Page 68 of The Lady and the Duke

Chapter17

When the carriagearrived at the Honeyfield front entrance, Edwin and Doctor Winston were waiting for her. Lydia couldn’t even wait for the footman to open the door and she leapt out and rushed over to greet theDoctor.

“Bernard, how wonderful to see youagain.”

“Miss Lydia, the pleasure is all mine.” He took her hand andkissedit.

“Hello, Edwin. And it is always wonderful to see you again, as well,” Lydiagreeted.

“Miss Lydia,” he said standing by and bowing—allowing the uninterrupted greeting to take place first between Lydia and theDoctor.

Lydia beamed, as she addressed Bernard. “My aunt has been much taken with your correspondence and it has lightened her heartgreatly.”

“As she has mine,” Bernard answered. “Will you be joining us forluncheon?”

Lydia looked at Edwin, whonodded.

“I believe so, and perhaps we can catch up on all thenewsthen.”

“I look forward to it. Until then, Miss Lydia. However, Her Grace is insistent I return as quickly as possible, for she is anxious for a hand ofwhist.”

“Good day,Doctor.”

Bernard bowed to her and then to Edwin, and went back into the house. Edwin then steppedforward.

“Miss Lydia, I have been eagerly awaiting your return. As has my sister who insists she must stop by sometime this morning to give you herregards.”

“Where would you like to start this morning?” Lydia asked. I am prepared to start right away on theorchard.”

“Let us go to my office first. I would like to examine your lists, if you have them with you. And we need to discuss yoursalary.”

“Verywell.”

Edwin led the way past the stables to hisoffice.

Lydia immediately felt the closeness of the small office and how Edwin’s presence filled the room. It almost gave her shortness of breath, but she managed to calm herself, and opened the folder where she had the lists she’d made forEdwin.

“May I?” he asked as he reached out for thepapers.

She looked up and caught his gaze. He was smiling and his eyes bore into her. She needed to look away after handing him thelists.

Edwin sat down in a chair at the table and began running through the pages. Lydia remained standing even though there was a chair opposite of where he wassitting.

He looked up. “Yes, just as I remember our conversation from the other day. I am quite pleased with thisdirection.”

He saw she was still standing and nodded toward thechair.

“Won’t you take a seat, Miss Lydia?” She sat down. “I hope you will feel comfortable as we work together. Please think of us as equals. For this to be a successful operation there must be an openness of thought and an ease in our communication.” He gestured toward a small table by the door. “I always keep a pitcher of water here, for when we are out in the open for long periods we can become quite thirsty. This alleviates the need to go to the house forwater.”

Shenodded.

Edwin sat looking at her for some moments without speaking. He seemed to be considering an issue. Finally, he said, “Have you given any thought to what your fee for service might be for thisproject?”

Lydia was completely taken aback. She had absolutely no idea what a fee for such work might be. Was she to be regarded as an agricultural laborer—like a gardener? Or was she to be considered as a consultant—like an architect or a solicitor? All she knew was what income her father made as the Vicar of Piddlehinton. She believed it was somewhere in the neighborhood of two to three hundred a year. And she believed her brother-in-law made perhaps three-fifty to four hundred a year as a merchant. But those were full time and responsible positions—far above her occasional work forEdwin.

“Oh, Edwin, I have absolutely no idea? I trust you to know, much better than I, what might beappropriate.”

“Very well. Would you be amenable to twenty-five pounds a month? And that would be for twice a week—as I know you have responsibilities foryouraunt.”