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choice of groom.
    “Still,” Cordell was saying, “what nonsense is this, Templeton? Learning Persian. Turning into a bluestocking, are you?” The man chuckled.
    Temple shook his head. “Me? I think not. But Elton is getting on in years, and I’m thinking of hiring a Persian servant to replace him. I hear they are quite loyal. Thought I’d get a head start on learning how to tell the poor fellow that his wages will be late.”
    Cordell chortled, then went back to staring at the scenery.
    Temple glanced at Diana. “And what of you, my lady? What are you reading?”
    The viscount groaned. “You’ll regret asking her that one.”
    Diana ignored her betrothed. “This is a book my father had commissioned. Antiquities of England: A Traveler’s Guide. It’s by Mr. Theonius T. Billingsworth, a historian of some renown. Perhaps you’ve heard of him?”
    “Can’t say that I have,” Temple admitted.
    “Deuced lucky on that account,” Cordell muttered, crossing his arms over his chest and laying his head against the side of the carriage before closing his eyes.
    Even Mrs. Foston didn’t look overly enthusiastic.
    Diana ignored them. “He’s quite witty, and he lists all the perfectly interesting monuments and sights along the various roads in England. Why, he even lists your grandfather’s grand estate in Sussex as well as smaller estates…” She paused for a moment, thumbing through the little book. “Ah, yes, here it is, even Lord Nettlestone’s castle merits a mention.”
    Temple tapped his lorgnette against the window on which Cordell’s head rested. The rat-a-tat-tat set the viscount’s mouth into a pained frown.
    “Funny you should mention Nettlestone,” Temple said. “I saw him the other night at White’s. Along with your father, my lady.”
    “My father?” Diana asked.
    At this, Cordell opened one eye, his florid color paling.
    “The earl created quite a stir,” Temple said, continuing to tap his lorgnette against the window.
    “He did?” The question that should have come from Diana actually came from her intended. Now both eyes were open and Cordell sat up a little straighter. “Was he overly distraught? Angry, perhaps? Didn’t make any threats, did he?”
    And this was Diana’s choice for a husband? Temple mused. Perhaps she was as addled as the old London cats liked to speculate.
    “There was so much commotion, I couldn’t quite tell,” Temple said, glancing down at his fingernails and examining them as if suddenly they were the most important things he’d ever observed.
    This didn’t set well with Cordell. “What was his remedy, sir? That is, if you recall. I need to know.” The man’s left eye started to tic with a nervous flutter.
    “His remedy, you ask? His remedy. Hmm.” Temple tapped his lorgnette against the wall of the carriage, each thwack making Cordell twitch that much more. “I believe he sent some likely fellows after you. Now if I can just recall their names.”
    Cordell leaned forward, while Diana sat poised in her seat, her only sign of distress a slight furrow across her fair brow.
    “Their names,” Temple said, continuing his thrumming beat. “I believe they were your latest conquests, Diana. What the devil are their names? Hmm…”
    She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Do you mean Lord Harry and Baron Nettlesome?”
    “Nettlestone,” Temple corrected.
    “Yes…yes,” she said testily. “Nettlestone.”
    “Well, I just thought that since he was a favorite of yours, you would at least know his name.”
    “Believe me, my lord, I had it correct the first time.”
    Temple grinned. “That you did. Pins and Needles it is. I do like young Penham.”
    Diana’s eyes narrowed, and Temple was glad he was on the inside of the carriage and not outside on the road. Elton was loyal, but Diana had enough money to bribe even his stalwart heart to run him down.
    “Good lad, that, Penham,” he continued. “So fresh-faced and full of honor. And