Colonel Fitzwilliam's Dilemma (11 page)

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“And living on your estate in Buckinghamshire?”

“Precisely.”

“I see.”

And this time he did, to a degree. The brother was at least as loathsome as the dead husband, and probably had designs upon Mrs. Sheffield. However, she was no longer the subject of parental dictate and wished to have nothing to do with him. Be that as it may, the property obviously belonged to her and she ought not to be afraid to occupy it. Joshua was filled with a violent need to be of service to Mrs. Sheffield, and wondered how to make the suggestion. Before he could think of a way, a fat raindrop bounced off the brim of his hat. He glanced up and noticed a black cloud directly overhead. He had been so entranced by Mrs. Sheffield’s engaging company that he had not noticed the weather closing in. He stripped off his coat, held it over her head, and together they rushed for the shelter of the folly.

By the time they reached it, Joshua, now in waistcoat and shirtsleeves, was soaking wet. Mrs. Sheffield, with the protection of his coat, had fared a little better. Even so, the plume on her hat wilted across her face, bedraggled and probably ruined. She blew it out of her eyes, and then laughed.

“Thank you,” she said, moving from beneath the protection of his coat. “That was kind of you, and now you are soaked through.”

“Better I should be, than you.”

“How very gallant.” She crossed her arms over her torso and hugged herself, laughing as she watched the rain pounding onto the hard earth. “I love rain. We had a lot of it in Jamaica, but that was tropical rain of course. Not the same thing at all.”

Joshua stood directly behind her, somehow managing not to touch her. God’s teeth, but it was a hard temptation to resist! Never had he felt a greater urge to embrace a woman. Never had circumstances conspired to make it so easy and yet impossible. He wanted her to trust him, not fear his intentions. He wanted that trust very badly indeed.

“Then I am glad to have been able to summon up a rainstorm for your enjoyment,” he said. “Unfortunately, it is unlikely to last for long. I can see clear skies directly behind the raincloud.”

“Perhaps that is just as well. My sister will wonder what has become of me, and worry. Besides, my solicitor is due from London today. He has matters to discuss with me regarding Albert’s estate.”

“Mrs. Sheffield.” Joshua removed his hat and ran a hand through his damp hair, unsure how to phrase what was on his mind, aware he ought not to but unable to help himself. “I know you have difficulties. I know they somehow have to do with Asquith and your brother-in-law. We are virtual strangers but I feel as though I have known you for a long time.”

“Yes,” she said softly. “I can understand that because I feel it too.”

“Then will you not let me be of service to you? Whatever troubles you, you have clearly not confided in your sister or her husband. Please treat me as your confidante. You ought not to feel so alone.”

“Thank you, Colonel Fitzwilliam, but I could not burden you. You have enough problems of your own to be going on with.”

“If you refer to my aunt then let me put your mind at rest. I might not have Darcy’s resources but I share his stubbornness. No one will make me do that which I do not wish to do, regardless of the monetary rewards.”

“Fine words, sir, and finer principles are at play here but even younger sons must have something to live on.”

Strange, Joshua thought, but he recalled saying more or less the same words to Eliza Bennet as she still was when they first met at Rosings more than a year previously. Mrs. Sheffield obviously saw more than he realised and understood what was only just becoming apparent to him. He would probably have married his cousin and made the best of it even though his heart wasn’t in it. Since meeting Mrs. Sheffield every bone in his body rebelled at the thought. He had no reason to suppose that lady would entertain an offer from him, especially so soon after being widowed, but making her acquaintance had reminded him that money was not the path to happiness.

He placed a hand on the small of her back, sensing her body heat searing through his glove, and turned her towards the door.

“Come,” he said. “The rain has eased. I will escort you home.”

The horses had had the good sense to seek cover when the rain came and their saddles were only a little damp. He easily lifted Mrs. Sheffield into hers and helped her to find her stirrup. Satisfied that she was comfortable, he swung himself onto the back of his own horse.

“I must see you again,” he said as they descended the hill and turned in the direction of Briar Hall.

“I would like that, Colonel.”

When they reached her destination, he kissed the back of her hand as he bade her
adieu
.

“May I call on you tomorrow?” he asked.

“Certainly you may, although what my sister will make of my entertaining gentleman callers, I can’t begin to imagine.”

“Would your sister have you live a life of seclusion? You are, after all, out of mourning for a man you did not love. Presumably your sister knows there was little affection in your marriage and will rejoice in seeing you making new acquaintances?”

Her teasing smile illuminated her eyes, banishing their haunted expression. Joshua’s reaction to it was profound, and he shifted his position in his saddle, anxious to conceal its physical manifestation.

“I believe you are right about that, Colonel, just as you appear to be right about so many things. You see a great deal. I shall have to remain alert when in your company if I wish to retain even a degree of mystique.”

Her gaze clashed with his and Joshua was conscious of the deep longing that whipped through his bloodstream. He had supposed himself to be infatuated by a lady on several previous occasions but the feelings he had entertained then were nothing to the way he felt for this feisty, mysterious, and slightly vulnerable widow.

“For you, Mrs. Sheffield, I shall ensure my insight is selective.”

She laughed, waving over her shoulder as she rode through the gates to Briar Hall. “Where would be the fun in that?” she asked.

Joshua bit back the flirtatious response that sprang to his lips, waited until she had disappeared from view, and then turned in the direction of Pemberley, wondering what the devil he was supposed to do about his situation now.

Chapter Nine

“You are sisters. The Misses Dolores, Dorothea, and Daphne Downton all have their individual interests set upon the same man,” Mr. Asquith explained. “Originally there were four of you, but I was unable to persuade Mrs. Sheffield to become Doris. No matter, three will work just as well, if not better.”

“Don’t t-tell me,” Captain Turner said, laughing. “The object of their affections is Mr. David Doolittle.”

Georgiana and Kitty linked arms and smiled at Anne. “I feel sorry for the poor gentleman, being bombarded with our attentions,” Georgiana said.

“But at least he only has to endure three of us now, instead of four,” Kitty pointed out.

“I shall gladly play the part of that gentleman,” Major Halstead said. “I think I can tolerate the attention.”

Everyone laughed.

“At first, there is lively competition between you,” Mr. Asquith continued. “But each of you secretly believes she will triumph. When none of you makes progress, you become less civilized and start sabotaging one another’s campaigns.”

“Goodness,” Anne said. “It all sounds rather brutal.”

“That is the beauty of comedy, Miss de Bourgh. One takes an ordinary situation and makes it farcical. I mean, how far would you go, what stratagems would you employ, to secure the affections of a man you supposed yourself to be in love with?”

Anne’s cheeks warmed. She wished Mr. Asquith’s question could be personal rather than hypothetical. He was so handsome, so elegantly relaxed amongst Anne’s relations and Mr. Darcy’s distinguished guests, almost as though he had been born to a position of consequence himself. He assumed the role of gentleman as though he actually
was
one, making it necessary for Anne to remind herself that appearances could be deceiving. He was so intelligent Anne would never tire of listening to his voice as he effortlessly instructed the players in their individual roles. She watched his fingers curling around the edges of the book, as she so often had before, while he read out parts of the play. The thought of those same long fingers stroking her skin had kept her awake on countless occasions as deep feelings of intense longing gripped her body, sending tremors down the length of it, awakening a part of her she had previously been unaware existed.

He looked at her so intently as he waited for her answer, she wondered if his question was personal, and if he had guessed her shameful secret. Oh dear, this was all so confusing. She had so little experience with the male gender that she had no way of knowing, and no one whom she could go to for advice. Unless, perhaps… Lizzy Darcy had been so kind to her, so patient and understanding. Could she perhaps ask her? Anne’s blush deepened at the very idea of exposing herself to ridicule. If Mr. Asquith had found her out, then this ought to be a tragedy not a comedy, since Anne had much to fear from any future that did not measure up to her mother’s rigid standards, and little to laugh at.

“Would you really put itching powder in your sister’s clothing, Miss de Bourgh?” Kitty asked, giggling as she skimmed through her lines.

“Or ruin the trim on her best ball gown when there was no time left to repair it?” Georgiana added. “Oh dear. I am afraid we are not very nice sisters at all, Mr. Asquith.”

“Which of the sisters finally triumphs?” Jane Bingley asked from her chair in the corner of the room, from which she acted the part of chaperone.

“None of them,” Mr. Asquith replied, smiling. “Major Halstead’s character is already secretly married to a woman his father does not approve of. He has to pretend to court the Downton sisters, just to put his father off the scent, you see.”

“I s-say, what a bounder,” Captain Turner said, grinning.

“Shall we run through the parts?” Mr. Asquith stood up and indicated the dais at one end of Pemberley’s ballroom. “The opening scene sees the three sisters sitting together when their brother, played by Captain Turner, brings his friend Major Halstead to the house for the first time. Are we all ready?”

They read for half an hour, with much laughter, and many errors being made. At first Anne was nervous, and her voice could barely be heard. When it occurred to her no one was laughing at her efforts or deferring to her in the manner she was accustomed to, and which so irked her, she gradually relaxed and actually enjoyed herself.

“Well done, all of you,” Mr. Asquith said when a maid came in with refreshments. “I think I can safely say there is only room for improvement.”

Everyone laughed.

“I thought we made a passable first attempt,” Major Halstead said. “Although I will be the first to admit we are a long way from making a living through treading the boards.”

“Just as w-well we d-don’t need to,” Captain Turner added.

Georgiana settled herself behind the teapot and poured for everyone.

“We need to think about costumes and scenery,” Mr. Asquith said as he sat down and elegantly crossed his long legs at the ankle. “Mrs. Darcy has kindly said it will be all right to stage our performance in the music room, although it is better if we rehearse in here where we won’t be in anyone’s way.”

“Since we shall have such a small audience,” Kitty said, “the music room is a good idea.”

“Quite.” Mr. Asquith shared a smile between them all, but Anne chose to believe it lingered upon her for longer than anyone else. “Your own clothing will be perfectly all right, ladies, but we do need to think about painting some scenery. A lot of the action takes place in the garden, you will recall.”

“We could hang up old sheets and paint garden scenes on them,” Kitty said.

“Absolutely,” Georgiana agreed. “I shall speak with Mrs. Reynolds and see if she can supply us with sheeting.”

The conversation was lively with suggestions—many of them fatuous, some actually helpful. Only Anne remained silent, mainly because she was unable to think of anything sensible or amusing to contribute.

Everyone drifted away once tea was finished and Anne found herself alone with Mr. Asquith. That was not unusual. It had happened on many occasions since his appointment as her tutor, even though she was supposed to be chaperoned at all times. She had never felt nervous before but today things were different. Something had changed between them. The atmosphere was charged with a feeling Anne was unable to identify—the one that normally only crept up on her when she was alone in her bed at night and her thoughts dwelt upon the man who had captivated her.

“Are you glad I persuaded you to take part, Miss de Bourgh?”

“I beg your pardon.” Anne snapped out of her reverie and gave her full attention to Mr. Asquith, although she was unable to meet his gaze for fear of what he might read in her expression. Instead she looked at her hands clasped together in her lap.

“I merely thanked you for agreeing to participate. The play would not work nearly so well with only two sisters instead of the original four.”

“I enjoyed this morning. I did not think I would, and so that surprised me. Unfortunately I was not very good.”

“Nonsense. You were every bit as good as the others.”

“You deceived me, Mr. Asquith. You promised I would only have a small part to play, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

The corners of his lips lifted. “Would you have agreed to do it if you had known?”

“Probably not.”

“Then you must forgive me for the small deception. I am employed in part to help you overcome your shyness. What better way?”

She shook a finger at him, astonished by her brazenness. To her precise knowledge, she had never in her entire life shaken a finger at anyone before now. “You are very devious, Mr. Asquith.”

He chuckled. “I live to serve, Miss de Bourgh.”

A heavy silence ensued. In her desire to break it and prolong her moment alone with Mr. Asquith, Anne asked the first question that popped into her head. “What shall you do when your position at Rosings comes to an end?”
Whatever possessed me to bring that subject up?