“Promptly as promised,” Doctor Cooke said, tipping his hat, as Lydia opened the front door.

“Reginald. Welcome. Are you ready for our little adventure?”

“I am. And what a splendid morning it is.”

“Is it far to where we will walk?” Lydia asked as she closed the front door and took the Doctor ’s arm.

“I know you want to walk on a regular basis, so I have chosen a few walks that are close by and easily accessible.”

“Splendid.”

The Doctor led Lydia along High Street to an access way between two shops. That led to a road that was used by wagons to service the shops. And that quite quickly transitioned to a country road at the edge of town.

“The first walk I would like to introduce you to is the river walk. It is one of my favorites, and is particularly lovely in the summer heat when the arching trees and river cool the air.”

“That sounds delightful.”

Shortly, the Doctor led the way to a path that cut through a wooded area toward the river. The ground was covered with fern and bracken. Even before reaching the river Lydia could feel the cool air and could tell this was a walk she would much enjoy.

As they reached the river, Reginald pointed out the path along the bank.

“In that direction, you head further into the country, and if you go in the other direction you will eventually find your way back into the near end of town. I suggest we go in the direction leading to the country so I may show you more walks.”

Lydia nodded. “That would be fine.”

Before leaving, Lydia walked to the edge of the river and studied it for a moment. It was a gentle, shallow river, and she could see a few minnows darting along the shore. She leaned over and picked a small flower.

“This is a lovely spot. I know I shall enjoy this walk very much.”

They walked in silence for a short distance then Lydia asked, “Reginald, I assume your profession occupies most of your time and attention.”

“Indeed it does.”

“And what activities are able to distract you from your work? Certainly, you have interests other than your practice.”

“I enjoy reading medical books and making anatomical drawings,” Reginald said as he swung a stick he had picked up along the path.

“But those activities are directly related to your work. Certainly, you must have other interests like music, literature, gardening, or even such manly activities as horses, hunting, or the activity my father so much enjoys—fishing.”

“I like solving puzzles,” he said, giving her a sideways glance.

“What kind of puzzles?

“Mathematical puzzles. There are a few journals that publish them regularly.”

Lydia found this most strange. However, it was not for her to judge, as she didn’t even know what such a puzzle might be.

“Perhaps you could show one to me sometime. I have to say, I am totally unaware of such recreation.”

“I would be happy to. They are quite intriguing and once you get hooked, it is difficult to stop of an evening. I find myself not going to bed until two or three of a morning, occasionally.”

The path diverted from the side of the river and led them back to the road they had walked earlier. They stopped by the side of the road.

Reginald pointed. “You see that field over there, just past the farm house, and bordering the wooded area?”

“Yes.”

“There’s another fine walk there. Would you like to take a look?”

“I would.”

Reginald led the way, and they started down the path.

“Do you get to see your family often?” the Doctor asked.

Lydia was silent for a moment. “Not once since I have come to my Aunt’s, and it is unlikely I shall. It is a tiresome and expensive journey, and neither my parents nor I, can afford such a luxury.”

They walked on for a piece in silence. Then Lydia stopped.

“Do you hear that?” she asked.

Reginald turned his head from side to side trying to catch what she was hearing.

“I don’t hear anything.”

“It sounds like an animal in distress,” she said.

“Yes. Yes. I hear that now.”

“Come.”

Lydia charged into the wooded area and followed the cries. They soon came upon a fox trap with an orange tabby cat captured by one leg. Once the cat saw them its cries became louder. Lydia rushed over and examined the trap, as she tried comforting the cat at the same time.

Reginald kneeled down.

“Is the leg broken?” Lydia asked.

He opened the trap and picked up the cat and examined it.

“I don’t believe so. She is very lucky. But the leg should be bound, as there is a wound.”

Lydia pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and handed it to the Doctor .

“Here, use this,” she said.

“But the wound needs to be cleaned and disinfected.”

“Can you do that later?” She laughed. “I know you are not a vet, but I would be most grateful. And I will even pay you this time for your services.”

“I cannot charge for what I am not qualified for, but I will be happy to assist you as your friend.”

“Oh, thank you. Can we head back now?”

Lydia took the cat from Reginald and held her close.

“She must belong to someone,” she said. “How would I go about finding the owner?”

“You could put a notice at the greengrocer’s or place an announcement in the weekly newspaper.”

“Yes, I shall do both. And until I find the owner I shall care for her.”

* * *

“What is your Aunt going to say about her new niece?” Jenny asked.

“It is just a cat, hardly a niece,” Lydia insisted as she placed a basket with one of her old petticoats folded into a pillow by the oven in the kitchen.

“But she is adorable. What are you going to name her?”

“I am not. She must belong to somebody. I am going to try and find the owner.”

“Unlikely. Cats are mostly mousers around here. Very few are kept as pets. I doubt anyone would even look for her.”

“But I need to try.” Lydia placed the cat in the basket. After settling in, she immediately began licking at the leg that Reginald had cleaned and bandaged.

“I could certainly use some tea? Is it too soon before lunch?” Jenny asked.

“Not at all. I am parched, myself, after the walk,” Lydia said, as she filled the kettle.

Jenny jumped up and sat on the edge of the kitchen table.

“And how was the good Doctor? Was he charming and attentive on the walk? Are you going walking together again soon?”

Lydia had to think about how to answer. “Well, yes, he was attentive. And he was charming up to a point. But, as kind as he is, he is also so totally wrapped up in his work it seems he has almost no other life or interests.”

“How do you mean?”

“His hobbies are all connected to his work. And his only other passion seems to be mathematical puzzles. Don’t you find that strange?” Lydia asked as she poured the boiling water into the teapot.

Jenny jumped down from the table, collected the teacups and put out the sugar as Lydia went to fetch the milk.

“So does that mean you are no longer interested in him?” Jenny asked.

“Oh no, he is quite pleasant enough. I am willing to entertain his suit if he chooses to pursue it.”

Lydia poured the tea and they took it to the sitting room where Lydia picked up the mending she had been working on earlier.

Jenny looked at Lydia with a smile. “You know, Graham cannot stop talking about you. I think he might be smitten with you.”

“Oh, Jenny…”

“He would be furious with me, for telling you this, but he asked me to sound you out to see if there was any interest in him on your part.”

Lydia was surprised. “Your Graham? Asked about me?”

“He did.”

Lydia shook her head. “He’s nice enough… but he is still such a boy. Maybe in five years… Oh, Jenny, it is all I can do to make sense of my new life with my aunt away from my dearest family. But now there are all these other distractions. The Doctor. Ellen. Edwin wanting to consult me on gardening. It is just too much to contemplate.”

The tabby came from the kitchen and jumped up on Lydia’s lap, curled up, and began purring.

“So is that a no?” Jenny asked. Lydia seemed not to understand. “Graham?”

Lydia laughed. “Yes. For now, it is a no.”

* * *

Aunt had not objected to the cat, as Lydia had thought she might. It was to be temporary, after all, as Lydia was actively searching for the owner.

A knocking at the front door brought Lydia down the stairs from where she was emptying out the ashes from the bathroom stove.

“Yes,” she asked as she opened the door, upset that she was covered in ash and with dirty hands.

“Miss Fernside, this is for you.” A Honeyfield footman handed her a large flat box. “And I am to wait for an answer to the note inside.

“Oh, my…” Lydia said, taking the box. “I’ll be right back.”

She placed the box on the entry table and took off the lid. Inside was a most stylish riding costume. She was startled. But picked up the envelope and opened the letter.

Lydia went back to the footman. “Tell Miss Ellen the time she proposes will be fine.”

“Very well Miss and the coach will collect you half an hour before.”

“Thank you.”

Lydia went back to the box and took out the riding dress. She held it up. It was quite delightful and she could not wait to try it on. But first, she must finish the dirty task of emptying out the ashes.

* * *

Lydia had started calling the cat Gingersnap. So far, her efforts to find the owners had been fruitless and she was slowly beginning to accept the cat as her own. However, she had not yet announced this fact to her aunt. But many evenings Gingersnap was found curled up in her Aunt’s lap, so Lydia anticipated no resistance from her Aunt when the cat would become an official part of the family.

Then one evening, prayers was once again postponed

“Lydia, might I have a word with you?” Aunt asked.

“Of course, is there something you need?”

“Not just at the moment. But I want to tell you about a development in my life that may impact you at some point.”

Aunt indicated Lydia should sit opposite her in the sitting room. Lydia sat with her hands in her lap awaiting her Aunt’s announcement.

“I have been in correspondence with your acquaintance, Doctor Winston.”

“Yes, I am aware of that.

“You are?” Aunt seemed startled at her announcement.

“Yes. He told me of his intent before he left after his visit to Honeyfield. And, of course, there have been the letters with his handwriting. However, I did not want to intrude.”

Lavinia shifted in her chair. “I wish you had said something to me of your knowledge. It feels like you have been spying on me.”

“Oh, Aunt, I would never do such a thing. I greatly value your privacy and would never do anything to compromise that. But I cannot un-know what the good Doctor told me.”

“Yes, I guess you are right. I am sorry if I accused you wrongly.”

“And has the Doctor been attentive? Are his intentions known to you?”

“Yes, that is what I wished to discuss. We have had several very positive correspondences.” Lavinia blushed slightly and hesitated before speaking further. “He wishes to return to Upton Magna to visit me. Of course, he cannot stay here at this house. That would be improper, so he has written to the Duke to see if he might be welcome to stay there once again.”

“Oh, Aunt. That is a wonderful development. I can certainly arrange to be absent if you wish to entertain the Doctor alone.”

“No. You must be present when he visits here, and if we are to meet alone, it must be in public—like in the dining room at the Inn or even at Honeyfield in the presence of Her Grace or Ellen.”

“Oh, surely, Aunt at your age it would not be unseemly to meet here in private.”

Aunt was shocked. “Such a meeting would be inappropriate at any age, Lydia. Certainly, you should know that.”

Lydia smiled inwardly but nodded her head. “Just so. Then, by all means, let me know if there is anything I can do to assist during his visit.”

“Thank you.” Lavinia smoothed her dress before speaking again. “And the matter I must discuss with you has to do with your and my futures.”

“I am listening.”

“Bernard—Doctor Winston, has indicated he might be considering a proposal?”

“Of marriage?” Lydia asked.

“Yes. And I am seriously considering accepting.”

“Oh, Aunt that would be wonderful.”

“Perhaps. But there are considerations. Doctor Winston, of course, lives in Oxford where he has his position and his livelihood. It would not be reasonable to expect him to uproot himself and move to Upton Magna unless he was retired—which he is not.”

“I see,” Lydia answered.

“Then, that would mean that I would need to move to Oxford. And I am not certain I wish to give up my life and dwelling here.”

“You have a long history here.”

“And then there is you to consider. If I were to marry and move, there would be no place for you with us at Oxford. You can certainly understand that.”

Lydia suddenly began to consider the implications for herself. “I had not thought about that. But I certainly shall give it my studied consideration.”

“I know this would create a difficulty for you.”

“I feel certain I can find a solution. Perhaps I might find employment in the area with a genteel family.”

“And then there is always the possibility of marriage. Are you officially seeing Doctor Cooke?”

“Oh, no. We are simply friends.”

“But might there be a possibility of a romance developing?”

Lydia was not sure how to answer that. “Possibly.”

“In any case, I wanted to bring this subject up as soon as possible, for if circumstances change for me, they will also change for you.”

“Thank you, Aunt, for letting me know. And I am very pleased for you, and wish you all the very best with Doctor Winston.”