“Rubbish! You should not listen to a soldier’s account of a gentleman, Anne. Men have their sport, of course, but Darcy has been trained from his infancy to conduct himself properly in decent society. He will treat you as the daughter of a knight and a peeress deserves.”
“Even when he learns… you know?” Anne whispered.
Lady Catherine’s eyes flickered in rage, and her lip curled over clenched teeth. “He will have no choice,” she hissed, “and we will not speak of this again!”
Anne subsided, toying with the lace of her shawl. “I only hope he does not make too much of a scene when he returns.” Then she shivered and drew the shawl more tightly around her shoulders.
“My dear, have you taken a chill?” Lady Catherine demanded in alarm. She cast about, and spying the shoulder of the footman standing at the door, summoned, “Here, you! Send for more wood for the fire, and have another blanket brought!”
“Mother,” Anne protested, “It is August!”
“It is theendof August, and there is a pronounced nip in the air in the mornings. Would you risk your health on the very day of your wedding?”
“Today?”
“Of course, today! Why do you think I sent for Collins? The license is prepared, the parson awaits my call, and I would see the matter settled at once. We cannot afford delay, and I would have Darcy’s word sworn the moment he returns to the house.”
Anne sighed and surrendered to the arrival of a maid with a new blanket for her. A footman stoked the coals back into a roaring blaze, and her mother appeared satisfied. A moment later, another servant appeared and bowed his obeisance, waiting for permission to speak.
Lady Catherine appraised him with interest. “Wilson, have you something to report?”
Darcy’s valet placed his hands behind his back and straightened his shoulders. “Yes, My Lady. The washerwoman who tends tosome of Mr Darcy’s linens received word from a kitchen boy, who was told by—”
“Never mind the chain of hands the message has passed through. What word do you bring of Darcy?”
“Mr Darcy was seen calling on the Earl of Matlock, My Lady.”
The lady scoffed. “I had word of the same two hours ago! My brother the earl would not have neglected to tell me so much. What I wish to know is where he has gone after that. I thought perhaps he was in the company of Fitzwilliam, but we have seen the colonel since then.”
“Yes, My Lady, I spoke with him myself. I am quite certain that the colonel is doing all he can to assist your ladyship, but after hearing that Mr Darcy had been calling upon the earl, I believe I may have discerned what he might be about next if your ladyship wishes—”
“If I wish! Out with it, man. Where would my nephew have gone?”
“I believe he has gone to purchase a horse.”
Lady Catherine’s eyes bulged. “Ahorse?”
“Or rather a matched pair. I have heard him recently to lament that his bays were looking rather aged this year, and the earl himself even recommended a more fashionable turnout, with the higher heads and steps which are so much in favour now.”
The lady was still glaring in astonishment. “A pair of carriage horses? When he has abandoned Anne… Mr Wilson, I believe you have taken leave of your senses!”
“Not so, Mama,” Anne interjected. “Fitzwilliam remembers how well I like a drive behind fine horses. You know I do not care for walking out. What a capital notion!”
“Indeed!” Wilson nodded vigorously. “Miss de Bourgh speaks well, for I have good reason to believe the master has gone to procure a gift for his bride. No doubt the earl recommended it, and Mr Darcy set about it without delay.”
“Preposterous! Mr Wilson, I am of a mind to dismiss you at once. It is clear to me that you possess no true information and are grasping at whatever notion strikes your fancy.”
“I most humbly beg your ladyship’s pardon,” Wilson bowed from the waist. “However, it would not be out of character for Mr Darcy. Only a month ago, when he wished to deeply apologise to Miss Darcy for some transgression—it was not my business to know the nature of the affair—he set out without a word and was away the whole of the day. When he returned, he presented Miss Darcy with a new pianoforte, as well as a new phaeton which was to be taken directly to Pemberley for her exclusive use. She forgave him most graciously for whatever his infraction against her goodness might have been.”
“I am sure you are right, Mr Wilson!” Anne seconded with feeling. “Why, now that I remember properly, he did ask me last evening just before dinner if I did not wish to go driving in Hyde Park while the weather was still fine. It would be just his way to do his penance by the purchase of some elaborate gift. Mama, you do remember how he had that beautiful new rug sent from India after that summer when he and Richard bled all over your old one? I think they had been shooting and one of them fell down an embankment and nearly killed himself on a stick… I forget now which, but I do remember how put out you were with them for the blood.”
“It was Fitzwilliam,” the lady pronounced crisply. “Although Darcy was covered with nearly as much blood from carrying him. Mr Wilson, I can hardly credit this notion that he has gone now to purchase horses for Anne. After he has been away half the night and the whole of the morning, to excuse him now by the assumption of generous motives is sheer lunacy! If he wishes to honour his bride, he ought to be here in person to do so.”
“I am quite certain he will be soon,” Wilson bowed again. “Mr Darcy is a judicious sort, and no doubt since he was in the company of some friend since last evening, they have been detained forvarious reasons. I am sure they are making a properly thorough search for just the right pair to suit Miss de Bourgh. Your ladyship might consider sending word round to the stables to make ready for the new horses, if Mr Darcy has not already done so. I would be happy to carry word to the head groom myself.”
Lady Catherine made another guttural noise, eloquently expressing her scepticism. “Go then, if it suits you, but I grow impatient. If this ‘friend’ knows what is good for Darcy, he will cease to importune my nephew and either send word or return him here forthwith!”
Chapter seventeen
