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“Lydia, my darling,” she began. “What did you hope to accomplish, today?”
She stood before her mother, hands clasped in front of her, head bowed. “I wanted Uncle to think that we weren’t all hopeless. He kept insulting us, I just couldn’t bear to hear it any longer.”
“He will not find it difficult to obtain the truth. What then?”
“We just need to buy time,” Lydia told her. “Let him think that I’m engaged. It will make us all look so much more attractive. We should tell everyone that I’m engaged.”
“Have you possibly considered that, once your lie is uncovered, you will be completely embarrassed in front of the entire society, leaving you and your sisters without any matches at all?”
Mother cocked her head ever so slightly, her mouth pressed into a thin line. While she always kept her poise, Lydia could tell that she was worried.
“The Season will last only another month,” Lydia insisted. “We can stall, make the most of it. If not me, then perhaps Trinity, or Lucretia, just one of us needs to be engaged.”
Her mother studied her carefully. Lydia shifted from side to side, waiting for her response.
“I still think this spur of the moment plan of yours can only fail in dramatic fashion. However, let us try it out for a week. After all, the duke is likely to attend the next Assembly. He may reveal you then after only a week.”
“He never attends Assemblies,” Lydia pointed out. “He only attends private balls.”
“So much for his reputation being a rumor,” Trinity said. “We all know he does not attend the Assembly as this is meant to help make matches.”
“Pure speculation,” Lydia reiterated. She turned back to her mother. “We can be almost sure he won’t attend the Assembly. Let me have the time. I promise you that suitors will most definitely be calling on us the day after the Assembly.”
Martha considered Lydia’s proposal for a moment, her expression void of any indication.
“You cannot marry Uncle,” Lydia whispered, tears coming to her eyes.
With the slightest of nods, their mother gave her approval, rising. “Let us plan this Assembly carefully. Write to your friends and hint to the engagement – but do not use the duke’s name!”
“Thank you,” Lydia whispered, relieved.
“I’ll speak to Francis,” Martha added. “Perhaps, his ego will not prevent him from telling everyone of his niece’s engagement to one of the most powerful men in England.”
She put her hand on the door, then turned back thoughtfully. “Maybe, it will also buy you some time to find a suitor, before the truth comes out.”
