“As well as might be expected, with circumstances as trying as they have been,” she sighed, casting baleful eyes to the gilded ceiling.
Richard appraised her person carefully as he approached to kiss her hand. She had still that sickly pallor about her that she had always possessed, but there was a certain flush to her countenance, a particular gleam in her eye which seemed altogether new. He took her hand to kiss it and found it ice cold. “I am certain you shall prevail, fair Cousin. I have always felt that your strength was generally underestimated. Might I add that you are looking remarkably well today? Darcy is indeed a fortunate man.”
Even as he spoke the lie, he was shaking his head inwardly. Poor Anne! Saddled already with dismal health and an overbearing mother, fate had decreed that she also should be granted a figure which resembled a ship timber and a voice which grated on even the most weathered of ears.
These handicaps might have been sufficient, but alas, the woman had the feet of a horse and the teeth of a donkey, and owing to her persistently bad health, breath which could knock down either.Such deficiencies, coupled with the haughty bitterness of spirit which had always been her heritage, rendered her the poorest choice imaginable for the future Mrs Darcy. Richard began to hope fervently that Darcy might find himself far too entangled with his tradesman’s daughter to escape an obligation from that quarter and thus be spared a hideous fate.
“Richard,” she whined with dramatic flair, “have you seen Darcy at all? We must speak of wedding dates, particularly after everything…” Here, she batted her short little lashes and blushed suggestively. “After all that has happened.”
“Darcy? Why, I do not know precisely where he is. I came here to call on him, as you see, but I fear I shall have to return another day. I wonder, might I instead have a word with his valet?”
Anne blinked to her mother. “His valet? Whatever for?”
“Ah, you see, there was this particular style of breeches he had which have become all the rage in the better circles. I am invited to a party next week, and I had hoped dearly to cut a fine figure. I must speak with a tailor at once if I am to be ready, but I have no notion where to begin.”
“Is it now the task of gentlemen to ask other gentlemen’s servants how their clothing is to be made?”
“I should have sent my batman, of course, but I had assumed I would be able to speak with Darcy in person, you understand. My appearance shall be of the utmost importance that night, for there is a particular young lady with eight thousand pounds whose notice I have been wishing to attract.”
Lady Catherine dismissed his excuses with a wave of her hand. “I have no interest in your intrigues, Fitzwilliam.”
“I beg you would excuse me, then, Aunt. I shall enquire of the butler rather than troubling you. Now let me think, what was the valet’s name? Williams? Willard?”
“Mr Wilson, I believe. I shall have him sent to you at once.”
Richard bowed. “Thank you, Aunt. My mother and I are most grateful.”
“Your mother! What can she possibly have to do with Darcy’s valet?”
“Ah, well, she is most particularly interested in seeing me married off. I am duty-bound to oblige her, if I can persuade the lady.”
Lady Catherine thinned her lips at his bit of frippery but clapped her hands lightly, and a servant came forward to do her bidding. “I have correspondence to attend, but Anne will be glad of your company while you wait. At leastsomein this family know how to pay their respects to a bride!”
“Then I am gratified to be of service,” Richard bowed again as she left the room.
Anne offered him a simpering smile. “Will you be seated, Cousin?”
Richard accepted with good grace and was at once situated with a glass and something much stronger than tea to drink. He nodded his gratitude and saluted the lady. “My felicitations to you, Cousin. I say, I must confess to being a little surprised at you.”
“Me? Whatever for?” Anne shrugged her heavily cloaked shoulders.
“Why, at settling for Darcy, of course. I had thought you could do much better.”
“Better than a man with a large estate and ten thousand a year?” she scoffed.
“But no title,” Richard pointed out. “Certainly, with a fortune such as yours, and being the granddaughter of an earl, you might have caught someone’s eye.”
She flicked her fingers. “Darcy is as fine as any other man.”
“Ah, that he is, but I never thought you wished to settle in Derbyshire. Is not Lord Wharton from Hampshire? And Viscount Hallstead, now he is from Kent like yourself. Is not the weather much more agreeable to your health?”
“What matters the location of the estate? I have no intention of living there, save for a visit in the summer when it is at its finest. I shall remain in Kent, of course, or London during the season.”
“Naturally,” Richard agreed, “it is far better for your constitution, I am sure. Although, I am rather surprised that Darcy agreed. He is rather unreasonably attached to that miserable county in the north. I congratulate you on prevailing, Cousin, for I know few who can against him.”
“Darcy is hardly an ogre, Richard.”
“Perhaps you have little seen this side of the man as yet, but I assure you, he gives small credit to comforts. Why, poor Georgiana once rode astride for two days together because Darcy would not slow their journey north by taking the carriage.”
