Page 82 of Hearts of Briarwall

“It is a rumor. There was never any proof. The logistics of the accident showed the brake gave way prematurely, and the wear was attributed to an attempt to stop the vehicle during its long descent. We will never know the facts. But knowing Father, it makes sense. He was impulsive and daring and pushed his limits. He was—”

“Like me.” She pushed away from him, fighting the sobs building inside her. “That’s why you won’t teach me to drive. Why you don’t trust me to make decisions for myself, for my future.”

“Lydia, I just gave you my trust with your inheritance. I only need you to understand why you—”

“Have you arranged a marriage between Sir Lawrence and myself?”

He froze, his blue eyes wide.

Her voice shook, but she did not shrink. “Judging from the way your cheeks have mottled purple, I will take that as a yes.” She felt her nostrils flare.

Andrew began shaking his head. “I needed to consider your future, to make sure you were provided for. Mother had mentioned that she and Mrs. Piedmont had mused over the connection, and with your reputation—”

“My what?” she asked, jolted from her fury.

He seemed to realize he was digging himself deeper and backed away, his hands held out in front of him as if she were a tiger ready to pounce, which was not far off the mark.

He spoke softly, almost a whisper. “It’s just that you are known to be brash, Lydia. Lovely, but brash. Outspoken. And wild.”

“Wild?What, like a boar?” Her hands clenched into fists. “I know of no such reputation. I am more relaxed with my friends, yes, but in the company of society, I conduct myself with respect to all those women who’ve taught me how to do so. Mrs. Parks. Fallon. Mrs. Janes and Mrs. Whittemore. Nanny, bless her soul, and Miss Forrester, who should have beensaintedas my governess.

“Do I put on airs or present myself as something I am not? A simpering, delicate blossom needing to be staked to a man lest the gentlest wind tear me?”Blasther tears. She wiped her face. “No. I do not know where you’ve heard this summation of my reputation, but I do not accept it. And neither should you. Did you even argue or defend me? Before you rolled over and sold me off as a lost cause? I donotaccept this understanding you’ve made with Sir Lawrence. He is not for me.” She straightened. “And if you believe he is, then you do not know me at all. I’d sooner marry atree. They smell better and ... and speak to mysoul.”

She turned to leave and halted. At the end of the lavender row stood Spencer with Ruby, both of them wide-eyed and still. How much had they heard?

Her emotions could not be contained much longer, especially with the way Spencer was looking at her. No wonder he didn’t want her. She wasbrashandwild. Her lungs ached with every breath. She glanced at Ruby, unable to bear the sympathy on her face.

She picked up her skirts and ran as the sky broke open with a gentle rain.

“Lydia,” Andrew called after her.

“No!”was all she could manage before the tears spilled over. With each stride, her shoulders shook with weeping. “Leave me alone,” she whimpered, proving herself to be a delicate blossom after all.

Chapter 15

“Oh dear.” Ruby grabbed Spencer’s arm as Lydia ran away from them, the collie bounding after her. She faced him beneath her parasol. “You go after her. I’ll handle Andrew.” She looked at the man down the row, his shoulders slumped, his hand in his hair. “I’ve a feeling this will take more than a few quips to mend.”

Spencer glanced toward Andrew, but she squeezed his arm. “Do you really think he’d listen to you right now?” she said. “Go to Lydia. They both need to get out of this rain, and I believe neither have the wits to do it on their own.”

He nodded and pushed himself after the woman who’d just been told her future was not her own because she had the courage to be herself. What had Andrew been thinking? Allowing rumors of that nature to cage his own sister, all in the name of assuring that somebodysettledfor her?

He paused at the edge of the pond, searching for a sign of Lydia, wanting to shout her name, but not wanting to alert the help or push her further into hiding. The pediment of the northern end of the temple caught his eye, and he set his course in that direction through the trees.

He heard her before he saw her.

“Gah!” she cried. A bigkerplunkfollowed. She sniffled, breathing hard. Then it repeated, a largekerplunkechoed by smallerplinksof raindrops hitting the water.

He emerged from the trees to find the small beach at the rear of the temple where they’d met for their ill-fated bicycle ride. His pounding heart wasn’t doing him any favors. Hearing her deny any connection, romantic or otherwise, to Sir Lawrence had knocked something loose inside him.Shehad knocked something loose inside him.

She threw another rock and then clenched both fists at her sides, arms stiff, pacing a few steps, breathing deeply as if trying to collect herself in the rain. The collie sheltered under the temple cornice, watching her every move.

Not wanting to startle her, Spencer cleared his throat.

Hero barked and left his post to welcome him.

Lydia turned his way and stiffened, then spun and climbed the steps to the temple and out of his sight.

He looked back toward the lavender fields as if Miss Burke were there to push him on, then glanced up at the heavy-laden sky, blinking in the rain. On their walk, Ruby had said point-blank that she knew he was in love with Lydia, and somehow, he’d ended up confessing about Catherine and that he wouldn’t be made a fool again.

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