The Colonel's Spinster - Audrey Harrison Page 0,41

money.”

“He seemed extremely upset. I think he had real affection for Miss Bamber,” Mr. Huxley said of the raging Colonel. His words to Darcy had been heard all through the ground floor of Rosings.

“Not enough though, or he would be here wouldn’t he? Thank you for telling me. I will not forget your honesty.”

“I did not have much of a choice, really, did I?” Mr. Huxley asked with a smile on his lips.

“No. None at all.”

Chapter 14

Prudence knocked on the door of her father’s study before walking into the room. It was the place where she had spent a lot of time when growing up, her father never really being far away from business.

She smiled on entering the study, as both her father and Mr. Huxley were bent over some documents spread out on the desk.

“Gentlemen, it is Sunday. A day of rest, surely?” she asked.

Mr. Huxley looked up guiltily. “I’m sorry, Miss Bamber. I just keep asking questions. The whole business is fascinating. I shall leave you.”

“There is no need for that, lad,” Mr. Bamber said good-naturedly, but he started to wrap up the papers.

“I shall take a walk in the gardens and think about what we have discussed.” Mr. Huxley left the room with a bow to Prudence.

“Have you found yourself a protégé?” she asked with a smile in her voice.

“He is a bright lad. I bet your aunt is ruing the day she let him go. He is very capable. I know he will want to move on at some point, but I admit, I will miss him when he’s gone even though he has only been with us for a short time.”

“I have noticed since his arrival how I have been neglected. I remember the times you used to come home and talk to me about the mills. Now it is all Mr. Huxley,” Prudence teased.

Mr. Bamber walked around the desk and held his hands out to his daughter. When she placed hers in his, he squeezed them. “You know full well you would glaze over if I spoke to you about business as often as I do with young Huxley.”

“Perhaps a little. But I insist that you have a break. I don’t want you wearing yourself out just because you have a playmate.”

“Cheeky wench,” Mr. Bamber said. He linked Prudence’s arm through his own. “What have you got planned to brighten my Sunday?”

“I thought we could go for a ride along the river? You have been neglecting your favourite horse as well as your daughter.”

“In that case I think we ought to,” Mr. Bamber said.

They had walked into the hallway and were heading for the stairs when the sound of an approaching carriage halted their progress.

“Who would come calling at this hour?” Mr. Bamber asked.

“I have no idea, but there seems to be some commotion,” Prudence said. It seemed as if there were shouts coming from the carriage, and she hurried to the door along with her father and the butler.

Faltering on the step of the house, Prudence frowned. “It’s Lady Catherine’s carriage!”

“Is it?” Mr. Bamber asked, but did not stop to speak further as the coachman had jumped down and was shouting for them to hurry. “What is it? What’s amiss?”

“Miss Anne is very ill, sir!” the coachman shouted without preamble, flinging open the door of the carriage. “She needs a doctor at once!”

Prudence ran to the open door of the carriage, arriving before her father had reached the vehicle. She looked inside before quickly climbing in.

“Anne? Anne! It’s Prudence. What is amiss?”

Anne was laid across the seat. Her pallor was sickly looking, a sheen of sweat making the whiteness of her skin glisten. Her eyelids flickered at Prudence’s voice, but she did not respond further.

“Dear God, Anne. What have you done?” Prudence asked quietly before turning to the three worried faces at the open door. “We need to get her to a chamber immediately. Lift her out, but be gentle. She is not of a strong constitution. She needs a doctor immediately.”

Anne was carried out and taken into the house. A footman was despatched to get the local doctor while Prudence followed her cousin upstairs.

“Miss…” the worried voice of the coachman made her pause.

“I’ll need to speak to you very soon, but I need to settle Miss De Bourgh first.” Receiving a nod of understanding at her words, she continued up the stairs.

Prudence and Mrs. Williams, the housekeeper, carefully undressed Anne and sponged her down to try to cool her skin. They worked