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never go back there!"

Chapter Five

    Because Lydia was so adamant against visiting him again, Valeria waited two days before mentioning his name. Even though she caught her aunt in a good mood, convincing her would prove to be difficult.
    "Please, Lydia. It will only be a brief visit. I promise."
    "No."
    "Please?"
    "No."
    "You're being stubborn!"
    "Absolutely not!"
    "I have a very good reason for wanting to see him again," Valeria insisted, and it had nothing to do with the fact that her heart prickled at the thought. Noah Worthington, despite his rudeness, had intrigued her. "I wanted to return the letters."
    That made Lydia hesitate. Returning the letters wasn't just a favor for Mr. Worthington, it was a favor for Miss Lacey as well. And Lydia had no reason to dislike Miss Lacey.
    "I believe," Valeria continued, "those letters should be in his possession. If I was Mr. Worthington, I would want them returned."
    "Well..." Lydia shifted in her chair. Her back was aching more than ever, but that would not stop her from doing what was right. "I suppose I can understand what you're saying. If Henry's poems were in someone else's hands, I would want them returned to me."
    "Exactly!" Valeria exclaimed. She had already gathered the letters in a pile on her lap. "When would you like to go?"
    "Tomorrow, dear," Lydia said. "We should wait until tomorrow."
    The next day, some of Lydia's pain had subsided, so they made the journey to Steeridge. When they were greeted by Argus, the old butler looked disgusted by them. The lines around his mouth were deeper than ever, which gave him a permanent sneer.
    "I can tell the master you're back." A growl-like noise rumbled in the back of Argus' throat, "But he ain't gonna like it."
    "It's alright, Argus," Noah spoke up from behind. "I already know they're here."
    "Mr. Worthington..." Valeria bobbed a curtsy when she saw him. When she glanced in her aunt's direction, she saw an expression on her aunt's face that was similar to the butler's. Noah Worthington was far from being Lydia's favorite person in the world.
    "I confess I am surprised to see you again, Miss Woll. After the way I behaved last time, I assumed you would never return."
    "The fact that we're standing here has everything to do with my niece, and nothing to do with me!" Lydia interjected. She wanted him to know exactly how she felt. "If our visit angers you, blame her."
    "Angers?" Noah chuckled as he repeated the word. "Why on earth would I be angry?"
    "You want nothing to do with us. You made that quite clear.
    "My behavior was nothing against you, Mrs. Langley. You should not take it personally. As I said, I was unaccustomed to receiving visitors." Noah's gaze lingered on the bundle in Valeria's hands. It had been many years, but he knew what she was holding. "But that is no excuse for my ungentlemanly behavior. That is no excuse for abandoning decorum."
    Valeria spoke up. "I am afraid my manners left something to be desired as well."
    "On the contrary, I am sure your reaction was appropriate. My behavior was inexcusable. You expected a gentleman, but you got a boor."
    Lydia nodded in agreement. "You're right about that, sir! I so wanted to like you, but you made yourself so very unlikeable!"
    "My apologies. I would like to make it up to you, if you would give me a chance. Would the two of you care to stay for supper?"
    Before her aunt could utter a word, Valeria said, "We would like that very much. Before I forget, however, there is something I would like to give to you." Her hands trembled as she held out the bundle of letters. Abigail Lacey was an obvious sore spot, and she did not know how he would react to seeing the letters. "I thought they should be returned to you."
    He accepted her bundle with the slightest of smiles. "You have my thanks, Miss Woll."
    "They really were beautifully written," Lydia told him. "My niece kept insisting they were not ours to read, but I could not resist. To be honest, I regret nothing."
    "Fair