Page 6 of The Lady and the Duke

“If you like, I can take care of that for you. I don’t think you want to keep themwaiting.”

A most ominous reply, Lydia thought as she gathered her mending together and handed it to Margaret. Lydia glanced at Margaret to see if she could fathom what was going on, but Margaret averted her gaze and wouldn’t lookather.

What have I done?Lydia thought as she climbed the stairs to her father’sstudy.

She knocked onthedoor.

“Come,” her fathercalledout.

Lydia opened the door and entered. Her father was seated at his desk—his glasses perched on the end of his nose as he gazed over them to look at his daughter. Her mother was seated in the comfortable chair by the empty fireplace, fanning herself in theclosedroom.

Her mother extended her hand and indicated that Lydia should sit in the chair prepared for her—equidistant from each of her parents. When she was seated, her mother turned to Father for him to beginspeaking.

Lydia was apprehensive of this situation. Again, it was so formal and she felt as though she was at an inquisition with the guillotine about to descend uponherneck.

“Lydia, we need to have a serious conversation with you,” her fatherbegan.

“Yes,Papa.”

At the loving and informal ‘Papa,’ her father hesitated but regathered himself when Mother gave him a stern look and nodded for him toproceed.

“Your mother and I were shocked when you announced that there was to be no engagement between yourself and Mr.Howell.”

“It was a mutual decision, as I told youpreviously.”

“That is as it might be. But the crux of the matter is that you are not to be married and with no other prospects. Is that correct? There is no one else waiting in thewings?”

“That is correct, Father.” Lydia was not about to be intimidated by this inquiry. She looked over to her mother who frowned but saidnothing.

“Please tell me what is on your minds. I feel like I have committed some terriblecrime.”

Father looked to Mother, who spoke up, as it seemed Father was unwilling to get to the heart of thematter.

“Emily is married, with a fine husband and with a child on the way. Margaret is engaged and to be married in but a week. And then thereisyou…”

“That is certainly true, Mamma. You make it sound like that is theproblem.”

Mother glanced down briefly, as though to gather her thoughts. “Well, not you specifically, but certainly your situation. You are twenty years old. Most young ladies are married or engaged by that age. And now you have diverted a possibleengagement…”

“I most certainly did not divert, Mother. It was Mr. Howell who declared that he had met someone else and wished tomarryher.”

“And why would that be? If you had been more attentive to him… more willing… perhaps he would not have needed to lookelsewhere.”

Lydia stood up and scowled. “So you are blaming me for the failedengagement?”

“Certainly, not my dear,” her Father said. “But what you don’t understand is that…” He looked down at his desk and adjusted his glasses. “Well, how can Iputthis?”

Mother spoke up. “Your father has not managed our paltry living from the church wisely and in short, we cannot afford to continue supporting your living hereathome.”

Lydia was shocked. “Oh…Isee.”

“It has absolutely nothing to do with you, my darling,” Father said. “But I am ashamed to say I have not been a good steward to our family and we have a great deal of debt and thus we must cut back drastically on our expenses.” He looked greatly embarrassed and he pushed again at hiseyeglasses.

Mother spoke up. “We have had to give Lucy notice. That is how serious thismatteris.”

Lydia was stricken now—not with guilt, but with grave concern. “Oh, how can I help? There must be something that canbedone.”

“I have previously written to your Aunt Lavinia. Since she is so recently widowed, we thought she might welcome you as a companion and ahousekeeper.”