Colonel Fitzwilliam's Dilemma (15 page)

Joshua disciplined himself to pay close attention to Mrs. Sheffield’s account. That was no easy resolve since he was totally transfixed by the delicacy of her profile, greatly moved by the desolation in her luminous eyes. Brother Percival was trying to swindle her. He knew it as surely as he sat beside this lovely, vulnerable lady, doing his level best not to pull her into his arms and comfort her in the manner that sprang spontaneously to mind.

“It was Percival who first heard about the opportunity in Jamaica. He used to go to the dockside taverns, drink with the sailors and heaven knows what else. Percival is a viper but blessed with the appearance of an angel. He is universally popular with the ladies and manages to remain on good terms with most men he meets as well. One of his sea-faring acquaintances told him about a plantation in Jamaica that was in decline because the owner had died unexpectedly. His heirs had no interest in going to the island and required someone to purchase the plantation at a bargain price because they needed the money quickly. Albert wasn’t prepared to take the risk but Percival kept on and on at him. He said the market for sugar was thriving and only a simpleton could fail to make a success of it. Percival had no money of his own. He frittered away whatever he earned with Albert and eventually Albert gave in and agreed.”

“Without knowing anything about managing a plantation?” Joshua flexed a brow. “Was that not rather risky?”

“I thought so and tried to persuade him not to do it, but he would never listen to anything I said. I hated the idea of going to the Indies and asked him to leave me behind, but of course that was out of the question. I was his property you see, a bit like one of the commodities he traded so profitably, and he would never have left me to my own devices.”

“But your husband made the plantation profitable?”

“He must have done so because a year after he acquired it we returned to England and he purchased Everton Park outright. I have not spent more than two months beneath the roof of the house we now own because we returned to Jamaica again almost immediately.”

“How large is your estate?”

“Nothing compared to Pemberley, or even to Briar Hall. It is a large manor house with about fifty acres.”

Joshua could imagine the place. A modest establishment, but also very desirable, and fairly easily managed. The sort of establishment any man would be proud to call home. Joshua reined in his imagination, scowling when he thought of the scoundrel, Percival Sheffield. He was relying upon Celia’s lack of knowledge of her late husband’s affairs to pull off this deception, but he had not counted upon Joshua’s involvement. He hardened his jaw, silently vowing it would never happen while he had breath in his body to prevent it.

“You doubted your husband’s ability to turn the plantation around, and yet he purchased an estate from the proceeds after little more than a year?”

“Yes, and paid for it with his life.”

“What were the conditions like on the plantation?”

“Deplorable. Our slaves were a wretched band of creatures who had been so badly treated and were so under-nourished that they could barely work.” She shuddered. “It was awful. I felt so very sorry for them and tried to persuade Albert to treat them better, give them more food so they would be more productive. He would not listen to me of course. His way of getting more out of them was to have the overseer whip them into submission.”

“If Sheffield made money with such a poor workforce, only imagine how much more profitable a well-run plantation with well-treated workers would be.”

“Quite so. Sir Marius Glover, Mr. Asquith’s mentor, is a case in point. He called to see us soon after we arrived and was closeted with Albert and Percival for a long time, offering them the benefit of his advice, which included better food and housing for the slaves. Unfortunately, the Sheffield men thought they knew better.”

There were a dozen more questions Joshua wished to ask, but he suspected she would not know the answers to them. Asquith, on the other hand, almost certainly would and Joshua planned to have a frank conversation with that gentleman upon his return to Pemberley. Of immediate concern was the agreement between the brothers. Mrs. Sheffield’s solicitor seemed to think it was genuine, and had travelled all this way to talk to her about it.

“You say your husband’s signature appeared genuine on this supposed partnership document between the brothers so I presume you saw the whole thing?”

“Yes. It was witnessed by a solicitor in Kingston, Jamaica whom I had never heard of. Nor did I ever hear Albert mention his name. There was a will also drawn up by that gentleman, dated after the one in England naming me as Albert’s sole heir.” She wrinkled her brow. “It is very peculiar.”

“What were the precise provisions of the agreement?”

“Albert was the senior partner and Percival worked for an agreed percentage. That was all straightforward enough and hardly needed to be stated in writing. They had always worked that way. The agreement also said that in the event of the demise of one brother, ownership of the plantation would revert to the other.”

Joshua sat a little straighter. “I see. But in that case, why cannot Percival simply take control of the plantation?”

“Because the slaves revolted, for which I don’t in the least blame them. Their conditions were nothing short of a disgrace, and when people run out of hope and have nothing to lose…well, I tried to warn Albert that feelings were running high, given all the talk about abolition. Word had reached us of slaves on other plantations taking matters into their own hands, but it was all rumour and speculation which Albert chose to dismiss without trying to get to the truth. Anyway, the plantation was razed to the ground; all the buildings and the crop. Albert died trying to save his property.”

“Ah, I thought there was no fever.”

“It is an explanation that satisfies most people and saves all the inevitable questions.”

Joshua lost the battle to remain passive and raised a hand to gently stroke her face. “I, my dear, am not most people.”

“No,” she replied after a long pause. “You are not, but I must know, why are you so anxious to help me?”

“Mrs. Sheffield…Celia.” Joshua paused, too acutely aware of her close proximity, of the intoxicating aroma of her floral perfume, of an overwhelming torrent of protective feelings, to act with discretion. “I will resolve this problem for you one way or another, on that you have my solemn word and you owe me absolutely nothing.”

“That does not answer my question.”

“Is it so unnatural for a man of integrity to wish to offer his services to a lady in distress?”

She offered him the ghost of a smile. “You are attracted to me, Colonel Fitzwilliam?”

He chuckled. “Am I so very transparent?”

“You make me feel safe. Safer than I have for a very long time. I am not sure if that is such a good thing.”

“You have nothing to fear from me,” he replied, gently stroking her cheek with a gloved finger. “Just so long as you refrain from looking at me in the way you are at this precise moment. There is only so much temptation a man can be expected to withstand.”

“I cannot help the way I look.”

“And I cannot help the way I respond to that look.”

Her eyes burned with unfathomable emotion, robbing Joshua of what little common sense he had managed to retain. With a smothered oath, he pulled her into his arms and covered her lips with his own, kissing her with determination and brutal passion. She responded with a sweet urgency that drugged his mind. Joshua deepened the kiss, disciplining himself to accept this would be the first and only time he allowed his feelings to get the better of him. Her arms had worked their way around his neck, and her upper body was pressed against his. He could feel the softness of her breasts, even through the thick layers of their clothing. Ye gods, he should not have done this!

Joshua broke the kiss and released her, breathing heavily. Her eyes were now muddy with passion and she looked at him with a combination of surprise and total confidence in his abilities.

“I did warn you,” he said softly, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. “Come, I will take you back to the house. Have the goodness to give me the name of your solicitor, his direction and written authority to act on your behalf.”

“What do you intend to do?” she asked in a husky voice.

“I shall speak with Asquith first. See what light he can shed on matters.”

“He did not like my husband or brother-in-law.” They walked slowly towards the house. “He disapproves of me, too.”

“Be that as it may.”

A short time later, Joshua was in possession of the information he had requested and had no further reason to delay his departure. Anyway, Lady Briar had re-joined them and so the intimacy of the moment was lost.

“I shall call again tomorrow,” Joshua said, kissing the back of Celia’s hand before taking formal leave of Lady Briar.

“I look forward to it,” Celia replied.

As Joshua rode away, mulling over all he had just learned, he doubted whether her anticipation could be greater than his own.

Chapter Eleven

“A word if you please, Asquith.”

Joshua caught Anne’s tutor just as luncheon came to an end and the ladies had already vacated the dining room. The young man turned to face him with an affable smile.

“How can I be of service to you, Colonel?”

“Let’s talk in here.”

Joshua led the way into the library and closed the door after them. He took a chair on one side of the fire and gestured Asquith towards its twin.

“I won’t keep you long. I dare say you have rehearsals to keep you occupied and enthusiastic players to keep amused.”

Asquith chuckled. “They are certainly enthusiastic. So much so that the ladies are painting scenery this afternoon and so I am entirely at your disposal.”

Joshua admired the elegant manner in which Asquith draped himself in his chair. He seemed perfectly at his ease in august surroundings that would have intimidated most men, and mingled with people of quality as though he had been doing so for his entire life. It occurred to Joshua he was a gentleman by instinct as well as education and could well understand why such a sheltered girl as Anne would be so taken with him.

“What can you tell me about Sheffield?” Joshua asked without preamble.

If the question took Asquith by surprise, he gave no sign of it. “What do you wish to know about him?”

“Anything you can tell me about the plantation he purchased, and about the manner of his death.” When Asquith merely raised a brow, Joshua felt the need to explain himself. “Sheffield’s brother is attempting to swindle Mrs. Sheffield out of her property.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“You don’t appear surprised.”

Asquith twisted his lips into an expression of distaste. “Nothing that blaggard does would surprise me.”

“Ah, so you dislike him. I am pleased to hear you say so. I don’t know him myself of course, and only have Mrs. Sheffield’s word that he does not hold a legitimate claim to her property. All I do know is he has a cowardly way of staking that claim, hiding behind solicitors instead of coming straight out and discussing the matter with Mrs. Sheffield.”

Joshua’s outburst elicited more than an elegant shrug from Asquith, who looked genuinely startled. “He has not communicated with Mrs. Sheffield himself?”

“Not in connection with his claim to the property. That came as a complete shock to her. He told her when they arrived back from Jamaica that he would need to live there until her husband’s affairs were put in order. She imagined he would receive something from his estate and he had nowhere to live until he was in funds again. Anyway, Mrs. Sheffield had no wish to live in the same house as him and chose to come here to her sister. Perhaps she ought not to have done, since it gave the impression she was happy for Sheffield to take her property. However, I suppose that is better than the alternative.” Joshua stood up and braced both arms against the mantelpiece. “Tell me more about this Percival Sheffield.”

“Presumably you have Mrs. Sheffield’s permission to ask such questions?”

Joshua shot Asquith a castigating glance, taking exception to the fact he would assume otherwise. Gentlemen did not question gentlemen’s motives in such a manner. But there again, in spite of appearances to the contrary, Joshua reminded himself Asquith was not a gentleman. “In writing,” he said curtly. “I will show you if you doubt my word.”

Asquith waved the suggestion aside. “That won’t be necessary. Forgive me if I caused offence, but you have put me in an awkward situation. One cannot be too careful.”

“Is that why you pretended not to know Mrs. Sheffield when she dined here the other evening.”

“Ah yes, that was deuced awkward. I wasn’t sure how to play it, but to understand why, perhaps I had better start at the beginning.”

Joshua resumed his chair and fixed Asquith with a steady gaze. “That would be best.”

“Then I shall start by telling you a little more about my background. My father worked as Sir Marius Glover’s plantation manager, but died when I was very young. I don’t remember much about him. My mother died when I was ten.” Asquith crossed one booted foot over his opposite knee and settled himself more comfortably in his chair. “I assumed I would be sent back to England after her death. I still had relatives here who might have taken me in, but Sir Marius wouldn’t hear of it. His eldest son and I were of a similar age and played together. Sir Marius kindly paid for me to be schooled in England alongside his own son, and then supported me at university.”

Rather as old Mr. Darcy supported Wickham, Joshua thought. “He clearly thought highly of you,” he remarked aloud.

“And I hope I have gone a small way to repaying his trust in me by serving him well.” Asquith paused. “At one stage, Sir Marius spoke of me following in my father’s footsteps and eventually managing his plantation, but by the time I finished university, talk of abolition was gaining momentum and everything in Jamaica became unsettled.” He waved an elegant hand. “Don’t get me wrong, I shall be as happy as the next man to see an end to slavery, but at the current time the entire Indies are a maelstrom of uncertainty and unrest. It no longer feels safe and no one knows quite what the future will hold. All I can say for certain is that things will never be quite the same again, and I am not so sure I wish to be a part of that particular revolution.”