Ludlow took a glass of wine from the butler and turned back to Amelia .
“I am furious, Amelia. You absolutely promised me …”
“Not everything is always under my control, Luddy,” she pleaded as she stroked his arm .
“Damnation, woman. Can you not accomplish anything? I have people waiting. I need to make assurances and guarantees .”
She leaned to Ludlow and whispered, “And just remember—with Robert it is as easy for me to quash your project as it is for me to help your project. So be a nice boy, and behave yourself .”
“But remember seven point five percent of nothing is nothing .”
She turned away and went to welcome Sir Cecil who appeared with Robert, quickly followed by the Simpson-Wright sisters and the Brownings .
As she approached, Robert was introducing the Browning parents to Sir Cecil and Amelia was left to welcome and chat with the Simpson-Wright sisters .
“Bridget… Tabitha, how charming you both look this evening,” Amelia said, taking their hands in hers .
The sisters could not have been more unalike. Bridget was tall and thin with a pinched face and boney hands. Tabitha was short and stout with a red face and a crackling giggle, as she found almost everything amusing .
“And we are charmed to be here. It was so nice of you to think of inviting us,” Tabitha said. “Hardly anyone asks us out—two unmarried sisters are usually not on the top of everyone’s list of guests,” she added with a little laugh .
“Oh, there are the Booths,” Bridget said. “I have been meaning to have a word with Lady Booth about her dressmaker .”
“Ours up and died on us, can you imagine?” Tabitha giggled .
They waved to the Booths and proceeded to head toward them .
Amelia managed to pry Robert away from Sir Cecil and the Brownings and pulled him aside .
“I want to introduce you to Diana and her mother and father,” Robert said .
Amelia smiled. “Of course—but first, just one quick word .”
“Yes?”
She pulled him further aside. “It is very important that you and the Viscount have a word together later this evening. You see, I promised him that the three of us would meet briefly .”
“Is this about his damned canal ?”
Amelia was shocked at Robert’s language but did not allow it to dim her pleasant smile. “But Robert, this is a project that will benefit the entire county. Do you not believe it is worth a few moments of your time to hear his ambitious and exciting plans ?”
Robert glared at her. “Has he bribed you, or are you simply under his thrall ?”
Amelia lowered her eyes in mock hurt. “Robert, how could you accuse me of such deceit ?”
“Oh Amelia, my darling sister, I know you all too well. However, I shall save you concern for the rest of the evening by saying up front that I have other plans for after dinner. Sir Cecil and I will be arranging our agreement with Miss Browning for her to be my surrogate author .”
Now it was Amelia’s turn to scowl. “You are truly going through with this absurd conceit ?”
Robert patted her cheek. “Yes, dear sister, I am. And you may inform your co-conspirator that there will be no meeting with him this evening—or any evening it is about the canal. I shall not have my land cut in half by a public waterway .”
Then he took her arm and led her to meet Diana and the Brownings .
*
B efore directing the party to the dinner, Robert excused himself and went to the dining room to inspect the guests’ place cards. He had been placed at the head of the dinner table, as expected, and Amelia had placed Lady Wilton to his right and herself to his left. Robert knew that she was trying to control the dinner party so he switched a number of the place cards to make an arrangement to his satisfaction—placing Diana and her father to his left and right .
He instructed Sithens to call the guests to dinner and he stood at his place and watched the guests wander into the dining room and begin to search for their places at the table. Amelia, of course, went directly to where she expected to sit, only to find Diana had already found her place next to Robert. She took a step back and found her new place which was between Lord Booth and Bridget Simpson-Wright. And the Viscount was placed at the far end of the table with Diana’s mother to his left. However, he was across from Lady Hortense, and that seemed to please him .
Robert smiled as the guests were seated and saw Amelia furiously twisting her handkerchief and casting glances at the Viscount, trying to catch his eye. But he was hidden behind a flower arrangement and already engaging in conversation with Lady Hortense .
Robert ignored them and turned to Diana. “A most charming gown, Miss Diana. It would be the perfect selection if you ever have your portrait painted .”
Diana laughed. “Oh, I think that is highly unlikely—unless it is to scare the foxes from the chicken coop .”
George spoke up in her defense, “Daughter, you are as lovely as a sunset. And, of course, since we do not have a chicken coop, there shall be no terrified fleeing foxes ."
Robert turned to George and asked. “How many books have you published by now? I so enjoyed reading your critique of Marlow’s early works when I was an undergraduate at university. I believe it was considered ground-breaking at the time, was it not ?”
George blushed slightly, “Oh, my Lord, I do not know about ground-breaking, but it did cause a minor stir amongst the Marlow scholars back in its day .”
“Father has seventeen books published, is that not so?” Diana said, turning to her father for confirmation .
“Fifteen books and two pamphlets .”
“Remarkable accomplishment .”
The footmen began serving the wine and Robert noticed that Diana’s mother seemed to be chatting along happily with Lady Booth .
Diana had turned to speak with Lord Booth and Robert turned back to George .
“Professor, and how do you feel about having a daughter who has so successfully published ?”
“Most gratifying, indeed. Three books already and she is only twenty-four .”
“A substantial talent I would say,” Robert said, nodding .
“Sir Cecil is pleased with her accomplishments. But if I might say, I am not quite sure I understand what all of this hush hush is about with you wishing to publish under her name .”
Robert put his finger to his lips and leaned in to speak softly. “My publishing must remain anonymous, and I do not wish these other guests to know about my work. This information must stay between your family and myself if you please .”
George still did not seem to understand, and mumbled. “Most unusual… in my day …”
The footmen then began serving the soup course, as Bridget Simpson-Wright turned to Robert and asked, “My Lord, Tabitha tells me you were in London recently. Did you attend the theater or the opera? I understand there is the most shocking review at the Sadler’s Wells . Did you see it ?”