Page 126 of The Lady and the Duke

“Are you alright?” sheasked.

“Edwin just kissed me,” Lydia saidbreathlessly.

Ellen laughed. “Oh, is that all? I thought you wereinjured.”

“Why are you laughing? It isserious.”

Ellen got up from her desk and came over and took Lydia’s hand. “Come, sit with me. It really is notthatserious. Tell me exactly whathappened.”

Lydia related the incident in broken speech. She was a bit muddled, but she got the gist of the event across. When she was done, she sat with her hands in her lap with eyeslowered.

Ellen was briefly silent. “My dearest, Lydia. It is abundantly clear that you werebothcaught up in the excitement of discovery and reacted out ofjoie de vivre. It is nothing which need concern you. I am sure Edwin has forgotten about italready.”

Thatdid not comfort Lydia. “I am sorry to disturb your writing session. I should be getting back to the office. Edwin and I need to continueourwork.”

“He can wait. Come—show me what you have been working on in the orchard. And tell me all about your plans for the vegetable garden. I could do with a break,anyway.”

Lydia took Ellen to the orchard and showed her the new fruit trees the workmen were planting. Then she took her to the producegarden.

“It looks rather like it did before. What are you doing here?” Ellenasked.

“Oh, no. Nothing has changed here yet. All the changes come next season. But I promise you some delicious newtreats.”

Edwin came out of the office and seeing his sister and Lydia came over to where they were walking the rows and picking at greens tonibble.

“Dearest sister, taking abreak?”

“I am. And Lydia is telling me all about the gorgeous new veggies you shall soon be eating—of course, I shall be in London and deprived of these newtreats.”

Lydia cast a quick look at Edwin but he was focused on hissister.

“And have you seen the new trees in the orchard?” Edwinasked.

“I have briefly, but it looks like the workmen are still planting. I shall examine them more fully when they are finished,”Ellensaid.

“Verywell.”

Edwin looked at Lydia, with a sheepish grin. “Would you like to come back to the office? While you were gone I sketched out a floor plan for the greenhouse. I would like your observations on it.” Edwin was being very respectful and kept his head and eyeslowered.

“Yes. The sooner we can finalize the plan, the sooner you will be able to look for yourarchitect.”

“Good-bye, you two,” Ellen said as she headed back toward thehouse.

Edwin waved, and gestured with his hand to indicate Lydia should gobeforehim.

Back in the office, Edwin shuffled some papers on the table and shook out a large sheet settling it in the middle. He kept his head lowered as he said, “Earlier… Can youforgiveme?”

Lydia was not sure how she wanted to reply, but said finally, “I think we can agree it was a mistake and we were both responsible. I ask also for yourforgiveness.”

Edwin looked up. “No, Miss Lydia, it was entirely my fault. I got carried away by… by…” He stopped and stared at her. “You utterly enchant me, Lydia. I could not help myself, but I promise it will not happenagain.”

“And why not?” Lydia boldly asked. “If you feel that way, why deny yourfeelings?”

Edwin was stunned. “Does that mean that you feel similarlytowardme?”

“Oh, Edwin. Are you so dense as not to know that?” She looked at him directly and withresolve.

He took a step backward and ran his hand through his hair. Then he shook his head. “No, this cannot be. I must marry Miss Caroline. Our families have negotiated and agreed. All that is wanting is my formal proposal. But I have hesitated… because of you. And the conflict is tearing meapart.”