Page 40 of The Lady and the Duke

“Oh, no, I cannot ask you todothat.”

“And why not? We share the same interests and I would be most delighted to help you if I can be ofservice.”

“Then I shall forever be inyourdebt.”

Edwin smiled. “I shall remember that and request repayment in full when you leastexpectit.”

Lydia could see he was teasing, “Then perhaps I should decline your kind offer, as my father always cautioned me against taking on ill-considereddebt.”

Edwin turned to Jenny, “Miss Lovell, what do you think? Should I aid Miss Fernside in her quest for a gardenornot?”

“How else can yougrowyour interest, if not bylendingyourassistance?”

Edwin smiled. “I can see I am no match for the two of you. You mean toprunemybuddinginterest ingrowing rootsin Miss Fernside’s affections by my offerofhelp.”

All three collapsed intolaughter.

“Enough—I surrender,” he said. “How about I pay my ransom in cups of coffee? Every morning about this time I require the stimulation of not tea, but coffee. Will you join me at Twistivants for somerefreshment?”

Lydia looked to Jenny for confirmation. Shenodded.

“We would be delighted,” Lydia answered. “But you must excuse me. I must first post this letter for my aunt. Why don’t you two walk ahead and I shall join youshortly?”

Edwin offered his arm. “MissLovell?”

She took his arm. “Please call me Jenny. As Lydia can attest, I am saucy and irreverent—closer to being a scullery maid thanalady.”

Edwin turned to Lydia. “Isthatso?”

Lydia shook her head and smiled. “She’s incorrigible, but every bit a lady. She is jestingwithyou.”

He turned back to Jenny. “And you must call me Edwin. I too am closer to being a scullery maid thanalady.”

Lydia laughed. “I shall meet you at Twistivantsshortly.”

* * *

Edwin provedto be a delightful host at coffee. Easy going and open, he in no way made either young lady feel uncomfortable with either their sex or their social rank. They conversed and bantered and thoroughly enjoyed each other’scompany.

Finally, Edwin stood. “Ladies, as enjoyable as our coffee and conversation have been, I am a working man and must get on with the business ofmyday.”

Jenny stood and offered her hand. “Edwin, it has been a most enjoyable interlude. Thank you for the coffee and theconversation.”

Edwin took her hand and kissed the back of it. He then turned to Lydia who was standing and gathering her shoppingbasket.

“Lydia, I shall deliver your letter to my sister. And fret not—I will see to it that you obtain your aunt’s permission to ride with Ellen.” Then he took her hand and kissed itaswell.

He paid the reckoning, tipped his hat to the ladies, and started to leave, but returned to thetable.

“Miss Lydia, I was thinking… If your aunt agrees to the vegetable garden, I would be most honored if you would allow me to send one of my men with a horse and plow to dig up the plot for you. I know it is almost impossible to get started without digging deeply. And I feel certain your aunt probably does not haveaplow.”

“Oh, Edwin, that would be wonderful, and greatly appreciated,”shesaid.

“Then until we meet again.” He tipped his hat to the two ladiesandleft.

Both Jenny and Lydia were momentarily speechless. They left the shop and startedheadinghome.

Jenny turned to Lydia. “He is not at all as I imagined him to be. He couldn’t be morecharming.”

“That was my first impressionaswell.”

“How can such a man still be unmarried?” Jennyasked.

Lydia hated to bring it up, but said, “As I have said previously, Pamela Stafford seems to have her eyes on him. And his mother is actively encouraging him to ask for her hand inmarriage.”

Jenny pointed her nose in the air as if there was a foul odor. “Oh, yes, theStafford.I have seen her riding through town in an open carriage, and her snooty attitude always sends a chill down my spine. I have heard it said that his mother seeks the marriage for the Stafford money, and the Stafford family seeks the marriage for the Templetontitle.”

“It need not concern either one of us, Jenny. Apart from our sincere wishes for his happiness, we really should have no concern as to whom he selects forhiswife.”

“But what a shame to see a fine man like that misdirected on that… I am too ladylike to say what I really feel,” Jenny said, pushing at Lydia’s shoulder andsnickering.