Page 36 of Tempting the Scarred Duke

“Thank you.” Diana stood awkwardly for a while before setting the bag of sweetmeats she had been carrying on a table. “Not many people know I paint,” she said so that Emma would hopefully not tell her brother about the painting, who in turn could mention it to Matthew in passing. She did not know that concealing the truth could be this difficult.

“Why not?” Emma asked, her doe eyes curious.

“I…”Lord help me,she prayed. “I…doubt my skill.”

That was the wrong thing to say because Emma grew more curious. “How can you doubt such talent, Diana? If I painted this well, I think I would want everyone to know about it.”

Diana went to her. “Please do not tell anyone. I beg you.”

“Diana, are you all right?” Emma took her hand, concern shadowing her eyes. “You can tell me if something is troubling you. Perhaps I might be able to help you.”

“Oh, nothing is troubling me, Emma. I got nervous about my painting, that is all,” she reassured her.

“Do not be nervous about it. Believe me, it is splendid.” Emma squeezed her hand. “And I promise to only speak of it with your permission.”

“Thank you.” Diana smiled, relieved. “We should get dressed.” She turned and started toward her dressing room. “I have a dress I think you will like.”

They helped each other dress, and Crawford had already arrived and was waiting in the drawing-room when they returned downstairs. He greeted them as though he was the most charming of gentlemen. She tried to read Emma’s expression but she was left a little puzzled because Emma’s mien was placid throughout.

Diana noticed that he wore a new pair of boots that were more polished than their silver trays, and his clothes looked like what London fops wore. She had no doubt that her money bought much of it.

During dinner, she noticed that Florence was giving him more attention than she ever had, which confused Diana to no small degree, yet she refused to be frightened by their machinations.

Albert came to take Emma home after their meal, and while Margaret and Florence were having a small conversation with him by the door, Crawford walked to where Diana stood near a window.

“I hope you have taken the time to consider our agreement because I am going to ask you for a hundred pounds,” he said sotto voce.

She had nearly forgotten where they were and was about to express her shock when she heard Florence laugh. “You would, at least, give me some time, would you not?” Diana asked him.

“Perhaps, but I will not accept the grain of a sum you gave me last time.”

She glared down at his attire. “Oh, but thegrainappears to have served you well.”

He gave her a dark look that quickly passed to be replaced by a charming smile. “Five days is all you have, my dear.” He turned to rejoin the others, leaving Diana with dread.

Emma hugged her before departing. “I will have that book the next time we meet,” she whispered, which made Diana laugh.

Crawford left soon after Emma and Albert had, and Diana went up to her bedchamber without saying anything to Margaret or Florence. When she reached the top of the stairs, she recalled that she had left the two books she had purchased with Emma in the drawing-room and returned for them.

“It is a decision I wish I never made,” Diana heard Margaret say before she reached the door and stopped.

“That is why you must not make hasty decisions, Mother,” Florence said. “Now that we know Lord Crawford has more money than we thought, we should not allow him to court Diana.”

Margaret laughed. “Indeed, my dear. You will still keep the duke’s attention, but if that fails, we will have Crawford for you to marry.”

Diana’s mouth fell open and she blinked. Then she quietly giggled as she wondered what they would do if they knew where Crawford’s money had truly come from. Choosing to leave the books in the drawing room instead of interrupting them, she returned to her bedchamber.

Lying to her aunt that she would be spending the afternoon with Emma, Diana left to meet Matthew by the lake, the flutter she had felt the day before increasing tenfold as she took the horse.

She slowed when she reached the woods so she would not get lost. She had been to the lake once while she was wandering, but that was before she knew it was the place Matthew had written to her about. The trees gave way to a clearing, and her breath caught when her eyes found the lake in the distance, surrounded by willows.

It was still and reflected the sky in brilliant blue. As if to welcome her, a small yellow butterfly flitted by, followed by a larger one. Diana smiled and nudged her horse forward. From where she was, she could not see if Matthew was there, but her anticipation only heightened, and her skin flushed with both memory and appetence.

She saw him at last, and he was sitting with his back to her on a blanket that was spread on the ground with an assortment of refreshments. When he heard her approach, he turned and stood, stealing the breath from her lungs with his warm smile.

Matthew came to help her down from the horse, his hands circling her ribs and lifting her effortlessly to the ground.

“At last,” he murmured, his eyes embracing her. Then he pulled her closer and kissed her in a moment’s breath.

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