As for being different? Of course she enjoyed that.

She shook her head. It didn’t matter that Mrs. Cuthbert understood her better than half of London; she was here with a purpose.

“Have you heard about Lord Bryant and Lady Emily’s marriage?”

Mrs. Cuthbert’s whole demeanor dropped, and her face went white. “They are married? That is impossible.” Mrs. Cuthbert reached for the arm of a chair and shakily sat down. “Lady Emily would be the death of Lord Bryant. He as much as told me so himself.”

“No, not married, but they are to marry. I read it in the paper.”

“What paper?” Mrs Cuthbert frantically looked about the room as if the paper would appear from under one of her embroidered pillows. Diana should have thought to bring it, but she hadn’t. “Did it specifically mention Lord Bryant?”

“No.” Diana stepped forward and held out an arm. Mrs. Cuthbert was becoming pale. She hadn’t thought news of Lord Bryant’s marriage would be so disastrous. “Not by name, but I know he has been pursuing her. Surely there aren’t two peers who are possible candidates.”

Mrs. Cuthbert inhaled slowly and let it release. Her hand went to her heart. “It isn’t Lord Bryant, then.” She gave a shaky laugh. “I shouldn’t have worried.”

Diana blinked. The room went cloudy around her, like someone had let in the London haze. Lord Bryant wasn’t being forced to marry Lady Emily? The haze lifted, and the brightness of the room returned in full force. Could this be true? If he wasn’t, then why, exactly, had he cursed?

“He seemed very upset, though, as if someone were trying to pressure him into marriage.”

“No, he has been pressured to marry before. Nothing like that would disturb him. He would leave town for a while, and it would blow over.”

“Then why?”

Mrs. Cuthbert shook her head and sighed. “Because Lady Emily is marrying.”

His outburst was because she was marrying? Why would that anger him? If he didn’t love her, why was he so upset at her marriage? If he did love her, why not just marry her? She didn’t understand Lord Bryant at all. And she didn’t understand her need to understand him. Diana took a deep breath. “Why would that distress Lord Bryant?”

Mrs. Cuthbert shook her head. “That is a question you may need to ask Lord Bryant. Although, I will say that if it is Lord Silverstone—and I suspect it is—the man is three times Lady Emily’s age and doesn’t actually know her. Her parents are the most controlling and neglectful things I have ever had the displeasure to meet. Lady Emily isn’t being married off: she is being sold to the man who would give her parents the most upward social movement.”

Controlling and neglectful? Was that even possible? “That describes about half the marriages in London.” Perhaps not the age discrepancy, but a marriage driven by social connection wasn’t unique at all.

“But should it?” Mrs. Cuthbert raised an eyebrow. “I must go visit Lady Emily. I need to know how all of this was decided.” She strode to where Diana stood and patted her on the arm. “I’m happy to hear that no one is trying to force Lord Bryant into a marriage. He isn’t ready; he may never be ready.”