“Come,” Ellen said, leading Lydia into her suite. She shut the door then leaned against it. “Detestablewoman.”
“I take it you do not careforher?”
“She is stalking my brother in an attempt to trap him into marrying her. She is rude. She is greedy. She is never civil to me. And she cheats atcards.”
“Is that an affirmative?” Lydiasmiled.
Ellen let out a sigh and collected herself. “I am sorry. That was very rude. I barely know the woman. But she just rubs me the wrong way.” She pointed to the bathroom. “You may freshen up inthere.”
* * *
“The trout was delicious,”Lydia commented at the end of their luncheon. “Does your brother fish thestream?”
Ellen shook her head. “No, he is too wrapped up in his flora to think of anythingfauna.”
“And what do you enjoy beside your horses andriding?”
“I am quite adept on the pianoforte. I struggle with painting, and I love to read. But my greatest passion is mywriting.”
“Writing? Truly? What do youwrite?”
“Romance novels. Well… I am trying to. I long to go to London where I can attend the salons, meet other authors, and live a wicked and dangerous life.” Lydia laughed. “Well, not the last part, but I am trying to persuade Mamma to letmego.”
“And nosuitors?”
Ellen sighed. “There have been a few. But they are such bumpkins even Mother refuses to allow them near me.” Ellen leaned in toward Lydia and whispered. “And to be quite honest, I have no interest in marriage. All I care about is mywriting.”
“Are there many womenwriters?”
“Some. Well, actually quite a few write under men’s names. Although a few successful ones are insisting on using their own namesthesedays.”
“How adventurous you are,” Lydiaadmired.
There was a knock atthedoor.
“Enter,” Ellen called out. Edwin came in. “Oh, brother, look who is visiting me.” She turned towardLydia.
“Miss Lydia, what a pleasure to see you onceagain.”
“Andyou,sir.”
“I hope you do not mind me interrupting you. I just needed toescape.”
“Miss Pamela?” Ellenasked.
Edwin nodded. “However, I shall name nonames.”
“No need to. It is abundantly clear of whom you are speaking. Whatever is she doing here again? Wasn’t she here just aweekago?”
“She is constantly traveling through the region, and ever since Mamma invited her to stop by whenever she was in the area, she seems to be constantly inthearea.”
Edwin turned to Lydia. “How was your first ridinglesson?”
“I hesitate to say. I do not imagine I wasverygood.”
“Nonsense. You were splendid—for thefirsttime.”
“Will you tryagain?”
