Page 80 of The Lady and the Duke

As they approached Lydia studied them. One of them had a sunny aspect with just enough shade to keep it from being too hot in the summer. It was also pleasantly secluded from the other cottage, which would give her privacy if the other cottage was ever occupied. She also enjoyed the fact that there were two rose bushes on either side of the front door that grew up and over the smallporch.

“I like that one,” she said,pointing.

“Then let us takealook.”

He went to the door, unlocked it, and theyentered.

“Please examine it and let me know what youthink.”

Lydia went first to the main room. It was pleasantly light with large windows. There was a fireplace, but no furniture. Next to the sitting room was a modest sized kitchen with no stove but a fireplace with hooks for heating water and cooking. That led to the only other room—the bedroom. It was small but serviceable. She wandered back to thesittingroom.

“Is there water?” sheasked.

“There is a welloutback.”

“There is no furniture,” she said. “But otherwise, I quite like it. It is cozy and would suit my modest needsquitewell.”

“There is furniture in the cottage next door. I can have that moved over here ifyoulike.”

“Might I see the furniture then,please?”

“Certainly.”

They crossed to the other cottage. It was much darker and felt damp. She was happier with her choice. The furniture was simple and serviceable, and she felt she could live quite comfortably with it. She even considered that her aunt might not want to move all of her furniture pieces to Oxford, and might allow her to keep a few items forherself.

Heading back toward the main house Lydia was verypleased.

“You understand, I will not be able to take possession of the cottage until after the wedding and Aunt has moved to Oxford. I promised to keep her house in good condition until itissold.

“That will not be any difficulty,”Edwinsaid.

“And might I be able to have a kitchen garden?” sheasked.

Edwin smiled. “I believe you already have a kitchen garden at your disposal. The one you will be managing for us. You are welcome to take anything you need at any time. Why go to all the work and effort to put in asecondone?”

Lydia nodded. “Mostsensible.”

“I shall have the furniture moved into your cottage in the next week or so. If that issatisfactory?”

“Certainly.”

When they came back to the office, Edwin said, “Now then, let us find you something to wear and then we can get started on the orchard. Where do you want tostart?”

“It looked to me the other day that the peach trees were in greatest need of immediateattention.”