The Colonel's Spinster - Audrey Harrison Page 0,1

very unsure, and it is causing me some strange thoughts. I will relax. I will.”

“Good. This uncertainty does you no credit, especially towards Elizabeth. You should be convinced of her regard. We can all see it. She is besotted with you and rightly so. It is time, for once, that you relax and enjoy yourself, Darcy. You deserve happiness,” Fitzwilliam pointed out. “And, you know me. I won’t look at any young woman with serious consideration unless she has at least five thousand a year and three properties, one in London, a hunting lodge in Leicester, and a grand mansion in the country, preferably somewhere near Derbyshire.”

“You tell a good Banbury tale, cousin. You would never be so shallow.”

“I’m the second son. I cannot afford to be anything but particular about what a wife brings to the marriage. Otherwise, we will starve.”

Smiling, Darcy picked up his stove top and placed it on his head. “Come. Let’s go and get this over with. The sooner I make Elizabeth Mrs. Darcy, the better.”

“That’s the spirit,” Fitzwilliam laughed, but inside he felt a little jealous of his cousin. Oh, he had spoken the truth when he confessed that he’d never had feelings for Elizabeth. He had enjoyed her company but hadn’t been anywhere near falling in love with her. He was envious of a couple so perfectly suited setting out on their future life together.

They would have hurdles to overcome, mainly because of the family on both sides, but they were a strong couple who would support and love each other. Fitzwilliam was sure and was glad of it. Darcy had lost his father and mother when he was young and yet had to be brother and parent to his younger sister. He had taken on the role without complaint, but it was now time for him to have his own family.

Fitzwilliam longed to have that connection with someone, but his pocket and birth dictated that he was forced to look for a wife who brought a comfortable dowry to the marriage. His income as a colonel barely covered the costs of his uniform and the horseflesh he needed. His allowance from his father made sure his officer’s mess bill was paid each quarter with a little left over, but without the occasional monetary gifts from his Aunt Catherine and Darcy, he would struggle to keep out of dun territory. That was not conducive when hoping to set-up home or start a family.

Yet those were the two things he longed for.

Chapter 1

London – three years later, late summer 1816

Fitzwilliam walked into the Darcy house on Berkeley Square, striding through the familiar property where he had stayed so often over the years. The last few years had aged him. War did that to a person. Oh, he was still a gentleman whose personality was all ease and pleasing, but there were a few frown lines permanently set in his features and a more serious set to his expression when he thought he was unobserved.

He had not seen his cousin and his cousin’s wife for months and was looking forward to an evening full of good company and family chat, something he had missed over the last few years.

He walked unannounced into the drawing room, and Elizabeth immediately stood to greet him.

“Colonel Fitzwilliam! You have arrived at last! How lovely it is to see you. It has been too long,” Elizabeth said, holding out her hands in welcome.

“It has indeed,” Fitzwilliam responded. “You are looking extremely well, Cousin.”

Elizabeth blushed slightly. “Thank you. There are only three months to wait, and then there will be yet another Darcy polluting the grounds of Pemberley.” She smiled at the reference her connection to the family had stirred from Lady Catherine De Bourgh when she had first become aware of her nephew’s affection for Elizabeth.

Lady Catherine was the formidable aunt to Darcy and Fitzwilliam on their mothers’ side of the family and never restrained herself from making her observations known to those around her.

“That will make us a family of four, and I want there to be at least a dozen, so the grounds of Pemberley are doomed,” Darcy said with a grin at his wife whilst approaching his cousin. “Fitzwilliam, I have missed you. Little Richard has barely seen his namesake,” Darcy said of his firstborn.

“And I’ve missed you,” Fitzwilliam admitted. He’d spent the last year in France, fighting against Napoleon’s troops until their defeat at Waterloo and then had remained abroad overseeing some of the rebuilding of