Page 20 of Lydia Acquires Adoration (Bennet Ladies Liberation #5)
Chapter Nineteen
It had been a few weeks since his father had left Swarkstone Park, and he was glad of it. While his father's reaction to Lydia and their marriage wasn't as severe as he had feared, dealing with him regarding the estate and Clara had proven to be quite a struggle. His father did not understand why Sebastian would not give way to his suggestions, or rather, commands.
His father’s argument was that he had more experience in running an estate and so he knew better. The viscount’s way of doing things was inherited from his father and so on, while Sebastian was interested in attempting new methods of doing things. He was also interested in providing a better home environment for the tenants and their families as well as the staff.
When his father had learned that he and Lydia were arranging for a school to teach reading, writing and arithmetic two days a week, the viscount had gone on a tirade about educating the masses being the downfall of life as they knew it. Sebastian refused to argue about the matter and informed his father that he fully supported Lydia’s idea for the school, and he would not be swayed otherwise. It was the next day that his father informed them that he would be leaving.
Neither he nor Lydia regretted his leaving much. If he regretted anything, it would have been the fact that though his father had finally met Clara, the man had no desire to spend any time with her or show her any love. It was sad the viscount did not want to have a relationship with his granddaughter. Sebastian promised himself that he would never allow himself to turn away from love and family the way his father did.
After the viscount’s departure, Sebastian spoke with Lydia about the man that was his father. She had been very pragmatic about their relationship with the viscount moving forward, and that Clara would not be worse for not having the viscount’s love and affection. With a comforting smile, she promised him that Clara would be surrounded by an abundance of love and support. It had been so reassuring to realize that Clara had love and attention that extended beyond the two of them. Lydia’s family and Selene also held her dear.
Pulling himself out of his ruminations, Sebastian looked at the clock on the mantel, happy to see that it was nearly time for him to meet up with Lydia and Clara. They had developed the habit of taking a mid-morning stroll through the garden together. It was one of the highlights of his day. He enjoyed it almost as much as the quiet moments he shared alone with Lydia in the evenings.
Sitting and talking with her at the end of the day was both soothing and enjoyable. He looked forward to being able to engage in a conversation with her, sharing the details of their daily adventures. Sharing their concerns and victories strengthened their connection, and lately, it was as if their connection seemed to grow deeper. There was just something about sharing his dreams with her and hearing hers in return that made him feel captivated by her.
Pushing back from his desk, he left his office to make his way over to the stairway, where he was sure Lydia and Clara would soon be coming down to greet him. As he arrived at the base of the stairs, he heard Lydia’s voice from above him saying, “Perfect timing.” Looking down at Clara, who walked beside her, she said, “A charming gentleman has come to escort us on our walk, Clara. What do you think we should do?”
Smiling up at Lydia, Clara said, “We should thank him, Aunt Lydia.”
Sebastian was happy to see how far Clara had come in the time they had her with them. She had gone from nearly silent to talking almost freely with them and almost joking. Lydia caught his eye and smiled, clearly as happy as he was at Cara’s progress. Nodding to Clara, she said, “Then we shall thank him for his courtesy when we great him at the bottom of the stairs.”
The words had barely left her mouth when something went wrong, and she seemed to lose her balance. Sebastian watched in suspended terror as she fell face first down the stairs. Things slowed down as he dove to catch her. If she had been a single step further up the stairs, he would have been helpless to save her. As it was, it was a near thing.
With his heart racing in his chest, he caught her in a one-armed embrace while desperately clutching the banister to steady themselves against her downward momentum. Gasping at the near disaster, he asked, “Lydia, are you all right?”
Her nod was barely perceptible, but he could feel the slight movement as she clung tightly to him, seeking solace. Had Clara not been there, he would have scooped her up in his arms and carried Lydia somewhere quiet so he could simply hold her until both of their shaking had stopped. It was not to be, however, because Clara was clinging to his leg, and looking up at him with tears in her eyes.
Swallowing hard, he looked down at her and said, “Your aunt is unharmed, sweetheart. She is simply a little startled. Why don’t we go sit down for a moment? How does that sound?”
Clara nodded and then scampered off towards the parlor, giving Sebastian a moment to settle himself. Taking a breath, he slid his arm around Lydia’s shoulders and, holding her into his side, supported her as they walked into the parlor. Escorting her to the closest settee, he sat down with her. Noticing how she still leaned into him, he asked, “Do you still think that you want to go for a walk outside in the garden or would you prefer to stay inside today?”
Sighing, Lydia said, “I am sure that I will recover after a moment.” Smiling up at Sebastian, with a cute blush she added, “I am not so dainty that a fall down the stairs will keep me indoors for the day.”
Finding he could not resist kissing her forehead, he then whispered, “Just let me know when you want to take our turn about the garden.”
Lydia sat with Oakley and Mrs. Wilson as they went over lists of linens and the like. There were barely enough on hand to have sheets on even half the guest beds. Now that she had gotten the house thoroughly cleaned from attic to basement, Lydia wanted to see to everyone’s comfort and the ability to have guests. It had been nearly a month since they had moved to Swarkstone Park, and Lydia assumed that Selene would be coming to stay with them. Despite knowing it would take time, Lydia remained committed to getting the house in order and would persist until she was satisfied.
“With the arrival of the trunk from my sister Jane, we should finally have enough bed lines for all the guest rooms. Jane is just the sort to send me something so practical and helpful. She even had my new initials sown into the corners. I'm also pleased to report that the fabric I ordered for the curtains has finally arrived.” Lydia spoke while tapping at the desk with her finger. Looking up, she asked, “How are the maids with a needle?”
Mrs. Wilson said, “All of them are able to do simple work, though Ann is the best at finer work.”
Nodding, Lydia wondered about having Ann work on producing the curtains for the front parlor. She was not about to drain their coffers to redecorate everything, but Lydia was determined that her home would not remain feeling so dismal. Now that they had cleaned all the rooms and properly had them closed off with the furniture covered and whatnot, they could keep the rest of the house looking more presentable. Lydia hoped to add one thing at a time to make her home beautiful. With the recent addition of another maid, they could afford to have Ann working on another project.
Lydia was so happy that Oakley had been willing to help with tasks that did not fall under the purview of lady’s maid. Her stepping in to act almost as a second housekeeper had been a godsend. She was able to oversee some of the work and instruct May and Ann on some of the finer points of service while Mrs. Wilson focus on getting Suzanna and Lilly under better control as well as work with the kitchen staff. She also had to oversee the male staff, as they had yet to acquire a new butler. Though now that staff was starting to trickle in, Oakley could return to her more typical role.
When they had arrived at Swarkstone Park, Sebastian had asked the grooms which had come with them who normally handled his carriage if they would be willing to act as footmen. Both had been very obliging and, when not on duty near the front door, were seen helping move things about the house, helping to reorder things into a more pleasing and less ostentatious fashion.
Looking back at Mrs. Wilson, she said, “It would be nice to have Ann work on making the curtains. Once she has the basic stitching in, I will finish it off with some embroidery.”
Oakley smiled. “I can help Ann. I think I know how to create the look you are going for, Mrs. Burgess. It's only a matter of time before your family makes an appearance and we will be sure to have your home is prepared to impress them.” Looking at Mrs. Wilson with a nod, she added, “We won’t let you down.”
“Meals are already much better now that we have straightened out the cook,” Mrs. Wilson smiled. “Once she learned she had a much better budget than before and with those recipes that you received from the Matlock and Pemberley’s cooks, as well as from your good mother, things have improved tremendously. Mrs. Martin is not a bad cook; I think she was just under Mrs. Netter’s thumb for too long. With her gone, Mrs. Martin has become a right cheery person.”
Lydia had to admit that she had enjoyed the change of food being presented over the last week or so. Not that she had wanted to hurt the cook’s feelings and tell her that her fare was not up to the standard she was used to. Yes, the food being presented would not embarrass her if her family visited. “I am glad she is able to enjoy her work now. I know when my mother visits she will be happy to see her favorite recipes in use.”
“I believe your mother will have much to be happy with next time she visits.” Oakley wore an unusual grin as she spoke that made Lydia wonder what she was about.
Tilting her head, Lydia questioned her, “While I know that Swarkstone has improved dramatically since the last time she saw it, I have the feeling that is not what you are alluding to.”
Shaking her head at Lydia’s comment, she replied, “Your mother was quite worried about your marriage to Mr. Burgess. Everyone could see it. I merely meant that she will be happy to see how much your husband adores you.”
Lydia snapped her mouth shut or else risk it hanging open like a fool. That was not at all what she had expected Oakley to say. She was always the first to admit that she encouraged Oakley to be honest with her when she felt she needed it, but her comment blindsided her this time. It was hard to find the words that she wanted to use, but she managed to say, “While I hope that one day I will earn his love, it is far too soon to have hopes in that regard.”
She was astounded when Mrs. Wilson and Oakley looked at each other and started laughing. It took them a few minutes to get themselves under control and by that time, Lydia was almost ready to become put out with them. Mrs. Wilson finally said, “Love does not follow a timeline, Mrs. Burgess. I know your marriage was not born of passion, but that does not mean it would not swiftly follow. You started your marriage on the sound foundation of goodwill and respect. This is merely an extension of that.”
Rubbing her forehead, Lydia said, “I know that. I'm curious about the evidence you've seen that indicates my husband's feelings for me have grown beyond respect. Because I am certainly not seeing it.”
Oakley looked at Lydia kindly, going so far as to reach out and pat her hand in a motherly fashion before saying, “Do you remember yesterday when you were going down the stairs and you tripped?”
“Of course, he prevented me from falling. He is a gentleman. It does not mean he is in love with me.”
Shaking her head, Oakley’s smile broadened as she said, “While I concede that he would have ensured the safety of anyone at risk, his extreme concern for your well-being can only stem from his deep feelings for you.”
Adding her opinion to the mix, Mrs. Wilson added, “Maybe you are not seeing what we see because you are not looking for it. You are assuming that it cannot be love, so you are finding other ways to explain his actions and reactions.”
Sitting back in her chair, Lydia tried to process all that she had been told. She had only recently admitted to herself that her feelings were delving into the realm of love, but she had never thought he would develop feelings for her so soon into the marriage. She had never even looked to see if he might be displaying any of the habits her brothers-in-law had demonstrated. Was it truly possible? And if it was, what could she do about it? She did not feel like declaring that she loved him over tea was the right thing to do at all. This was going to take some time to understand and figure out how to proceed.
The countryside at Swarkstone Park was rather beautiful, though Sebastian wondered how it would change with the seasons. As Sebastian rode his horse to visit the tenants and view the improvements he had put in place, he relished the sights of the countryside passing by. Though, to be honest, he probably would prefer to spend his time with Lydia and Clara. However, his role in maintaining Swarkstone Park meant that he had to be attentive to the needs of the tenants, regardless of where his heart lay.
It seemed almost bizarre to him that the feelings that seemed to be so entrenched in him did not exist even two months ago. He was a man in love. Sebastian had gone into the marriage with the hope that one day he might develop a deep connection with Lydia. He could not have imagined that love would have come so soon.
Even his love for Clara had deepened. Oh, he had always loved Clara, but it was an ephemeral sort of love. He had never had the chance to get to know her before, but being here with her every day had changed things. He had seen her come out of her shell, talk more, and learn to play. Sebastian loved the walks they all took together in the morning in the garden. Clara had a way of scrunching her nose when she was thinking that was simply adorable. She had even started to call him Uncle S’batien. Was it any wonder that he would rather be back at home with the two ladies in his life?
Still, as he approached the Clarke’s cottage, he slowed his horse and turned his mind to why he was visiting. Dismounting, he greeted Mr. Clarke. “Good day to you, sir. How are you and your family faring?”
Shaking Sebastian’s hand, Mr. Clarke said, “We are all very well, Mr. Burgess, and especially grateful today after the rain we had last night.”
Sebastian studied the house that he had come to look at. He could see nothing to be concerned about, so turning back to Mr. Clarke, he said, “That was one of the reasons that I had wanted to come by and check with you today. Did the roof hold up? Any leaks?”
Smiling, Mr. Clarke shook his head. “Nary a one. I cannot tell you how glad my Debera and I are that we do not have to worry about our children taking sick due to a leaky roof. Being able to keep our children warm and dry is a blessing.”
“Everyone should be able to have a safe place to live. That includes a sound roof, Mr. Clarke. I may not have been managing Swarkstone for long, but I am determined that everyone on the estate has what they need to thrive.” Sebastian waved at the children, who seemed to be gathering eggs as they moved about their tasks. He continued, “In fact, Mrs. Burgess is working on setting up a school for anyone wanting to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. Once we have everything established, I will be sure to let your family know of the details.” Sebastian was gladdened to see the smile that split Mr. Clarke’s face. It was nice to be able to make people’s lives better one little thing at a time.
Taking off his hat, Mr. Clarke clutched it in his hands. “I cannot tell you how happy that will make Debera. She has always wanted for our children to have some learning. She thinks that it will help them get farther in the world.” Turning, he looked at his son and daughter at the chicken coop before he said, “There was talk when we first heard you were coming to take over things. Getting to know you and your missus as I have, I must confess that I am guilty of blindly believing what they said.”
Waving off his concern, Sebastian said, “Do not worry about it, Mr. Clarke. There is always a certain amount of anxiety over the unknown. I won’t trouble myself over talk that grows from that worry.”
“You and you wife are good people. Did you know your wife heard of old Mrs. Walsh passing and she had a basket brought to her daughter and son-in-law? Talk is that she sent the prettiest little bouquet of flowers with a ham and various other things.” Mr. Clarke smiled, putting his hat back on his head.
Sebastian did not know that Lydia had done it, but he was not surprised. He wondered what flowers she had sent, but suspected something that meant compassion. With a smile he said, “My wife is very fond of her flowers, and she loves making bouquets. I am not surprised that she would give one of them to someone who had lost a loved one.”
Smiling, Mr. Clarke said, “I know you have not been married long, but I believe that you are well matched. Things always run better at an estate when the mister and missus care for each other as much as you both do.”
It took a moment for Sebastian to realize just what Mr. Clarke was implying. People must be talking about his relationship with Lydia. Not only that, but they were under the impression that they cared for one another. Mr. Clarke could have simply meant that they did not argue, but he did not think that was what he meant. From the man’s expression, Sebastian assumed the man spoke of their being in love and not just him in love, but Lydia in love as well. Could it be true?
Maybe reading his confusion, Mr. Clarke said, “No one means anything by it. It is just that people are happy to see how well you get on. My younger sister Ann works at the manor and says it is rather nice to see how in love you and your missus are.”
Sebastian might have had more time to think about what Mr. Clarke had brought to light if he hadn’t seen smoke rising in the distance. Realizing that there was another fire drew all his focus. Calling out, he said, “There is smoke rising in the distance.”
Turning, Mr. Clarke cried, “My God, that is the Wright farm.”