“I just want to see her to make sure she’s well.”
“Then let’s just keep looking. We’ll stay out until it’s dark,” her mother said.
Lydia led her mother through the plants, bushes, and trees. Sometimes when she looked back, she could see the house although it seemed a world away. Her mother never let go of her hand. Then, suddenly…
“There,” her mother whispered. Lydia turned around and peered at a rising mound of dirt. The shrub rustled as though it wasalive, and then a twitching nose emerged. A fluffy white rabbit with floppy ears hopped out and then looked around warily.
“Floppy!” Lydia cried, tempering her voice because she remembered what her mother told her about rabbits being easily startled. Lydia motioned to rush to Floppy, but she was held back by her mother.
“Wait,” her mother said.
Lydia watched as Floppy turned back. The shrub moved again, and from it came a few smaller rabbits, excitable and eager but never straying far from their mother. A broad smile came upon Lydia’s face.
“She’s had babies!”
“Yes, she has. No wonder you haven’t seen her for a while. Isn’t that lovely? You took care of her, and now, she can take care of her children.”
“They’re beautiful.”
“Yes, they are,” her mother said, staring lovingly at Lydia.
“Can I keep one?”
“I think it’s best if we leave them with Floppy for the time being, but I’m sure they’re going to be here for a long time, so you cancome and visit them any time you like. Look at them eating the shrubs,” she observed.
Lydia giggled as one of the rabbits managed to stand up on its hind legs to reach a leaf. It didn’t quite succeed in keeping its balance, however, and fell onto its back, twisting around sharply and jumping to one side, as though it had startled itself.
She and her mother stayed and watched the rabbits for a little while.
“You see Lydia, sometimes in this world you can only look after things for a brief time. You don’t always get to keep them, but it doesn’t make what you feel any less important. I’m so proud that you want to take care of things. It’s called compassion, and it’s one of the most important qualities a person can have.”
“Compassion,” Lydia said, testing the word as it swam over her tongue and left her mouth. It was a soft word, and she liked the sound of it. She smiled and watched as the rabbits disappeared into their burrow after eating.
“Shall we return to the house now? We can see Floppy and her children again another day.”
Lydia nodded. It was enough to know that they were safe.
Lydia awoke with a start. Cold beads of sweat glistened upon her forehead. Her hands clutched the bedsheets tightly. Sunlight broke through a narrow opening in the curtains, and for a moment, she was disoriented because the chamber was strange to her.
Then she remembered that she was no longer at Stonewood Manor, but at Nightford. Then, she looked at the ring on her finger.
She was married.
A temporary arrangement, Victor had assured her, but even so, the ring felt tight, like a single shackle.
Lydia’s thoughts turned immediately to the baby. She called in a maid to help her dress swiftly and then ventured to the baby’s room. There, she saw him being coddled by a woman who was a stranger to her. She had soft curled hair and wide shoulders.
“Who are you?” Lydia asked, trying to keep her question a matter of curiosity rather than accusatory, but she wasn’t entirely sure she succeeded. The woman turned to her and flashed a smile. She had brown eyes that crinkled at the side and rosy cheeks. The baby seemed quite happy in her arms.
Lydia strode up to them and took the baby’s hand.
“Mrs. Jones, Your Grace, although you can call me Georgia. I’m a wet nurse. I apologize that we did not get a chance to meetlast night, but I assure you the little lord is doing fine. He’s got a healthy appetite, oh my!” she said, giggling.
Lydia was relieved.
“Good. I’m glad you have been able to take care of him.”
“Oh of course, Your Grace. There’s nothing in the world more precious than a little baby like this,” she said, making cooing noises after she spoke. “Might I ask though, what’s his name? Nobody has told me.”
