Miss Lacey's Love Letters Read Online Free Page B

shoo him away with one of her envelopes. When he was gone, she gasped her niece's name. "Valeria! There is something I need to share with you straightaway!"
    "What is it? You look positively panicked!"
    "My heart!" Lydia unfolded the letter she held in her hands. "It breaks my heart! I will read it to you..."
    The last time I saw you, I was gazing into your warm brown eyes, those eyes I absolutely adored. Your lovely eyes were always so full of life, as were you. When I think that you will never open your eyes again, my heart is torn apart.
    I thought we would be together forever: Abigail Lacey and Noah Worthington, the luckiest man on earth. When I heard that you had left this world, I wanted to follow you. If there is any chance I might meet you in the next life, why should I stay here? I know what you would say if you were here. You would not want me to hurt myself, or cause myself pain. However, I cannot think of anything that could possibly compare to the pain of losing you.
    When Lydia finished reading, Valeria's eyes were wide. "Oh my! So Miss Lacey..."
    "Died," her aunt completed her thought. "She died. And if Mr. Worthington is a recluse, it could only mean one thing."
    "And what is that?"
    "He was crushed by her death. He lost his will to live!" Lydia's lips trembled as she considered his pain. "You know, it was like that when Henry died. I didn't know if I could go on. If you hadn't been there for me, I might have become a recluse as well!"
    "Poor Mr. Worthington."
    "Yes. Poor Mr. Worthington." Lydia clasped the letter to her chest and heaved a sigh. "He wrote a letter to his deceased fiance. That might be the saddest thing I have ever heard!"
    "It's such a terrible end to their tale." Valeria wanted to discuss Harold's proposal, but it did not seem like an appropriate time, not when her aunt's eyes were filled with tears.
    After several seconds of silence, Lydia exclaimed, "I've decided!"
    Valeria wrapped an arm around her aunt's shoulders and steered her toward the house. "What have you decided?"
    "We are going to meet Noah Worthington!" Lydia declared. "And that's that!"

Chapter Four

    They were in a hired carriage bound for Steeridge, the modest estate of Noah Worthington. As they traveled, Lydia failed to hide her excitement. She had been trying to suppress a smile, but it finally conquered her lips. The thought of meeting the late Miss Lacey's beau had stirred her heart.
    Valeria wanted to share her aunt's enthusiasm, but her thoughts lingered on Harold. She had yet to mention his proposal to her aunt, mostly because it left something to be desired. As much as she hated to admit it, Mr. Worthington's letters had gotten into her head. After reading his words to Abigail Lacey, Harold's proposal seemed pitiful by comparison. Unfortunately, she feared she had been corrupted by the idea of romance.
    "Do you think he will be handsome?" Lydia asked.
    "Mr. Worthington?" Valeria's nose puckered at the thought. "Lydia, those letters were written twenty years ago!"
    "And?"
    She wanted to suggest that Mr. Worthington might be old, but she remembered she was chatting with a woman of one and seventy. Even if he was in his fifties, he might seem young to Lydia. "I... suppose he might be handsome."
    "When we were reading his letters, I always imagined a handsome man: Tall, brown hair, roguishly unkempt."
    "It sounds like you had quite a strong vision of him. I hope he does not disappoint you."
    "Should we mention the letters?"
    "I will leave that up to you, Aunt Lydia," Valeria said. "Although, for what it is worth, I cannot imagine he would be too pleased with us for reading his personal letters."
    "It is hardly our fault those letters were sitting in our house, just begging to be read!"
    "I'm not sure he will see it that way."
    When the carriage stopped, Lydia peered out of the window and gasped. "Oh my! Your Uncle Henry would love this!"
    As soon as she alighted from the carriage, Valeria understood the reason for her