Diana knelt by Tommy. “Should we read a story?”

Tommy and Drue both nodded.

Diana popped Drue onto her hip and took Tommy by the hand. She led them to the small bookcase that sat against the wall. Together, they picked out a large stack of books. She sat down at the miniature table and opened the first one. As her words filled the nursery, Charlotte sighed and relaxed into a slow rhythm of rocking her baby girl.

In half an hour, Diana and the boys made it through the books they had chosen. Tommy and Drue’s eyes were starting to look heavy.

“Would you like me to help the boys get dressed for bed?” Diana asked.

Charlotte shook her head and put a finger to her lips. She stood from her chair with Emma in her arms and gently walked to the children’s adjoining bedchamber. Diana ruffled the two boys’ hair, dark like their father’s, and waited for Charlotte to return.

“Boys,” Charlotte said, “Mrs. Jenkins is going to help you prepare for bed tonight. I’m going to have some tea downstairs with Miss Barton.” After a few complaints, which Charlotte miraculously ignored, Mrs. Jenkins returned to prepare them for bed.

Diana followed Charlotte into the drawing room, where Mrs. Jenkins had already laid out the tea things. Charlotte must have spoken with Mrs. Jenkins while Diana had been engrossed in stories with the boys.

“Tell me what is different,” Charlotte said. “Why were you able to manage such a good day at the office? I can tell by looking at you that something has changed.”

How much should she tell Charlotte? She certainly could not tell her that she ran to Lord Bryant in the middle of the night after Mr. Broadcreek delayed her ballast. Nor could she reveal she had been fabricating a relationship with Lord Bryant for the past three weeks. And she would definitely not tell Charlotte that she had kissed Lord Bryant in her office this afternoon.

“I’ve enlisted some help.”

“You’ve hired someone?” Charlotte smiled. She had been trying to convince Diana to hire more help since she sold the company to her, but it wasn’t easy for Diana to find someone she could trust. Diana wasn’t ready to take the risk of having a man in the office, nor had she had any luck finding another woman besides Mrs. Oliver to work with her.

“No, not exactly.”

“Has Nate returned?”

“No.”

“Then who is helping?”

Diana ran a finger along the edge of her teacup. How many of the events of the past weeks should she tell Charlotte? The lines of her eyes were still softened. Diana hated to deepen them. “What do you know of Lord Bryant?”

“Lord Bryant the baron?”

“Is there another Lord Bryant?”

“Not that I know of. But . . .”

Diana could see the wheels turning in her friend’s head. Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “How exactly is Lord Bryant helping you?”

Diana shrugged as if having a baron’s help was an everyday occurrence. “Honestly, he isn’t doing much.” Diana blinked hard to get rid of the image of him pulling her to him just before leaning down and . . . “Just having my name connected with his is enough to keep many of the railroad-grabbing men away.”