Gloria Gay

Searching For Lydia Gloria Gay

Waiting at the London posting station for a friend, young Simon Westrick, Earl of Brandell, was annoyed by a strident female voice that cut through his thoughts. The awful woman appeared flustered that her brother was missing and was verbally abusing a lovely young girl dressed in worn clothes who stood before her. Simon moved closer as the woman pushed the girl onto a bench with a warning and went in search of her brother. Left alone, the girl stood and up from between the two large women who were glaring at her and walked toward Simon. Simon saw the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen in his life and they were awash with tears. The girl's silent plea reached him as few things had ever touched him before in his young life. Simon bought a posy from a vendor who went by and then handed to the girl. And just as Simon asked Lydia for her aunt's name, so that he could help her, the woman in charge of her came back, her large brother in tow. She scolded Lydia for talking with Simon, grabbed one of the girl's hands and then pinched it. And when Simon protested, the woman and her brother each grabbed one of the girl's arms and then ran with her, in what Simon realized was a practiced run. And no matter how hard Simon searched for them in the crowded yard, they disappeared into the fog and he was unable to find them. And so began Simon's search for Lydia, for he could not ever forget the plea in her beautiful eyes, no matter how many years