As Lydia cleaned the teapot, Lavinia looked around the kitchen. She spotted the food that Lydia had put out to prepare forsupper.
“And what is this doing out of the larder?” she asked, as she picked up the meat pie and carried it back toputaway.
“I thought I might prepare supper for you this evening, and as I found that, I thought it might make for anicemeal.”
Lydia was beginning to panic. Was there any way to return home she suddenlythought?
“I never eat supper. I have my dinner with the Duchess. I have a very modest breakfast and the most I have in the evening is a cup of tea and perhaps a scone or a piece of cake. See yourememberthat.”
“But might I have a bite of supper? I had no dinner earlier as the coach was due to arrive in UptonMagna.”
Lavinia stared at her. “Humph. If you must, but don’t make a habit of it. You may prepare a modest dinner during the day, but I’ll expect you to observe a simple and decent way of living while you are in thishouse.”
“Of course, AuntLavinia.”
“And prayers are at five o’clock, six-thirty, and before bedatnine.”
“But you are not home by five o’clock,” Lydiapointedout.
“Five o’clock in the morning. You are to be downstairs before me, set the fire in the study when the weather is chill, and pray with me for an hour beforebreakfast.”
“Aunt, I am not accustomed to such a schedule. And in my family, we pray at meals and inchurchonly.”
“Then that shall change while you arelivinghere.”
Lydia could not acquiesce but remainedsilent.
“Now then, as I am late this evening it is already past the six-thirty prayers, so we shall commence thoseimmediately.”
“But…” Lydia triedtosay.
Lavinia glowered at her. “You may have your supper after the spirit is refreshed with an hour ofprayer.”
* * *
Sobbing in her bed,Lydia was devastated. She knew not what she could or should do? How she longed to return home, but she knew that could not be anoption.
Her one consolation was her new friend, Jenny. And then there was the fact that Aunt Lavinia would be gone during the day to attend on the Duchess. Perhaps it might not be too bad if she could be useful and engage in positive pursuits duringtheday.
With all the confusion of dealing with the sour demands of her aunt, she had completely forgotten to ask if she had met the good Doctor Winston that afternoon. That would need to wait foranothertime.
By the time Lydia drifted off to sleep she was exhausted. But it seemed but a few moments before she heard a forceful knocking at herbedroomdoor.
“Yes?” she called out still halfasleep.
“Why haven’t you awakened me?” her aunt shouted through the door. “It is half past five. You were to rouse at fourforty-five.”
“Sorry, Aunt, I did not know.” Lydia sat on the edge of the bed as she struggled to put on herdressinggown.
“You should have figured that out for yourself. If prayers are at five, then obviously you must awaken me in plenty of timebefore.”
“I shall do better. I will come downstairs in oneminute.”
“Do.”
She heard her aunt descend the stairs. What would she write to home? Her aunt had not even asked after the family yesterday. Could this be the same aunt who had corresponded so faithfully with her mother all those years? Lydia speculated that perhaps it was the loss of her husband that had made her so sour and unhappy. And now, it seemed, her aunt was going to take out all her grief and sadnessonher.
Lydia tiptoed down the stairs to the study and found her aunt already kneeling in fervent prayer in front of a small altar with a bible and a crucifix. She didn’t even look up as Lydia kneltbesideher.
