Page 55 of The Lady and the Duke

Chapter14

Lydia was much subduedas she rode in the carriage to Honeyfield for her riding lesson with Ellen. Her Aunt’s announcement had indeed been a shock. She had never considered what Doctor Winston’s wooing of Lavinia could mean for her. Now she was faced with another life changingreality.

“How lovely you look in the riding costume,” Ellen exclaimed, as Lydia descended from the carriage. She came over and took both of Lydia’s hands and stood back to admire the dress. She took Lydia by the arm and led them toward thestable.

“Edwin told me to tell you that he fully intends to offer you his promised tour of the estate afterlunch.”

“I look forward to it,” Lydia said, as they arrived to find the horses waitingforthem.

Lydia was finding her inner horsewoman. She was taking to it like a dog takes to fetching a ball. After practicing trotting around the corral, Ellen suggested they head out into the open field and work from a trot to a canter, and Lydia was anxious to take up the challenge. By the end of the lesson, Lydia was riding right beside Ellen as they gently raced back to thestables.

“Next time, we shall ride into the woods and along the river. I can’t believe how quickly you are learning,” Ellenenthused.

“And I can’t believe how thoroughly I am enjoying riding. My only regret is that I did not learn to rideearlier.”

“Well, come. It is time for lunch and I have the most exciting news to tell you whileweeat.”

“Are we going to yourrooms?”

“No, we shall be eating with Mamma and Edwin today. I hope youdon’tmind.”

“I don’t, but I should like to change out of the riding dress first if you don’t mind. I brought a dress to change into.” She held up a small bag she’d broughtwithher.

“Yes,metoo.”

They changed their dresses and headed for thediningroom.

“What is your exciting news?” Lydia asked as they proceeded down thehallway.

“Wait until we luncheon. It’s really Edwin’ssurprise.”

They entered the dining room. Her Grace was seated at the head of the long table. Edwin, by right, should have been seated at the other end, but they would have needed to shout down the length of the table to carry on a conversation, so he sat to his mother’s right, while Ellen and Lydia satopposite.

“How is the student doing?” Edwin asked as he stood when the two ladiesentered.

“I swear, Edwin, she is going to be an even better rider thanIam.”

Lydia blushed. “Nonsense.”

Her Grace raised her gloved hand and waved in Ellen’s general direction. “Ellen, my dear, I can hardly believe you are able to judge Miss Fernside’s abilities so soon after commencing her lessons. I feel certain no one will be able to rival you. After all, you are aTempleton.”

Ellen gave Lydia a glance and grimace before turning back to answer her mother. “I stand corrected. However, I feel like Lydia and I are sisters, therefore, I feel quite certain we shall, at the very least, beequals.”

Mother gave a “humph” and turned to the butler, giving an almost imperceptible wave to indicate it was time toserve.

Lydia mostly remained quiet during lunch, as Her Grace rattled on about family matters, totally ignoring Lydia’s presence, with no attempt to engage her in conversation. However, Edwin would look at Lydia and smile and even winked once to indicate he understood how left out shemustfeel.

As the luncheon neared its end, Lavinia came into the dining room to fetch Her Grace for her constitutional walk beforenaptime.

As they were leaving, Her Grace turned back to Edwin. “I had the most delightful note from Pamela, thanking us for hosting her last week. And she said to give you her particularregards.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Edwin said in an exasperated tone ofvoice.

Finally, the Duchess was gone, and both Edwin and Ellen gave a sigh ofrelief.

Ellen turned to her brother. “Tell her,” she said,enthusiastically.

Edwin nodded and turned to Lydia. “My darling sister is about to have her eighteenth birthday and we are going to celebrate with aparty.”