17 #2
“Papa, you and Mama will lead the dancing, so please don’t vanish into your study just when we need you,” Bennetta said firmly. “And Jane, you need to be available as well, because there is sure to be some poor young man who will need a partner.”
Mr Darcy raised an eyebrow at his wife. “I wonder if the esteemed Duke of Wellington could find a place for Bennetta on his staff? I fancy she would acquit herself well with her undoubted talent for giving orders.”
Before another argument could break out, Elizabeth calmly turned the conversation by wondering when they would have the pleasure of seeing Colonel Fitzwilliam and Susannah, for surely they must have left Dorset by now and, unless something untoward had occurred to their carriage, they should have arrived in London.
“The Colonel has his own house in town, of course, but Susannah will have to come here until she goes back to Derbyshire. I have her room all prepared and obviously if she arrives soon, she will be in good time for the ball which will be a treat for her. I expect life has been very dull down in Dorset since you left, Jane.”’
Jane smiled. “I fear that the Colonel and dear Susannah’s idea of excitement is sweeping up the leaves on the flower beds and deciding what should be planted next year. She will no doubt be glad to get back to her own garden.”
“It must be very odd, to be a spinster, living with your younger brother and his wife. You must feel constantly in the way, an unwanted guest at their table. They would always be having to find her a partner for dinner or dances. I should hate it.” Anne gave a dramatic shudder.
“I can’t see the difference to us living with Mama and Papa,” Bennetta said swiftly.
“If you are still living with us when you have reached the age of forty, I shall pay someone to take you away,” Mr Darcy said absentmindedly as he tackled a particularly obstinate cutlet.
Bennetta laughed but, even as she did so, she felt that shiver of pain that she had experienced so many times whilst growing up.
Papa was joking, of course he was. But she also knew that buried somewhere in that remark was the truth—he did not care for her nearly as much as he did his other four children.
The fire had been lit in the drawing room and peace reigned as Elizabeth played a gentle tune on the piano whilst Mr Darcy turned the pages of her music.
Jane sat listening, trying to put images of Archer out of her mind.
Even Anne and Bennetta found common ground in discussing exactly who was coming to the dance on the following evening.
The peace was shattered when a peal at the front door bell heralded a footman announcing the arrival of Colonel Fitzwilliam who strode into the room with hardly a sign of a limp, looking fit and well.
He was closely followed by Susannah Courtney and Jane just had time to notice she was wearing a very becoming winter coat and feathered hat in a shade of dark amber that suited her far more than her usual grey or dull brown.
Jane had been dreading this meeting, worrying about how the news of Celeste’s betrayal would be received.
She loved her godfather dearly and realised all over again just how angry she was at the girl for putting him in this invidious position.
The only good thing she could think of was that the engagement had not been officially announced; no one except herself and probably her parents, knew about the liaison and so he would not be held to ridicule by society.
Mr Darcy welcomed him with a hearty handshake. “My good fellow! A pleasure to see you once more and to find you looking so well. We were all concerned by Jane’s report on your health. And Susannah, welcome. Come and sit here by the fire.”
“Darcy, Elizabeth, girls! Good evening to you all. I apologise for the lateness of our visit, but one of our horses lost a shoe outside of Guildford and we were somewhat delayed.”
“You are welcome any time. I will ring for coffee, although I am sure a glass of brandy will be more to your taste.” Elizabeth ushered them to seats closer to the fire. “It is a raw night for travelling.”
“And where is the charming Celeste? I hope she has been enjoying her stay in London?”
Jane stepped forward and blurted out, “Such news, Godfather! I am sure you will delighted to learn that Celeste is shortly to be married to Dr Andrew Moore. She has moved to Lady Goddard’s house in Mayfair, but I am sure she will be glad to see you once more.”
No matter how unwelcome the information would be to him, how unhappy it would make him feel, she was convinced that the sooner he knew it the better, before he could make any announcement of his own intended marriage.
“That, of course, is not the most important part of the news,” Anne added dryly.
“It is typical of Jane to miss out the fact that Celeste Fiorette is an imposter. That she is not our cousin, not a member of the Fitzwilliam family. You have been sadly duped, I’m afraid, Colonel, by giving her shelter and introducing her to the world as such. ”
There was a silence, broken only by the spitting of the logs on the fire and the crackling of the flames. Then the Colonel sighed and said, “My wife had her suspicions many weeks ago, didn’t you, my dear?”