The Colonel's Spinster - Audrey Harrison Page 0,21
welcome for herself and not what material things she brought with her.
It had seemed so straight forward when in her father’s drawing room, but now it wasn’t so clear-cut. She was deceiving Fitzwilliam and Anne, and that didn’t rest easy with her.
She could admit the truth of her situation, and then Fitzwilliam might consider marrying her. No. She didn’t want that. Actually, a part of her did want exactly that, but whoever married her had to do so because of herself, not the money she brought to the marriage.
Who was she trying to fool? He would be as likely to attach himself to her ― a daughter of a ‘cit’ ― as he would a poor-as-a-church-mouse spinster! She was being foolhardy in thinking he would want anything but a mild flirtation with her. He was a member of the ton. They socialised in their own circles. Marrying her would mean leaving his society behind, and he would never do that.
She blew out her cheeks. There she was again, thinking of marriage. She had never thought so much of that state until she’d met Fitzwilliam, and now she could think of little else.
Anne had already said Fitzwilliam was bored to death when at Rosings. Prudence would just have to accept that she was providing a little interest or entertainment. A pity her heart ached at the thought, but she was sensible and could drag herself out of her melancholy even if it took a lot of inward scolding on her part.
Chapter 7
Sir James, his mother, and his unmarried daughter all paid a visit to Rosings to offer an invitation to the party.
“We wish to hold an evening’s entertainment in honour of Miss De Bourgh,” he said with a deferential nod towards Lady Catherine. “It has been too long since our company have seen her, and she is looking very well.”
“I am not sure another night out so soon would be of benefit to Anne’s constitution.” Lady Catherine’s quick response dashed the hopes of the others in the room.
“Oh, Mama, if I rest during the day like I did for the assembly, I’m sure I will be fine. Sir James’s house is hardly half the distance of Westerham,” Anne said, astounding everyone in the room, but especially her mother.
Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes towards Prudence, silently accusing her of Anne’s disobedience, but Prudence just returned the accusatory stare with a bland expression.
Sir James thought it advisable to intervene in the suddenly tense atmosphere. “I shall ensure that every consideration for Miss De Bourgh’s comfort is taken into account, and only a few of the more suitable members of the locality will be invited,” he assured Lady Catherine. “It would be such a pity if you were to miss out on advising us of what decoration we should choose when we refurbish the drawing room. I was saying to you only yesterday ― wasn’t I Mother? ― that we needed to seek Lady Catherine’s advice.”
Uttering the perfect words to ensure Lady Catherine would respond in the positive made everyone in the room glad of Sir James’s diplomacy skills.
“I will certainly advise you what to do with regards to decoration,” Lady Catherine said. “Mrs. Morton said only a few days ago what a help I’d been with regards to her dining room. The extra expense of the Chinese wallpaper was worth it, she said. She had never seen a room look so grand.”
“Precisely,” Sir James said. “Which is why we seek the advice of such an informed person as yourself.”
“We shall arrive at four, but we can stay no longer than eleven,” Lady Catherine instructed.
“May we have a little dancing, Papa?” Miss Goode asked, looking shyly at Colonel Fitzwilliam.
“We shall see on the day. We would not want to plan anything that would spoil Miss De Bourgh’s enjoyment.”
“Anne will not be dancing, but Prudence can play the piano for those who wish to do so,” Lady Catherine said.
“I do not play an instrument as well as other young ladies do, Aunt,” Prudence said quickly. She spoke the truth, but she also didn’t want to spend the whole night at the piano.
“You have a week to practice, then,” Lady Catherine responded damningly.
Prudence sagged. It seemed her evening was to end with sore fingers and no opportunity to dance!
The three cousins remained in the morning room when the guests left, while Lady Catherine followed Sir James and his family to the door, issuing instructions as she went.
Prudence smiled at her cousin. “You stood up to your