Their respective grandparents and parents had decided long ago that the simplest way to keep the whole estate together and avoid legal headaches for several generations would be for Diana and Andrew to marry. They had all been brought up with this idea but it had seemed so far in the future until now.
“There are so many places I can show you in London, Diana,” Percy said, and she could see that he had noticed her downcast face and was trying to cheer her up. She smiled a little at his effort, not really knowing why she felt so crushed by her father’s words.
Diana had thought about her first London Season for so long, and her daydreams had always involved dancing with a strong, graceful, and proficient partner whose features were somehow always in shadow. She didn’t really know if she were dreaming of a man who was dark or fair, slender or muscular, jolly or serious.
Until her father’s comments at the breakfast table, Diana was not sure she had ever considered her eventual marriage to Andrew any more seriously than as a fairy story. Perhaps even less seriously than a fairy story.
She knew that the imaginary dance partner of her daydreams was not her cousin, Andrew. She also knew that when they danced, there was nowhere in the world she wanted to be more than in her imaginary partner’s arms.
Pulling her attention back into the breakfast room, she found that Percy was still talking
“… Then there’s theaters, operas, concert halls and the park where all the most fashionable riders come out to display themselves. I’ll have a good scout around when I’m in town next week and make a list for you.”
Unfortunately, his listing of the city’s manifold pleasures only attracted his father’s attention again. Richard Arnold put down his book.
“London, London, London. Why does the place have such a fascination for you, Percy? I thought that after Oxford, you’d settle down here with me and start learning the ropes properly for managing Fernside and all our family investments. But no, you’re forever dashing off to London.”
“He’s not always in London, Father,” Diana said, looking at Percy sympathetically. But their father had already launched into one of his lectures on duties and responsibilities.
“You’re the son of the Earl of Templeton, my boy, and one day, you will be the Earl yourself. When that day comes, you need to be able to manage this estate and this family without me. I won’t always be here to guide your hand and tell you what to do, will I?”
“I know that Sir,” Percy tried to reassure him, but their father now had momentum and couldn’t be stopped so easily.
“Last year when I had my attack while walking in Regents Park, do you know what my greatest worry was, Percy? It wasn’t dying or facing my maker. It was how on earth my family was going to cope without me. And where were you? Weekending in Brighton with all the other fine young fellows.”
“Those London doctors had you back on your feet in no time, Father. And Dr. Hughs said that angina is quite common in men of your age and can be managed.” Some real anxiety was evident on Percy’s face despite his attempt at words of reassurance. He did not like to think about his father’s mortality.
“What would you do if I popped my clogs tomorrow, eh?” Lord Templeton persisted. “You wouldn’t have the first clue where to begin, and all because you’ve spent the last few years gallivanting about in London and Brighton.”
Thankfully, their mother interrupted now, her face even more upset than Percy’s.
“Don’t talk that way, Richard. Please. You’re very healthy for a man of your age, even with your angina. The physicians said that if you follow their advice you could live to 90.”
“I know, I know,” Lord Templeton grumbled. “A moderate diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, no strong drink, and rich foods only at Christmas."
“And if you also do as Mother tells you and take a brisk walk every day after luncheon, you might even make it to 100,” Percy added with a winning smile, his comment breaking the tension again.
Lady Templeton passed the fruit bowl to her husband pointedly, and he took the reddest apple from it without objection.
* * *
“Why does he always do that?” Percy complained to his sister after breakfast as they walked together to the morning room. “Anyone would think I was the biggest rakehell and gambler in society by the way he goes on. Just because I like a little innocent amusement with men my age rather than being stuck in the countryside all the time.”
“You could try to be a bit more responsible, Percy. He worries about you,” Diana sighed. “You know Father. All the cares of the world are on his shoulders.”
“He keeps them there quite deliberately,” Percy said. “I believe he likes the burden. I wouldn’t mind so much if he didn’t keep trying to slip a few unnecessary cares onto my shoulders when my mind is on other things.”
“They’re not all unnecessary, Percy.”
“But so many of them are, dear sister. Our father needs to learn to relax sometimes and stop trying to control everything.”
As they were speaking, Jenson, the family’s rather stately butler, entered the room.
“Lord Greene, Lady Diana.” Jenson nodded at each sibling in turn. “Lady Templeton wishes you to know that the Dowager Viscountess Birks has called and is taking tea privately in the library with your father. Lady Templeton, therefore, requests that you will remain at home for luncheon today.”
The siblings exchanged surprised glances as Jenson left the room.
“How mysterious! I wonder what brings Aunt Henrietta here unannounced.” Percy said.