by Wells, Linda
“In trade? So the man is in Cheapside?” Lord Matlock grinned.
“Damn and blast!”
“You have dropped enough clues. What is the shop’s name so we may give him our custom?”
“I am not telling.” He said smugly. “I stumbled upon it one day. But I tell you, the shopkeeper is an entertaining sort. I was in there last week and he was telling a whopper of a tale!”
“Oh?” Lord Lynch took a card and looked at him expectantly. “So?”
“It seems a patron came in, looking for another. Well, in the man comes and the first man, a big one, late of the Navy, puts it to the little one …”
“Navy, no wonder he likes the story.” Lord Sussen rolled his eyes. “They are always Navy men …”
Lynch laughed. “His son is a captain, after all!” He lifted his chin, “Little one?”
Lord Penzey stopped his glare at Sussen and waved his hand at Lynch. “He ends up pissing his breeches, so he has to be a little one!”
“I think that we just heard the bite of the joke.” Lord Matlock chuckled and took two cards.
“No, no!” Lord Penzey cried. “Listen! The little one had demanded money to keep quiet about ruining the big bloke’s sister!”
“Ah, and the Navy man ruined him instead?” Lord Lynch grinned. “Good for him.”
“Too bad for the girl. I suppose she’s been married off to someone suitable.”
“I suppose.” Lord Penzey rubbed his chin. “It was much better when the shopkeeper told it. He said the name of the family … from up your way, I think, Matlock.”
“The way that you tell a tale that could mean Kent. You are the worst storyteller I have ever known.” He laughed. “What is the name?”
“Damned if I know. It did not stick.” Frowning, he stared at his cards and sighed. “It really was a good story.”
“No doubt.” Lord Matlock winked. “Well, if you ever get the details right …”
“Forget it. I will not be asking him, he will think me more of a fool than you do.”
“Speaking of fools,” Lord Sussen nodded to the door. “Here comes one on your daughter’s arm.”
“She looks frighteningly like her mother. I wonder what she is about.”
“Do not turn him down flat, Matlock, you need to marry her off.”
“Not to that one.” Lord Matlock observed. “She looks like a cat bringing home a dead mouse to play with.” The men chuckled softly as they approached.
“Papa, Gentlemen,” Cathy nodded when the men grunted into a standing position. “Oh, please sit.” She smiled prettily. “Papa, I wanted to introduce you to my dancing partner. This is Mr. Walker.”
“Walker.”
The man smiled and bowed eagerly, “Lord Matlock, sir, I had no idea that I was dancing with the daughter of an earl!”
“I bet.” Lord Lynch muttered as he resumed his seat.
“Has that changed your opinion of my daughter, sir? And may ask is it negative or positive?”
“Oh, sir. Most positive, she is lovely and …”
“How long have you known him, Cathy?”
“A half-hour, Papa.”
“And why after such a significant acquaintance do you feel the need to introduce him to me?” Lord Matlock saw the glint in his daughter’s eye and waited expectantly.
“Why, Mr. Walker is from Scotland.”
“Are you? I do not hear it in your voice.” Lord Matlock looked at him assessingly. “What part?”
“Dumfries, sir. But I was raised in London, so of course that is my influence.”
“Mmmhmm.”
“Mr. Walker is the heir to an estate, Papa. What is it called?” Cathy smiled at him so widely that Walker could not help but preen. “Was it Summerdale?”
“Close, Sommerwald.”
“Sommerwald.” Lord Matlock started and looked at his daughter before sitting forward. “Sommerwald in Dumfries.”
“Yes, sir. It is a beautiful estate, although I am sure that it is nothing to Matlock.”
Lynch snorted and spoke under his breath, “Of course not.”
Lord Matlock stared at the young man. “You are the owner?”
“Heir, actually.” He smiled.
“Heir to Sommerwald.”
“Yes, sir. My family has been there for years.”
“Five?”
“Well, I have only been there during breaks from school in past few years, that is true, but then our branch of the family only recently inherited it. How did you know that number, sir?”
“Because …” Lord Matlock stood and slammed his cards on the table. “Sommerwald is owned by Fitzwilliam Darcy who inherited it five years ago when his father died. He leased it out soon after, however he is in residence as we speak.” He growled and pointed his finger in Walker’s face, “Now, boy, either you are trying to pull the wool over our eyes, or your father has done a good job of fooling you, but either way, I assure you, I will be writing to my nephew and informing him that the Walkers are using him!”
“Sir … sir, I swear, I did not know!” Walker stammered.
“Cathy, step away from this imposter. I will dance this set with you.” Glaring at Walker, he dropped his cards. “Save my seat.”
“Absolutely.” Lord Penzey chuckled as Lord Matlock stalked away, muttering under his breath. “Mr. Walker,” he tossed him a handkerchief. “I would go stand before the fire while your breeches dry before you go tell your father that you are homeless.”
“And next time, own up to what you own … I like that …” Lord Lynch laughed. “Own up to what you own.”
“Quiet Lynch.” Lord Sussen muttered and smirked as the red faced young man hurried to stand at the fireplace. “That Lady Cathy is quite like her namesake, I remember Lady Catherine’s first season.”
“And second.”
“And third.”
The three men snorted at each other. “Poor de Bourgh. Any more of that snuff, Penzey?”
“Hmm, oh, certainly.” He took out his box and stared at it thoughtfully. “Darcy.”
“You have named your snuffbox Darcy?” Lynch held out his hand.
“No.” Penzey started. “No, that name struck me for a moment.”
“Likely because your wife wanted him for a son.” He looked pointedly at the box when Penzey rolled his eyes. “Now … which of our sons should take Lady Cathy?” The three men laughed, and returned to their game.
“WHERE ARE YOU FROM?” The man dealing cards asked.
“What gave me away?”
“I heard an accent like yours the other day. Where was I?” He yawned and picked up his tankard to take a long draught of his ale. “Sommerwald, that’s the place. The master was climbing into the carriage with a lady when I was coming around the back with a delivery. He sounded just like you.”
“Where’s he from?”
“How the bloody hell do I know? Was I gonna go stepping up to ask? He’s just here for a bit of fishing and then he’ll go back where he came from. Heard he’s got a big place somewhere south.”
“In England.”
“Yeah, in England. Where did you think I meant? The sea?”
“So this man was in the carriage with a lady? Did she have dark hair?”
“Noooo, blonde! And ripe! Heavy of foot, my mother would say. Lord, she looked miserable. He was doing his best to cheer her though, I’ll give him that.” He sniffed and took another drink. “Kind of feel sorry for her. She looked awfully young, it must be her first. She’s pretty though.” Rubbing his nose, he studied his partner. “Why all of the questions?”
“Just curious.” Wickham shrugged and laying down his cards, he smiled and scooped up the pot. “And I won.”
“Damn!” He looked up when Wickham stood. “Where are you going? I want to win my money back.”
“Then find someone else to play with. I have things to do.” Pulling on his coat, he picked up his hat. “And someone to see.”
“WELL? WHAT DID HE HAVE TO SAY
?” Robert and Stephen joined their father in his study almost as soon as Richard left. Looking out into the hallway, they heard his warm greetings for Sophie and Mrs. Kelly, and Robert closed the door. “You must have given him permission to go forward.”
“How could I possibly say no?” Mr. Kelly leaned back in his chair and picking up the tumbler that held a few scant drops of whiskey, he murmured quietly, “Quite a conversation we had. He is a very forthright man.”
“Well?” Stephen demanded and poured out a drink for himself. “He wants her? How can he know that he wants her? They barely know each other!”
“True enough, but I think that it is fair to say that the colonel has a world of experience with women. He met her, he was struck by her, he left and could not stop thinking about her. He claims this is the first time that has ever happened to him and I have no reason to disbelieve him.” He pointed a finger at the door. “That man is basing his future entirely on the hope of marrying Sophie.”
“Why? Does he need her dowry?”
“What man cannot use an extra fifteen thousand?” Mr. Kelly looked between his sons. “No, he is not after money, he has a great weight on his shoulders, and yet he shrugs at it as if it were nothing. He speaks of his cousin Mr. Darcy as the real man in his family. After meeting him only a few times, I daresay he would demur in favour of his cousin.”
“Mr. Darcy?” Stephen stared. “He is silent, wooden … arrogant.”
Robert objected, “No, he isn’t. Mr. Darcy does not join in with our form of swagger because he does not need to. He knows who he is.”
“First sons sticking together.” Stephen shot at his brother.
Mr. Kelly listened to the familiar argument and tapped his fingers on his desk. “You know, that is something that struck me about the colonel. He is a younger son of an Earl and he had to make a choice for supporting himself. He chose the army where he could have taken the living on his father’s estate … it was offered, by the way. He wanted to prove himself beyond the shadow of his family. It was an excellent decision.”
Stephen looked into his glass. “Should I go then?”
“No.” Mr. Kelly smiled. “I think that you will make a fine barrister one day, Son. If for no other reason than you love to argue.” Stephen’s face tinged pink when Robert laughed. “I like him. He is serious about the things that matter, he is honest. He had a situation laid out before him that causes him much grief and anxiety, and the reason he chose to move forward with its solution now was because he met your sister. He did not want to go it alone, and he sensed that she is more than ready to leave home.” The two brothers grew silent with that news. “And she is, boys. You will have to accept that.”
“What is his burden, Father?” Robert asked quietly.
“I am not at liberty to say. But it will take him away from here once again. To work. And he will return as often as he can to satisfy your sister. And then, one day, she will be gone.”
“She does not know him.” Stephen repeated.
“She knows what she wants. She sees something in him that she wants to spend a lifetime with. I would much rather have her make this choice than end a spinster or marry someone who seems fine in a settlement, but who will not love her.”
“Does he love her, Father?”
“Ah.” Smiling, he lifted his glass. “He will. How can he not love our Sophie?”
“I ASKED YOUR FATHER to keep it to himself, and I ask you to do the same. I feel that to speak of it I am wishing ill health upon my brother and that is the last thing I want. If he could live to a hundred and be the greatest earl who has ever trod the halls of Parliament, I would be delighted beyond measure.” Richard watched her and spoke seriously, “But the fact remains that it is very unlikely that he will live so long, and more so, that he will sire an heir.”
Sophie nodded, “So … regardless of your title … it will be your son who will be Earl of Matlock one day.”
“Yes.”
“And this is why you have left the army, and accepted your brother’s offer to live in his …” Her brow creased, “What do you call the estate occupied by a viscount? It is not an earldom.”
Richard laughed. “I just call it an estate. But Gladney will indeed be the home of the future viscount by my taking up residency.”
“Your son.”
“Ours … perhaps.” Their eyes met and he watched her draw a steadying breath. “Is it too much to take in? Were you only just convincing yourself that living in a barracks was the life you always dreamed of having?” Richard laughed as she rolled her eyes. “Admit it to me, Miss Kelly, it did not hold appeal.”
“Of course not.”
“They why did you continue to entertain thoughts of me and my … what did Mr. Campbell say? My devilishly handsome eyes?”
“I said no such thing!”
“You contradict a man of the cloth?” He grinned.
“I said that you were devilishly provoking and had the possibility of being handsome …” Richard tilted his head, “And that you had very … intriguing eyes.” She blushed and his smile grew. “Stop that.”
“What? Being devilish or intriguing?”
“Being a man.”
“I am afraid that I cannot help that situation. You have a band of protective brothers around you who do not bother me in the least. I think that is very appealing to you.”
“I want the man I choose to get on with my family, of course.”
“What else do you want, Miss Kelly? I cannot promise to be everything you wish for, but I surely will try my best to make you very happy, one day, should you accept my hand.”
“This is moving far too fast.”
“You understand why it must, do you not?”
“I understand why you must leave.” Sophie looked at his large, rough hands. “Do you not wear gloves when you ride?”
He held them up curiously. “Of course, I do, they would be shredded to ribbons otherwise. Why do you ask?”
“Your hands have seen work.” She touched several scars and looked up at him. His smile faded and he nodded. “This is from battle.” He pulled his gloves from his coat and put them on. “You do not need to cover them.”
“I am attempting to become a gentleman.”
“I think that you would not be the man who attracts me without those scars you bear, sir.” Sophie said softly. “You have lived in the world. You are correct, my brothers do set the ideal of what I think a man should be, protective, caring of their home and family … but so much of their noise is posturing because they have not been outside of their little world here in Dumfries, other than attending school. It is the women who leave home to marry.”
“The younger sons leave, as well.”
“They will only go far if they do as you have.”
“You yearn to have a place of your own? To make it yours?” Sophie nodded and he smiled. “Well, Miss Kelly, the home I have is devoid of everything. It is empty save for a bed and some miscellaneous furnishings. You will have the opportunity to put your stamp on it. How does that sound to you?”
“When?” She smiled.
“When I can afford a second bed.” He laughed.
“One will be enough.” She met his eye before crimsoning and looking down. Richard immediately stood and she followed. “What did I say?”
“Far too much, Miss Kelly. I think that you and I are … very well suited.” He bent and kissed her hand. “I must go.”
“Please stay.”
“No.” He smiled and shook his head. “Even with your mother at the other end of the room, I am afraid that it would be unwise. I will return tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, until I must depart … Thank you for this understanding, Miss Kelly.”
“Thank you, Mr. Fitzwilliam.” She took his offered arm and glancing at her mother, she walked him to the front door. “Is everything well between us?” She whispered.
“Of course.” Richard squeezed her hand. “Why would you think it was not?”
> “I have never been courted by such a … plainspoken man before.”
“Good.” He winked. “Because I think that is just the sort of man you have always wanted.” Bending closer, he whispered, “And I am leaving because I want to kiss you, but I do not want your brothers beating me to a pulp.”
“Oh.” Smiling, she laughed. “Well, in that case, I will see you tomorrow.”
“Excellent.” Raising her hand to his mouth, he brushed her fingers with his lips once again before accepting his hat and coat from a maid. “And that will bring me one day closer to fulfilling my wish.”
“NOW IF YOU ARE GOING to express your fears, for heaven’s sake, do not speak them to Fitzwilliam; or Richard for that matter. They may look like great towers of strength, but neither one of them can bear worry well. At least not worry for the people they love.”
“Poor Fitzwilliam.” Georgiana sighed. “I just wanted to make him a gift. My knitting is terrible, but I just could not embroider him a waistcoat, not with my hands so sore.”
“A waistcoat! What a lovely idea, he would treasure such a gift!” Elizabeth smiled as they strolled along, arm-in-arm. “I am quite sorry that I did not think of it myself.”
“Oh, please, go on and make him one!”
“Let’s both make him one? His birthday is coming in a few months, you should have your dexterity back soon after giving birth, and you have many weeks of lazing about ahead of you. I will ask Parker the name of his tailor, and we can order two plain silk waistcoats and just let our imaginations go to work on the empty canvas.”
“I think that your imagination is much more vivid than mine.” Georgiana smiled seeing Elizabeth biting her lip and looking thoughtfully out over the garden. “You are considering your design now.”
“I am.” Elizabeth laughed. “After all of the sewing you have done these past months, I am surprised that you wish to take on more.”
“I am, too, but … the lesson was most effective. I truly appreciate what I have been given now.”
“I am glad. I hope that when we return home and I become comfortable at Pemberley, I can think of more ways to help girls who face such sad situations like Amy did.”
They fell silent, both lost in their thoughts. Far off along the horizon, they could just make out Darcy and Ferguson riding along the fields in the home farm.
