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Diana stared at her incredulously. When her father found that no one knew Crawford was the man she was seen with in the library, he had kept it that way, and not even her aunt knew. Now Diana wondered if Margaret would have still welcomed him into the house if she knew.
“I have a letter to post,” she said, raising her hand to show her what she was holding. “To my parents.”
“They will not answer you,” Margaret reminded her.
“It does not matter.” Diana was not going to join them in the drawing-room while Crawford was there. She descended the stairs and walked past her aunt to the front door.
“Miss Pearson,” he called from the drawing-room doorway as she opened the door. She ground her teeth before turning with a stiff smile. He was regarding her with a self-satisfied tilt of his head.
“Lord Crawford,” she acknowledged him through clenched teeth.
“I was hoping to see you. Are you going somewhere?” he asked.
“She is going to send her parents a letter,” her aunt answered for her.
“Why would you not ask the servants to post it for you?” he asked.
“I am quite fond of walking, my lord.” Diana glanced at her aunt. Her lips were pursed and she was looking between Diana and Crawford with great interest.
“Please allow me to accompany you, Miss Pearson.” Crawford crossed the hall to meet her near the door.
“Oh, what asplendididea.” Her aunt clapped her hands together. “I am sure Diana would love to have some company. Her walks are usually long.”
There was no way she would allow herself to be alone with Crawford again. “Of course, my lord,” Diana agreed. “Please allow me a moment to find my lady’s maid.” Her aunt did not care if she was chaperoned.
“Certainly.” He did not seem pleased to hear that they would be chaperoned, and Diana allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. He returned to the drawing-room to wait for her, while she walked back up the stairs.
She waited on the second-floor landing until her aunt had returned to the drawing-room before she walked back down slowly and headed toward the back of the house. She should have used the servants’ entrance, she thought, as she slipped out of the house. Gathering her skirts, she began to run. Never would he triumph over her.
Matthew gently tapped his foot on the carpeted floor as he waited for Diana and Florence to join him. They were going to the theater tonight, and he was most anxious to see both women again.
He had kept himself thoroughly occupied for the past two days to prevent himself from thinking about Diana and Dee, and making any decisions regarding their future. He had been successful on the first day, however, the second became quite a challenge.
Lady Dervin bustled into the room, and he rose expectantly. “My apologies for keeping you waiting, Your Grace,” she said.
“I do not mind waiting, Lady Dervin,” he assured her as Florence followed into the room closely behind. Matthew looked past her shoulder, looking for Diana, but he did not see her.
“Your Grace,” Florence greeted with a deep curtsy.
He had just kissed her hand when Diana walked in, positively ravishing in a pale blue dress. He was beginning to grow fond of blue because of her. A smile graced his lips, and the glint in her soft blue eyes told him that she was glad to see him. He wantedherby his side this evening.
However, Florence took his arm before he could take the first step toward Diana. Guilt gnawed at him right then, but he still slipped his arm free and went to greet Diana as a gentleman ought to greet a lady he admired.
“You look lovely this evening,” he said, taking her gloved hand and raising it to his lips. The image of him slipping the satin from her hand and trailing kisses up her arm nearly undid him.
And when she said, “So do you, Your Grace,” he smiled.
Deciding not to offer any of them his arm, he straightened. Having Florence near him would have him wanting Diana more, and being with Diana would call to his guilt. “Shall we?” he asked, leading them out of the room.
Lady Dervin had told him upon her arrival that she would not be joining them. This could work in Matthew’s favor, he thought, as they climbed into the carriage and set off.
Albert, Emma, and Crawford were already in the theater and seated in the second row when they arrived. And after greetings had been exchanged, they sat down to watch the performance with Diana on his right and Florence on his left.
The orchestra struck the first chords of the performance and the lamplights in the theater dimmed until he could barely see anything. Suddenly, the stage brightened blindingly, and the play opened with men fighting on a wooden battlefield.
Matthew’s neck tensed and his breathing shortened. He tugged at his cravat but his chest was already clenching around his lungs, and a feeling of terror began shrouding him. A cold sweat slipped down his neck and seconds later, the comprehension of what was starting to occur took hold.
He needed to find an excuse to leave this place before the terror stole his mind again.
