Page 94 of The Lady and the Duke

Chapter23

Lydia had been home a week.Her father was no longer conscious. He lay wasting away in his bed. Each day the doctor came and bled him. Her mother sat by his side and whimpered most of the day. Lydia was deeply concernedabouther.

Then a letter came from Jenny. It was so much like Jenny. It was cheery, and gossipy, and filled with stories. She reported that the marriage was directly upon them, and Aunt Lavinia had worked hard to pack the rest of the house, and the removers had come and taken everything away. She also said that Lydia’s few remaining possessions had been transferred to her newcottage.

She continued by saying that until the nuptials, Lavinia and Bernard were staying as guests at Honeyfield. Jenny lamented how empty Lavinia’s cottage felt with everyone gone, and she pleaded for Lydia to return as soon aspossible.

She ended by asking after Lydia’s father’s health and hoped to hear from Lydiaverysoon.

That brightened Lydia considerably, and it made her even more determined to return to Upton Magna. It was clear that that was herhomenow.

Her father lingered three more days and then passed away in his sleep one night. The whole house was awakened, early the next morning by shrieks from their mother. She was inconsolable all morning. Emily and Margaret sat by her side, while it was left to Lydia to make arrangements for thefuneral.

The vicar from a neighboring parish had agreed to hold the service in Papa’s church, and Lydia busied herself with preparing food for the reception that would follow theburial.

The day after the funeral Emily and Margaret departed for their homes, leaving Mother and Lydia behindalone.

Lydia arranged for a solicitor to handle the meager estate and then one rainy afternoon she took her mother to the sitting room and had hersitdown.

“Mother, we need to discuss your future now that Papa is gone,” Lydia said firmly. She needed to be firm or her mother would dissolve once again into wails andtears.

“Oh, Lydia, what am I to do? I have no money. No family. What? What is to be done? All that is left is for me to waste awayanddie.”

“Mother, try not to be so melodramatic.Please.”

“But what am I to do? I have no way to supportmyself.”

“You know you must give up this house to the newvicar.”

“Oh, yes. Yes. What am Itodo?”

“Neither Emily or Margaret can take you to livewiththem.”

“They are soungrateful.”

“Mother, do not judge them. They have families and are not able to accommodate you in their homes. However, I will have a small cottage in Upton Magna, and I want you to come and livewithme.”

Mother just stared at her for a moment. “You have a cottage? Withyouraunt?”

“No, Mother. She is married and moving to Oxford. I have my own cottage on the estate where I amworking.”

“You areworking?”

“Mother, I have told you all about this several times now. But you do not listentome.”

“I am sorry. Itisjust…”

“I understand, youmissPapa.”

Mother wiped her eyes with the handkerchief she had up her sleeve. Then she straightened up and gave Lydia her fullattention.

“Very well, then, tell me again what youpropose?”

Lydia explained as though she was dealing with a child. “Mother, you must sell all of the furniture and take with you only what you will need for yourpersonaluse.”

“Sell?Oh…”

“I have already contacted the new vicar. He is young and has nothing of his own. He is willing to pay you quite a fair price for all the furnishings, except for your personal items. Those we shall take with us. And once we are in Upton Magna you will settle in the cottagewithme.”