P & P

Hidden in Plain Sight

GUEST: Your answers are in this chapter as to the Colonel and Charlotte.

Previously:

This is about more than me, or one man's child. Lord Ashford's just happens to be the most famous and my title among thousands. We have snakes to take down." Standing up he strode over and handed the colonel a piece of paper he had found. "I was going to show that to you tomorrow; However, since you are here, sir, you might as well read it now, before you head back for Meryton- a trip I know you are due to take."

Visit to the Lucas'

Ch. 22

Ignoring the note had been easy enough; it had turned out to be a dead-end tip. Now he traveled with a fair amount of comfort for no cold air ripped through the air or slid through the carriage Richard had chosen to take. The reason was simple: the winter day was one of the warmest ones England had seen in weeks. Hence, the colonel's mind was not on the weather but on the conversation between himself and James.

"Seems to me you should not be talking to me about whose eyes are on whom." James's words rang loud and clear in his ears, as did other ones spoken before his departure not only from Brighton but from his own mother. They both, basically, had said the same thing.

"Just admit, money is not your top priority nor are physical looks. You want someone who will not feel threatened by you being in the military and can share your love of books and poetry. Money comes second. If it came first, Jane with her fifty thousand pounds a year, and stunning looks, would have easily been wearing your ring by now, admit it. "

His Aunt Catherine had been appalled by what her sister, Bernice, had spoken. She had quickly chimed in or attempted to. Her intention was to stop the damage—as it was perceived. However, she was told to put a cork in it.

Richard's mind left off thinking of James, his mother, and definitely his aunt as the wheels, which had been turning as rhythmically as one of his mother's servants churning butter from years of experience, stopped in front of the Lucas' front door. Squaring his jaw, Richard tossed care aside and stepped down from the carriage. His footsteps took him straight to the doorstep of Sir William's home. Charlotte had not been home during his first visit; the colonel hoped the lady was home now.

"Colonel Fitzwilliam." Sir William was surprised to see the young man at his door. "I was not expecting to see you. Is there something Lord Ashford needs?"

"No, I actually came to…" Richard found himself extremely nervous and he had to take off his hat and hold it tight in order to have his hands not twitch.

Sir William quickly caught on and bit back a chuckle. "Come on in, Colonel, I will go get Charlotte." He knew there was no way Richard knew about the inheritance, for the young man had been gone too much to have heard of it, and, last William had heard, Lady Catherine was still mad at him for refusing to budge on a political issue she felt strongly about. So, it was not likely that woman would have brought the subject up.

Charlotte came into the room just as surprised as her father. She had not thought Richard due back for at least another month. "What a pleasant surprise." The eldest Lucas daughter smiled. "How might I be of service to you?"

"Is there somewhere we can talk in private?"

"You can use my study," Sir William spoke up. If the two had been younger, he would have had them leave the door wide open, but at their ages, he was not going to insist on it.

The study was nothing unusual. Typical bookshelves packed full of political, history, and other such books which held Sir William's attention or were needed in his line of work. A sturdy desk made from mahogany had been placed in the room, along with chairs and tables made of matching wood. An oversized, multi-colored rug had been placed in the center of the room, along with candle holders strategically placed around the room to allow plenty of light on the days the heavy, velvet curtains were closed. Today, no fire was roaring in the fireplace, attesting to the day being warmer than usual.

"As a second son and a military man, I cannot offer you much, Miss Lucas." Richard fought from rubbing his palms together and began speaking as he made his best effort to give Charlotte not only a proper proposal but an honest one too. "We would not be able to travel as I would have liked to. However, you would have a home of your own. And I would make sure there was food on the table and clothes on your back. I would do my best to treat you as a lady ought to be." The colonel continued on a little and then looked at her in all earnestness, hoping for the best; it was hard for him to stand still.

"What about Miss Jane? The lady from London? Word was circulating around that an announcement was surely to be made soon."

"Let us just say we came to a parting of ways. I will not bad mouth her but simply say it was not meant to be." He reached out and took hold of her hand. "I found myself looking back to Meryton and called things off. Did I do the right thing?"

"Yes, but I think you can put those plans to travel back into place." Charlotte grinned wide, delighted Richard was proposing to her with no prior knowledge of her surprise inheritance.

"How? I am but a colonel in the army and am no eldest son. I can afford no estate, servants and definitely no trips that a firstborn son could give you." His words proved he had been away too much, and involved in the case up north far too much to have heard the news. Plus, it helped that others who could have told the gentleman assumed he already knew.

"I received news I have inherited twenty-five thousand pounds from an uncle of mine. Some of it has been put into a dowry and the rest of it...I am most certain if we are not wasteful, we can manage just fine."

"What?" Richard was floored. "Where did he get that kind of money? And what about your other siblings?"

"I have no idea where he got it from, nor do my parents." Charlotte shrugged her shoulders. "Father checked into things. It is legitimate. As to my siblings, trust funds have been set up for those under twenty-five. Honestly, Father had no clue, says that brother never did speak about his finances, lived as if he were a poor church mouse. No one had any idea he had that much money." The lady grinned wide. "Father drew up a marriage will for me and, so, you see…" Charlotte continued beaming. "Traveling is very much an option for us if you wish it to be."

"I would." Richard beamed but then his mouth went flat. "Charlotte, I want you to know, I really did not know about that money when I came here. I made this proposal thinking we would be living in very modest housing with very little, if any, land."

"I know that." Charlotte kept his hand covered. "But, even if you had, the answer would still be yes. You are far more suited to me than the reverend ever could be." She then suggested they go tell her parents who were in the parlor.

Sir William, his wife, and other children were all in the room. They all knew what was going on. And all knew Charlotte's answer as soon as they saw the looks on the couple's faces when they appeared in the parlor. Richard's, along with Charlotte's, might as well have held the ability to light up the whole room—without the aid of candles.

"Congratulations!" was heard out of more than one mouth when the news was officially spoken.

"Now…" Richard looked at Charlotte. "I must apologize, but I have to make my departure. I was allowed to make a detour to your home; however, duty calls."

"Might as well get used to it, Charlotte. He is military." Her mother smiled when she thought it was Richard's quick departure which was the cause of her daughter's smile falling just a little

"Oh, I understand." Charlotte assured her mother. "And, I promise, Richard, I can handle you being military. I did not mean to convey otherwise. I was simply reminding myself not to complain, that there were plenty of other women in the same boat as I am now in. And..." She grinned wide. "I like the view... a lot."

Richard shot his own grin back and then gave his farewells, headed out the door, and climbed into the carriage. His mind now on Mr. MacDonald, Miss Thayne; he could not—even at this moment—risk thinking of them in connection with their true names. That would be done only in front of one man, and under certain conditions.