“Oh, Edwin—not just a party—aball.”
Edwinnodded.
“It will be the event of the season,” Ellen added. “There shall be champagne, dancing, and all the finest ladies and gentlemen of the region shall attend. Isn’t it exciting? It shall be my veryfirstball.”
Lydia leaned over and gave Ellen a hug. “Howsplendid.”
Edwin stood up from the table. “Miss Lydia, I believe it is now time for our littleadventure.”
He offered his hand. Lydia stood and went around the table totakeit.
“Shall I see you again before I leave?” Lydia askedEllen.
“Come to the stables. I am going to help groom the horsesshortly.”
“Very well,”Lydiasaid.
“I want to talk about the guest list, and you can help me sortitout.”
“Oh, Ellen, I know very few of the type of people you will beinviting.”
Ellen laughed. “Do not be a snob Miss Lydia, I am not only going to be inviting folks with titles, you know. This is to be my party and I shall invite whoever I think will be fun, and you can help mewiththat.”
“Very well, untillater,then.”
Edwin escorted Lydia outside to the front of the house where there was a horse and trap awaiting. He helped Lydia into the seat and he went around to the other side, climbed in and took thereins.
“First I want to take you around and show you the layout of Honeyfield Estate. Then I would like to take you to my office and show you the plans I am working on for the botanical gardens and the designs forthepark.”
“How very exciting. I admire your ambition. Where shall webegin?”
“First I want to show you where we are building the lake. Well, it is more of a pond really, but it will anchor the North American landscape. I am having a number of botanical specimens shipped from the new country, which should arrive in the next fewmonths.”
Edwin slapped the reins and the horsestartedup.
“And will there be a tropical garden?” Lydiaasked.
“Surely. And for that, I am going to construct a large glass structure so they can be protected in winter. However, that will be some time off yet. First, I am going to concentrate on the northern hemisphere plantings. I want to create a natural setting, with both formal and informal planting areas. But that I will explain more clearly when I show you thedrawings.”
After showing Lydia the width and breadth of the estate, Edwin pulled the trap up to a stop on top of the high ridge of a field. He helped Lydia down, and they stood looking across the open field from theridge.
“There,” he said, pointing, “That is where I shall establish the pond. You can see where there are several springs flowing that will feed the pond and I will be starting construction on it nextmonth.”
“This is a wonderful vantage point. Are you going to establish any special featureuphere?”
“Yes, I was thinking of putting in a pavilion. It would be lovely to see the sun rise or set from here. One could serve tea or read or justcontemplate.”
“Iloveit.”
Edwin turned to Lydia. “Now, Miss Lydia, tell me more about your interests. You told me previously you are interested ingardening.”
“Oh, Edwin, my interests are not nearly as grand as yours. I have a special love of trees. I spent a lot of time working in my family’s orchard, and I am, even now, pruning my aunt’s few fruittrees.”
“Yes, an orchard is a wonderful idea. We have a small one now, but it is in sad shape and needs attention and expansion. Perhaps you might advise me on what I should add and how the trees might bearranged.”
“It would be an honor to assist youinthat.”
“And you are knowledgeable about vegetable gardens,aswell?”
