Page 78 of The Lady and the Duke

“Yes. Mostworthy.”

“But why would Edwin ask such a question? Is he not expected to woo MissStafford?”

Ellen laughed. “Expected to—yes. By Mamma, but that expectation does not extend toEdwin.”

“I see.” Lydia said, now dealing with a new agitation. What could this possibly mean? She could not believe for one moment that Edwin would have any interest in her other than as a co-worker with similarinterests.

“I hope I have not upset you by telling you this,” Ellen saidsympathetically.

“No. Not at all. It was just unexpected.” Lydia stood. She wanted to escape and have a moment alone. “I must be going. Edwin will be waiting for me to start on the orchard. Excuse me,Ellen.”

“Ihaveupset you,” Ellen said,standingup.

“No, Ellen, truly.” Lydia said, but quickly lefttheroom.

She hurried through the house in emotional turmoil as she passed through the kitchen and headed toward the office. What were these feelings she asked herself? Longing? Hope? Incredulity? Evenanger?

She rushed over to the office and went inside. Edwin was seated at the table. He was dressed in rough looking work clothes. He turned when sheentered.

“Good-morning,Lydia.”

She had stopped in the doorway, unsure what sheshoulddo.

“Hello, Edwin.” She stood unmoving—holding the book she’d brought toshowhim.

There was an awkward silence, before he asked, “Are you going tochange?”

“Oh, Edwin, in my haste this morning I completely forgot to bring my work clothes. I had them out, but the cat needed feeding, the footmanarrived,and…”

Edwin raised his hand. “Never mind. Take a breath, and come sitwithme.”

She came over and sat at the table. She placed the book before him. “I thought you might find this interesting,” she said. “I wasreadingit…”

He reached over and put his hand on top of hers. “Lydia. It is allright.”

She did not understand what he was talking about. She just staredathim.

“You seem agitated about forgetting the clothes. Please do not fret. I have some clothing from when I was a boy stored in a trunk in the stable. Let us fetch something that mightfityou.”

He had not removed his hand from hers. They stared at each other for a few moments, before he asked. “Have you given any consideration to my fee offer?” Then he withdrewhishand.

Lydia looked down at her hand and then back uptohim.

“You must forgive me. You see, with the wedding, and the ball, and my aunt moving to Oxford, I have not been as level headed as I am used tobeing.”

“As your aunt is leaving, where shall you live?” heasked.

“They have asked me to go with them,” she said, almost still in a trance from her emotionalturmoil.

“Is that whatyouwant?”

“I donotknow.”

“Are you saying you do not wish for us to work together?” He asked and seemeddisappointed.

“No. Not at all. I do. But I am just so… uncertain about so manythings.”

“If you had a place to live would you stay in UptonMagna?”