Page 27 of Lydia Acquires Adoration (Bennet Ladies Liberation #5)
Twelve and a half years later
Lydia shook her head, tears in her eyes as she exclaimed, “I am not ready for this. She is too young.”
Sebastian rubbed his hands up and down her arms and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Clara is twenty, my love. She is two years older than you were when we married.”
Lydia sighed and rested her forehead against her husband's chest. It was hard to admit that Sebastian was right. She loved Clara like a mother, and it was time for her to say goodbye to her little girl. Lydia just did not know how she would be able to do it. Looking up at Sebastian, Lydia asked, “I know, I know, it is just do you realize that she will be the beginning of me losing them all?”
Chuckling, Sebastian smoothed a lock of hair out of Lydia’s face. “My dear, Adelaide and Benedict are fourteen, nowhere near being old enough to leave the nest.” Reaching down, he rested his hand on the swell of her stomach and asked, “Do you think your condition might influence your emotions?”
Lydia rolled her eyes and intertwined her fingers with Sebastian's on her swollen abdomen. It was very possible that her fifth pregnancy was making her teary. “I suppose you may be correct. It seems that I handle pregnancy with ease except for how it affects my sensibilities. You know, I believe I am having another set of twins.”
“If you are, I doubt any of your sisters will be able to match our brood,” he added with a smirk. Sebastian smiled at Lydia and gently encouraged her, “Take a deep breath and savor the joy of the day, rather than dwelling on what you are losing.” Turning Lydia, he pointed out Clara and continued, “Look at how happy Clara is standing next to her new husband. Look at how much she loves him.”
She gazed across the room at her little girl, who stood holding on to her new husband's arm, gazing up at him adoringly. It was easy to see how much Clara loved Lord Granville. Lydia realized that she could not hamper so much joy and happiness. She would have to be done with tears for the day. She could always indulge in them later. Just then, Clara caught Lydia's gaze from across the room, their eyes locking in a moment of silent acknowledgment. Clara smiled at Lydia for a moment before turning back to the conversation she was holding with her group of friends.
Lyda's voice caught in her throat as she swallowed, and she managed to say, “I am so proud of her, Sebastian. We married in order to take care of a scared and vulnerable girl, and she has blossomed into a strong and resilient woman.”
Sebastian held Lydia to his side as they watched Clara. Leaning down, he kissed her temple. “Our girl has grown up to be a remarkable woman. Somehow, we must have done something right along the way. I am so grateful that you told me to marry you all those years ago.”
Laying her head against Sebastian’s shoulder, Lydia replied, “I know what you mean. I could almost say it was the best day of my life, but it was only the beginning of a beautiful journey, full of remarkably amazing days.”
After Sebastian had spent time reminiscing with Lydia and buoying her sentimental tears, he moved off to chat with his brothers-in-law. He was very touched that every one of them had made the effort to be at Clara’s wedding. Turning to his one unofficial brother-in-law, he asked, “How is your horse breeding program going, Kiernan?”
Grinning, the younger man said, “It is doing very well. The line of horses out of Crumpet and Epona is proving remarkable. By the way, I am still grateful for your gift of their colt, Darcy. He has grown into an amazing stud.”
Shrugging, Darcy responded, “Think nothing of it. I knew he was destined for more than just work as a farm horse or another one of my mounts for riding around Pemberley.”
Looking at Sebastian, Theodore asked, “How has it been adjusting to the role of viscount?
Grimacing, Sebastian took a sip of champagne while he pondered how attaining his title had come about. It was two years earlier when he had been contacted by his father's steward, who informed him of the master's poor condition. It took a week and a half for them to arrive at Trowbridge Hall, with two carriages needed to accommodate all the children and servants.
Traveling that far with six children between the ages of twelve and two had been quite the event. Clara's ever patient help with all her little cousins was a saving grace, as it prevented them from losing their sanity amidst the chaos. Arriving at Trowbridge Hall after so many years had been quite a shock. Learning that his father had been bedridden after suffering an apoplexy had been even more of a shock.
His father was paralyzed on one side of his body and found speaking and doing things for himself nearly impossible. It had not been easy for his father to adjust to the change and though he had somewhat recovered; he could never walk or oversee his estates again. Unfortunately, he experienced another apoplexy within the year, and this time it proved fatal. Lydia's steady presence by his side was like a comforting anchor, helping him navigate his father's impotent rage and the overwhelming task of overseeing multiple estates.
Knowing that Theodore understood the difficulties he had faced, Sebastian felt able to say, “It was hard to see my father so angry that last year, but I think we managed a reconciliation of sorts before he died. At Trowbridge Hall, we are far removed from the constraints of high society. There, the burden of our title is diminished. Thanks to Lydia's efforts, the Hall has transformed into a cozy home rather than a symbol of the past. As a result, things have greatly improved.”
Sebastian knew that the other gentleman had also experienced the same hardships he did when he unexpectedly became an earl. Theodore's understanding nod confirmed this shared struggle. For a moment, they were all quiet, enjoying their various drinks and the view of all the happy socializing taking place.
Artie was laughing with Clara and Lord Granville across the room. Lord Granville’s younger brother, Stewart, was one of Artie’s closest friends from Cambridge. It had been through Artie that the loving couple had met at a dinner party in London. Only Artie, Ellie and Mathew were present at the wedding breakfast. The younger children were all outside playing on the lawn, carefully watched by their various nursemaids and governesses. It was a wonderful day for the family.
Reaching out to clutch Darcy’s shoulder, Sebastian said, “I am immensely thankful that you agreed to host Clara's wedding at Pemberley; I know you are not overly fond of crowds. Trowbridge Hall is too far out of the way and Swarkstone Park is not big enough to hold everyone. This way we were able to host our expansive family as well as Granville’s.”
Darcy smiled sheepishly, saying, “You know that Elizabeth would accept nothing less than having the wedding here. Her oldest niece was getting married, and she wanted everyone there for the celebration.”
The gentlemen's attention shifted, drawn to the sisters who were engaged in lively conversation on the opposite side of the room. Elizabeth and Lydia were laughing at something someone said. The former Mrs. Bennet had her arm linked with Jane and was shaking her head fondly at her girls. Mary and Kitty were wearing broad smiles as they watched the interaction between Lydia and Elizabeth.
Turning back to face Darcy, Bingley said, “I am just grateful that you were able to help liberate our ladies all those years ago. Without Jane, I would not have my darling Ellie or Edward. Without Jane in my life, I would only be half a man.”
Gabriel added, “I must second that, Darcy. I most certainly would not have been able to marry the love of my life, my sweet Mary. Nor would we have had our three boys. You paved the way for me to become a Bennet and the master of Longbourn.”
Rubbing at the back of his neck, Darcy said, “You are making too much of it. I only did what I did because of my love for Elizabeth.”
“And yet, if it weren’t for your actions, Darcy, I doubt any of us would have found the women we were all meant to be with. Nor would all our children be here,” asserted Theodore.
Seeing Darcy’s discomfort with the attention, Sebastian said, “Regardless of Darcy’s action, I believe each of our wives worked hard to become the amazing women they are today and more than that, none of us would be anyone without their love.”
A round of agreement followed his comment, but if any other conversation took place after that, Sebastian missed it. He was far too interested in watching his glowing bride of many years. Eventually, she noticed his gaze fixed on her, and she responded with a radiant smile from where she stood. Lydia was the woman who held his heart, and he couldn't help but adore her with every fiber of his being. He could not wait to see what his life with her still had to offer.