Colonel Fitzwilliam's Dilemma Read Online Free Page B

to see signs of it having crumbled in protest at having Lizzy foisted upon it. She was slow to return her attention to those waiting to greet her, and when she did so, her gaze merely glanced off Lizzy before settling upon Will.
    “Welcome, Lady Catherine,” he said, stepping forward and taking her hand. “I trust the journey was not too tedious.”
    “A decent carriage made it bearable.”
    When she could no longer avoid doing so, Lady Catherine turned her attention to Lizzy. “Mrs. Darcy,” she said, her tone bordering on the uncivil.
    “Lady Catherine.” Lizzy replied with equal verbal economy, bobbing the merest suggestion of a curtsey. “Welcome to Pemberley.”
    Lady Catherine wrinkled her nose, as though offended by a noxious smell. Without responding to Lizzy, she turned to Georgiana and her severe expression softened, just fractionally.
    “Georgiana, you have grown since we last met.”
    “Lady Catherine.” Georgiana curtsied. “We are very pleased you have come.”
    “And I am most anxious to learn of your progress on the pianoforte. You must not, under any circumstances, neglect your practice.”
    “I can assure you, I do not do so.”
    Lizzy interceded. “May I bring my sister, Catherine Bennet, to your ladyship’s attention?”
    Kitty nervously curtsied, while Lady Catherine viewed her with a disinterested air. “Miss Bennet,” she said distantly. “I was unaware your sister resided at Pemberley, Mrs. Darcy.”
    “Kitty divides her time between Pemberley and my sister, Mrs. Bingley, who now lives just ten miles from here. Kitty and Georgina are the greatest friends.”
    “Are they indeed.” Lady Catherine seemed most dissatisfied to hear it.
    Lizzy felt her temper rising. Given that they had not even entered the house yet, this was a sorry start indeed. She quelled the riposte that sprang to her lips and turned her attention to Anne de Bourgh, who had now also removed herself from the carriage and joined the party at the portico on the arm of a gentleman. Lizzy was surprised at the immediate differences she noticed in the young lady. There was some colour and the hint of animation in her usually wan countenance.
    “Miss de Bourgh,” Lizzy said, offering her hand. “You are very welcome.”
    “Mrs. Darcy. It is very pleasant to be here again. Of all seasons, I think I enjoy autumn the most. The colours of the leaves, you understand.”
    “Quite so, and Pemberley has no shortage of trees to admire.”
    Lizzy was too stunned to say anything more. Anne de Bourgh had just spoken more words to her in one sentence than she did the entire time Lizzy had been in Kent the previous year. Anne turned her attention to Will and rest of the party, but Lady Catherine didn’t allow her daughter to speak two words before interrupting her.
    “This is Mr. Asquith,” she said, offering no further particulars regarding that gentleman’s reasons for being with them.
    Lizzy appraised him while he exchanged a few civil words with Will. Tall and lean, dressed in sombre yet elegant clothing that wasn’t the first word in fashion, the man had an engaging air and exquisite manners. His disarming personality had survived several days in the close confines of a carriage with Lady Catherine, which said much for his disposition—or desperation. Lizzy was already starting to understand the cause of the differences in Anne de Bourgh and wondered why Lady Catherine had seen fit to expose her daughter to such a vital man. That Anne was taken with him could not have escaped her all-seeing eyes. Georgiana and Kitty, who supposed themselves enamoured of other gentlemen, were eyeing him with interest also. Lizzy could think of few young ladies who would not and decided he would make an entertaining addition to their party.
    Lizzy wondered if Lady Catherine meant to show Anne a little more of the ways of the world through contact with a man who had clearly seen much of it. If so, it was a risky strategy that did not allow