Page 67 of The Lady and the Duke

Lavinia let out a chuckle. “Oh, gracious me. I am a mess this morning, amInot?”

Lydia smiled. “It is an important day for you, Aunt. It is not surprising. Are youexcited?”

“I am.” She dashed over to the window, once again, when she heard a carriage approaching. But it was only a wagon passing downtheroad.

“I, too, am looking forward to seeing Dr. Winston. However, I will not interrupt your reunion with him when he arrives. I shall see him at Honeyfield later this morning, as I am to work with Edwin… I meantheDuke.”

Aunt was astonished and not a little shocked. “You call the Duke by hisfirstname?”

“It is his wish for me todoso.”

“Oh, Lydia, that is most inappropriate. Does Her Grace knowaboutthis?”

“I do not believe so, and I know the Duke would be grateful if you did not inform herofsuch.”

Aunt’s face took on a sour look. “Honestly, I do not know what this world is coming to. However, I shall honor your request, but please call him Your Grace when in attendance with theDuchess.”

Lydia nodded. “Yes,Aunt.”

The coach’s arrival could be clearly heard from the street. Lavinia became flustered and went about the room retrieving what she needed to takewithher.

There was a knock at the door and Lydia went to answer. A footman was waiting to accompany Lavinia to thecoach.

“Good-bye, Aunt. Please give my regards to Dr. Winston and tell him I shall be seeing him shortly atHoneyfield.”

“Yes. Yes,” she said as she hurried out of the house like a cluster ofgeese.

Lydia realized she might have taken the carriage with her aunt, as she was due to meet Edwin in just two hours, but it would have meant she would be too early, and besides, she wanted to let Aunt and the Doctor have timealone.

But that was agreeable, because she still needed to finish the lists for Edwin. She had made rough drafts but wanted to copy them out in fair hand before the carriage came to take her toHoneyfield.