Page 20 of The Lady and the Duke

Chapter6

“The market?”Jenny exclaimed. “What a splendid idea. I was wondering what to do with myself this morning. Mother wanted me to scrape out the cistern, but that didn’t sound like much fun. Let me go ask if Mother needs anything from the market and I’ll be right with you.” Jenny gestured. “Come in, don’t just stand outside. I won’t be but aminute.”

Jenny’s house was bright and airy. Most of the windows were open and a light breeze lifted the sheer curtains like ladies waving handkerchiefs at a departingvessel.

A fine specimen of an Englishman lounged, stretched out on the floor of the sitting room reading a book. He looked up and sawLydia.

“You must be the new lass from next door. I’m Graham, one of Jenny’s hopeless brothers.” Helaughed.

“I’m LydiaFernside.”

“It’s a pleasure,” Graham said. It looked like he was about to stand up togreether.”

“No. Don’t get up. Continue your reading. Whatareyoureading?”

“The Trials of Abatha. It’s a rousing lot of trollop, but itisfun.”

“Oh, do you readalot?”

“Scabs. I’m off to university next term and I am catching up on all the trash I can before I have to read the seriousstuff.”

Lydia laughed. “Might I borrow a book now and then? My aunt has nothing but religious tracts. Not something I caretoread.”

“Oh, yes. Everyone here reads like crazy and we have a whole library of all sorts of various books you might enjoy. Browse and borrow wheneveryoulike.”

“Thank you. That would bedelightful.”

“So, you have met the infamous Graham—about as useful as a leaky umbrella,” Jenny said,laughing.

“He seems decent enough to me. He offered to lend me books. How bad canhebe?”

“See, sister. I have at least one admirer.” Graham stuck his tongue outather.

Jenny took hold of Lydia’s arm and directed her out the front door. “See what I mean. My brothers arelouts.”

“He seemed quite nicetome.”

“Jenney began to skip and chanted, “To market, to market to buy afatpig.”

Lydia had to run tocatchup.

The market was set up at one end of the town square. There were dozens of stalls, mostly with canvas covers to keep out the summer sun. The stall keepers were shouting out their wares and it made for a merry noise, Lydiathought.

“What are you looking for?” Jenny asked. Lydia showed her the list. “Oh, yes. I know just the vendors for allofthis.”

She led Lydia from stall to stall and soon the list was complete, except for the provisions needed from the grocers that were not available from the outdoormarket.

“Do you know where your aunt has her account?” Lydiaasked.

“She didn’t say. I just assumed there was but onegrocer.”

“It is probably Donald and Sons. They are considered the best. Let us go andenquire.”

Lydia followed Jenny into a shop on High Street. It was busy with activity. There were barrels of flour, grains, and meal. There were bins of spices, dried beans, peas, and lentils. Along one wall were cupboards with notions, rolls of fabric, hats, and ladiesgarments.

Lydia quickly purchased the remaining items on the list and they left thestore.

As they leisurely headed back toward home Lydia was longing to tell Jenny about how unhappy she was with the first meeting with her aunt, but felt it would be disloyal to tattle and gossip so she held hertongue.