Darcy and Fitzwilliam: A Tale of a Gentleman and an Officer

“In a way?” A ray of hope, that. Perhaps he had misunderstood her. “In what way am I mistaken, querida?” His long dark lashes were blinking furiously.

“Well, we had a somewhat intimate moment between us…oh, it was heavenly, Anthony. However, when he expressed a desire to court me, I am afraid I rather panicked, may have led him to believe something of a relationship was occurring between you and me.”

He took a few moments to run a bejeweled, elegant hand through his curling locks then perused his cuticles closely. It was a while before he could calmly express himself. He decided he would speak slowly to her in the hope that she could grasp the gravity of what she had done.

“Well, as you know, I am acquainted with this Colonel Fitzwilliam of yours, Amanda. I have been in meetings with him at the War Office concerning his wounded soldiers. He possesses a look and manner not unlike your American grizzly bear. That is, he can be short-tempered, ruthless, aggressive, self-confident due to his rather formidable build. Also, he has fairly coarse hair.” He watched her eyes closely for understanding, for a glint of comprehension. “He is vicious, pitiless, and ferocious.” She still did not respond. “I like him enormously. But”—his hand went up before him to silence her—“I have no intention of willingly becoming the object of one of his vendettas. He is as unrelenting as he is merciless. He always gets what he wants, Amanda, always, no matter whom he must annihilate.”

Anthony searched her face to see if this speech had affected her, penetrated her thick American skull. But no, he saw only hesitation in her sad, blinking brown eyes. She looked like a spaniel. He leaned forward and spoke louder to compensate. “Do you not comprehend me, querida??” Perhaps her hearing had gone the way of her brains.

She flapped her hands for him to be quiet. “Anthony, please cease being quite so Spanish. Compose yourself.” He spat out an indignant harrumph at that. “Dearest, are you certain we speak of the same man? Richard has been all that is gentle and kind with me. Well, aside from his furious explosion on the balcony. I do not believe that he will pursue me if he believes us betrothed, and I surely had to stop his coming to Penwood, to that house. No, I am confident that, at heart, he is a most honorable man.”

“ Betrothed? ” In his burgeoning terror, Anthony heard nothing else. “Tell me, do I have little beads of sweat forming upon my brow? No? I swear that I feel definite moisture about my hairline.” He brought his silken handkerchief up to mop his brow then inhaled deeply. “So, my darling—tell me quickly to lessen the sting— did you, or did you not, inform him that we were betrothed? Yes or no.”

“No, Anthony, of course I said no such thing. I would never lie, not really. Not in so many words. However”—Anthony’s breathing stopped—“I may have implied that you were about to offer for me.’

Anthony looked horrified, but she continued without noticing. “You see we were… together, in each other’s arms. Oh, it was beautiful, Anthony, heavenly. Never before have I experienced such passion, and he was so gentle. Anthony, he told me he loved me.” She beamed, her eyes shining. “Do you remember how I would question you about him after your meetings at the War Office? I must confess I have long admired him.”

Anthony still looked horrified.

“Anthony, do be calm. He is all kindness. I fear what he truly felt was the need to comfort me, not love me. Emily informed him how a woman who thought I was a servant ridiculed me and tried to have me thrown from the ladies’ retiring room. It was very lowering, Anthony. She made me feel very sad.” He looked down at her bowed head, his hands rubbing her upper arms soothingly, then leaned forward and softly kissed her forehead.

“All right, now tell me exactly what you said about me to the colonel.”

“Is that all that concerns you?!” She was incensed. “Have you heard nothing else?!”

“Amanda! I am the most sensitive man alive, as you well know! I am profoundly troubled with how that woman insulted you. I hate that woman. I spit on that woman. Oh no, wait! I cannot spit on that woman because I will be… dead! Thank you, Amanda.” He grabbed her hands, bending over to look straight into her eyes. “My darling friend, why do you hate me so much?”

“Please try to see this from my viewpoint, Anthony. I am in love with him. There, I have finally spoken the words.” She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before continuing. “It was imperative to say something to him to keep him away. I had to make him believe that I was involved romantically with another. You understand, don’t you? You, as my dearest friend in the world, must understand. I have never before asked anything of you, have I?”

“Yes, yes, you have. Many times. Countless times. Constantly.” Anthony watched as Father Riley spoke to the few stragglers in the church, after which he glanced quizzically their way. The old priest had an unerring instinct for rooting out trouble. Like a pig for truffles, Anthony thought wildly. He grabbed Amanda’s elbow and led her deeper into the church.

“May I say something to you, as a close friend who loves you with all his heart and cares deeply about your happiness?

“Of course, Anthony. You know I value your opinion most highly.”

“How idiotic can you be?”

She punched him in the shoulder very, very hard.

“No, truly, Amanda. You have a chance for genuine happiness with a man you love and who evidently also cares deeply for you.” Reassuring himself that Riley had been diverted once again, he looked down with affection at his friend. “Amanda, dios mio, attend me, please. You are a healthy, lovely young woman, and he is a healthy, single man. Grab life and live for a change.”

“I have given you my declaration that he will never bother you, Anthony,” Amanda said coolly. “I must discourage this suit somehow, and he truly is an honorable man. As long as he feels that I am spoken for, he will not push me for any deeper sort of a relationship.”

“You are mistaken concerning this for two reasons.” He sighed and took her hands in his. “First, no one is honorable when it comes to love.” His eyebrows rose when she opened her mouth to protest, and he raised his hand to silence her.

“Second, you are throwing away your life. True love is rare. You know I have never been able to replace mine. If you love this man as deeply as you say, well then you are a fool to let it pass. Even if it is experienced only for a moment, true love is rare and precious.” He raised her hands to his lips and kissed them tenderly.

“But how can I, Anthony? You know how my life is held in forfeit. I could lose my son if she discovers us.”

Anthony turned a compassionate gaze at her. “In the eyes of the law, you have already lost him, querida. When will you accept this? Anyway, did I say she would have to know? Liaisons are a national diversion here. In some circles they are even mandated. Are you not aware that one half of the ton is always cuckolding the other?”

As her eyes filled with tears, she shook her head.

“It is just not my way, Anthony.” She sighed deeply. “I was not raised to carry out the sort of life they lead here. I do not understand these people and I doubt that I could ever be capable of having a relationship outside of marriage vows. I couldn’t, could I? No, it is not in my upbringing, but I love him so very much. Oh, I don’t know what I should do! You understand this, as a Catholic, don’t you? I mean, would it not feel sinful?”

“Only if he is very skillful…”

It had taken only a moment then for Amanda to swat the back of Anthony’s head very, very hard.

***

Remembering, he shook his head and chuckled at his own witticism. “Only if he is very skillful,” he repeated to his reflection in the mirror. Very clever, Antonio, he complimented himself and smiled, once again at peace and happily looking forward to drinking his very expensive imported French brandy, eating an exquisite meal prepared by his very expensive French chef, and relaxing for hours in the arms of his latest paramour, due at any moment.

Life was, indeed, very good for Dr. Anthony Milagros.

As the valet adjusted the lapels of Anthony’s exquisite dinner jacket, his butler scratched discreetly at the dressing-room door. “Enter, Bascome.” Swirling a brandy snifter around several times, Anthony took his initial sip, savoring the sweet nectar as he regarded his butler’s visage in the mirror.

The ancient gentleman gazed back.

Anthony raised his eyebrows in question and waited. They remained staring silently at each other in the