Colonel Fitzwilliam's Dilemma Read Online Free Page A

delicate and suffers with her nerves. I spent half an hour with her and her sister.”
    “She has a sister residing with her?”
    “Mrs. Sheffield is a lot younger than Lady Briar, but very interesting, and quite charming. She cannot be more than five-and-twenty, but is already a widow. Her husband died of a fever over a year ago, somewhere abroad. She did not say where. Anyway, she has just returned to England and at the moment her home is with her sister.”
    “What is she like?”
    “Educated, well-bred, and very beautiful. She and Lady Briar appear very close. Although Mrs. Sheffield is considerably younger, she seems to take care of her sister, rather than the other way around.” Lizzy canted her head, thinking the matter through. “But she was nervous and on edge the entire time. Mrs. Sheffield, that is. Oh, she hid it well, but there is more to that lady than meets the eye. You just mark my words.”
    “Well then, we shall invite them to dinner, and I dare say Mrs. Sheffield will have told you all her secrets by the time the first covers are removed.”
    Lizzy punched her husband’s arm. “You make me sound like a busybody.”
    “Not at all. It is just that people tend to confide in you because they trust you to be discreet.”
    “Hmm, perhaps.” Lizzy felt her eyelids drooping, and she stifled a yawn with the back of her hand. She seemed to be tired all the time nowadays.
    “Come, you need to rest before dinner.”
    She felt herself being lifted by a strong pair of arms, and the next thing she knew, she was nestled between crisp cotton sheets. She had so much to do, so many arrangements to make, but they could wait. She would sleep, just for an hour, and then dress for dinner.

Chapter Three
    “Let battle commence,” Lizzy muttered beneath her breath as she stood with Will, Georgiana and Kitty beneath the entrance portico at Pemberley, watching Lady Catherine’s barouche make its way up the long driveway.
    “Did you say something, my dear?” Will asked.
    Nothing that bears repeating. “I was just remarking your relations have made good time. I had not expected seeing them until tomorrow at the earliest.”
    Will sent her a droll look before returning his attention to the approaching conveyance. “Ah, is that what you said?” His lips twitched and she felt the muscles in his forearm strengthen beneath her fingers resting upon it. “I must have misheard you.”
    “Stop making fun of me,” she hissed, so Georgiana and Kitty, chatting together a short distance apart from them, could not overhear. “You know how nervous I am about making a good impression.”
    This time, Will definitely smiled. “It is Lady Catherine who ought to feel nervous if she plans to cross swords with you.”
    Lizzy quirked a brow. “Really? Am I so very ferocious? I am unsure what that says about your opinion of me.”
    “Merely that if my aunt wishes to heal the rift between us then she would be wise to show the deference due to you as my wife.”
    “Why do you always know exactly the right thing to say, especially when I think I have just cause to be vexed with you?”
    He patted the hand still resting on his sleeve. “Because you are my life and the only thing that is truly important to me.” He paused, sending her a playful look. “Apart from my estate, my sister, and my new horse, naturally.”
    Lizzy bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing and did her very best to look severe. “You will pay for that comment later.”
    “Oh, I do hope so. I rather enjoy your chastisements.”
    “Behave yourself, Mr. Darcy!”
    “If I must, Mrs. Darcy.”
    The carriage came to a smooth halt directly by the portico. Will’s footman ran forward to let the steps down and help its occupants to alight. Unsurprisingly, Lady Catherine was the first to emerge. Lizzy studied her, seeing few outward changes in her haughty visage. She looked up at Pemberley’s façade and frowned, as though looking for imperfections, expecting