“Yourself?”
“Would it look too odd?”
Charlotte tilted her head thoughtfully.“Perhaps.I shall go into the village with you.That should not be so unusual.”
In less than an hour, the two of them had Charlotte’s trunk packed and had given instructions to the cook and maid.Charlotte penned a note to her parents, and then they were off to the village.An express rider was quickly secured at the inn and sent off to the Gardiners, and Charlotte’s letter was posted to Meryton.They were on their way back from the village when Colonel Fitzwilliam came into sight on the lane.
“Good day, ladies.How do you do?”
“Very well, Colonel, thank you.”
“May I escort you back to the parsonage?If that is indeed your destination?”
“I should stop and call on Mrs.Clemson before I return, but you could escort Miss Bennet,” said Charlotte.She turned off at Mrs.Clemson’s house and Elizabeth fell into step with the colonel.
“Have you spoken to your cousin today, Colonel Fitzwilliam?”asked Elizabeth, eager to know if Darcy had spoken to Lady Catherine yet.
“Both of them, yes.”He gave her a significant look.“Darcy and I spoke to Anne not an hour past, and he is speaking with my aunt at the moment.”
“Is he?”She thought her voice sounded squeaky and nervous, but perhaps it was only her perception.
“Yes, I imagine it will be a short conversation, though not a forgettable one.”
She nodded, her eyes on her feet and thus missing his teasing expression.
“If I may be so bold, Miss Bennet, I believe my cousin has made a very good choice.”
Her eyes snapped up to his.“You do?”
“Of course.I said I would stand your brother if necessary, and I meant it.You will see no derision from the family while I am about.”
She pressed his arm.“Thank you, Colonel.That means a great deal to me.”
He nodded to her and they walked in silence for a few minutes before Elizabeth broke it, saying, “I do not know when you would ever need it, but I will stand your sister, should the need arise.”
A light sprung into his eyes and she wondered at it.
“I may take you up on that, Miss Bennet.”
She wondered what he meant, for she could tell from his expression he had something in mind.Thinking she would not get to the bottom of it this day, she said, “And when you do, you must call me Lizzy, as my sisters do.”
He smiled brightly.“I look forward to that day, Miss Bennet.And when it comes, you may call me Fitz, as my cousin does, or Richard, like my sister and brothers.”
“I will.”She promised.“Do you have many brothers?I know you mentioned an elder sister, but that is all I know.”
“Oh, yes, we Fitzwilliams are quite prolific,” he said with a grin, all traces of seriousness gone.“I am the fourth of five children.”
“Oh!I had not realized we had that in common.”
“Yes, one of many reasons we get on, I’m sure.”
“Shall I hear about these many children or will you only taunt me with their existence and tell me nothing else about them?”
“Very well,” he said with a playful huff.“If you insist.My eldest brother, Timothy, is the viscount and my father’s heir and namesake.He is married to Lady Cassandra Etchley, as was, and they have a young daughter named Wilhelmina.Terrible name for a child, but they did not listen to me.”
“Oh, dear!”
“Lady Cassandra is expecting my next niece or nephew this summer.”
