Page 4 of Lydia Acquires Adoration (Bennet Ladies Liberation #5)
Chapter Three
Eyes widening, Lydia felt her focus shift uncontrollably from cute little Clara and her generous action to Clara’s uncle. Had he just groaned? Fighting a blush, Lydia directed her eyes away from the handsome Mr. Burgess and back to Clara’s broad smile. It was much safer to look at the little girl’s joy than to see just how much Sebastian Burgess was enjoying his gingerbread.
Finding the need to busy her hands with something, Lydia began to clear away some of the remnants of their picnic. She wrapped up the discarded bits and bites of food that the children had rejected in one of the many serviettes that the cook had thoughtfully provided. She was very careful not to look back over at the sterling example of masculinity until she was sure that she could control the expression on her face.
Yes, his actions were extraordinary. It was heartwarming to see the effort he was putting in to bridge the gap between himself and his neglected niece. His efforts to ensure her well-being and fight for her custody were not only commendable but also a testament to the type of man that he was. Few single gentlemen of his age would undertake such a task, and Lydia admired him for his actions.
It was not the time to realize just how attracted to him that she was. Yes, when she had met him during Kitty’s season, she had been more than happy whenever they were given the opportunity to spend time in one another’s company. It was impossible to deny that his jet-black hair, which stood out against his light complexion and captivating deep blue eyes, made him incredibly attractive. He had been lighthearted and engaging, and Lydia had juvenilely speculated about the possibility of a future with him. But that was before Clara came into the picture. She was not about to complicate matters by indulging in a girlish crush.
Finding herself under better regulation, Lydia looked up to watch the antics of those around her. Tucking a strand of her escaping hair behind her ear, she could not help but enjoy how well the children got along. Artie’s outgoing nature seemed to pull Clara out of her shell little by little, and she was losing some of the haunted look she had when she had first arrived.
Rejoining the conversation, Lydia turned to Selene and said, “I have always loved picnics. There is just something about eating in the fresh air that lends everything a better flavor than eating inside. What do you think of picnics?”
Tilting her head in thought, Selene did not answer right away but after a moment responded, saying, “Though I enjoy them now. I will admit that at first, I found them strange and intimidating. It was only a few years ago, during my first season, that I finally had the opportunity to go on my first picnic. I found it so foreign that I was uneasy. I did not know how to sit or where to put my hands. While I have adjusted to the concept, I still shudder to remember how so very out of place I felt at the time.”
Lydia felt her eyes widen at her friend’s experience and her inadvertent faux pas and she quickly found herself saying, “Oh, you poor dear. Now I either want to fill your time visiting Pemberley with picnics for you to enjoy so you can catch up on all your missed pleasure or I need to avoid them all together to protect you from feeling uneasy.”
Thankfully, Selene laughed, setting Lydia at ease as she said, “While I would not want you to go out of your way to arrange a picnic every day, I am finding that I quite enjoy the way you host a picnic.” Then, looking at her brother, who seemed to be quietly savoring his last bite of gingerbread, she grinned, commenting, “And as long as you are sure to provide gingerbread, I think my brother will be happy to join us.”
Lydia couldn't bear to watch Mr. Burgess's face after his sister's remark. To distract herself, she turned her attention to the children. They had completely abandoned the adult world and were now immersed in a lively game with two wooden horses. Lydia smiled at them and asked, “Artie, what do you say? Shall we have another picnic while Clara and Mr. and Miss Burgess are still here?”
Sitting up straighter, Artie looked at Clara and, at her nod, exclaimed, “Yes! We should do another picnic.” Then, scrunching his nose in a way that Lydia adored, he continued saying, “Next time, bring more gingerbread. Mr. Burgess ate it all, leaving no for you.”
Lydia could not help but smile at her nephew and his attempt at humor, despite her slight embarrassment. His scrunched nose always gave him away when he was trying to be silly. Though he still had not quite gotten the hang of joking, but that did not mean he had given up trying.
Sebastian watched Miss Bennet interact with her nephew and could not help but feel slightly jealous of how easily she got along with the precocious little boy. They had a very close relationship, but then why wouldn’t they? She had been part of the lad’s life practically since his birth, whereas Cornelius Blakesley’s interference had stunted his relationship with Clara.
Pulled out of his rumination, Sebastian realized Artie had just said that he ate all of Miss Bennet’s gingerbread. Looking at her in concern, he felt like an utter boar having ate several slices. When his niece had continued to fill his plate, smiling all the while, he had not given it a thought. The realization hit him that the gingerbread was actually meant for everyone.
Casting a concerned glance at Miss Bennet, he swiftly caught sight of a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. Without wasting a moment, he inquired, “Miss Bennet, is gingerbread perhaps your favorite treat?”
Her blue eyes flicked to him, and then swiftly shifted back away, the blush deepening on her cheeks. Finally, after a slight puff of air filling her cheeks, she locked gazes with him and she said, “It seems that you have found me out. Though I am fond of a number of treats, my nephew is correct. Gingerbread is my favorite.”
Sebastian found himself enjoying watching the way emotions played across Miss Bennet’s face. Oh, he knew she was slightly embarrassed, but that was not all that he could see. There was humor in her countenance as well, as if she acknowledged the situation she found herself in and embraced it for what it was. There was also something bold about the way she met his eyes, as if she challenged him to think less of her.
He was attempting to come up with a fitting response when Selene said, “Is that a rider approaching Pemberley?”
It was difficult to drag his gaze away from Miss Bennet, but eventually he managed to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be an express rider approaching the mansion. It seemed his respite was at an end. Hopefully, he would at least have news and something to do besides wait.
He looked back to Clara, who was once again playing with one of the wooden horses with Artie. He wanted above all else to give her a proper home and the loving environment that she had been denied thus far. Standing, he gave a bow to the group, saying, “It seems that my time enjoying the lovely picnic is at an end.” He only hesitated slightly before looking at Miss Bennet and saying, “If you are so kind to invite me to join another such marvelous event, I promise not to eat all the gingerbread.” Turning, he hastened back to the manor house, eager for whatever information was waiting for him.
Selene burned with curiosity. Not only was there a rider with news probably about the will they waited so anxiously to have read, but there was something going on between her brother and the delightful Miss Bennet. It was almost difficult to decide which she was more eager to find out more about.
Either way, she would not get more information just sitting on the lawn with the children. Gazing over at a slightly flushed Lydia, she said, “I hope you do not mind if we cut the picnic a little short? I find myself quite interested in the goings-on.”
Nodding Lydia, replied, “I can only imagine how concerned you must be. Let us finish packing up what is left of the food. I think the children have eaten all that they were going to eat, regardless.”
It did not take long before everything was packed away, and Lydia was asking Artie to go fetch the nearby footman to carry their basket. Clara and Artie ran off together, giggling as they raced to the servant. It had been a good morning and perhaps with the addition of the much wished for news, the Burgess family might get what they needed to continue to care for Clara.
Walking back towards the building, Lydia linked arms with Selene as they followed the children’s frolicking path. Keeping her voice low, Lydia asked, “I know you are not used to having a sister to confide in, but I have found it most helpful and would play your confidant.” Selene's face, pale and drawn, betrayed her worry through the deep lines between her brows and her compressed lips. It was obvious that the strain was getting to the normally vivacious young lady. Giving her arm a squeeze, she prompted her, saying, “What most worries you?”
“I am afraid that I cannot get what I want. I want Clara to be cared for by my brother and me, because we are the ones who will cherish her the most and attend to her needs without any hesitation. However, I know my wishes do not factor into what the law says. It is not the way of the world to cater to a woman’s sensibilities. Men hold the power, and they rarely choose what is best but what is the most profitable to them.” She looked at Lydia with a solemn expression and sighed, “Though you of all people comprehend the cruelties that can exist in the world of men.”
Lydia wished that the woman she admired and looked to as a friend did not have such a heavy load to bear at the moment. Acknowledging the truth of her statement, she said, “Yes, I have seen such cruelty firsthand. My mother, sisters, and I have all handled it differently, but I do believe that in our own way, we have all found a liberation of sorts in claiming the happy lives we deserve. Even if the news that has come is not to your benefit, you can still fight it, you know.”
Shaking her head, Selene replied, “I do not think I have your family’s courage. I am terrified that Clara will fall into the hands of an even worse man than her father.”
“I think courage comes in many forms. Not all of it looks like an all-out attack. I believe I am most like Lizzie in that we both found ways to cope that allowed us to fight back against our father. My mother, Jane, and Mary were different in their courage, but they still have it.” Bumping Selene with her shoulder, Lydia said, “And even Kitty picked it up as well, eventually.”
This elicited a laugh from Selene, and she said, “I have heard of your fondness for floriography, and I witnessed firsthand some of Kitty’s courage myself when that dastard her mother-in-law paid to hurt her saw the error of his ways. Maybe I just need to stay near you, and it will rub off on me.”
Lydia snickered, but said, “You are more than welcome to stick around as long as you need to, though I believe you will find your own courage when it is called for.”
Making it to the stairs that lead into the house, Lydia let go of Selene and took up Artie’s hand. She understood that Selene and her twin brother were some four years her senior, but twenty-two was not so very old. Though it struck Lydia as odd that she was often giving advice to those older than her. She supposed it must come with growing up so fast.
Making it inside, Artie let go of her hand and turned to face her, his enthusiasm evident in his request. “I want to see Mama and baby Gil, Auntie Lydie. Can we go now?”
The folded piece of paper on the table before him was in no way threatening, but that did not stop the tremor that ran through his hand as Sebastian moved to pick it up off the table. So much hung on the information in the folds of crisp black and white words. Looking over at Darcy, who sat across from him, Sebastian swallowed and then broke open the seal.
Mr. Burgess,
I apologize for the time it took me to find the information you seek, but I was finally able to confront your Mr. Blakesley’s solicitor and the reading of the will is to be held at Swarkstone Park on May twenty-fifth. I am uncertain, but I suspect the other interested parties may have wanted you to be absent from the reading, for I can find no legal reason you would have been excluded from this information. I am at this time making my way to Swarkstone and hope to meet you there with all haste.
In my investigation on the other parties, namely Randell Blakesley, Baron Blackthorn, I have found enough evidence that would suggest we could take the matter to court over your niece’s custody should the need arise. I will provide additional information when we meet in person
Yours,
H. Herrington,
412 Whitley Square
London
Sebastian took in the information before handing over the letter to Darcy. He respected him and knew that any advice he might give would be valuable. Tapping a finger against his leg as Darcy read, he tried not to wonder just how bad Randell Blakesley must be. That the solicitor had stated that they had recourse should the will be unfavorable, hinted at something more than merely disreputable.
“What are you thinking?” Darcy’s question pulled him out of his thoughts, and Sebastian looked into the man’s serious gaze.
In a moment of self-awareness, Sebastian glanced at his hands and saw that they had involuntarily clenched into fists due to his mounting agitation. He made a conscious effort to relax his hands by stretching out his fingers. “I am glad that we finally have a time and place for the reading of the will. However, it worries me that Mr. Herrington has already suggested that we might fight the will should it be necessary.”
“Yes, I noticed that as well.” Darcy seemed to hesitate a moment before continuing, “I know we are not exceptionally close, Burgess, but you have been there for my family in the past. I want you to know that you have the Darcys’ support in your quest to care for your niece, and I do not believe I am out of line by saying that you have my cousin’s support as well, should you need it.”
“I do not know what exactly I will be facing, but I appreciate the support, nonetheless. I believe that I should leave for Swarkstone Park at first light. If I do, I should be able to get there by nightfall and will forgo the need to stay at an inn along the way.” Memories of the horrendous night at the inn on the way to Pemberley with Selene and Clara briefly invaded his thoughts before he returned to the situation at hand. “I do not feel comfortable bringing Selene and Clara with me to Swarkstone. Would you—”
Waving off Sebastian's almost request, Darcy interrupted, saying, “You do not even need to ask it. They are more than welcome to stay here under our protection while you see to matters. In fact, I was wondering if you would mind if I sent one of my footmen with you. A show of strength is never amiss when dealing with men as suspect as this Randell Blakesley.”
Sebastian nodded, rising to his feet. Casting a hard gaze at Darcy, his eyes revealed a firm resolve, he stated, “Normally I would not feel the need, but when it concerns my lost sister's only child, I will not hesitate to do whatever it takes. Thank you, I will accept your offer. If you will excuse me, I will leave you now and see to my preparations for my departure.”