“I have, but I mean it! I think we’re on the road to a real friendship, and what happened at the ball only made me feel more certain about that.”
“I’m glad,” he admitted. “And I’ve noticed that you’ve been settling in at Westfrey.”
“When you saysettling in—”
“No, I’m not just talking about the fact that you had an orangery built.” He chuckled. “Though I don’t suppose you would have done that if you weren’t feeling at least somewhat at ease.”
“Well, I’d have to say you’re right about that,” she agreed. “I’ve found myself very comfortable. But tell me what you mean when you say I’m settling in.”
“I’ve noticed that you seem to feel at home in small ways,” he said. “Your lady’s maid has tea brought to your room every evening, which tells me that you haven’t felt too shy to ask for it.”
“Well, no,” Lydia said. “Both you and she made it clear that I was to consider myself the lady of the house—”
“And so you should. I’m glad you’ve felt as if you can ask for the things you want.”
Lydia nodded. “If you ever do feel I’ve overstepped my boundaries, I trust you’ll let me know.”
“I will, but you don’t need to worry about it. After the purchase of these horses and the construction of an orangery, it’s difficult to imagine that anything at all could shock me.”
Lydia laughed. “I suppose that’s fair,” she said.
“I noticed you’ve been visiting the library.”
“You noticed that?”
She thought she’d been careful, that she had left no trace of her comings and goings in the library.
“It’s all right,” he assured her. “That isn’t something you have to hide. Remember, this is your home now. All the books in the library are yours as much as they are mine.”
She nodded—she’d understood that. Still, it made her feel shy to be caught. The choice of reading material was something that felt strangely intimate.
But he is my husband, and I’m the one who’s been pushing for the two of us to know one another better. Maybe I should do my part by opening up to him about this.
“Yes,” she said, “I’ve been to the library.”
“And did you find anything you liked there?”
“Many things,” Lydia confessed, warming to the topic. “I feel as if I could spend all day in your library.”
“Our library,” he corrected her. “And, you know, you could if you wanted to. There’s nothing to stop you, no reason you should feel compelled to leave the place if you’re enjoying yourself there.”
“It’s just that it’s a freedom I’ve never had before,” she explained. “I’ve never been able to read as much as I liked. In the past, I have always had to do my reading in secret because my parents didn’t like it.”
“Let me guess, not something a proper young lady would do with her time?”
“Not remotely,” Lydia confirmed. “They felt a gentleman wouldn’t care if I could ride a horse or not, but they were sure he would actively dislike it if I had the ability to read a book.”
“Nonsense,” Edward scoffed. “I like that you can read, Lydia. It means we can talk to one another about ideas and about stories. It means that if I have a book I love, I can give it to you to read, and you and I can talk about it when you’ve finished. That’s a very rare and special thing and not something I’ve ever had with someone before. I’m very pleased that you enjoy reading.”
“I’m so glad,” Lydia said. “Really, Edward, you don’t know how happy that makes me. I think it would be a hindrance to our ever becoming friends if you wanted me to stop reading books. The fact that you’re all right with it means that we can go on being close to one another.”
“Do you mean to say you wouldn’t have given up reading if I’d told you I didn’t care for it?”
What was to be gained by lying to him here?
“I would have gone on doing it behind your back,” she told him, feeling brazen in her confession.
He laughed. “I love that,” he said. “But you won’t have to. In fact, if there’s anything you feel the library could use more of, just tell me. I can always have more books purchased.”
