Page 113 of The Lady and the Duke

“That was truly delightful. Thank you, Edwin, for a lovely morning and picnic,” Lydia said after the horses had been taken by thegroom.

Edwin held the picnic basket in one hand and tipped his hat with the other. “And thank you for your splendid accomplishment with the orchard. Please take the rest of the afternoon off and we can start bright and early tomorrow on digging the holes for the fruit trees. Is that agreeabletoyou?”

Lydia nodded. “Yes,quite.”

“And I was thinking I might pull a few workers from the pond site to help us with the digging. I believe the trees will be delivered the first of next week, and I want us to be all ready to plant the trees as soon as theyarrive.”

“That would be mostuseful.”

Lydia had wanted to ask Edwin an important question. “And there is one otherthing.”

“Yes?”

“Ellen spoke to me recently about traveling with her to London in January. She would like me to stay with her for a month. And, as it will be midwinter, I do not see that interrupting our work. Would it be all right with you if I were toaccompanyher?”

Edwin considered that. He seemed a little taken aback but answered. “Yes, I do not see why not. It would be nice for Ellen to have a sympathetic companion. And I would feel better too if you were with her while she became accustomed to life in London. It is a very different placethere.”

Lydia laughed. “Yes, I can imagine, never having beenthere.”

“Really? Youhavenot?”

Lydia shookherhead.

“Then you are in for a treat or a shock, or both?” He said with asmile.