Chapter 19

Chapter 19

When Diana had reached out to Anna to come along on the walk, it had taken no convincing at all. Anna was wearing one of her favourite dresses and spoke eagerly of the dinner party as they made their way to the walk.

Diana thought that she would have to feel nervous, but she didn't. Instead, she felt excited. As if she was meant to be there rather than at home with her family. She and Anna arrived at the promenade, pleasantly surprised to see Mr Winterbourne waiting with the duke as well.

Evangeline cheered as their carriage pulled up. The young girl was wearing one of her best dresses with her blonde hair in tight curls and pigtails. The women were greeted happily and warmly.

Anna and Mr Winterbourne took a few paces ahead of Diana and the Duke as Evangeline and her nanny ran ahead to feed the ducks.

"I'm so glad you accepted," the duke said.

"It was an easy choice to make," she said with a smile.

The pair walked easily together along the pond. It was a beautiful day at the park, as he had promised. Their conversation flowed with ease, and they laughed a lot together.

When she was with him, she forgot all about the pressures of her aunt and uncle and Colin's visit. It helped her forget about the ball that she'd spent so much money on. It was as if a new life started whenever she was around him.

They were in their own world as they walked. She didn't even know how much time was passing and didn't care, either.

Eventually, they came to a stop to watch the sunlight as it reflected off the water. Diana fell quiet for a while as she pondered the moment.

"Where is that mind of yours?" the duke asked with a laugh.

Diana smiled. "I'm thinking that I would like it very much for you to court me," she answered confidently.

The duke burst into excited laughter as he cheered the news.

"I'm so pleased to hear that," he said.

Diana could hardly stop herself from smiling.

"And here I thought my mother had scared you away," he teased.

"It would take a lot more than that." She laughed. "They're nothing compared to my family."

The duke shuffled a little closer to her. "They can't be that bad. I've not met them really."

"If I may," she said. "Could I ask that we keep our courtship quiet for a while? Please do not think that I am embarrassed at all. I simply want to enjoy this without any interference."

She worried that it would push him away. It seemed odd to ask something like that, but she had her reasons for it.

"I like that idea," he said to her surprise.

That took some pressure off her. She knew then that she could carry on without telling anyone and that she and the duke were still in agreement.

"Of course, I'll tell my family eventually," Diana said. "And Anna will know. But for now, I just want to enjoy your company."

"I must be the luckiest man in London," the duke said with a smile.

The Duke of Blackwood took her hand in his then and she felt a stir of nervous excitement within her. He raised her hand and kissed it gently. Everything he did seemed to soften her, and she knew then that she hardly wanted to spend a minute without his company.

Just then, the sound of Eva's excited laughter came racing towards them. She ran at them with the nanny in close pursuit. Eva ran right past the duke and into Diana's arms.

"Will you carry me?" Eva asked. "Please? My feet are so tired."

"Glady," Diana said.

She lifted the young girl into her arms as they continued their walk. Eva chatted with her the entire way, and Diana had never felt so important in her life. It was as if Eva gave her a sense of purpose.

"I like your hair today," Eva said, stroking it. "Every time I see you, you look even prettier."

"Thank you," Diana said. "That was very kind of you."

"I hope to be as pretty as you one day," Eva said kindly.

Diana felt as if she could get used to that feeling. For the first time, she allowed herself to imagine being that way perfectly. Knowing that the duke was interested in her, she knew there was a chance to watch Eva grow up.

She wanted that badly. Diana could imagine her with long blonde locks and large eyes as a young woman being courted by a handsome man. Her heart tugged at the thought of that.

Eventually, their walk had to come to an end. Diana let out a sigh as she handed a then sleeping Eva back to the duke.

"She's had a splendid time with you as usual," the duke said with a smile.

"This is the perfect way to end a day," Diana said softly.

"Why don't you meet me here tomorrow evening again?" he said. "So that I can plan it better and start officially courting you."

"I'd like that very much," she said with a smile.

With that, she and Anna left the men and headed back to their houses. Anna spoke the entire way about the courtship that lay ahead of Diana with great excitement.

"You're sworn to secrecy, though," Diana said. "And you'll have to chaperone me tomorrow."

"Of course, and of course!" Anna teased. "I'll be happy to. And I'll be sure you two get some space."

Diana blushed a little as she looked out the window at the darkening city.

"Eva loves you," Anna said. "When we walked with her, she would not stop talking about you."

"I like being around her," Diana said. "She reminds me of how wonderful the world was when I was her age."

Anna nodded in agreement. "I'm glad we met them all," she said quietly. "I owe so much to Spot now."

Diana chuckled. "I suppose," she agreed. "Remind me to pamper that dog next time I see him."

Diana slept well that night and had only pleasant dreams, and when she woke up, she was happy because she knew that she would see the duke again that evening.

*

Mark had hardly slept at all from excitement. As agreed, he had not told his mother or anybody about their courtship, but it had been all he could think about. Eva had spoken about Diana until the moment her eyes had closed to sleep. He had thought of how Diana had carried Eva and how good and natural it had seemed.

That night, he had planned for them to go on another walk on the promenade, followed by refreshments at his manor afterward. His mother had promised to be on her best behaviour at the threat of moving to another house.

His mother had reluctantly agreed. He had also received word that Anna would be chaperoning, which meant that Hugh would be joining them, too. When his mother had learned that it would be four of them, she had eased. It made it seem like just a few friends having drinks together.

Anna and Hugh had walked ahead again, giving Mark and Diana some space. As always, their conversation flowed with ease. This time was different, though, because each of them knew the perception was different.

Instead of getting to know her better, he was considering her as a potential wife and mother to her child. And he knew that she was trying to decide if he would make a suitable husband.

It felt different to when he had courted his first wife. Then he had worried so much about how he behaved and what she thought. And he had felt a lot of pressure to make it work.

This time, while he really wanted it to work, he didn't feel the pressure. What he wanted was for them to be honest about who they were with each other. Mark wanted to go into his next marriage being and feeling truly like himself.

Their walk came to a brief pause when Lady Elizabeth approached them with her lady's maid. Mark and Diana shared an amused glance as they greeted her. It did not go unnoticed by Mark that Lady Elizabeth had paid Diana hardly any attention.

"How beautiful does this all look this evening?" Lady Elizabeth asked. "And just when I thought the evening couldn't get any better, I am graced by the handsome face and dashing smile of the Duke of Blackwood."

"This is the most beautiful time of year," Mark said plainly.

"Well, I was getting a little cold, but I'm certainly warmer now that I've seen you here," Lady Elizabeth said with a smile.

Diana glanced at him again, and he had to work to stifle a laugh. Lady Elizabeth was blatantly flirting with him, blissfully unaware that it was meaningless and that the pair had entered a courtship.

It didn't matter how many short answers Mark gave her, she didn't seem to get the hint that he didn't want to linger and talk.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, Lady Elizabeth," Mark eventually said. "It appears we've lost our friends up ahead, so we best catch up."

Lady Elizabeth turned to look in Anna and Mr Winterbourne's direction, and her facial expression soured.

"Oh, alright," she said. "Well, it was pleasant to see you. We must make plans soon."

"Have a lovely evening, Lady Elizabeth," he said kindly.

Diana nodded at her quietly in greeting, and soon enough, it was just the two of them side by side again.

"I'm sorry about that," Mark said with a laugh.

"Don't mention it," Diana said. "She means well."

He was amazed at her confidence in him then. She trusted in his commitment to their courtship. That meant a lot to him. It made him feel comfortable with himself and around her. As if nothing had happened, their conversation started up again.

"Would you make more art?" he asked. "You really are very good."

"I don't have the time lately," she said. "And when my family is home, I can barely think. It doesn't matter where I go; I bump into one of them."

Mark chuckled. "I hope that will change one day," he said. "Do you enjoy it?"

"It's in my blood," she said with a laugh. "Of course I do. I used to paint with my parents all the time. They were happiest when they were making art."

"Your parents would be very proud of you," he said. "You're doing so well on your own, you know?"

"I don't know." She laughed. "Some days, I feel so tired that all the hard work almost seems silly."

"Your family doesn't help?" he asked.

Diana shook her head. "I wouldn't trust them with it," she said with another laugh. "They don't know what they're doing. They've proven that a few times."

"They sure can throw a party, though," he said.

"Are you referring to the one we both ran away from?" she teased. "Yes, they know how to plan a party."

Mark burst into excited laughter then. "Why not just kick them out if you don't want them around."

"They're family," she said. "Every time I mention it, they make me feel so guilty about it all. And then I just can't do it. Besides, Jane and Emma will have a better life out here."

"Your kindness is too much for them," Mark said kindly.

"Yes, it is," she said and laughed.

The night seemed to go by slowly but also much too fast. It was as if the day fell away when he was with her, and he liked the way that felt. As they walked, they continuously inched closer together until there was hardly any space left between them.

Miss Dubois and Hugh pretended not to notice as they enjoyed their own evening together.

For the first time in a long while, things felt right in the world. And Mark felt sad because he knew that as soon as they parted, he would miss her and return to his life, which, since they'd met, just didn't feel like enough anymore.