28
The Private Garden Reckoning
It was a beautiful, sunny, early, fall day at the Bernhardt estate. At Lady Chelsea’s invitation, Liza and Julia were now seated beside each other in the private garden. Lady Chelsea had invited them because she felt that it was time to talk about a certain matter.
“Oh, Lady Chelsea, not now,” Liza said, to ward off the conversation.
“Liza, please hear me out.”
“I’ll listen, but I’m sure you already know how I feel.”
“Indeed I do,” Lady Chelsea persisted. “But are you aware that, for at least three years, those young people have felt stressed-out about our negative reaction to news about their relationship?”
“Oh-h, I didn’t know that.”
Sensing that she had finally gotten Liza’s undivided attention, Lady Chelsea persisted, “And are you aware that they
