Miss Lacey's Love Letters by Caylen McQueen Read Free Book Online

aside. "Please, I cannot stand doctors. I've been through worse. I am sure I will survive this as well."
    "Are you in a great deal of pain?" It was her niece who asked the question.
    "Not a great deal," Lydia lied. "Only a bit."
    "I thought your pain subsided as of yesterday."
    "It did. Mostly," Lydia lied again. "I'd like to think I'm very strong, dear. I'm sure I will manage to shake this off."
    "Nevertheless, you should rest," Noah advised her. "I want to do the right thing. Are you sure I should not send for the doctor? What if your condition takes a turn for the worse? I would not want it to be on my conscience."
    "Goodness, Mr. Worthington! You make it sound as if I am dying!" Lydia brushed off the suggestion with a careless flick of the hand. "And even if I did die, how could it possibly be on your conscience? I was the one who adamantly protested against the presence of a doctor."
    "I... suppose." Valeria thought he seemed reluctant to cede to her aunt's demands. "Is there anything else I could do for you, Mrs. Langley? Anything to make you more comfortable?"
    "Well, for one, you could tell Argus to stop leering at me."
    When Noah turned around, he saw the butler sneering in the doorway. "Argus?"
    "Yesshir?" Argus' slur was so prominent, Valeria wondered if he was in his cups.
    "Would you mind excusing yourself? I think you make the ladies uncomfortable."
    "Yeah, yeah..." Argus muttered a disrespectful response. When Valeria saw him stumbling away from the door, it left little doubt in her mind. The old codger had to be foxed.
    "Is there anything else I can do for you, Mrs. Langley?"
    Noah's concern had Lydia smiling. He had changed completely. He seemed a bit more like the man who had written the letters to Miss Lacey. "If I can rest, I am sure I will be fine. Although..." Lydia's gaze drifted to her niece. "Perhaps we should stay the night? I don't want to impose on you, of course, but I am not sure I would be able to make the journey in the state I'm in."
    "Lydia..." Valeria sighed. "I am sure the last thing Mr. Worthington wants is--"
    Noah interrupted. "It is no imposition, Mrs. Langley. You are welcome to stay as long as it is necessary."
    "Good. You are so gracious, Mr. Worthington," she praised him. "Now... if you don't mind, I would like to have a word with my niece."
    "Of course." Noah retreated to the door and politely bowed his head. "If you need anything, I won't be far."
    "You are too kind," Lydia praised him again. "You're nothing like the brute we met three days ago."
    "I'm glad to hear it. Good night, Mrs. Langley. Miss Woll."
    As soon as he was gone, Valeria collapsed on the bed with her aunt. "Oh, I can't stand this! It kills me to think you are unwell!"
    "I'm not unwell."
    Valeria, who had her head crushed against a pillow, sat up in bed with a hooked eyebrow. "What did you say?"
    "I'm not unwell," Lydia repeated herself. "Well... I suppose I am in a bit of pain, but it is nothing dire."
    "But you fainted!"
    "That was a bit of theatrics. I was hoping Mr. Worthington would let me stay... so you could spend more time with him."
    "Are you serious?! You had me worried to death!"
    Lydia gently patted her niece's trembling hand. If she was trembling, she must have been more worried than she realized. Lydia would have said anything to quell her niece's worries, even if it meant lying. "I am fine ," she insisted. "Now... as for Mr. Worthington, the two of you were getting along so well, I thought I would help it along. If we're stuck here, he'll have no choice. He will have to get to know you better."
    "Is this some sort of matchmaking scheme?" Valeria, who was trying to look cross, appropriately crossed her arms. "Because if it is, I haven't heard anything more ludicrous in my life!"
    "It isn't a matchmaking scheme, dear," her aunt quickly corrected her. "I just... I think it is unfortunate that he has kept himself hidden away for so long. Mr. Worthington could benefit from a companion. You were getting