Alexander met her gaze without hesitation. “I am listening.”
Her eyes softened slightly with amusement. “To Grandmother’s embellishments?”
Across the table, Lady Salford scoffed loudly. “I do not embellish.”
Alexander’s mouth curved faintly. “Of course not.”
Diana laughed again, the sound bright and unrestrained. For a moment, he found himself wondering how often she had laughed like that while he had been gone.
Dinner continued at an easy pace after that.
Courses were brought and removed with quiet efficiency while the conversation flowed comfortably around the table. Wine was poured, small stories were exchanged, and the evening settled into a relaxed rhythm that felt unexpectedly pleasant.
For the first time since waking in this unfamiliar life, Alexander felt something close to ease settle over him.
When the meal finally came to an end, Lady Salford pushed back her chair with a satisfied sigh.
“Well,” she declared brightly, “that was delightful.”
Alexander rose automatically, the habit of courtesy ingrained deeply enough to function even when his thoughts were elsewhere.
Diana stood beside him at the same moment. For a brief second, their hands brushed. The contact was accidental, but Alexander felt the sensation travel slowly up his arm like a quiet spark of lightning, subtle but impossible to ignore.
Diana seemed to notice it as well. Her breath caught so softly that he might have missed it if he had not been standing so close.
Lady Salford, thankfully oblivious, had already begun making her way toward the door with cheerful determination.
Alexander allowed his gaze to linger on Diana for a second longer than was strictly necessary.
Then he said quietly, “You had a good day.”
She nodded once. “Yes.”
Something softer settled into her expression then, a gentle warmth that had not been there earlier.
“And you?”
Alexander considered the question for a moment.
Then he answered honestly. “It improved.”
CHAPTER 12
“Diana!” The call rang across the gravel drive just as the carriage wheels crunched to a halt, the familiar voice carrying a burst of excitement that reached her even before the footman could step forward to open the door.
Diana was already hurrying down the path that cut through the front gardens of Rosewood House, lifting the skirts of her gown just enough to keep them from brushing the damp stones beneath her feet. The early morning sun lay warmly over the grounds, gilding the hedges and flowerbeds in soft light while the carriage door swung open with a quiet creak.
Emma appeared first.
For a moment, Diana simply laughed in delight, the sight of her friend stirring a warmth in her chest that she had not realized she had been missing. Emma descended the carriage step quickly, her bright smile already widening as she spotted Diana approaching.
“Good heavens,” Emma said, barely waiting before throwing her arms around her. “You look positively radiant.”
Diana returned the embrace at once, the familiarity of it loosening something inside her that had been held tightly for days.
“You arrived earlier than I expected,” she said as they pulled apart, though the smile on her face betrayed how pleased she was by the surprise.
Emma did not answer immediately.
