The Colonel's Spinster - Audrey Harrison Page 0,28
two men made their bows to the ladies and left the room.
“Darcy is such a sensible man, his only fault was to marry that woman,” Lady Catherine said of her favourite nephew.
“They both seem very happy,” Anne responded in defence of her cousin-in-law.
“And how, pray, do you know this?” Lady Catherine demanded of her daughter.
“Mrs. Collins sometimes mentions Mrs. Darcy when she’s received a letter from her,” Anne said, blushing deep red at her mother’s sharp question.
“I shall be telling Mrs. Collins what I think of her spreading the news from her private correspondence. She should have distanced herself from Miss Bennet by now,” Lady Catherine said, unable to give Mrs. Darcy her married name.
“I presume Mrs. Collins feels herself to be fortunate that Mrs. Darcy still writes to her. A woman of such high status does not always remain in touch with those who are very much lower in the social scale,” Prudence said, her anger prickling in defence of a cousin she’d never met.
Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes at her niece. “One has to know who it is acceptable to associate oneself with. There is nothing worse than a person thinking they are high in the instep when they should know their place.”
Perceiving that the comment was aimed at herself more than the absent Mrs. Darcy, Prudence stood. “Please excuse me, Aunt. I have the urge to take a walk in the gardens.”
“I’ll join you,” Anne said.
“It is too inclement for you, Anne,” Lady Catherine interjected.
“I’ll wrap up warm. I am accompanying Prudence,” Anne said, defying her mother for the first time in her life.
Both ladies walked out of the dining room, leaving behind a fulminating Lady Catherine.
*
Darcy had used the study regularly over the years when undertaking duties to help his aunt. Although she was more than capable of dealing with her own business, occasionally she had requested the help of her nephew.
He walked into the room and poured two glasses of brandy from the decanter.
“What is the meaning of your visit, Darcy?” Fitzwilliam asked. “I had thought you to be reluctant to leave your wife at this delicate time.”
“I am, but as I said, I received an express from Lady Catherine. I thought it pertinent to travel here, but I am keen to return to Pemberley. I hope to leave here tomorrow.”
“What could she want that I could not have sorted out for her? It does not do my pride an ounce of good to know that I am on hand yet she didn’t confide her troubles to me.”
“I think you’ll understand why when I explain the situation to you.”
“In that case, explain away,” Fitzwilliam said, but he was on the alert. His instincts were warning him that he was not going to be happy with what Darcy was going to say.
Darcy decided to come straight to the point. The cousins had shared many problems over the years and had always been honest and upfront with each other.
“Aunt Catherine is concerned that you are about to make a mésalliance,” he admitted.
“What?” Fitzwilliam responded heatedly.
“That you have become besotted with Miss Bamber and are about to act rashly.”
Fitzwilliam slammed down the glass onto the desk and jumped to his feet. “And she dragged you all the way from Pemberley for this reason? Tell me you didn’t know before you set-out. Please.”
“I knew enough to guess the rest,” Darcy admitted.
“And you left Elizabeth, knowing that I am fully able to make my own decisions? That I am a man of the world who has led men into battle under my assessment of the risks we were to face and the chances of success?” Fitzwilliam asked incredulously.
“Your head has obviously been turned by a charming woman. You do not want the locality making assumptions that will force you into an imprudent marriage.”
“The locality? I take it from that you mean that buffoon, Collins?”
“Mrs. Collins has mentioned in a letter to Elizabeth that you seem to be getting along famously with Miss Bamber.”
“Oh, well, in that case there must be a marriage instantly!” Fitzwilliam said sarcastically. “We cannot have the sanctimonious fool spreading rumours, can we?”
“It wouldn’t do Miss Bamber’s reputation any good.”
“Let me worry about Prudence’s good name. You go back and take care of your wife.”
“Prudence? You are on terms of using given names?”
“We use Anne’s given names, so why not Prudence’s?” Fitzwilliam demanded.
“We have known Anne our whole lives.”
“We would have known Prudence a lot longer if not for Aunt Catherine’s selfishness. Her father wrote when her