Colonel Fitzwilliam's Dilemma (4 page)

“This room has been redecorated,” she said, clearly not approving on the changes Lizzy had made.

“Certainly it has, Lady Catherine,” Lizzy said evenly. “It was long overdue.”

“My sister made a point of leaving it precisely as it was. It became something of a tradition with her. And the bronze figurine that was always on the mantelpiece is gone.”

“It has been sent away to be cleaned.” Lizzy replied, looking toward her husband and willing him to intercede or at the very least, smile at her.

“The room is vastly improved,” Will said, as though sensing her silent entreaty. “It was far too gloomy the way it was.”

Lady Catherine sniffed. “What are you two girls giggling about?” she demanded, looking toward Georgiana and Kitty, seated together a little way apart from her.

“We were discussing sketching, Lady Catherine,” Georgiana replied. “Kitty and I share an instructor.”

“Really, you do surprise me. I was of the opinion you Bennet girls had no particular skills other than a fortunate penchant for finding rich husbands.” A sharp, audible intake of breath on Kitty’s part failed to quiet Lady Catherine. “Is that not what you implied when you visited Kent last year, Mrs. Darcy?”

Lizzy silently counted to ten before responding. She glanced at Will. His expression had darkened, and she could see he was about to spring to her defence. Perversely, she didn’t wish him to. Lady Catherine had been unpardonably rude, as she so often was because no one ever contradicted her. She had deliberately thrown down a gauntlet Lizzy was more than prepared to pick up. She had anticipated being on the receiving end of Lady Catherine’s barbed tongue, and was willing to put up with her spite if it meant Will would be reconciled with his difficult relation, but she absolutely would not be bullied or have her family insulted. She sent Will a reassuring smile and turned to Lady Catherine with that smile still firmly in place.

“Then let me hasten to reassure you on both counts, ma’am. My sisters and I possess many talents, and Kitty is the perfect example of that. Her sketching is on a par with Georgiana’s. I am sure she will be happy to show you examples of her work, should your ladyship be interested.” Lizzy paused. “As to our attracting rich husbands, I am unsure if that can be described as a talent. Whether or not we are worthy of them is a question for the husbands themselves to answer.”

“And for my part,” Will said, not only sending Lizzy a smile, but stepping forward to rest a proprietary hand on her shoulder, “I must insist upon being the fortunate one.”

“Unquestionably,” Mr. Asquith replied with a polite smile.

Now that was interesting. Mr. Asquith did not toady to his employer. Lizzy wondered, in that case, how long he would remain beneath Rosings’ roof.

“It just so happens that Mr. Asquith is a talented artist and has been instructing Anne in the art of sketching.”

“Is that so, Mr. Asquith?” Lizzy turned to him with a smile. Lady Catherine had conceded defeat by changing the subject back to sketching, and Lizzy was willing to keep the peace by following her example. “In that case, perhaps Miss de Bourgh would care to join Georgie and Kitty in the morning. I know they plan to capture the changing colours of the Pemberley woods mid-morning, and I am sure they would appreciate your company, to say nothing of the benefit of your advice.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Darcy. I should be delighted.”

“Georgie? Georgie, Mrs. Darcy? You cannot shorten my niece’s name in such a manner.”

“Oh, but I like it, Lady Catherine,” Georgiana said, her desire to support Lizzy clearly overcoming her fear of her aunt.

“Hmm, well I do not understand this modern obsession with shortening perfectly acceptable names.” Lady Catherine frowned at Lizzy. “However, I am unsurprised to discover Anne has a natural talent for sketching, now that her health permits her to indulge.”

“I am glad you have found an occupation to which you are so well suited,” Lizzy said in a quiet aside to Anne de Bourgh.

“Suited, perhaps. I certainly enjoy it. Talented…well, I am unsure about that.”

“Nonsense, child.” Lady Catherine overheard Lizzy’s conversation with her daughter and immediately interceded. “I hope I am not the sort of parent who is blind to her child’s faults. Indeed, I am not, and if I say you have talent, then talent is what you have. You merely need to apply yourself and others will see it too.”

“With Georgiana and Miss Bennet to encourage me, Mama, I think I can safely promise you I will do so.”

Servants bearing refreshments brought all discourse to a temporary end, but Lizzy was satisfied with the way she had defended herself. When Lady Catherine lifted a delicate cup to her lips, replaced it in its saucer and grudgingly offered her and Will her congratulations on the forthcoming addition to their family, Lizzy knew she had won this initial skirmish. Lady Catherine would be well advised not to challenge her for a second time, since Lizzy would not be so lenient with her again.

“I hope you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins in good health, Lady Catherine,” Lizzy said.

“Indeed. Mrs. Collins is much occupied with her baby daughter. Too much so in my opinion. No good will come from mollycoddling the child, and so I told them both in the strongest terms before we left. You will do well to remember that, Mrs. Darcy.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I certainly shall.”

“Who else is to join us, Darcy?” Lady Catherine asked.

“Colonel Forster and two other officers from his regiment will be with us tomorrow.”

“Two others?” Lady Catherine frowned. “What others?”

“Major Halstead and Captain Turner. They are particular friends of Fitzwilliam’s and were here with us a little over a month ago. We enjoyed their society. We also have new neighbours, Lord and Lady Briar. And, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Bingley are now close enough to be intimate with us.”

“Briar? I believe I knew a Lord Briar when I was much younger. Did they not reside in Sloane Street?”

“That would be the present Lord Briar’s father,” Lizzy replied. “The current Lord Briar purchased an estate close to Pemberley a few months past and plans to reside mostly in the country. They have Lady Briar’s sister, a young widowed lady, living with them.”

“If she is a widow, she will not be seen in society.”

“She is out of mourning, ma’am.”

“Hmm, even so.” Lady Catherine accepted a cake as she considered the matter. “Has this widowed sister been left well provided for?”

“I believe Mrs. Sheffield inherited the bulk of her late husband’s estate.”

“They why does she not live on her estate?”

“That is a question you must address to Mrs. Sheffield,” Lizzy replied. “It is hardly one I could ask a lady whose acquaintance I had only just made.”

“If estates are left unattended, workers take advantage.” Lady Catherine straightened her spine. “That is why I never leave Rosings for long. I can assure you, no one takes advantage of my good nature.”

It was all Lizzy could do not to choke on her tea. To her precise knowledge, Lady Catherine did not possess a vestige of good nature. “I am sure they do not,” she managed to say.

The visitors revived themselves with the array of refreshments offered. Even Miss de Bourgh ate something, as well as drinking two cups of tea. Lady Catherine held court, as though she was the hostess rather than Lizzy, firing random questions at one and all. Lizzy, having already won a battle of wills with her, was content to allow Will’s aunt to administer advice and opinions as she saw fit, and took little part in the conversation herself.

Even so, by the time the new arrivals took themselves off to their chambers to rest before dinner, Lizzy was already feeling the strain.

“Did Lady Catherine happen to mention how long she plans to stay?” she asked Will, leaning heavily on his arm as they went up together.

Will patted her hand. “You did well to tolerate her unpardonable rudeness so calmly.”

“What you mean is, you expected me to be blunter.”

Will chuckled. “Not at all. You got it exactly right.”

“Thank you, but I shall be glad when the other gentlemen arrive tomorrow. It will make things much easier.” Lizzy grinned. “Safety in numbers.”

“Lady Catherine will not test you again. You have nothing to fear from her.”

“What did you make of Mr. Asquith? Speaking for myself, I rather liked him.”

Will quirked a brow. “Every lady in the room appeared to, including my aunt.”

“Ah, so you noticed that too. Your cousin has improved considerably, no doubt due to his influence. The changes in her appearance and willingness to speak up for herself are quite remarkable.”

“So I observed.”

“I can’t believe how much latitude Lady Catherine affords him. I never would have thought it of her. What do we know about him?”

“Absolutely nothing. He is clearly a gentleman, or has at least received a gentleman’s education. I shall quiz him on his background at the first opportunity, just to please you.”

Lizzy sent her husband a playful smile. “Are you trying to pretend you would do so for me and are not curious yourself?”

“Well, he does seem to have got the measure of Lady Catherine and knows precisely how to behave towards her. That is extraordinary enough to excite my interest.”

“He didn’t come in for a single word of criticism from her the entire time we were taking tea, which is more than can be said for the rest of us. Even you did not escape unscathed.”

“Yes, I am willing to admit I am intrigued by the unorthodox arrangement. I am also pleased to see Anne blossoming in his company.”

“Poor Mr. Collins,” Lizzy said, smiling as they entered her chamber. “He must be feeling severely neglected. His company will no longer be so desirable at Rosings now Lady Catherine has a more acceptable alternative. I owe Charlotte a letter. She has not told me much about Mr. Asquith yet. I shall write to her in the morning and press her for more particulars.”

Will laughed, kissing the back of her hand as he headed for the adjoining door to his own room. “Get some rest, my love. You will need it if you are to withstand my aunt’s demanding company for a week or longer.”

“Longer?”

Lizzy sank onto a stool and surrendered herself to Jessie’s capable hands, barely waiting for her maid to unfasten her hair and help her out of her gown before making her way to her bed and closing her eyes.

A week suddenly seemed like an eternity.

Chapter Four

Anne sat on a stool beside Georgiana and Miss Bennet on the edge of Pemberley woods, the following morning. Biting her lip, she concentrated upon capturing the slant of sunlight filtering through the leaves. It was a difficult ambition to achieve using only charcoal, but Anne’s companions did not seem deterred by Mr. Asquith’s suggestion and so she would attempt it too.

She was distracted by the lively discourse between Georgiana and Miss Bennet, to which Mr. Asquith made frequent contributions. Laughing and dispensing advice as he walked behind them, he looked at their drawings and offered suggestions and encouragement. He had behaved in a similarly charming fashion at dinner the night before, not putting himself forward, but showing great sense and amiability that appeared to endear him to all members of the party. Anne was included in everything that was said, then and now, but struggled to respond spontaneously. Spontaneity had never had a place in her life, and she found it hard to adapt. Supposing she expressed an opinion and everyone else disagreed with it or worse…laughed at her? No, it was much safer to remain quiet, concentrate on her drawing and say as little as possible.

“Your perspective is not quite right, Miss de Bourgh.” Mr. Asquith peered over her shoulder and pointed to the area that was at fault. “If you were to make those trees proportionately smaller, I think it would better serve.”

Anne tilted her head, but resisted the urge to glance at her companions’ sketches. She was convinced theirs would be better than her effort, but preferred not to discourage herself by confirming the fact. Unlike her mother, she harboured no unrealistic ideas about her talent, such as it was, but she did enjoy sketching enormously and wondered why she had not been persuaded it try it before Mr. Asquith had made the suggestion. She had so often been told she was not well enough to do anything that required the slightest effort for fear of making herself unwell that she had believed it was true. Now she knew better and regretted the lost time.

“Yes, you are right,” she said, sighing. “I can quite see that now. Perhaps I should start again.”

“That would be a shame since you have captured the leafy canopy perfectly. Just a few minor adjustments here,” he said pointing, “would set the matter right.”

She was conscious of the size of Mr. Asquith’s body, of the robust strength and raw masculinity emanating from him as he stood directly behind her and she breathed in the musky aroma she associated exclusively with him. She reacted to him in a manner she had never experienced before. A delicious sensation that made her blush ricocheted through her body. Perhaps it was desire. She had read a very great deal on the subject, but had never thought to experience it first-hand.

And neither would she, she reminded herself, briskly reapplying herself to her drawing. If her mama even suspected the nature of the thoughts occupying her brain, then Mr. Asquith would be dismissed on the spot without a character, the blame for filling her head with inappropriate thoughts placed squarely at his door. That was a risk she could never take. Ensuring Mr. Asquith retained the employment he clearly needed to survive was the one way in which she could repay him for all the positive changes that had occurred in her life since his arrival at Rosings.

Part of her was jealous because he treated Georgiana and Miss Bennet in exactly the same friendly, slightly deferential manner he showed towards her. She wanted to scream that he was her tutor, not theirs, but of course she would never reveal her possessive feelings. Besides, she wasn’t surprised he admired them. Georgiana and Miss Bennet were both prettier than she was. They were also livelier and, unlike her, not afraid to express their opinions and laugh at themselves. How dull she must appear by comparison.