“It is not intruding in any way,” Mr. Bamber said. “She is family. She stays for as long as is needed and beyond if she so wishes.”
“Thank you.”
“It is no trouble, and I know Prudence will enjoy a bit of female company around the place. She spends too much time in the presence of my cronies rather than people her own age.”
“As our closest neighbour in age is Selina, I can do without female company, thank you very much. She only speaks if it is to have a dig at something or someone,” Prudence said.
“I’m surprised you haven’t put her in her place. You were an expert with Lady Catherine, and half the time, she didn’t realise what you were doing,” Fitzwilliam said.
Prudence laughed at him. “That’s outrageous! I did nothing of the sort!”
“She did,” Fitzwilliam said to Mr. Bamber, enjoying the response his words had caused. It was the first time her eyes had sparkled at him, and although it had increased the ache of longing in his chest, he was glad to see her old playfulness return.
“Talking of your aunt,” Mr. Bamber stated, “she needs to be made to come round to the idea of the joining of Miss Anne and this young man,” he said nodding in Mr. Huxley’s direction.
“Why?” Fitzwilliam asked, all laughter gone.
“Come. You must see your cousin’s situation? You cannot have forgotten this all started because they were found together.”
Fitzwilliam frowned at Mr. Huxley. “Lady Catherine would never countenance a marriage to you.”
“I know that,” Mr. Huxley responded.
“Yet you behaved inappropriately.”
“To my shame, I did. I would defy any man who is truly in love to be able to resist kissing the one he cares for above all others.”
Fitzwilliam flushed at Mr. Huxley’s words, but did not stop glaring at the younger man.
Mr. Bamber had watched the interchange with amusement but thought it prudent to intervene. “It seems that your aunt has little choice about what she will and will not accept. If the girl was compromised, and it is public knowledge, then there’s little to be done except arrange an early marriage.”
“She still has a long way to go with her recovery yet,” Fitzwilliam pointed out.
“You’d rather her have a relapse or even die than make an imprudent match?” Mr. Bamber asked with interest.
“No! Not at all! I am just pointing out that we have jumped from celebrating her consciousness to marrying her. It seems a little premature.”
“Might as well start planning for that, young man. For if I know anything, as sure as the sun will rise in the morning and set at night, if there is chance for gossip from a family who does everything to avoid it, the tittle-tattlers will take exceptional pleasure from spreading rumours,” Mr. Bamber said.
Fitzwilliam rubbed his hands over his face in despair. “You are perfectly correct. There are many whom Lady Catherine has upset in some way or another. They will take great joy in this situation.”
“Then you had best start a plan to limit the damage to that poor girl. She could do a lot worse than Huxley here. He’s a hard worker and an intelligent lad.”
“I doubt those are factors Lady Catherine will consider as benefits,” Fitzwilliam responded dryly.
“She thought them important when he was looking after her estate. That must be just as important as her daughter is to her,” Mr. Bamber shrugged.
“Papa!” Prudence could not stop the laugh from escaping.
Looking unrepentant, Mr. Bamber smiled at his daughter. “She sounds just like her parents. Can’t see what’s good for her daughter even though it is as obvious as the nose on her face. If Miss Anne loves him and will be happy, all the rest is irrelevant. I would say Rosings would be in the best of hands if Huxley is to continue looking after it. It seems a no-nonsense solution to everything. I have no idea why there will be so much fuss. Lady Catherine clearly did not learn from the experience with her sister.”
“To be fair, sir, you were and are far richer than I ever will be. There are justifiable objections to my suit,” Mr. Huxley said. He might be wishing to marry Anne, but he was fully aware of his shortcomings.
“But you bring skill and experience, and you love Miss Anne. Do not put yourself down, lad. There are plenty who will do that for you. Don’t be quick to give them the tools to beat you with,” Mr. Bamber responded.
Mr. Huxley flushed but smiled gratefully at Mr. Bamber. “Thank you, sir.”
“I think you will be a good husband to Miss Anne.”
“Papa, you really need to start giving Anne her title. She is Lady Anne,” Prudence gently scolded.
“A title is nothing at the end of the day. It won’t put food on the table, whereas this young man has worked for years on that estate, making sure it is profitable. That is what matters. Your mother was never concerned with her title, and Miss Anne shouldn’t be either. Seems to me it brings nothing but unhappiness anyway.”
“I doubt Lady Catherine would agree,” Fitzwilliam said.
“And that is precisely why her daughter is in the predicament she is in now. Her mother could have avoided scandal and gossip, but we are where we are. So, Colonel Fitzwilliam, I suggest you persuade your aunt, so that when Miss Anne is well enough she can be married by special licence.”
“Dear Lord! I will not look forward to that conversation!” Fitzwilliam said with a grimace.
“Coward,” Prudence muttered.
Fitzwilliam shot her a look tinged with amusement. “Would you like to have the conversation in my place?”
“Not at all, but I do wish I could be there to hear it,” Prudence said. “Sorry, Mr. Huxley. My funning is aimed at Aunt Catherine’s foolishness. I think you perfectly suited to my cousin. I always did.”
“I suspected as much when you arranged for me to take the reins on the carriage ride through the grounds,” Mr. Huxley said.
“Yes. She was obvious and playing a dangerous game, which I warned her about,” Fitzwilliam said.
“I regret that the situation has come to Anne fighting through a terrible illness, but I know how much Anne thought of Mr. Huxley from the start. Ladies do not have secrets. They often declare their innermost feelings to one another,” Prudence said. “I was fully aware that she had a tendrè for Mr. Huxley, and it was clear he felt the same.”
The young man blushed at receiving so much attention and having his supposed hidden feelings so easily interpreted. “I will do anything I can to make Lady Anne happy.”
“That is all a mother and her family should wish for a young girl,” Mr. Bamber said with a pointed look at Fitzwilliam. “You have a task ahead of you, but before you leave us, I advise you to let Prudence take you for a drive tomorrow through the parkland near the river.”
“I shall be sitting with Anne,” Prudence said quickly.
“I think you can hand that role over to her future husband,” Mr. Bamber said.
“But you will need me at the mill, sir. I would not wish to shirk my duty. I have already worked a short day today,” Mr. Huxley said.
“You will be more use here. Prudence needs some fresh air. She hasn’t been out properly for days. I did not say anything when Miss Anne was suffering from the fever, but as a parent, it is my job to look after my girl, and she needs a break from the sick room,” Mr. Bamber said.
“I would like to see a little of the green spaces around here,” Fitzwilliam said. He was loath to give up any opportunity of spending time with Prudence. “I haven’t strayed very far from the house when out on my own.”
“It would be my pleasure to show you a little of Stretford,” Prudence said, but the look she shot her father spoke volumes that politeness prevented her words doing.
Chapter 18
Fitzwilliam handed Prudence into the gig they were to take out. It was pulled by two fine-looking chestnuts that Prudence had made a fuss of when she left the house. Settling onto the seat, she handed the reins to Fitzwilliam when he climbed nimbly onto his side.<
br />
“Really?” he asked in surprise.
“I know what you cavalry officers are like, remember? I shall direct, but you may drive,” Prudence said.
“I was looking forward to sitting back and criticising,” Fitzwilliam admitted.
“Brute. Fortunately for me, I am one step ahead of you!”
“Always, it would seem.”
They drove in silence for a while, enjoying being outside. Prudence pointed out sites of interest, but both were fully aware of wishing to enjoy their time together. Eventually they came to a halt at the river side.
“I admit I did not expect to see such a beautiful area after travelling into the city centre when I visited the mills. It’s like a different world, yet it is so close,” Fitzwilliam said.
“You haven’t seen the city in one of the fogs or the rain. It can be very bleak, but here we do not get the same smog. Father says it is something to do with the wind direction caused by the Pennine Hills. I have no idea if that is true, but we do seem to be more sheltered here.”
“It is lovely. I wish I had more time to explore the surrounding area. One thing this trip has taught me is that I need to explore this country a little more. I have seen more of the continent than I have of my own country, and I need to remedy that.”
“You cannot be criticised about not exploring England when you were serving your King and country against Napoleon.”
“No. I suppose not. It’s strange. When I left Oxford, I was completely sure that the cavalry was the only thing I wanted to do. I had the urge to make a difference, to serve my country and be around the finest horseflesh at the same time. It suited me down to the ground. But these last few months have made me consider that it is perhaps time I was looking for another occupation.”
“Really?” Prudence was stunned at his words and turned towards him. “I thought you loved the cavalry?”
“I do. Being on active duty and around my men and horses all day isn’t like work for me. Oh, the battles are not pleasurable obviously, and the nightmares of those I suppose I will carry with me forever. But does it make sense to say everything aside from the active service is like being a part of one large, welcoming family? Even then, we are working together to try to keep each other alive as well as ourselves,” Fitzwilliam explained.
“I can understand the feelings of belonging. I thought I could fit in anywhere. Arrogant of me, I know,” Prudence said. “But being at Rosings showed me that my home is around these parts, and there are areas of society in which I would not be comfortable. I admit the realisation took me aback a little.”
It was Fitzwilliam’s turn to look surprised. “You seemed perfectly comfortable even though you were treated so ill. In fact, I never once thought you appeared out of place.”
“I was treated like a member of staff, and Lady Catherine would point out that it was no surprise that I seemed to fit in!” Prudence said. “If that was my being treated ill, surely it means the poor companion who I replaced is also treated poorly?”
“I think she probably is. Something else we have to be ashamed of — that we stood by and let the poor woman be put through goodness knows what by our aunt.”
“Your ― our — family is likely not very different from many others of the aristocracy,” Prudence said.
“It does not make it right though, does it? I know I for one will be reflecting on my behaviour towards others in the future.”
Prudence smiled at him. “Our aunt will be accusing you of being influenced by the working masses.”
“We could take a leaf out of their book. Talking of my aunt, I have been thinking I should depart tomorrow. I need to call on Darcy to inform him of what has been happening and what needs to take place and then return to Rosings. It won’t be an easy task persuading Aunt Catherine what is best for Anne,” Fitzwilliam said. “I will also be telling her that she should remain at Rosings and not travel. I think Anne would recover quicker and more beneficially without Aunt Catherine fussing or demanding around her.”
“That is between you and her. If she does decide to travel, she will be made welcome here.”
“You are very good.”
“Not at all. I would do anything for Anne.”
“Anything?”
“I do not like the look of speculation in your expression, Fitzwilliam,” Prudence said.
“It’s just that Anne would like to see me happy… and…”
Prudence flushed, but could not resist his teasing tone. “As much as I think I shall regret asking this: And?”
Fitzwilliam laughed gently. “And what would make me very happy would be the thought that one day ― one day ― however far away that might be, you might consider giving me a second chance.”
“My fortune has made me worth the effort of going against the family?” Prudence could not help the bitterness in her voice, and she moved to turn away from him.
Fitzwilliam reached out and took hold of her cheek, gently forcing her to look at him. “No. This has nothing to do with money, but everything to do with the fact that I have not had a decent night’s sleep since you left Rosings. I feel guilty because the first thought I had when I received Darcy’s express was not about Anne who was close to death, but by having a reason to travel here, I would get to see you again. What kind of cad does that make me? And I want to delay my removal until I can work out a way that will convince you to give me that second chance, but I know I owe it to Anne to help with her future happiness.”
Prudence blinked at the heartfelt words. She started to speak but had to swallow an unexpected lump in her throat.
“Have I said too much? Are you going to cast me out of the gig?” Fitzwilliam asked. For once all his natural laughter was gone. He was as serious as she had ever seen him.
Prudence could not resist the appeal in his voice or the way he was trying to be confident, but his eyes betrayed the uncertainty his bravado hid. “No. I am not going to make you walk back, however tempting that would be. Not because of your words, just to be cruel.”
“Wretch.”
“Fitzwilliam, I am afraid to trust what you say,” she said. “I have had offers in the past, but they have been made mainly because of my fortune.”
“But you are beautiful!”
“I am taller than some men, and I speak my mind. I accept that I am not an ape-leader, but there are far prettier girls out there who have better figures and are more amenable. My idiosyncrasies are accepted because of what I inherit.”
“But I fell in love with you before I knew any of that. Well, I did know you spoke your mind. I knew that within moments of meeting you, but I had no idea of your background.”
“You say you love me, but you did not offer marriage when we were together. When we exchanged kisses. Many kisses. In fact you withdrew impressively when I mentioned that we could be caught and forced to marry,” Prudence pointed out.
Fitzwilliam turned to face the front of the gig. The horses were becoming restless, but this was important. He felt if this weren’t sorted between them, his chance to secure her would be gone forever. “I am a fool. I know without doubt I am. You have to understand something about me. I have spent most of my life in the shadow of my brother, who I love dearly, and Darcy, who I don’t love quite as much since his interference between us, but I used to. They have money and looks. I am not a handsome devil, although I have been told I have an engaging address.”
“You do.”
“Thank you.” He smiled despite the seriousness of the situation he was facing. “In my society, the second son is always overlooked. We are never rich enough nor handsome enough to tempt the debutantes. Now, I am not saying this for pity. It is the truth. I think I did not take what was happening between us as seriously as it was becoming to me because I was conditioned into believing that I needed a rich wife, and that was what I was going to get.”
“You told me that’s what you needed.”
“Yes. The thing is, the more I got to know you, the less
important that seemed. I struggled with trying to work out how we could live on my income, which doesn’t cover all my expenses, and I rely on the kindness of family members to supplement it. Do you know how demeaning and insecure that can make a person feel?”
“No. I suppose not.”
“I belong to a loving family, and I love my occupation, but if I wanted to marry you, I had to work out how I could achieve that in realistic terms. In most moments I just thought to heck with it. If we married, we would find a way around it, but life isn’t that easy when there is no money. I did not want you to suffer as a consequence. For I would hate to make you unhappy because I could not provide a good lifestyle for you. Then Darcy arrived.”
“Yes. He did.”
“He is a good man,” Fitzwilliam defended his cousin. “He’s been like my own brother and has been father and brother to his own sister who lost her parents when she was very young. I respect him and his opinions. Unfortunately, he repeated aloud what I had been struggling with internally. It wouldn’t have been too bad, but he uttered the words before I had managed to work out a solution in my own mind. I was faced with the nightmare situation in which we found ourselves. I admit I just panicked and could not think straight.”
“I felt attacked.”
“I am so sorry that I did not respond as I should have done. I truly am.”
“I believe you. I think.”
“I suppose that is a start. I hate to say this, but if we don’t move soon, I think the horses will bolt,” Fitzwilliam said reluctantly.
“We have been gone some time. We should be heading home.”
“Cousin ― Prudence, please consider allowing us to have that second chance. I do not think either of us will be happy if we don’t.”
Prudence looked away for a few moments, and Fitzwilliam took the reins and started the journey back to the house. He had done all he could. If she still did not want him, there was nothing else he could do to persuade her.
Before they left the parkland, Prudence turned to face Fitzwilliam. “Come back after all this has been sorted out between Mr. Huxley and Anne. Wait until the dust has settled on that and then come for a visit. Let us get to know each other again. From the start, but with honesty on both sides. I, too, was at fault. I should have been truthful about my situation.”
The Colonel's Spinster: A Regency Romance (Tragic Characters in Classic Literature) Page 14
