“Edwin wrote me and said he was coming to ask you for your hand in marriage, but he wanted me to keep it a secret. I had no idea when he might arrive, so I needed to keep you entertained and in my sight, as he might show up at any moment, and I did not want us to have to go searching all over London tofindyou.”
Edwin was holding her hand and would not let go. However, it was extremely difficult for her to eat her lunch with justonehand.
Lydia turned to Edwin, extracted her hand, and asked, “But how is this going to work? What are we to do about money for the estate? How ever will you be able to complete your life’s dream without the Beaufort marriagesettlement?”
“I do not have an answer to that question, but I feel certain that with your abilities, and my resolve, we can put our heads together and findaway.”
“When do you suggest we get married?” Lydiaasked.
“Why, the marriage to Caroline is already arranged. I see no reason why you cannot just step into what we already havesetup.”
Ellen and Lydia both snapped at him, “Edwin! Howdareyou!”
Ellen continued. “Edwin, no woman wants to step into another woman’s wedding plans. She wants to make her own. I cannot believe you could be soinsensitive.”
Edwin threw up his hands. “Oh… I am so sorry. It never crossedmymind…”
Ellen had a strange smile on her face. “I haveanidea…”
“Yes?” both Edwin and Lydiaasked.
“What about if Lydia and I had a joint wedding? Then we could plan our weddingstogether.”
“Ellen… has he asked you?” Lydiashrieked.
Ellen nodded. “Last night at the party. That was really what the party was allabout.”
Lydia playfully slapped Ellen’s arm. “They why did you not tell me of the engagement lastnight?
“Because of this. I knew Edwin was on his way, and I wanted to wait and share my good news with you when you had good news ofyourown.”
“Do you think Bartley will agree to have the wedding at Honeyfield?” Edwin asked. “He might have otherideas.”
Ellen smiled. “Oh, Edwin. How little you know aboutwomen.”
* * *
Edwin wasto ride ahead back to Honeyfield as he had come to London by horse, not carriage. Ellen and Lydia were to return in the Honeyfield coach as they had come but were not stopping over at Oxfordthistime.
Before leaving, Edwin asked Lydia to join him in the wonderfully comfortable library. The fine weather of the other day had turned bitter and snow was threatening. Lydia was to join Edwin after they breakfasted. There were two comfortable chairs set before the flickering fire. Lydia came in after having gone to her room for her shawl. Edwin was already seated and Lydia went over tojoinhim.
She sat facing him, her hands folded in her lap. They just stared at each other for amoment.
“How absolutely lovely you are, Lydia. I am the luckiest man in all of GreatBritain.”
She smiled. “Not of the whole world?” sheteased.
“I think it’s fair to leave a little luck for others, do you notthink?”
She nodded. He was silent for a moment as he gathered histhoughts.
Then Lydia spoke. “I expect you wish to discuss the legal aspects of our marriage—not very romantic, but necessary. Is that not so? You know I have nothing I can bring to the marriage. My father died in debt. My mother needed to sell everything but her personal belongings to settle the estate and we both live by our wagesfromyou.”
“Of course, I know that, Lydia. And that is of no concern to me. And, as of now, neither one of us is in that much different a position—except in scale, of course. With my father’s investment collapsed, I am left with only the estate in Shropshire and this house inLondon.
“Then how are we to survive?” Lydia asked. I am sure we can eat—we have the orchard and the garden—but what of your dream for thearboretum?”
Edwin smiled. “I have given the matter a great deal of thought. And what would you say if the orchard and garden were to be the basis for a whole new life for Honeyfield? What if we were to develop a totally new business that could support the entirefamily?”
