so well. A list that annoyed her. She took a deep breath and forced herself to smile. “I have seen the article.”
A smile appeared on his face, pleased. “I imagine you have discerned the similarities.”
She suppressed the urge to rail at him that she was so much more than those few qualities. Her sister was correct. No lady should be put in such simple boxes.
“Well, I’m glad we are in agreement.”
They weren’t, but Diana said nothing.
He continued. “These last few months have been nothing short of perfect. We have come to know each other so well. Reading the article heightened my awareness of all your exemplary traits.”
Arthur was going to propose! Diana blinked rapidly at him, willing him not to. The man just described her as the very thing she disliked. He sat up straighter and took her hand. “I think a match between us would be most beneficial. Lady Hensley—”
“I’m not ready.”
He went rigid, turning bright red. Diana gasped, horror filling her that she was so blunt. “It isn’t that I don’t want to ever marry again, but I need more time.”
Arthur took a deep breath as if composing himself. He smiled tightly. “I didn’t mean to rush you. Still, I would be honored if you would consider me when you are ready.”
“Of course, I would,” she said, doing her best to conceal how overwhelmed she felt.
“You are the epitome of what a lady should aspire to be. Perfect in bearing, grace, and above reproach.”
Diana wanted to scream that she was more than those qualities. Still, she remained quiet. She’d been raised to be the ideal lady and had excelled in her role. Her eyes roamed over him. Was she being unreasonable? Arthur was perfectly suitable and even handsome. He was tall, slender, with brown hair. Why did she feel like something was missing? Perhaps because he was so different from Stuart in appearance and personality.
