Page 69 of The Lady and the Duke

“Oh, Edwin, that is far too great a figure. I could never accept such a sum.” She was truly shocked. That was much more than her aunt was paid attending on the Duchess six daysaweek.

“Then what do youpropose?”

Lydia was flustered. “Oh, Edwin, please, might we discuss this at another time? I just have no idea. Perhaps I might consult with a few friends and we can reach a decision later. I would prefer to get to work and see howthingsgo.”

“As you wish. I shall stand by that figure for now, and we can decidelater.”

“Lydia, there you are,” Ellen said, as she came into the office. “I am so sorry I missed our ride onTuesday.”

“Please, think nothing of it. Your brother and I made good use of the time. For some obscure reason he has asked me to help him with his horticultural projects. I am to oversee the renovation of the orchard and vegetable garden. You shall, one day soon, have an abundant variety of produce and a cornucopia of deliciousfruits.”

Ellen turned to Edwin. “Oh, brother, am I interrupting an importantmeeting?”

“We are planning our next steps in working together. You are welcome to join us if you like, but I expect it would not interest you,”Edwinsaid.

“And why would you think that?” Ellen asked, a little indignant that he would dismiss her so easily. “Do you think I do not care about your plans for the estate, and even more importantly for the household, the vegetable garden, and theorchard?”

“You have never evidenced any interest, up to now,” he said with a faintsmile.

Ellen waggled her head. “That may be so, but my dear sister Lydia is now involved in making life better for us here at Honeyfield, and I want to support her howeverImay.”

Edwin nodded. “Then are you prepared to roll up your sleeves, grab a saw, climb a tree, and gettowork?”

Ellen thought about that for a moment. “Well… actually, I think I might be more suited to standing in the shade, pointing a finger, and saying to someone else, cutthere.”

“That is what I thought,” Edwinlaughed.

Lydia stood. “Well, Miss Ellen, you can come with me, point where you like, and tell me where to cut. It is time for me to gettowork.”

“Oh, I could never tell you where to cut, Lydia. You are way more knowledgeable about such matters thanIam.”

“Well, since you are teaching me to ride, perhaps I could teach you how togarden.”

Ellen considered that. “You know; I just might enjoy that. Let me go change into something more suitable to work in and I shall join youshortly.”

“Excellent,”Lydiasaid.

Ellen left and headed back toward thehouse.

Edwin stood up from the table. “Miss Lydia, just so you know, I would not expect Ellen to return any time soon. Manual labor has never appealed to her, and I imagine she shall go to her rooms, think about what she might wear, but somewhere along the way get an idea for the story she is working on and get lost in her writing. Do not take it personally. It is just Ellen beingEllen.”

“But we adore her anyway, do we not?” Lydia saidsmiling.

“Thatwedo.”

“Is there anything else you wish to discuss before I begin work on theorchard?”

Edwin scratched his mane of shaggy hair. “If I might suggest—considering that your dear friend, Dr. Winston, is visiting, and the fact that we shall be having luncheon together shortly, might it not be a better idea to wait to start work on the orchard until next time? I would not like you to get your lovely frock dirty today, as you certainly would if you were clambering around trees with a sawinhand.”

“A most sensible suggestion, Edwin. In fact, I was thinking it might be a good idea for me to keep a set of work clothes here to change into and leave behind each day when I am heretowork.”

Edwin nodded. “Excellent idea. What did you wear when you worked in your gardenathome?”

“I have a linen shirt and a pair of pantaloons that allow me to climb and work quite unhindered. And a set of workgloves.”

“Mostappropriate.”

They had come to a moment of silence. Lydia, not having her work to fall back on, was uncertain what she wanted to say. She turned to look at the plans for the estate lying on the table. She reached over and fingered one of the drawings. Edwin stepped forward and came up close behind her, putting his hand on her waist as he tried to scoot past her in the tight space. Shelookedup.