It didn’t take long to reach Evans House, where Owen handed them down. The butler opened the door before they could knock. “Good day, Miss Weston.”
“Good day. Lady Evans invited me to visit.”
“Of course. She’s in the parlor.”
The door to the parlor opened, and Helena rushed out. “Lydia, I’m so glad to see you. Come to the parlor. Tea will be delivered momentarily.”
Lydia turned to Ellie. “Enjoy a cup of tea in the kitchen. I’ll be visiting for a while.”
Ellie curtseyed and headed below stairs.
Lydia followed her friend into the parlor. Her insides were trembling with excitement as she thought about how much her life had changed in the past twenty-four hours.
“You must tell me everything,” Helena said, sitting on the sofa and patting the seat next to her.
Lydia sat next to her friend. “I think I’m dreaming because I’m near bursting with happiness.”
“You deserve every happiness. I’m so very pleased that you’ll be able to marry George. Now, tell me everything. I could hardly sleep last night wondering how this all came about.”
Before Lydia had a chance to start telling her friend the details, the maid brought in a tea tray and set it down on the low table in front of the sofa. “Will there be anything else, Lady Evans?”
Helena shook her head. “No, you may go.”
The maid curtseyed and left the parlor, closing the door behind her.
Helena poured each of them a cup of tea. “We’ll not be interrupted. Richard is out this morning, but I did share your letter with him.”
“That’s perfectly fine. On Friday, everyone will know, once it’s announced at the Surry ball,” Lydia said.
“We received an invitation the other day, and Richard has accepted on our behalf. The Surrys rarely entertain, so I was curious about attending before; now it’ll be such a great pleasure to go.”
Lydia proceeded to tell Helena everything that had happened yesterday, from Lord Surry’s visit to George’s marriage proposal.
“Oh my goodness, it’s like the best fairytale I’ve ever heard.”
“I can hardly believe it myself,” Lydia said. “I never thought I could be so happy.”
“I’m so very pleased for you.”
“May I ask you a favor?” Lydia asked.
“Of course. What do you need?”
“Would you consider standing as one of our witnesses?”
Helena’s hand flew to her mouth, and her eyes watered. “Oh, Lydia, of course I will.”
“I’m sure George will be asking Richard as well.”
The two women talked for the next few hours before Lydia finally returned to the Weston townhouse. Three more weeks, and this would no longer be her home. She could hardly wait for the next phase of her life to begin, but before that, she’d have to face Society as Lord Surry’s granddaughter and Lord Hutchinson’s betrothed.
She knew thetonwould be shocked at the change in her circumstances. Society loved nothing more than to spread gossip, and Lydia’s rise from tradesman’s daughter to Marchioness of Hutchinson would surely be the juiciest gossip of the Season.”
Chapter 16
It had been quite aneventful twenty-four hours for George. Once he’d made the decision to marry Lydia, nothing was going to stop him, but he couldn’t pretend that the news that she was Lord Surry’s granddaughter hadn’t made things so much easier. Even his mother shouldn’t be able to complain about Lydia’s pedigree now. H e put away the ledgers and walked to the dining room for luncheon. He was starving and looked forward to the feast Cook had prepared. He went to the sideboard and loaded his plate while a footman poured him a cup of tea.
The plan was to visit Thomas Weston after luncheon. George had sent a note around earlier that morning, letting Mr. Weston know when he’d be arriving. He wanted to have the marriage contracts signed as soon as possible, and he didn’t want to leave anything to chance.
