Colonel Fitzwilliam's Dilemma (23 page)

“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 He had been unnaturally quiet and withdrawn the previous evening, she had noticed.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.

“Colonel Fitzwilliam is driving me over to Briar Hall before today’s rehearsals, so that we can explain the plan to Mrs. Sheffield. If she is in agreement then we will require your help to bring it about.”

“I am entirely at your disposal.”

“After today Colonel Fitzwilliam will wish to call upon Mrs. Sheffield daily. Obviously he can’t be seen to be doing that and courting me. Even Mama might notice something amiss. And so we thought he could drive me to the end of the lane, you could meet me there and we could…well, read or something until the colonel returns to collect me.”

Mr. Asquith laughed. “The colonel is a good strategist.”

“Naturally. How could he be a colonel otherwise?”

“Many far less capable men rise to that rank. However, as to his plan. I think I could tolerate your company.”

“Excellent.” Anne canted her head “Do you think Mrs. Sheffield will get her property back?”

“If you are asking me whether I think Sheffield is making a false claim, then the answer is that I do. As to his admitting to it…well, that is something else. The man is crafty as a fox and will not be easy to deceive.”

“What do you think of Mrs. Sheffield?”

Mr. Asquith hesitated for so long that Anne thought he would not answer her question. “I did wonder if she had anything to do with the fire that destroyed their plantation and killed her husband.”

Anne gasped. “Surely not?”

“No, you are probably right but at the time everything was in confusion and everyone was suspect. She hated Jamaica, her husband was a cold, brutal man, and she was clearly unhappy in her marriage. The fire meant she was free of him and she could return to England.”

“Just as my instincts tell me you are not guilty of jilting Miranda Glover, they also tell me Mrs. Sheffield had nothing to do with the tragedy you just described.” Anne smiled at Mr. Asquith. “Your problem, if you don’t mind me saying so, is not that you do not possess integrity, but that you have too much of it. You are a man of principal and honour and your standards are if anything too rigid. There is always another explanation you know.”

“My goodness. What happened to the shy young lady who didn’t have two words to say for herself when I first met her?”

“She grew up.”

“I noticed,” Mr. Asquith replied softly.

The room fell so quiet it felt to Anne as though the air had been sucked out of it. This time her breathing difficulties had nothing to do with her supposedly weak chest and everything to do with the disturbingly poised specimen of male beauty sharing the room with her. There was a tangible excitement between them now which Anne didn’t entirely understand. It had been brought about by them being partners in deception she supposed. The problem was if Mr. Asquith’s part in it was discovered, he really would lose his position. Anne should have thought about that instead of insisting upon involving him because…well, because she was selfish and wanted an excuse to spend more time alone with him.

He fascinated and compelled her in a manner she had never imagined possible. Her every conscious thought was of him. His was the last face she imagined before closing her eyes at night, and the first that sprang to mind when she opened them again in the morning. She was being unreasonable expecting him to compromise his standards, knowing he had little choice but to do as she asked. He was an honourable man, and she had asked him to behave in a manner that wouldn’t sit comfortably with his conscience. She opened her mouth to say as much but no words emerged.

“I know what you are thinking,” he said, reaching out to touch her cheek gently. “But you must not concern yourself on my account. I am perfectly willing to be of service to you.”