Admiral Goddard sounded terrifying! How different had been dear Mr Bennet, her own grandfather. His visits to Pemberley when she was a child had always given her much pleasure. They had shared a great love of books and had often sat together in the library talking and discussing what they had read. And even though the money was not important to her, the bequest to all his female grandchildren in his will, “in order that they did not have to marry the first fool who asked them,” had always made her laugh when she thought of it.
For a brief moment Archer covered her fingers with his own, then took a deep breath and reverted to his usual, slightly arrogant attitude. “You will meet my grandmama when you come to Robyns for dinner, Miss Jane. She will be intrigued—she has already had the pleasure of your sister’s company in London.”
“I fear she may well be disappointed if she expects another Anne at her dinner table. We are not alike, except in general appearance.”
“I found Miss Anne to be a very accomplished and delightful companion.”
Jane nodded, feeling as she so often did, that sensation of being second best to her glittering twin. “She is all of those things and more.” A flicker of mischief crossed her face. “And anexcellent dancer, of course. I am sure your grandmother noticed that particular accomplishment.”
“I fear that we will not have enough couples at dinner to make up even one small set for dancing, so Grandmama will not be able to judge your abilities.”
Jane stood up, smoothing down her skirts. “Then I fear, Mr Maitland, you will never know how I compare to Anne! And now, with your pardon, I think I will walk in the orchard and watch the men harvesting the apples. I love this time of year.”
Archer bowed and stood sipping his coffee, watching from the window as the girl appeared, making her way along the grassy track between the heavily laden trees. He saw her stop and talk to the head gardener, noticing that the man carefully steered her away from any danger of being hit by falling fruit and guided her to a bench where she could watch the harvest in safety.
He could tell by the man’s demeanour that Jane was popular with the servants and realised, with something of a shock, that Anne would never have dreamt of getting involved in such a countrified occupation.
“Are you comparing the young lady to her sister?” Andrew had joined him at the window, intrigued by his friend’s expression.
“Oh, there is no comparison to be made. It is difficult to believe they are twins, even though on first sight they are alike to look at.”
“You once told me that you were tempted to ask for Miss Anne Darcy’s hand in marriage? Are you still of like mind?”
Archer shrugged irritably and swallowed the last drop of coffee. “Anne is a beautiful, accomplished woman. She would be a great asset to me in my career—as my grandmother is always happy to tell me.”
“So you do mean to ask for her! And do you believe her feelings for you are such that she would accept?”
Archer stirred his spoon round his coffee cup, not noticing it was empty. “I think Anne would like the type of life I could offer her.”
“And love? Does that enter into your calculations at all, my hard-hearted friend? I myself will only marry for love.”
There was a long pause; Archer seemed distracted by the sight of a young gardener offering Miss Jane a particularly pretty pink and cream apple and her smiling acceptance of the fruit.
“Oh love! I have no time for such fancies and nor does Anne. It would be a good, suitable, advantageous marriage for both of us. And that is what marriage should be. I will not make the same mistake as my poor mother and ally myself to an unsuitable partner because of love. My father was a good man, but not the right husband for her.”
A touch on his sleeve—he glanced down to find Celeste smiling up at him. “Oh Mr Maitland, I am sorry, I did not mean to overhear your words, but it is exciting that you might be marrying my cousin, Anne Darcy!”
“There is nothing yet settled,” Archer replied hastily.
“Oh, I quite understand.” Celeste tapped her fan mischievously on his hand. “Have no fear, your secret is quite safe with me, Sir. My lips are sealed.” And she drew a finger across her mouth in a dramatic fashion. “But we are all friends and family here. We wish the best for all of us, I am sure.”
Andrew smiled. He found the Italian girl entertaining company, although she seemed to know very little, indeed nothing at all, about the wonderful Roman and Greek ruins on her island home of Sicily. But then young ladies didn’t need to fill their heads with historical knowledge, although it was odd that she had never even visited certain towns famous their ruins.
“Well, I have no secrets to share with you, Signorina Celeste. My life is an open book. And, I daresay, a very boring one.” Helaughed. “Now, if you will excuse me, I think I will join Miss Jane in the garden. It is too lovely an afternoon to stay indoors.”
Celeste fell silent, watching through the window as Andrew appeared, sitting next to Jane, helping himself to an apple from the basket in her lap. She was aware of a twinge of jealousy. What was it about this pale, fair-haired creature that men found so appealing? Irritation wriggled through her: Celeste was never happy unless all men in her vicinity were only showing interest in her.
She was aware of Archer Maitland by her side, his silence intriguing her. “Your friend, he has a tendresse for Miss Jane, I think,” she ventured at last.
“What? Excuse me, Signorina, my thoughts were many miles away. Andrew and Jane Darcy? Why—no! I mean, well, there is no reason why not, of course, because you will never meet a more good-hearted, kindly fellow than Andrew, but he is in no position to take a wife. He leaves for Greece very soon, for one of his interminable historical digs.”
“Greece is not that far away, not if you care for someone. And I am sure a wife could be very useful in such a situation. But then, even if he does, I fear his feelings will not be reciprocated.”
Archer felt a wave of indignation; he was very protective of his friend whom he thought to be a good man, far better than he himself. “I think Miss Jane Darcy would be proud to have gained the affections of such a man.”
“Oh la, of course, Mr Maitland! Of course. Forgive me, I meant no disrespect towards Dr Moore. A true gentleman, I do declare. It is just that—but no—I must not repeat servants’ gossip. That is not the English way, although it is useful to have knowledge of all the facts when making up your mind about a person.”
“Gossip?” Archer sounded disgusted.
