Edwin addressed Lydia. “You must meet my sister sometime; I feel certain you would enjoy each other’s company. She has aspirations to be anovelist.”
“More nonsense…” the Duchess said, under herbreath.
“I look forward to that,” Lydia said, answeringEdwin.
“Perhaps you two would enjoy riding together,” hesuggested.
“Oh, I don’t ride. We never had a horse, except the one my father used, and he was so old he could barelystand?”
“Which one—the horse or your father?” Edwinjoked.
Lydia lowered her eyes and smiled. She was pleased to see that Edwin had a sense of humor. “I believe when they were together they were often seen to be propping each other up,” Lydiaresponded.
Edwin smiled and gave Lydia anaffirmativenod.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” Edwin said, and then turned toleave.
“Edwin,” Mothercalledout.
He turned back. “Yes,Mother?”
“You do remember we are dining with the Staffords this evening, doyounot?”
“How can I forget? You have reminded me three times or more alreadytoday.”
“Don’t be impertinent. Pamela will be in attendance and I know how much she is looking forward to seeing youagain.”
“AndIher.”
Edwin turned and strode off before his mother had any morereminders.
The Duchess turned to Lavinia. “Will you do us the honors,please?”
Lavinia began pouring the tea and passing the teacups after she first served theDuchess.
“Do try the lemon cakes. They are dainty and quite delicious,” the Duchess said, before turning to Lydia and asking, “Dorset I believe, is thatcorrect?”
“Yes, your Grace, my father, sisters, andmother…”
But she was interrupted by the Duchess. “Doctor Winston, I have been having this little pain in my back, I was wondering if you might attend me in my chambers after tea and make a quickexamination.”
“Your Grace, I must remind you, once again, that I am not a medical doctor but a doctor ofphilosophy.”
The Duchess waved her gloved hand in the air. “Oh, yes, I remember something like that. What abother.”
“Your home is very grand and beautiful,” Lydia tried diverting the conversation away from aches andpains.
“Thank you, my dear. It is rather fine, isn’t it? Tattlebrook Court, the residence of the Duke of Grafton is not nearly as elegant. It has only two floors and no ballroom. Can youimagine?”
“Are you acquainted with the Duke of Piddlehinton?” Lydia asked. “He lives just down the road from myfamilyhome.
“Old Piddle, as he’s called. Yes, I know him, poor old dear. He has beennon compos mentisever since old Georgie the third lost it completely. It was rumored that the two of them would sit together on the floor of the throne room and play marbles like two six-year-olds.”
“More tea, your Grace?” Laviniaasked.
“Yes, thank you,mydear.”
The Doctor stood up and moved to sit next to Lavinia, leaning in to converse quietly with her, as the Duchess engaged Lydia in further conversation until her attention wandered and her head begantonod.
