It was riding day with Ellen, but there was so much going on in her life at the moment it was difficult to focus. Aunt Lavinia and Bernard were at the estate agent’s this morning discussing the sale of her house. Jenny had been stressing all week over her gown. Ellen was totally focused on her birthday ball, and there were hours and hours of planning yet to be done for the wedding.

Not only was there to be her ride with Ellen this morning, but afterward, she and Edwin were to begin work on the orchard. And just now, she was rummaging through her drawers searching for the clothes she wanted to take to work in.

But then she heard the Duke’s carriage drive up and she needed to rush. She had not fed the cat and dashed down the stairs to the kitchen to find some meat scraps to throw into her bowl.

The footman was knocking at the door and Lydia rushed to answer.

“Miss Fernside, are you ready?” the footman asked.

“Yes. Just one moment, please.” she pleaded. Leaving the front door open, she grabbed her reticule, a book she wanted to show Edwin, and a scarf Ellen had lent her, which she wanted to return.

“Thank you for waiting. It has been a harried day,” she said to the footman and followed him to the carriage.

It was not until they were almost to Honeyfield that she realized she had forgotten to bring her work clothing. Maybe Ellen could lend her something to wear for the afternoon. There was too much going on for her comfort.

The butler greeted the carriage.

“Miss Ellen is awaiting you at the stable,” he said. “Do you need assistance?” he asked.

Lydia wanted to say, “Yes, I need help organizing my life,” but she said instead, “No, thank you, I know the way.”

“Very well, Miss.”

Lydia made her way to the stables. As she passed by Edwin’s office she glanced inside to see if he was present, but the office was empty. He would not be expecting her for several hours.

“Oh, Ellen, what a morning. I am in a tizzy with all that is going on. How are you?”

Ellen smiled. “A similar tizzy I suppose. Not only are we organizing a ball but also working on Lavinia’s wedding party.”

“Yes, I am doing much the same at my end.”

“I am afraid our ride must be short today, as I have far too much going on to take a long ride.”

“I understand. And I must work on the orchard today, as I did absolutely no work the last time I was here because of Doctor Winston.”

The groom brought out the horses.

As they were mounting Lydia asked, “You have not said—are you inviting some special young man to be your partner at the dance?”

Ellen grimaced. “Mother is trying to set me up with the son of the Marquess of Huntley. I met him once about a year ago and he was all pimply, sweaty, and thin as a sapling. And I swear his chin was nearly nonexistent. All he could talk about were his hunting hounds, with names like Baldok, Crimmer, and Sith.”

“Then refuse her and invite who you like. Is there anyone you would like to invite?”

Ellen shook her head and sighed. “Oh, Lydia, I just want to go to London and write. I do not want any of this ridiculous aristocratic country life.”

“Then by all means go.”

Ellen led with her horse and they set off on a gentle trot.

“It is not so easy,” Ellen said. “I do not come into my inheritance until I am one and twenty. Until then I am a captive of Mamma’s tyranny.”

“Well, you have your horse,” Lydia joked and took her horse into a gallop.

Their ride was short and, when they got back to the stables and dismounted, Lydia asked Ellen if she had any work clothes she could lend her.

“I do not believe so, but come back with me to the house and I will see if I might have anything.”

“Very well.”

They went up to Ellen’s rooms and she rummaged through her armoire and a few dresser drawers but turned to Lydia and said, “Oh, I am so sorry. I seem to have nothing suitable. But perhaps one of the footmen might have something, or the stable hands.

Lydia threw her hands up in the air. “Thank you, but I believe I will pass. Not sure I want to bother them with my forgetfulness.”

“I am so sorry.”

“Then I shall wander over to your brother’s office and see if he is there yet.”

She headed toward the door but Ellen asked, “Will I see you at luncheon?”

Lydia stopped and turned back. “I think not; I really must make up some time lost from the other day. Autumn is not that far off and there is a lot of work to be done on the orchard.”

“Very well,” Ellen said. “And oh, I was thinking that until the ball and wedding are over we should forego any more riding. I have a feeling that both of us will be far too busy.”

“Most wise. I must help Aunt pack her things for the move to Oxford. Plus, help my friend Jenny with her gown for the ball, and assist in the wedding plans. One’s work is never done.”

“And what about you? What are your plans once your aunt is married?” Ellen asked.

“I am still undecided,” Lydia answered, but she came back toward Ellen and sat in a chair. “Doctor Winston has invited me to come live with him and his new bride in Oxford. However, I am quite certain that would not please my aunt. And, I am not sure that interests me either?”

“What would you do if you went to Oxford?”

“Exactly what I am doing now, take care of the house and my aunt and soon Doctor Winston as well.”

“Is that what you want?”

“I am not sure.”

“But I thought you were going to be working with Edwin? That seems like a much more interesting occupation to me. Certainly, you are not going to abandon him, are you?”

Lydia thought that was an amusing way to put it.

“No, I am not planning to abandon him,” she responded. “But to be quite honest we really haven’t started yet, so I am not sure I would be abandoning anything.”

Ellen hesitated for a brief moment, then she looked up at Lydia with a sly look. “I probably should not tell you this, but my brother has been asking me about you.”

Lydia blushed. “Asking how?”

“He asked me if I knew if anyone was courting you.”

“Do you mean romantically?” Lydia asked.

“I believe so. Yes.”

“Oh, my… and what did you tell him?”

“I said I was not aware of any one. Are you? Seeing any one?” Ellen pushed.

Lydia looked down. “Not officially, no. But there is a gentleman who I have been taking walks with. And there seems to be an interest on his part.”

“But not yours?” Ellen asked.

“Perhaps. But it is too early to say with any certainty.”

“Is he a worthy gentleman?”

“It is Doctor Cooke. I believe he would be considered worthy.”

“Yes. Most worthy.”

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

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

“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 similar interests.

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

“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.”

“I have upset you,” Ellen said, standing up.

“No, Ellen, truly.” Lydia said, but quickly left the room.

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? Even anger?

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 she entered.

“Good-morning, Lydia.”

She had stopped in the doorway, unsure what she should do.

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

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

“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 footman arrived, and…”

Edwin raised his hand. “Never mind. Take a breath, and come sit with me.”

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

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

She did not understand what he was talking about. She just stared at him.

“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 might fit you.”

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 withdrew his hand.

Lydia looked down at her hand and then back up to him.

“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 to being.”

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

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

“Is that what you want?”

“I do not know.”

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

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

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

She thought about that. It was one of her biggest concerns.

“Yes, I believe I might.”

“Then we could work together, as we planned?”

She nodded.

“Good. Then let me suggest this to you. I have several small worker’s cottages on the estate that are currently vacant. If I offered one of those to you would you be interested in taking it?”

“What would the rent be?”

“They are in good repair, but they are small.”

“There will only be me and Gingersnap,” Lydia added. “I don’t require a lot of space.”

“Gingersnap? And who might that be?”

“My cat.”

“Ah… Well, then for you and Gingersnap shall we say three pounds a month. I could take that from your fee, and it would be nothing out of pocket. What do you say?”

“May I see them first?”

“Of course. Shall we go take a look now?”

“Should we not be working?” she asked.

“We should, but I believe it is more important to get you settled in your mind first. I want you to be here with me, and I want you to be content and secure. I totally understand your agitation with the many changes taking place for you these days.”

What had he just said? He wanted her with him?

“Is it within walking distance?” was all she could think to ask.

“It is.”

“Then the sooner we leave, the sooner we can come back and get to work.”

“But first I need to know if you accept the fee I offered you. Twenty-five a month.”

Lydia smiled. “As my good friend Doctor Winston advised me, ‘one never worries about too much, only about too little.’ Yes, I shall accept your offer.”

Edwin slapped both hands down on the table. “Excellent. Then let us proceed to the cottages.” He stood up and took a set of keys out of a drawer in the table.

The path leading to the cottages led partially through a wooded area. The sun was blazing and it felt cool when they entered the shade. They had been walking in silence, when Lydia turned and asked, “How do you feel about Ellen wanting to move to London and write?”

Edwin glanced at her. “I have offered her the use of the London house. I hardly ever go there, but Mamma feels it is important to have a London townhouse.”

“Has Her Grace consented to her living in London?”

“Her Grace rarely consents to anything anybody else wants, so we have learned to just go ahead and do what we please. We must endure Mamma’s rants and tantrums—but they pass as she gets used to the idea, and finds some new cause to protest.”

Lydia laughed. “Have you read anything Ellen has written? Does she have any hope of success?”

“I have read her work and I believe it to be excellent. And I have several acquaintances in London who have connections and may be able to assist her in finding a publisher.”

“That is exciting.”

Edwin pointed forward. “There are the cottages. Which of the two do you have a preference for?”

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 small porch.

“I like that one,” she said, pointing.

“Then let us take a look.”

He went to the door, unlocked it, and they entered.

“Please examine it and let me know what you think.”

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 the sitting room.

“Is there water?” she asked.

“There is a well out back.”

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

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

“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 for herself.

Heading back toward the main house Lydia was very pleased.

“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 it is sold.

“That will not be any difficulty,” Edwin said.

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

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 a second one?”

Lydia nodded. “Most sensible.”

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

“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 to start?”

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