Page 89 of The Lady and the Duke

Chapter22

Lydia was exhaustedand nearly numb when she got home later that afternoon. She instinctively knew she must hold herself together during the rest of day of working in the orchard with Edwin. If she was to be his equal, she knew she must hold her own. She must stand up to him, guide him—and at the same time allow herself to beguided.

There was a letter from her mother on the entryway floor when she opened the front door of the cottage. It was obvious that no one had been home when the post wasdelivered.

She carried the letter into the sitting room and peeked into the kitchen. No one was about, except for Gingersnap who dashed down from upstairs and rubbed in circles around her ankles,purring.

She longed for a cup of tea. She started the kettle and found a few scraps forGingersnap’sbowl.

After the tea had brewed, she poured herself a cup and thought of wandering over to Jenny’s to tell her the latest developments. But she remembered her mother’s letter which she had stuffed into her pocket while makingthetea.

So rather than visiting Jenny, she plopped down on the sofa, put down the tea cup, opened the letter, and found a five-pound note. She put it asideandread:

My Dearest, Dearest Daughter,Lydia,

It is with the greatest of trepidations that I begin this letter. I should wish to soften the blow, but I must be direct. Your father is gravely ill and he is not expected to last out the next week or two. If you wish to see him once again, you must return home as quickly aspossible.

I have included what I could find to help you with yourjourneyhome.

Your sisters have just arrived and we all look forward to your safe return at thissadtime.

Please, come as quickly asyoucan.

Your Loving and RespectfulMother

Lydia was devastated. What an extraordinary day this had been. And now she must prepare herself to inform Aunt Lavinia of thesituation.

She had no choice, she must leave. She would be unable to do any more packing for the move, and she would most certainly, miss thewedding.

She considered what must be done? First, she must secure travel to Piddlehinton. Then she must pack, inform her Aunt, and write a note to Edwin explaining the situation. Would this end her employment? She had no idea. And she had no idea how long she would be gone. Could she even return? And what would become of her mother if herfatherdied?

All she could think to do at the moment was to go and seeJenny.

When Lydia knocked on the Lovell’s door, her motheranswered.

“Is Jenny in,” Lydiaasked.

“No, my dear, she is running an errand for her father. Is there anything I can helpyouwith?”

Lydia did not want to explain everything to Jenny’s mother just now. “No, but ask her to find me as soon as she is free.Thankyou.”

“Verywell,dear.”

Lydia went back to the house and decided the first thing she must do is to make travelarrangements.

Throwing a shawl over her shoulders, she left the cottage and headed to the inn where she could secure passage on the morning coach. She paid for her trip and headed directly back to the cottage. She was hoping her aunt and Bernard had returned, but they had not, so she sat to write a letter toEdwin.

She was about half way through writing the letter when Jenny knocked and came into thecottage.

“Hello, Lydia, Mother says you stopped by and wanted toseeme.”

She sat down opposite Lydia at the dining table where Lydia was writing theletter.

Lydia put her hand to her mouth as she struggled with what to say. There was so much to tell Jenny she did not know where to begin. So she decided to start with the mosturgent.

“Jenny, I just received a letter from my mother, saying my father is on his deathbed and I need to return homeimmediately.”

Jenny was stricken. “Oh,Lydia…”