“As have I. However, now that I live at Honeyfield, I am able to freely traverse the estate and have discovered many favored walksalready.”
They heard a new patient come into the officewaitingroom.
“Miss Lydia, it has been a great pleasure seeing you again. Please do not wait until your next injury or illness tostopby.”
“Perhaps our next meeting might be at your wedding?” Lydia asked with asmile.
Reginald smiled but did not answer. “Good day, MissLydia.”
“Doctor.” She nodded and left theoffice.
Now, to find her mother. She started with the milliners and the chemist’s, both nearby the Doctor’s office, but she was not there. Then she ambled over to the market, but not seeing her, went ahead and purchased what sheneeded.
Finally, she headed to Twistivants and went inside to find her mother at a table withanotherlady.
“Mother, there you are,” Lydia said, as she approached thetable.
“Lydia. Meet this fine lady I met at the milliner's. Mrs. Cynthia Forbes, this is my daughter,Lydia.”
“It is a decided pleasure,” Lydia said, shaking thegentlewoman’shand.
“Likewise,” Mrs. Forbesreplied.
“We have ordered tea for three. Please sit, Lydia,” Motherinsisted.
Lydia put down her market basket and sat opposite Mrs. Forbes. She studied the woman. She was in her late fifties or early sixties, Lydia surmised. She was obviously wearing a wig and was heavily made-up. Her penciled eyebrows were not quite straight, and the outline of her rouged lips did not match the actual line of her lips. She wore white lace gloves with a pink dress. And although she might look a little ridiculous to Lydia, she did have a nice smile. Lydia decided to reserve judgment until she knew more aboutthelady.
“Your mother tells me you are a horticultural consultant to His Grace,” Mrs.Forbessaid.
Lydia nodded. “I guess you might call me that. But in actuality, I am really just a glorifiedgardener.”
“Oh…” Mrs. Forbes seemed a little shocked at having tea with agardener.
Mother then stepped in. “His Grace calls upon her extensive knowledge of gardening in the construction of his arboretum. He is making Honeyfield into a model garden for all of Great Britain—a model for the nineteenth century. It is a massiveundertaking.”
“I see,” Mrs. Forbes said, as she tapped her napkin against her lips and then took another sipoftea.
“Mrs. Forbes, are you a long time resident of UptonMagna?”
She answered in a strange exaggerated accent. “I yam, my dear. Mwy darest hoosband was Upton Magna’s Mayoor for three andtwwentyyars.”
“Madam,” Lydia acknowledged. “What a great honor. You must be considered one of the premiere citizens of thevillage.”
Mrs. Forbes nodded modestly. “That is not for may to saay. But one might assume it tobeso.”
Lydia looked at her mother and smiled. However, her mother did not seem to see thehumor.
“My hume is at the verry top of Lilac Way. You muust know it, doyounot?”
Lydia shook her head. “No, I am sorry. I am not familiar with thataddress.”
“Ah, well… it is because you are a noocomer to our community. It is the verry most exclusive address in all of Upton Magna. I shall invite the Duchess, your mother, and yourself for tea one afternoon. That is, if you can tar yourself away from yourgardening.”
“I am quite certain Her Grace and my mother would be delighted to attend. However, I am afraid I am tied to the earth, so to speak, and am unlikely to be able to attend. With great regret, ofcourse.”
“Av coourse,”Mrs. Forbes said and turned to Mother to converse—ignoring Lydia for the rest ofthetea.
* * *
