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Chapter 22, Part 1
If there's a better place you can take me / A better life you give me /Whatever place I can start all over /And I will never need what you gave me /And never need you to save me /And never feel like this life is over ~ Limp Bizkit "It'll be ok."
The dance was over, but for some odd reason Kitty didn't see any reason to let go of Colonel Lord Ashbourne's hand, and well quite frankly Ash didn't see any reason to let go of Miss Kitty Bennet's hand.
"Miss Bennet, I am very glad to see that your ankle has recovered sufficiently for you to dance."
Kitty gave a little laugh. "Oh but I would have danced on it anyway, Col - Lor - " Kitty became confused at the end of her sentence. What on earth did she call him, she really couldn't keep calling him Colonel Lord Ashbourne.
Ash gave a little laugh. "Why don't you call me Ash? Everyone else does...." Ash suddenly blinked, realising what he had said.
Kitty went a little red and bit her lip.
"What I mean Miss Bennet, is that well - I hope, yes I hope, that you would at least consider myself to be a friend, at least! I mean one doesn't rescue anyone from the clutches of ....was your ...er companion human? And as I say everyone calls me Ash."
Kitty just laughed.
"Horatio..........Horatio??" said the Duchess.
Kitty looked confusingly over Ash's shoulder as the Duchess approached waving her fan wildly.
Ash rolled his eyes. "Well almost everyone calls me Ash...."
Ash turned around. "Grandmamma, I didn't know you were in Brighton."
The Duchess glared at her (as much as she hated to admit it) second favourite grandson.
"Don't lie to me boy." She said rapping him on the side of the arm with a fan.
"Where did you meet Miss Bennet, Horatio?"
"Oh we met in Hertfordshire Cassie, he was so obliging as to save me from Mr Collins."
Ash raised an eyebrow at Kitty. Kitty didn't know quite how to take it; did he disapprove of her calling his grandmother Cassie? Was he just surprised? Shocked? Kitty looked searchingly at him, but The Duchess very soon claimed his attention and the expression on his face was lost.
"Saved her from Mr Collins. Oh I knew there was a reason you were my second favourite grandson!" said The Duchess giving Ash a kiss on the check, before looking him over. "Is it just me or do you become more fastidious over your clothing every time I see you? Now look after Kitty for me, like a good grandson."
The Duchess then sailed past Kitty to meet some other acquaintance, but not before giving Kitty a squeeze on the arm as she past. Kitty turned to watch her go, trying to work out what the Duchess was trying to say.
Ash suddenly caught on, " Second favourite!"
Kitty gave a giggle, as Ash gave her his arm, conspiratorially whispering at her, "Her favourite is probably Ricky, no woman alive seems to be able to withstand his charm."
Kitty whispered back. "I don't know; I seemed to be able to."
Lady Catherine straightened out her skirt and wondered where Anne was. While wondering where Anne was she was wondering quite frankly what her nephew and Miss Bennet were talking off. They had been sitting on that couch for over an hour and neither seemed inclined to move and no one had approached them. Though that was understandable, Ash did give some rather heavy set downs if interrupted.
As she was trying to work out what could keep them engrossed for such a period of time, she didn't notice Lady Matlock sit down beside her.
"Hello Catherine."
"Oh Hello Harriet." Replied Lady Catherine.
"Catherine, who is my son talking to?"
"Miss Catherine Bennet."
"Ah.... should I know her?" asked Harriet.
"Probably not, I did however have her sister to stay with me for a while with Annabelle."
"Really? Belle never tells me anything anymore; I completely despair of her sometimes. I mean I want her to be happy, I don't want her to marry some rich man, just for his money! I'm not a matchmaking mamma. But sometimes I despair...I mean ... really!"
Lady Catherine finally turned her full attention to Harriet. "I shouldn't worry too much about Belle. Some how I just have this feeling that she will fall on her feet, don't heiress's always?"
Harriet smiled. "Yes but most heiresses don't go out of their way to create large scandals.!"
"Like Trysts on the terrace with erstwhile suitors?" said Lady Catherine, nodding towards the doorway to the terrace.
"Trysts on terrace?" exclaimed Harriet standing up.
"Don't worry, she has returned inside, and it was only Lord Upton."
Harriet reseated herself, breathing a sigh of relief. "I suppose that means I will have to suffer another monologue from Lady Upton on why 'My daughter is a bad influence, and what she is doing to ruin her son.' Really as if a 33 year old man can't make up his own mind! And I like Miles. I would be so happy, if.... but well that's unlikely to happen, I think Belle has made her feelings very clear on that score.
Lady Catherine nodded. "Silly girl doesn't know what is good for her."
Harriet looked reprovingly at her sister in law, and was about to make comment but was interrupted by the Duchess's arrival.
Harriet looked up. "Hello Mamma".
The Duchess sat down between the two other women.
"Are you seeing that!" she said waving her fan towards Kitty and Ash.
"Yes I am Mamma. What do you think I should do about it?" said Harriet.
"Do about it! Nothing..." Exclaimed the Duchess. Harriet looked surprised.
"That is my newest protégé. Miss Bennet. She is adorable." Explained the Duchess.
Harriet looked at the young lady sitting with her son, and was wondering whether she should be happy for her, or whether she should be working out how to remove her from her mother's clutches.
"Don't even think about it Harriet, you turned out all right didn't you? Can't say the same about your brother, but well you win some you lose some."
Harriet's jaw dropped open and she started to laugh.
"What ever are you laughing about, Harriet."
"You!" said Harriet. "Oh Mamma you will never cease being a card will you."
"Harriet it is most improper for a women of your age to be speaking like that!"
"I'm 49 Mamma!"
"That's what I mean, you can't go around sounding like you are 20!"
"So you are Cassie's grandson?" said Kitty, "It's all starting to fall into place, that must mean Annabelle is the granddaughter in disgrace..."
"What?" said Ash sharply.
"Oh nothing - just Cassie said that...she had a granddaughter who was in her bad books." Kitty quickly put a hand over her mouth. "Oh forgive me, I shouldn't repeat things like that."
"No you shouldn't..." said Ash somewhat forcefully.
Kitty tilted her head to one side. "Is this an older brother routine? I haven't got a brother, so I wouldn't know."
Ash was on the verge of making his excuses and leaving, as he had no intention of talking about Annabelle and Miles to a pretty much stranger even if she was a much pretty stranger.... Then he heard Kitty's comment and laughed.
"I don't think I have an older brother routine!"
"Really?! Why not? All my sisters have older sister routines."
"Really? What are they like?"
"Well Jane is always very sweet and never yells. Lizzy is well she can yell but she is just generally witty, and Mary moralises...it's just what they do... and then there is Lydia, my younger sister...who well.... is the centre of attention I think that is the best way to describe her." Kitty then looked pointedly at Ash.
"What a large family. I confess it would stifle me, but then again I have lived on my own since I was twenty-two. "
"So then you stifle yourself now?" said Kitty innocently.
"Wicked child." Replied Ash. "No I do not stifle myself. However when I was living at home, Ricky and I are a little less than a year apart so we were great friends..."
"And great enemies." Interrupted Kitty.
"Yes and great enemies...how did...?"
"My sisters are all very close in age..."
"Yes as well to add to this a sister that was not born until I was nine, well she became more of a tag along, but well sisters grow up and they are much more interesting when they are grown up. Like most women really..."
Kitty's mouth dropped open. Was he saying women were not interesting until they reached a certain age? Insufferable!!
"Well sir, I do think that men, are totally bland and boring until well they are ...." Kitty did some quick calculations in her head. "In excess of 31!"
Ash turned quickly to look at Kitty. She had a defiant look on her face, challenging him. He was a little surprised: nine times out of ten, if he said something offensive or silly, most women would just ignore it, and be perfect little sponges lapping up every word.
"In excess of 31...." He simply echoed.
"Yes in excess of 31. I mean before that, men can be so childish and...and.... not worth anybody's time."
Kitty tried to look haughty and aloof, but she didn't' think it was working, because he was just smiling at her.
"And pray how old are you Miss Bennet??"
Kitty bit her lip. "I'm seventeen and a half:" She said defiantly.
"Oh yes, never forget the half, very important are halves. Can't make wholes without them." Said Ash in a serious tone.
Kitty was so struck by that that she couldn't help laughing.
Part Two
There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world: and that is an idea whose time has come ~ Victor Hugo
Annabelle practically fell into bed; she had made a good impression of having a good time after she had left the terrace. She hoped she managed to fool everyone, and she had even espied her erstwhile assailant. It was nice to put a name to a face, and well such a messed up face it looked, a huge bruise, on it!
The best bit was when she had been leaving the ball with her mother, who had quite innocently asked Mr Harlejerk, where on earth he had got her bruise from. He had some sense of decency to at least blush and look confused when Annabelle had been standing so close by.
Annabelle's triumph on Mr Harlejerk's discomfort, did not escape her mother's notice. Which had meant that Annabelle had to tell her mother what had occurred that evening at the ball, which entailed a very admonitory look from her mother and a distracted sort of muttering about how ever was she to thank dear Lord Upton.
Dear Lord Upton my foot. Thought Annabelle snuggling down in her pillow. Why did he have to come and be Mr Perfect! Mr Perfect? Stupid Man! Why didn't he just stop being angry with her?! He should just go back to.... wherever!
Annabelle closed her eyes and then opened them again. What was she saying, if Miles hadn't been there tonight, she wouldn't be having this comfortable sleep, she would no doubt be engaged and suffering the recriminations of her family due to embroiling them in yet another scandal.
Annabelle shuddered thinking of that eventuality; it did not bear thinking about. But Miles still had no right to be angry with her! She did not mean to get herself into such a situation, just like she hadn't meant to be like she was in her second season.
Miles had known her for a long time; he should know what she was really like! She had thought she had known what he was like, until he seemed to go all gooey. And well, Annabelle did not like gooey men.
She had liked the old Miles, who had ganged up on her with her brothers and had dragged her out of ponds, and who didn't seem to like her any more than he liked his rather fine Alsatian hound.
Annabelle pulled the covers up further to cover her shoulders. No that wasn't true, she was always hoping he would pay more attention to her, but then when he... and he was so, so, foolish! He had just followed her around like a little puppy, and hadn't even made a push to become possessive or jealous! She had been disappointed. Then she had used him to her advantage, for no matter how stupidly he was behaving, having him dangle after you was quite edifying. Oh it was too confusing... Why had she been disappointed? Why did she even care that Miles had turned himself into a giant cake?
Well as the saying went anyway. What on earth did making a cake of yourself have to do with anything??!
Annabelle yawned no she could not get into anything vaguely to do with lexicon at the moment.
Annabelle closed her eyes and tried to sleep but images of Mr Harlejerk kept popping up, and then were vanquished by Miles.
A small smile crept onto Annabelle's face; it had been dreadfully exciting and scary the way Mr Harlejerk and Miles had fought. The scene kept replaying in her mind, but now Mr Harlejerk had grown to gargantuan size, and Miles was dressed for some inexplicable reason in a suit of armour.
Miles, of course crushed the beast, and then quite out of the blue, suddenly found himself in a field, rushing over to the tower, climbing up a tower of white ivory to find his beloved.
Annabelle turned over uncomfortably in her sleep.
The Duchess nodded, agreeing with her daughter.
"So you see my problem: this Mr Harlejerk conspired to try and ruin my Belle. And well he didn't even have to lure her outside! She flounced out there herself."
"So not a tryst on the terrace." Said The Duchess dryly.
Harriet frowned and sipped her fortifying tea.
"No not a tryst. Well if it had been a tryst with Miles I could have dealt with that ! But well what will I do with Belle? Especially now that Cousin Abby is ill? I must go to Abby, and you know what her husband is like, he will need distracting, never seen a man more desperate to attend a sickroom, and with so little a result. So I must take Edwin with me, and well to drag Belle away to the wilds of Northumberland, it would look odd. And t'would bore her senseless...."
"Harriet, are you asking me to take care of her?"
"Yes, you should know that was my point Mamma, you seem to know everything else!"
"You do not wish to leave her with Catherine?"
"I think they would rub together too much. Catherine is a dear, but when she gets a bee in her bonnet about something, there is no driving it out, and I think Catherine is not over her disappointment of not being the aunt of the new Lady Upton. And I shudder to think of the consequences of pestering Belle about marriages and Miles and who knows what else"
"Might drive her into some unsuitable arms...."
"Exactly."
"I'd love to have Annabelle continue on in Brighton under my aegis. I shan't let her fall into any undesirable scrapes. You can depend on me for that. Now why didn't you bring her today Harriet? I'll have you know Harriet that she did not say one word to me last night! Not one word!"
"She is still asleep."
"Knocked up by a paltry ball Ha!" snorted the Duchess. "You can see which side of the family she takes after! I wouldn't have been knocked up by a paltry ball at her age!"
Harriet smiled into her tea and just nodded.
The Duchess had not long said goodbye to her daughter, than her footman announced an entirely different sort of guest.
"Captain Wickham, your grace."
The Duchess stood up to greet this new guest with a smile.
"George! No stay there." She commanded him. Wickham obediently stood still. "There you do look very smart in that uniform - a regular coxcomb they will be thinking you."
"No your grace, there you would be wrong, this is my best uniform, which I save only for very important occasions."
The Duchess gave him a penetrating look. "Like when you wish to come beg some blunt off me?"
"No your grace. I have not come to borrow money. I simply came to see how you were, but if you want me to leave...."
"No you silly boy, come here and tell me how you are."
Wickham sat next to the Duchess on the sofa and proceeded to bore her almost to tears with a long recital on the latest troop movements and in minute detail his involvement in them.
"No, no Stop George, I cannot hear another word! Thank you very much for supplying me with as much information about current army movements as I could possibly need or want! I fully intend to use it against my most boring of visitors, but I do wish you would find something else to talk about."
"Gossip do you mean your grace."
"Yes, gossip, what on earth do I have you for George, if you can't possibly scrounge me up some gossip! And good gossip too!"
Wickham smiled, and seemed to think about this for a while.
"Perhaps Ma'am this might have escaped your notice. But I doubt it; you seem to know everything about your family, however extended. Darcy, as you probably already know, has fallen in love and got himself engaged. "
The Duchess's jaw dropped, then she recovered herself enough to poke Wickham in the ribs.
"You have been hiding such juicy gossip from me! It cannot be true! Harriet was just here, no matter how much of a wet-goose my daughter may appear sometimes, she would know of this!"
"I think Darcy has not informed his family yet."
"Not informed his family! " The Duchess paused. "Well I suppose that accounts for his non-attendance last night, but really! Who is she?"
"She is a Miss Bennet of Hertfordshire."
The Duchess went a peculiar hue. "A MISS BENNET? Which Miss Bennet? How do you know about this? When did you know about this?"
Wickham felt a bit rattled by the force in which these questions was asked, but endeavoured to answer them.
"Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I was stationed at Meryton, where I saw your granddaughter, grandson and Darcy as the guests of Mr Bingley. It was several months ago now. I know about their recent engagement because as a friend of the family I dropped into call, and Mrs Benent rapturously told me about soon having both Darcy and Mr Bingley as sons-in-law."
The Duchess mused. "The same Miss bennet that accompanied Annabelle to Rosings....i see.....
It occurred to the Duchess that she had never really discovered the Bennet's station in life. "Pray, George, what are the Bennet's like?"
Wickham, no imbecile did not assume she was talking about their general affability. "They are a family, living on a modest estate called Longbourn which is sadly entailed away to a cousin, a Mr Collins, who I believe is the rector at Hunsford, I believe the Bennet girls have £1000 pounds each."
The Duchess made the highly nauseating connection as to why Kitty was being forced to marry the odious parson, but she determined not to show that to George. She shook her head, "Trust you to know all that George."
"I must marry money..." said Wickham sadly, looking pleadingly at the Duchess, who just threw a cushion at him and begged him to be serious.
"But there is nothing wrong with that George, no reason NOT to tell everyone about the engagement, I mean I like one Miss Bennet, no reason why I shouldn't like the rest!"
If Wickham privately thought that Darcy would not care about the opinion of merely his aunt's mother, he did not voice it. He was also trying to work out which Miss Bennet The Duchess knew.
Wickham's visit was brought to a swift end, by the entrance of Maria, who promptly tried to fall into hysterics at the idea of her dear Cousin being closeted with a single man.
As the door closed on Wickham (who could never stand a middle-aged woman in hysterics) the Duchess glared at her companion.
"Maria, may I ask what is the meaning of this display?"
"My dear Grace...you were. ...With... alone ...a man!" Maria practically shrieked.
"Maria, I will have you know that sixty-seven year old women can be closeted up, alone, with whoever they please!" The Duchess replied acidly. However Maria did not take much comfort from this and still wailed into her handkerchief that she had let the dear Duke down in not looking after his mother properly.
"Enough Maria. I repeat I can do exactly as I like, and if I want to be alone with handsome young officers...."
The Duchess got no further as Maria fled the room. The Duchess ruminated on the fact that she was going to have to get rid of Maria somehow not to mention the strange engagement of Darcy.
Part Three.
Understanding everything has never been my deal ~ Limp Bizkit "The One"
Kitty sighed as she trailed along into Donaldson's library after her sisters and Charlotte. She had hoped there would be now some attention placed on her, to the effect of, where on earth where you last night? But there were no such questions, the only questions put to her were, "Do you think too much lace?"
She had decided she hated the very idea of trousseaus, they took up everyone's time and effort, and well who liked Lace anyway, it was boring.
Kitty sighed at the supreme boredom that was Donaldson's library and slipped out into the sunshine.
"Miss Bennet." Came a voice.
"Ash." Replied Kitty happily, turning towards him, surely he wouldn't want to talk about weddings and lace!
Ash held out his arm, which Kitty took, they ambled along for a little while before Kitty spoke realising she had no idea where they were going.
"Are you abducting me?" she smiled.
"Don't be absurd - There is my grandmother!" replied Ash, leading Kitty along side The Duchess's carriage.
"Ah Kitty, I must speak to you, quickly, into the carriage before Maria returns from that shop."
Kitty was helped into the carriage, and a parasol was brought over her head.
"Now off you go Horatio, toddle off and come back in a moment or two." Said the Duchess, waving Ash away.
Ash shook his head at the Duchess in amusement, but did as she bid.
"Now what is this about your sister and Mr Darcy!"
"Congratulations Lizzy." Smiled Charlotte.
"You have been saying that the last couple of days Charlotte! I think I get the message!" laughed Lizzy.
"But to have caught Mr Darcy! And in such a short space of time, you will have such wedded felicity.'
Lizzy frowned at the word caught, but ignored it. "Yes I do believe I will have wedded felicity. I do not see how I could not!"
"Yes, you will be able to live in luxury. Materially he is a very eligible match, and Mr Darcy does not seem the type of man to own a temper, or make unreasonable demands on you, so I think you will be very happy Lizzy.'
"Charlotte how can you speak so? First you speak of caught and now you speak of materially he is a very eligible match? I am marrying Mr Darcy because I love him, he could be a chimney sweep for all I would care!"
Charlotte gave her friend a very funny look. "You wouldn't marry a chimney sweep Lizzy, don't be silly! And you know that you always have to choose your life partner with regard to money and status and general character."
"It doesn't have to be a business transaction, like you have made it sound to be Charlotte!"
"Tosh Lizzy. But I see we are not going to agree, so I think we should just end this conversation."
Lizzy was very happy not to pursue this topic; instead she was pulled into a conversation with Jane about the practicality of bed linen. Jane was, is and always will be, foremost, a practical woman....
Kitty stepped out of The Duchess's carriage quite puzzled. Why hadn't Mr Darcy told his family? It had been several days. It was quite odd, but Kitty was inclined to agree with the Duchess's final comment, which had been:
"Ah well, probably doesn't signify anything and if it does probably best not to interfere, Darcy is not the type to interfere with."
It seemed even the Duchess knew her own limits.
Kitty took charge of the parasol and held it over the Duchess's head; well she did, until an irate Maria snatched the parasol off her.
"I will hold her dear grace's parasol, I know exactly how she best likes it positioned."
Kitty had willingly exchanged her parasol for Lord Holling's arm.
Maria most unwillingly dragged Ash into a conversation about the acceptability of hats indoors.
Kitty and Lord Holling strolled a little ahead.
"I take it you like Brighton, Miss Bennet."
"Very much Lord Holling, and I have discovered where I recognise you from."
"Have you indeed?" said Lord Holling interested.
"You have some resemblance to your brother, and to your cousins."
"You know Douglas?" replied a surprised Lord Holling.
"Oh yes, I met him when he came to Meryton, with your cousin Ash, for Mr Bingley's ball."
"Oh, so only a passing acquaintance, then..."
"Oh no he walked Annabelle over to my home quite often."
"Really.... what did you think of him?"
"Oh very charming..." said Kitty hesitantly.
"More charming than me?" asked Lord Holling with a bit of a played up pout.
Kitty did not know how to response. To tell Lord Holling she found him less charming than his brother would be offensive, to say she found them equally charming would make it sound like she well, liked , both of them and to say she found Lord Holling more charming than his brother would, put the cat among the pigeons! It was not the sort of thing you admitted to a man, especially not one as handsome, or as confusingly polite as Lord Holling.
"I believe Miss Bennet, is cudgelling her brain, to hit upon some way of letting you down gently Teddy. "
Lord Holling glared over Kitty's head at his cousin. Kitty breathed a sigh of relief, seeing her escape route, she turned to Ash.
"Really, are you informing me that I have such low intellect as to spend all that time, cudgelling my brain for a response? Perhaps I just deigned not to answer such an infamous question." Kitty tried desperately to be arch, coy and angry all at the same time.
Lord Holling immediately begged Kitty's pardon, but Ash rather infamously laughed at her.
Kitty tried to level a glare at Ash, causing him to put one hand over his heart.
"If looks could kill!" he said teasingly.
Kitty blushed.
"Stop teasing Miss Bennet." Ordered Lord Holling. "I do apologise for my cousin Miss Bennet, do not take anything he says to heart. I assure you he just enjoys being a worthless rattle. "
Kitty looked at, Ash's rather.... handsome countenance, and wondered what she should do if she already did take everything he said straight to her heart?
"Oh no." replied Kitty vaguely.
Lord Holling smiled. "I'm very glad of that Miss Bennet. Now should we take this way together?"
Kitty looked quickly at Ash, who didn't seem quite so pleased now that it became obvious he was being cut out. Kitty however didn't have to make a choice, well make a choice publicly at least, for the Duchess interfered.
"Horatio, Kitty I am sure must be returning to her own party. You will of course escort her."
Lord Holling opened his mouth in protest, but was cut off by his grandmother.
"Theodore, take Maria back to the carriage she has injured herself with the parasol."
Lord Holling bowed stiffly to Kitty and escorted Maria back to the carriage. The Duchess leant forward to kiss Kitty goodbye, and as she did whispered in her ear.
"Don't ever tell me I don't take good care of you."
Kitty went bright red.
"What has my detestable grandmother been saying to put you to the blush?" quizzed Ash.
"Cassie isn't detestable." Flared up Kitty.
"Oh no, a perfect grandmother in every way shape and form. " amended Ash.
"Oh now you are not being serious! But you can't possibly not like Cassie!"
"I don't like my grandmother. I love my grandmother. " Ash then paused, and looked at Kitty, and saying in a lower voice. "I mean she has such good taste."
Kitty felt her stomach go flip-flop, but refused to show it, instead she smiled and tried to act as though Ash's comment had gone completely over her head.
"Oh yes, she does have excellent taste, have you seen her knick-knacks? They are the essence of elegance. She says that they just clutter up space, but they are all very tasteful."
Ash sighed. That wasn't quite what he had meant, but did he mean to make such an obvious hint? He couldn't be falling for her could he? It was true he had seen nothing of the flirt in her, but was it there underneath all the elegance she seemed to be portraying at the moment? Ash was unsure, and until he knew he really should refrain from letting himself blurt out such obvious hints.
Lizzy was feeling most uncomfortable with the nearness of her friend. They had shared many a conversation before where Lizzy felt very far from agreement with Charlotte, but none more so than now. All Charlotte saw from marriage was a comfortable home. And she kept giving her ideas on marriage to anyone else who was contemplating marriage.
Jane must be contemplating marriage because she liked the comfortable arrangements of Netherfield, not because she loved Mr Bingley!
Lizzy shook her head.
"There you are!" said Kitty breathlessly. "You have retreated so far into the library that I thought I should never find you!"
"Where have you been Kitty?" asked Jane pleasantly, looking at La Belle Assembly.
"I went for a walk."
"On your own!" exclaimed Lizzy.
"Oh no, with Ash."
"Ash??" said Lizzy confused.
"Oh I mean Colonel Lord Ashbourne."
"Oh." Said Lizzy confused. When had he come back into the picture? She really should pay more attention to current events! She should not become so wrapped up in herself and her engagement.
"Lord Ashbourne?" repeated Charlotte. "The one who stayed so short a time at Netherfield."
"Yes that is the one." Replied Kitty.
"I should go and remake his acquaintances, I believe Father was the only one who managed to call upon him during his brief stay, and I must say I found him a most agreeable young man. And well it doesn't pay to forget to follow up such acquaintances!"
Charlotte closed the book in front of her and went in search of Lord Ashbourne.
Lizzy frowned after her friend, and didn't even notice the alarming glares that Kitty was directing at Charlotte.
Part Four.
All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast ~ John Gunther
Miles rolled his eyes as he left his mother's bedchamber - why did she insist on staying at his house...oh because she considered it her house; everything that was his was hers. Which well of course made sense, very logical and proper sense, but not when she wanted to throw a party.
It was only the prospect of entertaining that had made his mother rise so early from her bed. She had summoned her son into her bedchamber, asking him to make the housekeeper attend to her later in the morning. And Miles had made the consummate mistake of asking why.
"Why on earth do you want to see Mrs Roberts?"
"To plan the party, of course Miles."
"Party????"
"Yes, now I have Miss Olsen and Miss Smart, definitely on the list, but well we need some more young women. Caroline Bingley! And her dear friend Miss Grantley."
Miles shuddered.
"Miles are you cold?" asked his mother concernedly.
"No not cold. Mother I will not host a party consisting solely of the Misses Olsen, Smart, Bingley and Grantley. I would rather.... swim to France."
His mother seemed much struck by this. "Of course this party would not consist solely of them. There would be Lady Rockhaven, and Mrs Olsen, and Mr and Mrs Hurst and Mrs Grantley..."
Heaven preserve him! Thought Miles.
"Mother, I do not wish to host a party. Perhaps later when we return to London."
"But I have already invited people!"
" You did what?"
"Invited some people, are you sure you aren't catching cold Miles darling?"
"No I am not catching a goddamn cold! But I will not be present at such a party! It would be a dead bore!" Among other things...
Miles nodded. "Infinitely more preferable than a parcel of ladies, I have absolutely no desire to meet again, let alone invite them to my house!"
"Then I expect if you force me to do that, I will in all politeness have to invite that wretched wench here too. Don't tell me you didn't succumb to her wiles last night, I saw you! Out on the terrace with her. I could hardly keep my countenance! What will I do with you Miles? I try and introduce you to some charming and proper young ladies and you go and still make a cake over that...that...fast forward hussy!"
Lady Upton paused, for she saw a most alarming expression forming on her son's face, she reached for her sal volatile.
"Very well, I will invite such persons as you would see fit, but you will see me fall into a deep decline because of it. To play hostess to such people."
Miles just smiled dangerously and replied. "Show me your finalised list Mother."
Miles stomped down stairs, and all before breakfast too!
He swished his ale around in his tankard and cast a dispassionate eye over the morning paper.
He heard a knock on his door and frowned.
The unknown knocker did not even wait to be announced. Miles waited for him to make his way to the breakfast parlour, and poured him some ale as he waited.
"Ale Ash?" he said pleasantly as Ash walked through the door and into a seat as though he owned the place.
"Thanks."
"I think I'm having a party Ash, you're invited."
Ash gave Miles a funny look but took a sip of the ale before answering. "A party? And I'm invited, devilishly good of you Miles, to take such pity on me."
"My mother's idea of a party, is to invite, Miss Olsen, Miss Smart, Miss Bingley and Miss Grantley, around simply so they can start measuring for curtains."
Ash looked thoughtfully at his friend. "You know if I were you, out of that choice...I'd..."
"Don't say it Ash, I am really not in the mood. I don't want to have a party, but trying to stop my mother doing anything is like throwing a stone into the sea - pointless. "
"Not in the mood? Why?"
"I'm just not." Miles replied, trying to bury himself in the financial section of the paper, it didn't fool Ash.
"Where did you get that cut on your hand from?"
Miles looked at the cut on his hand. "Oh I cut myself"
"Really? Would have never guessed."
"Oh shut up Ash."
"Did you hit someone?"
"Why would I hit anyone?" replied Miles hidden by the paper, trying to act nonchalant.
Ash reached over the paper and pulled it down revealing his friends face. "I don't know? Perhaps certain young lady got herself into a bit of trouble?"
A confused look crossed Miles face." How do you manage to know everything?"
"A gift? And thank you Miles. If you want to know how I know, a good friend of mine, was taking his lady friend for a secluded walk, and was about to go to Belle's rescue when you made a timely arrival."
"You don't have to thank me."
"I think I do." Said Ash pointedly.
"Don't. Okay, I really don't need this. I haven't even eaten breakfast!"
Ash laughed and lounged back in his chair, leaving Miles in peace.
The peace was shattered about two minutes later, with the arrival of Darcy and Bingley.
"You are looking at a couple of very happy men!' announced Darcy.
Miles made some sort of muttering sound behind his newspaper, which could have been the Regency equivalent of "Bite Me" but well no one could be sure. Darcy and Bingley looked warily towards the newspaper.
Ash decided that it therefore behoved him to play the part of the consummate host.
"Really? Why?"
"I have proposed Marriage to Elizabeth Bennet and she has accepted me."
"I have proposed Marriage to Jane Bennet and She has accepted me!" said Bingley, adding his two cents into the bargain.
Ash nodded. "Really? Well that is great news...isn't it Miles.....Miles?"
Miles looked up and smiled, rather fakely. "Great news! Very happy for you both, extremely happy, don't forget to come to my party, bring your fiancée's with you, the more the merrier, my home is your home!"
The other men looked at Miles oddly, but decided to ignore him.
It was about half an hour later that Ash was praying that Miles would drag himself out of the blue devils because there was only so much effusions of happiness and love that he could take.
"Did you say you were having a party?" said Darcy, finally realising Miles was ensconced behind his newspaper and not attending.
"Oh not my party, it's my mother's, she is inviting everyone, couldn't possibly ask me for my opinion on the subject."
"And she wouldn't mind us bringing our fiancée's along?"
"No she wouldn't. In fact bring the whole family!" Said Miles with some prompting from his inner devil.
The men decided it would be best just to ignore Miles from then on. It worked extremely well, Miles staying behind the newspaper and the other men discussed the party and the felicity of wedded domesticity. The three men devoured the breakfast brought in by the maids, while Miles didn't even notice it being brought in.
However the morning succession of visitors was not finished. The next visitor was Lord Holling, who after congratulating the happy men drew Ash out into a conversation.
"What do you think of Miss Bennet?"
"Which Miss Bennet, Teddy?" said Ash, sampling some bacon.
"Miss Catherine."
"Oh, Kitty? I don't - "
"She is very pretty isn't she? Though very young, and well naïve and innocent! That is what I wished to talk to you about! You shouldn't tease her! She probably doesn't' understand you, and she is such a sweet taking girl. "
Ash had a piece of toast half way to his mouth, which paused quivering there for a few seconds before he finally devoured it, making suitable noises, to make Lord Holling continue.
"Yes, I was a bit concerned when Grandmamma took such an interest in her, but really, she is a perfect lady. But then again I doubt Grandmamma could take an interest in anyone who wasn't a young lady."
Lord Holling rattled on, while Ash calmly ate Mile's breakfast. Ash was not sure of his exact feelings, perhaps he was seething with anger, but his cousin didn't mean any harm, and all his cousin was doing was effusing over his admiration for Kitty. There was nothing wrong with that, though his choice of phrasing might have been better.
Finally Lord Holling, Darcy, Bingley and Ash persuaded themselves that they had imposed on Mile's hospitality long enough. Once they removed themselves, Miles snuck out from behind his newspaper. Sighing with relief when he realised he was finally alone.
"Not nine o'clock and the better part of my acquaintance paying morning calls. Horrible! Horrible!" he muttered to himself.
Miles went back to reading the newspaper and absentmindedly reached for some toast. His hand groped around for some time, until he decided to look at his table.
"THEY ATE MY DAMNED BREAKFAST!" he roared.
It was too early. He needed sustenance!
Chapter 23, Part 1
Never look at the trombones. You'll only encourage them. ~ Richard Strauss , on conducting
Kitty trailed after her sister on the beach. This was the second day running she had chosen to go out with Lydia, rather than stay at home listening to wedding talk. At least walking with Lydia, she had time to think, because none of the male escorts had any time to talk or pay any attention to Kitty. Well except for one of Lydia's older admirers, who well couldn't keep up with the officers, in fact Kitty didn't understand why he kept forming one of Lydia's court, he must be over 30 and he wasn't an officer, so Lydia paid him absolutely no attention. Kitty shrugged the thought off, if Mr. Collins couldn't take the hint that she didn't want him; this man didn't have to take Lydia's hints either.
Kitty lifted up her skirts and broke into a quick trot, to keep up with Lydia. However, Lydia had hiked her skirts up to an obscene level and was shrieking and running down the beach, so Kitty decided it was not important to keep up with her. Instead it was important to slow down to an almost old maid pace, and pretend that she had nothing to do with the rowdy boisterous mob surrounding her sister.
Kitty walked towards the shoreline, and started inspecting the shoreline, looking at the shells and other objects washed up on the shoreline. She found an awfully pretty shell, lying just a little bit in the shallows.
The fact that it was out of her reach, did not deter Kitty, she happily splashed her way into the few inches of water to retrieve the shell.
"Miss Bennet!" came an explosive voice that Kitty recognised as Lord Holling. "What ever are you doing in the water?"
Kitty looked up and saw nothing but bonnet. What???? Where had everyone gone?
There was a space of two seconds, before the world became clear again to Kitty. The sight of Ash replaced the sight of bonnet. He was just shaking his head at her.
Kitty glared at him, before putting her hand on her bonnet to keep it from falling over her face again.
She turned however her most dazzling smile upon Lord Holling.
"Hello Lord Holling I'm collecting sea shells."
Lord Holling looked a bit taken back at this. "Sea Shells?"
"Yes, sea shells." Kitty held the ones she had collected on the beach up to show him.
Lord Holling instead of admiring them extended his hand out towards her.
"Give me your hand Miss Bennet, you shouldn't be wading around looking for sea shells."
"Why not?" said Kitty confused.
"Yes Why Teddy? Why don't you come in and search for some sea shells?" said Ash.
Lord Holling shuddered at this idea, and Kitty suddenly thought him a very poor sort, but she wasn't allowed long to ruminate on this, because she espied another very nice seashell.
"Miss Bennet, I must insist you get out of that water at once."
Kitty noticed the look on Lord Holling's face and regretfully clambered out of the, shock horror, two inches of water she was in.
Lord Holling, glanced distastefully at the sea shells that Kitty was still endeavouring to hold in her hands.
"Here Miss Bennet, let me." Said Ash taking the majority of the shells off Kitty.
"Starting a collection are we?" he asked wiping some of the sand off them.
Kitty shrugged. "I don't know, I just felt like picking them up."
"Admirable reason." Smiled Ash.
Kitty suddenly noticed what smiling eyes Ash had. They were so deep, and whenever they smiled, you just wanted to smile. She felt she was just locked into his gaze.
"Miss Bennet! Perhaps you would like to continue a walk along the beach!" said Lord >Holling, suddenly and painfully recalling Kitty to her surroundings.
"Oh, yes." She replied trying not to look at Ash, she felt so self-conscious around him. She knew the reason, but didn't know what she should do about it.
Annabelle dragged her parasol behind her, making a furrowed line in the sand.
"Annabelle, don't sulk," commanded the Duchess who was walking beside her. "Just because I would not allow your numerous admirer's to walk with us."
"I'm not sulking! I'm thinking!' exclaimed Annabelle.
'Thinking about what?" asked the Duchess.
Annabelle paused. She could hardly tell her grandmother what she was really thinking about. She was thinking about how she could bring Miles back around her thumb. Annabelle just mutely shook her head at her grandmother and continued to walk dragging the parasol behind her.
Perhaps she should talk to him? No that wouldn't work, he was still angry with her, she needed to make him less angry with her. Perhaps she should throw herself at him. No that was a stupid idea -it would give him ideas. She could warn every other girl off...like that simpering Smart girl.
Annabelle mused. She noticed that her grandmother was still looking at her, so she decided to start some conversation. Her sharp eye's alighted on something immediately.
"Isn't that Kitty??!...I mean Miss Bennet, a friend of mine, from Hertfordshire."
"I am very well acquainted with Miss Bennet, Belle, as you would very well know if you bothered talking to me."
Annabelle frowned. "I don't mean not to talk to you! It's just..." But Annabelle couldn't tell her why, she was still confused herself and it did no good to make a confused issue worse.
Annabelle watched as Kitty walked along with Lord Holling, she was rather surprised to see Ash trailing along behind them, but then again her oldest brother always surprised her.
"What do you mean by ' very well acquainted' grandmamma?"
"I meant, Belle, that I have decided Kitty is a delightful girl, who is to be my protégé. I don't think she will do anything to embarrass me."
Annabelle blushed. She knew too well what her grandmother was referring to.
"I know you are still angry with me, for not marrying M - Lord Upton. But he never offered for me...so how could I have married him?"
"Belle, I don't think a man you completely humiliated would offer for you! My anger stems from your callous behaviour towards him. If you didn't like him you should have acted much differently."
Annabelle couldn't argue with that, it was true. She should have behaved differently, and now she had managed to chase one of her admirer's away, and he was without a doubt the most illustrious member of her court. Not to mention the fact that she knew that Miles had always been a family friend, and the discord between them was affecting the rest of her family. Yes, so of course she had to find a way to solve all their problems, she would be doing it for the good of the family. Not to mention Annabelle had a constitutional dislike of being ignored and treated in a cavalier fashion. No Miles would not be allowed to treat her like that. She would somehow manage to bring him back to liking her. She didn't like the idea of Miles not liking her. Somehow the methods of making Miles like her again became pale against the overall aim. Yes, that was the best campaign; Ricky had always said it was the overall strategy not the tactics that mattered.
Annabelle opened her parasol and looked triumphantly at her grandmother and started to walk lively down the beach.
The Duchess raised an eyebrow. What ever was Belle up to now?
"Colonel! Colonel?!" called a voice.
Ash turned around, to look at who was calling for him. A young lady, aged roughly twenty-seven years, hurried up to him.
Ash studied the rather plain looking woman trying to place her in his memory. Suddenly it jolted into place. Miss Lucas. Sir William Lucas' daughter, the one who had accosted him outside Donaldson's yesterday.
Ash had borne that meeting with equanimity, even though he had been wildly racking his brains as to who the young woman had been. He had only met her father and her very briefly, in fact so briefly that he wondered that she would pursue an acquaintanceship.
"Miss Lucas." He said coolly.
"Lord Ashbourne. It is charming to see you again. You did not call?"
Ash's eyebrows drew together. Call? Then he remembered that Miss Lucas had said they were staying at Brighton, had given her address and bid him to call. The address had flown out of his head, as he really had no idea who the woman was at the time, and he didn't call on women he didn't know.
"I have been unavailable." Said Ash trying to extricate himself from a situation that looked like it was going to become a quagmire.
"Oh what a pity. My father was very anxious to make your acquaintance again. Perhaps he should call upon you."
Ash was slightly disarmed by this comment. Perhaps Miss Lucas, was just furthering a connection between himself and her father.
"Your father is welcome to call at anytime." Replied Ash gracefully. Though I cannot say I will be at home...
Miss Lucas smiled and turned to walk with him. Ash with all politeness offered him her arm. He normally would have rebuffed a young lady like Miss Lucas, but he knew the Lucas' were very close to the Bennets. And if Darcy was to marry Miss Elizabeth Ash did not wish to create a riff due to his inability to be polite. Ash told himself it had nothing to do with the young lady who was walking in front of him.
Lady Upton feebly tottered along the beach. It was a very convincing totter, and all but her closest family would have believed her close to death.
Lady Lucas and Mrs. Bennet did, rushing to her assistance, as Lady Upton took her quest for sympathy onto the beach.
"My dear Ma'am. Are you alright?" asked Mrs. Bennet, who was nothing if friendly to a fault.
"Oh!" moaned Lady Upton.
Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas took one of Lady Upton's arm's each and led her to a seat.
"It's the ungratefulness of my son! He practically... killed .... me today when I suggested a teensy-weensy little party. I mean I am not dead yet! It's still my home. I only want to see him well married.!"
Lady Lucas and Mrs. Bennet's interest was immediately piqued. Lady Upton saw their immediate interest and felt a little better. Here were people who would understand her torment.
"You have ungrateful son's??" she said hopefully.
"No! I only have daughters." Mourned Mrs. Bennet. 'And trying to marry them all, is shocking, and they will be disobliging at times!"
"Nonsense, two are engaged and the other is practically engaged....well she is engaged even though there is no formal notice." Said Lady Lucas. "However MY eldest boy refuses to be married and my eldest daughter is twenty-seven and is single."
Lady Upton clutched Lady Lucas' wrist. :"Then you know my pain."
Mrs. Bennet glared at Lady Lucas. "I know your pain too!"
"Are your children about?" asked Lady Upton.
"My daughter is over there." Pointed Lady Lucas and Mrs. Bennet respectively.
Lady Upton peered at the two young ladies. She recognised the men they were walking with. Obviously these mothers were women to know. Perhaps, if there status was right, Miles could marry one of their daughters? For they must be exemplary women to be walking with Lord Holling and Lord Ashbourne!
"I would be honoured if you and your families would join me at my little soiree. Mrs...."
"Lady Lucas.'
"Mrs. Bennet."
"Very honoured. I am Lady Upton."
The women then parted, very satisfied with their chance meeting.
The Duchess smiled and nodded as Lady Upton tottered further up the beach.
"Belle." The Duchess paused, looking around. "Belle?"
"Here Grandmamma."
"Whatever are you doing over there? Stop skulking about. Surely you can meet Mile's mother without fear!"
"She hates me." Said Annabelle truthfully.
"Perhaps, but she cannot dislike you that much, she has invited us to a soiree at her townhouse!"
"Really?" exclaimed Annabelle.
"Yes really! Do you think I would say something if it wasn't true. Dearie me, children today, assuming that we are rambling on when heaven knows we only impart the most important facts. Belle are you attending?
Annabelle wasn't attending. She was thinking of the glorious opportunities of a soiree. Perhaps there would be dancing? There would definitely be conversation. And at his own house! The setting would be perfect.
Annabelle ignored her grandmother and gazed along the beach. Her brother was still wandering around the beach, but he had another woman with him. Annabelle peered at her. It was Miss Lucas. Annabelle was surprised, she didn't think Miss Lucas, knew Ash! And she was sure that she didn't know him that well! Well certainly not so well as to be acting the way she was!
Annabelle could tell that she wasn't acting improperly, but she appeared to be giving the impression of one very much at ease and close to Ash. Annabelle frowned. She didn't like the idea of Miss Lucas and Ash, not one bit.
She was glad however that her friend Kitty and her cousin Teddy were so obviously good friends. If the Marquis of Holling admired Miss Catherine Bennet, who knows who she could end up as! And Annabelle wanted nothing but the best for her friends. However she hoped that Kitty wasn't falling in love with her cousin because she knew that the Duke of Hollingbury would not allow his son to marry a nobody, even if she was a match sanctioned by his mother.
And, the Dowager Duchess (who quite hated to be called that, considering that the present Duchess was in her opinion a meek mild, milksop, of a watering pot), would of course sanction such a match, thought Annabelle.
Though Annabelle was surprised to find the Duchess glaring at the sight of Kitty and Teddy walking together. It was altogether too confusing.
Darcy straightened his cravat. He wondered why he had waited until his aunt and uncle had left Brighton before writing them a letter informing them of his engagement. But he had.
Darcy tried to smooth out the creases in his cravat. He loved Elizabeth, he knew that the reason he had been born was to live his life with Elizabeth, and it was as simple as that. The problem was, not that he was Darcy of Pemberley and she was a Bennet of Longbourn that did not worry him, love knew no bounds, and he was a gentleman and she was a gentleman's daughter. What he thought was bothering him, was the stares of society. He would not mind them when directed at him; he had cultivated quite a store of his own stares in retaliation. Elizabeth was a strong women, he was fairly sure she would not mind them either. But Darcy did think for once he would mind the stares of society if they were directed at his wife. He hated the judgmental nature of the ton. They would no doubt assume that some trickery had occurred to make him propose to Elizabeth. He highly doubted they would want to believe that he had fallen in love with Elizabeth, since he hadn't fallen in love with any of their daughters.
Darcy's hands balled into fists. What if they insulted her? What if they spread malicious rumours? He did not doubt that Elizabeth would prefer Pemberley to town anyway, but he couldn't just take Elizabeth off into the country permanently, that would give rise to gossip, that he didn't want.
Darcy, cursed himself, he was indulging in stupid thoughts and he had ruined his cravat. He would just have to see how everything worked out, and if society decided to show it's malevolent side to Elizabeth he would just have to protect her and hope she wasn't affected by it.
Chapter 23, Part 2
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt. ~ Bertrand Russell.
Miles tried to smile at the incoming guests, but it seemed to him that his mother had invited every dull and boring person imaginable - excepting the few people Miles had insisted she invite. Oh not including the Bennet and Lucas family, which his mother had decided to formally invite (on top of Miles' vague suggestion to Darcy) - Why she had done so, Miles had no idea, as Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas didn't seem the type of women that his mother normally liked.
However, they appeared to be the type of women that would enliven a party. The youngest Miss Bennet, had already cast an experienced eye around the room for officers, and only seen a sparse number, had retired with a Miss Maria Lucas to chatter about them. Miles let his eye rest upon her; he had to say she was something to look at. Miles wasn't sure of her age, but he didn't think she should wear those kinds of dresses. He wondered idly about the type of girl she was and the type of mother she had, if she was allowed to parade around in such garments.
Miles took his eyes off the Miss Bennet, and let them wander over to where Darcy was standing. Darcy was standing very protectively next to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Miles appreciated her good looks, but he didn't think she looked the type of young lady that needed protecting. But even so Darcy was shooting death glares at anyone who even dared look in their direction.
Miles blinked and looked back towards the entrance, he knew who he was waiting for, his mother knew who he was waiting for, but neither of them was about to admit it.
"Miles, most of my... our ... guests are here, go mingle, I see Miss Smart is waving to you." Said Lady Upton in her most charming voice.
Miles looked over his shoulder at the lemon yellow confection that was surrounding Miss Smart as she waved one hand at him. Miles quickly looked away.
"Oh no mother, I should be here to meet all my guests. It would only be po - " Miles broke off his sentence, as the object of both his and his mother's vigil by the entrance arrived.
Annabelle was dressed in pure white. She had a purple sash, which made her unusual eyes stand out, and the white just highlighted her perfect skin, and her contrasted with the deep, dark, chestnut of her hair.
The Duchess, looking not at all like a woman of her age, entered behind Annabelle with Maria.
"Your Grace." Smiled Lady Upton. "Lady Annabelle, Miss Fullam. It is pleasure to have you here."
This speech was supposed to encompass all the newly arrived guests, but it was said directly to the Duchess. Lady Upton did not once look at Annabelle, though with a sinking feeling in her stomach, she could sense the radiant beauty of Annabelle, the kind of beauty that she knew no other girl in the room had, perhaps save the eldest Miss Bennet, who was already engaged. Lady Upton plotted in her mind how to stop Miles falling into the clutches of Lady Annabelle again.
Miles found himself yet again tongue-tied. It was like that first time he had seen her all grown up. He could feel the same feelings welling up inside of him; he was powerless to stop them. He knew that if she asked him to fall at her feet, he would...and he cursed himself for it.
Annabelle perceived the reaction she had caused and smiled. She politely greeted Lady Upton and then turned to Miles. She sincerely smiled at him and greeted him with as much enthusiasm as possible.
"Lord Upton. It is a pleasure to be here. I am so sorry that we are late, but unfortunately, events conspired against us. "
She was not, under any circumstances going to tell him that what had made them late, was her severe incapacity to choose what to wear. She herself was not at all sure why she suddenly had had a fashion crisis.
Miles felt his feet suddenly fall back from cloud nine, onto solid earth. She smiled at him. This of course was not a suspicious action, but coming from Annabelle, Miles suddenly felt suspicious. Could she tell his feelings of the previous moments, was she intending to capitalise on them? Suddenly Miles felt his heart close up again - being hurt was not on his list of things to do today.
"Of course Lady Annabelle, sometimes events just do conspire against us don't they."
Even Miles was surprised at the rather bitter inflexion placed on those last words. He was about to say something about it, when his mother intervened.
"Lady Annabelle dear, perhaps I will introduce you around - to all the nice young men."
Annabelle went bright red, but allowed herself to be led off, in the direction of anything in pants. Lady Upton was very courteous in this respect.
Miles made sure the Duchess was ensconced with a selection of bosom- bows before making his escape to the other side of the room. He bumped into a brunette on the way over, and turned to apologise to her, and found himself looking at one of the Miss Bennet's, a pretty one at that, but not the youngest, one he was sure he had seen before...somewhere...
"Er ...Miss Bennet... is it? I am terribly sorry."
"Don't apologise, it is a bit of a crush isn't it? And I'm Miss Catherine Bennet, or Miss Kitty, if that helps you place me among my numerous sisters." Smiled the brunette.
Miles smiled back at her. "Are you Miss Catherine, accusing me of overfilling my rooms?"
Kitty laughed. "What if I was Lord Upton?"
"I've have to admit to you that I didn't draw up the invitation list to this party, I was cowed into it by my mother."
"A severe blow to your pride I'm sure." Replied Kitty, liking the personable Earl.
Miles laughed, but before he responded, he happened to look over Miss Catherine's shoulder to see Ash giving him a look. It was not quite a glare, but it was not a friendly look.
"Are you all right Lord Upton?"
Miles shook his head at Ash, trying to communicate that he didn't understand what he was trying to say, and focused his attention back on Miss Catherine.
"No I am very well, I'm just a little unsure of what my friend is trying to convey to me, I'm sure that I haven't done anything too grievous to offend him."
Kitty looked behind her and saw Ash. She gave him a smile, which he returned, he had been so kind to her about the seashells, and had actually sent the ones she had entrusted to his care, around to the house. Not that she had been allowed to keep them, Mr. Collins thought they were distasteful and not at all proper for the future wife of a clergyman - Kitty had not been impressed.
Miles didn't see the smile Miss Catherine gave to Ash, but he saw the reaction, and was rather stunned. Been too busy with my own problems.... now I see what offends him...I am trespassing on his 'territory'...thought Miles, though thinking that territory was completely the wrong word, but it has been the terminology of college days, where he and Ash had usually been in direct competition. Miles smiled rather wickedly at Ash, Ash always had needed a bit of a push along.
"I say Miss Catherine, wouldn't you like to sit down? That is if we can find a seat in this crowd."
Kitty didn't miss the looks Miles gave Ash, she wasn't very adept at interpreting them, having no brothers, but she felt she got the overall gist, and she had no objection to sitting and talking to a very handsome earl for half an hour.
Chapter 23, Part 3
The only way to entertain some folks is to listen to them ~ Kim Hubbard.
Mrs. Bennet frowned and pouted at the same time.
"I just don't see why??"
Lizzy looked on Darcy to support her, before trying once again to explain her reasoning to her mother.
"Well, two engagements are just as good as three engagements and Kitty is a little too young to be marrying anyway."
"Nonsense, seventeen is a very natural age to get married."
Lizzy almost lost her calm, and was about to be very imprudent and be impudent to her mother, when Darcy stepped in.
"Mrs. Bennet, what I feel Elizabeth is trying to say, is that we know that you are not the type of mother, who consciously goes around trying to impress everyone."
Lizzy's mouth dropped open. What was William saying? That was her mother.
But Darcy continued smoothly ignoring Elizabeth's dropped jaw.
"Everyone here, knows that you are not going to - flaunt - your good fortune, because you are too good natured a woman to consciously hurt those, poor unfortunate mother's, who well in trying to do what is best for their daughters simply alienate everyone."
Mrs. Bennet ruminated on this for a while. Yes, this is why she didn't need to announce Kitty's engagement, after all Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy had announced theirs and a toast had been made, she had been congratulated. She wasn't going to rub their noses in it, that she actually had Three daughters engaged! She would just quietly live with the satisfaction that she had, and everyone didn't know it.
Lizzy was surprised when her mother graciously demurred to Darcy's words and gracefully walked off, like a woman who was very happy with the idea that she was being incredibly magnanimous.
"I cannot believe you did that." She smiled at Darcy.
Darcy shrugged. "A talent, your mother, no matter how..."
"Vulgar?"
"All right, vulgar she might seem she is good natured enough. You should always apply to the virtues of a person, you seem to get results that way."
"How very wise of you William."
Darcy took her hand and brought it to his lips. "A lifetime of learning, I assure you."
Lizzy smiled back at him. Darcy lifted his eyes from her face and briefly looked over her head, he dropped her hand from his lips, but still kept a hold of it as he listened to what was being said.
Lady Rockhaven, gave a speaking look, to Lady Upton.
"I had no idea! I thought they were ... were...." Gasped Lady Upton.
"Such insinuating, crafty, calculating families?"
Lady Upton reached for her vinaigrette. "I assure you, I saw one of the Bennet harpies with Lord Holling, and the old biddy of a Lucas girl with Lord Ashbourne. I just assumed they were ... highly born!"
"Not a jot of it. The Bennet estate is entailed on that pompous sweating parson Mr. Collins. They have less than £1000 pounds each. Their paltry estate is in Hertfordshire. And they have the audacity to come amongst us and lure two of our most eligible men into their honey-traps. I do hope that poor Darcy and Bingley find out before it is too late, how filled with vinegar those traps really are."
This was said in a loud whisper, which attracted the attention of Lady Grantley.
"Oh yes, you have no idea how shocked we all are? How could such men, be fooled by such low-connections, and for you poor Augustinia to be forced to invite them to your party, not knowing what shabby-genteel people you were letting into your house!"
Lady Upton nodded at Lady Grantley. "I know, I know. The value of my party has dropped, what will people say of me?"
"They will say you were highly abused." Soothed Mrs. Olsen.
"Highly abused." Whispered Lady Rockhaven.
"I mean you only have to look at the youngest Bennet trollop, to see what arts were employed to trap the poor men." Exclaimed Mrs. Olsen.
The women turned their eyes upon Lydia Bennet and shuddered.
"Obviously the elder girls dressed with some semblance of propriety so that their fiancé's could not be told of their shamelessness."
"I am so glad, that we have almost reached an understanding, Almeria, about dear Miles and your dearest daughter Rosamund. Otherwise I would be quite frightened for Miles!"
Lady Rockhaven nodded at this, while Mrs. Olsen exclaimed. "Oh yes, dear Miss Smart! One has to only place her next to one of those hussies, to see the difference in style and class!"
Lady Upton felt a little cheered. "Or dear Miss Olsen, or Miss Grantley, any of those girls are worth much more than the Bennet's and Lucas' combined!"
The ladies nodded in agreement. They all knew that they wouldn't ever call upon the new Mrs. Bingley or Darcy when they took up their respective stations, if the men could not fall in love with their daughters, or others from their own class, they were to receive no more attention from them! They would feel the folly of their actions.
Darcy felt his jaw tightening. He could sense that Elizabeth had overhead as well.
"William." Said Lizzy in a low tone, slipping her hand through his arm, and gently leading him away from the circle of women. She was seething inside, but she could tell that William was feeling angrier, and for him to create a scene would just play into those women's hands.
Look he never would have acted that way if he hadn't engaged himself to such a girl.
Lizzy's initial anger started to be replaced by fear. What if she had trapped William? Of course not intentionally, but maybe all William felt was lust, and not love? Maybe if he fell out of love with her, he could stand a loveless marriage of convenience, it was not alien to him in his circle of acquaintance, but Lizzy knew that she couldn't tolerate it.
Lizzy slowly poured herself a cup of punch, after refusing to let Darcy do it for her. As she poured she thought some more.
She knew that as Mrs. Darcy of Pemberley, by all accounts a fine estate, she would be expected to take up her role in society. Would she be able to do it with the resentment of society? Would William still be able to love her if half of society was against her and her sister? Could love sustain a long barrage of spite?
"Elizabeth I wish you would tell me what you were thinking?" said Darcy in a low tone, watching her movements with the punch.
Lizzy looked up at him and smiled. "I was just indulging in some silly thoughts. I must say I didn't expect so much...spite to be addressed at myself, simply for accepting a proposal. I expected it from my mother if I refused one!"
Darcy tried to smile but failed. "Elizabeth, I hope you are not letting their feelings bother you."
"No they are not bothering me" lied Lizzy. "I just did not expect it, that was all, after all Lady Catherine has been most supportive, and Lord Upton was very congratulatory."
Darcy smiled. "Lady Catherine, knows you, she knows how good you are for me, and Miles is a man in a million, always has been. I just wish there was some way I could protect you from this malice."
Lizzy tried not to glare at him; she did not like that word. "I don't need protecting William"
Darcy watched her turn away from him to talk to Lady Lucas. She did need protecting. The feelings of the 'Coven of Witches' could easily be spread, and although the arbiters of the ton, usually looked down upon their petty malevolence, they did have a form of power - the power to make life very uncomfortable for him and Elizabeth. God he hated society sometimes.
Mary sat before the pianoforte in the empty room. She had no idea why Lady Upton had corned off this room from the main party, but Mary was determined to put the pianoforte into good use.
Mary chose one of her favourite Mozart pieces and started to play. She was technically correct in her playing, but there was no feeling or liveliness in her playing.
"I'd stop playing if I were you, Mozart must be spinning in his grave."
Mary stopped her playing abruptly on a discordant note, and turned. Sir Christian was leaning against the doorframe, lazily observing her.
Mary felt a sob rising up in her throat, she didn't know why, she was used to aspersions, being cast upon her playing. Trying to keep her voice even, she rose from the instrument, slowly packed her music and tried to exit the room while addressed Sir Christian.
"I'm sorry you do not like my playing sir, but no body was forcing you to l-listen to it."
Mary cursed herself for that slight stutter that betrayed her feelings. She cursed herself even more as Sir Christian blocked her way out of the room.
"Miss Bennet, I did not think you were so thin-skinned. I apologise, but really your playing is excellent, it's the feeling that you inspire, that is lacking."
"You would not have said such an abominably rude thing to me, if you thought my playing was excellent."
"Technically it was faultless as far as I could see, but dull. And well surely music isn't supposed to be dull?"
"There is only one thing in this room that is dull sir." Replied Mary sharply.
Sir Christian was taken back with surprise. What a shrew! Did she treat all men this way? It was quite remarkable though, most women went out of their way to be nice to any rich young man, marriage to most women was a way out of a dull dreary existence, but this young woman did not seem to recognise that.
"Really? Perhaps then we should leave the room."
"I was about to, sir, if you would move out of the way."
"I will move out of your way, if you will dance with me."
Mary shivered suddenly. Men didn't normally ask her to dance. What should she say?
Sir Christian was almost as surprised as Mary but he had felt an urge to ask her to dance, so he had.
"Cannot you dance Miss Bennet?"
Mary who had been on the verge of accepting him, for some irrational reason only known to the human heart, glared at him.
"No I was going to refuse you on the grounds of..."
" Dancing would lead me into crowded rooms and late hours, which are injurious to health and usefulness. Or on the other hand you could say Dancing would lead me into close contact with very promiscuous company and evil communications corrupt good manners. And then there is another useful one Dancing would require me to use and permit freedom with the other sex, which I should be heartily ashamed, and which I believe to be wrong.* "
Which one will it be Miss Bennet?"
Mary stifled a snort of laughter, she had been about to say something along those lines, but somehow it sounded so silly when he said it.
Sir Christian smiled at her stifled laughter.
"I am waiting for my brutal rebuff."
"I think I prefer sir the reason that Ministers and good people in general, disapprove of dancing, and I think it is not safe to set myself against them. If a thing be even doubtful I wish to be on the safe side. *"
"You like to play it safe Miss Bennet."
Mary thought honestly about that question. "Yes I think I do."
Sir Christian just smiled, laughed and left the room, leaving a bemused Mary.
Chapter 23, Part 4
A man who has never made a woman angry is a failure in life ~ Christopher Morley
Annabelle found herself talking to Mr. Collins. She didn't quite know how Lady Upton had skillfully managed to leave her in Mr. Collins' care, but she had.
Annabelle almost retched at the sight of the number of little petite four's, Mr. Collins was attempting to shove into his mouth.
"So - Lady Annabelle - are - you - aware, of my engagement - to my little redwood - Miss Kitty?"
Annabelle swallowed. " Is there an engagement?" Annabelle knew nothing had been announced and she desperately hoped that Mr. Bennet would come to his senses soon, for poor Kitty's sake. She thought back to those days in Hertfordshire and the way Kitty had confided her troubles to her.
"Oh yes. I will - find *gargle * my little weeping willow for you - so you - can see - the happiest of men - and wo-men."
Annabelle grabbed Mr. Collins' arm and then released it as if she had been singed.
"Don't do that Mr. Collins, I sure Kitty is very busy - "Annabelle looked around the room for her friend, she paused when she spotted her. "Talking to Miles...????"
Annabelle didn't make any more comment when Mr. Collins insisted on going to look after his beloved fichus. She watched as Kitty blanched, but willingly went with Mr. Collins. Annabelle looked away, but she could feel a pair of eyes boring into her, she didn't need to be told whose eyes.
"And why pray tell, Lady Annabelle did you send that parson.... Mr. Collins? ...over?" asked Miles.
Annabelle turned around, her eyes fastened on his gleaming Hessians before she dared to look up into his face.
"Didn't you know? She is engaged to him." Said Annabelle simply, before she quite realised what she had said. She imperceptibly bit her lip, well it was too late now, and she had said it, there was no taking back words - she should know. She could have kicked herself for saying it, it would do Kitty no good to have rumours circulated, and the only way she could get out of the marriage was if the engagement was kept secret. But something had made her want to tell Miles that Kitty was off limits.
"Really has it been announced? I'm sure I would have been informed if it had been, my mother is very assiduous on points such as that."
"Er, no ... it is a private matter for the moment."
"So you should have told me why precisely?" said Miles with an inquiring look.
Annabelle glared at him. Damn him. She swept past him haughtily. She was too busy not looking back and he was too busy looking after her, to notice that Maria had been standing within hearing distance.
Miles felt a compulsion to go after her, but he was saved from giving into temptation by the arrival of his mother.
"Miles, darling. Miss Smart and Miss Olsen are much confused by the Shakespearian play they saw in the New Road Theatre. I told them that you would help them."
Miles smiled wanly. "Of course Mother, and what precisely were they confused by?"
Miss Smart bounced over towards him.
"Oh Lord Upton, Sophronia and I have no idea why Romeo and Juliet had to die? Could you explain it to us? It would have been so much happier if they had lived...don't you think?"
Miles gaped at Miss Smart. Did she have no concept.... where was her brain?
Kitty followed Mr. Collins willingly. She knew that Mr. Collins was about to make a scene, and she would rather the scene was witness by as few people as possible.
Kitty walked out onto the little balcony with him.
"Yes Mr. Collins?"
"My darling little Angel's Trumpet, I know I told your parents I would be happy to wait until you were older, but I have realised that I cannot wait, I need to shout my love for you my, dearest seaweed, from the highest pinnacle."
Kitty stepped backwards horrified.
"Mr. Collins, I don't want to marry you, I never wanted to marry you. Can't you understand that? Please, Please don't ask me to marry you."
"Oh you are just uniformly charming my little Blossom Petal." Mr. Collins moved, lecherously towards Kitty, as she backed away into one of the rooms.
He surely couldn't say anything when they were in company, he could touch her either.
"Oh Miss Bennet, I hear I am to congratulate you?" came a shrill voice.
Kitty turned around to look at Maria. "Congratulate me?"
"I heard all about your engagement to Mr. Collins, the announcement is being sent to the paper's I am sure. "
Kitty felt her head spin. "I think - you are - wrong - I "
"My dear Madam, I thank you most heartily on your solicitations! The announcement is going to the papers soon."
Kitty just shook her head at all the staring people. Why did Mr. Collins and Maria have to talk so loud? Kitty wanted to scream, No, No you are wrong, what are you talking about. But she couldn't, it would attract more people. Now her mother was here, agreeing with them. Now everyone would believe it, her mother was here talking about her marriage plans ... no it couldn't be possible. It was like one large nightmare.
Kitty wrenched her hand away from Mr. Collins and blindly walked back out on the balcony. She put her hands on the balustrade and started to sob.
"There, there Miss Bennet." Came a soothing male voice. Kitty couldn't distinguish much of it through her sobs, but it was comforting, and she quite willingly placed her head on the man's shoulder as she cried.
* "The Family Circle", 1867
Chapter 24, Part 1
Posted on Saturday, 14 April 2001, at 1:26 a.m.
Friends will keep you sane, Love could fill your heart, A lover can warm your bed, But lonely is the soul without a mate ~ David Pratt.
Miles turned away from the Misses Olsen and Smart, when he heard the commotion. He heard the whisper running around the room.
"Yes that little brunette, engaged to that parson of Lady Catherine's"
Miles felt a sort of anger well up inside him. What had Annabelle done now?
He walked over to the voluble group, consisting of Maria, Mr Collins and Mrs Bennet, who were at present loudly discussing the difficulties of planning wedding breakfasts. Mrs Bennet was quite engrossed in this topic and was quite willing to talk about Kitty's engagement now that someone else had obviously announced it.
He calmly insinuated himself within the group, and managed with some difficulty to turn the conversation to something completely different. Once he had managed that colossal feat he quickly scanned the room for Ash, he found him negligently leaning against the French doors to the balcony.
"Ash?" said Miles confused at the troubled expression on his face.
Ash jerked his head towards the balcony. Miles looked past him and saw what was obviously troubling Ash. It was Miss Catherine, crying her eyes out on Lord Holling's shoulder.
Miles gave a small shake of his head at Ash.
Ash scuffed one heel against the wooden floorboards.
"Miles."
"Don't get monosyllabic on me. Why are you just standing here?"
"What else can I do?"
Miles shook his head at his long time friend. Earlier this evening he'd seen Ash's interest in Miss Kitty Bennet. Ash hadn't been interested in a young lady for a very, very long time, and he hadn't been in love for longer. But then, the Ash he knew wouldn't just stand stupidly outside on a balcony either.
Miles made to go outside, but was roughly stopped by Ash's arm. Miles could have pushed past him, but it would have taken quite some effort, he knew from experience that they were very evenly matched in strength, and he didn't wish to create yet another scene.
So he just shrugged and walked away.
Ash glared and continued to lean against the wall.
He watched as Teddy left the balcony, he wondered if he should make sure Miss Kitty was all right. He was on the verge of doing so when he noticed his grandmother had intercepted Teddy.
From his vantage point their speech was short but tense. His mind idly ran over the topics that they could be discussing, he hit on the most obvious one and it was confirmed when he saw the direction that Teddy kept flicking his eyes to - the balcony.
Ash looked away, and when he looked back, his grandmother was walking towards him.
"Horatio, what are you doing?"
"Hello Grandmamma and how are you today?" said Ash politely.
"Enough of the small talk. Why are you standing on the fringes of this party?"
Ash pondered the best answer to this question, an answer that would not prompt further questions from his grandmother. Unfortunately he took a fraction of a second to long and the Duchess decided to answer for him.
"You are standing on the edge of this party because as per normal you have decided that you do not have to demean yourself for anyone." The Duchess paused; she gave Ash an indecipherable look and then continued, seemingly changing the subject.
"Miss Bennet does not look happy."
Ash turned his head to look at Miss Kitty staring at the stars.
"No she doesn't"
"I suppose that is how you feel when your family choose who you are going to marry and they get it horribly wrong."
"I guess it is." Ash wasn't sure where this conversation was headed.
"However I feel that if say, someone else , was to propose to Miss Bennet, her family would be more than happy to release her from her engagement to Mr Slime I mean Collins.
The Duchess left Ash with these words as she stepped onto balcony to comfort Miss Kitty.
Ash frowned. Someone else? His mind did a quick replay of the brief scene between The Duchess and Teddy. They were talking about her; he was sure about that, was she telling him to propose to Miss Kitty???? Ash shuddered. That was simply the worst plan his grandmother had ever devised. Teddy couldn't be her knight in shining armour. Teddy didn't even know what a knight was. If his grandmother had wanted someone to help Kitty out of her troubles, she should have asked him. Now Ash could do knight in shining armour, he was eminently qualified.
Annabelle went pale, as she heard the talking of her neighbours, she saw her grandmother stiffen when she heard.
Annabelle swallowed. It had to be Mrs Bennet; she had to be the one spilling the gossip. But there was Mr Bennet looking surprised that anyone had found out.
Annabelle looked nervously around, no body could have overheard her saying anything about it could they? Miles wouldn't have said anything.
Oh why had she said anything, there was no reason to want to warn Miles off Kitty. She had betrayed a trust, and what for?
Annabelle sensed a presence behind her and she didn't' need to be told who it was.
"I hope you are very happy by the turn of events Lady Annabelle." He said coolly.
Annabelle frowned and turned around.
"I didn't tell anyone."
"You told me!" replied Miles.
"That's completely different! And if anyone spread it, it would have to be you!" said Annabelle.
Miles paused for a moment. "Your logic astounds me."
Annabelle felt like stamping her foot, something she only thought fictional heroines did.
"Well, I wouldn't say anything to anyone."
"Well, then someone must have overhead you telling me, mustn't they?" said Miles in an altogether too pleasant tone.
Annabelle didn't say anything; there wasn't anything she could say, as it was the most likely solution.
"Well they must have told everyone, spiteful wretches!" she exclaimed, very upset over the turn of events.
"Then what does that make you?" asked Miles.
Annabelle felt as if she had been slapped, she couldn't and didn't respond, she just turned on her heel and walked away.
Miles looked at his shoes, taking a deep breath, it took a monumental show of strength, to turn and walk in the opposite direction.
Part Two
We think caged birds sing, when indeed they cry ~ John Webster.
Kitty tried to control her tears, but she couldn't. She just felt everything falling down around her. She just didn't have anything. Jane had her quiet elegance, which commanded attention, Lizzy had her wit and her vivacity, Mary had her books and her morality and even Lydia had her zest for life, and her presence. Kitty found it amusing that both the eldest and youngest Miss Bennet commanded immediate attention but for widely different reasons.
"But what do I have?" she murmured into a padded shoulder.
"What did you say Miss Bennet???" Said an unfamiliar voice. Kitty stiffened.
"I wish you would just tell me what you are crying about Miss Bennet."
Kitty slowly pulled away and looked into two eyes she really didn't want to look into.
"Lord Holling...."
"Yes Miss Bennet."
"I - I - am sorry that I - please forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive I assure you."
Kitty noticed that he still held her. "Er - Lord Holling...."
"Yes Miss Bennet." Replied Lord Holling rather stupidly. Kitty felt like stamping her foot, why didn't he let her go???
"Could you fetch me some...punch?"
"Of Course, Miss Bennet." Replied Lord Holling promptly, releasing Kitty to dash into the rooms.
Kitty sighed and leant against the stone masonry. She knew who she had been hoping she was crying on, but a first touch had proved that wrong, then she had simply assumed it was Bingley or Darcy; Lord Holling had not fitted into her reasoning anywhere.
Kitty felt her cheeks they felt puffy. Why could she not be one of those girls who when they cried just looked prettier? Now she just knew she looked like an overripe tomato.
She didn't know who had told Maria of her 'engagement' to Mr Collins, but Kitty had written their name down high on her 'to do nasty things to' list. Right below Mr Collins himself. Kitty shuddered at the idea of his touch.
Kitty sniffed and turned towards the moon. It was beautiful. Kitty wondered idly how far away it was and whether it would ever be possible to go to the moon. She wondered whether Mr Collins would follow her there too?
Kitty felt a presence behind her; she turned and smiled at the figure coming out onto the balcony.
"Cassie."
"Kitty are you all right?" said the Duchess worriedly. She had seen the scene with Mr Collins, she had seen Lord Holling join her, she had seen Ash hovering outside and her quick brain had added all these facts up and the result did not please her.
"Not really." Replied Kitty trying not to break into more tears.
"I-I'm sorry. I-I must l-look l-like s-such a-a t-tomato!" cried Kitty, her emotions getting the better of her.
"There, There." Said The Duchess allowing Kitty to cry on her shoulder. "No one can cry without looking quite wretched afterwards."
"S-s-some p-people can."
"Nonsense, anyone who can look perfect after they have been crying, is someone who is just a very good performer. No one who has really cried looks good."
Kitty tried to give a weak little smile when the Duchess pulled away from her and gave her a piercing look.
"That's my girl. Now what exactly is wrong?"
"Mr Collins."
"Well apart from Mr Collins, I am afraid even I cannot solve that problem. We must trust that the Almighty created him for a reason."
"To marry me!" wailed Kitty.
"No, No, No his destiny is not to marry you." Said the Duchess. "And if it is, I for one think we can flout Fate just this once."
"Well if he isn't to marry me, what is he to do?"
The Duchess thought about this for a while. "I think he should become a rector on a ship, it's a novel idea and well sometimes those Navy men aren't on land for years."
Kitty smiled.
"Perhaps."
The Duchess looked at her piercingly. "Now Kitty, something I must say to you. You cannot let Lord Holling embrace you."
Kitty started. "I didn't know it was Lord Holling, I thought it was someone else."
The Duchess raised an eyebrow at Kitty.
"Like Mr Bingley or Mr Darcy, they are practically family!" replied Kitty quickly. "As soon as I realised it wasn't I sent him away for punch, and well he hasn't returned so you see he realises his mistake."
"No he was intercepted by a horrible harridan."
"A horrible harridan?"
"Yes in an imposing turban."
"A turban?"
"A puce turban to be exact."
Kitty looked at the Duchess. "I wouldn't call your turban puce."
The Duchess put a hand to it. "Really? I was sure it was puce? I was told it was the most alarming shade of puce they had."
Kitty laughed.
The Duchess put an arm around her and started to lead her back inside.
"That's my girl! Now chin up, and face everyone in there with dignity. Remember you are not going to marry Mr Collins, if your father doesn't' see sense, I will make him see sense. "
Kitty smiled and allowed herself to be lead back inside.
Part Three.
Push the door I'm home at last and I'm soaking through and through / Then you handed me a towel and all I see is you/ And even if my house falls down now, I wouldn't have a clue / Because you're near me. ~ Dido 'Thankyou'
Lizzy turned abruptly away from the balcony doors. How could Kitty! Lizzy knew that Kitty was not really engaged to Mr Collins, but the world now thought she was, and to be seen on the balcony in the arms of another man?
Lizzy could only hope that no one else had seen them. Lizzy had steps only two steps before she realised what she was thinking. Of course Kitty had no ulterior motive, she was just upset and had turned to the first person. How could she as her sister be so cruel to think such a thing about Kitty?
Lizzy sat down on an available settee and sighed. She couldn't believe she was thinking such petty things about her sister. She was actually starting to think about the way her sister could harm her in the eyes of society. Why did she care about them? She knew Kitty wasn't doing anything wrong.
Lizzy's eyes alighted on the group of harpies that were no doubt still gossiping about her. She knew they were the reason she was feeling so petty and petulant. She might say she was not interested or affected by others opinions of her, but she was human, their ideas of her did affect her. Lizzy thus smiled weakly at Darcy when he came to sit next to her on the settee. Darcy just had to look at her, and Lizzy felt so much better, perhaps the snubs of society could be withstood if she had him to stand with her.
Anne de Bourgh stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the Upton's house.
"How would like to visit your cousin here Anne?" said Lady Catherine joining her.
"Mama! Stop it! You cannot organise Belle's life!"
"Why can't I organise Belle's life?" said Lady Catherine, leading her daughter up the stairs.
"Because you can't!" said Anne, trying to think of some reasonable arguments that would actually penetrate into her mother's head. Unfortunately Anne could not think of any, well she might have been able to come up with some, but well the first person she saw upon entering Lady Upton's hallowed party was Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"Anne!" exclaimed the Colonel. "I thought you were not attending!"
Anne shook her head. "No we are merely very, very tardy!"
The Colonel laughed. "May I inquire as to the reason for your tardiness? I dare not suggest it was because you were too particular about your attire."
Anne levelled a look at the Colonel. "I am going to pretend I did not hear that."
The Colonel laughed.
Kitty was glad that the Duchess did not stick close to her once they returned to the rooms. Kitty just wanted to go sit quietly, by herself for a while. She did not want congratulations, she did not want pity, and she wanted time to collect her thoughts. She knew it was pointless to try and persuade her mother to leave the party, especially now that she could crow over three engagements.
Kitty found the most secluded sofa she could and sat down, morosely staring in front of herself.
Kitty noticed that a cup of punch was dangling in front of her. She groaned. Lord Holling.
She turned slightly as she spoke "Lord Hollin ---" her speech faltered when she realised it wasn't Lord Holling.
"Lord Ashbourne" she amended.
Ash moved around to the front of the sofa, and sat down next to Kitty and handed her the punch.
"I thought you might be in need of some refreshment."
Kitty looked down at the cup. "Thank you very much." She replied a little uncertainly.
"Have you by any chance read Shakespeare Miss Bennet?"
Kitty looked up confused. Shakespeare?
"Y-Yes."
"Did you know that there is a school of thought that thinks there wasn't actually a Shakespeare at all? That it was just a pseudonym?"
"No I didn't know that!" replied Kitty intrigued.
"Miles for example, is almost convinced that Shakespeare was really The Earl of Oxford. You should ask him to explain his theories to you someday."
Kitty smiled.
"And what do you think Ash?"
"What do I think? Well I think it some ways it doesn't matter who wrote the plays or the sonnets, it doesn't lessen their literary worth! But as for who Shakespeare was, I have no idea."
"Well it is true that it doesn't matter who wrote them, I think it is always good to attribute work to the right person, I mean they went to all that trouble of writing it!"
Ash smiled. "And what is your favourite play Miss Bennet?"
Kitty bit her lip.
"Shall I guess?" said Ash with a little arch of his eyebrow. Kitty gave a little laugh.
"Do you think you can guess my favourite play? I don't think you could."
"You don't? Well, now I really have to guess it! " Ash paused, "I have it! A Midsummer's Night's Dream."
Kitty's mouth dropped open. "How - how - did you guess."
Ash just took a sip of his punch and leant back on the sofa looking happy with himself.
"It was a lucky guess!" protested Kitty.
"Well could you guess my favourite Shakespeare play?"
Kitty looked at Ash. What would his favourite play be? She had read most of Shakespeare's plays, but her knowledge of them was rather vague, and she had to admit her knowledge of Ash was rather vague.
"I think....Richard III" replied Kitty.
Ash almost choked on his punch.
"Did I guess right??!!?" exclaimed Kitty.
"You certainly did!" replied Ash giving Kitty a winning smile.
Kitty took a sip of her punch, suddenly feeling much better
"Miss Bennet?"
"Sorry? Were you speaking to me?" said Kitty apologetically realising Ash had been trying to gain her attention.
"Yes, I was simply asking you if you had any other favourite authors or poets."
"Well, I don't read that much..." admitted Kitty rather sadly, "But I have read Pamela!"
Ash laughed.
Part Four.
Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame ~ Benjamin Franklin.
Annabelle clutched her glass of punch and thought rude things. She thought she had worked out who had overheard her, Maria; she was looking just a little too happy about things.
Annabelle had gathered from the strain between her grandmother and her companion, that Maria was very jealous of Kitty's relationship with the Duchess. It would just be like her to sabotage Kitty.
How had it been her fault if Maria was a jealous, petty individual? It wasn't. But it was her fault that Maria had been handed her ammunition. She knew that, and she didn't need Lord Miles "Uppity" Upton to tell her that. How dare he suggest she was worse than a wretch! If he hadn't have been fawning all over Kitty she wouldn't have felt the need to inform him of such a thing.
She swept herself into a forgotten corner of the house, unfortunately the only place downstairs that appeared to be empty was Miles' study. Annabelle didn't like the fact to be private about her anger at Miles; she had to go into his study, where she was just going to be more angered.
Annabelle just didn't understand why he had to be so rude and insufferable to her. She had tried to be nice to him, and well she had intended to apologise, but the way he was acting at the moment she knew if she apologised he would throw it in her face and she wasn't going to let him do that!
Annabelle sat down in his chair - she felt childishly elated. If he can be rude to me, I can rearrange his desk!
Annabelle reached for two parchments on Miles' desk intending to hide them under something, something fell out into her lap. It was an old sketch of her; it had been done as a series of pictures on her come out, it was the one she had given to Ash - who had obviously passed it on. Which he had no right to do thought Annabelle stormily.
She looked at parchments more closely. Where these meant to be about her?
IF women could be fair, and yet not fond,
To mark the choice they make, and how they change,
Yet for disport we fawn and flatter both,
Sonnet XCIV. By William Shakespeare.
THEY that have power to hurt and will do none
She read them again, pausing over several parts of each poem. Annabelle put them down and felt like screwing them up in her hands. They were so condemnatory, and the last lines of the Shakespeare:
How could that mean anything but what she had done to him? How cruel of him! Was he intending to show it to her?
Annabelle did not like the idea of Miles sitting in his study pouring over poems that were very much anti-female and anti-love. Especially that Shakespeare poem, even she could see how apt it was to her. That is, if one was to take a very harsh view of her.
""O what a fool were I!" Well at least he is obviously over it." Said Annabelle to herself, not a little sadly.
No she was not going to be sad, she was going to be angry. She didn't like that she had hurt Miles, but she did not have any intention of becoming like the female of the poems, and he should not have her sketch, or be using it as inspiration to find degrading poetry.
Annabelle took the parchments in her hands and rose from the desk.
She was about to push back the chair and walk from the room, when the door to the study opened and Miles himself walked in.
Miles checked himself on the threshold of the door, but after the pause, proceeded to walk into the room, closing the door behind him.
"Open that door immediately." Exclaimed Annabelle.
Miles looked confused. "What? Why?"
"It is highly improper of you to be alone with me in a shut room."
Miles raised an eyebrow. "Why so mindful of proprieties?"
"Since I could not trust myself around you."
It was to Miles' credit that his jaw did not drop to the floor with astonishment, nevertheless he did not entirely manage to contain his surprise.
Annabelle gasped. "That's NOT what I meant! I meant that I, if placed alone with you, would not be able to contain my anger. Your childish.... rude, insufferable behaviour to me.
Miles' jaw, still in danger of plummeting, managed to regain control of itself.
"My behaviour to you?" he exclaimed.
"You have been nothing but rude and insufferable to me, ever since I came to Brighton, if you were a gentleman-"
This was enough for Miles. "If you were a Lady Ma'am, I would not feel the urge to treat you in a fashion that you very wrongly call rude and insufferable. Do not forget it was your treatment of me, that as lead to what may be termed as a slight coolness between us."
" Slight Coolness! You have snapped at me every time I have met you."
"Perhaps if you did not feel the urge to make a mockery of me, I may not feel the compulsion to be nothing but formally polite to you."
"I have never made a mockery of you!" exclaimed Belle.
Miles gave her such a look, that she felt it necessary to hurry on. "I mean now in Brighton, of my former behaviour, I feel we should say nothing."
"Of course Ma'am we should say nothing of the behaviour of yourself, you I conclude are to be entirely blameless."
"I did not say I was blameless, I just say that I have been nothing but friendly to you since I realised my error. It did me no good to be so cruel to you and I am sorry for it, but I will not let you be so arrogant and vindictive towards me."
" Arrogant and vindictive?, I do not believe I have ever been either of those things in regard to you! I cannot recall that I have accused you of anything but that which you have admitted is true."
"You accused me of baselessly spreading the story of Kitty's engagement. "
"Well, you were the cause of it spreading, if you had not thought it right to announce it so openly to me, Miss Fulam would not have overheard. Why exactly did you feel it necessary to tell me about it?"
Annabelle fidgeted with the papers; she could not answer this question because she did not know the answer herself.
"I believed you should know, and I thought I could trust you."
"You thought you could trust me. What pray tell have I ever done to make you unwilling to trust me?"
"You have this." Said Annabelle calmly holding up the sketch of her.
Miles frowned. He strode over to stand closer by the desk.
"I was given that some time ago, you will return it to me."
"Really, given willingly to you? Or did you beg my brother for it?"
Miles' jaw tensed, but he did not respond.
"I bet you did beg for it, you are just the sort of. ...Sort of.... puppyish sort of man who would do such a thing! All you ever could do was waft about being helpful and to act as if you were in your dotage. It was disgusting, and you couldn't even tell that everyone was laughing at you."
Annabelle suddenly stopped. Oh why had she said that! She didn't mean to say that, it just sort of came out.
Miles in one fluid movement snatched the sketch out of her hands. Annabelle didn't try to fight for it.
"Of course, I should never have accepted this from your brother."
"No you shouldn't have." Replied Annabelle much quieter than before.
Annabelle looked downwards; she didn't know quite what to say. She looked up at the sound of tearing.
Miles was oh so very calmly tearing the sketch up. He flung the pieces on the table.
"There I no longer have it, are you happy?" He then quitted the room, not even slamming the door behind him.
But Annabelle was not happy, she was madder than before. How dare he just tear it up, in front of her like that! Still holding the poems, she flung out of the room after him.
Annabelle could not see where he had gone, so in a twirl of skirts she stormed to the nearest people, who were by chance Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lord Holling.
"Where is he?" she demanded of her brother.
"Where is who Belle? Gad you look as mad as fire. Who on earth has put you in such a pelter?"
"Miles." Said Annabelle between her teeth. "Now where did he go?"
"Annabelle you should not be calling Lord Upton, Miles." Chided Lord Holling.
Annabelle shot him a poisoness look. "Okay, Where did Lord Uppity go?"
Lord Holling looked shocked. " Anna - Belle!"
Colonel Fitzwilliam just laughed. "Miles went upstairs Belle."
"Right." Said Annabelle determinedly turning on her heel.
Lord Holling made to stop her, but Colonel Fitzwilliam stopped him. "Let her go Teddy, trust me on this we can't stop her."
"But But.... most improper...most improper!" exclaimed Lord Holling.
Annabelle ignored him and stomped up the stairs, she just randomly flung open doors on the upper levels, until she found the one that Miles had retired to.
Miles paced the floor trying not to think homicidal thoughts. He wanted to wring Belle's neck. She didn't just seem to be able to stop hurting him! But the whole thing was on the other hand quite laughable, the ridiculous things she had thrown at him, they were irrational and quite, quite absurd. Miles had no idea what she was talking about!
Miles almost choked on the nice brandy he had poured for himself when Annabelle burst into his bedchamber.
"How Dare you!"
"How Dare you!" exclaimed Miles back at her, considerably taken back that she would follow him all the way up to his bedchamber.
"Don't just repeat what I say, answer my question."
"Well considering I have no idea of what you are talking!"
Annabelle took a huge breath. "I am talking of the fact that you have the audacity to tear up my sketch."
Miles looked confused "Isn't that what you wanted me to do?"
"It does not matter what I wished for you to do, it was the manner in which it was accomplished. I know you think very little of me, but you need not treat me in such a fashion."
"Such a fashion!"
"Yes, you seem to think you can use the fact that I was less than polite to you last season, as a carte blanche to treat me abominably. You know what it means when you treat me in such a cavalier fashion in public and you are even more scathing when no one can over hear!"
"Annabelle you are like a spoiled little child. The truth is you don't want any of your admirers to stop admiring you because you have this warped notion that the amount of admirers you have measures your importance."
Annabelle glared at him. "How dare you call me a spoiled child? You are the one scouring poetic works to find apt poetry about me. Where you intending to read them in public to discomfort me?"
Miles gave Annabelle a quizzical look. "Poetical works?"
"Are you going to plead innocence?!" said Annabelle furious.
"I think I will have to plead innocence, I have no idea what you are talking of. I have told you before that your logic never fails to astound me."
"Are you insulting my mental capacities?"
"Am I insulting your mental Capacities? Do you think that is what I'm doing?"
"I bet that is what you think, that all females have weak minds and stony hearts."
"I know many women with stronger minds than me, as for the stony hearts....."
"How dare you."
"Could we not start that again!" exclaimed Miles starting to become exasperated.
"You find this poetry, and you do not have the decency to admit to me that you had decided they aptly fitted me? You cannot deny it because I found my sketch between them!"
"If I knew what blasted poetry you were talking about, I may be able to defend myself. But you don't seem to like to let a man defend himself."
Annabelle threw the two documents at him. Miles caught them up, briefly looked them over and broke into a broad smile.
Catching the look on Annabelle's face, the smile erupted into a laugh that quickly took over Miles' entire body. He ended up having to sit down in one of his fireside chairs to try and control himself.
Miles caught her hand easily by the wrist, still holding onto it he slowly unfolded himself from the chair, his laughter forgotten or at least contained. He was a tall man; he towered over Belle and looked harshly down on her.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Annabelle wrenched her hand away from him and strode to the other side of the room. She paused back to him for minute before whirling around to hurl more abuse at him.
"I'm not a festering Lily whatever you might think."
Miles looked at her, most of his anger had dissolved when he realised what spin she had placed on the reason for those poems being on his desk.
"I do not believe I ever stated you were a festering lily." Replied Miles calmly.
"I am not someone who goes around doing wrong. I am fair and I'm not a fool."
"Of Course not." Said Miles again in a calm voice.
Annabelle could have thrown something at him.
"Don't patronise me! Don't you have any feelings? You never show them. You are always so damnably polite, I bet it just hides the fact you have no emotions! Any emotions you feign are just to throw everyone off the scent. Otherwise they will realise what a heartless cruel beast you really are.'
Miles just looked at her.
"You and Miss Smart will do well together, you have no emotions and she has no brains!"
Annabelle kicked the nearest chair, causing a stack of papers to slide onto the floor. Why didn't he say something??? Surprisingly this last wild statement did elicit a response from Miles.
"What do you mean about Miss Smart and I going well together."
"Well it is obvious that you are going to marry her, your mother said so." Retorted Annabelle.
"You listen to gossip too much." Replied Miles rather bitterly.
"Yes, and in this case I think it is a well suited match and I for one will promote it heartily."
"You will damn well not."
"Why shouldn't I?"
"You just never know when to stay out of things do you? Ash tells me you are still being Miss Matchmaker, a pure fluke that Darcy and Miss Elizabeth sorted themselves out. You could have done much harm there, if you had been given a greater chance. And now you think you can help ruin my life... again? Damn you no thank you!!"
"How dare you say such things of me? I maybe a matchmaker, but I discriminate, I only help couples that are in love, or obviously well suited, and I do help. Many of my friends from school are happily married now, because of me."
"And can I list the ones that had unhappy experiences in love first, due to you, before they found love themselves. Love that you decided to claim as being fostered by yourself?"
"I did create those matches, you are just jealous, because whenever you try and help you just interfere."
"Interfere - I didn't think you knew the meaning of that word. I was sure that you were transplanting the meaning of interfere under the heading of Help. "
"You are just itching to insult me on every level aren't you." Sneered Annabelle.
"I cannot help it if you leave yourself open to insult on every level." Said Miles about two seconds before his brain told him to shut up. He shut his mouth firmly after being betrayed into this un-gentleman like utterance.
"Well at least you admit how low your opinion is of me." Said Annabelle with a strong voice, before whirling out of the room.
Miles took a deep breath and recovered his glass of brandy from where he had put it on the floor, as he had sunk into the chair laughing. He gulped it down. He looked a picture of complete calm. He looked unruffled by the event that had just unfolded. Thus his next action would have surprised an observer. Miles fist clenched around the glass and it shattered under the pressure.
His Mother frowned. "I collect you mean I should invite people such as Lord Ashbourne and Colonel Fitzwilliam."
Or that their love were firm, not fickle still,
I would not marvel that they make men bond
By service long to purchase their good will;
But when I see how frail those creatures are,
I muse that men forget themselves so far.
How oft from Phoebus they do flee to Pan;
Unsettled still, like haggards wild they range,
These gentle birds that fly from man to man;
Who would not scorn and shake them from the fist,
And let them fly, fair fools, which way they list?
To pass the time when nothing else can please,
And train them to our lure with subtle oath,
Till, weary of their wiles, ourselves we ease;
And then we say when we their fancy try,
To play with fools, O what a fool was I!
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow;
They rightly do inherit heaven's graces, 5
And husband nature's riches from expense;
They are the lords and owners of their faces,
Others but stewards of their excellence.
The summer's flower is to the summer sweet,
Though to itself it only live and die, 10
But if that flower with base infection meet,
The basest weed outbraves his dignity:
For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.
"For Sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds; Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds."
How dare he laugh at me. Thought Annabelle hotly. She marched over towards his chair quite ready to slap him.
© 2000, 2001 Copyright held by the author.