Christmas at Pemberley (53 page)

“Then your intention is to escort Manneville to London and turn him over to the Regent's agents?” Southland took another step away from the American's door.

Edward drew his aide yet further away. “The message I received from the Regent indicated that recovering Hesse's letters would free the princess to form a proper alliance with Saxe-Coburg.”

“Mercy!” Southland shook his head in disbelief. “How did we become so entangled in State affairs?”

“God only knows,” Edward moaned. “Women in love control the pulse of a country, and we men are only along for the ride.”

“I wish you didn't have to leave tomorrow,” Georgiana whispered. She and the colonel stood apart from the others in the main drawing room. Most of those in attendance played the usual assortment of parlor games.

Edward smiled at her. “As do I. Even though we've known each other your entire life, I suddenly feel we're strangers.”

“We've moved into a different phase of our relationship,” she observed. Georgiana paused before adding, “I must ask again if this
is what you want. No one knows other than my brother and Elizabeth. We can continue as before.”

With tenderness that caused her heart to beat erratically, Edward said, “We could never return to ‘as before.' We are joined, Georgiana, but I do need for you to think on what picture you have for our future. Do you wish to take up residence at Yadkin Manor? Would you prefer to remain at Pemberley while I finish my service? There are many details we must settle between us, but I wish our joining most ardently. When I returned to England and you, my heart finally knew contentment.”

“I do so wish we could tell the others.”

“Soon, my love.”

“Will the colonel propose to Miss Darcy?”Winkler sat beside Kitty on a small settee.

Kitty glanced to where Georgiana stood with her cousin. “I think they'll know happiness before long, but how did you know?”

“I recognize the same bewilderment on the colonel's face as I find in my own mirror's reflection. He's quite besotted with Miss Darcy and does not understand how it happened.”

So utterly happy, Kitty wanted to giggle like a schoolgirl, but she said, “I'm most eager for us to define our future relationship now that Mr. Darcy has withdrawn his objection.”

Winkler frowned. He still didn't like being a puppet on Pemberley's string. He would think more clearly on his staying at Lambton once he had settled this matter with Kitty Bennet. For now, an odd sense of joy rushed through him. Winkler said, “As am I, Catherine.”

“I brought you a glass of port,” Anne said as she approached Southland.

Roman looked up with pleasure. He'd never expected that his future wife would worry in his absence. Their worlds were so different that he'd had begun to have second thoughts on the alliance. He didn't love this woman who now stood before him, but he'd long carried the highest regard for her family. It wasn't she that he questioned, but rather whether he could transition into her world. “Thank you,” he said with a smile. “That's most kind of you.”

Anne looked about nervously. “Why do you sit in this empty hallway? Edward was very enigmatic about your absence from the party below.”

“I'm afraid that I'm under orders and cannot speak of it.” He awkwardly added, “Would you sit with me for awhile? I'd enjoy your company.”

Anne blushed. “Since we are officially engaged, I suppose it wouldn't be improper.”

Roman found another straight-backed chair in an empty bedchamber and carried it to the hallway. He placed it along the wall, beside the one he had previously occupied. Seating Anne, he returned to his chair. “Thank you for seeking me out. The colonel and I will leave for London at dawn, and I was sore to know how I might have a few minutes of private time with you before my departure. We've several things we should discuss.”

“Go on, Lieutenant,” she said softly.

Roman swallowed hard. “We should decide when we wish to marry.”

Anne looked away in embarrassment, but she said, “Not too long. Long enough for the suddenness of our joining not to lead to gossip, but not so long if we wish to start a family. At least, that's what my companion counsels.”

“Mrs. Jenkinson?” Roman questioned in surprise. “Not Lady Catherine?”

“My mother is accepting, but she hasn't totally acclimated to the idea. Her Ladyship shall never rescind the engagement announcement,
but I do believe she'd thought never to see the day.”

Roman captured her hand in his. “Then what say you? Choose a date. In London, I will purchase a license.”

“My mother had suggested Mr. Collins's calling the banns upon our return, but I had considered the end of February.” Anne calculated the dates in her head. “The twenty-third or twenty-fourth of February? Those are at the end of the week. Why don't you clear whichever day you prefer with your superiors and then send me the date in a letter. I assume we'll correspond regularly.”

When he had proposed, Roman had never considered how they'd handle the particulars of their relationship. He'd just gotten caught up in the possibilities. Now, the idea of receiving mail from his betrothed fascinated him. His was a small family, and he rarely received the amount of mail the other officers did. He relished the idea of someone special writing to him. “Of course, we'll write regularly, and I'll ride to Kent when I have days off duty.”

“I'll make you a good wife, Roman,” Anne blurted out. “At least, I'll try.”

“I know you will,” he said compassionately. “Ours may not have been an instant love match, but few of the gentry marry for love. I promise you my fidelity and my respect.You own my admiration already. From those three, we'll build ourselves a foundation upon which we can live comfortably. I'd like to make you happy. Mayhap, a strong affection will grow between us.”

“You've made me happy,” she assured. “I've the hopes of a young woman again. I'll do whatever is necessary to make us a comfortable home. For you to know contentment.”

Roman smiled easily. Possibly, he'd made the correct choice, after all. His future wife was an heiress. As such, upon Lady Catherine's death, Rosings Park would belong to Anne, and, ultimately, as her husband, to him. Their children would inherit a great estate. He'd accomplished much with his choice. With Anne's acceptance, he'd moved up in society. “We'll do well together,” he promised.
They stared into each other's countenances for a prolonged minute. “Anne,” he said with a rasp. “Would you allow me to kiss you?”

She blushed thoroughly. “I'd like that very much, Roman.”

It was well after midnight when he entered her bedchamber. He had scaled an icy terrace and the metal claws of the ivy wall to reach an empty chamber in the U-shaped wing. Earlier, he had lowered his trunk to the ground with strips of cloth he'd made from torn bedding. From the empty bedroom, he'd made his way to her suite. Slowly, he opened her door and slid into the darkness. Using the fireplace's faint light, he moved stealthily across the room. Reaching her bed, he placed a knee on the edge and reached for her shoulder. Giving it a slight shake, he prepared for her awakening startlement.

With a gasp, her eyes sprang open. Searching the darkness, she frantically identified him as she clutched the bed linens to her chest. “What are you doing here?” she haughtily demanded.

“Saying my farewells,” he replied. “I'm leaving tonight.”

She scooted up higher in the bed. “Can you not wait until tomorrow?”

“It must be now,” he said softly. “I'd like you to accompany me.”

Darcy couldn't remember a more confusing night. As his cousin had predicted, the Regent's soldiers had arrived at Pemberley a little short of six in the morning. Mr. Nathan had roused him from his sleep, and Darcy had immediately sent for his cousin, only to discover that they'd lost their “prisoner.” Although, in Darcy's estimation, the man they'd known as Beauford Manneville had committed no actual crime, the colonel and the lieutenant had accompanied the Regent's men in their attempt to recover Manneville. True, the American had once held in his possession the intimate letters of Princess Charlotte to her supposed lover, and it had
also been true that said lover had intended to use those letters for his own benefit; but
intention
and
execution
were different issues. However, it wasn't likely that the Prince would see it that way. At least, Edward had secured the letters and the princess's mementos in Darcy's household safe.

“And Mr. Manneville climbed down his bedding to make his escape?” Lady Catherine asked incredulously. She and the Collinses and Anne would depart for Kent after breakfast.

He'd not wanted to share the details with the others, but Manneville's trickery and the presence of the Prince's men couldn't be kept secret. Darcy filled his plate from the morning's offerings. “Evidently. With the staff still enjoying the evening's celebration, Manneville hitched up one of the smaller coaches and drove away into the night.”