Page 11 of Lydia Acquires Adoration (Bennet Ladies Liberation #5)

Chapter Ten

“Roses are always lovely, and I am sure that we can make something rather elegant without much effort,” enthused Selene. Sebastian watched as his sister and Miss Bennet talked animatedly about flowers over their breakfast. Though he had not found much to contribute to their conversation, Sebastian found himself happy that Selene got on so well with Miss Bennet. It had to bode well for their future felicity.

As much as he was glad that the ladies were enjoying themselves, Sebastian still felt the need to talk to the only other gentleman in the room. Turning to Herrington, he said, “Thank you again for helping with the settlement papers. I know that Darcy and I have heaped a lot of unexpected work on you.”

“Think nothing of it.” Buttering his toast as he spoke, Herrington continued, saying, “I enjoy being able to see Darcy again. Besides, I chose this profession for a reason. I enjoy it. There is something so satisfying to me about wills and legal documents like settlements.”

Sebastian considered his words for a moment and could see a certain amount of sense to what he said. “I suppose documents are certainly easier to control than people. I am glad you have found enjoyment in what you do.”

Taking a bite of his eggs, Herrington chewed and swallowed before saying, “Me too. As a second son, my father encouraged me towards the regulars, but when I opted for the law instead, he helped me to establish myself. I will be glad to get back to my practice and my home in London.”

Sebastian knew that Herrington would be leaving for London sometime that morning, though he would coordinate with Mr. Coulson to see that the proper paperwork was filled in London. He was very grateful for the older gentleman’s willingness to help him. Though, to be fair, he was paying for his services.

A footman entered the room with a message on a tray offering it to Miss Bennet. She accepted it and thanked him. He did not wait for a reply, so Sebastian assumed that there was not an express rider waiting for a response. Pausing with his coffee cup halfway to his mouth, Sebastian looked at her with worry. He hoped nothing was amiss. Putting his cup back down on its saucer, he asked, “Is there something wrong, Miss Bennet?”

Fingering the correspondence in her lap, Miss Bennet gazed at him fleetingly, saying, “It is from my mother. I wrote to her and my other relatives yesterday about our engagement. I am fairly certain I will have shocked her by my announcement.” She laughed, but Sebastian noticed the light had left her expressive blue eyes. Putting her serviette down, Miss Bennet pushed back from the table, saying, “If you will excuse me.”

Sebastian watched her go with rising worry, uncertain of what he should do. It was obvious that Miss Bennet was distressed, but she had not asked for any support. Picking his coffee cup up, he took a sip as he considered how to proceed. Would it be presumptuous to follow her? He wanted to follow her, but would that be too forward? What exactly would be the proper thing to do? They were engaged, after all, and that should give them a little more leeway. Should he give her enough time to read the message in private?

“Well?” Selene asked, her voice filled with exasperation.

Looking at his sister, Sebastian nearly choked on his coffee under the force of her glare. It was obvious that in his hesitation, he had, in her opinion, chosen to do the wrong thing. Setting his cup down, Sebastian pushed back from the table and hurried out of the room. If Selene felt it was right for him to follow Miss Bennet, then he would no longer hesitate.

Finding Miss Bennet did not take long after a helpful footman pointed him in the direction of the gardens. All too soon, he spotted her sitting on a stone bench surrounded by blooms. It seemed she had read the missive on her lap, or had at least opened it. Trying not to startle her, he cleared his throat as he approached.

Sebastian caught the sight of tears on her lashes, but she blinked them away before saying, “Mr. Burgess., I must confess I had not expected you would follow me.”

Stepping closer, he said, “I would hope that does not mean that I am unwelcome.”

Shaking her head, Miss Bennet responded, “Not at all. I have always enjoyed your company. I do not foresee that changing now.”

Sebastian found that despite his concern over her wellbeing, Miss Bennet’s confession of enjoying his company made him smile. Sebastian noted a second bench positioned next to her own and sat down. “Then I will remain.” Watching closely, he saw Miss Bennet’s smile grow when he sat down. He found he liked being able to make her smile grow. Looking at the letter in her lap, he was compelled to ask, “If I asked about the content of your message, would you consider me impolite?”

Miss Bennet’s gaze drifted down to the letter wincing as she explained, “My mother informs me that she will discuss our supposed engagement when she arrives later today.”

Sebastian knew that parental love was a complicated thing. His memories of his own mother were hazy at best. He rarely got on with his father. Though he had sent word to his father to keep him informed, he knew his father would not react well. That was one express he did not anticipate with joy.

Miss Bennet had a strong bond with her mother from what he recalled. He could easily see how she worried. Those who we were held closest had the most power to inflict pain. Sebastian reasoned, “I do not know your mother well, but my impression of her was good. I cannot imagine that she would be critical of your decision.”

Letting out a heavy sigh, Miss Bennet dropped her shoulders. “No, Mother was by no means critical, but neither was she positive or supportive in any way. I worry about the confrontation when she gets here.”

Sebastian did not like seeing Miss Bennet, who was normally so full of enthusiasm, so lost. She was all strength and kind fire, and he wanted to make sure she stayed that way. Looking her in the eyes, he declared, “While there is a chance that it may not escalate into a confrontation, I want you to know that I will be by your side if it does.”

Lydia blinked rapidly, now wanting to cry for an entirely different reason. The cold missive from her mother had hurt. She had known that convincing her mother of the soundness of her choice would be difficult. The brief letter stating that she would not belabor the point via correspondence and to expect her arrival as soon as she could manage it was not entirely a surprise. But the reality of her mother’s hesitation hurt more than she thought it would.

Lydia hoped her family would be supportive of her marriage, but there was a chance they wouldn't be. She would not be surprised if she was about to face not only her mother but all of her sisters. All come to scold her for her foolishness. Oh, she would handle them all without too much strife, and she had every confidence that she could convince them of the soundness of her decision eventually. But the fact that she knew for a time that none of her family would be happy for her and her choices stung.

Yet here was Mr. Burgess, saying that she would not be alone when facing her mother and her disapproval. Looking him in the eye, Lydia was quick to share her pleasure, saying, “You have no idea how heartening that is, Mr. Burgess. While I think that I have convinced Elizabeth of the wisdom of my choice, that will not in all reality be enough. My mother and three other sisters will most likely descend on me with various levels of revolt. I was just starting to feel overwhelmed, and yet here you are, willing to face them with me.”

Turning on the bench so that he was facing her more fully, Mr. Burgess hesitated for a moment, his brows drawing together as his lips pressed in a line before he said, “Miss Bennet, you have agreed to join your life to mine in marriage. That is no simple matter to me. At the very least, I hope we will be friends working together to see one another happy and secure. As my wife, I want you to feel happy and protected, treasured even.” Pausing, his blue gaze seemed to pierce Lydia’s heart, and he continued, “That does not start after we say our vows. In my opinion, it starts now and moves forward with every choice I make, hoping to do right by you. So, of course, I will stand by you when you face your mother and all five of your sisters defending your right to choose me.”

With a speech as poignant as that, Lydia really did cry. Holding her handkerchief to her face, Lydia attempted to hide her tears. How had she ended up engaged to such a wonderful man? Her mother and sisters may be unhappy she was not marrying with romantic love in mind, but at the rate he was going, love was not going to be that far of a journey.

Here was a man who wanted to support her and see her treasured, to help her face her problems. She would certainly not be in the marriage alone. It would be a wonderful partnership. A partnership that had apparently already begun.

Lydia was startled when he sat next to her on her bench and, pulling her hands gently from her face, pleaded, “Please tell me I said nothing wrong.”

Shaking her head, Lydia smiled through the tears. “No, these are nothing more than happy tears—tears of relief. You do not know how much I love the idea of working together with you.”

Mr. Burgess’s slumping posture and slow smile were so arresting that Lydia giggled. He only nodded, saying, “That is fine, then. Just as long as I have not mortified you, Miss Bennet.”

Biting her lip, Lydia hesitated before asking, “Would it be forward of me to ask that you call me Lydia?”

Sitting up straighter, he said, “Not at all. I would be more than happy to call you Lydia. Of course, I will ask you to call me Sebastian in return.”

“Sebastian it is then.” Lydia nodded happily, adding, “I like it so much better than the formality of Mr. Burgess.”

Turning so that they sat shoulder to shoulder, Sebastian looked out over the garden. “Frankly, I do, too. I am not much for the formality that is often found in high society, though eventually we will have to get used to being addressed by our titles on occasion. After all, you are marrying the heir to a viscount.”

Wrinkling her nose, Lydia sighed. “I suppose we will just have to wish your father a long and happy life, putting it off as long as we may.”

This caused Sebastian to burst out laughing. “Do you know how many women out there hoped to marry me with the sole goal of becoming a viscountess? It wouldn't shock me if a few of them had already plotted to remove my father and hasten the proceedings.”

“Well, it is a good thing that you are not marrying any of them. I doubt they would make you a good wife. Planning patricide is never an inducement to marriage.” They both laughed at her observation, enjoying their time together in the garden. That is until the next two letters were brought out to her.

Sebastian was more than happy to stand next to Lydia at the top of the stairs, waiting for her mother to descend from her carriage. In the course of a few hours after breakfast, she had received multiple replies to her announcement of their engagement. The first had come from her mother to be followed up by her sisters, Mrs. Bingley and Lady Matlock. She assured him she would also get something from her middle sister, Mrs. Mary Bennet, but that the distance between them would delay her response.

Even as they stood side by side, Sebastian could detect a fine tremor in her form. Reaching out, Sebastian took her hand in his own and gave it a gentle squeeze. He was there to support her, though hopefully it would all be well. “Do not worry, your mother loves you and, besides, we are in this together.”

He did not hear what she might have said in response because the door to the carriage was open, and Lydia was hurrying down the steps. Following her at a more sedate pace, Sebastian watched as Lydia caught her younger brother as he launched himself out of the carriage into her arms. If it was not already obvious that she was a favorite of all the children, it would soon be with the way the little boy giggled.

“Lydie, I bac!” cried the small, laughing voice.

Grinning broadly at her much younger brother Lydia, said, “Yes, Mathew, you are back. It feels as if you only just left. Are you excited to see Artie?”

His head nodded up and down with enough vigor to set his hair falling wildly in his eyes. Sebastian could not help but smile at the enthusiasm, but hurried to the carriage where his future mother-in-law was descending the steps. Bowing, he said, “Mrs. Hawkins, it is a pleasure to see you again.”

Though he smiled at the older woman, her responding glower made him feel as if he were being studied like an odd specimen of insect. Narrowing her eyes, she murmured, “Mr. Burgess.” No greeting, only displeasure.

“Mama.” Lydia interrupted his uncomfortable moment with her mother. “Please do not take your displeasure out on Sebastian. I have arranged for us to have tea together after you have settled into your room. Unless you would like to head to the blue parlor now?” Lydia stood next to him, still holding little Mathew gently in her arms, but her eyes had grown hard.

Sighing, Mrs. Hawkins cupped her daughter’s cheek. Lydia did not look away from her mother, and it seemed to Sebastian that the two of them were having a conversation that he was not privy to. After a moment, Lydia’s mother nodded and said, “I will meet you in the blue parlor once I take a moment to get Mathew settled.”

Holding her arms out for her son, the little boy moved to his mother with enthusiasm, if not grace. Then, together with the nursemaid and lady’s maid that followed from the carriage, they all moved up the stairs and into the house. At the top of the stairs, Mathew was set on his feet, and he took off running in circles about them.

Sebastian could sympathize with the child cooped up from a long carriage ride so recently himself. Though Mrs. Hawkins was only a few hours away, it must have felt like forever to a small boy.

When they reached the hall that led to the stairs, Lydia asked, “Mathew, will you do something for your big sister?”

Swiveling to view his older sister exuberantly, he cried, “Yes!” and catapulted himself at her legs.

“In the nursery there is a new little girl named Clara. Can you be nice to her for me?” Fluffing his hair fondly, she said, “She could use a good friend like you.”

Leaning over, Mrs. Hawkins scooped up her rambunctious son. “Won’t that be nice? Meeting a new little friend.”

Lydia and Sebastian stood there watch her mother go up the stairs with her son and the quiet nursemaid. Offering her his arm, they walked together into the blue parlor, being sure to leave the door open for proprieties’ sake. The maid was just bringing in the tea tray and Lydia thanked her, and moving to the tray asked, “Would you like some tea while we wait?”

Sitting down on the nearby settee, he answered, “That would be lovely.” He studied Lydia as she prepared him a cup of tea. Contemplating the interaction with her mother, he said, “I know I said I was here to support you when you speak with your mother, but it felt more like you were defending me on the drive.”

Handing him his teacup, Lydia set about pouring her own cup, saying, “It is always easier for me to protect someone else than to stand up for myself. While I started out anxious about how my mother was going to react to my choice, when I realized she was more upset with you, everything changed.” Taking a seat next to him on the settee, she took a sip of tea and sighed. “I am sorry if she says anything hurtful to you.”

With a slight tilt of his head, Sebastian tried to meet Lydia's gaze, his words laced with confidence. “Lydia, I am well able to weather a few unkind words.”

“Yes, I suppose you are.” Lydia smiled at him. Then, wrinkling her nose, she added, “I only wish it were unnecessary for you to weather them. I was the one who proposed the solution to your issue, after all.” Lydia's smile grew cheeky as she finished speaking, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Sebastian found himself quite entranced.

Putting down his teacup on the little side table, Sebastian turned to Lydia. He wanted to make sure that she understood. Looking into her beautiful blue eyes, he explained, “Lydia, she is your mother and from what I can tell, she loves you dearly. Any upset results from her concern for your happiness. As someone long without a mother, I do not mind her wanting to protect you at all. It is a good thing. Once she realizes I am just as eager for your happiness as she is, then things will proceed much more smoothly.”

“That was remarkably well said, Mr. Burgess. This might go better than I hoped,” said Mrs. Hawkins from where she stood in the doorway.

Lydia knew she should not have been startled when her mother came in, but she was, nonetheless. Smiling at her mother, she stood. “Hello, Mother. Would you like some tea?”

“That would be lovely. It is not exactly hot out today, but the carriage ride felt very close after a while.” Settling down in a chair next to Lydia, her mother's gaze followed Lydia's every move as she prepared her cup of tea. Only once Lydia had finished and taken her seat did her mother speak up, demanding answers. “I have heard Mr. Burgess’s words. I want you to explain to me why you are trying to marry, without paying notice to all I taught you.”

Setting her shoulders, Lydia faced her mother. She did not enjoy going against her mother; she owed her so much, but that did not mean she would back down. Not when she knew she was in the right. “Mama, you taught us girls that we must be cognizant of finding respect in any match we make. I won’t act like I do not know why respect is so important, not when I saw the lack of it every day in my young life. Just because the arrangement I have agreed upon with Sebastian differs from what you expected me to choose does not mean I acted unthinkingly. I would say that Sebastian has the utmost respect for me.”

Her mother looked at Sebastian and then back at Lydia before saying, “No offense to Mr. Burgess, but sometimes it is hard to tell if someone really respects you until it is too late. Do not make the same mistakes I made. I beg you.”

“Mama! You are letting your past cloud your judgment on the matter. Just because I am going about this matter quickly does not mean I have not thought it through. It most certainly does not mean that I do not know Sebastian's character. Think, Mama. Would my father have ever stood by you to speak with your mother?” asked Lydia.

“No, your father never would have supported me in such a way,” she acknowledged. Then, leaning forward, she gripped Lydia’s knee. “But darling, you do not have to be the one to make this sacrifice. Protecting his niece is all well and good, but it does not have to be you that he marries. I am sure between your sisters and myself, we could find Mr. Burgess a perfectly suitable wife in the time he has. Why are you taking this on yourself?”

Lydia tried not to growl; she really did. Why did everyone have to use the word sacrifice? When Sebastian made a noise, she looked over at him and realized that he had noticed the sound she had made and was attempting not to laugh. When he shrugged helplessly, she wondered if he was also thinking about the day before when he and his sister had used the word sacrifice and Lydia had reacted so badly to the word. Feeling a smile twitch at the corners of her lips, Lydia rolled her eyes at Sebastian before turning back to her mother. “Because, Mother, I want to. I will only say this once. Marrying Sebastian will not be a sacrifice on my part, and I will not have anyone saying it is.” Grabbing her mother’s hand, Lydia said, “Did you meet Clara when you settled Mathew into the nursery?”

As her mother’s brow furrowed, Lydia could practically see the woman’s maternal instincts come to the fore. Lydia knew that her mother would never leave a child in distress; in that they were both alike. So, it was not a surprise when her mother said, “Yes, the poor mite was much quieter than any of you girls were at that age.”

Nodding, Lydia took a sip of her tea before responding, saying, “I knew you would be able to see it. That girl is in need of love and affection, and I mean to be the one to give it to her. I want to be the mother figure Clara deserves.”

Lydia saw when her mother accepted what was going to happen, her shoulders drooping ever so slightly. She murmured, “But to marry without love, darling? Now that I have known love with my Bertram, I cannot imagine you not having it.” As she took a fortifying sip from her own cup of tea, her mother let out a sigh, her wariness evident.

Lydia wished her mother were not so upset about her match, not when she was so happy about it and had such hope. She knew she could not force her mother to come around. She would simply have to prove herself happy as time rolled by and the marriage progressed. Patting her mother’s hand, Lydia said, “You are going to have to trust that I can judge for myself, even if it is not the choice that you would make. I know in my heart that I will be happily married to Sebastian. No one knows what the future holds, but I have decided to hope for the best.”

Shaking her head, her mother said, “I will not try to stop you, Lydia, but I find that I am not happy for you either, not yet. I am sorry, dear.” Taking a deep breath, she looked at Lydia and Sebastian and continued, “You said that you are planning on having the banns read and that your wedding will be on the seventeenth of June. Bertram was unable to come until closer to the ceremony date due to some obligations on his estate, but Mathew and I will stay for the duration. What do you need help with?”

Lydia beamed at her mother. She knew it would be hard for her to accept her choice, but it meant so much that she was still willing to help her, regardless. Looking at Sebastian, Lydia saw his encouraging smile, so turning back to her mother, she said, “Actually, Sebastian and I were planning on a very simple affair with a few flowers at the church and a small breakfast for only family afterwards. So there is not much help needed with the wedding. There is, however, the issue of inspecting Swarkstone Park. We have to take up its management immediately after we marry. What do you say to going with us to inspect the staff and grounds? I have a feeling both will need a lot of attention.”