The Colonel's Spinster - Audrey Harrison Page 0,40

would. I could not believe the noise. It hardly ever ceased.”

“I miss it when I’m not there,” Mr. Bamber admitted.

“That is why I can never get you to visit anywhere outside of Manchester,” Prudence admonished.

“Why would I want to go anywhere else when all I need is here?” There was genuine puzzlement on Mr. Bamber’s face, at which Prudence laughed.

“You are incorrigible, Papa. You love it here, and yet you tried to send me away.”

“That’s because parents want what is best for our children.”

“I am quite happy being in Stretford, thank you,” Prudence said tartly.

“It was not as rural where your aunt lives.”

“And look how bored I was there. I came home early.” She noticed the curious look Mr. Huxley aimed in her direction, but she ignored it, hoping her father had not noticed it.

Unfortunately for Prudence, Mr. Bamber had noticed exactly what had passed, and two days later in a lull at the mill, he brought up the subject with Mr. Huxley.

“Which one of the gentlemen at Rosings has turned my girl’s head? And before you start to deny it, I saw the look you gave her at supper the other night,” Mr. Bamber said to the cornered Mr. Huxley.

The younger man sat heavily in his seat. “I will not lie to you, sir, but I wish you would not ask me anything.”

“Unfortunately for you, my daughter has kept her feelings to herself since her return but has walked around the place with a haunted look in her eyes. Oh, she thinks she has kept it from me, but I saw the moment she walked through this door when she returned that something was amiss.”

“She decided to leave quite suddenly,” Mr. Huxley said hesitantly.

“I know that. Now don’t start being all niffy-naffy with me. Tell me what is going on, and I will think all the better of you for it,” Mr. Bamber said.

“Miss Prudence might not, though,” Mr. Huxley pointed out.

Mr. Bamber chuckled. “Sometimes the silly chit thinks she knows best, but when she is hurting, I know for sure she does not.” He sat on the edge of the large desk, close to Mr. Huxley. “Now, come, who was it turned her head? And why isn’t there a marriage being announced?”

Mr. Huxley sank a little in his seat. He was astute enough to know he was fighting a losing battle trying to avoid speaking about what had happened at Rosings. Sighing he looked at Mr. Bamber. “Miss Bamber became very friendly with one of her cousins, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

“A colonel, eh? That’s good. Something obviously did not go well, or I would probably be welcoming a new son by now. Which one of them erred?”

“I do not know all the details. I only know that their other cousin, Mr. Darcy, came to visit suddenly, as a result of a letter from Lady Catherine, and there was an almighty argument. For the first time, there seems to be a rift between Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. It is very strange, for they’ve been as close as brothers over the years.”

“Hmmm. Interesting. So Lady Catherine decided to interfere, did she? Hurt my girl in the process. Well it was my own doing. I was foolish enough to wish her to meet her family. Seems I might have caused more mischief than benefit.”

“Miss Anne thinks a lot of Miss Bamber.”

“Aye, my Prudence has talked about her cousin. Seems she became mighty fond of her. A pity it all went wrong. I knew there was something amiss. What is so special about this Colonel that they would not wish my daughter to marry him?”

Mr. Huxley stood up hurriedly and walked to the window. “Sir, it is not my place to say.”

“I’m not going to reveal what you tell me. I just need to know what I inadvertently caused.”

“Colonel Fitzwilliam comes from a good family, but he is a second son.”

“Ah. He needs to marry for money,” Mr. Bamber said realising the truth from Mr. Huxley’s few words. “There is no need to say any more lad. I can imagine the rest. The fools. He would have had more blunt than he could spend if he had stayed loyal to my Prudence. Bet he is sick to his stomach now he knows who she is. I am presuming she told them the truth before she left?”

“Yes. I believe so.”

“Good girl. Well, he will live to regret it, but I’m glad my girl did not end up with a man just interested in her