Page 52 of The Lady and the Duke

“But sheisadorable. What are you going tonameher?”

“I am not. She must belong to somebody. I am going to try and find theowner.”

“Unlikely. Cats are mostly mousers around here. Very few are kept as pets. I doubt anyone would even lookforher.”

“But I need to try.” Lydia placed the cat in the basket. After settling in, she immediately began licking at the leg that Reginald had cleaned andbandaged.

“I could certainly use some tea? Is it too soon before lunch?” Jennyasked.

“Not at all. I am parched, myself, after the walk,” Lydia said, as she filled thekettle.

Jenny jumped up and sat on the edge of the kitchentable.

“And how was the good Doctor? Was he charming and attentive on the walk? Are you going walking togetheragainsoon?”

Lydia had to think about how to answer. “Well, yes, he was attentive. And he was charming up to a point. But, as kind as he is, he is also so totally wrapped up in his work it seems he has almost no other life orinterests.”

“How doyoumean?”

“His hobbies are all connected to his work. And his only other passion seems to be mathematical puzzles. Don’t you find that strange?” Lydia asked as she poured the boiling water into theteapot.

Jenny jumped down from the table, collected the teacups and put out the sugar as Lydia went to fetchthemilk.

“So does that mean you are no longer interested in him?” Jennyasked.

“Oh no, he is quite pleasant enough. I am willing to entertain his suit if he chooses topursueit.”

Lydia poured the tea and they took it to the sitting room where Lydia picked up the mending she had been working onearlier.

Jenny looked at Lydia with a smile. “You know, Graham cannot stop talking about you. I think he might be smittenwithyou.”

“Oh,Jenny…”

“He would be furious with me, for telling you this, but he asked me to sound you out to see if there was any interest in him onyourpart.”

Lydia was surprised. “Your Graham? Askedaboutme?”

“Hedid.”

Lydia shook her head. “He’s nice enough… but he is still such a boy. Maybe in five years… Oh, Jenny, it is all I can do to make sense of my new life with my aunt away from my dearest family. But now there are all these other distractions. The Doctor. Ellen. Edwin wanting to consult me on gardening. It is just too much tocontemplate.”

The tabby came from the kitchen and jumped up on Lydia’s lap, curled up, and beganpurring.

“So is that a no?” Jenny asked. Lydia seemed not to understand. “Graham?”

Lydia laughed. “Yes. For now, it isano.”

* * *

Aunt had not objectedto the cat, as Lydia had thought she might. It was to be temporary, after all, as Lydia was actively searching for theowner.

A knocking at the front door brought Lydia down the stairs from where she was emptying out the ashes from the bathroomstove.

“Yes,” she asked as she opened the door, upset that she was covered in ash and with dirtyhands.

“Miss Fernside, this is for you.” A Honeyfield footman handed her a large flat box. “And I am to wait for an answer to the noteinside.

“Oh, my…” Lydia said, taking the box. “I’ll berightback.”