The Colonel's Spinster - Audrey Harrison Page 0,43

through the tolls and buy refreshments. It was quite a few pounds.”

“Thank goodness for that.”

“Yes. Staying at the inns was more tricky. I had to make up all sorts of stories before they would accept a young lady unaccompanied. I slept outside her door to make sure she was safe, but we couldn’t always stay in the best inns. I think some of the sheets might have been damp because she started looking pale the further we travelled.”

“Oh, dear. She is not used to such activity, either,” Prudence said.

“No. I tried to persuade her to turn around and go home, but she was insistent that we continue. She threatened that she would cast me off and drive the carriage herself.”

Prudence could not stop her laugh from escaping. “I told her she had claws! Oh, Anne, why have you risked yourself so?”

“For the last two days we haven’t stopped, day or night.”

“You have travelled through the night?” Mr. Bamber exclaimed.

“Yes. I had to. Lady Anne was very ill, and I had to get her here. Every time I opened the carriage door to check on her, I sent up a prayer that she was still alive.”

“Oh, you poor thing! You must be fit to drop!” Prudence said.

“Will she get better, Miss? I know she’s poorly.”

“We don’t know as yet, but be assured that she will have the best care. You need to rest. I will arrange for a room for you and some food. Go to bed and don’t get up until you are fully recovered. You have gone above and beyond your duty over these last few days.”

“I know Lady Catherine will turn me off for not bringing Lady Anne home, but she was so upset Miss. I’ve never seen her so. She has always been a good girl. I wanted to take her to her cousin in the hope they would help her. It was only later that I began to realise who she was travelling to.”

“I presume you do not mean me?” Prudence asked.

“No, Miss. Is it true that Mr. Huxley is here? Lady Anne said she had told him to come here.”

“Yes. He’s here.”

“Thank goodness for that. At least it wasn’t a complete fool’s errand, if you’ll beg my pardon, Miss.”

“Of course. Thank you for not deserting her,” Prudence said, and then ringing the bell, she gave instructions of what was to happen with the weary coachman.

When Mr. Bamber was once more alone with his daughter, he shook his head at her. “It seems we are to inherit most of Lady Catherine’s servants if this is to continue.”

“Papa, she travelled all the way from Kent on her own!”

“As did you,” Mr. Bamber pointed out.

“I’m not a slip of a chit who has barely been out of her own county and has been cosseted for every minute of her life. There is little difference between us in age, but believe me, we are worlds apart in experience. Anything could have happened.”

“At this moment in time, what could have happened is irrelevant. Getting her well will be task enough.”

“Yes. What the devil are we to tell Mr. Huxley?”

Chapter 15

Mr. Huxley was devastated. He cursed and raged for a full ten minutes before calming himself enough to be the sensible man he normally was.

“What can I do to help her?” he asked.

“She shall be given the best care possible,” Prudence assured him for the tenth time in as many minutes. “There is one thing I need to discuss with you though, and it shall not be an easy decision to make.”

“What? I’ll do anything I can.”

“We need to decide who to contact to let them know Anne is here with us and ill. As much as I would not wish to have Lady Catherine arrive at my door, I feel she has the right to know what is going on.”

“She does not deserve the daughter she has been blessed with.” The words were said with gritted teeth. Mr. Huxley was standing in front of the fireplace, his knuckles white with gripping the marble edge.

“That may be so, but Anne is her daughter, and Lady Catherine has a right to know. My only hesitation is about the news that she was taken ill. I do not wish to add to her distress, though I have little affection for the woman.”

“No. Nor I,” Mr. Huxley admitted. He sighed. “Perhaps it would be best to write to Mr. Darcy? He has had quite a bit of involvement with the family over the years