Colonel Fitzwilliam's Dilemma (3 page)

Yes, that was what he would do. He stared at himself in the mirror above the fireplace and raised his glass in a mock salute, determined to start as he meant to go on. Perhaps it would not be so very bad. Joshua would go to Pemberley, face his aunt and cousin, and see how matters progressed. He would spend time talking to Anne, and try to discover what she required from her life. He realised with a jolt that he had never spoken to her in private before and really knew very little about her own aspirations. He was not even sure if she actually had any.

Eliza had invited Halstead and Turner to accompany him, which would give his friends great joy. Joshua was still unsure how he felt about Halstead pursuing Georgiana, custodianship of whom Joshua shared with Darcy. He would watch them together, speak with Darcy about the matter, and get a better understanding of Georgiana’s feelings for his friend. Joshua chuckled. He was already well aware of Halstead’s, since he never lost an opportunity to sing Georgiana’s praises when in Joshua’s company.

Joshua rang for his batman. When he appeared, he told him to summon Halstead and Turner. After the recent manoeuvres, in which all three men had taken an active part, they were due for some leave. Joshua might as well tell them the good news before he had a chance to change his mind and find an excuse to decline the invitation.

***

“How did you find the Briars?”

Lizzy lay on a settee in her private sitting room, her head resting in her husband’s lap. “I liked them very much.”

“I thought you would. Do they plan to stay in Derbyshire until after Christmas?”

“They look upon themselves as quite settled here. They have no plans to go to town for the season. Their two sons are otherwise occupied. One is in his final year at Cambridge, and the other is in Europe doing whatever young men do when they have finished their tenure at university and need to let off steam.” Lizzy glanced up at Will. “Presumably you had a Grand Tour.”

“I did.”

“Ah, so you will be able to satisfy my curiosity on the point. I have often wondered what young men of fortune and privilege do with themselves in Italy, and Greece, and all those other places that are considered
de rigeur
.”

Will chuckled. “You would be too shocked. I am sure it’s not good for you to be shocked, not in your condition. Suffice it to say that idle young men do need, as you so charmingly put it, to let off steam away from their own doorsteps.”

Lizzy sent him a speaking look. “Your son needs to be informed.”

Will rested a warm hand possessively on her belly. “What makes you so sure you are carrying a boy?”

“I certainly hope I am.”

“Good heavens.” Will flexed a brow. “Why?”

“You need to ask me that?” Lizzy lifted her head from its comfortable resting place, genuinely surprised. “Of course you want a son to inherit and carry on the Darcy name. I know the anguish my mother suffered each time she produced a girl. She told me recently, as each confinement approached, she was convinced she would have a boy at last, cutting off the Longbourne entail. But she never did. I would prefer to know at the earliest opportunity that I have not inherited her inability to bear sons.”

“Lizzy, as far as I am aware, it is impossible to inherit such traits.” He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her brow. “Besides, I have nothing against daughters, so please don’t spare the matter another thought. Pemberley isn’t entailed, nor will it ever be. If we have no sons, then our eldest daughter will inherit.”

“Thank you.” Lizzy felt a welling of deep love for her husband’s consideration. She knew he couldn’t possibly be telling the truth. All men secretly desired at least one son, did they not? He sought only to put her mind at rest. “It is silly to worry about such things, I know, but I feel rather sorry for your cousin Anne, having the future responsibility for Rosings resting upon her shoulders. I am not suggesting that management of a large estate is beyond a woman, but it would be harder for her than it would be for a man. Any woman in that position would be viewed as an easy target and taken advantage of.”

Will laughed. “In Anne’s case, not while there is still breath in Lady Catherine’s body. It would be a brave man who tried to take advantage of my aunt.”

“Quite, but Anne is not cut from the same cloth.”

“Which is why my aunt wishes to see her married. If not to Fitzwilliam then to someone equally suitable.”

“Of Lady Catherine’s choosing?”

“Very likely, but we cannot interfere.”

“No, I suppose not, but…oh, I don’t know, it all seems so clinical somehow.”

“Lady Catherine has many faults, I will be the first to admit that, but she does love her daughter and wants the very best for her. She understands Anne’s limitations and wants to ensure she, as well as the Rosings estate, prospers after she is gone.”

“If you are trying to tell me not to get involved, then you need not waste your breath. It is not my concern.”

“And we seem to have drifted a long way from the subject of the Briars.”

“That’s because you very cleverly turned our conversation away from the subject of your infamous Grand Tour.”

Will sent her a smouldering smile. “What makes you suppose it was infamous?”

“If it was not, you wouldn’t be so keen to avoid talking about it.” Lizzy reached up a hand and gently traced the line of her husband’s face. “However, I will not press you. And, as to the Briars, I saw Lord Briar only briefly but he seemed like an agreeable gentleman, very affable. He sent you his compliments, by the way. As to Lady Briar, I thought her quite charming, although she is delicate and suffers with her nerves. I spent half an hour with her and her sister.”

“She has a sister residing with her?”

“Mrs. Sheffield is a lot younger than Lady Briar, but very interesting, and quite charming. She cannot be more than five-and-twenty, but is already a widow. Her husband died of a fever over a year ago, somewhere abroad. She did not say where. Anyway, she has just returned to England and at the moment her home is with her sister.”

“What is she like?”

“Educated, well-bred, and very beautiful. She and Lady Briar appear very close. Although Mrs. Sheffield is considerably younger, she seems to take care of her sister, rather than the other way around.” Lizzy canted her head, thinking the matter through. “But she was nervous and on edge the entire time. Mrs. Sheffield, that is. Oh, she hid it well, but there is more to that lady than meets the eye. You just mark my words.”

“Well then, we shall invite them to dinner, and I dare say Mrs. Sheffield will have told you all her secrets by the time the first covers are removed.”

Lizzy punched her husband’s arm. “You make me sound like a busybody.”

“Not at all. It is just that people tend to confide in you because they trust you to be discreet.”

“Hmm, perhaps.” Lizzy felt her eyelids drooping, and she stifled a yawn with the back of her hand. She seemed to be tired all the time nowadays.

“Come, you need to rest before dinner.”

She felt herself being lifted by a strong pair of arms, and the next thing she knew, she was nestled between crisp cotton sheets. She had so much to do, so many arrangements to make, but they could wait. She would sleep, just for an hour, and then dress for dinner.

Chapter Three

“Let battle commence,” Lizzy muttered beneath her breath as she stood with Will, Georgiana and Kitty beneath the entrance portico at Pemberley, watching Lady Catherine’s barouche make its way up the long driveway.

“Did you say something, my dear?” Will asked.

Nothing that bears repeating.
“I was just remarking your relations have made good time. I had not expected seeing them until tomorrow at the earliest.”

Will sent her a droll look before returning his attention to the approaching conveyance. “Ah, is that what you said?” His lips twitched and she felt the muscles in his forearm strengthen beneath her fingers resting upon it. “I must have misheard you.”

“Stop making fun of me,” she hissed, so Georgiana and Kitty, chatting together a short distance apart from them, could not overhear. “You know how nervous I am about making a good impression.”

This time, Will definitely smiled. “It is Lady Catherine who ought to feel nervous if she plans to cross swords with you.”

Lizzy quirked a brow. “Really? Am I so very ferocious? I am unsure what that says about your opinion of me.”

“Merely that if my aunt wishes to heal the rift between us then she would be wise to show the deference due to you as my wife.”

“Why do you always know exactly the right thing to say, especially when I think I have just cause to be vexed with you?”

He patted the hand still resting on his sleeve. “Because you are my life and the only thing that is truly important to me.” He paused, sending her a playful look. “Apart from my estate, my sister, and my new horse, naturally.”

Lizzy bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing and did her very best to look severe. “You will pay for that comment later.”

“Oh, I do hope so. I rather enjoy your chastisements.”

“Behave yourself, Mr. Darcy!”

“If I must, Mrs. Darcy.”

The carriage came to a smooth halt directly by the portico. Will’s footman ran forward to let the steps down and help its occupants to alight. Unsurprisingly, Lady Catherine was the first to emerge. Lizzy studied her, seeing few outward changes in her haughty visage. She looked up at Pemberley’s façade and frowned, as though looking for imperfections, expecting to see signs of it having crumbled in protest at having Lizzy foisted upon it. She was slow to return her attention to those waiting to greet her, and when she did so, her gaze merely glanced off Lizzy before settling upon Will.

“Welcome, Lady Catherine,” he said, stepping forward and taking her hand. “I trust the journey was not too tedious.”

“A decent carriage made it bearable.”

When she could no longer avoid doing so, Lady Catherine turned her attention to Lizzy. “Mrs. Darcy,” she said, her tone bordering on the uncivil.

“Lady Catherine.” Lizzy replied with equal verbal economy, bobbing the merest suggestion of a curtsey. “Welcome to Pemberley.”

Lady Catherine wrinkled her nose, as though offended by a noxious smell. Without responding to Lizzy, she turned to Georgiana and her severe expression softened, just fractionally.

“Georgiana, you have grown since we last met.”

“Lady Catherine.” Georgiana curtsied. “We are very pleased you have come.”

“And I am most anxious to learn of your progress on the pianoforte. You must not, under any circumstances, neglect your practice.”

“I can assure you, I do not do so.”

Lizzy interceded. “May I bring my sister, Catherine Bennet, to your ladyship’s attention?”

Kitty nervously curtsied, while Lady Catherine viewed her with a disinterested air. “Miss Bennet,” she said distantly. “I was unaware your sister resided at Pemberley, Mrs. Darcy.”

“Kitty divides her time between Pemberley and my sister, Mrs. Bingley, who now lives just ten miles from here. Kitty and Georgina are the greatest friends.”

“Are they indeed.” Lady Catherine seemed most dissatisfied to hear it.

Lizzy felt her temper rising. Given that they had not even entered the house yet, this was a sorry start indeed. She quelled the riposte that sprang to her lips and turned her attention to Anne de Bourgh, who had now also removed herself from the carriage and joined the party at the portico on the arm of a gentleman. Lizzy was surprised at the immediate differences she noticed in the young lady. There was some colour and the hint of animation in her usually wan countenance.

“Miss de Bourgh,” Lizzy said, offering her hand. “You are very welcome.”

“Mrs. Darcy. It is very pleasant to be here again. Of all seasons, I think I enjoy autumn the most. The colours of the leaves, you understand.”

“Quite so, and Pemberley has no shortage of trees to admire.”

Lizzy was too stunned to say anything more. Anne de Bourgh had just spoken more words to her in one sentence than she did the entire time Lizzy had been in Kent the previous year. Anne turned her attention to Will and rest of the party, but Lady Catherine didn’t allow her daughter to speak two words before interrupting her.

“This is Mr. Asquith,” she said, offering no further particulars regarding that gentleman’s reasons for being with them.

Lizzy appraised him while he exchanged a few civil words with Will. Tall and lean, dressed in sombre yet elegant clothing that wasn’t the first word in fashion, the man had an engaging air and exquisite manners. His disarming personality had survived several days in the close confines of a carriage with Lady Catherine, which said much for his disposition—or desperation. Lizzy was already starting to understand the cause of the differences in Anne de Bourgh and wondered why Lady Catherine had seen fit to expose her daughter to such a vital man. That Anne was taken with him could not have escaped her all-seeing eyes. Georgiana and Kitty, who supposed themselves enamoured of other gentlemen, were eyeing him with interest also. Lizzy could think of few young ladies who would not and decided he would make an entertaining addition to their party.

Lizzy wondered if Lady Catherine meant to show Anne a little more of the ways of the world through contact with a man who had clearly seen much of it. If so, it was a risky strategy that did not allow for the romantic nature of even the most sensible of girls. Lady Catherine’s reasons made for an interesting conundrum, and one Lizzy would store away for future examination.

“Mrs. Darcy.” Mr. Asquith bowed over her hand, a charming smile gracing his lips. “It is most gracious of you to welcome me into your house.”

“You are very welcome, sir,” Lizzy replied, meaning it. “Shall we?”

She turned toward the entrance vestibule. Lady Catherine claimed Will’s arm and proceeded her into the house. With a wry lift of one brow in Kitty’s direction, Lizzy fell in alongside her sister, while Georgiana lingered behind with Anne and Mr. Asquith.

Lady Catherine sailed into the drawing room on Will’s arm and regally placed herself in a chair beside the fire. She narrowed her eyes as she glanced around her.