“Oh, Lydia.” The other girl was shaking her head.
Lydia hadn’t intended to tell Clarissa anything about it, but since she already knew… “It was glorious. Fantastic. It’s never been that way before, and I never wanted it to end.”
“Oh, dear.” Clarissa looked more concerned than delighted. “I should have thought this through better.”
“What?”
“It’s a good thing that kiss was interrupted, though. Little Ollie deserves your thanks. You’re terribly young, and if Tempest ruined you, Baxter would have to send for Blackheart to defend your honor.”
Which, all in all, would be an utter catastrophe.
“I really do need more friends who don’t read my mind like you do,” Lydia said.
“I’m not sure that’s possible, what with your emotions written all over your face.”
Lydia conceded with a shrug. It was true. “What should I do if he kisses me again?”
“What do youwantto do?” Clarissa countered.
“Probably something that I oughtn’t.”
Her friend brushed her hands together decisively. “And for precisely that reason, the two of you cannot be alone together again. At least not until we know his intentions are honorable. I’ll host a dinner party next week. That will give him the opportunity to show his affection for you in a socially acceptable manner.”
Lydia held back a groan. “Next week?” She didn’twantto wait until next week to see him again.
“And in the future, I’ll not send you alone again to discuss the orphanage with him. I ought to have realized…” Clarissa wagged a finger. “But let him stew a little. He’s had a taste, now he must decide: is he prepared to commit to the entire meal?”
Lydia groaned. “I don’t know.” She wished it was as simple as that.
“Keep yourself busy. Visit Madam Chantal and ask her if she knows of any seamstresses we can hire. The children will need proper clothing and we might as well have them wear uniforms. And if you’ve time, drop by the employment agency as well. No time like the present to begin interviewing teachers and whatnot, now that we’ve secured funds.” The young countess rose and brushed at her skirts. “I can’t stay long. Mason is taking me to the opera this evening. He rather enjoys sitting in the dark with me.” A grin flashed across her face, but she schooled it and sent Lydia a warning glance. “Don’t do anything foolish.”
In the past, Lydia would have laughed outright at such a warning. But on the heels of Jeremy’s scorching kiss… “I won’t.”
She walked Clarissa downstairs to the door and then watched her climb into the elegant carriage waiting for her.
What would it be like to…sit in the darkwith one’s husband in a private box at the opera? And to have children of her own?
Feeling lonelier than she had before Clarissa’s visit, Lydia closed the door behind her and, after peeking inside the drawing room, wandered the corridors until she located Mr. Hill. “Have you seen my aunt this afternoon?”
“She went out with Lord Beasley one hour ago. She said she wasn’t certain of when she intended to return.” Mr. Hill seemed almost apologetic. Lydia must look as pathetic as she felt.
“Thank you, Mr. Hill.”
This wasn’t the first time her aunt had gone out with Lord Beasley, an elderly baron who’d courted Aunt Emma about a hundred or so years ago. And if Lydia wasn’t mistaken, the gentleman was as smitten now as he must have been before.
Lydia needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and do something productive. Just as she went to return to her chamber, however, pounding sounded on the door, fists rather than the knocker. Curious as to who it could be, Lydia paused on the steps and waited for Mr. Hill to open it. When he didso, a gush of wind swept into the foyer, along with Jeremy, who looked fit to be tied.
“Is he here?”
“Who?”
“Our innocent little orphan,” Jeremy growled.
Oh, Ollie!Lydia’s heart sunk at the implication. “You lost him already?”
“I didn’t lose him. Mrs. Crump fed him, found him proper clothing and shoes, and then insisted he bathe, which, by the way, had the entire household suffering his caterwauling for nearly half an hour. But when she sent him to collect coal from the cellar, he disappeared instead.”
“Oh, no.”
