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

by Audrey Harrison

  “Why not? I have managed without a maid whilst I have been here, apart from when Anne was kind enough to share her own maid. I have not had the courtesy of being offered an escort on any of my outings whilst in residence, so why should this be different? After all, I come from the cotton mills, remember? We are made of sturdy stuff and can only aspire to become a companion, and that is if I am lucky,” Prudence said with derision.

  “Ungrateful, insolent girl! Don’t think I shall be opening my home to you again!” Lady Catherine exclaimed.

  “I would never accept an invitation from a woman so meddlesome and presumptuous as yourself, madam,” Prudence said.

  “I think you’ve said enough,” Darcy cautioned.

  Prudence turned to Darcy, her eyes flashing. “You are probably right, Cousin, but I am going to continue nonetheless,” Prudence snapped. “How dare you come here and interfere with something that had nothing to do with you and you knew very little about! What gave you the right to interfere with something that was none of your concern? And you must have known that you could not possibly have had all of the details?”

  “I knew all I needed to know,” Darcy responded at his most quelling.

  “Oh, you did, did you?” Prudence mocked. She gripped the back of a chair for support for she was shaking with anger. “Yesterday I was going to speak to Fitzwilliam and tell him the truth of my background. You see, my father, in his innocence, did not want me to appear gauche or at a disadvantage when I first arrived, so he was not honest about my situation. He is astute enough to be aware that the aristocracy does not like to hear about success from those of us in trade.”

  “Your father is a cotton worker,” Lady Catherine said.

  “Technically, I suppose you could say so. The reality of the situation is that my father is a mill owner. Of two mills actually,” Prudence said with pride. “You made the presumption he was a cotton worker. The same way you presumed I’d be grateful if you obtained a position for me.”

  Darcy’s eyes flew to his aunt’s, but she was looking aghast at Prudence. Darcy’s mouth set in a grim line. He should have known better. He had been played for a fool, used as a puppet by his aunt.

  “What do you mean by this?” Lady Catherine demanded.

  “That you presumed a lot about my father and I, and because of your preconceived ideas, you forgot to find out the reality of our situation. The truth of the matter, Aunt, is that I am an heiress to a substantial amount. My father was not always as wealthy as he is today, but even when he married my mother, he was able to give her a good living. Our house is not as grand as Rosings. After all we have only ten bedchambers to boast of, but it is within its own grounds. We have a handsome stable and are thought to be one of the richest families in the area.”

  “I knew you were richer than Mama thought!” Anne said with glee. “The quality of your clothes was far too fine, but nobody seemed to really take note except me.”

  “I did,” Fitzwilliam said quietly.

  “But you didn’t really see, did you?” Prudence asked him sadly. “The evidence was there but you did not believe it. I mentioned I had been taught by a governess, for goodness sake! What more of a clue did you need? I suppose as far as you were concerned, I was the poor relative, and that was that.”

  “I’m sorry,” Fitzwilliam said.

  “So am I. More than I ever thought possible. I wanted to be liked because of who I was, not because of the money I have. I now realise it was never going to be so. It is time for me to leave.” Prudence walked to the door, but was stayed by her aunt’s words.

  “How much are you worth?”

  She smiled bitterly. “It truly is all about the money, isn’t it?” she asked sadly. “Not that it matters, but I shall bring eight thousand a year to any marriage I agree to.”

  “But that is more than Anne has!” Lady Catherine exclaimed.

  “Yes. Oh, and Aunt, just for your information. My jewels aren’t paste. Only the finest creations are made for the daughter of Mr. Bamber. Nor are they the only ones I own. I have my own diamonds, rubies, and pearls, but I did not wish to carry them. I shall bid you all a good-bye, for I doubt that our paths will ever cross again.”

  Chapter 11

  The room stilled when Prudence left. Lady Catherine looked as if to speak on numerous occasions, but the words didn’t actually form on her lips.

  Fitzwilliam eventually stood and looked at his aunt and cousin. “I hope you are both proud of yourselves. I cannot believe we have treated anyone like we have treated her, and she is related to us!”

  “Fitzwilliam, we weren’t to know,” Darcy said quietly.

  “It is just as she said, isn’t it? You did not try to find out. The laughable result in all of this is that it doesn’t matter to you two. You,” he pointed at Lady Catherine, “will continue to lord it over your locality, and fools that they are, they will bow down to you time and again, and you,” he pointed at Darcy. “Will return to your lovely wife and family in your big house without a care in the world. In the meantime, you have managed to insult in every way possible a woman who is worth ten of either of you. Oh, and you have made sure that I will never marry the woman that I’m deeply in love with. A fine day’s work. I hope you’re both proud of your meddling. I too shall be leaving shortly, and although I might be forced to meet with you in the future, it shan’t be for a very long time.”

  Darcy stood. “Fitzwilliam, do not leave like this.”

  “How can it be remedied, Darcy? How can we persuade Prudence, after her receiving such ill-treatment here, that any one of us is genuine? For I wouldn’t believe us, if I were she,” Fitzwilliam said. “You have ruined the one chance I had of real happiness. Do you know that for once I did not care that we were to be poor? All I wanted was to spend the rest of my life with a woman who can make me laugh, make me want to kiss her, and to whom I confessed things I’ve never spoken to another living being.”

  “Tell me what to do to make it right.”

  “There is nothing any of us can do, is there? If we try and make amends, she would reject our appeal. If by some miracle we could convince her of our sorrow and beg her forgiveness, she would never really believe that it wasn’t purely because she had told us about the money. As she said, it all comes down to that.”

  “Surely it is worth a try, Cousin?” Anne asked.

  “I have told her often enough that I need to marry for money, and I could, no, I should have already proposed, but I did not. How the devil can I convince her that my regard is genuine?”

  Darcy had never seen his cousin look so wretched. “She will believe you in time.”

  “I would not insult her by trying to convince her of any falsehoods I might utter. I’ve told her enough times that I needed a fortune, and I panicked when we kissed in the long gallery and she mentioned that we could be forced to marry. That does not sound like a man to be easily forgiven.”

  “You have kissed?”

  “Yes. A number of times. You see, Darcy, I was not lying when I said I loved her.”

  “In that case, I am truly sorry,” Darcy said.

  “It is a little late for that,” Fitzwilliam said walking out of the room.

  *

  Prudence was glad to secure a place on the stage. Being surrounded by people meant she had to force herself to suppress the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

  She had been so angry with them all, it had helped to carry her through the packing of her portmanteau. Even when Anne had sought her out, she’d managed to maintain her control.

  Anne had been in tears as she’d watched Prudence gathering her clothing. “Please do not leave. We can sort this out. I know Darcy is sorry, and Fitzwilliam is wretched.”

  “It is too late, Anne. Too much has been said that cannot be unsaid,” Prudence responded, not looking at her cousin.

  “But I will miss you!”

  Prudence paused and wrapped Anne in an embrace. “And I will miss you. I would invite you to
visit me, but I know you would never be allowed.”

  “Will you write? Please?”

  “Yes. Of course. But do not be surprised if my letters do not reach you. I feel your mother will not encourage any contact between us.”

  “I shall inform the staff that my letters shall be kept separate from now on!” Anne said. “It is about time Mother realises she cannot interfere without consequences.”

  “Anne, don’t make your life difficult on my account,” Prudence said gently.

  “I will never forgive mother for how she has treated you. But it is more than that. She will ruin my life if I let her. I have never been so happy as I have since your arrival at Rosings. You have shown me how to enjoy myself, and I do not wish for that to stop,” Anne said.

  Prudence was impressed with the determined set of her cousin’s chin and smiled at the words. “I wish you all the courage in the world. I hope you learn how to maintain what you have achieved recently. Remember this Anne. I might have made the suggestions, but it was you who took the risk in agreeing to the schemes. If you had been caught, your mother’s wrath would have been aimed in both our directions, which I think you realised.”

  “Yes. I knew she would seek to make me regret my decisions. Usually she achieves it through making me feel guilty and unsure of myself,” Anne admitted.

  Enveloping Anne in a second embrace, Prudence squeezed her. “Please believe me when I say you are a wonderful person, and underneath your fragile appearance, you are a very strong young woman.”

  “I am not self-assured. Nor impregnable, as I would wish to be.”

  “Of course, you are!” Prudence insisted, holding her cousin at arm’s length. “I buckled after being with your mother for only a few weeks. You have stood her barrages for years!”

  Anne laughed and moved away from Prudence, wiping her wet eyes on her handkerchief. “I suppose so, if you put it like that. Oh, Prudence! I shall miss you so very much!”

  “Do not say anymore, Anne, for I am close to turning into a watering pot, and I refuse to be a wet goose.”

  “Can you not forgive Fitzwilliam? We both know his feelings are sincere.”

  Slamming down the lid of the portmanteau, Prudence stood, picking up her pelisse and throwing it roughly around her shoulders before slipping her arms into the sleeves. “No. It’s more than that. Marriages go through troubles, and I need to have a husband by my side who will support me and defend me when necessary. Fitzwilliam did not stand up to them when it mattered, and that I cannot forgive.”

  “Then I am sorry for the both of you, for I have never seen him so happy as when he is in your company.”

  “He’s the type to be jovial wherever he goes.”

  “Yes. He has a pleasant nature,” Anne admitted. “But he has never glowed before. He is truly besotted with you.”

  “It’s time for me to go,” Prudence said, not reacting to Anne’s words. “Please let me leave without your waving me off. I wish to remain brave.”

  Anne sniffed, but capitulated to Prudence’s wishes. A footman entered the room and carried the luggage downstairs. They exchanged a brief final embrace, and Prudence quickly left the room without looking back.

  Walking downstairs, she was relieved to see it empty but stiffened when the door to the study opened.

  Darcy walked out of the room. “Miss Bamber. Cousin, would you be good enough to give me a moment before you leave? Please?”

  Prudence sighed. “I cannot see that there is anything left to say to each other.”

  “I would like to apologise,” Darcy said. “I should have listened to my wife more and my aunt less.”

  “I think I should like your wife,” Prudence said. There was a slight twitch of her lips, but she was in no mood to smile.

  “She is wiser than I. I should have learned that by now, but it seems I am still to be a dunderhead,” Darcy admitted. “I am genuinely apologetic that I jumped to the same conclusions that my aunt did. I have no excuse to make.”

  “In the long-term, it does not affect me,” Prudence lied. She inwardly doubted if she would ever be the same. “But I think you owe a bigger apology to Fitzwilliam. You did not know me, so presuming much is not a surprise, but you have known him all your life. Your behaviour and interference towards him is less forgivable, but no doubt the relationship you have shared will help to ease the pain you have caused. We do not have that connection, nor history.”

  “And that is a regret. I had hoped to know you better.” Darcy walked across to Prudence. “I shall beg Fitzwilliam’s forgiveness again and again, but I also beg yours. I know when I am in the wrong, and I wish you would tell me how to make amends. Could I persuade you to visit Pemberley and meet my wife? We could try again?”

  “Perhaps. I am not in the right frame of mind to think sensibly at the moment,” Prudence admitted. “When I have returned to normality, I am sure I shall rally.”

  “I hope so. I would like you to visit.”

  “There’s one thing you can do as a service, if you are willing.”

  “Anything.”

  “Do not abandon Anne. She has been speaking her mind to her mother, something I am led to believe is a recent occurrence. I would hate to think she returns to being completely browbeaten by our aunt. I think Anne would be less inclined to ill health if she had more freedom. Perhaps you could invite her to Pemberley?” Prudence asked.

  “Aunt Catherine would never countenance it,” Darcy laughed.

  “And you are guided by her every command?”

  “When it is to do with her only daughter, it is more difficult to overcome her wishes.”

  “Then Anne is doomed to be miserable. A real pity, for she is a lovely girl. Goodbye, Mr. Darcy. It has been an interesting experience,” Prudence said with a slight curtsy before walking to the open door.

  She let the tears fall when the carriage left Rosings behind. It was inevitable that once free of the tension, she would allow herself some time to wallow in feelings of despair. He had not tried to stop her. She was sure it would not have changed her mind, but it stung that he’d allowed her to leave without trying to see her. She was contradictory, and she cursed herself for it, but she could not alter her wish to have seen him one last time.

  Now she was on the stage, surrounded by people, and longing to reach home.

  *

  Days of travel and the strain of being alert to everything going on around her and the constant worry of falling prey to anyone willing to take advantage of a lone female had resulted in Prudence arriving home with a severe headache and a churning stomach.

  On the way to her aunt, a maid had travelled with her in her father’s carriage until Lady Catherine’s carriage had collected her from Westerham. Prudence now realised that it was because her aunt had presumed she would be travelling on the stage. On leaving, she had not wished to wait until her father’s carriage could be sent, as there had been weeks left of the planned visit, hence she’d taken the stage.

  Tipping the coachmen well had ensured they had looked out for the quiet young lady who was travelling such a distance with them. When she was handed to a different coach, a quiet word in the driver’s ear by the one she was leaving ensured that her unobtrusive protection continued. It helped a little.

  Arriving in Manchester, she breathed a sigh of relief. She was once more in familiar territory. Hiring a hack, she sent her portmanteau to be delivered home.

  Her father would be working in one of his mills, and she wanted the busy environment to take off some of the focus her early arrival would cause. She set-off walking in the direction of Bamber mills.

  Chapter 12

  Mr. Bamber looked up from his large desk at the familiar knock on the window of the office door.

  “Prudence? What the devil are you doing here? What’s wrong?” Mr. Bamber asked, immediately rising from his seat to greet his daughter.

  “Hello, Papa,” Prudence smiled. “I found I missed you too much. It is too quiet for me in the
country.”

  “Nonsense! What’s the real reason you have returned? Not that I am displeased to see you. It fair warms my heart to have you back home. The place has been like a graveyard without you buzzing about the house,” Mr. Bamber said.

  “I am glad to hear I was missed,” Prudence said, kissing her father’s cheek. “More than once I longed to have your counsel, I can tell you.”

  “Not up to snuff, were they?” Mr. Bamber asked gently.

  “A couple of them were,” Prudence admitted. “But the others made some spectacular assumptions.”

  “Ah, I feared as much, but I hoped it would not be so. Your mama was the best out of the bunch of them. Never mind. You are home now, and that is something I am thankful for,” Mr. Bamber said.

  “I am equally so,” Prudence said. “Now how can I be of use?”

  “You should go home and rest.”

  “I’m no fine lady who needs to be pampered. I’m much happier when I’m useful.”

  “You will do for me, lass. You will do for me!”

  *

  When the evening gloom had settled across the chimneys and roof tops of Manchester, Prudence travelled with her father back to their home. It was on the outskirts of the city, a place called Stretford. An agricultural and hand-weaving region, which many of the mill owners had moved into because of its position between the River Mersey and the River Irwell. The plain seemed to protect its residents from the smoke and smog created by Manchester city centre, making it even more attractive to those able to escape the unhealthy environment.

  Prudence smiled as she stepped out of the carriage when it came to a stop outside the large stone doorway. The butler was there to welcome them home.

  “Miss Bamber, it is a pleasure to see you home,” the butler, Walsh, said.

  “It is good to be here,” Prudence answered. She glanced upwards at the house that had been her home as far back as she could remember. It was not as grand as Rosings, but it was a large house, and every brick was precious to her.