The Colonel's Spinster - Audrey Harrison Page 0,16

and he meant it. He had never seen her look so well.

“Thank you. Do you think it is too much? It’s only a local assembly after all.” Anne asked, uncertainty in her voice.

“Not at all!” Fitzwilliam said quickly. “You look perfect, and I only wish I could stand up with you, for I would love to be the one to show you off to the locality.”

If Fitzwilliam had been stunned at Anne’s appearance, his mouth had gone dry at the sight of Prudence. She wore a rich navy-blue silk dress. It seemed to fall against her tall frame, highlighting her figure to its best effect. Silver lace edged the gown, and a sapphire and silver necklace focused the eyes on the low, but not too revealing, neckline. Her hair was dressed similar to Anne’s at the front, but she had left more length at the back, resulting in a cascading tumble of curls. A silver shawl wrapped around her shoulders, and silver gloves contrasted with the dress. She wore no make-up apart from black on her eyelashes and a rich red on her lips. She looked regal and elegant.

“I am to be the envy of every man in the room tonight,” he said to Prudence, his voice a little choked.

Prudence smiled, her cheeks colouring slightly but said nothing.

Fitzwilliam wasn’t used to being without words, so he was relieved when Lady Catherine followed his cousins into the room. She assessed Anne with approval and then turned her scrutinising gaze onto Prudence.

“That’s an expensive dress,” she stated.

“Yes. It is,” Prudence answered.

“Your father has tried his best to show you in a positive light. It does him credit,” Lady Catherine conceded.

“He spoils me.”

“The jewels look the real thing. Paste is a wonderful ingredient. Only an expert eye would suspect anything. You will do, and if you continue to please me, I shall allow you to wear some of my own jewels at the next assembly.”

Prudence smiled sweetly at her aunt but once more remained silent.

Fitzwilliam wondered at the exchange, always wishing his aunt would be slightly more tactful. He silently commended Prudence’s restraint, for he knew she would have made some comment if it had been anyone else uttering the remark.

“Come. We are to collect the Collinses,” Lady Catherine said. “I want to hear all about how my instructions on the tenants’ homes are being received. I tasked Collins with speaking to them.”

“Isn’t that a job for your steward?” Fitzwilliam asked.

“Huxley had other jobs to do. He is capable, but I like to keep an eye on what he does.”

The three groaned quietly in unison. The journey would be tedious and without the anticipation of an enjoyable evening to look forward to with Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine having a conversation. All of a sudden, five miles in a carriage seemed a very long distance.

*

Entering into the Assembly, Fitzwilliam had an inkling as to the real reason Lady Catherine didn’t frequent the assemblies very often. There was a real mixture of people in the room. It was obviously an area without enough families to make the event exclusive to the top of society. There were members from the middle classes, and if his aunt’s expression and mutterings were anything to go by, as she surveyed the room, many people of trade.

The arrival of Lady Catherine caused a bit of a stir, and one of the head members of the older families in the area immediately approached the group and bowed deeply over Lady Catherine’s hand.

“My lady, it is an honour to see you here. Please, would you join my family? My mother is with us and very much desirous to speak with you.”

“Sir James, that would be preferable to joining any other group I can see in this place,” Lady Catherine said with a sniff, accepting the proffered arm and being led towards a table at which there was an elderly lady and two younger ones already seated. They were the daughters of Sir James Goode. One was married, but the other was unmarried, pretty, and had the same open character as her father.

The party broke into two natural groups, Lady Catherine, Mr. and Mrs. Collins with Sir James, his elder daughter and her husband, and Sir James’s mother. The younger, unmarried members standing to one side. Anne had to concede to her mother’s request that she accept a chair, but apart from that, Lady Catherine turned her attention away from the group.

Miss Goode’s dance partner collected her in plenty of time for