“Oh, surely, Aunt at your age it would not be unseemly to meet here inprivate.”
Aunt was shocked. “Such a meeting would be inappropriate at any age, Lydia. Certainly, you shouldknowthat.”
Lydia smiled inwardly but nodded her head. “Just so. Then, by all means, let me know if there is anything I can do to assist during hisvisit.”
“Thank you.” Lavinia smoothed her dress before speaking again. “And the matter I must discuss with you has to do with your and myfutures.”
“I amlistening.”
“Bernard—Doctor Winston, has indicated he might be considering aproposal?”
“Of marriage?” Lydiaasked.
“Yes. And I am seriously consideringaccepting.”
“Oh, Aunt that would bewonderful.”
“Perhaps. But there are considerations. Doctor Winston, of course, lives in Oxford where he has his position and his livelihood. It would not be reasonable to expect him to uproot himself and move to Upton Magna unless he was retired—which heisnot.”
“I see,” Lydiaanswered.
“Then, that would mean that I would need to move to Oxford. And I am not certain I wish to give up my life anddwellinghere.”
“You have a longhistoryhere.”
“And then there is you to consider. If I were to marry and move, there would be no place for you with us at Oxford. You can certainlyunderstandthat.”
Lydia suddenly began to consider the implications for herself. “I had not thought about that. But I certainly shall give it my studiedconsideration.”
“I know this would create a difficultyforyou.”
“I feel certain I can find a solution. Perhaps I might find employment in the area with a genteelfamily.”
“And then there is always the possibility of marriage. Are you officially seeing DoctorCooke?”
“Oh, no. We are simplyfriends.”
“But might there be a possibility of a romancedeveloping?”
Lydia was not sure how to answer that. “Possibly.”
“In any case, I wanted to bring this subject up as soon as possible, for if circumstances change for me, they will also changeforyou.”
“Thank you, Aunt, for letting me know. And I am very pleased for you, and wish you all the very best with DoctorWinston.”
