Miss Lacey's Love Letters Read Online Free PDF Page B

leave."
    "Wait!" Lydia repeated. "What about the letters?"
    "Now is not the time," Valeria hissed. "Please, let's go..."
    "The letters." Lydia stood, took a few steps in Noah's direction, and looked him squarely in the eye. "Surely you remember them. You were a much warmer man back then."
    Noah's jaw twitched. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Mrs. Langley."
    "Your letters to Miss Lacey," Lydia completed her thought, which made her niece groan. "You loved her, you lost her, and my heart goes out to you... but why did you change so drastically? It is such a shame."
    "You found my old letters."
    "We did," Lydia said with a nod. "We found them in our new home."
    "I see. So... someone finally moved into Abigail's old house. It's quite dilapidated now. I can't imagine you would find it to your liking."
    " This place is quite dilapidated," Valeria spoke up, motioning toward a crack in the wall. "but you seem content enough."
    "See why I do not care to entertain guests?" Noah glared at Valeria as he spoke. "At what point did you think you were free to insult me and my lifestyle?"
    Valeria's brow furrowed. She hoped she looked as frustrated and furious as he did. "Oh... perhaps after you started insulting us ."
    "Please!" Lydia whimpered. "I wanted to ask you about the letters, Mr. Worthington. I wanted to ask you about Miss Lacey. If you would answer a few questions, and answer them kindly, we will happily excuse ourselves."
    "Very well. Go on, Mrs. Langley."
    "Thank you, Mr. Worthington."
    "Unlike your niece, it seems you know when to hold your tongue." He flashed another grin at Valeria before turning his attention back to Lydia. "So... you read my letters?"
    "We did."
    "And that is the reason for your visit? The real reason?"
    "It is," Lydia confessed. "How old were you when you wrote them?"
    "Nearly thirty. I am nearly fifty now. Those letters are ancient history to me."
    "But Miss Lacey was the love of your life?"
    "She was."
    "How did she die?"
    The longer the conversation went on, the more rapidly his jaw twitched. "She..." his voice trailed off.
    "I am sorry, Mr. Worthington," Lydia empathized with him. "It must pain you to speak of it. I, myself, lost my husband. A mere seven years ago."
    "When you lose someone you love, it doesn't matter how much time passes. Two months. Two years. Twenty years. The void is never filled."
    "And I couldn't agree with you more." Lydia went to his side and laid a hand on his arm, hoping to reassure him. "How did she die?"
    "A carriage accident. It happened so suddenly. I..." He ran a hand along his bristled chin and grunted. "I do not care to think of it."
    "But the letters--"
    "No!" Noah demanded. "I'd rather not think of them."
    "But they were so beautifully composed!"
    "Please. Go." Noah turned away from the doorway and motioned for them to pass through it. "And never speak of Miss Lacey again."
    "Come, Lydia. We shouldn't pry. Let us do as he says." Valeria gently took her aunt's elbow and led her out of the sitting room, out of the house, and back to their hired chaise. When she saw the tears in her aunt's eyes, she sighed. "My heart goes out to you. I know you wanted him to be a better man than that."
    "What a brute!" Lydia squealed. "A brute, a boor, a swine, a nincompoop! I did not know such rudeness existed in this world!"
    "He's is a man, Lydia. A man... just like any other. After reading his letters, I think you idealized him a bit too much."
    "He was like an old bear!" Lydia whined. "A rude, uncouth, miserable, nasty old bear!"
    "And believe it or not, I feel a bit sorry for him." Valeria was surprised by her words, but they were true. "Obviously, he could not cope with the loss of his love."
    "There is no excuse for abandoning common courtesy! I did not turn into a brute after Henry died, did I?" Lydia made a tutting noise with her tongue. "Promise me, Valeria..."
    "Promise you what?"
    "Promise me..." Lydia took a deep breath and paused dramatically. "Promise me we will