A Most Unexpected Christmas by Fenella J Miller

Author:Fenella J Miller [Miller, Fenella J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-09-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

'My gown is so dirty around the hem I don't think there's any point in changing it,' Cressie said holding up the soiled garment for Lydia's inspection.

'I'm in no better case. The attics might be dusty and covered in cobwebs but I doubt that there's anything worse.' Lydia stopped the few yards from the library. 'The children must have gone upstairs to change. Better hurry or they will be too smart to accompany us and Theo was quite clear on the point.'

When she poked her head into their sitting room they were kneeling on the window seat admiring their handiwork. Dickon turned as they entered. 'Aunt Lydia, Miss Devenish has pronounced your snowman to be the winner of the competition. Because we were all very cross about that we must remain up here in silence as a punishment for our bad behaviour.'

'There were only two of us in our team so you cannot complain if we won as you had far more members working on your snowman.'

She knocked on the door that led to the bedchamber she had once shared and Belle called out for her to come in. 'Close the door, Lydia. I need to speak to you before we go into the attic.'

'I hope nothing is wrong. Are you unwell?'

'No. I have to tell you that the children, encouraged by Richard and Rupert, are talking as though an engagement between you and Lord Fakenham is imminent. I fear Dickon is bound to say something inappropriate. Do you think it wise for you to come to the attic with us?'

'Oh dear! I've already told him his visit to my bedchamber…'

'Your bedchamber? Do not say so. If his mother were ever to hear of this you would be marching up the aisle instead of leaving here in the New Year.'

Until that moment Lydia had not seriously considered the dangers inherent with her spending time in Theo's company. Then she recovered her equilibrium. 'I am not an innocent young debutante, Belle, but an experienced woman. I was married for three years and I don't believe that such strictures apply to someone of my status.' Her friend looked unconvinced by her rhetoric. 'Anyway, I care not for the opinions of others. I'm in the fortunate position of having control of my own destiny. I have sufficient funds with which to indulge my every whim. No one, not even Lady Fakenham, could persuade me to marry her son.'

'Then I shall say no more about it. Do you think those baskets will be sufficient to contain what we find in the attics?' Belle gestured towards the haphazard pile of items stacked by the door.

'As long as the children have one each we will manage. How much longer do they have to remain silent next door?'

'They have been punished enough. It was a minor infraction only, a little name-calling and pushing, nothing more than that. I have asked the two nurserymaids to accompany us as I have no wish for the little ones to become frightened or lost up there.

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