Page 3 of Lydia Acquires Adoration (Bennet Ladies Liberation #5)
Chapter Two
Sebastian followed Darcy into his study without giving much note of anything that he saw. Darcy's home exuded a tasteful and understated opulence that was difficult to ignore, but somehow, he found himself overlooking it. The magnitude of the issues he now faced overwhelmed him. There were so many questions running through his head.
What did Cornelius’s will state in regard to Clara? Had he made provisions to see to her care? Would this Baron Blackthorn be a problem? If so, what would it take to claim her? If for some reason the baron was given Clara to raise, could Sebastian bribe him in order to keep her?
Then there were concerns about Clara herself. She had not spoken much at all in the two days they had been together. Compared to little Artie, who he knew was maybe two years younger, she was practically silent. She had mostly only cried or looked around in solemn silence. What had her young life been like up to that point? He had to find a way to protect her.
It took him a moment to realize that Darcy had sat behind his desk and was waiting patiently for him to take a seat. He quickly sat in one of the well-stuffed leather chairs and finally found his voice. “You have my gratitude for offering my family sanctuary.”
“So it is sanctuary that you seek. I assumed as much, but I do not want to pry if you do not wish to share. Though I will say that I have learned over time that a trouble shared is a trouble halved. Maybe we can work on the problem together and if I cannot help you, then certainly one of the Bennet ladies shall.”
Even though Sebastian was taken aback by Darcy's ease in accepting and offering help, his comment still managed to make him laugh. “Yes, I can only imagine if they are anything like the Countess of Matlock.”
It was actually the now countess that had brought the two families into contact. The then Catherine Bennet had befriended his sister Selene during the previous season. They had both been present when Miss Bennet had been forced to protect herself with her penknife from a rogue gentleman. Not only had she seen to her safety, but she had also seen to the man’s care when he had foolishly taken out the knife and started bleeding out. It seemed that the Bennet ladies were a group of women stronger—and possibly craftier—than most.
Sebastian knew it was time to share his story with Darcy. Maybe the older man would have some idea of what he could do or have connections that could help him. Rubbing at the ache that seemed to be building behind his eyebrow, he began to tell his tale. “I learned four days ago that Clara’s father, my brother-in-law as was, had been shot in a duel after he was found in the bed of a married lady. After our sister’s death at Clara’s birth, Blakesley had prevented us from seeing Clara much and I worried what would happen to her in the wake of his death.” The rest of the story—finding Clara amidst the chaos, their hurried decisions to flee, and his concerns moving forward—were easier to relate than he had thought it would be. Darcy might be considered solemn and sometimes cold, but the man had been more than welcoming thus far.
When he had finally stopped, Darcy remained silent, his fingers steepled in front of him with a look of deep thought upon his furrowed brow. Eventually, he said, “As the custody of your niece is in question, I would suggest you go on the offensive. It would be best if you could find out who Cornelius Blakesley’s solicitor was and be sure you are present for the reading of the will. It should not be too difficult to arrange as you are there to look after your niece’s affairs. Do you have a solicitor you trust to represent you in this matter?”
Shaking his head, Sebastian replied, “Though I have a solicitor for when I am visiting London, I would not trust him with something this important. My father’s solicitor is quite good, but he lives back in Northumberland near the Scottish border. That is over two-hundred and thirty miles of road, most of it unreliable. It would take a minimum of a week to just travel here, probably longer. Besides, he would never travel this far south to help me. He knows I am out of favor with my father.”
“I have a very good fellow that I can suggest. Know him from my Cambridge days. I will send him an express and ask for him to start looking into things. Have you contacted your father?”
Darcy’s expression was as understanding as it was serious. Somehow, his penetrating gaze made it easier for Sebastian to say, “I have not contacted my father yet. I know I should have already done so, but the condition at Swarkstone manor was such that I was simply focused on getting my sister and niece away.” Running his hand down his face, Sebastian tried to sort out his thoughts when it came to his father before giving voice to his concerns. After gritting his teeth for a moment, he said, “My father has both feet firmly planted in the past. He is fond of older styles and ways of doing things, among which is the idea that his children are to obey him without question. Even having had his children later in life, he is still quite spry for a man of his age. He is of the thought that the new ways of doing things, with agricultural reforms and the like, will be the downfall of the nation. My sister and I spend as little time at our family estate as possible. That being said, I am uncertain how my father will react to the current situation.”
“I see.” Leaning back in his chair, Darcy continued, “It seems every family has one of his ilk. My aunt, Lady Catherine, is also the sort to eschew modernization, even to the detriment of her tenants and daughter.”
It was a relief to hear that Darcy was familiar with the issues he faced with his father. Nodding his head in commiseration, Sebastian said, “I worry what he will think of me stepping in to what he might see as matters that do not concern me over a mere girl child .” Seeing the way Darcy’s face screwed up in anger at the statement, Sebastian grimaced. “Yes, that is the way my father speaks of the females in the family, and it angers me as much as it seems to anger you. My father views girls as little use beyond the ability to use them as pawns in marriage alliances.”
Lydia left the nursery with her mind full of what needed to be done. Selene would stay with her niece for the time being, but Lydia wanted to check in with Mrs. Reynolds about their unexpected guests. She assumed the cook would have been informed that there would be two more for dinner and another in the nursery, but she still wanted to speak with her. The cook always seemed to do better with unexpected changes when someone came by and approved of any adjustments she had made. Lizzie would also need to be informed of the goings-on.
Moving quietly through the hallways and stairways of Pemberley, Lydia soon found herself in the housekeeper’s office. She entered the open doorway and greeted Mrs. Reynolds with a smile. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Reynolds.”
“And good afternoon to you, Miss Lydia. May I assume you are here to check in on our arrangements for the guests?”
Smile broadening, Lydia replied, “Even had I not had the maid send notice, you would still be aware of our guests. You are aware of everything that goes on in the halls of Pemberley.”
Mrs. Reynolds nodded knowingly. Her bearing was mature and responsible, but Lydia could see a sparkle in her eyes when she replied, “Yes, but I am sure you have more information that will be helpful.”
“Mr. Sebastian Burgess and his sister Selene have arrived with their young niece, Clara. They brought with them their own valet and lady’s maid. I know you probably already have rooms for them in the guest wing and suitable accommodation for their staff.”
“I have Polly readying their rooms as we speak, and we can care for their staff when they arrive without issue.” Mrs. Reynolds paused, and after studying Lydia for a moment, asked, “Is there something else that you need my assistance with?”
Lydia knew that Mrs. Reynolds was too proper to ask questions, no matter how curious she might be. She would not meddle or seek information for gossip. Mrs. Reynolds was the ideal housekeeper for such a large estate as Pemberley. She knew everything that went on within its walls and saw to it that everything reflected well on the Darcy family.
Lydia said, “I would appreciate it if you could make sure the cook knows that I have every confidence in her, despite the sudden additions. Also, it might be helpful for one of the cheerier maids to be made available to help in the nursery for the time being. Little Clara does not have a nursemaid and could use some extra affection. I will be speaking with my sister about my concerns for little Clara. The poor mite was recently orphaned and has been having a rough time of it.”
Mrs. Reynolds tsked in sympathy before replying, “We will make sure the poor lamb is well cared for her while she is here. Don’t you worry, Miss Lydia.”
Answering only with a smile and a nod, Lydia left the room and made her way to Lizzie’s room. Lydia hoped that she would be awake, but with Gilbert’s birth only three weeks prior, Lizzie was still taking naps often, and why wouldn’t she? Unlike other mothers of their station, Elizabeth insisted on feeding her own babies, so she was waking up throughout the night to feed the little dear.
Happily, Elizabeth answered when she knocked softly at her door. Elizabeth was propped up in bed, surrounded by pillows. She quietly greeted Lydia without ever looking away from Gilbert, who lay sleeping in her lap. Coming closer, Lydia smiled at the maternal image that her sister made.
Sitting carefully on the edge of the bed, Lydia tried not to jostle the two. “And how are you and my little nephew doing this afternoon?”
“We are both well. Little Gil will wake up soon wanting his dinner. He seems to be thriving as far as I can tell.” Elizabeth smiled, running a finger along his smooth brow, and Lydia marveled that he did not wake at her touch.
After watching Elizabeth with her new son for a moment, Lydia acknowledged the ache she felt at seeing her sister with her child. Lydia wanted that. She wanted a child, or more accurately, children—lots of children. It was something she craved, like other young ladies desired sweets or Gothic novels. She was determined that someday she would have as many children as God would bless her with. She just had to wait until she found the right man. Biting back a sigh, Lydia commented, “I have come to let you know that we have guests, though you might have already heard.”
Looking up, Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at her sister’s statement and Lydia could almost see the cogs of her mind turning. After only a slight pause, she said, “I had not heard that we had guests. May I assume our guests were a surprise? You would have said who arrived if it was family.”
“Selene and her brother, Mr. Burgess, arrived this afternoon with their niece. They did not say it explicitly, but it seems they need our help.”
Sitting up straighter, Elizabeth said, “How so?”
Lydia could not help but smile at Elizabeth’s response. Her sister had recently given birth and was still confined to her room, rarely venturing out. However, at the first hint that someone needed assistance, she was quick to respond. Fiddling with a loose thread on the bed’s coverlet, Lydia said, “It seems that Selene’s niece Clara was recently orphaned and there is some concern about her father’s will and the directives made in regard to her care. Apparently, the staff was so worried that Mr. Blakesley’s brother would come and take over that they abandoned the estate. Including the poor girl’s nurse. She had been left all alone.” Pausing, Lydia looked at her sister, her eyes sparking. “Her hair is an utter mess of tangled black curls, and she is more withdrawn than I would like. Her appearance makes me wonder if the staff dressed her in castoffs and used the money for her upkeep to line their pockets before they fled.”
Fire flashed in Elizabeth’s eyes and Lydia knew her sister was with her in her pursuit of protecting the poor girl. The Bennet sisters did not take kindly to people mistreating anyone, especially children. “Anything that she needs, we can provide. I suggest you sort through the clothes we keep on hand as gifts for the tenant children. It will be plain but serviceable until we can make something better. There are plenty of toys in the nursery for her to play with.” Stopping, Elizabeth looked at Lydia and grinned bashfully before concluding, “I am sure you have it all well in hand.”
“Yes, I do, but that does not mean I do not appreciate your advice. I will keep you informed of the developments as they happen.” Lydia leaned in and hugged her older sister. She knew Elizabeth was always frustrated when her physical limitations kept her from being as busy as she wished to be or felt she should be. “On a brighter note, you would have been so proud of little Artie. He actually got the poor thing to give him a smile as he offered to show her his toys. You are raising one fine gentleman.”
Sebastian felt consumed by a restless energy. It had been four days, and they hadn't been updated on any developments since then. Although the solicitor had informed them about pursuing the matter concerning Cornelius Blakesley, his will, and the care of his daughter, uncertainty still lingered in everyone’s minds. Considering the distance, not even an express rider would have made it there and back in such a short time. The earliest a message would get back to him would be that very day. He had never considered himself a man of action, but the inaction he faced was maddening. Of course, he understood that things took time, but with the fate of his niece in the balance, he wanted to do more than wait for news.
Hearing melodic laughter, Sebastian turned from the groove that he was wearing in the garden path and followed the noise. It did not take him long at all to find the source of the enchanting sound. As he had suspected, Miss Lydia, or rather Miss Bennet, was playing with her nephew and his niece. They appeared to be having a picnic on a large blanket overlooking the beauty that was Pemberley. His sister was there as well, but it was not her laughter that had drawn him. It was Miss Bennet’s musical laugh and the carefree abandon that she exhibited in her enjoyment of the moment. Something about it was infectious.
“Are you hungry?” Little Artie’s small voice startled him out of his reverie and Sebastian looked down. “We have enough if you want some, too.”
Miss Bennet’s voice drew his attention back to her as she said, “Yes, please join us.” Sitting up straighter, she tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear and Sebastian swallowed hard. In the months since he had last seen her, it seemed that she had changed in a way that unsettled him. Not that he could pinpoint what it was.
Finding his voice, he said, “Well, if you are going to be so generous, who am I to resist your kind offer?” Lowering himself to a corner of the blanket, Sebastian gaped at the selection and quantities of food.
Seeing his expression, Miss Bennet laughed, saying, “As our cook did not know what treats might tempt Clara or Selene, she prepared what seems to be some of everything they might like. We have been trying each in turn to see if Clara finds anything she likes.”
Artie piped up, saying, “Clara does not like the eggs.” His scrunched nose and wide eyes were a perfect expression of glee. It seemed that the younger boy was quite fond of their game.
Looking over at Clara, Sebastian was happy to note the changes that had occurred in the last two days. Her hair now fell about her face in neat black ringlets instead of knots, and her dress, while not fancy, did not have patches and fit her well. Hoping to develop a relationship with his niece, he asked, “Did you find anything that you liked?”
Ducking her head, she looked up at him from under her lashes. He waited, hoping that she might actually speak with him. She licked her lips, but then only pointed to what appeared to be some kind of cream puff. Understanding that it would take time did not make the fact that she was not speaking with him hurt any less. Trying to keep the smile on his face unchanged, Sebastian said, “The cream puff?” At her nod, he continued, “I can see how that might be your favorite. I do believe that your mother was fond of them as well.”
Clara’s blue eyes grew wide at his comment. It was unlikely that she had anyone tell her of her mother, and in that moment, Sebastian made a promise to himself. He would make sure the precious girl his sister had brought into the world would know about her mother and just how much she had loved and wanted her. “Yes, my older sister, Sophia, who was your mother, liked cream puffs so much that she would often steal them from my plate when I was not looking.” Blinking back tears that had suddenly appeared in the corner of his eyes, he confessed, “It was a game that we played. I did not like cream puffs, so I let her take mine and I took the gingerbread from her plate.”
Selene leaned over and squeezed his hand. Familiar with his pain, she shared the moment with him in silence. Clara watched them intently for a moment, her gaze drifting back and forth between the pair. After a moment’s hesitation, she brought out a slice of cake and, putting it on a plate, handed it to him.
Amazed at Clara’s action, Sebastian grinned and bringing it to his nose, he sniffed. “This would not happen to be gingerbread, would it?”
Clara giggled, nodding her head in a way that made her curls bounce. She even offered a whispered, “Yes.”
Grinning, Artie held up a handful of forks saying, “It is a pic’nic. You do not need a fork, but we have some if you want one.”
With his heart warmed by both his niece’s kindness and Artie’s consideration, Sebastian broke off a bite-size bit of cake with his hand and said, “Thank you for the kind offer, but as it is a ‘pic’nic,’ I will just use my hands if you do not mind.” Then, popping the cake into his mouth, he groaned as the spices hit his tongue. It had been far too long since he had a good piece of gingerbread.