“Your aunt walks here every day? Rain orshine?”
“She does, and seems toenjoyit.”
“I won’t have that. It is too much to ask a lady ofherage.”
Lydia reached over and placed her hand on Edwin’s arm. “Please don’t do or say anything. She would not like you to think she has beencomplaining.”
“Miss Lydia, I will take care of this so she will have no reason tothinkthat.”
“Please, Edwin, she will be getting married soon, so please let it be. I know she would be greatly embarrassed if she thought she was being any kind of aninconvenience.”
“Very well, then, foryoursake.”
After lunch was concluded, they left the kitchen and Edwin directed her toward thestable.
Lydia held out the notebook for Edwintotake.
“No, please keep that for your notes. It is more useful for you than for me. And remember you are to make up some lists for me, and you willneedthat.”
“Very well.” They stood waiting outside the stable as the groom collected Edwin’shorse.
“I am sorry, the trap is having a wheel repaired you will have to ride on the horse with me if that is not aproblem?”
“Not at all,” Lydia said loweringhereyes.
When the horse was brought out, Edwin stood behind Lydia and, taking her by the waist, hoisted her up onto the back of the horse, and then he mounted the steed himself, sitting in frontofher.
“All ready?” heasked.
She tucked the notebook into a pocket of her dress and put her arms around his waist. “All ready,Edwin.”
He made a clicking noise and the horse began trotting gently away from thestable.
As they moved along, Lydia laid her head against Edwin’s shoulder, while holding firmly onto his waist. She had never ridden in tandem on a horse before—and especially not with a man. It felt subversive, forbidden, and quitedelightful.
They rode into town and down High Street with the whole town able to look on. Lydia waved when she saw Jenny coming out of the grocery store. Jenny’s face registered first surprise, and then mirth, and finally a salaciousastonishment.
Lydia gave Edwin directions to her aunt’s house and when they arrived he dismounted and, once again, taking her by the waist, lifted her off thehorse.
“Good day, Miss Lydia. When might I expect us to meet again to work on the orchard? I don’t expect you to do all the workalone.”
“Well, Ellen said we should meet for our ride again next week. Willthatdo?”
“I was hoping we might meet more often. There is a lot of work to be done beforeautumn.”
“I can only manage twice a week with all that needs to be done formyaunt.”
Then would Friday work for you as our second meetingthisweek?”
“Yes. I canmanagethat.”
“I shall send the carriage for you at nine o’clock if that issatisfactory.”
“Yes, that will beagreeable.”
Edwin mounted the horse again, but looked back at Lydia and called out as she headed toward the front door of thecottage.
“Miss, Lydia, I think we must arrange a payment for your services to me. I certainly do not expect you to do all of this hard labor for me, gratis. You must be compensated foryourtime.”
“Oh, Edwin, it was not myintention…”
“I understand, but I regard you as a treasured consultant, and I cannot let you consult for meuncompensated.”
“Very well, that would be mostagreeable.”
“We will discuss the terms when we meet on Friday. Good day, Miss Lydia.” Then he turned the horse andtrottedoff.
