Mother grumbled all the way to Honeyfield house. She was upset that Lydia had not accepted Edwin’s offer of a ride. It was inelegant to walk to dinner, she complained. It made her feel like she was being treated like a commoner.

“But Mother, we are,” Lydia reminded her.

“We are not. Your father was a well-respected vicar with his own parish.”

“I thought you would enjoy the walk after being cooped up in a carriage for several days. And I wanted you to see how lovely the estate is.”

Mother grumbled to herself but said no more.

Oliver greeted them at the entrance and led them to the sitting room. Ellen was seated at the pianoforte playing a Mozart sonata. Edwin was standing at a French window looking outside, and Her Grace was seated in a wingchair with a glass of sherry.

Edwin turned when they entered and went over to them.

“Welcome. Welcome. Have you settled comfortably into your new home?”

Lydia smiled and took the hand that Edwin offered her.

“We have, thank you.”

Edwin turned to her mother. “Mrs. Fernside, I should like to introduce you to my mother and my sister.”

He led Mother to the Duchess, as Ellen came over to greet Lydia.

“Darling Lydia, how happy I am to have you back. We missed you so very much at the wedding. And I have been lonely on my rides.”

Lydia beamed. “And I have missed all of you, as well.” She spoke softly, as she asked, “And Mr. Evans, has he returned to London?”

Ellen hesitated briefly before saying, “Alas, he has. But we correspond, and I have every expectation of seeing him again when I move to London in the spring.”

“So, it has become serious between the two of you, has it?”

“Semi-serious, I should say. I mean for nothing to deter me from my writing. That shall be first for me, wherever I am located.”

“Good for you.”

Lydia looked over and saw that Mother was seated in a chair pulled up close beside the Duchess. They seemed to be engaged in a close conversation.

Edwin came over to Ellen and Lydia.

“It seems our mothers have hit it off. They are ardently discussing the lapsed morals of modern day society.” He laughed.

Lydia turned to Ellen. “You play very well on the pianoforte. It is the first time I have heard you.”

“Thank you. It is something I enjoy very much.” She took Lydia’s arm, “And I just wanted to give my condolences on your father’s passing. Do you miss him terribly?”

“Very much so, thank you.”

Oliver came back into the room and announced. “Your Graces and guests, dinner is ready to be served.”

“Shall we?” Edwin asked as he went to his mother to assist her into the dining room.

Edwin was most attentive to Lydia’s mother during dinner. However, Lydia managed to divert Edwin’s attention at one point.

“Edwin, I want to thank you for preserving my job for me while I was gone. I am most grateful.”

“And I greatly appreciated your letter explaining the situation with your father and your need to leave urgently.”

“I just want to let you know that I understand I have not been able to attend to my duties as I should, and I will do everything in my power to catch up on the work in the orchard. It shall have my full attention going forward.”

Edwin nodded. “And my full attention will be on building the pond. You shall need to work mostly alone. Will that be a problem for you?”

There was something in his tone that worried Lydia, but she dismissed it as a fancy on her part.

“Not at all. I am used to working alone, and it shall focus me on the work at hand. And quite soon I should like to discuss the vegetable garden with you. By autumn I should be ordering seeds and plants for next spring. And I need to know how you would like me to proceed.”

Edwin’s face clouded for a moment. “Yes. We can discuss that later. But, as I said, my full attention now is on the pond.”

She felt like her concerns were being dismissed, but she would not let that deter her from enjoying this lovely evening.

After dinner, the group returned to the sitting room where Ellen was to serenade them with more pianoforte selections.

Lydia sat next to her mother, who was continuing her conversation with the Duchess. They seemed to be greatly enjoying each other’s company.

Edwin was standing behind Ellen as she played, turning the pages of the music for her when required.

After the recitation was completed, Ellen rose and excused herself, explaining she had some writing she wanted to do.

Edwin was putting away the sheet music as Lydia came over to him.

“Edwin, it has been most interesting to see your mother and mine so eagerly engaged in conversation.”

Edwin looked up and studied them briefly. “You are correct. They do seem to be intimately engaged.”

“It occurred to me that since Aunt Lavinia has left your mother’s employ, and I know she is seeking another companion, do you think she might consider my mother for the position?”

Edwin thought about that. “Yes. That is an excellent idea. But do you think your mother might be interested in such a position?”

“Let me enquire of her and I will let you know her answer.”

“And I shall do the same of my mother. It might be the perfect solution.”

* * *

After her mother went to bed, Lydia stepped outside the cottage to gaze up at the star filled sky. It was almost September but the evening was still balmy and she needed a moment alone with her thoughts.

What a whirlwind the last few weeks had been. She had had hardly any time to herself. Her full attention was focused on her family—father, mother, sisters, and little time for herself.

Now she was established in her new home. No longer under the instruction of her aunt, she was free to be herself—except for her mother’s needs. She was determined not to let her mother rule her again. She was willing to assist her but she was not going to let her run her life.

Then her thoughts turned to Edwin.

Edwin, Edwin, Edwin. What to do about Edwin? Ever since he had declared himself to her at the office there had been no opportunity for them to be alone to explore what that declaration meant for both of them. First, she had been whisked away to her family home for several weeks, and then, this evening, they had spent a formal supper in polite chat with no time or place to meet privately.

She sighed. It was obvious she would need to be patient. Perhaps tomorrow morning they would have that opportunity when she appeared, ready to tackle the orchard.

She clenched her fists and put her hands against her neck for warmth. She was feeling cold but was unready to go back inside just yet. She looked up at the starry heavens. How lovely, she thought. She took a moment to appreciate her new home. Her new life, and… well, the rest would just have to take care of itself.

* * *

The next morning, Lydia was outside fetching some wood for the kitchen fireplace. She needed to get used to this new way of cooking. There was no stove and everything needed to be prepared in the fireplace. Fortunately, there was a large stacked woodpile behind the house. No doubt, Edwin’s doing.

As she came back into the cottage she saw her mother was up and about.

“Good morning,” she greeted.

Mother was standing in the middle of the kitchen examining her surroundings.

“I just noticed there is no stove. How are we to cook? How do I prepare tea?”

“Everything can be done in the fireplace. You see this iron shelf? The fire is built right under it and we can place the kettle there, which is what I am going to do right now.”

“And for baking?” Mother asked.

“Heavy pots with lids. Place them in the embers and shovel more on the top.”

Mother, exasperated, collapsed into a chair at the table. “Oh, I shall never manage. We are living in the Middle Ages.”

Lydia laughed. “Mother, just rest for the moment. I have stoked the fire, put on the kettle, and tea will soon be up.”

“What can I do to help?” she asked, feebly.

“Nothing now. Take your time. You will soon get used to our new situation and will feel right at home before you know it.”

Lydia busied herself preparing some porridge for breakfast and sliced some bread for toast.

When breakfast was ready, she served her mother and then sat at the table with her.

“Mamma, did you enjoy last evening?”

Mother looked up and smiled. “Yes, I did. I was engaged in the liveliest conversation with Her Grace. Just imagine—me, a vicar’s wife hobnobbing with a Duchess.”

“Yes, she seemed to be enjoying your company, as well.” Lydia wanted to broach this subject delicately, as she had no idea how her mother would react to it. “Edwin and I were chatting at the end of the evening and the subject came up of the difficulty they were having finding a replacement for the Duchess’s companion since Aunt Lavinia married and moved to Oxford.”

“Yes, she spoke of her fondly.”

“And both His Grace and I had the idea that you might be just the perfect person to replace her. How would you feel about that?”

Mother looked surprised. “Me? Replace Lavinia as the Duchess’s companion.”

“Exactly. And it is a paying position.”

“Oh…” She seemed genuinely surprised. “And what duties does that position entail?”

“Primarily, just to be Her Grace’s companion. It is a very respectable position. It should not be at all taxing. The only comments Aunt Lavinia ever made about the job was that the Duchess could be short tempered, fussy, and demanding.”

“Sounds rather like being a mother with a husband and three daughters.”

“Mother, you made a joke.” Lydia teased.

Mother smiled. “Oh, but I was being very serious.”

Lydia nodded. “And is that something that would interest you? If so, I shall inform Edwin later this morning, and as he has been enquiring of Her Grace if that would be suitable to her as well, they should be able to offer you the position later today.”

“It does suit me. I was beginning to wonder what I would do with myself, sitting around this cottage all day, with no husband and no children constantly demanding attention. I cannot see how a single, elderly lady would be any trouble at all.”

“Excellent. Then I shall tell Edwin and have an answer for you later this afternoon.”

“What will it pay? Do you know?”

“I do not, but I shall enquire. It certainly will help this household with the additional income.”

Mother thought for a moment. “If it is sufficient, I might see about obtaining my own lodging. If you ask me, this little cottage is far too small for two independent ladies.”

* * *

Lydia showed up early at the office, but Edwin was not there. She felt she had so neglected her duties previously that she immediately set to work in the orchard. She was determined to complete all the work before the first freeze.

She worked hard for at least an hour pruning branches. It was hot, sticky, tiring work—with a fair share of scrapes and scratches on her arms.

She looked up, at one point, and saw Edwin on his horse, obviously heading out to where the pond was being constructed. He saw her and waved but did not stop.

Lydia was slightly disappointed, as she had hoped that they might have a few moments alone together. She very much wanted to reestablish that wonderful moment when he offered her his affection. They had had no opportunity to revisit that precious moment since it had occurred. And she wondered if he might be trying to avoid it happening again.

However, she was not about to let those thoughts keep her from the work she needed to do.

She worked all morning and, aside from taking a few breaks for water, she worked until it was time to break for lunch. As she knew Edwin was totally engrossed in the work on the pond, she did not expect to see him again until the end of the day.

She had brought some bread and cheese and a few strips of bacon from breakfast to be her lunch, and she sat alone in the office and ate.

As she was eating she saw Ellen, head to the stable, but it seemed she had not gone there to ride, as she returned shortly and went back to the house. Their paths were not to cross today it seemed.

Lydia sat for a moment after her repast and recouped her energy before heading back out to the orchard.

She worked hard again all afternoon and was determined to show Edwin she had done a good day’s work. By mid-afternoon, she had completed all the pruning she had planned for the day and she spent the rest of the time gathering up the pruned branches to break apart as kindling for the house’s many fireplaces.

Near the end of her work, she saw Edwin return on his horse and head to the stable.

She needed to speak to him about her mother’s position with the Duchess, so she wandered toward the stable and waited for him to come out.

“Oh, Lydia,” he exclaimed, as he saw her. He took his hat off as he came over.

“Edwin, how is the work on the pond going?”

“Very well, although the clay soil is more difficult to excavate than I had expected.” He looked over toward the orchard. “It looks like your work is going well.”

“Yes, it is. I am determined to complete all the work by late September. And I wanted to confer with you about what other trees you want to order so we can have them delivered and planted before the first freeze.”

Edwin ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, we must do that soon. I have an excellent source for trees and they can deliver quickly, so we should have plenty of time.”

“Excellent. And did you speak to your mother about taking my mother on as her companion? My mother is quite agreeable to the proposal.”

Edwin grimaced slightly. “I am so sorry. I have not. She went to bed directly after dinner and I was up and out at the pond before she arose this morning.”

“I understand.”

“However, I shall make every effort to speak to her this evening.”

Lydia nodded.

He put his hat back on and said, “Miss Lydia, I hope you have a pleasant evening,” and he turned to leave.

This could not be all, Lydia thought. So formal, so cool.

She spoke up. “Edwin, one more minute, please.”

He turned back to her. “Yes?”

She could see there was no warmth in his eyes. He was guarded and stiff.

She lowered her eyes before she spoke. It took all her will power to ask, but she knew she must.

“Edwin, that afternoon in your office…” She felt certain he would understand her reference without her having to state it fully.

He nodded but said nothing.

“I know I left town abruptly after your words, but those words have stayed with me all these weeks. Are we not to discuss our intentions further? You have said nothing further.”

Edwin clenched his mouth and would not look at her. But finally, he said, “Miss Lydia, you are correct I must address those words I spoke to you that day. However, I have been avoiding the issue because… because I got carried away that afternoon and spoke words I should not have. They were inappropriate and reckless.”

“Reckless? And how is that?” Lydia asked her heart racing and a cold sweat forming on her palms. “Are you saying the words were insincere? You did not mean them?” Lydia was aghast.

“I did mean them at the time, but upon reflection, I have seen I should not have spoken to you in that manner.”

“And why, if they reflect your true feelings?”

“Because we must work together. I greatly value what you have to offer my projects, and any emotional entanglements could destroy what we hope to accomplish together.”

“And what do you do with those feelings? Ignore them? Smother them? Numb them with drink?”

“I must have mistaken my warm feelings for you as a co-worker with a mistaken idea that it was a romance. Please forgive me.”

To her, this did not ring entirely true. He was evading. Lydia had to ask. “Does this have anything to do with your mother? Is she insisting you marry Miss Stafford?”

Edwin was silent.

“Edwin. Please answer me truthfully.”

“That is partially true. I have come to realize I have family obligations that supersede any personal feelings I might have.”

“Then the feelings you have for me are genuine, but you must ignore them because of duty?”

Edwin’s jaw clenched. “You must forgive me. I have many issues I must attend to yet this afternoon. I am delighted that you have returned to Honeyfield, and I look forward to moving ahead in our working relationship. However, I really have nothing more to say about my misadventure. I regret if you formed any false expectations, and if so, I greatly apologize. Good day, Miss Lydia. And I shall speak to my mother about taking on your mother as her companion.”

Edwin then turned and walked into the house.