“Is there no one at your house to whom you must send word of your whereabouts, sir?”
Elizabeth formed the apex of some odd social triangle—walking after a fashion beside the colonel and before the “footman.” It made conversation stilted and awkward, for the colonel persisted in light-hearted small talk, but the other’s eyes seemed to burn into her shoulders with the weight of all that he was leaving unspoken. In an effort to bring some genuine levity to all members of their party, she frequently turned to engage him in pointless questions.
He had been staring fixedly at her back, his eyes blank and his steps mechanical as he followed with her parasol. He blinked, as if only then understanding that she addressed him again. “What? My house?” He then glanced at the colonel, who was looking over his shoulder just then to catch the reply.
“Wilson, perhaps, but I know not how to send word again to him or to receive a message in return without exposing his position.”
Elizabeth felt her brow creasing. This all sounded a good deal like espionage! All to avoid an undesirable marriage? She shook her head. Well, if she had not an ally in her aunt and sister, she would scarcely have been less circumspect about returning to the house graced by her would-be suitor.
“Sir, perhaps this Mr Wilson has some connections of his own. A shopkeeper with whom he does business, or perhaps an old friend who is trustworthy?”
The dark eyes brightened when she glanced back a second time. “Miss Bennet, that might be the very thing. There is a cobbler whowas to send a pair of new boots this week, and naturally, Wilson would receive them.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened again, this time in play. “This Mr Wilson is not so uncharitable a fellow as I had once made him out to be, for when I first met you, sir, you were suffering from inadequate footwear. I am glad to hear your employer has already seen to a remedy.”
The colonel to her left broke into a scarcely controlled bellow of laughter. She did not look back over her shoulder to see the expression on the taller gentleman’s face, but she thought she heard some manner of grunt. Well and good, let him learn some humour in his circumstances!
“Miss Bennet,” chortled the colonel, “I do believe you have once more set my cousin at a loss for words. I assure you, I am taking notes, madam, for I intend to learn how it is done.”
“It is not my intention to bewilder. I have begun an experiment, you see. My good manservant here has a rather charming smile when he employs it; one which cannot help but give him some advantage in whatever he endeavours. However, Colonel, I find that he so rarely makes use of the expression that I have taken it upon myself to aid him in practising.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I should say that so far, my experiment has met with the very greatest success.”
“No true proficiency can be gained without practice, as my aunt would say,” agreed the colonel, in a perfectly sombre tone. “I wonder, do you think he has caught on to your little game yet?”
“He has,” came the deep voice just behind her.
Elizabeth’s neck prickled at the grudging amusement in those rich tones. It was as if he were walking close enough that his breath might have caused the small hairs above her collar her to shiver, but when she turned round again, he still walked at his respectful distance, her parasol tipped lightly in his hand. She drew breath to gather herself, then pursed her lips and raised her brows in an unspoken question.
“And he makes no objections at present,” he finished, shooting a slightly defiant look toward the colonel. “Far be it from me to suspend any pleasure of my lady’s.”
“Well spoken, sir!” affirmed the colonel. “Miss Bennet, if you do have no intention of keeping your manservant on, perhaps I might consider offering him a position myself. Such a clever fellow might prove himself useful.”
“Ah, but Colonel, he insists that his wages are rather costly. I might advise you against taking him on, for though he does suit the livery quite nicely, he is far from the most proficient manservant of my acquaintance.”
“I yield to the lady’s advice,” the colonel bowed his head, his lips still quivering in silent peals of laughter. “But do forgive me, Miss Bennet, I believe I have already forgotten the name of your street. Was it Lombard?”
“Gracechurch, sir. On the next street.”
“Ah! Indeed, we’ve nearly another quarter of an hour. Are you not fatigued, Miss Bennet? I will quite happily hail a chair for you.”
“I am accustomed to much walking, sir, but I thank you. I believe we might find a carriage uncomfortable.”
“I believe your footman would find it uncomfortable, at the least,” the colonel glanced over his shoulder again with that wicked grin on his face. He was enjoying his cousin’s discomfiture far too much and seemed in no way repentant for it. “Very well then, Miss Bennet, we shall continue on foot. Oh!”
Elizabeth glanced to him in surprise and saw the gentleman flushing very slightly. “Is something amiss, sir?”
He blinked, seemed to gulp, and then turned his head very slightly over his shoulder. “It is Miss Wakeford.”
Elizabeth looked where his attention seemed to be diverted. Miss Wakeford, whoever she was, appeared to be just stepping down from a carriage with a female companion. The colonel was clearing his throat and surreptitiously tugging at the front of his jacket, but his lady of interest had not yet noticed him.
“Miss Bennet,” the voice in her ears caught her attention, “would you not prefer to cross? We shall have to do so soon, and the other side of the street offers some very charming shop windows.”
“Yes, excellent advice,” the colonel stammered, still looking straight ahead.
“Will you not be attending us farther, sir?”
The colonel darted a guilty look at each of them. “I think it for the best that I… will you be well enough, Miss Bennet?”
Elizabeth declared she would and heard the steady, reassuring footsteps behind her begin to turn. It seemed she had little enough choice, for both gentlemen seemed to have their disparate reasons for parting company—one so that he could speak to the lady of his preference, and the other so he wouldnothave to speak to her.
