Chapter Four
Diana
Diana wasn’t certain she could believe what had just occurred. She blinked a few times, convinced that she was going to awaken from some insane dream. But she was still there, soaked beneath Lord Powis’ coat with Lady Theodosia and Lady Rebecca far too filled with glee at the turn of events.
Diana understood immediately what the earl had done.
Their betrothal was inevitable after how they’d been found.
She’d been far too careless in believing they were actually alone and there weren’t others caught in the storm.
Being discovered alone in his arms embraced in a passionate kiss left them only two choices… marriage or ruination.
Marriage was the preferable option. But the weight of it brought tears to her eyes. Marriage was forever, and she hardly knew the man. He appeared kind and there was certainly attraction unlike what she even knew was possible.
That is what drove her to be so reckless and lose all of her practical sensibilities. But hadn’t she set out into the garden to follow after a man? A man who wasn’t the one she would now marry. One might argue her good sense had long vanished the moment she stepped foot into the dark.
She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin as she faced Theodosia. “I don’t suppose you might let us share the news ourselves?”
“You know me better than that, Lady Diana,” Theodosia replied. “I knew you were up to something the moment I saw you enter the garden.”
“You followed me?”
“Indeed. Rebecca and I were taking the air when we noticed you slip away alone.” Theodosia’s smile was sharp as a blade. “And you certainly didn’t disappoint.”
Diana fisted her fingers tighter into Lord Powis’s coat. She should have paid much better attention to her surroundings. Or better yet, she should have remained in the ballroom just as her friends had tried to convince her to do.
Theodosia reached her hand out and there were no rain droplets. The rain had stopped.
“Come, Rebecca,” Theodosia said, linking arms with her companion. “We simply must share the news. This will be the talk of the season.”
Diana watched as the two women hurried away without another word. By tomorrow, every drawing room in London would be buzzing with speculation about her hasty engagement.
“Diana,” Graham said quietly, and she noticed he couldn’t quite meet her eyes. “I’m sorry. I never intended—”
“You saved us both from complete ruin,” she interrupted. “I should thank you.”
“Don’t.” The word was sharp. “Don’t thank me for compromising you.”
The pain in his voice made her chest ache. He was blaming himself entirely, she realized. Taking on the full weight of their shared mistake.
She fought to find the words. Something that might offer comfort, but she wasn’t certain what would comfort him. She didn’t even know how to comfort herself.
“We should return,” he said, offering his arm without looking at her. “I must speak with your brother.”
As they walked back toward the ballroom, neither spoke a single word. Her brother and father would be beside themselves. They’d plan a rushed wedding, if they didn’t kill the earl first, and then she wasn’t certain what her life would be. She didn’t even know her betrothed’s given name.
But underneath her fear, something else stirred. The memory of his arms around her, the way he’d looked at her before everything went horribly wrong. Perhaps there was something to build on, even if the foundation was shaky. Assuming he wanted that, too.
The ballroom erupted in whispers the moment they appeared. Diana felt every eye upon them, saw the way conversations stopped mid-sentence as they passed. The disheveled state of their appearances certainly didn’t do them any favors.
She lifted her chin and smiled, refusing to give them the satisfaction of thinking they affected her. Even if she didn’t wholly feel that way on the inside.
“Diana!” Hannah appeared at her elbow, face pale with concern. “Is what those vipers said true?”
“Lord Powis has asked for my hand,” Diana said simply. There was no point in denying it when half the ballroom had already heard the news from Lady Theodosia.
Hannah’s eyes widened. Behind her, Juliana, Tabitha, and Marina pushed through the crowd, their faces displaying various degrees of surprise and concern.
“But when—how—?” Tabitha stammered.
“That is a discussion for later,” Diana whispered. “Now is not the time.”
Her friends exchanged meaningful glances, clearly understanding that something significant had occurred. They formed a protective circle around her, their loyalty evident even as they took in her disheveled appearance and Powis’s tense posture.
“Of course,” Hannah said quickly, offering her a small, comforting smile.
Diana felt a rush of gratitude for their unwavering support. Whatever questions they had would wait until they could speak privately.
Matt appeared at Powis’s shoulder, and his expression also laced with concern.
“Graham,” he said, his tone tight. “Congratulations on your betrothal to our Diana here.”
At least Diana now knew the given name of her betrothed. That was a start. It didn’t mean he would give her leave to refer to him as such, but it’s a detail she should know about the man she was going to marry.
“Thank you,” Graham replied stiffly, not meeting Matt’s eye.
Before anyone could say more, Diana spotted Elias cutting through the crowd, much like a raging bull. She could see the way he strained to control his fury. And she drew a long breath to brace herself as curious onlookers watched the scene.
“Sister,” Elias said when he reached them, his voice deadly calm. “I believe we need to speak.”
“Elias,” Diana began, but he held up a hand.
“Lord Powis,” he started, barely hiding his contempt before he lowered his voice so only they could hear. “I believe I am owed the courtesy of a conversation.”
Graham straightened, and to his credit he didn’t cower at her brother’s harsh tone. “Indeed, my lord.”
“I’m pleased my sister accepted your proposal,” Elias said loudly, so that his voice carried.
Diana saw several guests turn to listen, not bothering to hide their interest in the unfolding drama.
“As am I,” Graham replied carefully.
Elias stepped closer, his smile never wavering for the benefit of their audience, but his voice dropped to a deadly whisper that only Diana and Graham could hear.
“Though I find this rather suspicious. A man inherits a title and within hours of entering society has compromised an earl’s daughter with a considerable dowry into marriage. ”
Diana felt the blood drain from her face at Elias’s cruel words. Graham went rigid beside her.
“Elias,” Diana hissed.
But her brother wasn’t finished. Still speaking quietly enough that only they could hear while maintaining his facade for the watching crowd. “I will see you on the dueling ground if you have a mind to take her dowry and abandon her in the country for mistresses and gambling halls.”
Graham’s jaw tightened, but he kept his voice equally low. “I am not of that mind, my lord. But I appreciate your concern.”
Elias extended his hand to Graham for a formal shake. When Graham took it, Elias pulled him closer.
“Do you?” Elias asked, his nostrils flaring. “Because I do not make idle threats.”
The threat hung in the air between them as the men faced each other, then released hands.
Graham nodded stiffly.
Elias straightened, extending his arm to his wife, Lydia, who had been watching the scene with concern.
“Wonderful! We shall begin the wedding preparations tomorrow,” he said loudly enough for nearby guests to hear.
Then, dropping his voice once more, he continued, “And we’ll continue our other conversation privately. Soon.”
Lydia patted her husband’s arm, urging him to maintain his composure.
“I must apologize for my brother,” Diana whispered to Graham. “He shouldn’t have—”
“He’s right to do it,” Graham cut her off quietly. “And I did compromise you.”
Matt stepped closer to Graham’s right. “Perhaps you should make the formal announcement,” he suggested. “Put an end to the speculation.”
“And then I’m taking my sister home,” Elias added firmly.
Diana nodded just as Lady Fletcher approached with her husband in tow. “Lord Powis, Lady Diana, did we hear that an announcement may be in order?”
“You heard correctly,” Graham said, not with a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Oh, how wonderful!” Lady Fletcher exclaimed. “And at my ball. You are going to crush the matchmakers here tonight. They had their sights set on you, my lord.”
Graham shifted uncomfortably on his feet, and Diana wished there was something she could say or do.
“Thank you,” Diana managed, forcing a smile despite the turmoil in her chest.
“We’ll make the announcement now,” Lady Fletcher added. The woman would be talking about this for weeks to anyone who would listen.
“You’re so very kind,” Graham replied with what sounded like forced politeness.
Lord Fletcher called for attention and then Graham shared their news to the sea of guests. Diana stood beside him, watching the tittering and waving of fans as they were stared at and inspected. Both still soaked from their time in the rain.
She was almost grateful when Elias appeared to retrieve her from a line of people who had swarmed them to wish them well.
Graham and Matt followed as they took their leave, each party summoning their carriages and standing together in awkward silence.
Once the carriages rolled to a stop in front of the townhouse, Graham bowed formally to her before Elias could pull her away, remorse in expression. “Good night, Lady Diana. Lord Snowdon, Lady Snowdon.” His eyes met Diana’s again. “I shall call tomorrow.”
“Good night, Lord Powis,” Diana replied, the emotion of the events threatening to consume her.
She watched as Graham departed with Matt, before taking her brother’s hand to step into her family’s carriage. She seated herself across from Lydia and then Elias entered and sat beside his wife.
The moment the carriage door closed, even in the darkness she could see the murderous expression he wore.
“What the devil happened in that garden?” Elias demanded.
“Elias,” Lydia warned gently, placing a hand on his arm.
“No, my love. I want to hear from my sister what occurred.” Elias raised his hand flippantly toward Diana. “Because either my sister lost her damned mind and willingly went off into the dark with a random man or the blackguard forced himself upon her. And I must know which.”
Diana felt tears prick her eyes. “I was out in the garden and came across Lord Powis, and we were caught in the storm. We took shelter in the gazebo, and… Lady Theodosia and Lady Rebecca found us there.”
“And why were you out in the garden alone and unchaperoned? When I noticed you were gone, I was told you were in the retiring room.”
Diana’s cheeks burned with shame. She could hardly tell him she’d been chasing after Lord Ockham and then ended up in the arms of a different man. “I needed air. The ballroom was stifling.”
“Air,” Elias repeated flatly. “So you decided to wander the grounds alone in the dark.”
“What’s done is done, Elias,” Diana said, exasperated by her brother. “It just all happened so fast with the rain.”
“Or the man saw an opportunity,” Elias said harshly.
“You don’t know that’s what happened.”
“I don’t know much of anything about him. Or about what would possess you to allow the man to take certain liberties with you, if those horrid women speak the truth.”
Lydia leaned forward and squeezed Diana’s hand across the carriage. “What your brother means to say is that we just want to ensure that you are well after the events of the evening, dearest. This all happened so very quickly.”
“I’m well aware,” Diana fired back, harsher than she intended. “But neither of us planned for any of it. I know it.”
“Time will tell,” Elias huffed.
The carriage fell silent as they rolled through London’s dark streets. Diana stared out the window, the weight of her brother’s accusations settling over her like a shroud.
“You must at least like him if you entertained a kiss with the man?” Lydia asked gently.
“I do.”
Elias practically growled beside her, but didn’t say anything.
“What happens now?” Diana asked, though she wasn’t certain she wanted to hear the answer. “How soon must we wed?”
“We shall discuss the marriage settlements with Powis,” Elias said. “And we pray that whatever his motives, he proves to be a decent husband to you.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
Elias’s expression grew even darker. “Then I’ll make good on my promise to see him on the dueling ground.”
As they turned onto their street, Diana felt the full impact of her precarious situation settle over her.
In one reckless evening, she’d bound herself to a stranger whose motives, while she defended them, she couldn’t be certain of.
Her family’s reputation hung in the balance, her sisters’ futures were at stake, and she had no idea what kind of man she was truly marrying.
But she brought her fingers to her lips, remembering the heated kiss that got them into this mess. But as her world and future crumbled around her, all she could think about was when she would get to kiss him again.