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Chapter Sixteen
When they arrived back at Marigold, Lydia felt as though she would fall asleep sitting on top of the horse. She slid off of the horse, falling into Michael’s arm. She nearly forgot herself, placing her hands on his chest, but caught her Uncle Francis, Lionel, and Ranora approaching them.
“We’ve hardly seen the four of you in days!” Lionel cried out. “How was your adventure today?”
“We went out to the monastery, Father,” Joseph explained. “It looks so much more grown up this year compared to what I remembered it.”
“We were hoping you all would join us before supper tonight,” Ranora said. “Have a chat in the parlor and catch up.”
Lydia glanced at Michael, feeling nervous about the request. She still felt nervous seeing her uncle, waiting for him to berate her for her letter to Trinity.
So when he said, “Niece, if I may walk you to your rooms?” she lowered her head, acquiescent but afraid. She looked over her shoulder for reassurance from Michael, but he had turned back to his aunt and uncle.
“Is something the matter?” she asked softly, walking side by side with him.
“I’ve been neglectful while chaperoning you,” he told her, his expression stern. “I’ve had a letter from your mother.”
“What did she say?” Lydia asked, hoping the shake in her voice wouldn’t give her away.
“She reminded me of His Grace’s reputation,” he explained. “In fact, she quite chastised me for allowing you to spend so many hours alone with him. I was unaware that you had gotten engaged to someone of such ill repute.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, horrified at his statement.
“I am worried that his cavalier attitude will rub off on you. I do think that you have been much too liberal since coming to Marigold. And I mean to put an end to your gallivanting,” he scolded. “So tell me, what have you been doing with His Grace?”
She swallowed with difficulty, pretending to concentrate on walking up the stairs for a moment as an excuse. “Well, of course, today, you know that we went out to the monastery with Mr. Conner and Miss Benrow.”
“Indeed, I observed that. You weren’t alone with him, at any point?”
Lydia flushed, answering honestly. “No, no. We were always in company.”
“And yesterday? I understand you went to see Mr. Weller?”
“We did, just His Grace and I,” she said in a low voice.
“More alone than appropriate,” he noted. “I cannot believe that you agreed to such an activity.”
“We were never completely alone,” she pointed out softly. She hoped that her flush, remembering her time in Michael’s study, would not betray her.
“And the day before, I must say though, the meeting in the garden, seemed quite suspicious,” he said, shaking his head. “I am greatly disappointed in you, niece.”
Lydia flushed even harder.
“I truly had something in my shoe,” she said. Then, thinking quickly, she hoped that she could scandalize him innocently. “I must confess, Uncle, I needed to adjust my stocking and I asked His Grace to keep watch for me. I assure you that he was just trying to protect me.”
If it was possible, Lydia thought she might have seen her uncle blush. However, they had reached the doors of her rooms and his expression grew angrier.
“You think that you might be able to fool me, but you will not,” he said. “Trust me, if you step one foot out of -”
He shook his head, refusing to continue his statement. With a look of disgust, he turned away from her, leaving her standing alone in the corridor.
Unsure that she could feel any more mortified, she jerked the door of her rooms open, and entered, seeking solace in the privacy of her chamber. In one way, she felt relieved that he had not revealed the contents of her letter, or even mentioned it. She took a deep breath behind the door, letting tension fall away from her body.
She could not shake the feeling that he had to have been the one to put her letter on Michael’s desk. If he knew the contents, she did not understand why he would not have addressed it. She felt tired, confused, and on edge. She walked over to her writing desk.
A scrap of paper was sitting out on the desk, though she did not remember leaving one earlier in the day. Curious, she went over and picked the paper up. Her name was written on the outside in a hand she didn’t recognize, so she unfolded it.
“Before long, everyone will know your darkest, secret thoughts. The entire ton will know your reputation as lady of ill repute. You must return to London before you are revealed.”
