Diana looked at Lord Anthony Stoke, who was leaning towards her with an engaging smile as they stood together near the fireplace.
“Indeed, My Lord,” she replied. “I could not agree more.”
“And what do you think of this new trend for cocktails?” he went on, gazing at her rather intently.
Diana struggled to form an opinion for a moment. “I am sure that the earl has experienced many interesting things during his travels abroad,” she replied eventually. “It does not surprise me that he would want to try them in his own house.”
“Ah, he has told you of his adventures, has he?” Lord Anthony replied, raising a sardonic eyebrow.
Diana flushed, remembering the rumors that she had heard about the earl’s indiscretions in France. She hoped that Lord Anthony was not about to make a lewd comment. After Lord Pembroke’s behavior at dinner a few nights ago, she was not sure that she could face another similar encounter. But to her relief, he said nothing, and simply waited for her to respond to his comment.
“Lord Silvermere has been good enough to tell me some stories of his travels, that is true,” she replied. “He has seen a great many things in many different countries. I confess that I am rather jealous, although of course for a young lady it is not possible to travel in the same way.”
“He is a lucky man, to have had the freedom to travel when he was younger,” Lord Anthony observed. “But I sense that he is on the verge of settling down now.” He glanced over towards the corner of the room with Tristan was sitting next to Grace on the settee. “He seems rather taken with your sister.”
Diana followed his gaze, and felt a pang in her heart, in spite of herself, as she watched Grace and Tristan’s animated conversation. “Yes, indeed,” she said softly.
“And you approve of the match?” Lord Anthony enquired.
Diana nodded, wishing that he would change the subject. But the matrimonial prospects of their host was a natural topic of conversation for the guests, she supposed, and there was not much she could do to avoid it, since her sister was the clear object of his desires.
“And your father is here too?”
“Yes, My Lord,” Diana replied. She felt rather foolish that she was not contributing more to the conversation, but she had been keeping to her room for most of the last two days, and was only just becoming accustomed again to being company. Lord Anthony was pleasant enough, though, and she resolved to try a little harder. She did not want him to think that she was rude.
“Tell me more about your father’s estate, Lady Diana,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “I have heard that Blackbrook Manor is quite the picturesque setting. I imagine it is a delightful place to grow up.”
Diana returned his smile, feeling relieved that he was no longer talking about Grace and Tristan. “It is indeed lovely, My Lord. The estate has been in my family for generations, surrounded by rolling hills and ancient oaks. Every season brings a new beauty - the spring blossoms are particularly enchanting.”
As she spoke, she found herself flooded with memories of her childhood, those happy days when her mother was alive and everything seemed so simple, compared to what her life wasnow. She felt a pang of homesickness. There were only another few days of the house party to get through, she thought, and then they could go home, no matter what happened. And perhaps their lives would return to normal. That was probably too much to hope for, though.
“It sounds like paradise,” Lord Anthony replied. His deep-set eyes sparkled with genuine interest, and the way he leaned in slightly made her feel as if their conversation was a private affair, sheltered from the rest of the world.
Diana chuckled. “I am not sure it is paradise, My Lord,” she replied, thinking for a moment of the stack of her father’s ledgers that she had to plough through every month, trying somehow to make things balance. How nice it would be, she reflected, to have someone to share that burden with. But she pushed the thought away; it was no use wishing for things that would never happen. She had to shoulder her responsibilities alone, and it was far better to accept reality than to fight against it.
“You have fond memories, though,” he went on. “I can see it in your eyes. It was almost as if you disappeared, in your mind, to another time and place, when you talked just then of your childhood. I rather envy it. My childhood was not bucolic at all, you know. Packed off to school when I was young, like so many boys are in families like ours.”
She felt herself softening a little towards Lord Anthony. Initially she had found his attentions rather intense, but he was a perfectly nice gentleman after all, and rather funny. “I am sorry that you do not have such pleasant memories,” she said softly. “Imust admit that I was thinking of my mother,” she went on to admit.
“Ah, yes, I heard that she had passed away a few years ago. You must miss her very much.”
Diana nodded. “I do, every day,” she confessed.
“And there is no shame in that,” Lord Anthony said. “It shows that you had a strong bond.”
Diana did not reply, for fear of her emotions overtaking her. Instead, she took a sip of her drink and glanced across the room, to check that Grace was still with Tristan.
To her surprise, she saw that Tristan was staring at her instead, his arms folded and his brow furrowed, eyes narrowed as they locked onto her and Lord Anthony. Her enjoyment of the moment with Lord Anthony dimmed as she registered the unmistakable glare directed her way.
“Is everything well, Lady Diana?” Anthony asked, concern flickering in his eyes as he followed her gaze.
“Oh, yes,” she replied quickly, forcing a smile. “It is just…Lord Silvermere seems to be rather preoccupied with something.” She turned her attention back to Lord Anthony, but the unsettling weight of Tristan’s stare lingered in her mind.
“Perhaps he is envious of our conversation,” Lord Anthony suggested lightly, a teasing lilt in his voice. “I cannot blame him; I would certainly be jealous if I were in his shoes.”
Diana laughed. “I think that jealousy is the last thing on his mind,” she replied, attempting to brush off the discomfort that had begun to settle in her chest. “You flatter me, My Lord, I assure you. I suspect he is simply in a bad mood this evening. Perhaps the pressure of hosting such a large party is getting to him.”
Lord Anthony shrugged. “That may well be the cause of it. Personally I always enjoy having guests at my home, but perhaps Lord Tristan is finding it rather onerous.”
