The Colonel's Spinster: A Regency Romance (Tragic Characters in Classic Literature)

by Audrey Harrison

  His jaw clenched. He was being a fool. He couldn’t afford to let her get under his skin. He had to marry for money. A pity it seemed a very cold way of looking at wedded bliss when he was so near Prudence. That was also a new sensation. He’d never felt so bereft at being unable to choose his own bride as he had these last few days.

  “You seem troubled, Cousin,” Prudence said, having watched Fitzwilliam with interest.

  “I am just concerned that it will be weeks before we will dance again. That is if we can persuade Aunt Catherine to indulge us a second time.”

  “Oh, I think she enjoyed the venture overall,” Prudence said. “Everyone was suitably deferential towards her, and those beneath her touch did not approach her at all, showing their good sense.”

  “You really have our aunt worked out, don’t you? You are obviously a discerning person.”

  “She is not a complex character,” Prudence shrugged. “I admit she can be frustrating, but as I am hardly likely to be spending much time with her over the years, her idiosyncrasies will not cause me any loss of sleep.”

  “Are you thinking of leaving us already?” Fitzwilliam asked in sudden panic.

  “No. But I cannot remain here forever. I have never been so idle in my life.”

  “Nor I,” Fitzwilliam admitted. “But I am finding that I am enjoying my time on this visit. I was only to come for a week in the first instance, but I have been delaying my departure.”

  Prudence tried to control her elation at the words. It could be because he was interested in Miss Goode, she cursed herself. How foolish would she seem if that were the case? Her thoughts did not stop her hoping that it was herself who was delaying his departure.

  “If that is so, I think we should take every opportunity to find out who is best on horseback,” she said.

  “You do know I spent months travelling on my horse through Spain, Portugal, and France, don’t you?” Fitzwilliam answered with his winning grin.

  “In that case, a head start is not unreasonable,” Prudence said, digging her horse with her heels and setting off at a gallop. She heard Fitzwilliam’s laugh behind her but didn’t turn. Hunkering down over the neck of her horse, she urged him on.

  Fitzwilliam followed, and although he caught up, Prudence was no novice at horse riding. She was challenging his abilities even though he was confident of winning in the end. Instead he chose to lull her into a false sense of security.

  Racing towards the house, Fitzwilliam decided it was time to show his prowess. Urging his steed for a final push, he began to overtake Prudence.

  Laughing at the curse she aimed in his direction, he continued to make progress, clattering along the gravel path and around the corner into the stable yard. Coming to an abrupt halt, he leapt from his horse, landing nimbly and stood, arms folded, leaning on the door post of the stable building.

  Prudence was moments behind him, and bringing her horse to a stop, she couldn’t contain her laughter. “You cad! That’s not very gentlemanly of you!” She accepted his help in dismounting and slid into his arms as he lifted her from her mount.

  “You laid the rules down by cheating at the start,” Fitzwilliam smiled down at her, keeping his grasp around her waist.

  Prudence hit his shoulder with her hastily removed gloves. “It’s only a rogue who would point out that a lady tried to gain the upper hand, for all the good it did me.”

  “Never put yourself up against a cavalry officer in a horse race. You made the fatal error of underestimating your rival.”

  “Lesson learned, believe me!”

  There was a pause between them, as if each were waiting for the other to do or say something. Fitzwilliam moved his head slightly, lowering it towards Prudence, but then a groom began to move her horse, and the pair, realising they were in a busy stable yard, pulled themselves apart.

  “I had better get inside and make myself decent,” Prudence said quietly.

  “I will make sure the horses are tended to before I come in.”

  “Thank you.”

  Prudence stepped away, but Fitzwilliam grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. “You still look beautiful.”

  Eyes widening at his actions as much as his words, Prudence flushed. Unable to think of a suitable retort, she gave a swift curtsy and walked away towards the house and her chamber.

  Fitzwilliam watched her retreat, not knowing whether he should chase after her to kiss her, apologise for his rakish behaviour, or beg for her hand in marriage. He shook himself. What was he thinking? Marriage? He had never wanted to marry anyone he’d ever met, yet here he was considering marrying Prudence?

  Striding into the stable, he shrugged his shoulders. He had allowed himself to have his head turned by a pretty face. That was all. He would soon come to his senses. He needed to marry for money.

  She was utterly charming though. Funny and challenging. And sweet.

  Oh, dear Lord!

  *

  Prudence took her time making herself presentable. She hadn’t brought a maid with her, and Lady Catherine hadn’t assigned anyone to attend her, just letting one of the housemaids assist her when necessary. Thankfully, for the assembly, Anne had insisted her own ladies’ maid should help them both.

  She looked ruefully at her reflection in the looking glass. She was playing with fire; she knew that. Papa had insisted she go without announcing the reality of her home situation. He wanted her to receive a genuine welcome for herself and not what material things she brought with her.

  It had seemed so straight forward when in her father’s drawing room, but now it wasn’t so clear-cut. She was deceiving Fitzwilliam and Anne, and that didn’t rest easy with her.

  She could admit the truth of her situation, and then Fitzwilliam might consider marrying her. No. She didn’t want that. Actually, a part of her did want exactly that, but whoever married her had to do so because of herself, not the money she brought to the marriage.

  Who was she trying to fool? He would be as likely to attach himself to her ― a daughter of a ‘cit’ ― as he would a poor-as-a-church-mouse spinster! She was being foolhardy in thinking he would want anything but a mild flirtation with her. He was a member of the ton. They socialised in their own circles. Marrying her would mean leaving his society behind, and he would never do that.

  She blew out her cheeks. There she was again, thinking of marriage. She had never thought so much of that state until she’d met Fitzwilliam, and now she could think of little else.

  Anne had already said Fitzwilliam was bored to death when at Rosings. Prudence would just have to accept that she was providing a little interest or entertainment. A pity her heart ached at the thought, but she was sensible and could drag herself out of her melancholy even if it took a lot of inward scolding on her part.

  Chapter 7

  Sir James, his mother, and his unmarried daughter all paid a visit to Rosings to offer an invitation to the party.

  “We wish to hold an evening’s entertainment in honour of Miss De Bourgh,” he said with a deferential nod towards Lady Catherine. “It has been too long since our company have seen her, and she is looking very well.”

  “I am not sure another night out so soon would be of benefit to Anne’s constitution.” Lady Catherine’s quick response dashed the hopes of the others in the room.

  “Oh, Mama, if I rest during the day like I did for the assembly, I’m sure I will be fine. Sir James’s house is hardly half the distance of Westerham,” Anne said, astounding everyone in the room, but especially her mother.

  Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes towards Prudence, silently accusing her of Anne’s disobedience, but Prudence just returned the accusatory stare with a bland expression.

  Sir James thought it advisable to intervene in the suddenly tense atmosphere. “I shall ensure that every consideration for Miss De Bourgh’s comfort is taken into account, and only a few of the more suitable members of the locality will be invited,” he assured Lady Catherine. “It would be such a pit
y if you were to miss out on advising us of what decoration we should choose when we refurbish the drawing room. I was saying to you only yesterday ― wasn’t I Mother? ― that we needed to seek Lady Catherine’s advice.”

  Uttering the perfect words to ensure Lady Catherine would respond in the positive made everyone in the room glad of Sir James’s diplomacy skills.

  “I will certainly advise you what to do with regards to decoration,” Lady Catherine said. “Mrs. Morton said only a few days ago what a help I’d been with regards to her dining room. The extra expense of the Chinese wallpaper was worth it, she said. She had never seen a room look so grand.”

  “Precisely,” Sir James said. “Which is why we seek the advice of such an informed person as yourself.”

  “We shall arrive at four, but we can stay no longer than eleven,” Lady Catherine instructed.

  “May we have a little dancing, Papa?” Miss Goode asked, looking shyly at Colonel Fitzwilliam.

  “We shall see on the day. We would not want to plan anything that would spoil Miss De Bourgh’s enjoyment.”

  “Anne will not be dancing, but Prudence can play the piano for those who wish to do so,” Lady Catherine said.

  “I do not play an instrument as well as other young ladies do, Aunt,” Prudence said quickly. She spoke the truth, but she also didn’t want to spend the whole night at the piano.

  “You have a week to practice, then,” Lady Catherine responded damningly.

  Prudence sagged. It seemed her evening was to end with sore fingers and no opportunity to dance!

  The three cousins remained in the morning room when the guests left, while Lady Catherine followed Sir James and his family to the door, issuing instructions as she went.

  Prudence smiled at her cousin. “You stood up to your mother. I was most impressed.”

  Anne blushed. “I couldn’t resist speaking out. It was such a nice thing for Sir James to do — to arrange a party in my honour.”

  “I think he has two motives,” Prudence said, looking archly at Fitzwilliam who was sitting near the two women.

  “Oh?” he asked in response.

  “I think they want to see more of Anne, which I’m not surprised at and can only like the family all the more for it, but I also think that a certain Colonel is an appealing suitor for Miss Goode,” Prudence said.

  Fitzwilliam laughed. “She will be set for someone far more important than I!”

  “Oh, I don’t know. She does look at you a great deal,” Anne interjected.

  “Does she? And are my two cousins very jealous at the thought of my running off with Miss Goode?” Fitzwilliam asked with arched eyebrows.

  “We’re devastated,” Prudence responded in the same tone in which the question had been asked. “Aren’t we Anne? To the point that I shall practice the pianoforte every day to ensure you have perfectly played dances in which to flirt.”

  Fitzwilliam pulled a face. “That was poorly done by our aunt. It is Sir James’s responsibility to sort out a person to provide the music, not Aunt Catherine’s.”

  “I think it was my punishment for her suspecting I was the person behind Anne standing up to her,” Prudence admitted.

  “Oh, no! Surely not!” Anne said, hurriedly. “I will speak to mother, if that is the case.”

  “I wouldn’t,” Fitzwilliam said quickly. “That would almost surely convince her of the fact.”

  “Dealing with mother can be so difficult,” Anne said with a frown.

  Prudence smiled at her cousin. “You are getting better at it.”

  “Shall we escape to the gardens for a walk before she comes back?” Fitzwilliam offered.

  “I should not. I do not think mother would approve,” Anne said.

  “I shall pass on your regards to Mr. Huxley, if we pass him,” Prudence said.

  “I’ll return with my pelisse in a moment,” Anne said, hurrying out of the room.

  “You are playing with fire, Cousin,” Fitzwilliam warned.

  “I’ve already spoken to Anne about guarding her heart,” Prudence said. “But she needs to spend more time outside whilst the weather is mild. She looks a lot better since I arrived and we started our daily constitutionals. She was a feeble little thing. I was quite taken aback at the state of her.”

  “Yes, you have had a positive influence on her. I hope it continues when you have had enough of us. For I know you will abandon us at some point.”

  “Oh, I cannot see that happening just yet,” Prudence smiled at him.

  *

  The threesome walked along the pathways in the terraced garden. None of them wanted to wear out Anne and suffer the wrath of Lady Catherine.

  “Shall we spend a day in Westerham shopping before our visit to Sir James’s?” Prudence asked.

  “I’m afraid not,” Anne said regretfully. “Mother would never agree to it. And to be fair, it would be a little tiring.”

  “In that case, I shall not mention it again,” Prudence said quickly.

  “Could I get you what you need?” Fitzwilliam offered.

  “It would do me a real service if you would accompany me,” Prudence said. “I would rather play the music I’m used to, and I’m afraid Lady Catherine does not have the music sheets for it. I’m sure I could find what I need in Westerham.”

  “I shall happily escort you. Shall we travel on horseback?”

  “And give you the chance of leaving me standing again? No thank you, sir! I shall insist we ride in the gig, and I can ridicule your handling of the horses,” Prudence laughed.

  “You will be disappointed. Again,” Fitzwilliam warned.

  “Prudence is a fine horsewoman,” Anne defended her cousin. “You are trying to show off, Fitzwilliam. Be careful, or you will come unstuck.”

  “Two of you against me! Well, I’ll be dashed. If this carries on I’ll need to send out for reinforcements.”

  “We are hardly a match for a gentleman of the highest calibre. Perhaps you have fooled us into feeling sorry for you when you just wish to lull us into a false sense of security,” Prudence said airily.

  “Why would I want to do that?” Fitzwilliam asked.

  “So that when you stand up to us or Aunt Catherine, it would shock us and her into letting you do as you please. I’m quite suspicious at how amenable you seemed when you twisted our aunt into doing just as you wished for the ball.”

  “Darcy always made sure Fitzwilliam was with him because he wanted someone who could make pretty to Mama. Darcy never could,” Anne said candidly.

  Fitzwilliam looked at his cousin in astonishment, but Prudence let out a crack of laughter.

  “What is it, Fitzwilliam?” she asked, still chuckling. “Seeing the real Anne for the first time?”

  “Why, I do believe I am,” Fitzwilliam answered with a rueful smile.

  “I’m usually very quiet,” Anne explained. “Most people forget that I’m there.”

  “I shan’t be doing that in future!” Fitzwilliam said. “In fact, I cannot wait to tell Darcy of this more spirited Anne. He will be astounded.”

  “Oh, do not!” Anne appealed. “I should be mortified.”

  “Don’t take on so, dearest Anne,” Prudence soothed. “He is funning with you, and we should punish him for it.”

  “How could we do that?”

  “We could spread the rumour that he’s considering a career in the clergy now that the dastardly Napoleon has been defeated. I am sure Mr. Collins would be happy to give him more than a little advice in his choice of career,” Prudence said.

  “You wouldn’t,” Fitzwilliam said, choking.

  “Is that a dare, sir?”

  “Good God, no! I’m not that bumbleheaded! I shall beg forgiveness and promise not to write to Darcy,” he assured Anne.

  Anne smiled around Fitzwilliam to glance at Prudence. “Thank you.”

  “It is my pleasure, and you’ll always be safe in the knowledge that you now know our cousin’s Achilles’ heel.”

  “T
ermagant.”

  “Oh, most certainly,” Prudence replied.

  Chapter 8

  Lady Catherine suddenly required a list of supplies so long that Fitzwilliam half regretted offering to accompany his cousin. Such thoughts were banished the moment Prudence came down the stairs, resplendent in a green riding habit with gold braiding.

  Pulling on her gold gloves, she smiled at him. “Are you ready to take the reins, Cousin?”

  “If it means I get to spend most of the day with the fine creature before me, I am ready, indeed!” Fitzwilliam said with a bow and an offer of his arm.

  Prudence flushed at the compliment but laughed it off. “You are ridiculous. Come, we shall be lucky to return before nightfall with all the commissions Aunt Catherine has set you.”

  They rode at a brisk pace, Fitzwilliam as capable in a gig as he was on horseback. Prudence could admire her protector whilst they were barrelling along, chatting amiably.

  He was so easy to like, she cursed inwardly. Charming, and although not as handsome as some men she’d met, he certainly had an air about him that was very appealing. When he smiled and his eyes twinkled at her as they often did, she felt the gesture to the tips of her fingers. More than once, she had to restrain herself from her fingers reaching out to him. Such forward behaviour would never do. He might be easy-going, but he belonged to a society that condemned anything that went against the strict rules of etiquette.

  Arriving in Westerham, Fitzwilliam decided they would get the music sheets first. “I would not wish you to be in a panic if it should look as if we might run out of time.”

  Prudence gave him a sideways glance. “Can you honestly see me becoming distracted over such an inconsequential thing? You must think women feeble creatures if you can.”

  Fitzwilliam smiled. “No. I actually think you very capable, but there are many who would develop a fit of the vapours over such a trifle.”

  “Goodness me, there are many things I’m thankful for, one being I wasn’t introduced to society.”