The gentlemen did not linger over their port, and Joshua knew he must now find an opportunity to see her alone. If he did not, he would have to go to Briar Hall in the morning for that purpose, and he couldn’t take the risk. His resolve was not that strong. No, he would obtain her consent now and never see her again after tonight.
He was the last to leave the dining room. He followed the other gentlemen towards the drawing room but was waylaid by the touch of a small feminine hand reaching out to rest on his arm. He did not need to look down to know who owned that hand.
“If I did not know better,” said the melodic voice that haunted his dreams, “I would say you were avoiding me, Colonel.”
Joshua sent her a raffish grin, he simply couldn’t help himself, and steered her into the vacant small sitting room. “We have been in one another’s company the entire evening.”
“But there has been no opportunity for me to thank you for your kindness.”
“No thanks are necessary. It was entirely my pleasure.”
“I did not know quite what to think when the will and Percival’s written recantation regarding his claim to my property arrived and you did not accompany them.”
“There was no need for me to push myself upon you,” he said, looking everywhere except at her. His words were hurtful, deliberately so. Perhaps that way she would understand she was under no obligation to him.
“Has it occurred to you that I might have been anxious to be pushed upon, as you so charmingly put it?”
“Celia, don’t.” He turned away from her. “I rejoin my regiment in a few days’ time, and I dare say you are anxious to return to Buckinghamshire.”
“That is a miserable excuse for your neglect.” Still turned away from her, he heard the condemnation in her tone. “I thought we knew one another better.”
Dear lord, she was not making this easy for him. “Something happened today that you need to be aware of,” he replied in a deliberate change of subject.
Succinctly, he outlined the events of the day. Celia clapped a hand over her mouth, rightly appalled, her eyes luminous with shock.
“This is my fault. I should never have involved you. When I think what could have happened to Miss de Bourgh, and to Mrs. Darcy as well.”
“Everyone involved is anxious to take the blame but in actual fact the only person culpable is Sheffield.”
“Perhaps, but I don’t see it that way.”
“Mrs. Darcy has been seen by the doctor and suffered no harm to herself or her baby.”
Thank goodness.”
Joshua smiled. “Precisely. Darcy would ripped me apart with his bare hands had it been otherwise.”
“I am glad that proved unnecessary,” she replied with the ghost of a smile.
Joshua gave a theatrical shudder. “As am I.”
“What have you done with Percival?”
“He is secured in the cellars here. We cannot charge him with abduction without Lady Catherine discovering what happened. We would much prefer it if she remained in ignorance.”
“I understand.”
“We hoped you would agree for him to be charged with attempted fraud, otherwise he will escape punishment.”
“We cannot allow that to happen. Certainly you may charge him with wrongfully claiming my property, forging a will, and anything else you think might help.”
“Thank you. Darcy will be pleased to hear it.”
“And so, Joshua,” she said after several tension-filled seconds of silence between them, “we come to the real reason why you are avoiding me.”
“I am not avoiding you, Celia.”
“Liar!”
Joshua’s body jerked. He was not accustomed to be addressed in such a fashion, even if it happened to be true. “I do not have the pleasure of understanding you.”
“Was I wrong to assume you admired me?” she asked, looking down at her hands.
“How could any man fail to admire you?”
“That is not precisely the answer I was hoping for. I had not taken you for a prevaricator.”
The wounded look in her lovely eyes crushed Joshua’s resolve. She deserved the truth. He owed her at least that much.
“I do admire you, Celia. More than that, so very much more, but I have nothing to offer you.”
Her clouded expression cleared. “Oh, is that all? Your silly pride stands in the way. I ought to have foreseen as much.”
“It is not pride but plain economic fact. I live on a colonel’s pay and very little else. You have not long been widowed and have had to battle to obtain your rightful inheritance. You do not need me complicating matters. You require time to adjust to your freedom and independence.”
“You treat me like a green girl rather than a woman of experience.” She sent him a smouldering look. “I was attracted to you the first moment I saw you, as I believe you were to me. We were drawn together in a way I had long since stopped believing existed. It was as though we had been waiting to find one another our entire adult lives.” She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Deny it if you can.”
Joshua shook his head. He could lie to her but she would know it immediately. “In all conscience, I cannot.”
Her smile was triumphant. “Then be a gentleman and propose to me rather than leaving the matter to me.”
He pulled her into his arms, unable to resist a moment longer. “Are you absolutely sure, Celia? I would not have the world think I married you for your money.”
“What do I care for the world’s opinion? Besides, men marry for money all the time. Your aunt certainly expected you to do so, and the fact that you turned down those riches when they would have seen you comfortably settled for life, is to your credit. I suspect few men in your situation would have done so, especially as you appear to be very comfortable in your cousin’s company.”
“She is a very different person nowadays, for which Asquith must take full credit. I only hope she will not allow Lady Catherine to crush her spirit.”
“Let us all hope that.” Celia smiled up at him. “You will be far less wealthy with me. My property is very modest, as is my fortune.”
“I disagree, my love. What you offer me is beyond price.”
He kissed her then because the urge to do so was all encompassing, too powerful to resist; he pulled her closer until their bodies collided. Her arms wound their way around his neck as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Her lips tasted sweeter than vintage wine, while the pressure of her body against his sent his mind spiralling in all sorts of inappropriate directions.
“I love you, Celia,” he said softly, whispering the words against her moist lips. “Please say you will be my wife.”
“That depends,” she replied playfully.
“Upon what?” He kissed the end of her nose.
“Upon whether you know anything about managing estates.”
“A very great deal. And what I do not know, I can learn.”
“Very well then, Colonel Fitzwilliam. It sounds as if you could be very useful to me.”
He growled in her ear. “You have absolutely no idea just how useful I can make myself.”
“But I have every expectation of finding out.”
This was all happening the wrong way around, he thought as he claimed another kiss. He still had to inform his aunt he didn’t intend to marry Anne and weather the fall-out from that decision. He should have done that first, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. He was the happiest man on God’s earth. And the most privileged. He would spend the rest of his life proving it to his beloved Celia.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Oh, have you been summoned too, Colonel?” Anne asked as she met her cousin outside the sitting room her mother occupied.
“No, I was planning to break the news,” he replied. “I assume Lady Catherine has asked to see you.”
“Yes.”
“Then I shall come back later.”
“No, as you are here, we might as w
ell tell her together.”
“I don’t want you to have to shoulder any blame. Let me tell her alone and allow her to vent her anger on me first.”
Anne laughed. “No, that is very gallant of you, but I insist. Come along, Colonel, I am sure you have faced worse situations during the course of your career.”
“Possibly, but at this precise moment I cannot think of a single one.”
He opened the door and stood back to allow Anne to pass through it in front of him. Anne blinked back her surprise when she discovered Sir Marius was also there. They really would have to delay telling Mama now. It was not something that could be achieved in front of a relative stranger.
“I beg your pardon, Aunt,” the colonel said politely. “I did not realise you had company. I have no wish to intrude.”
“No, Fitzwilliam, close the door and sit down. What we have to discuss can be said in front of Sir Marius.”
Joshua flexed his brows. “It can?”
“Certainly.” Mama straightened her spine, even though it wouldn’t dare to be anything other than rigidly upright. Subconsciously, Anne found herself sitting a little straighter too, fingers laced together in nervous anticipation of the storm to come. “I assume all those long afternoon drives have given the two of you ample opportunity to reach a decision.”
“Indeed we have, ma’am.” Colonel Fitzwilliam cleared his throat. “I am very sorry to disappoint you, but the plain fact of the matter is that Anne and I have decided we will not suit.”
Anne’s anxiety increased when Mama frowned, pursed her lips, but did not immediately respond. She had expected loud objections, insults, a diatribe about undutiful relations, or downright insistence that she do as she was told. Instead, the stillness was absolute.
“I thought as much,” she said, having drawn out the silence to its lengthiest extreme. “I already told Sir Marius you would not do the sensible thing.”
Anne was confounded. “You anticipated this, Mama, but do not mind?”
“Of course I mind, but what do you expect me to do about it? If it was only you being foolish it would be one thing, but I believe Fitzwilliam has fixed his interest elsewhere. It’s as plain as a pikestaff.” Mama scowled at her nephew. “Why the male members of this family will insist upon marrying for love is beyond my comprehension.”
“Now, Catherine,” Sir Marius chided.
Catherine? Anne and the colonel exchanged a glance. Neither of them had ever heard her addressed so informally before.
“Well then, miss, I suppose I had better find someone else for you.”
Anne took a deep breath. She had not intended to say anything about Pierce just yet, not until Mama had recovered from her disappointment. But with Sir Marius in the room, a gentleman who appeared to wield some influence with Mama and who had Pierce’s best interests at heart, she might never have a better opportunity.
“Mama,” she said, lifting her head and finding the courage to meet her mother’s gaze. “I have already decided upon my future husband.”
“You have what?”
Colonel Fitzwilliam stood. “Perhaps I should leave you to discuss this matter in private.”
“Stay, Fitzwilliam,” Mama commanded. “I feel persuaded that someone will need to talk some sense into my silly daughter. I blame you for this,” she added, turning to Sir Marius.
“Me? What have I done?”
“I took on Mr. Asquith on your recommendation, regardless of the fact the decision caused many raised eyebrows. Now see where it has landed us.”
“You have fixed your interest upon Asquith?” Sir Marius asked Anne in a kindly voice.
“Yes.” Anne elevated her chin another notch. “He has proposed and I have accepted him.”
“You are not of age,” Mama said.
“No, but I soon will be.”
“Asquith has no money. He could never support you in the style to which you are accustomed, and I will not have him at Rosings.”
“He knows that. He does not want me for my money.”
“That’s what he has told you I have no doubt, but it cannot possibly be so.”
“Mama!”
“Be sensible, Anne. You know nothing of the ways of the world, or men like Asquith. Of course he says he is not interested in your wealth, but that cannot possibly be the case.”
“You are quite wrong. He will get another teaching position and I will go wherever he is.”
Mama snorted. “You would not last a month. It is easy to say you do not care about living in luxury when you have never experienced anything else. When you face reality you will soon adopt a different view.”
“Since you asked me to remain, Lady Catherine, presumably I am permitted to express my view,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said.
“By all means, especially if you think you can talk some sense into her. The first attractive young man she meets and he has quite turned her head.” Mama shuddered. “I must have been out of my senses, agreeing to take him on. At first, I thought it was a good thing he had brought Anne out of herself. I can see now he has done rather too good a job of it.”
“Actually, ma’am,” the colonel said. “I wanted to enquire what your objections are to Asquith.”
“What they are?” Mama’s glower was shared equally between the colonel and Anne. “How can you be so obtuse? The man is a fortune hunter, the son of a Jamaican plantation manager looking to feather his own nest. He is intelligent and personable, I’ll grant you that. But he is still a fortune hunter. Would you see Rosings reduced to being owned by such a man? A man of no family and no consequence? It would make us a laughing stock. Well, I won’t have it. Do you hear me, miss?” Mama fixed Anne with the determined gaze that had always reduced her to silence on the few previous occasions when she had dared to disagree with her. This time it would not work because Anne was equally determined to have her way. “If you insist upon this foolish action, I cannot prevent it once you reach your majority. But hear this, and hear it well, I shall disinherit you, and there’s an end to the matter.”
“I know that, Mama, and so does Mr. Asquith,” Anne said, fighting to retain her dignity, determined not to cry. “It grieves me that we shall be estranged, but there is no help for that.”
“When he discovers I am serious, I think you will find his desire to marry you will wither on the vine. He will give you some charming excuse for breaking off the engagement and move on to another vulnerable young lady of fortune.”
Sir Marius, who had listened to this exchange without speaking, did so now. “Before you absolutely refuse your consent, Catherine, perhaps you ought to know a little more about Asquith’s history.”
“You also?” Mama turned to Sir Marius, but her expression softened. “Does everyone think I enjoy denying my daughter her heart’s desire? It is only that I know what is best for her and she will thank me in years to come.”
“I take no sides, Catherine. I only ask you hear me out. And since what I am about to tell you will come as news to Asquith as well, perhaps he ought to be present to hear it.”
“Very well.” Anne could see that Mama’s interest was piqued every bit as much as her own was. “Ring the bell, Fitzwilliam. We will settle this matter now, this morning, once and for all.”
The footman who answered the bell was despatched to find Pierce. No one spoke while they waited for him to respond, but mercifully the wait was a short one. The moment Pierce walked into the room, bowed to Mama and Sir Marius then treated Anne to one of the slow, curling smiles she was persuaded he reserved exclusively for her, all her doubts and all her concerns about disappointing Mama evaporated. With Pierce beside her, she could achieve anything she set her mind to. Anything at all.
“Asquith, my daughter has just told me some preposterous story about the two of you marrying. Quite apart from the fact that you ought to have had the good manners to speak to me on the matter first, you must realise it is impossible. However, Sir Marius has something to say on the subject and wanted you to
be here while he says it.” Mama transferred her attention to Sir Marius. “We are all ears, Marius.”
Pierce took a seat beside Anne, curiosity forming the bedrock of his expression. They were not kept in ignorance of Sir Marius’s news for long.
“I went to Jamaica as a young man.” Sir Marius’s voice was firm and controlled, almost as though he had rehearsed what he planned to say. “I had acceded to the baronetcy upon my father’s death and also assumed his debts, which were substantial. Ergo, I had little other than my title, a few pounds in my pocket and a great disappointment to put behind me.” He stared at Mama as he said those final words, only increasing Anne’s curiosity about their history, especially when Mama’s face coloured and she looked away from him. “I will admit I was reckless, and Jamaica was the right place for a young man to be reckless in those days. The more risks one was willing to take, the greater the rewards on offer. I also…pardon me for mentioning such delicate matters, but I did not behave well. Or perhaps I should say, I behaved as many a young man would, once let loose to make his own way in the world and with a grudge to bear against it. Looking back, I regret some of the things I did—the corners I cut to make a start. But I hope I have atoned for those mistakes since growing older and wiser.”
“Speaking as one well acquainted with your plantation, sir,” Pierce replied. “I think you certainly achieved that ambition.”
“Thank you, Pierce, but you do not know it all yet. When you do, you might not think so well of me. I will not offend your ears, ladies, by going into the particulars. Suffice it to say I sowed my wild oats.” He paused to rub his whiskered chin, looking embarrassed as he faced Pierce and spoke directly to him. “The result of one such liaison is you.”
Anne’s gasp was the only sound to break though the stultifying silence this admittance engendered.
“I…you are my father?”
“I have that honour, and it is one of the reasons why I have taken such an interest in you.”
Mama fanned herself rather violently but didn’t look nearly as surprised as Anne felt, nor did she express her outrage. Instead, she looked thoughtful.
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