Diana compressed her lips. "Do you want to play?" she asked. "I believe you do better at it than I."
"Ah, but it does not consort with my image of indolent and, er, rakish man about town to be seen both playing an instrument and singing," he said. "One of the two I may perhaps live down.Both, never.You may play, Diana.Beginning now, if you please.And you will please note that I am standing quite decorously here and not approaching even one small step closer to the bench."
"I had noticed,"shesaid, "and will continue to do so." She began to play the accompaniment.
''I believe we have it," the marquess said a little less than an hour later. "That is the third time in succession that all three of us have finished together. And we both remembered the expression this last time instead of bellowing out the whole piece as if it were a battle charge. My heart quite goes out to poor Kate."
"Poor Kate?"Diana got resolutely to her feet and closed the sheet of music. "She was very wise to reject the man when she did. She is laughing, you see, instead of crying, as she undoubtedly would have been had she allowed him to stay."
" 'Te he he,' does not sound like very sincere laughter to me, though," he said. "Indeed, Diana, I feel remarkably foolish singing those words. Don't you? It is false laughter, if ever I heard any. She wants him to stay. She wants to be persuaded."
"Phooey!" Diana said. "She saved herself from endless heartache."
The marquess,whohad been leaning on one elbow on the pianoforte, pushed himself to an upright position and strolled toward the door. He flicked her chin with one finger as he passed. "She probably spent a cold and lonely old age wishing she had a little pleasure to look back upon," he said. "Prim virtue can be a cold bedfellow, Diana. I suppose you would not care to stroll outside with me?"
"I have promised my mother-in-law to help organize the program for tonight," Diana said.
"I did not think you would.'' He opened the door, bowed, and motioned for her to precede him from the room.
* * *
That afternoon turned out to be as sunny and warm as the days preceding. Which was just as well, the Countess of Rotherham told her guests, because though the Greek-style pavilion beside the river was well-kept and comfortably furnished, it would have been somewhat crowded if rain had forced all twenty of them inside.
As it was, they were all able to sit on blankets or cushions on the river bank, while only two footmen remained inside the pavilion, pouring the champagne ready for toasting Allan's birthday and preparing the picnic tea for later.
The countess was thoroughly enjoying herself, as she had told the earl the night before. No one seemed to be languishing with boredom. And the three matches she had set herself to make were progressing satisfactorily.
''Not that I claim credit for Barbara and Russell, of course, dearest," she had said. "They have been intended for each other from the cradle and have had an eye for each other for the past two years and more. But it is gratifying to see love blossom at our home."
Angela and Ernest, of course, had not yet declared their love for each other—but they would. Ernest, the dear boy, was something of a slow top. He had not allowed Angela to climb any of the staircases at the castle that morning, indeed! How else did he expect to get close enough to her for a little squeeze and a kiss? But it would happen. She would keep working on it.
Jack and dear Diana, of course, clearly fancied each other.
But that would take a little time. She was not worried. They were both people of strong character. Doubtless, Jack wanted a little more than a squeeze and a kiss, and Diana less. They would come to terms.
If only that idiotic Thomas did not spoil everything. The poor man was clearly at an age when he was panicking at the loss of his youth—all men went through that stage—and trying desperately to recapture it. But Diana was too sensible to listen to his foolishness.
"Dears," the countess said, clapping her hands for attention. They had finished toasting Allan with champagne, and it was too early to eat."Time for some exercise.Rotherham and I, and Hannah and Joshua are going to stroll along the bank as befits our age. But you younger folk will wish to walk farther afield. If you cross the bridge, you can walk more deeply into the woods. The trees are well spaced. There is no serious danger of getting lost."
The earl chuckled. "Not unless you wish to do so, of course," he said.
Several of the company laughed.
"But remember,"thecountess said, "I want you all back here for tea within the hour. Ernest, dear, why do not you lead the way across the bridge?Take Angela on your arm."
And if he was not quick-witted enough when he got to the other side to lose his way among the trees with her, she thought, well then. Well, then she would have to find some other way to throw them together the next day.And the next.
Jack, she could see, was leaning against a tree, one booted foot resting against the trunk, his arms folded across his chest, joking and laughing with Claudia and Hannah, who were seated on a blanket before him. All very well, but did he know or care that Thomas had just strolled off with Diana? The countess shook her head in some exasperation. She would have to wait until later to do something about that situation.Unless he had the wit to do something now, of course.
"Claudia," the countess said, "you and Clarence might as well stroll along with the rest of us.You too, if you please, Mrs. Wickenham.Do take my arm, and you shall tell me what you think of those grandchildren of ours. Jack, dear, you will not wish to be trapped with us older folk. Why do you not run along after the younger people?"
The marquess grinned. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to take you and Mrs. Wickenham on each of my arms, ma'am," he said. "But I am sure that one of the gentlemen would call me out for my greed in monopolizing two lovely ladies at once.''
Lady Knowles, who had got to her feet and was brushing her hands over her skirts, laughed. "No woman would ever be bowled over by your particular brand of flattery, Jack," she said, "if you did not have such a roguishly handsome face. And such naughty eyes," she added, wagging a finger at him.
He grinned and stayed standing against his tree. They had gone that way, he thought, turning his head and glancing off into the trees to his right. They had not crossed the river. Well—he straightened up and brushed a leaf from his shoulder and a twig from his sleeve—it was time to go after them. As it was, he would probably find Peabody down on one knee before her and kissing her hand.
* * *
