Page 6 of The Colonel's Ungovernable Governess
“In truth, I do not know what were the stipulations set aside for the children’s care, but such is something I mean to clarify with my father. In reality, I should have done so before he and my mother departed for Guernsey. All that being said, I have been considering what you said of the boy. I have always assumed, from what I knew of the child, he was unteachable, and though I do not yet know whether he could be taught to run the Babcock estate or not, I wish to have the right of it. Most assuredly, there would be a fight on his hands, or, I suppose I should say, on my father’s hands, to claim the earldom, if Jennings means to make a bid for control of the estate and his late brother’s holdings.”
“You must consider how much involvement you mean to practice with Lindale’s stepchildren. You could very well be Matlock by the time the child reaches his own majority. Surely, there have been others with their eccentricities who have been able to function with a reputable guardian or a few advisors to run the estate. In truth, I do not think the boy is incapable, though a good deal of guidance must occur. He appeared more timid to me than anything. I cannot believe Lord Babcock did not consider starting the child’s education early. You recall how young I was when my father began instructing me in first, the household and then the home farms.”
“Not all are raised by a man of your father’s foresight,” Edward argued.
“Confidently so,” Darcy commented, “but an earl should have begun the child’s lessons early, do you not think?”
“I suppose what you and I think of Babcock is irrelevant,” Edward remarked. “We only know what we know, and I have set myself the goal of learning it all. If I am to marry, then I must be aware of all the facts involving Lindale’s commitment to his wife’s family.”
“You cannot forget the young earl’s sisters,” Darcy reminded him. His cousin was not one to permit a conversation to end until it was completely hashed out. “As Lord Vincent is the only boy, he would be responsible for his sisters’ futures. Negotiating marriage settlements and the like. Would it be asking too much of the boy? If I recall correctly, the eldest is but a few years removed from marriage. Naturally, Lady Lindale and your father could assist with that matter, but the other sister is the same age of Lord Babcock.”
“Is not all this too much to place on the shoulders of my future wife?”
“Obviously, this matter must be a sticking point in your negotiations with Miss Romfield’s father,” Darcy suggested. “Would not Matlock or even Lady Catherine have spoken to this matter with the baron when this arrangement was made?”
Edward shook his head, realizing he should have had a much longer conversation with his father before the earl set sail for the islands. In fact, he should not have put off learning something of both running an estate and the arrangements made for Lady Lindale’s family. “Where do I begin?” he asked in frustration.
“My father always said I must begin at the beginning. You still have time to learn as much as you choose of the legal arrangements made between your family and the Babcock one. Your father is very meticulous in such details. You already possess the skills to know success. If this were a battle, you would make yourself aware of every maneuver made previously. I suggest you do so in this matter. Treat it as a battle plan. For years, you have made men of snot-nosed boys. My money would be on you,” his cousin declared with a lift of his glass in salute.
“Yet, I have never come close to offering my hand to any woman, even the few who initially interested me. As a second son, I was always at a disadvantage.”
“Your situation as a second son is not the usual one found by many second sons,” Darcy reminded him.
To lighten the tenor of their conversation, for Edward did not wish to think more on the matter, he said with a grin, “I thought briefly on pursuing Elizabeth, but then I noted your ‘moon face expression’ every time you encountered the lady.”
“I would have been sorry to have run my favorite cousin through,” Darcy declared in stony tones.
“You were more than a bit obvious, Darce,” Edward teased.
“Obvious to you, but not the lady,” Darcy responded before sighing in contentment. “I have been proven correct regarding Elizabeth. Never been more satisfied in my life. Hopefully, Miss Romfield will prove equally as well matched to you as Elizabeth is to me.”
Edward stretched out his legs and yawned. “I suppose I will learn something of our suitability tomorrow. I have made an appointment to call on Lady Romfield and her daughter. Earlier in the week, her ladyship was to escort her son to Harrow for the new term.” He sighed heavily. “Will Miss Romfield find me handsome enough to suit her? I understand the chit danced a waltz with Lord Sizemore at Almack’s without either Jersey’s or the princess’s permission and is now banned. Sizemore is very ‘pretty,’ do you not agree, Darcy? I am not. Lindale received the handsome features. I mean, Sizemore would not have taunted the patronesses with his action if Miss Romfield was less than fair of face.”
“Who is to say,” Darcy remarked in seriousness. “Miss Jane Bennet was truly fair and sweet natured, but she held no hold over me. I found her quite boring, but I could not remove my eyes from Elizabeth, though my wife is not classically lovely, she manages to win over every man and woman she encounters, except perhaps Miss Bingley. My God, Fitzwilliam, if you had viewed Elizabeth with her hair down and blowsy and her hem some six inches deep in mud, you would likely have thought her as ‘medieval’ as did Caroline Bingley, who claimed Elizabeth displayed an abominable sort of conceited indifference to decorum, while I could not remove my eyes from my wife’s countenance. I continued to fight the good fight for a few more months, but my efforts were useless. I was in love with her. I pray you will someday feel the same for Miss Romfield.”
“Only time will tell,” Edward declared. “May I claim my customary quarters? I fear the chilly night will wake me, and I am content to know a warm bed and clean linen.”
* * *
That had been last evening. Now he was standing before the door of Romfield Hall in Kent.
“Yes, sir,” a proper butler said with a bow.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam for Lady Romfield.”
For some reason the servant frowned, but he said, “Her ladyship is expecting you, colonel. If you will follow me.”
Edward nodded his head in acceptance. However, he had an odd feeling of being off-kilter, for there was no offer to take his hat or gloves, and he wondered if such was indicative of the welcome he would receive from Lady Romfield and her daughter.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, my lady.”
Edward found himself bowing to a woman he had not seen since he was a young lad. “My lady, thank you for receiving me.”
Lady Romfield rose slowly to her feet. “Colonel, you are most welcome,” she said, but the woman appeared nervous. Had Miss Romfield decided against him before even taking his acquaintance? “Please sit, sir. Could I offer you tea?”
“Such is not necessary,” Edward repeated cordially, but he had the feeling something was amiss. “It has been many years, my lady, since we were in company. I hope you are again acclimating to English weather and eccentricities.”
“It has been quite wet, of late,” she repeated in what could only be termed as “stalling” tones.
