Page 41 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Contrite Duke
As she considered the future she longed for—a proper family with children to nurture and love—Lydia resolved to confront the issue head-on. Tonight, she would discuss the matter with Michael, no matter how embarrassing it might be. Nothing that wasn’t brought to light could grow, after all. And perhaps, Michael was worried that he might upset her or make her feel uncomfortable by discussing such a delicate matter. Maybe, if she showed him that she was comfortable opening up to him because he was her husband, he would begin to feel the same way with her.
In the meantime, she felt there was no time like the present to go collect the items she could use from her family’s home. She summoned Hester, asking her to request the butler arrange for her a carriage, and then to help her into her riding habit. By the time Hester returned to help her dress, Lydia was beside herself with joy.
With her decision to speak with Michael that night about his absence in the bedchambers, she felt lighter and more ready to focus on the next phase of her school. She had a piece of stationery and her quill pen in hand, scribbling things intermittently as Hester began helping her change.
Hester eventually laughed, gently pushing down her hands when she held them above her head to scratch ‘inkwells’ while Hester was trying to pull the black riding habit bodice down over Lydia’s body.
“Milady duchess, you are the embodiment of energy today,” she said.
Lydia took a break from her list to grin at her maid.
“I saw the old hall building today,” she said. “And Michael said that I may oversee the cleaning and refurbishment of the building as soon as I am ready. And I was ready yesterday.”
Hester giggled, grinning at her mistress.
“I have truly never seen you so happy,” she said. “It is a most welcome sight, indeed. But if you are doing work on the building, where are you going?”
It was Lydia’s turn to giggle.
“Oh, dear, I forgot to mention it,” she said. “I need to go to Tockenham Castle and collect the school supplies that I was saving there. I shall leave a note for Michael or send word with Patterson to let him know this afternoon.”
Hester nodded, still smiling gleefully at her mistress.
“That is wonderful,” she said. “Would you like for me to go with you?”
Lydia nodded, her smile widening.
“I couldn’t imagine doing this without you,” she said. “This is the moment I have dreamt of for so long. To not have you with me every step of the way would feel so crass and unofficial.”
Hester smiled and nodded.
“Then we shall depart as soon as you are ready,” she said. “I am so glad that you have this opportunity. You certainly deserve it.”
Lydia shook her head, but she was still smiling.
“The uneducated people of London deserve it,” she said, blushing. “I am just the one who will be blessed enough to offer that to them.”
Hester gave her mistress another warm smile.
“And such humility will carry you a long way in such an endeavour,” she said. “I am so proud of you.”
Lydia beamed once more, making another scribble on her paper.
“I am proud to get to do this,” she said.
After another fitful twenty minutes, and several more stops for Lydia to write down more supplies she remembered having at her family’s home, she was ready to leave.
As she and Hester were preparing to leave, Lydia bumped into Mary. She literally almost knocked her friend down in the hallway between the grand hall and the front door of the mansion. Lydia laughed as Mary gave her a quizzical look.
“I have never seen you move so quickly,” she said with a giggle of her own. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
Lydia smiled at her friend, telling her of her plans to go and fetch the supplies.
Mary gave her a bright smile and took her hand.
“That is fantastic,” she said. “Would you like for Bryony and me to go with you?”
Lydia shook her head.
