Page 17 of London Holiday (Sweet Escapes Collection #2)

Chapter seventeen

“ I s there no one at your house to whom you must send word of your whereabouts, sir?”

Elizabeth formed the apex of some odd social triangle—walking after a fashion beside the colonel and before the “footman.” It made conversation stilted and awkward, for the colonel persisted in light-hearted small talk, but the other’s eyes seemed to burn into her shoulders with the weight of all that he was leaving unspoken. In an effort to bring some genuine levity to all members of their party, she frequently turned to engage him in pointless questions.

He had been staring fixedly at her back, his eyes blank and his steps mechanical as he followed with her parasol. He blinked, as if only then understanding that she addressed him again. “What? My house?” He then glanced at the colonel, who was looking over his shoulder just then to catch the reply.

“Wilson, perhaps, but I know not how to send word again to him or to receive a message in return without exposing his position.”

Elizabeth felt her brow creasing. This all sounded a good deal like espionage! All to avoid an undesirable marriage? She shook her head. Well, if she had not an ally in her aunt and sister, she would scarcely have been less circumspect about returning to the house graced by her would-be suitor.

“Sir, perhaps this Mr Wilson has some connections of his own. A shopkeeper with whom he does business, or perhaps an old friend who is trustworthy?”

The dark eyes brightened when she glanced back a second time. “Miss Bennet, that might be the very thing. There is a cobbler who was to send a pair of new boots this week, and naturally, Wilson would receive them.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened again, this time in play. “This Mr Wilson is not so uncharitable a fellow as I had once made him out to be, for when I first met you, sir, you were suffering from inadequate footwear. I am glad to hear your employer has already seen to a remedy.”

The colonel to her left broke into a scarcely controlled bellow of laughter. She did not look back over her shoulder to see the expression on the taller gentleman’s face, but she thought she heard some manner of grunt. Well and good, let him learn some humour in his circumstances!

“Miss Bennet,” chortled the colonel, “I do believe you have once more set my cousin at a loss for words. I assure you, I am taking notes, madam, for I intend to learn how it is done.”

“It is not my intention to bewilder. I have begun an experiment, you see. My good manservant here has a rather charming smile when he employs it; one which cannot help but give him some advantage in whatever he endeavours. However, Colonel, I find that he so rarely makes use of the expression that I have taken it upon myself to aid him in practising.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I should say that so far, my experiment has met with the very greatest success.”

“No true proficiency can be gained without practice, as my aunt would say,” agreed the colonel, in a perfectly sombre tone. “I wonder, do you think he has caught on to your little game yet?”

“He has,” came the deep voice just behind her.

Elizabeth’s neck prickled at the grudging amusement in those rich tones. It was as if he were walking close enough that his breath might have caused the small hairs above her collar her to shiver, but when she turned round again, he still walked at his respectful distance, her parasol tipped lightly in his hand. She drew breath to gather herself, then pursed her lips and raised her brows in an unspoken question .

“And he makes no objections at present,” he finished, shooting a slightly defiant look toward the colonel. “Far be it from me to suspend any pleasure of my lady’s.”

“Well spoken, sir!” affirmed the colonel. “Miss Bennet, if you do have no intention of keeping your manservant on, perhaps I might consider offering him a position myself. Such a clever fellow might prove himself useful.”

“Ah, but Colonel, he insists that his wages are rather costly. I might advise you against taking him on, for though he does suit the livery quite nicely, he is far from the most proficient manservant of my acquaintance.”

“I yield to the lady’s advice,” the colonel bowed his head, his lips still quivering in silent peals of laughter. “But do forgive me, Miss Bennet, I believe I have already forgotten the name of your street. Was it Lombard?”

“Gracechurch, sir. On the next street.”

“Ah! Indeed, we’ve nearly another quarter of an hour. Are you not fatigued, Miss Bennet? I will quite happily hail a chair for you.”

“I am accustomed to much walking, sir, but I thank you. I believe we might find a carriage uncomfortable.”

“I believe your footman would find it uncomfortable, at the least,” the colonel glanced over his shoulder again with that wicked grin on his face. He was enjoying his cousin’s discomfiture far too much and seemed in no way repentant for it. “Very well then, Miss Bennet, we shall continue on foot. Oh!”

Elizabeth glanced to him in surprise and saw the gentleman flushing very slightly. “Is something amiss, sir?”

He blinked, seemed to gulp, and then turned his head very slightly over his shoulder. “It is Miss Wakeford.”

Elizabeth looked where his attention seemed to be diverted. Miss Wakeford, whoever she was, appeared to be just stepping down from a carriage with a female companion. The colonel was clearing his throat and surreptitiously tugging at the front of his jacket, but his lady of interest had not yet noticed him .

“Miss Bennet,” the voice in her ears caught her attention, “would you not prefer to cross? We shall have to do so soon, and the other side of the street offers some very charming shop windows.”

“Yes, excellent advice,” the colonel stammered, still looking straight ahead.

“Will you not be attending us farther, sir?”

The colonel darted a guilty look at each of them. “I think it for the best that I… will you be well enough, Miss Bennet?”

Elizabeth declared she would and heard the steady, reassuring footsteps behind her begin to turn. It seemed she had little enough choice, for both gentlemen seemed to have their disparate reasons for parting company—one so that he could speak to the lady of his preference, and the other so he would not have to speak to her.

Once safely across the street, she caught a glimpse of the colonel between passing carriages. It seemed that he was well received by the lady, but if she wished to know more, her curiosity was to remain unsatisfied, for her escort seemed relieved to have avoided the meeting. “Do you know, sir,” she spoke without turning her head, “did I not know better, I should suspect you to be a haughty, unsociable fellow.”

“What makes you believe that I am not?”

“Your sense of humour is far too incisive. Clever fellow, you must have fooled a number of people with that brooding scowl of yours, but there is much lurking beneath the surface.”

“You are quite determined to create intrigue out of my character, but I assure you, there is none.”

“Indeed? I am not convinced, but then, I am certain it is no concern of mine.”

“You would proclaim my own character a puzzle, when you, madam, have proved the greater mystery.”

“I? How so?”

“I do not believe I shall grant you the satisfaction of a reply at this moment. Perhaps if we meet again in a setting more agreeable to conversation, I might elaborate for you all the points at which your nature eludes me.”

Elizabeth laughed, glancing back and just catching the gleam of humour in his eye. They were approaching an intersection, and the walkways were somewhat fuller now, so they fell into an easy silence for the remaining distance to Gracechurch street.

As they came upon the house, Elizabeth’s steps began to slow. She bit her lip and drew a long sigh as her eyes scanned up the windows facing the street. She could see her own, and that one just down the way from it must be where her cousin awaited her return like a vulture. He would be upon her the moment she had set foot inside the door, and no quantity of veiled hints or even stark objections would be sufficient to discourage him.

“Miss Bennet, are you unwell?”

She shook herself. “No, merely… reluctant. Pay me no mind.”

His lips thinned unhappily, and he paused, indicating with a dip of his head that he waited upon her pleasure. Elizabeth could not help a slight smile. The gentleman was learning his trade, after all.

Her brief, pleasant thought shattered an instant later, for there, standing on the pavement, was a boxy frame in black, slightly stooped and crowned with a floppy parson’s hat. The figure was speaking, stopping everyone who passed by with a raised hand and a wheedling voice. And it was her name he was plying.

Elizabeth gritted her teeth, and a low, whispered word escaped her which, fortunately, not even her companion could have made out. For his part, he had jerked to a halt in dismay, aghast at the scene created on the street and the repeated references to her name in such a public venue.

Elizabeth spun away, her face growing hot with shame and anger, and found herself almost colliding with the strong arm which held her parasol. His voice was low in her ear as he asked after her well-being once more. She groaned, unable to claim that she was not humiliated, yet likewise too ashamed to allow him to see her so deeply affected by the actions of a fool. How she longed to set Collins down with a proper tongue lashing, but not on the street, not with nowhere to escape to afterwards but the same house, and not before him, so that she might feel ever more keenly the shame.

She felt his hand gently close around her elbow, and he guided her to stand near the steps of another house while she composed herself. A handkerchief found its way into her hand, and though she was far from tears or fainting, she was not beyond shielding her face with the article to stop a torrent of furious words which would not have improved the situation.

“You there! Ah, yes, perhaps your mistress can help me.”

Elizabeth cringed at that oily voice, and she felt the sun strike her more fully as her parasol turned slightly.

“I beg your pardon?” Elizabeth’s companion sputtered.

“Yes, I was speaking to you, man! You are with your mistress, are you not? I must ask her if she has seen a young lady, for I fear she may have met with some accident. Do you know Miss Eliz-a-beth Ben-net ?” At that last question, Mr Collins’ voice raised, and his words slowed, as though he were speaking to a child or trying to make himself understood to a foreigner. “It is most urgent that I find her. Miss… ELIZABETH… BENNET.”

Elizabeth could not bring herself to turn round and look at the fool. He did not deserve to find her! Gratefully, she sensed the tall presence step nearer and gloried in his clipped tones when he replied.

“And who are you, sir, to be making inquiries after a lady of strangers upon the street? How have you the right to presume information of… this lady? Do you believe your actions in any way favourable to the lady you seek?”

“I am the betrothed of the lady in question!” Collins blustered. “I am perfectly within my rights to seek after my future wife, for it is most distressing that a young lady should be so long away without her escort. I came to London specifically to see her and make her known to my patroness, and she must be in the neighbourhood somewhere. Ask of your mistress if she knows Miss Bennet. ”

“I shall not permit this lady to be imposed upon in such an indecent manner,” Elizabeth’s companion retorted. “Good day, sir.”

Elizabeth felt the shade of the parasol fall, then a hand guiding her elbow once more. Without thought, she suffered herself to be led away, still too mortified and incensed to allow her face to be seen by that bombastic oaf. Behind her, she heard Collins importuning yet another passer-by with a demand for anyone who knew Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

“You may lower the handkerchief, madam,” was the murmured assurance at her side. “He is safely behind us.”

Elizabeth swallowed and slowly complied.

“ That was the reason you did not wish to remain at home this morning?”

She released an unsteady breath, tasting the copper tang in her mouth from so long biting her tongue. “Indeed.”

“I believe, madam, that your character is less a mystery to me than it was a few moments ago. I perfectly understand now why you would not wish to expose yourself to… that.”

She could not help a bitter laugh. “ That , sir, was my father’s cousin, and his character does not improve upon closer acquaintance.”

Her companion fell silent for a moment. “I regret the mortification such an incident may have caused you.”

“He has no right to abuse my name on the street like that! Yet, if I am provoked and speak against him, it should be myself upon whom the censure would fall.”

“I presume that when your uncle learns of the man’s conduct, he will be severely reprimanded?”

“Naturally… when he does learn of it. But that will be perhaps hours. How am I to tolerate such a buffoon until then?”

“Perhaps there is no need,” he suggested.

“I cannot avoid it! ”

“Why can you not? You have advised me, now I shall do the same for you. Wait for your uncle, and do not put yourself within reach of a fool without some protection in place.”

“That may do very well for a…” she looked him up and down… “gentleman….”

He smiled, and Elizabeth nearly forgot what she had been about to say. Those dimples again! She cleared her throat. “…But I have already behaved scandalously enough for one day. You cannot truly be suggesting that I continue walking the streets of London until this evening!”

“Would it make matters worse if you did?”

“How could it not?”

“Your aunt and sister do not presently fear for you—as you have said, they expect you to be in the company of one who would look to your safety, as you are at this very moment. Is it not true that the only person fretting about your whereabouts is… that man?”

“Mr Collins. Yes, I suppose that is true.”

“And would it distress you to be at odds with him until your uncle may intervene?”

Elizabeth stifled a grunt of wry laughter. “Not in the least! Think me a wretch if you will, but I would rather enjoy frustrating him.”

He smiled again. “I cannot think so ill of you, Miss Bennet. Come, I believe I will make use of your notion regarding my bootmaker, and then, may I have the pleasure of introducing you to some of the more memorable sights in London?”

She stopped and stared at him. “You are serious?”

“Quite so. As you have noted, we are both of us in need of a holiday. As we presently find ourselves with little opportunity to improve our situations, let us spend the afternoon reviving our spirits. I will look to your safety as if you were my own sister, and I shall depend on you and your parasol to keep me from being recognised. ”

“Sir, I cannot claim to know you at all, but I have the sense that such a proposition would normally have caused you no small degree of horror.”

“You are correct that it is… out of character for me. But that only makes the suggestion all the more intriguing–not to mention that none would ever suspect how we passed our afternoon. I find it almost irresistible, do not you?”

Elizabeth arched a brow, a hint of mischief bubbling in her breast. “Irresistible, indeed.”