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Chapter 20
“Iapologize, Diana,” Matthew said when he pulled away. “I could not resist.”
“It’s…okay,” she said breathlessly.
“Glover told me that you never received my letter.”
“I think it got lost before I received it.”
“How careless of the servants.” He brushed a wisp of her hair from her left eye before leaning close to gently touch his lips to hers. “Come, I have arranged a picnic for us.”
He led her to sit on the blanket, then he went to secure her horse beside his while she removed her bonnet. When he returned, he poured wine into two glasses and handed her one. She marveled at the thought and effort put into the picnic and also wondered if it had come from him or just his meticulous servants.
“I had to leave early the night we went to the theater because something happened that required my presence,” he explained.
“What happened?” she asked.
“I had some merchandise stolen from my warehouses in Ramsgate.” He must have seen the immediate concern his revelation had evoked because he smiled and added. “I have everything sorted now.”
“You found the thief?”
“Not yet, but I am close, I believe.” He took her hand. “I think we came here to do anything but talk about my business.”
She gave him a sly smile. “I do not recall being the one to broach that subject, Matthew.”
He laughed. “I digress. I wanted to ask you if you had a pleasant time that night.”
Her cheeks blazed, and she suddenly felt shy, seeking to hide the color on her face by taking a sip of her wine.
“Did you?” he promoted, his amusement apparent in his expression. He was not referring to the play.
“Yes, I did, but you already knew that.” She reached for a strawberry while he laughed.
“Do you know, I never got the name of the play.”
“Oh, it is called The Once Loved,” she replied abstractedly as she ate the strawberry.
“I was quite surprised to find apparitions in the tale,” Matthew said.
“So was I, but it was a very pleasant surprise.”
He placed a slice of cake on a small plate and set it down in front of her. “What sort of story commands your attention?”
“Any story that casts away the mundane,” she replied. “Shakespeare’sThe Tempestis a favorite of mine.” She took a generous bite of cake.
“What about The Castle of Otranto?”
Diana stiffened, swallowing the bite she had taken with some effort. Matthew was regarding her as though he knew something, and she realized that she had said too much. For a moment, she had forgotten what she was not supposed to reveal.
“I…do not believe I have read that book.” She turned to look at the lake. “Do you swim here?” She knew he did, but it was her attempt at changing the course of the conversation.
“I do, and the water is pleasantly warm at this time of the year.”
Diana drank the last of her wine, slipped her feet from her shoes, and stood, holding her hand out to him.
“Are you going to give me a chance to take off my coat and boots?” he asked, seeming both curious and amused.
“Of course, I will.” She gathered her skirts. “Meet me at the bank.”
