That sounded innocuous enough to Didier and he relaxed, just a bit. "I will fetch Jamison for you, miss. He will escort you. To the park, I think. Yes, that will be fine."
Diana did not disabuse him.
Jamison, a second footman with twinkling blue eyes and a wide smile, was delighted to escort the young Miss Savarol. Diana, on the other hand, plotted how to rid herself of him.
It turned out to be an impossible task. Jamison had his orders in no uncertain terms from Didier. One religiously followed the old monk's orders.
"I believe I should like to visit Portsmouth Square, Jamison."
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"Uh? 'Tis a far piece, miss."
"Fine. Fetch a hansom cab for us."
Jamison, unfortunately, knew nothing about Lord Saint Leven's place of abode. He most willingly followed Miss Savarol into the lion's den.
Kenworthy just happened to be out when Diana firmly knocked on the Saint Leven brass town-house knocker.
Titwiller was not Didier's equal. He gawked, stammered, and fell back in disarray at Diana's imperious request to see her cousin immediately.
"Tell him," Diana added with a sapient eye, "that it is most urgent and that if he is not here in ten minutes I shall fetch him myself."
Jamison stared. He could easily picture Didier's reaction when he heard of this escapade. He nearly moaned aloud, knowing full well that the messenger of bad news usually had the misfortune to have his head bashed.
Titwiller lost what little aplomb he possessed as he took the stairs two at a time.
"What the devil!"
"It is Miss Diana Savarol to see you, my lord. She informed me, my lord, that it is most urgent."
Lyon was exhausted from oversatiation. He cursed long and fluently. "Get Kenworthy. He'll get rid of her."
"Kenworthy is not here at present, my lord. She informed me, my lord, that she could, er, come up here to fetch you if you did not come down."
Lyon finally reacted to the abject pleading in Titwiller's voice and Diana's threat, which he didn't doubt for more than ten seconds. He cursed again and threw back the covers.
Diana was getting ready to place her foot on the first step when Lyon appeared on the landing.
"Don't you dare!"
"Well, you have certainly taken your time!"
"The only reason I'm coming down is to toss you out on your ear, Diana!"
"Ha! Suffering from the ague! What is wrong with you? Don't you care that Charlotte has been ---"
"Shut up!" He reached her, took her arm, and pulled her none too gently into the library.
"Very nice," Diana said, looking about. "I wager you haven't read a quarter of all these books."
"Well, you'd be wrong. Diana, what the devil are you doing here? This is a gentleman's residence, a bachelor's residence as you well know, and it is most improper ---"
"You look awful. Haven't you slept? Are you truly ill?"
"Thank you and no and no."
"Then, what ---"