“She seems to be heading into that house, Will. Do you know who lives there?” Lizzy asked him. “She is supposed to be a hundred miles from here.”
William scowled, “I will find out how she left her home. Lady Catherine was to be confined to Brighton but somehow, she is here and visiting an old acquaintance. Father will not be happy when he hears about this. I will have a man follow her and discover what she is up to.” He led her expeditiously back to the cottage. “If it is the same person in that house as before, Lady Catherine is meeting with a widow and her scoundrel of a son, who is vain and mercenary. He attended Oxford but I heard about him when he visited Cambridge and he is charming and can easily fool a woman into believing that he is desperately in love with her. He attempted to swindle a friend’s sister who had a large dowry but she was kept safe when my friend began to spread rumours that her dowry had been lost to gambling and he quickly abandoned her.”
“Such a rake! What could Lady Catherine be doing with that family?” Lizzy asked. “Surely Anne is safe at Matlock and no one can tempt her away with Mrs. Jenkinson’s care!”
William shook his head, “Mrs. Jenkinson is fully capable of protecting her but Robert and his wife are planning on a trip to Bath next month. If Lady Catherine has enough funds to hire a fool to spy on Anne, and if she is planning on using John Thorpe to attract Anne’s affections, my cousin will easily fall for his charms. Thorpe is known for his good looks and can entice a lady easily to his will; Anne will wish to marry him and he will gain her dowry.”
Lizzy let out a deep breath. “This is when I am infinitely glad that I have no dowry and no beauty to tempt a man. I would not wish to be pursued on false pretences by a man who does not truly love me.” She looked up and saw William’s darkened face. “I am sorry, Will. I did not mean to say...”
“Is it truly that difficult for you to believe that I find you beyond tempting, Lizzy?” William sighed as he looked into her eyes, “I will not ask you again but if you ever change your mind, I would marry you in a heartbeat. You are the handsomest lady of my acquaintance, Lizzy, and the best woman I know. Do not forget that.”
Lizzy squeezed his arm, “I will never doubt it again. I know you to be an honest man and I thank you for your compliments. I could not imagine life without you, Will.”
William raised her hand and kissed it. “Now, I need to write to my father and we must discover what Lady Catherine is planning. John Thorpe’s father was her solicitor for a few years in Kent and she was friendly with Mrs. Thorpe. That woman was always overindulgent with her obnoxious son and daughters and never saw any wrong in them. John’s younger sister, Isabella Thorpe, is worse than John himself, I have heard, and I am glad I have never met her and will never acknowledge her.” They walked into the cottage. “Please let your sister and the Knightleys know what has happened and I will write my letters.” He stopped her for a moment, “Oh, Lizzy? Do you like the house? Shall I purchase it?”
Lizzy grinned, “I like it very much, Will. It will be a perfect home for you and your family when you holiday here. I will be the doting aunt who will teach your children to climb trees and play hide-and-seek. I will leave your wife to teach your daughters how to sew and play the pianoforte. My playing is improved since Miss Carter has insisted on hearing me practice daily, but it is not capital by any means.”
“You play beautifully and listening to you sing brings me great pleasure, Lizzy. You are more accomplished in the areas that actually matter and I will be more than happy to bring you here anytime you wish. We still have the boat tour tomorrow and a concert next week, and I have heard there is to be a lecture on navigation and stargazing in a few days. Would you like to attend with me? It is to be held at night-time so the guests can look through the telescopes and study astronomy.”
Lizzy beamed brightly and nodded. “It would be wonderful, Will. Go; I will let the others know about Lady Catherine. I am most eager to be here with you this time. Everything is certainly more adventurous when I am with you, Will.”
Chapter 9
“What the devil are you doing in Ramsgate, Fitzwilliam?!” Lady Catherine bellowed. “You are...” she glared at the petite lady on her nephew’s arm, “you are that chit that was in his rooms at Rosings. I knew you were attempting to entrap my nephew and it seems you have succeeded.”
William stood inches from his aunt’s face and growled, “Do not dare besmirch Miss Bennet’s good name and virtue, Lady Catherine. I know what you are up to and I find it hard to forgive you for all the trouble you have caused my family.”
“I do not know of what you are speaking!” Lady Catherine huffed. “I am here on a much-deserved holiday after I had been imprisoned in Brighton and am only visiting a friend. I have the right to come and go as I please. My brother might have banished me and cut my funds but I can go wherever I wish!”
“But you are not at liberty to offend my friends and I know you are up to something.” William retorted. “Since when have you been such
