Page 53 of The Lady and the Duke

She placed the box on the entry table and took off the lid. Inside was a most stylish riding costume. She was startled. But picked up the envelope and opened theletter.

MyLydia,

I hope you will accept this modest gift from me. My grandmamma keeps giving me these riding dresses as gifts, as she seems to have a lack of imagination, and I have far too many. As we appear to be the same size I thought you might enjoy having this for our next ridinglesson.

Would Tuesday at ten be a good time for you? If not, please propose an alternate dayandtime.

There will be lunch, of course. And I was thinking we might try a cantor and a short ride through an actual field instead of ring-around-the-rosie in thecorral.

Everyours,

Ellen

P.S. Give your answer to thefootman

Lydia went back to the footman. “Tell Miss Ellen the time she proposes willbefine.”

“Very well Miss and the coach will collect you half an hourbefore.”

“Thankyou.”

Lydia went back to the box and took out the riding dress. She held it up. It was quite delightful and she could not wait to try it on. But first, she must finish the dirty task of emptying out theashes.

* * *

Lydia had started callingthe cat Gingersnap. So far, her efforts to find the owners had been fruitless and she was slowly beginning to accept the cat as her own. However, she had not yet announced this fact to her aunt. But many evenings Gingersnap was found curled up in her Aunt’s lap, so Lydia anticipated no resistance from her Aunt when the cat would become an official part of thefamily.

Then one evening, prayers was once againpostponed

“Lydia, might I have a word with you?” Auntasked.

“Of course, is there somethingyouneed?”

“Not just at the moment. But I want to tell you about a development in my life that may impact you at somepoint.”

Aunt indicated Lydia should sit opposite her in the sitting room. Lydia sat with her hands in her lap awaiting her Aunt’sannouncement.

“I have been in correspondence with your acquaintance, DoctorWinston.”

“Yes, I am awareofthat.

“You are?” Aunt seemed startled at herannouncement.

“Yes. He told me of his intent before he left after his visit to Honeyfield. And, of course, there have been the letters with his handwriting. However, I did not want tointrude.”

Lavinia shifted in her chair. “I wish you had said something to me of your knowledge. It feels like you have been spyingonme.”

“Oh, Aunt, I would never do such a thing. I greatly value your privacy and would never do anything to compromise that. But I cannot un-know what the good Doctortoldme.”

“Yes, I guess you are right. I am sorry if I accused youwrongly.”

“And has the Doctor been attentive? Are his intentions knowntoyou?”

“Yes, that is what I wished to discuss. We have had several very positive correspondences.” Lavinia blushed slightly and hesitated before speaking further. “He wishes to return to Upton Magna to visit me. Of course, he cannot stay here at this house. That would be improper, so he has written to the Duke to see if he might be welcome to stay there onceagain.”

“Oh, Aunt. That is a wonderful development. I can certainly arrange to be absent if you wish to entertain the Doctoralone.”

“No. You must be present when he visits here, and if we are to meet alone, it must be in public—like in the dining room at the Inn or even at Honeyfield in the presence of Her Grace orEllen.”