Colonel Fitzwilliam's Dilemma Read online

Joshua spent the next ten minutes explaining Mrs. Sheffield’s difficulty, together with Mrs. Darcy’s plan to resolve it. She listened without once interrupting, a series of unreadable expressions passing across her face as she did so.

  “Certainly you may use my name, Colonel,” she said without hesitation when he came to the end of his narration. “If it helps you to achieve your heart’s desire, it will be my pleasure to have assisted you in some small way.”

  “Thank you, but as to achieving my heart’s desire as you put it, I have no way of knowing if that will be possible even if we are successful, which is far from certain. I have not declared myself and most likely will not do so for fear Mrs. Sheffield might feel compelled to accept me out of some sense of misplaced gratitude. Besides, she is a beautiful woman and can do far better than me.”

  “You underestimate your attraction, Colonel. Besides, has it occurred to you that her feelings might mirror your own?”

  Joshua couldn’t conceal his surprise. “Whatever makes you say that?”

  “Oh, nothing in particular.” She sent him a teasing, almost flirtatious smile. “It is just that I noticed she was observing you across the table just as often as you were looking at her, and I am sure it wasn’t the cut of your coat that engaged her attention.”

  “Good God!” Joshua exclaimed, surprise taking precedence over good manners.

  “You sound surprised.” Anne’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Surely you do not plan to make me say what a fine figure you cut, with your charming and elegant manners? Why should a lady such as Mrs. Sheffield not enjoy what she sees?”

  “Hmm, yes.” Joshua coughed behind his hand. “Er, thank you.”

  Anne laughed at his discomfiture and Joshua eventually joined in. He had certainly not started this interview with any thought of being the one to feel embarrassed.

  “As to your own situation, if we go ahead with this plan there is no danger to you, Anne,” he said, regaining his composure, “provided you remain here at Pemberley. Sheffield won’t be able to get anywhere near you but he will learn all about you from anyone he talks to in Lambton. You know very well that everyone in the village knows everything that happens at Pemberley. I am sure it is much the same with Rosings and Hunsford. Anyway, that ought to be enough to convince him I speak the truth, especially if I have my man spread rumours about our impending nuptials.”

  “Yes, I dare say.” She smiled. “I must say, Mr. Sheffield sounds most disagreeable.”

  “Not precisely the word I would choose to describe the bounder, but I shall not offend your sensibilities by using a more appropriate one.”

  “Oh, I do wish you would, Colonel. No one ever says anything inappropriate within my hearing. How am I supposed to learn anything interesting if everyone treats me so delicately?”

  Joshua threw back his head and laughed, making no attempt to hide his relief at her ready capitulation and lively curiosity. “Ask Asquith. I have already led you quite far enough astray.”

  “I have asked him, repeatedly.” Anne tossed her head. “But he has a way of distracting me with some interesting fact or other, and manages not to answer me without giving offence. It is most vexing.”

  Mrs. Darcy had been right about her, Joshua thought. She had matured and was hungry for adventure and rebellion. But he needed to be absolutely sure she understood.

  “Do you wish to spend the night considering the matter? You can give me your answer in the morning.”

  “Not at all. I am quite determined you should bring the odious Mr. Sheffield down to size. However, I should like to explain our plan to Mr. Asquith. I know you swore me to secrecy, but he knows Sheffield and might be able to suggest other ways to lure him in.”

  “Hmm, that is true. I have already discussed Mrs. Sheffield’s problems with him, and he might have thought of some way to help her. Although I suppose he has other concerns of his own now.”

  “Mr. Collins’s accusations, you mean?” Joshua nodded. “Well, I am sure there is nothing to them, but it is typical of Mr. Collins to come charging up to Derbyshire like an avenging…I hesitate to say angel, because a less likely looking angel I have yet to encounter.” Anne pulled a disgruntled face and blew air through her lips. “He so likes to interfere, and never did approve of Mr. Asquith. I believe he is jealous because Mr. Asquith has displaced him at Rosings. I like Mrs. Collins very much and cannot imagine what made her marry Mr. Collins, although I suppose, like me she was pressured by her family for fear of her being left on the shelf and becoming a burden to her siblings.”

  Joshua was vastly entertained by this new, talkative side of Anne’s character and would happily have listened to her prattling on. However, time was not on their side.

  “Very well, by all means acquaint Mr. Asquith of our plan. And tomorrow you and I, in the spirit of a couple of the verge of engagement, will drive out together. No one will object. In fact, your mother will encourage the outing. She need not know that we are heading for Briar Hall to acquaint Mrs. Sheffield of our plan.”

  “Oh, will I not be in the way?”

  “Not in the least. Besides, when she hears what you are prepared to do to help her, I feel sure she will wish to thank you in person.”

  “She has nothing to thank me for.” Anne smiled. “I cannot remember a time when I enjoyed myself more or felt more useful. I am sorry for Mama, of course. She genuinely does have my best interests at heart and thinks she knows what is best for me and for Rosings too of course. Still, since you do not wish to marry me there is nothing she can do about it.”

  “Anne, you must not think—”

  “Shush, I am just teasing you.”

  His cousin Anne, having the confidence to tease? Who would have thought it?

  “We do not have much time to make our arrangements. In less than a week’s time you perform your play, and by then I am sure your mother will expect us to do more than spend our afternoons out driving.”

  “Hmm yes, I see what you mean.” Anne furrowed her brow. “Providing she doesn’t get suspicious, she will be happy to remain at Pemberley for at least another week, expecting us to become better acquainted and resigned to our fate. She will be very angry and disappointed but there is no help for that.”

  “It is I who will do the disappointing. No blame will attach to you.”

  “Is a week long enough for Mr. Sheffield to come up here and for this matter to be settled?”

  “Oh yes. He is in London at present according to Mrs. Sheffield’s solicitor, and not in Buckinghamshire. If he doesn’t mind the discomfort of long days on the road which I am sure he will not if he thinks there is profit in it for him, he can be here within three days.”

  “Well in that case, I shall enjoy seeing him get his just deserts.”

  “If our plan works we shall all enjoy that experience, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped to bring it about.” Joshua took her small hand, kissed the back of it and pulled her to her feet. “I am so glad we understand one another. Now come, let us join the others before we are missed.”

  A hum of polite conversation filled the drawing room. It seemed to Joshua as though it stalled when he and Anne entered the room. All heads certainly turned their way, some displaying more interest than others. Lady Catherine descended upon them, and Joshua diplomatically left mother and daughter alone, confident that Anne would play her part in this real life drama at least as well as she reputedly did in Asquith’s production. The Darcys were in conversation with Jane Bingley but joined Joshua a short time later.

  “You and Anne look very pleased with yourselves, Colonel,” Mrs. Darcy said. “Are we to wish you joy?”

  “No, ma’am, but I certainly owe you my thanks.”

  “She agreed then,” Darcy surmised.

  “With alacrity. She is so pleased not to be forced into marriage with me that she will do just about anything.”

  “Fitzwilliam!”

  “Sorry, Darcy. You looked so severe for a moment that
I couldn’t resist shamming it.”

  “Anne has matured beyond imagination and is more than ready for a little adventure,” Darcy said, taking Joshua’s joke in good part.

  “I hope you have given her leave to inform Mr. Asquith of your plans,” Mrs. Darcy said. “He looks ready to cut his own throat at present. After he has cut yours, of course.”

  “Yes, he will soon learn the truth, but Lady Catherine must never know. Anne is telling her now that we have agreed to take some time to get to know one another. I shall drive her over to Briar Hall in the morning and meet with Mrs. Sheffield.”

  “Will you just look at Mr. Collins strutting about my drawing room like a peacock in full plume.” Mrs. Darcy looked as disgusted as she sounded. “He has taken great pleasure in casting doubt over Mr. Asquith’s character which is not very Christian of him. I believe he has grown even more pompous since we last met, and I did not think that was possible.” She sighed. “Poor Charlotte.”

  “Come, my dear, I believe Simpson is about to announce dinner,” Darcy said. “Where shall you seat Mr. Collins?”

  “As far away from me as possible.”

  “Have him take Lady Catherine in,” Joshua suggested. “He will butter her up for the entire meal, which will work wonders for her pride.”

  “Oh, I think you and Anne already managed that when you walked into this room wearing identical smiles,” Mrs. Darcy replied, wandering off to organise her guests.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Am I to wish you joy, Miss de Bourgh?”

  Mr. Asquith posed the question early the following morning at a time when he and Anne had fallen into the habit of spending an hour discussing literature before rehearsals commenced. He looked so crestfallen that Anne’s soft heart went out to him. He had been unnaturally quiet and withdrawn the previous evening, she had noticed. Mr. Collins on the other hand, had been his usually verbose self, dominating the conversation until Mr. Darcy had expressed his disapproval, cutting him with a look. Anne wanted to ask Mr. Collins when he planned to leave, but now that he was here, he appeared to be in no hurry to quit Pemberley. God forbid that he expected to return to Hunsford in their carriage.

  “Are you asking me if I have accepted Colonel Fitzwilliam’s proposal?”

  He fixed her with an intent gaze. “Have you?”

  Anne took pity on him and laughing, shook her head. She knew his only concern was for his lucrative position, even if a tiny part of her wanted to believe he was disappointed for more personal reasons. They had grown so very close recently that he probably understood her better than anyone else on earth, including her mother. Be that as it may, she reminded herself not to be so fanciful and returned her attention to Mr. Asquith.

  “The colonel and I have decided we would not suit.”

  “He does not wish to marry you?” Mr. Asquith’s jaw dropped open. “He actually told you so?”

  She bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing at his expression—a mixture of surprise, disbelief and dare she hope, a little relief too? “Has it occurred to you, Mr. Asquith, that it might be I who do not wish to marry him?”

  “I know you were not keen on the match, but I thought…well I thought—” He stood up and ran a hand through his hair. “Forgive me. I did not think you would deliberately go against your mother’s wishes.”

  “Sometimes I surprise myself,” she replied playfully.

  “You were closeted together for so long, and then both smiling when you finally entered the drawing room last night. Lady Catherine has been in a very light-hearted mood ever since. I just assumed everything had been settled between you.” His words ground to a momentary halt. “It is not my business of course but if you wish to tell me what happened I would be happy to listen. I know you did not wish to marry the colonel but if he did actually reject you and not the other way around, do you not feel insulted? If that is the case, I would call him out for his incivility were it my place to do so.”

  “That would be very rash, Mr. Asquith. He is after all a trained soldier.”

  “You think me incapable of protecting your honour?” he asked passionately. “I can assure you that Colonel Fitzwilliam does not frighten me.”

  “I do not in the least doubt you.” Anne’s heart swelled at his obvious determination to protect her. It was a new and very agreeable feeling. “However, such drastic action will not be necessary.”

  “I have never seen you like this before. So self-assured, so carefree. I understand you are relieved, but Lady Catherine…why is she so buoyed if the match is not to go ahead?”

  Anne recalled her mother pulling her aside when the ladies left the table the previous evening, demanding to know what had happened. When Anne had explained they had decided to spend a week getting to know one another better, she appeared satisfied.

  “I should have thought you knew one another well enough as it is,” she replied. “But still, I suppose there is no harm in delaying matters by a week. I know you don’t wish to do this, Anne, and need time to adjust. Even so, you will thank me in the end when you realise I have done you a favour by choosing a man with whom you will be able to live in great harmony.”

  And yet your first choice for me was Mr. Darcy. “I dare say I will, Mama.”

  Anne crossed her fingers behind her back as she spoke and escaped to join the rest of the ladies as soon as she could. They all looked at her with varying degrees of curiosity but were too polite to cross-question her on her lengthy interlude with Colonel Fitzwilliam.

  “The colonel and I have reached a rather unique understanding and he has given me his permission to confide in you,” she told Mr. Asquith. “Before I do so, I need hardly tell you that what I have to say is absolutely confidential.”

  Mr. Asquith settled himself more comfortably in his chair and crossed one leg elegantly over its twin. He was like a large cat, she thought. He probably was not aware that he appeared sleek, sophisticated, glorious in his male splendour, and ever so slightly dangerous which only added to his appeal. What she would give to be able to express so much self-confidence in her movement and gestures. “Now I am really intrigued.”

  “It has to do with Mrs. Sheffield.”

  Mr. Asquith frowned. “He spoke to you about his feelings for another lady?”

  “Oh yes, we had a very free and frank discussion. It was highly illuminating.”

  His frown intensified. “I think you had best tell me everything.”

  Anne did so, watching Mr. Asquith’s face for any sign he might disapprove or decide to warn Lady Catherine. When she ran out of words, she looked at him expectantly.

  “I am very glad you will not have to marry a man whom you do not love.”

  “Oh, I will have to do that, Mr. Asquith. I have merely been granted a stay of execution. Better yet, the colonel and I now understand one another perfectly.”

  “I cannot believe he is prepared to put you in the path of danger, however indirectly. It is too rash of him.”

  “He asked my permission and would not have done so if I had not agreed. I feel very sorry for Mrs. Sheffield and intend to help her in any way I can. I hope you are not going to say you know what is best for me and inform my mother.” Anne squared her shoulders and narrowed her eyes at him. It was a habit of Kitty’s that Anne thought very expressive. She had been waiting for a suitable opportunity to try it out for herself. It felt wonderful to behave as she saw fit, with reference to no one’s standards but her own. “I have had quite enough of other people trying to live my life for me. I thought you were my friend and that I could trust you.”

  “As you can.” His voice softened, and the deep vertical lines around his nose dissipated as the grip of winter left his eyes. “My concern is entirely for your welfare.”

  “And your position,” she said before she could stop herself.

  He shrugged his broad shoulders. “My position is at best tenuous.”

  “I spoke with Mama about you last night. Remember, she thinks I am to accept
Colonel Fitzwilliam and that she will no longer need your services. I made her promise to give you a glowing character.”

  Mr. Asquith sent her a devastating smile. “In the middle of all the things that are happening in your life you spared a moment to think of me?”

  “Certainly I did. You have taught me a very great deal and I would not see you turned away with no means of making a living. Anyway, I happened to hear Mama asking Mr. Collins if he knew where Sir Marius is lodging. Naturally Mr. Collins did know, being so eager to engineer your downfall. Apparently he asked Miss Miranda’s coachman for that information and ensured the young lady was put safely on the road back to Dover. Not that the coachman needed his interference but Mr. Collins does so like to make himself useful. Anyway, I believe Mama intends to apply to Sir Marius and the truth will come out, proving your innocence and enabling her to give you a character with a clear conscience.”

  “You are remarkable,” he said softly. “I have offered you no explanation for Miranda’s extraordinary claim and yet you have complete faith in my innocence.”

  “That is because I understand you well enough to believe you incapable of jilting a lady,” Anne replied, firm conviction in her tone. “I imagine you are protecting her reputation in some way because I know you to be an honourable man. I am guided by my instincts in this matter.” She paused, somehow finding the courage to meet his gaze. She seemed to have a plethora of courage these days and wondered where it had been hiding itself all these years. “I have spent enough time in your company these past months to know that you have the highest standards of conduct.”

  “I rejoice in your faith in me. Few other people in this establishment feel the same way. They all have their doubts, thinking there must be some truth in Miranda’s claim even if they don’t actually come out and say so. The shadow of false accusation will dog me for a long time to come.”

  “Only if people do not know you for who you really are, and that would be their loss.”

  Anne felt a deep oneness with her handsome tutor that broke through the boundaries of rank separating them. Mr. Asquith held her gaze for a prolonged moment, an elusive warmth in his dark eyes that caused her body to react with a series of deliciously disturbing tremors. She enjoyed them for a fleeting moment before shaking her head to clear it. She was being fanciful again, reading more into their relationship than existed, and it really would not do. One way or another, Mr. Asquith’s days as her tutor were numbered and she must train herself to face life without him in it.