Free The Phantom of Pemberley by Regina Jeffers Page A

troops. His own son is a colonel in the army. Colonel Fitzwilliam shares guardianship of my niece with Darcy.”
    Darcy would have preferred that these complete strangers would have no knowledge of his private affairs, but he realized, from years of trying to squelch his aunt, that it was an effort in futility.

    Georgiana, seated on Elizabeth’s left, ventured a comment. “I do so wish that the colonel might call at Pemberley more often. It seems a long time since he was here.”
    “It has been only a few weeks,” Elizabeth remarked. “He was here during the Festive season.”
    “It seems longer.”
    Georgiana’s participation did not go unnoticed by Darcy, who realized that six months earlier, it would never have happened.
    “If Mr. Worth’s evaluation is true, Lord Stafford, you may not arrive at your relative’s bedside in time.That would be a great tragedy,” his sister observed.
    Her words caught Adam Lawrence’s attention in more than one way. He and Cathleen had not discussed how they would explain their supposed trip to Cheshire to comfort a loved one. “It would indeed be a tragedy, Miss Darcy.”
    Lady Catherine asked, “Whom did you intend to visit, Lord Stafford?”
    Adam stammered,“A-a dis-a distant relative for me,Your Ladyship, but it is my cousin Miss Donnel’s uncle.You understand how extended families come together in times of adversity.”
    “And your uncle, Miss Donnel—he has a title?” Lady Catherine demanded.
    “An Irish baron, Lady Catherine.” Cathleen kept her eyes lowered; Adam had warned her of Darcy’s threat, and she played her part.
    Lady Catherine’s disdain showed.“Irish?” She wrinkled her nose.
    “We all must come from somewhere, Aunt,” Darcy said.
    “I suppose,” she said and tsked , taking the time to cut the slice of ham on her plate.“It is kind of His Lordship to escort Miss Donnel to Cheshire, considering that you are not blood cousins.”
    Adam found Lady Catherine’s attitude amusing. If he had not promised Fitzwilliam Darcy to maintain propriety for the rest of the party’s sake, Adam would have enjoyed putting the woman in her place by saying something scandalous. “Miss Donnel and I are close, nonetheless, Lady Catherine. I am just not close to her maternal uncle.”

    “I must observe, Viscount Stafford, that you and your cousin make a striking pair.”
    Adam could not resist. “So you think my cousin an appropriate match, Lady Catherine? I have never taken with the British practice of marrying one’s relatives—be they distant or not.” Adam purposely avoided looking at Darcy, knowing what his host might think of such a remark. He also avoided what he assumed played across Cathleen’s face. He had openly admitted that he held no desire to marry her.
    “Nonsense, Your Lordship.” Lady Catherine swelled with self-righteousness. “A family must keep the blood lines pure. I had once entertained the idea of my nephew and my Anne making a match. It was the favorite wish of his mother, as well as my choice. However, it was not meant to be.”
    “Mother, please!” Anne whispered loudly.
    Darcy warned, “Aunt, we will not revisit this issue.”
    “Of course, Darcy. I apologize.” The woman looked anything but apologetic.
    Adam had taken some pleasure in subtly needling Darcy’s aunt, but he had no understanding of the animosity lurking behind the woman’s conversation. He knew nothing of how or why Darcy had chosen his wife, but it was obviously a sore point for Lady Catherine. Adam had taken an initial liking to Darcy’s wife, and he regretted that he might have inspired Lady Catherine to embarrass the woman.
    “Well, as for me, I will follow in your nephew’s footsteps, ma’am, and choose a woman I can truly love. It is capital to witness such a perfect couple as we see in Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. Very few men would object to such a match.” With these words, Adam hoped that he had laid the groundwork for the Darcys’ forgiveness of