Page 32 of The Colonel's Ungovernable Governess
“If you do not mind,” Mrs. Darcy said, “Mr. Darcy and I will return to William’s Wood. I am a bit weak in the stomach.”
“I could, with your permission, go with Mrs. Darcy,” Jocelyn offered.
“I appreciate your kind gesture, Miss Lambert,” Mr. Darcy said, “but I will see to my wife. We will take the small coach and leave you my larger one. Do you wish me to send it back afterwards?”
“I imagine two adults and three children—” the colonel began.
Jocelyn warned, “I doubt Lady Annabelle would appreciate being considered a child.”
The colonel eyed Jocelyn peculiarly. “Three adults and two children,” he offered, “can tolerate being in a carriage for less than four miles to the estate. We will be well.” The colonel leaned forward to kiss Mrs. Darcy’s cheek. “Take care of yourself, Elizabeth. Darcy is harder to control than that dancing bear when you are in distress.”
“Yes, he has proven himself ‘necessary’ time and time again.” The lady claimed her husband’s arm, clutching it rather than walking casually at his side.
“Shall she be well?” Jocelyn asked in concern, as the pair walked away.
The colonel directed Vincent and Victoria to lead the way before he responded quietly, “Darcy believes his wife is again with child. The lady had similar symptoms when she was carrying Bennet. He worries extensively regarding her carrying another child.” He continued in hushed tones. “His mother was never well after his birth and lost her life after his sister’s appearance.”
“Was the previous Mrs. Darcy always weak?” Jocelyn asked.
“Lord, no!” he chuckled. “My Aunt Anne taught Darcy to swim, to shoot both a bow and a gun, and many more activities.”
“Your aunt?” she asked.
“Yes, Darcy and I are related through the Fitzwilliam line. His Christian name is ‘Fitzwilliam.’ Aunt Anne Darcy was my father’s youngest sister.”
“Youngest?” Jocelyn asked, interested in the man.
“Yes, there is an elder sister, who is a widow. Father was the middle child, and Anne, the youngest. Darcy’s father had no title, but he came from a noble line tracing their roots to the Norman Conquest. He is the master of one of the largest estates in England.” There was no time for more, for the children stopped in the middle of the area they had visited earlier.
“Where is Annabelle?” Victoria demanded.
The colonel turned in circles. “She promised she would not leave the area,” he hissed. “This place is too dangerous to wander about alone. There is always an unsavory element who follow these traveling fairs.”
The displeasure in the colonel’s tones had Victoria and Vincent hugging Jocelyn’s sides. Between wondering on their sister and the colonel’s apparent growing anger, they were both quite upset. “She must have unknowingly wandered off,” Jocelyn began in a soothing tone while stroking the head of each child. “Lady Annabelle was speaking to another lady of comparable age and two gentlemen while you all were watching the bear.”
“Are you confident such is true?” the colonel pleaded.
“I watched them from where I waited for your return by the opening in the roped off area. The trio has been behind us or in the vicinity through much of the fair.”
“This was planned?” he asked in urgency.
“I cannot say with any security,” Jocelyn said softly. “I simply noted the trio previously and then viewed them speaking to Lady Annabelle.”
“But not bothering to converse with her until the Darcys and I stepped away?” he summarized. He had come to the same conclusion as she, but Jocelyn did not wish to discuss the situation in front of the children.
Before they could say more, Lady Annabelle came rushing into the circle, stumbling to a halt when she spotted the colonel.
Jocelyn hid the smile rushing to her lips, when the colonel folded his arms over his chest and leveled a well-honed glare at the girl. Jocelyn assumed many a soldier feared that look, but Lady Annabelle did not tread lightly. Foolish, foolish child.
“Miss Lambert,” the colonel said politely, but not in easy tones, “might I impose on you to escort Vincent and Victoria to the tent where they might enjoy a sweet treat of their choice?” He fished in his pocket and handed over his purse. “Lady Annabelle and I will join you in due time.”
“Come, children, let us find something scrumptious. I am quite famished. Are you not?” Jocelyn caught each child’s hand, but before they set out together, she kissed the top of their heads. “It shall all be well,” she whispered. “Nothing bad will come of this. Your uncle simply means to remind your sister of his expectations when we are out in a public place with people we do not know.” She gave them a gentle tug. “What is your favorite treat, Victoria?” she asked, infusing her voice with a bit of lightness.
The girl sounded still unsure, but she said, “Lemon cakes.”
“Oh, that sound scrumptious. I believe my stomach would thank me if I presented it a lemon cake. What of you, Vincent? What would tempt you?” The child walked beside her, but he kept looking back to the colonel. “Vincent?” She tugged gently on his hand and stopped to gather both children in a tight knot before her. She leaned over to speak to them privately. “What your sister did has worried your uncle because the colonel is responsible for her in your mother’s absence. Would it not be awful if your sister’s choice brought her harm?”
Jocelyn swallowed hard. Despite disagreeing with her own parents’ choice, she held no doubt they loved her and were likely quite distraught due to her leave-taking.
