Her cheeks reddened as she thought of those days, and she had to block images of his lips on hers as she grew breathless. She glanced around to see if anyone noticed her curious behavior, but apparently they had not, for which she was glad.
With a light giggle, she turned to admire a woman in a yellow dress.
That would be a wonderful dress to own, she thought. Perhaps I will see to having one made next week.
The woman herself was very beautiful. She had raven-dark hair and eyes that appeared nearly violet in color. Lydia had no doubt that any man would be attracted to such a woman, and though she felt more drab than usual beside her, Lydia found she admired the woman. A glance around the room showed the other women took notice of her, as well, but their reactions were based more on jealousy than admiration. The woman, however, did not seem to notice.
“It will be a night of celebration,” the raven-haired beauty was saying to another woman. “A perfect excuse to buy a new dress.”
“Alice Pendleton,” her friend said playfully, “I have not seen you this happy in some time. Who is this mysterious guest?”
The woman laughed. “It is no mystery. The man has held a special place in my heart for some time. I’m sure you know him. The Duke of Bennington?”
Lydia froze. Had she heard the woman correctly?
“Of course! I had forgotten that you and he were close.”
“Indeed. It is why I am cooking his favorite—cottage pie. Of course, Timothy cannot wait to see him. The boy has become so much like him.”
Lydia felt as if someone had struck her in the stomach. She moved stiff limbs toward the door, ignoring Mrs. Ridge. She had to get outside in order to allow air to enter her lungs. Why was William to be a guest in this woman’s home? And more importantly, was this Timothy a son about whom William had not informed Lydia? Had all his sweet words meant to be offered in friendship and not on some romantic level? A woman did not prepare a meal for a man she did not love. Nor did she have a dress made for such a simple occasion.
Confusion and disgust coursed through Lydia. As was her custom, she had misread William’s intentions, and she would once again be left looking the fool. This Alice was far prettier than Lydia could ever hope to be. Her idea of love and a future with William dissolved before her, and tears threatened to fall. However, one did not weep in the middle of the streets of London.
She remembered the first card she had received from him and questioned his explanation that Lord Egerton had exchanged it for another. This had all been a cruel joke from the beginning, and the rumors she had heard about the man were closer to the truth than she had first suspected. Either way, she would be the one left with a broken heart once again.
***
Lydia stared at the paper in her hand. “This confirms my fears,” she said with a sigh as she folded the letter and placed it on the bed beside her.
She and Mrs. Ridge had arrived home an hour earlier, and Mrs. Ridge had gone straight to her room complaining of a headache. Lydia went to the sitting room to find her aunt sipping tea. Sitting beside her was a correspondence from William explaining that he would be away due to business complications. If she had received the message before her venture to the dressmakers, she would have believed his lies. However, now that she knew where he would truly be, she could not believe the audacity of the man.
“He calls this business? How can he treat me so cruelly?”
Helen pulled Lydia into her arms. “Do you think there may be some misunderstanding?” her aunt asked. “You recall William having certain thoughts concerning you and me?”
Lydia sniffed. “Perhaps,” she said as she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief Helen offered her. “And I thought the same. I must ask you something, and you must swear you will tell me the truth.”
“Of course,” Helen replied. “I would never lie to you. You know this as truth.”
Lydia had not intended on hurting her aunt, but there was no time for hope; only truth. “Would a woman bake a man a cottage pie, buy a new dress for the occasion, and say the same man has a place in her heart if she did not love him?” The last words came out as a whisper they were so difficult to utter, and the shocked silence that followed had Lydia sobbing once again.
“I’m sorry,” Helen said as she held Lydia once again. “I had not expected to hear such a thing.” She kissed the top of Lydia’s head. “I have an idea.”
“Do you?” Lydia said hopefully. “And what would that be?”
“Could it be that William has accepted her invitation only to tell her it is over? Think of it in this way. Perhaps he may have sowed his wild oats, as the saying goes, for he would not be the first man to do so. He may be calling to tell her he has found a woman he loves, which is you.”
Lydia gave her aunt a doubtful look. “What difference would that make? If he has sired a son from this woman, that tells me he cannot be trusted. She is a great beauty, as well. Why would he leave a woman like her for a woman like me? It does not make sense.”
“You do not realize your own beauty,” Helen said with a sigh as she moved a strand of hair behind Lydia’s ear. “But that is not our main concern at the moment. You must come to your own conclusion by asking William for the truth.” She rose and went to the vanity mirror. “Or perhaps we go to the dinner, as well.”
“Go to the dinner? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Her aunt turned and showed a deep smile. “You said you overheard this woman’s plans, correct?”
“Yes,” Lydia said slowly. “Friday evening at six is when she is serving her cottage pie.” For a moment, an image rose of William sitting at the woman’s table as she won his heart with her cooking. Lydia had never cooked a thing in her life. How could she compete?
“Then we shall arrive early,” Helen said. “When we see William, we will pretend to be in the area for some reason, which can be decided later. You can confront him there and then, and he will have no choice but to tell you the truth. It will only be then you will know once and for all.”
Lydia considered the woman’s suggestion. The more she dwelt on it, the more she liked the idea. Yet uncertainty still plagued her. “I want to,” she said, “but what if he is the rogue I think him to be?”
Helen sniffed. “I do not believe he is. By doing this, you can witness for yourself and free yourself from any doubt.”
“Father leaves tomorrow for Tenbrook and will be gone through Sunday.” She paused. “What will I do about Mrs. Ridge? She will never allow me to leave alone, and she knows that Father will not allow me to go with you. We can only sneak out so many times before we are finally caught.”
Helen walked over and took Lydia’s hands and helped her stand. “Do not worry, my dear. I will speak to your father.”
“But you know how he is,” Lydia said with a sigh.
Helen smiled. “I do, but he loved my sister. Despite our differences, I believe I have the perfect excuse we can use so he allows you to go with me.”
***
It had never occurred to Lydia how small her father’s office was until she sat waiting with Helen for a response to her request. Her father and aunt had a strange relationship. One would think her father would trust his sister-in-law enough to allow said woman to accompany Lydia on a Friday evening. However, each time they had made the request, he had insisted Mrs. Ridge had a job to do and it was up to Lydia to allow the woman to do it. That was why she and Helen had to sneak out of the house to attend meetings at the home of Mr. Lancing. Those meetings were precisely the types of things in which her father feared Helen would involve Lydia.
“I do not know,” her father said as he tapped a finger on his desk. “And you say your friend is hosting a quilting gathering?” He sounded skeptical.
“Yes,” Helen replied. “Mrs. Florentine is unable to attend, and we must have another to take her place or the entire quilt on which we are currently working for the local poor house will not be completed. Everyone has their own part in the
process. You see…”
“Yes, yes,” her father said with a sigh. Lydia stifled a giggle. She knew the man had no idea that what his sister was saying was a complete fabrication. “I still believe it would be wise for Mrs. Ridge to attend, as well.”
“Oh, Giles, you know Mrs. Ridge cannot see well enough to hold a needle any longer. And it may go late into the evening, and she does struggle when she is out late. I promise Lydia will stay out of mischief.”
“I just do not know…”
“You know, now that I think about it, you might be right,” Helen said. “It would be far better if Mrs. Ridge accompanied Lydia.”
Lydia stared at her aunt. What was the woman doing?
“I wanted to spare you any embarrassment…”
“Embarrassment?” her father demanded. “What embarrassment?”
Helen cleared her throat as if she had spoken more than she had planned. “Well, you see, Lady Meyer has mentioned you on occasion…”
“Me?”
“Indeed. She has asked, more in passing, I suppose, why a man such as yourself keeps so busy.”
Her father broke into a wide grin as he leaned back in his chair. “She asked after me, did she?”
“Of course, Mrs. Ridge would put the woman in her place immediately and tell her you have no interest. Though, I must admit that really is a gentleman’s place to say whether or not he has an interest in any woman…”
“Indeed, it is a man’s place to speak for himself. Her duty is to chaperon my daughter, not to speak on my behalf.” He let out a heavy sigh. “Very well, you may go.”
Helen yawned. “I believe it is time for me to lie down. Lydia, I will see you later?”
“Yes,” Lydia replied with a smile that she hoped would also convey her thanks.
“Thank you, Father,” Lydia said when her aunt had left. “I did not know you wished to acquaint yourself with a woman.”
“I must admit that I have missed your mother. For years, I have only wanted you to be happy and have put aside finding love as I once had. The way I see you speak of the Duke, it lights up your smile. I can see now my job is done.” He shrugged. “I suppose it might be time for me to find my own happiness again.”
“And I hope you do,” Lydia said. She had never considered her father remarrying, but now she could see it would be good for him. Lady Meyers had lost her husband years before, just as her father had lost Lydia’s mother. Perhaps they would be the perfect couple. Now she would only need to see that Lady Meyers saw it, as well.
Later, while lying in her bed, Lydia thought about Friday and approaching William to learn the truth. It needed to be done to finally put the fears and rumors behind her. However, an unsettling thought came over her as her eyes closed.
What if the truth destroyed her?
Chapter Eighteen
William had few regrets in life. One that stood out above the others was when he was thirteen years of age and Clancy had convinced him to meet near Hyde Park. The moon had been high in the sky and the older people were either attending one of the many late-night parties or, for the ancient, abed.
“I overheard Father saying to Lord Bronson that a pirate buried his treasure in Hyde Park!” he had said, excitement filling his voice.
William had been skeptical. “What nonsense. Why would a pirate bury treasure in Hyde Park where so many people are?”
“Was it a park one hundred years ago?” Clancy asked with a rare moment of clarity. “And how many people do you see digging there?”
William could not argue this logic, and with the fascination children had of such tales, he found himself agreeing to accompany his friend. The promise of great riches—not to mention the adventure they would have—was too much to ignore. Barnard had joined them, and the three spent a good half an hour arguing over where to begin digging.
“I cannot see how no one would find something so valuable in such an open area,” Barnard had argued when William suggested a particular place. “It must be beneath a large tree, one that would have been a good landmark in order for the pirate to know where to dig when he returned.”
“Yes, but the flowerbeds have already been tilled,” William had replied. “If any treasure had been found, Clancy’s father would not have made the comment in the first place.”
“Come now,” Clancy had interjected. “Father said that it was located near a statue where a tree had once stood. That would explain what you said, Barnard, as well as your thoughts on it not being out in an open area.”
They had spent only a few minutes digging when they encountered several silver coins.
“See! I told you there was treasure!”
William and Barnard had glanced at one another before Barnard threw down his spade. “All this for a few shillings?” he demanded. “What is this about, Clancy?”
Clancy sighed. “Oh, all right. Father never mentioned any pirates. I buried the coins myself.” Then he gave them a hopeful look. “You enjoyed yourselves, though, did you not?”
“All this to impress us?” William asked. Barnard had said nothing more as he pushed past William and Clancy, clearly not happy with the ‘adventure’. William could not blame him, for he was not all that impressed himself.
Now, ten years later, Clancy had exaggerated yet another story. Lord Bennett was indeed a baron, but his sheep holdings numbered just under a hundred, far smaller than the vast empire of which Clancy had spoken during the journey to the residence of the man. The asking price was fair, and William realized he had not been needed after all. His first reaction had been annoyance. Clancy had dragged him across the country for this nonsense! However, he dismissed the accusation almost immediately. The truth of the matter was Clancy had no confidence in his own capabilities, and William knew that his being there gave the man the courage needed to complete the arrangement. Therefore, he suffered through the discussion, though he was bored beyond belief.
“Are we in agreement, then?” Lord Bennett asked as they stood in the garden of the man’s home, the field beyond the gate littered with sheep.
“It is quite the monetary transaction,” Clancy said as he rubbed his chin as if reconsidering his options.
William would have his friend’s head if he backed out after the long journey they had taken to get there. Yet, it was not his choice to make, so he held his tongue. The man needed to use his brain for once, but William doubted he would in this case any more than he had in any other situations.
“I am not one to rush into such matters without proper thought.”
The Baron shook his head, clearly frustrated. “And I am not one to spend a full day negotiating over one hundred sheep.”
“Bennett,” William said, knowing it was time for him to intervene, for if he did not, they would remain there the rest of the day, “it is due to this caution that I find Mr. Sparking to be an astute business partner. He means no offense in his careful consideration, and I believe he is in agreement with your offer, even if he has not said so outright.”
Lord Bennett huffed for a moment and then said, “Very well, then. I shall have the contracts delivered to your estate in London. Would you gentlemen care to join me for dinner? I admit that Mrs. Bridges is the best cook in the North.”
Before giving Clancy the chance to accept, William spoke first. “It would be an honor to test this claim, but prior engagements bind me. I must, unfortunately, decline your kind offer.”
“I understand,” the man said with a chuckle. “We all have obligations, do we not?”
William followed the Baron and Clancy back to the house where polite conversation concerning the weather and other trivialities were made. He sighed with relief when the driver finally closed the carriage door.
Clancy took the seat across from William, barely able to contain himself. “I cannot believe I made that business deal!” he said, rubbing his hands together.
William could not help but feel sorry for the young man. He might be of the same age as William, but his f
ather did little to trust him. How was Clancy to learn the intricacies of business if he was never allowed to make a decision? Or at least a meaningful one? For this deal was nowhere near anything William would have considered ‘meaningful’. Regardless, Clancy was a good man, and William was glad to consider him a friend.
Therefore, William shook his head. “Surely it is not a sum of wealth that surpasses the pirate’s treasure we found as children.”
“Certainly not!” Clancy said and then barked a loud laugh.
William chuckled. It was friendships like this that made him realize how fortunate his life was. And fortunate he was indeed. Not only did he have two men on whom he could count for any issue that might arise, but he had also met a woman who meant more to him than he could have ever imagined.
As a matter of fact, meeting Lydia and finding himself in love with her was worth far more than any treasure buried in Hyde Park. Or anywhere else, for that matter.
***
Having returned home late Thursday night, William enjoyed a morning of leisure and slept much later than was typical of him. By the time he awoke, the morning was nearly gone. Now in the late afternoon after eating and attending to some business he had missed while on his interim in the North, he shared in a drink with Barnard as he recounted the tale of his journey with Clancy.
“One hundred sheep?” Barnard said as he shook his head in disgust. “The way he spoke of it, he would need to purchase a vast sum of land to hold what he purchased.” He took a drink and then added, “I believe our Clancy will never change. He has always been one for flights of fancy. In how many scraps has he found himself? And all due to his own misguided ideas of what is right and wrong.”
William chuckled. “I agree. And if I were to be honest, I do not think I would like him to be any different than he is.”
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