Chapter 30 #2
“It is much cooler here on the coast,” Richard commented, “and the sea breeze is very pleasant.”
“Yes, I daresay that is much of it,” Anne mused, wandering over to stare out the large picture window toward the cobblestoned street. “Are the others resting upstairs?”
“No, Darcy, Georgiana, and Miss Bennet left some time ago to visit the beach.”
“Oh Richard, I apologize! I did not mean to keep you trapped here in the house while I slept!”
“Nonsense,” the colonel said. “I have seen the beach at Ramsgate, and while it is charming, I would far rather sit in a very comfortable chair enjoying a newspaper.”
“I did not realize you had been to Ramsgate before,” Anne said, taking a seat across from her cousin. “Have you joined the Darcys during previous sojourns here?”
“No, when I last embarked for the Continent, I did so from here. The harbor here sees many a military ship setting sail.”
“Oh!” Anne exclaimed. “I did not know…”
She trailed off and said nervously, “I heard you were injured in battle, Richard. Are you entirely recovered?”
The colonel set aside his newspaper and put a hand to his left side. “I took a ball to the hip, Anne, but thankfully it was not terribly deep. I am largely recovered, though I still am in some pain after a long day of riding.”
“I am sorry.”
“It could have been a great deal worse,” Richard Fitzwilliam said, his face suddenly grim. He had lost countless soldiers under his command, and more than a few friends, in the vicious fighting of the Peninsular War.
“Do you intend to return to active fighting?” Anne asked worriedly.
The colonel shrugged and said, “For the moment, I am settled here in England training raw recruits, but I could easily be sent overseas again.”
“Do you wish to go?”
Richard sighed deeply and ran a hand down his face. “Truthfully, I do not wish to go, but naturally I must obey orders. “
“Surely you could sell out?”
“Not without being dependent on my father, and I refuse to do that, Anne.”
“You could marry an heiress,” Anne suggested daringly.
Richard grinned and said, “That is true, but I would need to find an heiress interested in a slightly damaged second son of an earl, which is not a trivial matter.”
The door to the drawing room opened, and Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Darcy entered.
Anne turned toward the threesome with a smile, even as her own brain worked busily.
She knew of one heiress, at least, who would delight in marrying a second son of an earl.
But was Richard at all interested in marrying a sickly cousin?
/
“Are you certain you do not wish me to accompany you, Miss de Bourgh?” Mrs. Jenkinson asked.
“I am certain,” Anne assured her companion, turning toward the mirror on the dressing table and putting her hat on. “You and Mrs. Annesley should relax and play draughts or nap or enjoy a good gossip, certain that your charges are in safe hands.”
In the reflection, Anne saw Mrs. Jenkinson fight a smile, causing her to turn in confusion. “What is amusing?”
“Your dress, Miss de Bourgh, or more accurately, Miss Bennet’s dress. Lady Catherine would be horrified.”
Anne grinned as she looked down on the green muslin dress draping her thin form. “Indeed she would,” she agreed with satisfaction. “I hope that someday I can purchase simpler garments like this dress. I find it much more comfortable than my usual elaborate gowns.”
“Yes, I fear Lady Catherine is far more interested in showing off her wealth and rank than being comfortable,” her companion said. “Now I do believe it is time for you to depart for the marshlands. I hope you have a marvelous time.”
“I am certain I will,” Anne said, opening the door, walking down the corridor, and then halting at the top of the staircase which led to the main foyer.
The rest of her party was waiting below, and she stared in wonder at Darcy’s joyful face as he looked down on the countenance of Miss Bennet.
Anne could not hear what they were saying to one another, but even as she watched, Elizabeth released a silvery laugh, which provoked Darcy to laugh as well.
Anne could not remember ever seeing her wealthy cousin so happy!
“There you are, Anne,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, looking up at her.
She smiled at him, hastened down the stairs, and said, “I am sorry that I am late.”
“You are not in the least late,” Richard assured her. “How are you feeling today?”
“I feel very well! I slept peacefully and continue to enjoy the cool temperatures.”
“I do not like your hat, Cousin,” Georgiana said suddenly, frowning.
Anne reached a hand up to touch her elaborate straw hat, confused. “What is wrong with it?”
“I fear you will lose it,” her younger cousin explained. “The wind may be strong on the beach, and it will likely fly away from you. You should wear a bonnet with strings.”
“Oh,” Anne said blankly. “Oh dear, I do not own any such bonnets as I rarely go outside at Rosings except when I am in the phaeton.”
“I will lend you one,” Georgiana said and, without another word, rushed up the stairs toward her bedchamber.
“I am sorry to be such a bother,” Anne said nervously. “First I had to borrow a dress from you, Miss Bennet, and now a hat from Georgiana.”
“Nonsense,” Elizabeth said firmly. “We are pleased to have you here with us, and you had very little time to prepare for your journey here, after all.”
“Miss Bennet is correct, Anne,” Darcy assured his cousin. “Furthermore, Georgiana has plenty of bonnets.”
“And I have plenty of dresses which are appropriate for wandering around in marshy areas,” Elizabeth added cheerfully.
Georgiana ran lightly down the stairs and handed a bonnet to Anne, who looked down at it, then at Georgiana’s head. “This looks the same as yours, Georgiana!”
“I have six essentially identical bonnets because they are comfortable. Now, shall we go?”
Darcy gestured for the ladies to walk toward the back door, which led to the courtyard. “We shall indeed.”