She remained quiet.
His fingers continued to caress her throat. "You know, Diana, you have finally pushed me over the edge, as it were. Your childish behavior has gone beyond what I can accept." He paused, and he looked down at her, his eyes a dark blue in the dim light.
"I did apologize," Diana said, unable to meet his eyes. She wished she had never followed Charlotte. She had been wrong, very wrong, but once they had begun talking, once she had learned the truth, she simply had been unable to pull herself away. "Please, Lyon, I am sorry."
"Words," he said. "They are easy to say, are they not?" He abruptly released her. Her hand went unconsciously to her throat.
"I shall speak to Lucia. Then we will leave."
His voice was light, normal again to Diana's ears. If she had looked into his eyes, however, she would have seen that his voice had nothing to do with anything at all.
"All right," Diana said, relief in her voice.
He followed her, hid mind working, tossing aside one idea only to quickly replace it with another. Oh, yes, he thought, she had gone too far. What he needed now was the opportunity and privacy.
His fury remained unabated until the next morning. Then he smiled. He rose from his bed and pulled back the window curtain. The day was bright and warm. Yes, he thought, today was the day.
7
We put our revenge at risk if we postpone it.
—MOLIRE
Diana, who hadn't heard a single word about anything, was delighted when Grumber, in her unique disinterest, informed her that his lordship was downstairs and wished to speak to her.
She felt a happy lurch, frowned at herself, and quickly straightened her hair. Could it be that he had finally forgiven her?
Lyonel was in conversation with Lucia. Upon Diana's entrance, he looked at her and smiled. "Hello, Diana."
Relief flooded her. He had forgiven her. What she had done had cost her a goodly amount of sleep the past night. She had even found herself thinking of her mother, the magnificent Lily, dead when Diana was six years old, and wondered whether her mother had ever scolded her, particularly about eavesdropping. She couldn't dredge up one memory about such an occurrence, and sighed. Could she blame her motherless state for her lapse in doing the right things? No, there was Dido. "You say dat word agin, Missie, and I smack you, but good!"
"Hello," she said now, smiling at the memory. She couldn't seem to remember the forbidden word.
"It is a beautiful day," Lyonel said, wondering about that small secret smile. "Lucia has given us her permission to ride to Richmond. I think you would much enjoy it. Can you be ready to leave in say thirty minutes?"
He really had forgiven her, he wasn't just being polite. She nodded. "Twenty minutes," she said, and left the drawing room with more speed than grace.
Lyonel looked after her, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"What are you planning, my boy?"
"I?" A thick brow shot upward and a long finger brushed an invisible speck from his coat sleeve. "Why, not a thing, Lucia. Merely a day of pleasure for your little charge."
"You forget I know you quite well. The look in your eyesWell, I should like to know what you are up to."
She did know him well, curse her, Lyonel thought. He quickly got to his feet and poured himself a cup of tea.
He managed to turn the conversation to Hawk and Frances.
Twenty minutes later, Diana entered the drawing room, pulling on her York tan leather riding gloves. She was wearing her new royal-blue velvet riding habit, a jaunty hat upon her head with a matching blue feather sweeping beside her cheek.
"You look lovely, my dear."
Lyonel secretly agreed with Lucia, then quickly quashed his agreement. The little hussy was going to get her comeuppance today. Oh yes she was.
He smiled easily. "A lady who can tell time," he said. "Come along, Diana. I brought along a mare for you."
"You took my acquiescence for granted?"