“And what am I expected to do about my position with the Duchess?” Mother fussed, in her room at Honeyfield, after Lydia told her about the marriage. “I can hardly expect to be the Duchess’s companion as mother of the Duke’s wife, now can I?”

“No, Mother, I expect not. I did discuss this matter with Edwin and we agreed to let you have my cottage as your home after the wedding.”

“And am I expected to pay rent?” She fussed some more, fiddling with the contents of her sewing basket.

“Of course not. You are now as much a part of the family, as I am.”

That seemed to settle her mother some.

“Then what shall I do with myself all day, alone in the cottage?”

“You can make friends. Entertain. Travel. Read. Study. Whatever you like. And you shall have the pony and trap as your own.”

Mother nodded as she considered the implications of her new position.

“Well, that all sounds quite agreeable. But what about the Duchess? Who will attend to her now?”

“I expect she will ask you to help her find a replacement.”

Mother suddenly smiled. “I think I shall suggest Mrs. Cynthia Forbes.”

“But she is the mayor’s widow. Why do you think she would accept such a position?”

“Because she lives on a pittance. I know. She would jump at the chance to be associated with the Duchess.”

Lydia laughed. “Just rewards, no?”

Mother suddenly shifted. “Oh, and my rose water? Were you able to find it?”

“I did. But there was no organdy in the color you desired available.”

“Not even for ready money?”

“Not a scrap.”

“Oh well. I shall probably not need it now. I shall order a new gown for the wedding. Something in blue to go with my eyes.”

* * *

Lydia had not had time to write Jenny with the news of the engagement. And, in fact, she was glad now she had not, as she was greatly anticipating telling Jenny in person.

Lydia was shown into the master bedroom where Jenny was studying fabric samples that she had strewn across the bed, reminiscent of the time she was choosing fabrics for her wedding dress.

“Jenny,” Lydia said simply.

Jenny jumped and spun around. “Oh, Lydia, I did not hear you come in. You gave me such a start.”

“Is this part of your redecorating?” Lydia asked, gesturing to the samples.”

“You are back!” Jenny exclaimed, jumping up and down. “I did not expect you so soon. Were you not to stay another week in London until after the wedding?” Jenny stopped and put her hand sharply to her mouth. “Oh, I am sorry. I should not have mentioned that. Poor Lydia. Are you here for the wedding after all?”

Lydia smiled. “Why, yes I am.”

“Are you devastated? Why ever would you come back for Edwin and Caroline’s wedding?”

“I did not come back for their wedding,” she said, still holding a subtle smile.”

“Then whose wedding?”

Lydia just stood and smiled at Jenny.

Then Jenny enquired, “Not you and Daniel?”

Lydia shook her head.

“Then…?”

Again Lydia said nothing.

Then Jenny asked hesitantly, “No-o-o… you and Edwin?”

Lydia nodded.

She gave the loudest shriek Lydia had ever heard and threw herself into Lydia’s arms.

The maid appeared at the door.

“Is everything all right, madam? I heard…”

“Champagne. Find us some champagne. And run over to the Doctor and have him come home straight away.”

“Yes, ma’am, right away.”

“How in the world did you land the big fish?” Jenny asked, as she took Lydia by the arm and led her to the sitting room.

Lydia was telling Jenny the whole story when Doctor Cooke burst into the sitting room.

“Is everything all right? Are you ill? Is the baby…?” Then he saw Lydia and stopped.

Lydia turned back to Jenny, and asked, “Baby?”

Jenny nodded.

Now it was Lydia’s turn to shriek. “Jenny… Reginald… congratulations.”

Jenny turned to her husband. “And Lydia is marrying the Duke.”

“Our Duke?” the Doctor said in astonishment? “I thought… Miss Beaufort…”

“Broken off. Finished. Done,” Lydia rejoiced.

“I can’t believe it.”

The maid appeared at the door. “Champagne, madam.”

* * *

Lydia and Ellen were in the china room off the dining room. They were selecting china, silver, and crystal patterns for the wedding.

It had been decided to keep it as a small affair with families only—except for close friends like Jenny and the Doctor. But as there were to be two weddings at the same time, the guest list was still quite large.

Lydia’s sisters were to come with their husbands for the event. Bartley’s family was large, and accommodations for them would take up all the free rooms in Upton Magna, and they would need to find other rooms in neighboring communities.

Lydia and Ellen were in complete agreement as which dinnerware to select and they had completed their task swiftly.

Neither Lydia nor Edwin had had an opportunity to discuss their plans for the estate with Ellen yet. And as they were coming out of the china room, Edwin waylaid them and asked, “Ellen, Lydia and I would like to talk to you about our plans for the future of Honeyfield that also include issues which affect you.

“Might you be free to chat with us about what we plan to do?”

“I would be delighted to hear.”

“If you don’t mind, I would like you to come outside with us to the garden so we can show you exactly what we have in mind.”

“Let us get our wraps, and we shall meet you in the kitchen. Is that agreeable?” Ellen asked.

“Certainly.”

Lydia was ready first, and she went outside to check on her new fruit trees. They all seemed to be doing splendidly and she was pleased to see the worker was still watering adequately.

Edwin and Ellen came out shortly afterward and, seeing her in the garden, came over to where she was poking a stick at the new kitchen scraps pile.

“Is it doing what you wished?” Edwin asked as they approached.

“It is starting to. It takes time to decompose enough to be useful for the garden.

Ellen wrapped her shawl tightly around her shoulders as there was a chill breeze coming up the slope of the hill.

“Edwin tells me you two have great plans for Honeyfield,” Ellen said. “Show me.”

Edwin and Lydia enthusiastically laid out their vision for high-end produce to Ellen. They walked over to where the expanded garden would be and where they planned to build the greenhouse complex.

Ellen listened carefully but did not say much while they were explaining. When they were done, Ellen turned to them and asked, “And how are you to do all of this with no money?”

“Ah, yes, the key point,” Edwin said, laughing. “And that is where you become involved. I propose to sell the London house. I will pay you half of the proceeds as part of your inheritance and use the rest to fund our project.”

“And will half of the proceeds be sufficient to fund the entire project?” Ellen asked.

Edwin answered, “Mostly. We will need to either take a bank loan for the balance or add on to the greenhouse in increments as profits begin to accrue.”

“I see.” Ellen seemed thoughtful, and it was difficult to read what she was thinking.

“And what if I did not want to take my inheritance just yet?” she asked.

“You do not wish us to sell the London house?”

“That is not what I was thinking. What if, instead of taking my share of the money, I used that money to invest in the business? I could become a shareholder or a partner, or however, you choose to structure the business.”

Lydia gasped. “That would interest you?”

Ellen smiled. “Oh, yes, absolutely. I think it is a splendid idea, and I would much rather use my money as an investment rather than fritter it away on gowns or idle amusements. Absolutely count me in.”

* * *

The wedding was to be held at Saint Andrews with the reception at Honeyfield.

A lot of the staff from the London house had come down to help prepare for the wedding, including Mrs. Samuels. She had been offered, and had accepted, the position of Head Housekeeper at Honeyfield, but she suffered no nonsense from any of the already established Honeyfield staff.

She had been put in charge of organizing the wedding reception, and the entire household was now a hive of activity.

The wedding breakfast consisted of just the brides and grooms and their parents. Samuels and Reynolds personally served each guest.

Lydia was seated next to the Duchess.

“You may call me Mamma now if you like,” the Duchess said, leaning in and touching Lydia’s hand. “Since we both are to be Duchesses, it seems pointless for the two of us to go around calling each other by our titles. Don’t you think?”

Lydia smiled. “Thank you. And you may call me Lydia. And I, like Edwin, will request everyone call me Lydia. It is so much more open and friendly, don’t you think?”

Her Grace did not seem to appreciate that. However, she added, “If you would be so kind, would you please stop by my suite after you have put on your wedding gown, and before we drive down to the ceremony.”

“Of course, Mamma.”

* * *

“You wished to see me?” Lydia asked, as she entered the Duchess’s suite. The Duchess did not yet have her new companion, so she was alone and seated at her dressing table.

The Duchess looked up and saw Lydia, who took her breath away. Lydia was dressed in her wedding gown, looking like an angel just descended from heaven.

“My darling, daughter-in-law, how absolutely splendid you look. I never could have imagined…” She seemed to choke up and showed the first genuine emotion Lydia has ever seen her express.

“Come.”

Lydia went over and stood before her. Lydia’s hair was a crown of beauty with ribbons and dried flowers matching perfectly the warm cream colors of her gown.

“I want you to have this,” the Duchess said. “Lean forward, please.”

Lydia bowed and the Duchess placed the most beautiful pink diamond and ruby necklace around her neck.

“This is my wedding present to you. It was my Grandmother’s, the Duchess of Carnaven. It was given to her by the Grand Duke Nicholai Shvarnova of Russia.”

“Oh, Mamma, how splendid and beautiful. Thank you.”

Then the Duchess said in a whisper, “And do not sell it off to fund any of Edwin’s crazy projects. Promise me that?”

Lydia smiled. “Yes, I promise.”

* * *

It was a chilly morning and it seemed that everything leading up to, and after, the church ceremony was about putting on or taking off coats, hats, and gloves; or getting in or out of various carriages—with fussing footmen, drivers, and assorted retinue getting in the way more than actually helping.

Edwin and Lydia, and Bartley and Ellen—now man and wives—stood before the assembled guests at Honeyfield who were enjoying a hearty wedding reception.

Edwin, as the host, was preparing to welcome all guests, but first he turned to Lydia.

“My darling wife… I cannot believe I can say that now. Well, here we are. About to begin this grand adventure together. I could not do what I want without you. I could not be who I am without you. I am so excited to start our life together.” He leaned over and kissed her.

Then he turned to his guests and raised his glass in a toast. “My lords, ladies, and gentlemen… and to you few children scampering around the sidelines… welcome, each and every one of you. Thank you for attending our nuptials and showing us your loving support.”

He turned to Bartley and Ellen. “To my darling sister, Ellen, and her new husband, Bartley, my most sincere congratulations.” He tilted his glass to them.

“And finally to my loving wife and inspiration, Lydia, the Duchess of…”

Lydia leaned in and whispered to him.

“Excuse me… my wife reminds me it is to be just Lydia.”

“Let me take it from here, dear,” Lydia said. “My dearest family, friends, and new family—this moment… this day… is like a chapter out of a fairy story. That I… a lowly vicar’s daughter should become the wife of such a wonderful, caring, and devoted son, brother, and husband is beyond my wildest imagination. I promise to all of you—as he has promised to me—to be forever mindful, true, and generous in my dealings with all of you—with all my comings and goings in the world—and to those who will one day be our children.”

Lydia raised her glass. “To Ellen and Bartley; to my dear friend Jenny and her husband, Doctor Cooke; to my Mother; to my new Mamma; and, finally, to you my dearest,” she said, as she ended by raising her glass to Edwin.

She then took his arm and whispered. “I love you, Jammy.”

Curious to read how Lydia and Edwin’s relationship evolved? Then enjoy this complimentary short story featuring the beloved couple.

Simply

I guarantee you, that you won’t be disappointed ♥