that the tradespeople are in a far more precarious situation than those creating the debt.”
Fitzwilliam stepped in quickly. He could see the thunderous expression on his aunt’s face and knew without doubt, if the argument continued, it would not end well for Prudence. That his aunt didn’t like to be disagreed with was obvious to anyone who came in contact with her. She would have no compunction in sending his cousin away, returning her to the wilds of Manchester, which was a characteristic of Lady Catherine that Prudence clearly hadn’t quite realised yet.
“Have you seen much of the Collinses since you arrived?” he asked quickly.
“Yes. Aunt Catherine has kindly invited them a few times,” Prudence said with a knowing look at Fitzwilliam’s tactic. “Mrs. Collins is a very pleasant lady.”
“Yes. She’s Mrs. Darcy’s best friend,” Fitzwilliam said. “I will walk over to the parsonage tomorrow. Would you like to join me, Cousin?”
“I like to spend time with Anne in the mornings,” Prudence said. “But if you intend setting out after that, I will gladly accompany you.”
“I’ve told her to get as much fresh air as she can while she is down here. Best to get some clean air to chase away the muck of the city,” Lady Catherine said.
Fitzwilliam decided it was going to be a long visit.
Chapter 2
Fitzwilliam was happy to wait until Prudence and Anne returned from their carriage ride. He had spent the evening at his aunt’s side, and only after she retired, was he able to indulge in enough brandy to deaden the headache caused by her close proximity. How he had missed Darcy!
Coming downstairs with a slightly fuddled head, he smiled at the two young women entering the front hallway. Anne was walking better, more upright, and she was smiling again, something that hadn’t happened much once her mother had appeared the day before.
Bowing to them both, he smiled. “Would you both like to accompany me to Hunsford parsonage? I am happy to have each of my arms escort a pretty lady.”
Prudence looked at Anne and shook her head in despair. “Is he always so full of flummery?”
Anne looked at Fitzwilliam with a little trepidation, but smiled at Prudence. “Sometimes. Yes. Mostly.”
Fitzwilliam let out a crack of laughter. “I like this new Anne,” he said with a smile.
Blushing, Anne smiled at the compliment. “So do I. But please forgive me. I don’t think a walk would do me good. I still get quite tired. I am happy to sit in the library until Mother comes downstairs. Prudence has given me some novels, and I am enjoying them.”
“Oh, really? Another secret from Lady Catherine?”
“No. We just haven’t mentioned the fact. The books are quite visible,” Prudence pointed out.
“My aunt never enters the library,” Fitzwilliam said with a smile.
“But she could,” Prudence countered.
“About as likely as me making general.”
“How disappointing. I thought my new family were all destined for great things,” Prudence said.
“Unfortunately, most second sons hang on to the tailcoats of the other members of the family.” Fitzwilliam shrugged. “Enjoy your books, Anne. We shall seek you out when we return.”
“Have a lovely time,” Anne said with a wave and walked towards the library.
Fitzwilliam offered his arm to Prudence, and she laid her hand on it before they exited the house. Turning towards the path that cut through the grounds, giving the neighbours a useful shortcut to the parsonage, he strolled at an easy pace.
“You’ve done wonders for Anne,” he stated as soon as they were out of earshot of the house.
“She was not hard to persuade into more activity,” Prudence said. “I felt so sorry for her when I first arrived.”
“Yes. To be sickly with an overbearing mother cannot have been easy. The whole family has sympathised with her situation, but spending two weeks with our aunt will have shown you how dashed awkward it is trying to interfere on Anne’s behalf,” he admitted.
“I think she isn’t as ill as everyone else thinks,” Prudence said thoughtfully. “She has been taught to believe that she’s unwell, which has influenced her and everyone around her in the way they treat her and how she behaves.”
“I’m glad she is responding to you.”
“We are of a similar age. She is only a few years older than I.”
“I still think of her as being very young,” Fitzwilliam admitted.
“Papa still considers me a bantling,” Prudence smiled.
“Do you see much of each other? I’m led to believe that the hours are long, and the work is hard.”
“Are we allowed to talk of