Posted on Tuesday, 7 May 2002
"My heart, do not grimace! Have no fear. My sisters will be on their best behaviour. If you look like an ogre, you will frighten them into timidity and they will only be mere apparitions during their entire visit!" Mr. Darcy's look of apprehension at the prospect of Elizabeth's sisters, Mary and Kitty's visit faded away into a look of fond amusement as his lovely wife attempted to fix his cravat. She was struggling with it. Tying a cravat was something that took skill and years of practice. Something only his valet did, as he could not make heads or tails of it. He took her hands into his and bent to stare into her very fine eyes. They had bewitched him at the Meryton Assembly and they bewitched him now and forever. He stole a kiss while her hands were captives.
"Sir! I did not think you so unscrupulous as to take advantage of a lady in distress." He laughed at her playful manner. If propriety did not demand that he be seen in society at least once or twice a Season, he would lock his lovely lady in his room and never let her out. He grabbed his wife and kissed her even more deeply as a carriage pulled up in the driveway and two giggling girls emerged to catch them in their indiscretion.
"My heart, it does seem as if we have an auditory." Mary and Kitty stared at their sister and brother-in-law as they reluctantly parted. Their consternation was evident. This was the serious and arrogant Mr. Darcy who had awed Mrs. Bennet sufficiently that she was actually polite? His present disheveled state was incongruous with their memories of an austere and cold mien.
Elizabeth Darcy (nee Bennet) laughed at their disconcerted stares. The footman who was bringing their bags into Pemberley was well used to such affectionate displays of affection by the Master and Mistress. Thus were the shades of Pemberley polluted not by coarseness, as was Lady Catherine's allusion, but playful romps of the more amorous type.
Their sister's warm greeting dissipated any fears. They were introduced to Georgiana who was lovely and fair and extremely shy. Not at all the proud young lady Wickham had accused her of being. The Bennet girls settled into their new home quickly. Mr. Darcy had promised his wife that her sisters and his would be brought into society together. Mary and Kitty had come to learn some manners while Georgiana was to learn some boldness.
Mary and Kitty were given voice and singing lessons to take with Georgiana. This was more for the benefit of Mary who enjoyed showing off skills she had not yet mastered. While benefiting from the superior society the Darcy's provided she was still a young lady who enjoyed reading books of quality such as Fordyce's Sermons and the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire.
She entered the Pemberley library with slight trepidation, would she be welcome into this sanctum? She was glad for Elizabeth's offer to visit, but she knew she had always been poor company and had no pretensions that the offer was anything more than an obligatory duty. The library was prodigious and more than commodious. Elizabeth was sitting in an armchair reading. She put her book down and motioned Mary to sit by her.
"Mary." She smiled in greeting and Mary felt a pang of jealousy at her beauty. "Are you happy here?" Elizabeth was not so oblivious to not realize that Mary had never been comfortable in the Bennet home as the homeliest of the sisters and had never felt accepted by her father whose favorite was Elizabeth and her mother whose favorite was the erstwhile Lydia. Although she was pretty, she was just not as pretty as any of her sisters. Elizabeth knew that inevitably Mary had turned to books as her solace and sole pleasure.
Mary looked at her sister and nodded an assent.
"Good." Elizabeth grasped Mary's hand and refused to let her get up. "Mary. I want you to know that you are my sister and I love you. I would like us to be friends." Mary started at this strange confession and felt happier than she had ever been. From then on, Mary was more comfortable in her skin and even felt bold enough to tease Mr. Darcy, sometimes. She was happy in Pemberley where she was not constantly compared to her eldest sisters who had caught rich husbands, Lydia who had sadly caught a Wickham, or Kitty who was much prettier than she. She was free to read and play the pianoforte as often as she would like without her father complaining of the noise. And her favorite activity was to search the immense library for obscure texts in obscure languages. She was searching for such a text when she found a Novel hidden among the stacks. She was shocked and the only plausible inference to make was that it belonged to Elizabeth, Kitty, or Georgiana, being the only other females who used the library. She turned looking stern towards the ladies.
"To who does this novel belong?" Saying the novel as if it were an impolite word not to be mentioned in proper society. The Adventures of Belinda. was held in her fingertips as if it was trash. Kitty and Georgiana looked puzzled while Mr. Darcy looked extremely guilty. Elizabeth was attempting not to laugh and stuffed the hem of her sleeve into her mouth. Seeing that no one was admitting her guilt, she said in a clearly disappointed voice, "I will have to keep this novel myself and keep it hidden to prevent it from being read. If, however, someone would like to make a claim, I will be willing to hand it over with an interdict to not read it and with a stern lecture on proper reading habits." And she left the room followed by Georgiana and Kitty who wanted to see her hidey-hole.
No longer looking guilty, Mr. Darcy looked afraid. Elizabeth had once, in their tumultuous courtship, said that their reading habits would probably be widely different. He had challenged her to prove it. He introduced her to his dry, scholarly texts and she introduced him to the fantastical world of novels. After spending hours on estate business, he enjoyed unwinding by the fire with a fluffy novel. It provided him with a light pleasure. He did not know what to do. He did not want to risk raising Mary's ire at his reading habits; however, he had not finished that particular novel! He was at the bit where Belinda was about to escape from her roguish captor, Don Giovanna, a dastardly Italian who wanted to ravish the poor heroine! He would now never know how the novel would end. He sighed.
"Elizabeth, my soul, whatever should I do?" The plaintive note in his voice melted her resolve and she burst into laughter.
"Dear heart, go to Mary and explain. Perhaps she will let you off lightly."
"I do not think that likely. When my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, a lady-killer, attempted to flirt with Mary, Mary asked him what book he had read recently and chastised him severely for not remembering the last book he read. I shudder to think what she will say to me, a novel reader." He groaned. "Elizabeth, I am sorry to say I live in fear of your sisters." Elizabeth only laughed and seeing that he provided her with unrelenting amusement, he left in a huff.
He found Mary in the music room practicing a difficult piece.
"Miss Bennet."
"Mr. Darcy." Mary wondered why he was soliciting her attention and hoped he would go away. This piece was quite difficult and she wished to practice without interruption. He fidgeted and finally spoke.
"The book was mine, but before you say anything, I would like to say that your visit has been extremely pleasant. My sister and I extremely enjoy your company and I you would like anything, I am sure that I can provide it, whatever it may be." He said this very rapidly, and Mary was not sure, but she thought she heard a bribe.
He knew she knew he had just tried to bribe his wife's sister. His conscience pricked him for his wickedness. He wondered what Mary would do. She smiled. It was a very scary smile. Mr. Darcy quaked in fear.
"There is actually something I have been wanting to do for a while..."
"Yes. What is it?"
"I've always wanted to learn how to fence."
"What! Fencing is not a hobby that ladies are supposed to take up. I was expecting you to say a new dress or piece of music."
"Perhaps that would be something Kitty would ask for." Kitty walked in.
"Actually I would like to learn how to shoot and ride, and maybe do both at the same time." Taking advantage of Mr. Darcy in a moment of weakness, as it was obvious he would succumb to Mary's request.
"Oh dear. My sister-in-laws are bloodthirsty savages. I live in fear of my life."
Disclaimers: All characters belong to Jane Austen, this plot belongs to me. Some lines are generalized quotes from Pride and Prejudice.
Posted on Tuesday, 7 May 2002
Mr. Darcy was just about to succumb. Yes was on the tips of his tongue. He was ready to go against his very old-fashioned belief that women should not be allowed near weapons. The man should protect the women. (Elizabeth is still in the process of reforming him; he can't help himself, the poor dear) Mary and Kitty looked at him with anticipation. He was going to grant them their wish.
Georgiana rounded the corner.
Mr. Darcy looked at his beloved sister. If he succumbed now, his sister would be able to take advantage of that and ask for whatever she wanted. He would become indulgent. Then everyone would whisper behind his back that he was soft and an easy mark. No, he mustn't allow that to happen. (Sometimes men can get so irrational, j/k)
"I am sorry but I must deny you that request." Mary was quite shocked at this turn of events, however she had perfected the poker face. It was necessary when responding to the absurd requests of her mother without bursting into belly laughs. Peacock feathers and pink boas, indeed!
"Sir. Then I must say I am quite disappointed. You will just have to wonder how the story will end. Will our beloved heroine, Belinda survive her encounter with the wicked Don, will she find true love, and will she find the treasure to rescue her poor papa?" Mary teased.
"Mary, I myself am disappointed that you have read the novel." Kitty said. "Shocked that you would allow yourself to be sullied." Kitty continued teasingly.
Mary laughed, "I did not need to read it. All novels are the same." Turning to the disappointed Mr. Darcy, "Which is why I am quite disappointed in you. You must set an example to the young unformed minds in the village and at home. What does Elizabeth think of this horrid habit?" Elizabeth, who had been eavesdropping at the door, chose this moment to make her entrance.
"I think it is appalling and find myself very disappointed. I must think of a suitable punishment." Her eyes twinkled. Mr. Darcy found himself thinking naughty thoughts. Elizabeth gave him a sly wink that none, but he could see.
"Yes. I am very ashamed. Of course, I would need to be punished. Hehe." He let himself be dragged off by his wife.
Kitty turned to Mary in puzzlement. "Did you hear that? I do believe he giggled. Whatever was the giggle for?" Mary, as the elder by one year, responded as an older sister only can when confronted with something unknown. She patted Kitty's hand.
"I'm sorry. You are too young to know." Kitty made a face.
"I bet you don't know either." Mary responded as only an older sister can respond when found out by the younger sister. She stuck out her tongue. "Go AWAY! I need to practice this piece."
"Hmph. I don't need to take this." Kitty, sticking out her own tongue and pulling an eyelid down making a hideous face at Mary, left in search of Georgiana. She needed a new dress for the ball that they were having next month anyway.
"My heart." They were lying in bed in a tangle of sheets and limbs.
"Yes." Here motions languorous as she stroked his chest. It was quite a magnificent chest. It must be all that swimming he does, thought Elizabeth.
"Mary wanted to learn how to fence. Kitty wanted to learn how to shoot and ride. I said no. No novel is worth that." Elizabeth smiled. He was sometimes so overly macho. Of course, she loved it when he was so macho. Hmm. Yum.
"Darling, that was definitely the right answer. Can you imagine? Mary has absolutely no grace!" She sent a silent apology to her sister. "I remember when she was but a wee little child. She was reading and she accidentally crashed into a table which lost its footing which...well let's just say, the new rector of our church never came to visit ever again."
"How old was she?" He asked laughingly while pulling her close to him.
"I do believe this occurred a few months before we married." Mr. Darcy lost himself in thought at the mention of their nuptials. It was a perfect day and he had a goddess beside him. He sighed, he carried that memory forever in his heart. The wedding night was remembered and reenacted everyday. "Hehe."
"Darling, whatever was that giggle for?"
"Come here my pretty and let me show you." Elizabeth laughed. Her husband loved her as only a man violently in love could.
"Georgiana, what a lovely dress. Is this the one you plan on wearing to the ball?" Kitty asked. The dress she held up was a lovely baby blue.
"Yes. Cousin Ian brought it for me when he came to visit."
"Ian? Oh yes, Colonel Fitzwilliam. He looked very dashing in his redcoat." Georgiana smiled at her friend. Her affection for men in red was quite well known. Kitty herself turned a lovely shade of red when she realized that she had been caught daydreaming.
"I think he fancied Mary for a while. He flirted with her for a dreadfully long time."
"Dear Georgiana, did he neglect you? Well, the next time I see him, I'll be assured to remind of his familial duties as a cousin and guardian, even if he is wearing that lovely red coat." Ladylike giggles filled the room at this statement and later were followed by an unladylike snort.
"Georgiana! A lady does not snort! She quietly titters behind a handkerchief, being sure to hide her teeth." Of course, Mr. Bennet was quite up to date on modern hygienic and insisted that their teeth were brushed after every meal so the Bennet girls and of course, the Darcys have lovely white teeth.
"That was not I! Kitty, prevarication is a sin!" Retorted a red Georgiana.
"No it isn't. It is only frowned upon. Besides, I do not snort. I am much to ladylike." This was answered with a disbelieving snort, which set off another round of giggles.
Mary was walking about Pemberley looking for a spot to read. The house was lovely, but it was much too loud to concentrate. She kept hearing odd noises coming from upstairs and Kitty and Georgiana were having hysterics in the drawing room. She had even gone in to lecture them.
"Georgiana and Kitty, I am very surprised at you. Laughing hysterically is for one thing, not very healthy, and two, very unladylike." For some reason, this set them off again and Mary, annoyed slammed the door shut and grabbed the first book in the library. She stormed off.
"Ahh, what a lovely spot." It was a beautiful spot overlooking the pond. There were lovely primroses everywhere and the great big willow shaded her from the worst of the Sun's rays. She reached spread the large book in her lap.
"Spanish for Dummies." Mary shrieked in rage. The birds squawked their distress at the sound and took flight. "Is everyone out to mock me?!?" She settled down after a long scream. Screaming was always helpful for her to relieve her stress. Living with Mrs. Bennet was very stressing and she often took long walks into the woods to release tension. Mary would never admit it, but she was quite the outdoorsy type.
One of the barn cats landed on Mary. Bereft of prey, it had decided to take a consolation prize. Mary studying quite studiously unconsciously rubbed the cat. Deep purrs resounded. "What a pretty kitty you are. What is your name little one?" Purrs answered her.
"I will just have to name you myself! Do you like Fitzwilliam?" Noting the cat's complete lack of interest, Mary chuckled.
"I don't really care for the name too much either. Such a mouthful! Of course, Mr. Darcy is a wonderful brother-in-law," Mary looked around making sure no one had caught her praising him. She wouldn't want others to think she had gone soft. "But really Fitzwilliam! I think when they have a son they should decide not to torture the poor boy."
"I will just have to tell Mr. Darcy you said that." A man suddenly appeared from behind the tree.
"Sir, I demand to know who you are." Mary said in shock at the tall gentleman standing in front of her. He was quite handsome, and he knew it too, Mary thought cynically. Most of Mary's thoughts were cynical, however, and must be taken with a grain of optimism.
Giving a deep bow worthy of royalty, "Earl Wesley of Weston, Lord..." Mary interrupted him, not caring that she was being rude. Besides, he was rude first!
"Yada, yada, yada. Well my Lord," she said sarcastically, "Perhaps you do not know, but eavesdropping on one's private conservation is considered rude by polite society." Liam Harcourt tried to cover his surprise. Most women would have swooned at hearing that he was an Earl. Most women would have swooned knowing he was a Lord. Most women would swoon at seeing the sight of a strange man albeit one very handsome. This one did not. She intrigued him, and her lovely flashing eyes only served as incentive.
"My dear, a conversation implies two or more participants such as what you and I are doing now." Glares met his attempt to lighten the mood.
"I was talking to the cat." He tried not to laugh. A cat took precedence over him. How his grandfather would roll in the grave.
"I am offended that you think a cat is a much wittier conversationalist than I. My teachers at Oxford would not be pleased at what you think of my repartee." Mary was seeing red. Georgiana and Kitty had laughed at her, well not really she knew, but she was much too angry to care. The book had laughed at her. She could not roll her R's. And this dandy called a Lord was attempting to make her the fool!
"ARGH! I can see that you are very well pleased at your witticisms. So I leave you to them. Good day, sir." Mary gave a quick curtsy and again stormed away in search of peace and quiet. The cat got up and followed.
"Liam. There you are, old bean." Colonel Fitzwilliam rounded the corner. "Where have you been off too?"
"I just met the most delightful young lady. I came here to look at the primroses and heard this young lady chatting about what a horrid name 'Fitzwilliam' is." He glanced at his friend, and said laughing, "No offense."
"None taken." The Colonel was fascinated. It was not often any young lady, or any young man for that matter, could catch the gaze of the Earl. He was notoriously known for his gambling and womanizing. None of the more extraordinary things true of course, but Weston always did like to fan the rumours and have his bit of fun. He did enjoy (and prefer) the company of women and there were plenty. Matchmaking mamas, every Season, threw their daughters at him hoping one might snag the handsome and wealthy man, a self-confirmed bachelor at the age of 26.
"So who is this young lady?" The Colonel asked wondering about the young lady who had captured his friend's sight.
"Alas, I do not know. She did not give me her name and would not let me finish mine." He looked forlorn at the thought. "I shall never see the little pixie again." He sighed again. "She was really quite lovely. Dark expressive eyes, dark brown hair, and her chest heaves magnificently when she is angry. She was talking to a cat, right there." Looking to the spot beneath the willow where Mary had been, the Colonel saw something on the ground. It was a book and he opened the front cover. "Property of Fitzwilliam Darcy, master of Pemberley."
"Well, whoever this lady might be, she must be a guest at Darcy's. Let's head there now, maybe we'll catch a look at this firebrand of yours." Weston laughed at the nomenclature.
"Hopefully."
Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lord Weston had just been announced.
Mr. Darcy had just come down the stairs to greet his cousin and friend.
"Weston! I haven't seen you in months. You never came to my wedding!" he said accusingly.
"Darcy, I'm sorry old chap! I was stuck tending the old homestead. It's nearly decrepit as Pemberley." Darcy laughed. Pemberley was his pride and joy and not a sense of decrepitness could be seen. White Hall was a magnificent estate, only slightly more magnificent than Pemberley, which Darcy would have been hard pressed to admit.
"Well, apology accepted. Come meet my lovely wife. She is coming down soon. Brandy?"
"No thank you, too early for brandy, how about some port though?"
"Coming right up." Slight footfalls were heard coming down the stairs. Weston turned to see the woman who had made the implacable ice statue known as Mr. Darcy, melt.
She was turned away from him a moment and he saw the outline of her back. It was the same back that had walked away from him minutes before! Disappointed rang sharply through him. So the lovely firebrand belonged to Darcy. He never had a chance. She turned and he gasped.
Darcy frowned at Weston. He just gasped at his wife. Oh no. His friend had just fallen in love with his wife. He knew it wasn't Elizabeth's fault that she was so breathtakingly beautiful that other men wanted her. But they couldn't, hehe, they would never enjoy Elizabeth as he did. She was his. Mine, he fiercely thought. He reached out and hugged her to him. In every action he took, it was clear that Darcy was marking his territory.
Weston wanted to laugh. So this was the lovely creature that captivated Darcy. She was very lovely, but not as lovely as that enticing creature by the willow. He increasingly believed that she was nothing more than a dryad haunting the shades of Pemberley.
"Nice meeting you Mrs. Darcy." He took her hand and kissed it charmingly. Darcy frowned disapprovingly. Elizabeth smiled. The male posturing had not gone unnoticed and she was very amused by it all.
She had lovely eyes as well. Amusement clear in her expressive eyes, eyes quite similar to the ones who had captured his heart. His heart? Weston laughed. He was still so foolish. His heart? After meeting and talking to a young lady for no more than five minutes. Impossible.
The door swung open. Kitty and Georgiana entered and dropped two very neat curtsies. There hysterical laughing had subsided much earlier and the discussion went to dancing and even the waltz!
"Girls!"
"Colonel Fitzwilliam."
"Cousin."
"I want you to meet a good friend of mine. This is Earl Wesley of Weston, Lord Liam Harcourt."
"Pleased to meet you sir." Weston looked at Kitty. This must be Mrs. Darcy's sister. They have the same features.
Once more the door opened. In strode Mary, pulling off her gloves and wrap. It was she! It was his wood nymph!
Mary saw Mr. Darcy and the Colonel, but did not see Weston. He was minutely hidden behind the tall glasses of port.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam, how nice to see you again. Have you read that book I recommended to you on your previous visit?" The Colonel spluttered in an attempt to quickly answer.
"Miss Bennet, I'm very sorry to say that I have not had the time to look at the literature you so generously recommended."
"Well, see that you do find the time." Mary said in a voice that would do any military man proud. She noticed the book in his hand.
"You found my book!" The Colonel looked at the heavy book in his hand, forgotten in his fear of Mary's possible castigation of him.
"This is yours?"
"Not mine, obviously." She said it as if the Colonel were very slow. "It is from Mr. Darcy's library, if you bothered to open it. I was borrowing it in hopes that I would learn something new." The Colonel was shocked. This was the 'firebrand?' Well she certainly was something.
Weston chose this moment to announce his presence. He stood up from his seat. Too bad for him that Mary had chosen that moment to leave.
Posted on Wednesday, 15 May 2002
Weston looked devastated. The Colonel could not help himself and laughed at his friend's forlorn look.
"Buck up old bean. She has just gone to freshen up." Darcy left his wife's side to pour his guest some port and to find out what they were so avidly discussing that they had actually forgotten to help themselves to Darcy's fine liquor.
"But she did not see me make my fabulous entrance. It was designed to make the greatest impression on her and show myself to greatest advantage." Weston looked dejected at this.
Darcy could only assume that Weston spoke of his beautiful Elizabeth. He glared at Weston and returned to sit by his wife. Elizabeth looked up fondly at him, and his glower disappeared. He had to warn his wife about the evil Weston.
With Kitty and Georgiana discussing the latest fashions, or so he thought, in the corner and the evil Weston and his cousin by the port, Darcy and Elizabeth were isolated.
"Elizabeth, my love. I must warn you about Weston." He mentally added 'evil,' but did not want his wife to think him silly.
"Yes, dear heart. What about Lord Harcourt?"
"My dear, I do not blame you at all for it is evident that your charms cannot be withstood." He grasped her hand and kissed it. "Weston has fallen in love with you!"
"Oh no. Are you sure?" Elizabeth tried to take the accusation in all seriousness, but the daggers that Darcy sent in the direction of Lord Harcourt was too much for her sense of absurd to take.
"My dear! It is a serious matter!"
"Love, how ever did you learn of his, um, amorous intentions toward my person? Did he tell you?"
"Good God no! I overheard him and I saw how he was looking at you." Darcy glowered again, telling Elizabeth of everything he thought. Mr. Darcy was not a foolish man. In matters of business and of the estate, Mr. Darcy was quite shrewd, however, when it came to matters of the heart, Mr. Darcy, was sad to say, quite insecure.
"Oh my dear Mr. Darcy. You know what they say about eavesdropping."
"No, actually I don't. What do they say about eavesdropping?" Elizabeth looked surprised.
"Well, I can't actually recall what they say, exactly, but it had to do with something about not getting the whole story and falling into the cake."
"Darling, I do think that you have mixed your metaphors." Darcy laughed at his wife and she with him. She pulled his chin down, looked swiftly around to make sure no one was watching, and kissed his nose.
In that moment, Darcy learned the greatest lesson in his life. He had a wife who he loved greatly and who loved him greatly. He had absolute trust in her and in that moment, he knew what it was to be secure.
Kitty sighed as she saw her sister kiss Mr. Darcy. She no longer had that irritating cough that so aggravated her mother's nerves. With the change in atmosphere, Kitty had never felt better.
"Georgiana, do you see your brother and my sister. They have the sort of love only written about in books."
"Yes. If I did not love them both so very much, I would have thrown water on them. They are so very affectionate and in public too!" she sighed. " I never suspected my brother could laugh until Elizabeth married him. She told me that it was the duty of siblings everywhere to make their brothers laugh and she told me a surefire way of doing this."
"Really?" Kitty leaned in with interest.
"Yes. All you have to do is catch him unaware, which is quite difficult, mind you, and tickle him!" Georgiana laughed at Kitty's disappointment.
"I thought it might have been something different. A secret type of secret."
"Sorry to disappoint. However, another way is to tell jokes." Kitty looked shocked.
"Georgiana! I never suspected you knew any jokes. You always look to be the perfect little lady!" Georgiana preened at the compliment.
"Thank you. Would you like to hear a joke? I just recently got A Thousand and One Jokes for EVERY Occasion." Seeing Kitty nod, Georgiana began, "There was a priest, a rabbi, and a ..."Georgiana told several jokes at a rapid fire pace and Kitty more from shock at the prim and proper Georgiana telling bad jokes than at the actual humor, began to giggle, and then chuckle, which soon gave way to great big belly laughs. Georgiana laughed at Kitty who was laughing at Georgiana. *Giggle* *Snort*
"Georgiana! Kitty!"
They turned to see Mary come into the room ready to reprimand.
"That isn't the way you tell the joke. It goes..."
Weston had immediately noticed Mary's entrance. She had changed into a lovely green dress that emphasized the auburn highlights in her hair. Weston though she looked even more like a wood nymph.
He was still hidden behind the port glasses talking with Colonel Fitzwilliam about the recent business with Napoleon.
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth, ever lost in their own private world, did not notice Mary's entrance.
However, they did not the raucous laughter suddenly coming from the corner.
"Girls!" Mr. Darcy said shocked to find that his sister was no longer the shy girl of 15 hunted by Mr. Wickham, but a lovely young woman of 17 who had extremely bad taste in jokes.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Darcy." Kitty curtsied prettily. "It was all my fault."
"How is it your fault, my dear?" Kitty looked confused. She had only wanted to deflect any blame from her friends onto herself; she wasn't ready for an interrogation. Kitty, declared by Mr. Bennet to be the silliest girl, might have been silly, but she was not stupid.
"Well, if you really want to know ... It all began 3 weeks ago when I went to the library and it was a lovely day out and I had the loveliest bonnet. Well anyway here I am at the library" Kitty began rambling. She had discovered that this method usually saved her from making any explanations. And she was correct.
"Stop, Kitty. That's okay. Girls, just try to contain the hilarity next time." He sighed in exasperation. Elizabeth who knew her sisters and their methods well checker her own growing hilarity and gave Kitty a broad wink. Mary motioned for them to stand.
"Let us take a walk!"
"What a wonderful idea!" The three girls linked arms and began to walk out.
Weston seeing his chance slipping by, attempted to stand, only to find that his legs had fallen asleep.
Another opportunity to speak with Mary was lost as the three girls left to ramble in Pemberley's lovely lanes.