Chapter 15

Chapter 15

"Where exactly is my invitation to this private tea?" Lydia followed closely behind Joseph as they walked briskly through the garden toward a cluster of beautiful apricot trees. "Or did you just assume that I would attend because all women do your bidding?"

Joseph rolled his eyes and kept moving forward. "Not this again. What exactly is your objection to tea with my mother on a beautiful sunny day in the country? Where we are caring for your family as if they are family of our own?"

Lydia stopped and waited for him to notice that she wasn't at his heels. When he did and turned around, she untied the ribbon under her chin and removed her straw sun hat.

"My lord, I am very grateful for your family's generosity, but there are more pressing matters going on around us that require our attention, are there not? We cannot spend every hour of our days here playing games and sipping tea. Bridget didn't find the satchel in Miss Underwood's bedchamber and we need to continue the search. I also want to talk to you about some matters involving people I care about who in great need. I would like a viscount's advice about how to help them thrive. And, forgive the complaint, but the wool of this borrowed dress is too itchy and hot for more lounging in the sun!"

Lydia scratched her belly through the rough fabric of her dark brown frock, then smoothed a few strands of her damp hair back into her chignon behind her pretty neck. Joseph pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time, but Lydia was certain they still had a few minutes to spare before they were due to meet his mother.

"M'lady, I promise to address all of those things once tea with the countess is complete. In fact, I just thought of a special treat that will bring you much relief if you can withstand the next two hours of pleasant conversation in the shade."

Lydia sighed through her pout but eventually nodded with consent. "Very well."

Joseph waited as she caught up to him again, then gave her his left hand as he carried her sun hat in his right.

Lady Winstone was already seated at the beautifully decorated table under a tall white tent. One of her maids was waving a fan at her side to keep her cool as another maid displayed lemon biscuits on a pretty floral plate.

There were gorgeous flowers at the center of the table and several blooming plants in pots scattered around their dining area. All of that natural beauty plus the fragrant apricot trees made the setting quite magical.

Lydia sighed again, but this time it was because she was impressed.

"Ah, there you are, children! Joseph, this was a grand idea. Please, sit, sit! I am excited to share this time with you both." Lady Winstone was in good spirits despite the humidity, which helped Lydia relax and forget, momentarily, of her growing list of discomforts.

"Good afternoon, Lady Winstone. I wish to thank you and your family for taking such wonderful care of us during our stay." Lydia curtsied and took the chair offered her by one of the Winstone footmen milling about and taking care of their meal.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noted how far the footmen and maids had to walk from the house in order to make their tea possible. She instantly felt guilty and wished they had had this gathering inside.

Especially since my borrowed dress is going to be the death of me!

"It is our pleasure, my dear! Though I see that you were the next in line for one of the wool dresses we have to spare. I hope tomorrow you will find it's your turn for one of the pretty cotton dresses Maria and Sophia have graciously offered to loan our guests. We simply don't have enough extra clothing to go around for everyone to have more choices, unless you count the formal gowns."

Lydia itched her thigh under the table and smiled. "All that matters is everyone's safety, my lady. We are grateful to you for every comfort."

Joseph smiled at both women at the table, then stood and offered to pour the tea. "It's a pleasure to see my mother and my fiancée getting to know one another. That is my greatest joy at present, ladies. What shall we talk about?"

"Weddings, of course!" Lady Winstone giggled, which jostled her ample bosom inside her silk lavender dress with tiny white lilies embroidered into the fabric.

Lydia nearly choked on her tea at the mention of wedding planning. She really hoped that wasn't what this tea was going to be about. After all, there wasn't a real wedding to plan.

At least not yet.

If pressed to admit it, Lydia might say that the idea of marrying Joseph wasn't as preposterous as she'd once thought. He was funny and intelligent, as well as shockingly open-minded about her desire to learn about the secrets of life through private experimentation.

And he isn't difficult to look at, either.

But even if she and Joseph decided to court beyond her stay at his home, they were nowhere near ready for talk of pending nuptials. Lydia couldn't see herself marrying a viscount or any other man until she had secured better conditions for the tenant farmers on her father's land at the very least.

She intended to get Joseph's help in doing just that, if Miss Underwood and the contents of her missing satchel didn't end up turning all of society against her.

"A wedding is a joyous affair to discuss, indeed, my lady! But I was wondering if I could ask you and the viscount about your incredible estate. Its lush gardens and vast farms are a credit to your family, I am certain." Lydia smiled and accepted a lemon biscuit from the plate Joseph passed her.

"The farms? Why would a young lady care about such things as farms? Those are subjects of men, are they not? I am thrilled to discuss our exquisite garden beds, which are full of my favorite blooms, as you see all around us."

Lydia nodded and admired the potted lupins and roses, along with the table centerpiece of peonies and foxgloves. "They truly are glorious, Lady Winstone! I'm sure your tenant farms are full of grand blooms, as well!"

Joseph caught Lydia's eye and frowned. "Lady Lydia, what is this obsession with farming? Are you in dire need of more vegetables in your diet?"

Lady Winstone laughed so loudly that it startled her maid holding the fan who lost hold of its handle and sent it flying into the coconut cake resting next to the floral centerpiece.

"Joseph, you scoundrel. But to his point, Lady Lydia, let's change the subject to more important things. For instance, has your mother taught you how to run a household as magnificent as this one? A viscountess is responsible for far more than any farmer can claim."

This time Lydia chuckled as she dusted biscuit crumbs off her increasingly uncomfortable dress. "Oh, I doubt that, my lady. Can you imagine? A viscountess working harder than a farmer? When a farmer is in large part responsible for a viscountess's survival? Now that's a funny jest!"

Lydia pounded her fist on the table and laughed so hard that the maid with the fan dropped it again.

It wasn't until her laughter subsided that she realized she was the only one amused by her comments. In fact, both Joseph and his mother stared at her in shock as the staff around them froze with serving dishes held in mid-air.

"Young lady, are you mocking me?" Countess Winstone's right eyebrow rose high into her forehead and her lips clamped tightly shut.

Lydia swallowed hard and glanced at Joseph, who looked down into his lap and slowly shook his head.

"No, no! My apologies, my lady, I did not mean any disrespect. I fear I misunderstood. Forgive me, please. My sense of humor is lacking proper context due to always having my nose in a book. I am grateful to spend more time with incredible ladies such as yourself to learn better manners. Thank you, Countess, for your kindness. You are an example of perfection and I am your humble student."

Lydia stopped talking before her groveling seemed completely insincere. The fact was, she had no idea what she was saying other than just trying to compliment the countess enough to avoid more disappointment.

Fortunately, it worked. Another smile spread across Lady Winstone's face as Joseph looked up again with relief in his eyes.

"Silly girl, you are not at fault! It is clear that you haven't had the proper socialization that spending time with our family will certainly provide. I am happy to take you under my wing and teach you everything you need to know. It's my treat, my dear. I did the same for Sophia and Maria, and now I shall shower all of my attention on you. We will spend many hours together from this day on until your family departs!" The countess raised her tea cup and clinked it to Lydia's.

The staff around them started moving again and Joseph's face turned from disappointed to entertained as his hazel eyes glistened with what Lydia thought might be pride.

She wasn't sure if it was the dress, the heat, or the countess's words that made waves of nausea roll through her belly, but it was probably a combination of all three. She knew one thing for certain—joining Joseph's family wasn't anywhere near as appealing now as it had been an hour ago. And having a productive discussion about tenant farmers' rights with any of the Winstones, including Joseph, was likely not possible.

That alone made the thought of marrying Joseph one she might need to put out of her mind for good.

***

"I don't know how you did it, little nymph, but you managed to earn my mother's devotion by insulting her very existence." Joseph led Lydia away from their afternoon tea in the opposite direction of the main house.

"Yes, I astound even myself, my lord. Where are we going? Please take me back to the house; I need to change out of this awful dress immediately." Lydia sulked and itched and trudged behind the viscount toward God knows where. She wanted this frustrating day to be over already, or at least spend the rest of it in bed.

"Patience, little nymph! We are almost there. I am taking you to your favorite domain. To where nymphs like you can splash and scold to your heart's content. It's just past those trees…"

Lydia could smell it before she saw it. Her spirits lifted instantly as the familiar scent of a hot spring tickled her nose. She was so excited to find it that she sprinted past Joseph to discover it for herself.

"I told you it was a special treat, did I not?"

Joseph caught up with her just as Lydia entered the clearing overlooking a valley with a stunning hot spring that was much larger than her favorite one on her father's estate. It looked to be much deeper, too.

"My lord, it's spectacular! Is it cool enough for swimming?" Lydia ran down the slope to the bank of the spring, then sat on the ground and tugged off her shoes. As Joseph came up behind her, she slid her skirts up to her thighs and pulled her stockings down to her ankles one by one.

When she looked back at the viscount, he was staring intently at her naked legs like they were food and he hadn't eaten in days.

"Yes, it's cool enough for swimming." His voice was barely a whisper as he watched Lydia pull her skirts back down again and stand in bare feet.

"Then what are you waiting for, Lord Winstone? Will you join me for a dip?" Lydia grinned at him, thoroughly enjoying how powerful she felt when he gazed upon her with such desire.

She turned to the spring and slowly lowered herself into it while fully dressed. Her skirts soon floated at the surface as she moved toward the center, which thankfully was reachable by a gradual slope of the ground beneath her feet.

"How is it that you found yourself in my little spring when you have such a grand one all your own, my lord?" Lydia giggled and reached up to pull the pins from her hair, letting it fall loose into the soothing water.

Joseph kicked off his shoes and undressed down to his drawers without a second of hesitation. After he joined her in the spring and treaded water by her side, he reached under the surface, removed his drawers, and tossed them in a heap onto the bank.

"Should a man be limited to just one magical spring when there are so many to enjoy in our part of the world?"

Lydia stared at him wide-eyed, her mouth agape. "Not only is it unfair that you feel entitled to swim in every spring, but it is just like a man to swim naked next to a woman who must remain fully clothed!"

Joseph grinned and smacked the water to send a splash toward her face. "Nobody here would dare ask you to stay clothed, Lady Lydia. If you are asking for permission, it is granted."

Lydia snorted and splashed him back. "I don't need a man's permission to do anything, is that clear?" She reached around to her back while trying to tread water but could not manage the buttons on the heavy wool dress on her own.

"Fine, you don't need permission, but would you like a little help? Ask nicely, please."

The viscount's eyes glistened with a look of mischief as Lydia glared at him.

"I think you have forgotten that I don't need to ask nicely when the only thing between a naked scoundrel and my bare skin are these horrid buttons. I would think that said scoundrel would volunteer his help."

Joseph's smile flattened out as he realized her point. "You are right, my lady. Help is on the way!" He swam over to her and carefully unfastened the buttons down her spine. Then he kicked his feet and moved away from her enough that she had room to pull the dress over her head without him seeing her nakedness below.

Lydia struggled with the dress and her shift, but finally had them both off her body and shoved onto the bank opposite where Joseph was watching her with those hungry eyes again.

"Keep your eyes averted, please. We are merely two souls in need of the restorative power of a spring and nothing more." Lydia closed her eyes and finally started to relax. The water made her skin feel tingly and refreshed as it slid between her legs, her arms, and her breasts.

Joseph dared to swim a bit closer to her and glanced at the surface of the water where her chest was almost visible. "We are so much more than that, little nymph, are we not?"

Lydia swam to a point where she could touch her toes on the soft earth below her feet again. Though he stayed several feet away from her, Joseph soon joined her where they could both stand with their heads above water.

"We have known each other for only three days, my lord. We are acquaintances at best."

"Ah, but what intimate three days they have been! I feel closer to you after three days than I have felt with any other woman in a lifetime."

Lydia laughed and splashed him again. "Oh, stop! Your flowery speeches might make most young ladies swoon, but I am not most young ladies."

Joseph took one step closer to her and sighed. "You are right about that. You are a wild heart and brilliant mind above all the rest."

Despite her vow not to fall for the viscount's romantic lines, Lydia's breath caught in her throat from such glowing compliments. Her instincts were not to believe him, but the wild heart in her chest of which he spoke was suddenly taking control.

"That is very kind of you to say, my lord." Lydia dipped her lips into the water to keep from wetting them on his tongue.

"Please call me Joseph. I want to hear you say my name." He moved even closer as Lydia sank lower into the water until it was up to her nose. "Do not hide from me, little nymph. It is only fair that I get to study your form, too, and thoroughly admire it."

Lydia considered his words for a moment and enjoyed making him wait. Then she pushed up from the ground again until she was standing at her full height. Her breasts bobbed at the surface of the water as she wiped her lips dry with the back of her hand.

"Are you going to kiss me again, my lord?"

"I will if you call me Joseph." His eyes slid down Lydia's neck and fixated on the water where her nipples skated along the surface. He could barely speak as he asked her again. "Please say my name, little nymph. I beg you."

Lydia finally filled the space between them and pressed her chest to his. "Please kiss me, Joseph."

The viscount needed no further encouragement to pull her into his arms and take her mouth with his. Lydia felt his hands slide down to squeeze the cheeks of her bum before they caressed their way around to her belly and up to cup her breasts and massage her nipples with his thumbs.

Lydia gasped from the intensity of these new sensations happening all at once. From the commanding dance of his tongue at her lips to the soft, circling motion around her sensitive peaks, she was losing all sense of control. And she loved every second of it.

She also loved feeling his sex pressing against her flesh again, knowing his arousal was at its height. She dared to reach down into the water and caress his shaft, not yet knowing what he looked like there but learning him by feel as the slippery spring water provided the perfect supple atmosphere for every stroke.

"My lady, you are breathtaking. You are so soft and lovely and exquisite. And you will need to unhand me in a moment or I will lose all control." Joseph sucked Lydia's bottom lip into his mouth and released it as he moaned with pleasure.

"Say my name and I will do as you ask, Joseph." She kept stroking him slowly as her other hand smoothed over the hair on his chest and into the thicket at his groin.

"Lydia, Lydia, Lydia. How I want you, Lydia." The viscount's body tensed as he shoved her hands away and retreated while gasping for breath. "That was close, little nymph!"

Joseph laughed through what Lydia assumed was another round of pain caused by their kissing and touching and bold exploration.

"I'm sorry I vex you so, my lord."

He floated quickly back to Lydia and wrapped his arms around her once more. "It is how you vex me that brings me back to life. I wouldn't trade even a moment of your vexing for all the hot springs in the world. Even if my awkward appendage breaks because of it!"

Lydia laughed and hugged him tightly, then whispered in his ear. "I would not call your appendage awkward anymore. It has become much more of an appealing appendage now."

Joseph smiled and gave her another tender kiss. "Then I look forward to when the two of you formally meet someday, little nymph. That day cannot come soon enough for me."