Page 35 of The Lady and the Duke

Therefore, I would like to invite you to visit me some morning or afternoon and I would be most pleased to introduce you to this delightfulpasstime.

My boorish brother is useless and never has time to accompany me on my rides. It would be such a pleasure to have a companion to accompany me. Might thatinterestyou?

I am anxiously awaiting your positiveresponse.

Your most devoted newadmirer,

EllenTempleton

What a pleasant surprise, Lydia thought. But would her aunt allow such frivolity? Surely, she would see riding as taking Lydia away from her chores and duties. But, on the other hand, it was an invitation from a Templeton, and her aunt might see that as an honor and encourage Lydia to accept the offer. She would need to consult with her aunt before she could reply to Ellen’sletter.

But she could not resist, and she dashed over to show the letter toJenny.

“Good morning, Mrs. Lovell,” Lydia said as she greeted Jenny’s mother who was trimming candles in thekitchen.

“Hello, my dear. You seem to be walking better now. Are you allhealed?”

“Thank you, Ibelieveso.”

“Jenny is outside, hanginglaundry.”

“Thankyou.”

Lydia went out the back door. Jenny was struggling with a large sheet that was being uncooperative in the sprightlybreeze.

“Here—let me help you,” Lydiaoffered.

They wrestled with the sheet and finally corralled it, pinningitdown.

“We just about went for a sail,” Jenny said laughing. “And how is the goodDoctor?”

Lydia blushed. “I do not know. It has only been a few days since he asked if he could walkwithme.”

“I told you he was interested,” Jenny said, as she shook out another sheet and they wrestled with that oneaswell.”

“I didn’t come here to talk about the Doctor,” Lydia said, a littletestily.

“Very well. Then you came to help me hang thelaundry.”

Lydia laughed. “No, actually. I came to show you this.” She dug into her pocket and pulled out Ellen’sletter.

Jenny took the letter and read it. “This is very nice. Are you going to take her up on theoffer?”

“Most certainly, if my aunt willallow.”

“Why ever wouldshenot?”

“She might well see it a dereliction of duty. And I must still talk to her about taking time out each day for a constitutional walk. She was upset enough during my injury, and now I want to engage in what, I am sure, she will see as frivolousactivities.”

“Well, if she objects, send her to me and I will sortherout.”

Lydia laughed. “Jenny, you are simplyoutrageous.”

“But you already know that,” Jenny said, as she shook out a tea towel to hang ontheline.

* * *

Lavinia hada quizzical expression as she came into the sitting room after work, holding the letter from Doctor Winston. It was a thick letter, suggesting it comprised severalpages.