Page 142 of The Lady and the Duke

“Does not matter if she does or not. We are going to get you all pretty and to the church in plenty of time. Do notworry.”

“What a stroke of genius that you stayed over. Just imagine if you were stuck up at Honeyfield. I do not think your little pony could manage with allthissnow.”

“Well, at least you can say you had a white wedding,” Lydia saidlaughing.

Mother appeared with theteatray.

She said, “A man just appeared at the front door. He is a nephew of the Doctor. He just wanted to check in and see if we were all right. But I really think he was checking up on us to see if we were going to be on time at thechurch.”

“What did you tell him?” Jennyasked.

“I told him the Lovells have never been late to a wedding before and are not about to start today. Now drinkyourtea.”

* * *

Jenny’s Uncle Thorntonwas standing at the bar belting out a chorus ofTammy’s Little Secret.He was deep in the cups, and the louder he sang, the redder hisnosegot.

But there was so much other commotion in the dining room at the inn, hardly anyone evennoticed.

The bride and groom were seated at a long table with the most immediate of each family seated oneitherside.

Lydia had been invited to that table, but she declined, saying only family should sit here. Jenny had protested that shewasfamily, but Lydia said she would rather step away and admire the whole scenefromafar.

The truth was, Lydia was very emotional. This wedding reminded her of what Edwin and Caroline were soon to have, and she still felt raw from the shock of Edwin saying he must marry the Earl’sdaughter.

The room was packed. Lydia found a seat at a table at the side of the room. She wished to evade the swirl of people, drinking, dancing, and celebrating all around her. She wiped away a tear, telling herself it was out of happiness for Jenny, but she knewbetter.

There was a buffet table where people were in a line filling up their plates but Lydia was not hungry, and instead just sat and sipped at a cider Graham had brought herearlier.

Lydia began to worry. She was feeling exactly as she had at the engagement dinner. She knew she should be so happy for Jenny and Reginald, but all she could feel wassadness.

She must have looked quite forlorn for Graham came over and sat at the tablewithher.

“Miss Lydia, why are you not dancing? I know our poor excuse for an orchestra is not up to the standards of a ball at Honeyfield, but we are a merry lot and everyone likes a good old-fashioned country dance. Will youjoinme?”

Lydia managed a weak smile. “Of course, Graham, it would be myhonor.”

They stood, and Graham escorted her to the cramped dance floor. The spirits of the dancers were high, and the exuberance of the music and the dancers caught them up in a swirl ofcelebration.

Lydia began to enjoy herself. She had indulged in too much brooding, she thought. It was fine to let go and enjoy the gaiety of the occasion. And she found Graham to be a lively partner. He raised his knees high and spun around on the turns, throwing his arms intotheair.

They continued on in high spirits for several dances, but Lydia had become thirsty and asked to be excused from the nextdance.

“What would you like to drink?” Graham asked. “I believe there are all the standard pub drinks, plus, because of the occasion, we ordered champagne for the ladies and gentleman amongst this otherwise rowdycrowd.”

“I quite enjoyed the cider you brought me previously. I should like another one of those if youplease.”

“Of course, I shall berightback.”

As Graham headed to the crowded bar, Lydia stepped aside, to avoid the crush of the dancers. She leaned against a pillar and scanned the room. Jenny and Reginald were caught up in laughing conversations with their families. And it looked as though the in-laws were chatting and getting to know oneanother.

Lydia’s gaze swept to the entrance of the dining room and, with a sudden jolt, saw Edwin standing at the doorway surveying the room. And how extremely handsome he looked. His hat was in his hand and his wild, unruly hair fell around his face. His cheeks were ruddy from the cold and he brushed some snow off his broadshoulders.

He stood for a moment looking at the bride and groom’s table and then began walking toward it. Lydia almost held her breath as he passed her. But he did not look at her, heading straight to thetable.

Doctor Cooke and Jenny stood when he approached. Lydia could not hear what they were saying above the din of the music and the stomping of the dance, but it was clear that he had come to offer hiscongratulations.

Someone came forward and offered Edwin a glass of champagne, and he toasted the new couple. The Doctor gestured, offering Edwin a seat at the table but he waved his hand, indicating he was declining the offer. They chatted a few moments more and he turned away from the table. He scanned the room and locked eyes with Lydia and started walkingtowardher.