Beginning , Section II, Section III

Chapter 7

Posted on Friday, 2 July 2004

Kitty felt as if she could do no wrong that evening as she waltzed into Almack’s in Lady Catherine’s wake. Lord Heatherly had called on Anne earlier that day, bringing Sir Justin Evers with him, and that gentleman had paid marked attention to Georgiana. Everything was going according to plan.

But now they faced an even bigger challenge – seeing if the mothers of these hardened rakes actually believed their sons were interested in a couple of females in earnest.

The colonel was engaged elsewhere that evening, which was fine with Kitty. She and Georgiana had received blistering lectures from him the day before, not that Kitty let it spoil her mood. Even Georgiana seemed to think it uncalled for. After all, she had told her cousin, they did no more than converse with the gentlemen, and Anne only agreed to dance once with Lord Kenneth. It wasn’t a marriage proposal, for goodness’ sake.

Lord Litchcombe approached first, and asked Lady Catherine to dance. Kitty hid a smile behind her fan as that lady protested, but Lady Litchcombe appeared and said she would be more than happy to sit with the young ladies. Lady Catherine could only nod and allow herself to be led out for a very stately quadrille.

Introductions were made between the baroness and the other young ladies. Lady Litchcombe settled back and began entertaining them with one of the latest on-dits when Sir Justin Evers greeted everyone with a bow.

"Are you engaged for this dance, Miss Darcy?"

Georgiana blushed and tried to stammer out a reply when Lady Litchcombe interrupted.

"Miss Darcy is much in demand this evening, Justin, with many of her dances already spoken for. However, because you are such a darling man, I believe this one, which happens to be open, may be given to you. Next time, please ask the young lady in advance. It does one’s consequence good to have all the dances spoken for before one arrives."

Georgiana shot the baroness a grateful smile and went off happily enough on Sir Justin’s arm.

"Give my regards to your mother, Justin, if I do not run into her this evening Lady Litchcombe called after them.

Lord Heatherly was next, and when he declared himself more than willing to sit this dance out with Miss de Bourgh while she waited for her dance with Lord Kenneth, Lady Litchcombe insisted he take her for a turn about the rooms instead.

"I am sure Miss de Bourgh wishes to make the acquaintance of your sister…"

Once they were alone, Lady Litchcombe tried to finish her on-dit, but Lord Kenneth Moore and an older gentleman who could only be his uncle or father, by the looks of him, approached.

"Lord Kenneth! Your grace!" Lady Litchcombe stood this time and gave each of them her hand. "You are just in time, Kenneth, to dance with Miss Bennet. You see, Roylston, I am doing my duty as a chaperone, finding acceptable partners for young ladies."

"Careful, Chloe, lest you find yourself mistaken for a debutante," the duke said gallantly. Lady Litchcombe blushed like a schoolgirl, but Kitty did not hear what else was said, as Lord Kenneth led her out onto the floor.

"Those two have long been friends," he said with a smile, "and now they are both widowed. Litchcombe said you could keep a secret, but it is no mystery that he and I would like to see those two married to each other."

Kitty flushed at the though of Lord Litchcombe trusting her.

"I do not know your father, but the baroness is delightful."

"Yes, and deserves happiness. Her late husband was not a kind man, but my father is a pleasant gentleman and has been alone since my mother died." A shadow flickered briefly across his face. "They were devoted to each other, but he deserves every happiness and she is a darling."

"Then they should be perfect for each other."

"We just have to place them together more often," Lord Kenneth said. "To that end, I have asked my father to have a dinner party for her, and I wish to invite your household. Do you think Lady Catherine will agree?"

Kitty frowned. "There would have to be some reason for her to… If I think of one, I shall let you know."

"Thank you, Miss Bennet. I have no doubt something will occur to you. Litchcombe says you are as clever as you are pretty."

Kitty flushed again, but accepted the compliment and wondered what else Litchcombe had said.

Caroline Morris-Smeeth stood in a corner of the room, fending off invitations to dance while she watched Litchcombe.

First, he partnered Lady Catherine de Bourgh. That had caught her attention and she wondered why such a handsome, virile man was dancing with that old prune. The fact that the old bat had once called Caroline a jumped-up mushroom fairly reeking of trade had nothing to do with that observation, of course.)

At least Litchcombe wasn’t dancing with… Wait a moment…

The second dance had begun – a waltz – and the baron was dancing with Miss Bennet! How dare that little upstart continue to monopolize her would-be lover!

An acquaintance, Lady Merrivale, stopped to chat, looking out over the dancers as she did.

"Litchcombe seems to be taken with Miss Bennet," she noted. Caroline saw red.

"He should!" she retorted. "They were locked in the Chinese Room at Lady Teaberry’s ball for more than half an hour!"

Lady Merrivale looked at Caroline with interest. "Compromised? How droll!"

"Did you understand what I just said, Serena?"

"I heard you, Caroline. And if you are worried that I might not spread that little tidbit around, don't be. It’s too juicy not to share."

Caroline relaxed and watched Lady Merrivale trip off to distribute the news.

Georgiana was having a wonderful time. After dancing with Sir Justin, she had been introduced to his family, which included a mother, younger brother and two sisters.

She was taken aback somewhat when Lady Evers looked her over like a horse at auction, but afterwards she was declared a sweet girl and was asked to dance by Mr. Evers. She had just been returned to Lady Evers when a friend of Miss Evers’ sat down and began to tell them all an on-dit about a Miss Bennet. She had been compromised by Lord Litchcombe at Lady Teaberry’s ball, and they were seen dancing together this evening at the assembly, but announcement had been forthcoming. What cheek!

Georgiana blanched and even Sir Justin turned a little green around the gills.

"I’ll just return Miss Darcy to her aunt," he said hastily, rising at the same time as Georgiana.

"I don’t believe it!" she said over and over again as they made their way back to Lady Catherine. "In fact, I know it is not true! We were together all evening, except for a few moments when my cousin and I left the Chinese Room together and she followed, but went a separate way. Lord Litchcombe was not there, as I recall."

"There must be an explanation, then," Sir Justin said soothingly. "We’ll just find Litchcombe and…"

They reached a grim-looking Lady Catherine and could tell by that lady’s expression that she had been told.

Anne sat a dance out with Lord Heatherly, danced the waltz with Lord Kenneth and was claimed after that once more by the marquess. Afterwards, he returned her to her mother, who was sitting with his own parent. Lady Heatherly was beaming, as if Miss de Bourgh was already a member of the family.

Anne smiled and played her part as best she could, but she could not help but wish it were someone else by her side. The revelation made her sway in a slight swoon with the relief that afforded, and Lord Heatherly became immediately concerned.

"You may escort Anne to the refreshments," Lady Catherine ordered, and her daughter went gratefully with the marquess. Even Almack’s tepid lemonade sounded good at that moment. Her only regret was that a certain someone was not there to tease her about Almack’s infamous beverages.

"You are far away," Lord Heatherly said gently as he handed her a cup.

"I… I was thinking of someone."

"A special someone?"

Anne nodded. "Forgive me for not paying you more attention?"

"There is nothing to forgive. Sometimes we have no control over those we…"

"Love?"

Lord Heatherly’s smile was wistful. "Yes."

Anne looked at him more shrewdly than before. "Is she here in town?"

"No, she lives at Heatherly, and she is not of our social class, not that I care. She is the one who is refusing me – she is my steward’s daughter." He gave a bark of humorless laughter. "The irony of it all is that my late father had no objection to the union."

Anne’s eyes grew round. Imagine one’s parent unconcerned with status.

"Sometimes it is better to lessen one’s pride and reach for happiness instead."

"My thoughts exactly, but my mother does not know of the situation and would make Miss Downey’s life miserable should we wed."

"I hope you may one day find the joy you seek," Anne said sincerely. She turned away and found herself face to face with a hurt-looking Mr. Bromley.

"You did not take long to replace me," he said meanly. Anne turned white.

"I believe you replaced me in less time than that, sir."

"Won’t you introduce me?" Lord Heatherly asked politely. Anne nodded and tersely acquainted the two gentlemen.

"I suggest you apologize to the lady, Bromley."

"This lady has accepted my declarations of affection, but since coming to town has rejected me because I am not wealthy enough for her," he said loudly, attracting undue attention. "Why should I? I am the one who has been replaced in her affections." Anne moved away from him – this side of her former beau scared her.

"Because if you do not, I shall do this." Without hesitation, Lord Heatherly punched Mr. Bromley in the face, sending him sprawling across the table. Liquids spilled and cake flew. Several ladies had to dig food out of their décolletages, and others complained about wet spots on their gowns. Mr. Bromley looked up from his perch next to a punch bowl to see Lady Jersey bending over and berating him for ruining the assembly.

Lord Heatherly turned his back on the pair and offered to escort Anne back to Lady Catherine. They were immediately waylaid by a young lady the marquess introduced as his sister, Lady Sarah.

"Did you hear the news about your great friend Lord Litchcombe?" Lady Sarah asked her brother snidely. He paused. She was going to tell him whether he liked it or not. "This rake that you put so much stock into is living up to his name! It seems he compromised a young lady days ago at the Teaberry ball and hasn’t done a thing about it. Poor Miss Bennet! What if there are already interesting developments?"

Lord Heatherly and Anne looked at each other in alarm. They had to get to Lady Catherine to keep her from hearing the news. When they reached her mother, however, Kitty and Litchcombe, Georgiana and Sir Justin were there, and the heightened color on Lady Catherine’s face spoke volumes. Kitty sat with her head down, not looking at anyone.

"We shall be leaving now," her mother said sharply. "You will call on Miss Bennet early tomorrow," Litchcombe was told.

He nodded, turned on his heel and stalked off into the crowd. His friends quickly followed.

Chapter 8

Posted on Wednesday, 14 July 2004

When Kitty came home from the assembly, she was sure she would be up half the night worrying about Lord Litchcombe, how such a rumor started and what the morrow would bring. Instead, she changed quickly into her nightclothes and went right off to sleep.

She was much less confident the next morning, fretting that Litchcombe would call and propose; concerned that he might not call at all and instead leave her ruined beyond anything her sister Lydia had done; and afraid she would get shipped back to Longbourn and never see Litchcombe again.

When the baron did call, it was early and he had brought his mother with him. Kitty blinked in surprise when she entered the drawing room and found herself folded in that kind lady’s arms.

"Don’t worry about a thing, dear. Cameron has it all worked out."

Kitty glanced shyly at him and when he returned her look with a warm one of his own, she relaxed.

Lady Catherine was tense, however, as she sat in her throne-like chair and proceeded to lament the deplorable lack of morals in young people.

"Litchcombe has something particular to say to you, Miss Bennet," she finally said. "You may have fifteen minutes in the blue salon."

Georgiana and Anne, who had been summoned to help entertain Lady Litchcombe, gave Kitty encouraging smiles as she went past them on the baron’s arm.

"First of all," Lady Litchcombe said as soon as her son and future daughter were out of the room, "Miss Bennet was never compromised by my son." She went on to explain what had occurred at the Teaberry Ball, and her story was so sincere, she convinced even Lady Catherine that Miss Bennet had been a victim of circumstance and a vindictive tattlemonger.

"Caroline!" Georgiana exclaimed, putting two thoughts together in an uncharacteristic outburst.

"I am not surprised," Lady Catherine said with a sniff.

"What will Fitzwilliam say?" Georgiana added with a moan.

"If he is this Fitzwilliam, he would rush over as soon as he heard and ask Miss Bennet to marry him," the colonel said from the doorway. "I should have known that Litchcombe would…"

Lady Litchcombe coughed discreetly so he would know she was present, and he had the grace to blush.

"I beg your pardon, my lady. I… what the devil are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same," she said impishly, "but you have already informed us. Aren’t I allowed to be one of the first to welcome my future daughter to the family?"

"Um, er… yes, I suppose so, my lady, but…"

"Yes?" she asked sweetly.

The colonel looked anywhere but at the baroness, and his gaze alighted on Anne. "I have some personal news for Anne, Aunt Catherine. Might we be excused for a moment?"

Lady Catherine raised one eyebrow and nodded regally, but her expression said she was to be told the whole upon their return. With a bow for the company of ladies, Fitzwilliam and Anne left the room. By unspoken agreement they went to his mother’s conservatory, long one of his favorite spots.

"I had heard of this room for years, but was deemed too ill to journey to London. I have spent many hours in it since," Anne said. "I must write to my aunt and compliment…"

"Miss Farnham has jilted Mr. Bromley," he said suddenly, finding no good way to introduce the information into the conversation.

"Oh?" Anne replied with an unconcerned air, but her hands, just reaching for a rose, began to shake. She unsteadily grabbed the stem and pierced her thumb with a thorn. She gave a small cry.

"Have you hurt yourself?" The colonel instantly produced a handkerchief and wrapped it tenderly about her hand.

"Thank you," Anne whispered and blushed. He was still holding her hand. "About Mr. Bromley…" she said in a soft voice.

"He was your first love?"

"No, not my first. Darcy wasn’t either, if you could even call that love. I had an affection for him, being a cousin, but it was never love. No, he is very happy where he is, and I am glad for him. I’m glad for Mr. Bromley, too."

"For being jilted?"

Anne nodded and giggled. "You should have seen how Lord Heatherly defended my honor last night at… ow!"

The colonel, none to happy to be hearing this, squeezed her hand tight.

"I beg your pardon, Anne. May I ask how your honor needed to be defended?"

"You may. Mr. Bromley accosted me and suggested I was the one who jilted him. Lord Heatherly took offense, as did I, of course. You know no such thing occurred. At any rate, Lord Heatherly did exactly what I wish I could have done – hit him in the face. He sent him sprawling across Almack’s famous refreshments."

"I should have been there to defend you myself!" he exclaimed, filled with dread thinking his cousin might even now have switched allegiance to Heatherly.

Anne lay her other hand on top of their intertwined ones.

"I wish it had been you as well, cousin."

"Anne?" He looked down into her brown eyes and realized she was looking extremely healthy these days.

"Fitzwilliam?"

He dropped her hands and coughed uncomfortably. "May I ask you a personal question?"

Her smile was tender. "You may ask me anything."

"Have you truly been ill all these years?"

Anne blushed. "Not exactly, but most of them, yes. A couple of years ago, though, I met one of our tenants while I was out for a drive, an old wise woman who thought I might not have healthy blood. She gave me a horrid tonic that I refused to take once I returned home. It would still be sitting on a shelf if I had not accidentally taken some of it some day, mistaking it for something else. It was horrid, yes, but I felt better the next morning and did not require my usual nap. I continued to take the tonic and continued to feel better, but I also came to realize I did not wish to marry Darcy, so Mrs. Jenkinson and I began to cover my pink cheeks with a rather pasty cream. I could not let mother know the truth, and I could not let Mrs. Jenkinson become unemployed." She paused a moment and smiled.

"When Darcy married Miss Bennet, I was more than relieved. Then I met Mr. Bromley."

"Where did you meet?"

"In Hunsford village. I had stopped at the greengrocer’s for an apple, tripped on the uneven floor and was caught by him."

"Very romantic," the colonel said dryly.

"Oh, prodigiously," Anne sarcastically replied. She wondered if he ever noticed Mr. Bromley was not dissimilar in coloring or looks to himself. Those were the main reasons she had been attracted to the man. "I was flattered by his attentions, of course. No one else had ever shown me such romantic interest." She looked at him intently, daring him to dispute that fact.

"Well, er…"

Anne looked even closer at the colonel and saw something there that pleased her. She moved in a little closer. "Then I met Heatherly. He’s ever so handsome and quite eligible…"

"He is far from eligible and he will never make you a respectable offer. A man like that will take what he wants and leave you behind with the consequences. But he will never marry you."

"What if I do not wish to marry him! What if I said I’d rather marry someone else?"

"If it is one of those rakes of Litchcombe’s, you would be better off forgetting him."

"It is not one of those rakes of Litchcombe’s and if you can’t tell whom it is, you may just leave right now!" She crossed her arms and turned her back on him.

The colonel stood and stared at her back a moment, fascinated with the tiny dark hairs falling out of her coiffure. He thought he was beginning to understand…

Coming up behind her, he put his hands on her shoulders and his mouth directly behind her right ear. "Why didn’t you say something sooner, dear heart?" he whispered.

Anne stood her ground, but a small smile hovered on her lips. "Why didn’t you?"

"Because I am a fool, and a blind one at that. But I have known for a while, darling Anne, that I had finally found the lady I wanted – and under my own nose all these years."

"I don’t know whom you are talking about."

He turned her around so that she faced him, putting her arms about his neck and his arms around her waist. "Don’t you?" he asked before bringing his lips down to hers.

Anne started to protest, but was too involved in kissing him back to worry whether or not she had punished him long enough.

"What is your mother going to say about this?" he wondered with a sigh, breaking reluctantly away. Anne’s answering grin was impish.

"Let us not tell her until we are certain we’ve both been thoroughly kissed…"

They were both very pleased with that suggestion.

In another room, Kitty was facing off against Lord Litchcombe.

"I assume you know why I am here," he said without preamble.

"Yes." Kitty was not happy about this entire situation, but she knew neither of them had any choice. However, she felt keenly that her family would instantly compare her to Lydia, and that she could not bear. She had worked hard to remove what she had come to perceive as her sister’s taint. Lydia was a fool, but now Kitty knew herself to be no better.

Who in the world other than the colonel, Georgiana and Lord Litchcombe himself knew she had been in that room at the Teaberry ball? Only Litchcombe knew they had been in there but briefly together. Now they stood staring at each other, neither one eager to speak.

"I am not pleased with this turn of events," Lord Litchcombe finally said. Kitty frowned. What did he mean by that?

"Perhaps you could explain yourself, my lord?" she asked in a sugary voice that did not fool either of them.

Lord Litchcombe must have realized the awfulness of his words, because he apologized.

"I should have said, Miss Bennet, that this is not exactly how I envisioned our relationship would progress."

Kitty eyed him warily. "Oh? And how exactly did you envision it, my lord?"

Lord Litchcombe closed the distance between them and took one of her hands in his.

"I won’t deny I have had one eye on the future from our first meeting," he admitted, his thumb caressing the top of her hand. Distracted, she was having a difficult time comprehending his words.

"Oh?" It was all she could think to say. Besides, her foggy mind said, he was here to propose to her. All she had to do was accept, or not. There really was not much thinking that had to be done on her part, not on what to say, at any rate.

"Yes – I like you very much, Miss Bennet, and I think you like me, too." Litchcombe led her over to a settee and when she was seated, he placed himself at her side.

"I am not immune to your charms, Lord Litchcombe," Kitty said rather primly, and the baron chuckled.

"I am pleased to hear that, Miss Bennet, as we shall be spending quite a bit of time together."

"Oh? I was unaware that our combined future included actually spending time together, my lord," Kitty could not help but reply. "Indeed, it has been my observation of other couples that they spend as little time as possible together." Her own parents came to mind and she conveniently forgot the closeness of her elder sisters and their husbands.

"That is not exactly the way I think it should go…" Lord Litchcombe said. He would have continued, but the door opened and in strode Mr. Darcy. From the look on his face, he had already had an accounting of the situation from someone.

"I would speak with you, Litchcombe. Now."

Chapter 9

Posted on Tuesday, 10 August 2004

"Mr. Darcy!" Kitty gasped. "What are you doing in London?" To say she was shocked by his arrival, when everyone had him placed firmly at Pemberley, was an understatement. Especially since she was sitting alone and rather intimately with Lord Litchcombe, who was about to propose.

"I am come to London on business," her sister’s husband calmly replied. "And when I called a few moments ago to enquire after everyone, I was given some very interesting information." His tone was neither enthusiastic nor judgmental, and for that Kitty was grateful.

Mr. Darcy glanced at Lord Litchcombe. "Will you excuse us?" he asked Kitty.

"But…" She had not even had a chance to accept anything!

"Katherine…" Mr. Darcy warned and fixed her with a steely glare.

Kitty was not pleased with this high-handed action, but she knew better than to argue – when someone used her full name it was serious. She nodded and quit the room.

She would have gone straight back to Lady Catherine, if only to help entertain Lady Litchcombe, but Georgiana and Anne were there, so instead she wandered about the house wondering exactly how his lordship would have worded that proposal. Would he have used "love" in his offer, or would he have chosen words such as "duty" or "honor"?

She stopped in several empty rooms before reaching the conservatory, but one glance in there showed Anne was not in the drawing room as expected. Nor was she alone. And by the looks of things, there was at least one proposal and engagement in the air. With a smile she left Anne to the tender ministrations of the colonel.

If Anne and her cousin were to make a match of it, Kitty realized, it could prove exciting to be in the same room as Lady Catherine when it was announced. She made a beeline for the drawing room, where her ladyship was telling Lady Litchcombe how the younger woman would like meeting Mrs. Darcy. Georgiana was hiding a smile as she bowed over her needlework.

She looked up when Kitty came into the room, and her startled glance flew to the door. Her brows knit in consternation when she realized Kitty was alone.

"Did you know my brother has called?"

"Oh, yes," Kitty said dryly. "I have seen him, as well. He and Lord Litchcombe are having a discussion."

"And what did they…"

Lady Catherine’s shrill voice cut into their conversation. "Have you accepted him, Miss Bennet? Of course you have. And if you have not, it would not make a bit of difference. It is all a mere formality at this point," she added, not waiting for a reply. "I shall have Darcy put the announcement in the papers. I think the nuptials should take place as soon as possible, but not too soon, because there really is no reason to hurry things. Is there, Miss Bennet?"

Kitty shook her head and Lady Catherine droned on about arrangements. At least Lady Litchcombe seemed sympathetic to her cause. On her way out a few minutes later, after they had all been informed by a servant that the two gentlemen were going to White’s, she squeezed Kitty’s hand.

"Meet me in the small park in the center of the square in fifteen minutes. Feel free to bring Miss Darcy with you."

Kitty gave her future mother-in-law a fleeting smile.

Darcy waited until they were settled in front of a fire at their men’s club before continuing the subject at hand. He was not quite sure what he would hear from Litchcombe, and a public place such as the club, where one was required to remain civil, suited his purpose better than having a possible argument at Lady Catherine’s.

"I have heard my aunt’s account of the matter, but I should like to hear yours."

"Very well," Lord Litchcombe agreed, sensing the anger underneath the other gentleman’s calm façade and knowing exactly at whom it was aimed. "I attended Lady Teaberry’s ball recently, where I had arranged to meet a certain lady in the Chinese Room."

"Miss Bennet?"

"Er, no. A Mrs. Morris-Smeeth, to be exact," he truthfully answered.

"I see." Darcy’s eyebrow rose a notch at the mention of that certain lady, but he kept his own counsel for the moment.

"However, I was forced to hide in a cabinet when the next arrivals were three people instead of one person. Colonel Fitzwilliam came in with Miss Darcy and Miss Bennet."

"Indeed, I cannot imagine what they were doing there. Pray enlighten me. I’ve no doubt you heard every word."

Lord Litchcombe nodded. "Miss de Bourgh had been jilted by a gentleman and Miss Bennet had a scheme to restore the lady’s confidence."

Darcy paused. Anne? Jilted? With a flick of his hand he bid the other man to continue.

"Miss Bennet wished to attract a few gentlemen known for their rakish behavior to the side of Miss de Bourgh, considering it rather harmless. The men would not be hanging out for wives, and Miss de Bourgh was in no condition to consider marriage."

"It seems I shall be having a word with Miss Bennet about her ideas," Darcy said.

Litchcombe chuckled. "Actually, it was a good plan. My friends have made their female relations happy without any real attachments on their part, and Miss de Bourgh and Miss Darcy have been willing accomplices."

"Miss Darcy?" That lady’s brother had appeared calm and relaxed, but now he came to full attention.

"Yes, sir. Miss Darcy has attracted some attention in all of this, but she appears to be as detached as the gentlemen."

"Miss Darcy has some explaining to do, as well. But continue your story, please," Darcy said smoothly. Litchcombe picked up the thread of it once again.

"While your three relatives were in the Chinese Room, there was a knock at the door and Mrs. Morris-Smeeth was heard, wondering why she was being denied entrance. After she left, everyone else quit the room and I came out of the cabinet. I did not see anyone as I made my way back to the ballroom. I was intrigued, however, by Miss Bennet’s scheme, not to mention her person, and have been a fellow conspirator ever since."

"And now you must marry her, according to my aunt and your mother. She has agreed to this?"

Litchcombe blurted out an expletive and started to his feet. "I was trying to ask her when you walked in!"

"Sit down," Darcy commanded. "She is not going anywhere. You may speak to her again when we return," the baron was assured. Litchcombe sat back down.

"When did the gossip begin concerning you and Miss Bennet?" Darcy wondered.

"Last evening at Almack’s. I can’t help but think someone has been waiting for the right moment with all this. How would they know about Lady Teaberry’s ball if they weren’t there and not say anything until now? The only other person even near the Chinese Room during those few moments was…"

The two gentlemen seemed to have the thought at the same time. "Caroline!"

Kitty was wracking her brain, trying to think of a way out of the house, when Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam returned to the drawing room. They were holding hands.

"Mama…" Anne began, but her mother had already noticed the familiarity between the two cousins.

"What is this?" she demanded.

"My cousin and I are engaged, Mama."

"Oh? And I suppose you are expecting to receive my permission?" Lady Catherine asked in the most haughty of tones.

"Actually, no, Aunt Catherine," the colonel replied. "Anne is of age, after all. However, we would like your blessing."

Kitty cleared her throat to gain Georgiana’s attention, but that young lady was already heading toward the door. Kitty all but ran as well, thinking she didn’t want to be there to hear the rest of this after all. They left the happy couple glaring at Lady Catherine.

"Would you like to take in some fresh air with me?" Kitty asked when they were safely out in the hall.

"I would be delighted," Georgiana said with no little relief.

Once clad in their outerwear, the two left the house and walked across the street to the park.

"Well, my dears," Lady Litchcombe said as she joined them in the park, "how did you find Lady Catherine upon your departure from the house?"

Kitty giggled. "In the process of gaining a nephew for a son. I have no doubt the colonel will stand his ground and take the day."

"Excellent! And did you have an interesting chat with my son earlier today, Miss Bennet?"

"Not exactly…" Kitty said with a frown.

The countess nodded in understanding. "He can be rather dominating, can’t he? Did you accept his offer?"

"Not exactly…"

"You have refused him?" the baroness exclaimed. Georgiana gasped.

"I have not accepted Lord Litchcombe because he has not yet made an offer!" Kitty hotly replied. "What if he never…" she said, close to tears.

"Nonsense!" Lady Litchcombe had already recovered from her surprise and her response was brisk. "You shall get your offer, Miss Bennet. And in the meantime, I doubt you two wish to return to the house. Since your mother is not present to help you with such things as a trousseau, let us go shopping. We need to get you a special gown for your wedding!"

"But…"

"People will say you had to get married, Miss Bennet, but I do not want them to say you went to your wedding in an old or borrowed gown." She was only half serious, but she had to get Kitty to agree somehow. The girl needed a distraction and Lady Litchcombe was determined to take her under her wing. Especially when she had yet to face Mr. Darcy. The baroness had no doubt he would be a tougher nut to crack than Lady Catherine.

Georgiana linked an arm with Kitty. "Let’s go shopping," she said softly.

Kitty could not deny Georgiana and asked one of her ladyship’s footmen to run a message into the house as to their whereabouts – Bond Street.

While the gentlemen sat at White’s, they were hailed by Lord Heatherly. If he was surprised to see Mr. Darcy in town, he did not say a word.

"Cam! I have the most excellent idea! Good to see you, Darcy," he added before turning back to his friend. "I have found the perfect reason to have a dinner party. Your engagement!" He stood there with a smile on his face, waiting for his friend to agree. "In fact, I am going to ask your mother to be the hostess."

"That is a fine idea," Cameron said. "But Miss Bennet and I…"

"Would be delighted to have a dinner in their honor," Darcy finished for him. "In fact, the entire family will be pleased to attend. You may send invitations to Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam and myself. Miss Bennet and Miss Darcy will be moving tomorrow into my townhouse."

"I shall call on your mother this very afternoon!" Heatherly said, as if pleased to have his life so smoothly laid out for him and bounced off, no doubt eager to put his plans in motion.

To Cameron’s complete surprise, Darcy laughed at the retreating back of his friend.

"He reminds me of a close friend of mine – Mr. Bingley. Have you met him? I believe you have met his sisters," he said when Cameron shook his head. "Mrs. Hurst and Mrs. Morris-Smeeth."

Cameron felt the blood drain from his face. How close a friend was Mr. Darcy to Mr. Bingley?

"I’m certain you will get to meet Mr. Bingley soon enough. His wife will see to that."

"Oh?"

Darcy’s grin was rather smug and for the first time that day, Cameron felt trapped by this entire situation.

"Mrs. Bingley, as well as my own wife, of course, is one of Miss Bennet’s elder sisters."

Chapter 10

Posted on Sunday, 19 September 2004

When the baron and Mr. Darcy returned to the house, Lord Litchcombe was informed that his mother had taken Miss Bennet and Miss Darcy off to Bond Street. Because he had been planning on tendering a proposal on his return, he felt rather disappointed. Miss Bennet was supposed to be waiting, dash it all! Without even stopping to pay his respects to Lady Catherine, he departed.

Darcy, feeling as if he had lost a buffer of sorts, went in to greet his aunt alone, only to find her arguing with her daughter and nephew - who wished to be married?

"Darcy! You are just in time to tell Mama that Fitzwilliam and I should have her blessing."

Darcy was rather amazed at the transformation of his quiet, sickly cousin, who was now ordering him about as she never would have done before. The colonel sat calmly off to one side and allowed his future wife to handle the discussion, much to Darcy's amusement.

"Why should she have any objections?" he asked as if his aunt were not in the room.

"I have no idea," Anne replied in the same vein. "After all, the money and estate stay in the family, just as she has always wished it to."

"That is true."

"You will dine with us this evening?" she asked.

"I would be delighted, cousin." Sensing he could now make his escape before his aunt, who was turning beet red, could give full vent to her feelings, he said he would return later and went home to write a couple of letters. The first would be to Elizabeth and it would be quite full of news.

Kitty was not pleased, either, when she returned home to learn Lord Litchcombe had asked for her. After all, she had only been off fingering materials, being measured and dreaming too much of the proposal she had been so sure of receiving from him. But what if it had not been his intention to make some passionate declaration? What if he had been about to make a dry request, one that did not appeal to her romantic sensibilities?

She sat on a sofa, refused a glass of sherry and managed to talk herself into settling for a one-sided marriage.

Once Mr. Darcy arrived and everyone had been called to dinner, she had worked her way up to being the mother of two children and living with them in the country while her husband conducted a separate life in town.

"You are much too quiet this evening, Miss Bennet," Lady Catherine snapped halfway through the fish course. She seemed disgruntled, still, that her daughter had managed to become betrothed without any interference from her whatsoever.

"I am certain the gentlemen will forgive us if you tell me where you went shopping today."

"We went to Mrs. Duval's," Kitty said softly. "To order some bridal clothes."

"I hope you had the good sense to have the bills sent to Darcy."

Kitty gave her brother-in-law a quick glance. "Yes, ma'am," was the meek reply.

"And how is Mrs. Darcy faring?" Anne asked. She would never admit it, but she had always liked Elizabeth. She was pretty and lively and had saved Anne from marrying the wrong cousin.

"She is well," came the reply. Anything else about his wife would have to be asked in private. He was not about to discuss her current condition at the table. Or in front of everyone.

After the meal - when the ladies had defected to the drawing room and port and cigars had been set out - he finally had a chance to speak to the colonel, who confirmed Litchcombe's account of the situation and added a few comments concerning his youngest cousin and Miss Bennet.

"Perhaps you should speak with Georgiana first," the colonel counseled. "She seems to have a certain delicacy of mind so sadly lacking in Miss Bennet."

"I was not aware of your animosity toward Miss Bennet."

"I was not aware I had any, either," the colonel admitted. "Until she almost cost me a fiancée."

"With the gentlemen of dubious reputation?"

"Yes."

"And Georgiana?" Darcy quizzed, knowing it was as much his cousin's responsibility to watch out for her as it was his own.

"I have been keeping an eye on Georgiana," came the rather terse reply. "You may ask her yourself."

"I intend to." Darcy reflectively sipped his port.

"I do not believe she plans to be taken in by them."

"She did not plan to be taken in before, either." Even now, Darcy could not bring himself to say that name.

"Talk to her before you draw any conclusions," his cousin urged. Darcy looked at the colonel over the rim of his glass.

"How is it that you are in Georgiana's corner over all this, but not Miss Bennet's?"

"That is simple - Georgiana was not taken in and Miss Bennet was. You don't think Litchcombe wished to be caught, do you?"

Darcy was of two minds about that, but he held his tongue. Instead, he suggested Fitzwilliam go spend some time with his fiancée.

"Are you going to speak privately with the other two young ladies?"

"Tomorrow," Darcy assured him. "After they have been removed to my house."

Darcy's letter to his wife had been sent by private courier to Pemberley and arrived in Derbyshire the next day.

Mrs. Reynolds, well aware that Mrs. Darcy would wish to be notified as soon as possible, sent the courier off to the kitchens for a meal and took the letter personally to her mistress.

Elizabeth, who was trying to read a book in the library, took the missive with a smile.

My dearest Elizabeth,

I have reached London in safety and, as always, I miss you every moment we are apart. I was greeted by some alarming news upon my arrival, however, and because of its nature am not certain I will be home as soon as planned.

Lizzy frowned. Kitty and Georgiana were in London - she hoped this did not concern either of them. Ahhh, she thought as she scanned down further. The colonel and Anne...

...are betrothed, although Lady Catherine is not exactly welcoming her nephew as a son.

Lizzy grinned and rubbed her stomach. Lady Catherine would come around eventually and then her child would have cousins on both sides of the family to play with.

I will be in London until your sister is wed, of course, but that will not take long...

What? Lizzy backed up and read with growing dread how Kitty's good name had been wrongly linked with a known rake, Lord Litchcombe, how they were now engaged, and who was suspected in regards to spreading the rumors.

"Caroline!" she exclaimed after reading that specific name.

Hmmm... She might not be able to travel, but there were others in the family who could and would come to Kitty's assistance, if only for a show of familial support. Lizzy went directly to her writing desk and started a series of letters that would be sent by Darcy's courier as quickly as possible.

Mr. Darcy waited until his sister and his wife's sister were established in his household before speaking to either young lady about their recent activities.

After a midday repast, when both Georgiana and Kitty assured him that their rooms were satisfactory, Georgiana said she was going to practice the pianoforte. Darcy waited until she left the dining room and then asked Kitty into his study. She reluctantly agreed, having more than an inkling as to what this meeting would entail.

"How is Lizzy?" she asked after he settled her into a chair in front of the fire. That he joined her instead of sitting behind his desk put her somewhat at ease.

"I have a letter for you," was the kind reply. Darcy had a soft spot for this Bennet sister - she was the one who had gone out of her way to befriend his sister. And if things had gone a bit astray, he could not, as his cousin did, hold Miss Bennet completely responsible.

"Shall we discuss your wedding?" he added.

"My wedding? Don't you wish to berate me for embroiling everyone in this situation and for putting your sister's own reputation at stake by association?"

"I am convinced that you have done little wrong despite gossip to the contrary. It is more like being in the wrong place at the wrong time... I confess that I think you are playing with fire by encouraging a handful of disreputable men. However, you should not worry too much," he said. "I understand Litchcombe has been snared..." He gave her a rare grin to take the sting out of his words and Kitty fairly goggled at the sight.

If this was what marriage to Lizzy did to him, Kitty thought, he was going to turn into Mr. Bingley within the decade!

"And if you are desirous of a tongue-lashing, I believe there might be a letter from at least one sister, if not three, in the next few days. Mrs. Bingley's will be gentle, Lady Trowbridge's will no doubt be couched in a few platitudes and Mrs. Darcy's will be straight and to the point. Do not say you were not warned."

"You wrote to them all?"

"No, just Elizabeth. I'm sure she will take it from there."

Kitty groaned. "And Papa? Mama?"

"Do you doubt that her first letter went to Longbourn?"

"I'm sure her first letter went to London. But her second letter, no doubt, went to Hertfordshire. I must write to them..."

"And so you shall," Darcy said indulgently. "I'll leave you to the pen and paper on my desk." He bowed and left the room, knowing Miss Bennet would be busy while he had a chat with his sister.

The sound of the pianoforte led Mr. Darcy to the music room and he stood just inside the doorway while his sister finished the piece she was playing. After giving her a round of applause for her efforts, he indicated she was to stay seated and he strolled over to lean on the instrument.

“I understand you and Miss Bennet have had an interesting time of it while in London.”

Georgiana’s smile was serene. “Interesting is a good word.” She knew what her brother wished to discuss, but she had not done anything wrong and, perversely, wished to make him work for his information. “Who would have imagined our cousins becoming engaged?”

“That is not exactly what I had in mind, but I’ll admit I am surprised at that turn of events. Elizabeth will be equally amazed.”

His sister gave him a shy but knowing smile. “No doubt she is already in possession of the news.”

“No doubt. What I wished to speak to you about is the inordinate amount of time you have been spending with gentlemen of…” He paused for the right word.

Georgiana held up a hand, the first time she had ever forestalled him in her life. “I pray you do not read more into the situation than is warranted, brother.”

“But I feel you are in danger of…”

“Repeating history?” Her tone took on a slight edge, but her cheeks were flushed. She found herself more embarrassed by the past than the present. They had not spoken much of Ramsgate in the ensuing years, but it had to come out sometime. “I do not believe the circumstances are the same.”

“No?” Mr. Darcy’s voice held a tinge of sarcasm. “A gentleman fixes your interest under false pretences and you say it is not the same? It is my understanding that this entire scheme of Miss Bennet’s is one big lie where certain families are concerned.”

Georgiana turned red and looked down where her hands rested on the keys. They were shaking and she moved them to her lap. “It was only to help Anne. The gentlemen are aware of the deception and we did no harm. I will drop the acquaintances if you wish…”

“No, they are Litchcombe’s friends and you will be seeing them in the future. I will let them know, however, that there can never be anything from you but polite distance.”

She looked up, a frown marring her pretty features. “Please do not. I shall speak to them when the situation warrants it. Until then, I beg you, let me leave everything as it is.” Perhaps if he saw there was nothing to fear, she could continue her little friendships – they were helping her learn how to get over her fear of the male of the species, something even her brother and gentle Mr. Bingley had been unable to do completely.

“It shall be as you wish,” her brother agreed, impressed in spite of himself with her attitude and willingness to take control of the situation.

Georgiana breathed a sigh of relief when he kissed her forehead and left the room.

After Mr. Darcy left the study, Kitty was informed that flowers had arrived for her and were awaiting her arrangement of them in the drawing room.

Arrangement? Kitty didn’t think she could do such a thing. Certainly, she had been the recipient of little nosegays, but never anything that couldn’t just be admired until it died. Even at Longbourn she had gotten out of flower arranging duties by doing such a poor job, her mother would hiss and sigh and send her off somewhere else.

But she had been aware since that morning that Mr. Darcy’s household was informed of her new status, and not just as a betrothed young lady, but as a future baroness. In fact, the butler handed her the accompanying note without batting an eyelash, as if she was now entitled to her billet-doux.

Kitty walked into the drawing room and gasped. This was no tiny nosegay sent by a previous evening’s dance partner, one of many in a proscribed size and kind. No, these were large bunches of daffodils, each tied with a purple silk ribbon.

Daffodils are for regard…

She didn’t know what to do or say until Mrs. Anderson, the housekeeper, cleared her throat and looked at the note in Kitty’s hand.

“Oh…”

As she read (privately, of course), Kitty began to smile. Litchcombe was a complete hand!

My dear Miss Bennet, you are no doubt reading this in front of Mr. Darcy’s senior servants, who will now bestow you with discreet but knowing smiles.

Kitty looked up to see that this was absolutely true, and flushed.

You, of course, are blushing becomingly, as is your wont, and they will move toward the door. Ask them to wait, as there will be a reply.

“Wait, please,” Kitty found herself saying automatically, and then laughing. The butler and housekeeper were, indeed, inching toward the door.

Will you accompany me on a drive through the park today at the fashionable hour?

“There will be a reply,” Kitty said and went to the small writing desk Lizzy kept in the corner for such occasions as this.

The servants exchanged glances and the butler said he would wait in the hall for the return note. Mrs. Anderson excused herself to retrieve a couple of vases, and Kitty was left alone.

Alone now? I wished to speak to you about something important yesterday, when we were interrupted. When I returned, you were not at home. Shall we continue our conversation this afternoon? Cameron

Kitty sighed as she read the name at the bottom of the paper. His name was Cameron…

Chapter 11

Posted on Thursday, 30 September 2004

Kitty was determined to make his lordship wait when he called for her at five o'clock, and so she dawdled over her toilette. Finally, Marie begged her to go downstairs. Kitty pouted. It was only five minutes to five, but she could tarry at the top of the stairs, out of sight, until he was ushered into the drawing room. It never occurred to her that his lordship's horses might not care if she made an entrance.

Smoothing down her new primrose muslin gown and fussing with the wrists of her darker spencer, she heard a servant ask the butler “to hurry Miss Bennet along,” because the horses were feeling their oats and would not stand long. Mustering what dignity she could, Kitty descended in a regal manner completely lost on Lord Litchcombe’s tiger and interrupted the butler’s explanation as to why she was not ready.

“Thank you,” she said to the older man and followed the smaller one out to Lord Litchcombe’s phaeton.

“Your promptness is appreciated,” Litchcombe said. She hoped the hint of exasperation in his voice was directed toward his cattle, else this was not going to be a fun drive.

“You’re welcome, my lord.”

“Cameron, please,” he asked, urging his team into traffic and heading toward Hyde Park. “And shall you be Catherine or Kitty when we are not required to be in company?”

“Which do you prefer, my – Cameron?”

“Kitty, or perhaps I shall call you Cat. We can be Cat and Cam to each other. I rather like that.” He seemed well pleased with himself, but until Kitty got her declaration, she was determined not to give in completely to his every whim.

“I think Cameron will suffice, as well as Kitty.”

“There you are again, Miss Priss and Prunes!” he exclaimed with a laugh.

“What?”

“You sound just like the rather cold, haughty reply I received to my note earlier today.”

“That was not…” Kitty stopped herself because she realized she sounded just like Lady Catherine.

“Exactly. ‘Dear Lord Litchcombe,’” he recited in a stuffy, feminine voice. “‘Thank you for your kind invitation.’”

“What is wrong with that?” Kitty demanded.

“You need more humor in your life, Miss Bennet.”

“I thought you were going to call me Cat, Cam,” she said with a laugh.

“Perfect!” he said with warm approval. “Now, reword your note to me,” he prompted.

Kitty thought about it a moment and chuckled wickedly. “Dear Cam…” She said the word slowly, almost seductively. “If this is being read over your shoulder by another woman, please tell her she cannot join us in the park today…”

Litchcombe’s eyes grew wide, but he was clearly delighted with her playfulness. “Well done, Kitty Cat!”

When, though, had the little tabby turned into a feline femme fatale? He wasn’t going to complain, but did she act like that around all gentlemen, or only him? He was not attracted to her for any worldliness – he liked her because she was such a sweet country soul at heart. Which reminded him…

They had reached the park and he pulled the carriage up under a stand of trees in a secluded spot and took Kitty’s hand in his.

“Miss Bennet, I know we are to be married – your brother is to put the notice in tomorrow’s papers – but I do apologize for not doing this sooner…”

Dash it all, the ring was in his pocket and he had to pause in order to fish it out.

“Miss Bennet!” Lord Heatherly called. “How are you this fine day?” He came bounding up to the phaeton with his usual energy and bowed. “Cam! Have you told her yet?” He seemed to think all of Litchcombe’s business was now Miss Bennet’s, as well.

“About what?”

“The dinner party, you silly clunch. Miss Bennet, Cam and I have been wracking our brains trying to find a way to bring our parents together and we have hit on the most marvelous solution! Even Darcy approves!” he added, clearly in awe as to how that had happened.

“Heatherly,” Cam said with an edge to his voice. The marquess either did not notice it or ignored it.

“We are to host a dinner party in honor of your engagement and Lady Litchcombe just this morning agree to act as hostess! Isn’t that marvelous?” He was clearly beside himself with delight.

“Wonderful, my lord,” Kitty cooed. “Except for one small problem.”

“Eh?”

“Lord Litchcombe and I are not yet formally engaged,” came the reply.

Cameron buried his face in his hands and groaned.

“But… I…” Heatherly stammered. “I heard… Darcy approved…”

“Then you heard wrong, my lord.” Kitty kept her tone deliberately sweet. “Lord Litchcombe was, I believe, just about to remedy that situation when you hailed us.” Why should Cameron shoulder all the guilt? “But now that won’t be necessary and he is going to take me home. Good day to you, Lord Heatherly. We need to leave now,” she added softly to Litchcombe.

Heatherly was nonplussed, but bowed and backed away. Cameron shrugged and did almost as the lady asked, but he did not take her home. Instead, he drove her to Litchcombe House.

“What are we doing here?” she asked coldly.

“Having tea with my mother.”

“But…”

“She asked me to bring you to her after our drive, and as you have cut that short, here we are. I would hate to disappoint the baroness, wouldn’t you?”

Kitty sighed and watched as he handed the reins to his tiger and came around to help her out. Headstrong Kitty refused his hand and tried to swing herself down, only to catch her modest flounce on the equipage. A tearing sound reached her ears.

“Oh, no!” She mustered what dignity she could and ignored Cameron’s smirk, making an almost regal entrance into the house.

“Miss Bennet, I would like you to meet the family butler, Mr. Hopper. Hopper, this is Miss Bennet.” The kindly old face split in two as he recognized her name.

“An honor, Miss Bennet. Welcome to Litchcombe House. Her ladyship is expecting you in the blue salon, my lord.”

Cameron led Kitty in to where Lady Litchcombe waited, and that lady came forward with a smile on her lips.

“Miss Bennet! You are early!” A discreet signal to Hopper sent the butler off for the tea things and she led Kitty over to a sofa. A glance showed Miss Bennet to be without a ring, an heirloom that should be there already, and she shot Cameron a look of concern. He only shrugged, so when his mother noticed Miss Bennet trying to cover up her ripped flounce, she seized the advantage.

“Oh, dear, you cannot go home like that. Whatever will Mr. Darcy think of our Cameron if you do? Come with me. Ellen can sew that up in a trice. Cam, darling, tell Hopper to hold off with tea for about twenty minutes or so, if you please?”

Cameron went to do as he was bid, and Lady Litchcombe escorted Kitty upstairs to a bright, airy bedchamber done in pale blues and greens.

“Do you like it?” the baroness asked girlishly. “I moved in here when Cam inherited the title and he let me decorate it any way I wished.”

Kitty was confused. “But this house was already yours,” she blurted out. “Weren’t you allowed to decorate before?”

“No. His late lordship had made it perfectly clear the house was his and I only lived here because of his largesse. Now, tell me how you enjoyed your drive today…” she asked, changing the subject and fishing for information at the same time. The maid came in and knelt at Kitty’s feet to repair the rip.

“I liked it well enough until we were interrupted, ma’am. Lord Heatherly…”

“Heatherly! That nodcock!” Lady Litchcombe exclaimed. “He is a dear, but he can be rather excitable. Did Cameron tell you about the dinner?”

“No,” came the stiff reply.

“You poor dear. No inkling about the dinner and no pro…”

“No proposal,” Kitty finished for her in a soft voice. She looked at the baroness with tears in her eyes. “All my life, people have been telling me what to do. Or what I cannot. ‘Stop coughing! Find a husband! You can’t go to Brighton!’ This time, I schemed to get myself here and what happens? I’m being told what to do all over again!”

"Oh, my dear Kitty! I may call you Kitty?"

Kitty nodded as Lady Litchcombe dismissed the maid and asked her to return in a few minutes. Leading Kitty over to a lounge, needle and thread trailing behind, she put her arms about the younger lady.

“Cameron and I lived most of our lives being ordered about like so much chattel. As soon as he could, Cam broke away and concentrated on ordering his own life. If you have received no proposal yet, it is not for a lack of his trying, trust me. He, of all people, knows what it is like to make his own decisions and he is determined to let you do the same. He likes you too well to do otherwise.”

“He likes me?”

“Of course he does! But I shall let him have the honor of telling you why. Now, the important question is… will you accept?”

Kitty let out a watery chuckle and wiped her eyes. “Yes, ma’am.”

“It is as I hoped, then. I’ve always wanted a daughter, and I shall be happy to have one as delightful as you.”

“I… I won’t be a very proper baroness,” Kitty stammered.

“Oh, pooh! What is a proper baroness after all? I would rather you be a good wife first.”

“And what if I cannot? I don’t know the first thing about that, either.”

“Not to worry.” Lady Litchcombe patted her hand and called out for Ellen. “Come to me if you have any questions.”

Kitty sagged against her future mother-in-law with relief.

Once back in the drawing room, flounce repaired and full of tea and cake, Kitty remembered to thank Lord Litchcombe for the daffodils.

“I’m so happy to hear you like them,” the baroness said. “I grow them myself. Cam, take Miss Bennet to the conservatory and show her where her flowers came from.”

Cameron could take a hint. He rose and held a hand out to Kitty. “Please?” was all he said. Kitty could not resist and allowed him to keep her hand as they walked to the rear of the house to a warm, humid conservatory.

“My mother’s plants and flowers. She is quite proud of them.” He showed her the flowers, breaking off a stem of them for her before leading her to a small bench situated next to a potted stand of bamboo. “Every time I try to have a conversation with you, we get interrupted. Not this time.”

Kitty smiled serenely, even though she felt a frisson of excitement inside. “Was there something you wished to say, Cameron?”

“You know there is, minx!” He laughed and moved in closer, holding her hand. “I have never met another young lady like you, Miss Bennet. You have captured my imagination from the moment I heard you scheming in front of Miss Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam at the Teaberry ball. Since then I have seen you be kind, devious, resourceful, playful and never at a loss for words. I think you are adorable. And that is why, Miss Catherine Bennet, I would be honored if you would consent to be my wife.”

Kitty dimpled prettily, but her next words were not very pleasant.

“Is this a temporary aberration from your rakish ways, sir, or do you intend to honor your marriage vows?”

“Kitty! Did I not just make myself – nay, my heart – clear?”

“No.”

“What?”

“You say I am adorable, but what if I become less so at some point? Will you find someone to take my place? I am not unaware of what makes a rake. Are you willing to give all that up for a monogamous relationship? If not, my answer is no, and my reputation can go hang. I will not consign myself to a faithless marriage on the basis of society gossip.”

“I have no intention of dishonoring any vows, Miss Bennet. What will it take to make you believe it?”

Kitty shrugged. “I have no idea. Do you have a mistress?”

Cameron choked, but he shook his head. “I have not had one for some time.”

“How long?” she demanded.

“Since before we met.” No need to tell her about Mrs. Morris-Smeeth, since that had never come about and wasn’t going to. Ever.

“How long will we be engaged, my lord?”

“Two weeks? Long enough to make plans and short enough to still any wagging tongues.”

Kitty said that was sensible. “And will you dance attendance upon me for the next fortnight, then? I don’t want people saying this is not a friendly match.” It was too soon for her to say “love match,” and she did not want to scare him off, despite the proposal.

“I will do anything you ask, Catherine. Now, will you say ‘yes’?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. You have made me the happiest of men. Will you wear this? It was my grandmother’s ring.” He produced a sapphire flanked by winking diamonds and slid it on her finger. It was slightly loose, but he said he would have it fitted to her as soon as possible. “I shall take you myself and allow you to choose the wedding rings. But for now, we had better return to Mother. She will be on pins and needles waiting to hear how this turned out.”

Kitty paused, staring at the ring. “Did you have this with you at the park?”

“I did.”

“And if I had accepted there, would you have kissed me?”

“Miss Bennet! You shock me! Kiss you in a public place?”

“This is not a public place,” she invited, causing him to laugh out loud.

“I told you that you are a minx. I’m beginning to think you are a vixen!” he teased.

“That is not accomplishing your task, my lord,” she teased back.

Cameron leaned over and brushed his lips against hers.

“You call that a kiss?”

“I did not want to offend your maidenly sensibilities.”

“What good is it to have the reputation of a rake if you do not prove it in this instance? When I am affronted,” she said primly, “I shall let you know.”

There was a long silence while Kitty was the beneficiary of his kissing skills. “Insulted yet?” he finally asked.

Kitty shook her head. She was sure now it was going to take a lot to offend her.

Chapter 12

Posted on Saturday, 9 October 2004

Caroline Morris-Smeeth was not about to take Litchcombe’s defection lying down.

Louisa had thought it fitting, really, that her sister’s plan to disgrace Miss Bennet had backfired. Much resigned to being related to the family by marriage, she was well aware that Charles put much stock in his wife’s siblings, and had striven to be as polite as possible. Caroline, however, despite Louisa’s remonstrations, had other plans.

She had managed to bribe a very junior footman in the Darcy household, and that bright lad had brought her a treasure beyond compare, once she realized what it was.

"What are these?" she had demanded when he had first given her the four letters, all sealed with Mr. Darcy’s crest. "I ask for information and you give me these?" She had received the lad in her boudoir, thinking this made her look very sophisticated and worldly, but now she paced the room, gnawing on one of her expertly shaped fingernails.

"Beg pardon, ma’am. Turn them over and see who they’s addressed to."

She glared, angry at being told to do the obvious, and turned them over. The directions on them made her grin.

"The announcements to the papers! Perfect! Were you the one sent to deliver these?" She didn’t want to lose her informant right off the mark.

"No, ma’am. I knocked Jem out and put him in a stall in the stables, and then pinched them. He don’t know they’re gone yet, and he’ll be too afraid of Mr. Darcy to admit their loss right away."

"Splendid!" She went to her reticule and withdrew a guinea, willing to pay handsomely to learn more. "You are to come to me straightaway as soon as you hear anything new," she commanded.

The lad snatched the coin out of her hand. "Yes, ma’am!"

Once he was gone, Caroline ripped greedily into the letters. What a scandal this would cause, at least for a couple of days until duplicate announcements could be written. She would make sure there would be fresh gossip. After all, what harm did it do to speculate as to why no word of their engagement had yet to be made public? She quit gnawing on her nail and rang for her maid to repair the damage.

Miss Bennet might end up married to Litchcombe, but not without some pain first.

"Bloody hell!" Cameron had opened the Morning Post and scanned it quickly, looking for an important announcement that seemed to be missing from his newspaper. He picked up the Gazette, gave it a glance and again, there was no announcement.

"Cameron?" His mother came into the morning room on the heels of his expletive and frowned.

"What is wrong with Darcy? He said the announcements would be in today!"

"I am certain something must have…" his mother started to soothe, interrupted by a discreet cough. "Yes, Hopper?" The butler was hovering in the doorway, reluctant to let in the figure behind him without approval.

"Mr. Darcy, my lady."

Lady Litchcombe rose and held out a hand to their visitor. "Mr. Darcy! We were just wondering about you."

Darcy bowed and accepted her offer of a chair and a cup of tea, but he waved away any other proposals of food or drink. "I see you have read the papers, Litchcombe. I can only apologize on behalf of one of my servants. He was attacked yesterday and the letters are missing and I was not informed until this morning."

"Oh, dear," the baroness said breathlessly. "Is the man going to be all right? Will another day make any difference in announcing the engagement, do you think?"

"The man is fine, my lady, and normally, another day would not make any difference at all. But today is Wednesday."

The baroness paled. Almack’s assembly was that evening.

"Just so. I had thought to take my sisters, but now I think an alternative plan is in order. Litchcombe – how would you like to visit Hertfordshire? I know a delightful village there and a family named Bennet who would welcome you with open arms… You really should take your mother along, and I have a feeling Miss Bennet is missing her parents."

"And you, Mr. Darcy?"

"I shall attend Almack’s, of course. With my sister."

While Kitty, Lord Litchcombe and his mother made plans to leave town, a countess in Wiltshire had received a letter from her sister in Derbyshire.

"While I am unable to travel, I ask that you and Trowbridge please make a short visit to town and lend our sister as much support as possible…"

Mary nodded in reply to Lizzy’s plea, even though no one else was in the room. She had learned the importance of family the year before and once she read who had caused all the trouble, she knew without a doubt this was something to be handled in person. Mr. Bingley’s sister was not going to attempt to ruin yet another Bennet sister.

"You have a letter?" Simon, Lord Trowbridge, asked as he entered the sitting room that centered their private suite and wrapped his arms around his wife’s waist from behind. Their pug, Bruiser, followed and curled himself around Mary’s feet.

"From Lizzy." She handed the note back to her husband and, stepping over the dog, turned to watch his reaction. When she saw him repeat her previous gestures and echo her sentiments, she was not surprised. In everything, they seemed of one accord.

"Shall we send someone ahead to open the townhouse?" he asked. "And leave tomorrow?"

They had not wanted to go to London for the season, despite Simon’s Parliamentary duties, considering themselves still on their honeymoon. The newlyweds knew, however, that this trip was unavoidable.

"When I get my hands on that Caroline," Mary said forcefully enough to make Bruiser growl, "she is going to wish she had never been born."

The earl, ever in agreement, nodded once more.

A letter from Pemberley reached Longbourn late that afternoon, but was ignored in the face of a trio of visitors of some importance – Kitty had returned and she had brought a gentleman and his mother with her.

Thankfully, Mrs. Bennet’s enthusiasm was curbed by her previous exposure to the dowager Countess of Trowbridge, so she was only mildly effusive to the baroness, much to Kitty’s relief. Litchcombe, however, was potential husband material, and was treated to her most preferential deference.

They were ushered into the parlor and served tea while Hill rushed about preparing rooms for the guests. Kitty had neither the time nor the authority to suggest it, but she rather thought Hill should place them in Jane and Lizzy’s old rooms.

"We are honored by your presence, Lord Litchcombe, Lady Litchcombe," Mrs. Bennet gushed as she poured out for her unexpected, but exalted, guests. "Wherever did you meet our Kitty?" she enquired. "Kitty, go fetch your father. I can’t imagine what is keeping him," she said through clenched teeth.

Kitty did as she was bid, and on the way to his study, snatched up the post to take with her.

Mr. Bennet had ducked back into his private room after greeting everyone initially, but if he was surprised to see Kitty, he gave no indication. As she set the letters down on his desk, Lizzy’s slipped out and caught his attention. However, Kitty’s sigh reminded him that he had other children, and this one in front of him might have something on her mind.

"Yes?"

"Oh, Papa!" she suddenly wailed and sat down hard in a chair.

"Now, now, my dear," he said. "I’m sure whatever is wrong cannot be so bad. After all, you did bring a beau home to meet your mother..."

"Not beau, Papa!" she cried, searching her person unsuccessfully for a handkerchief. "Fiancé!"

"What?" Mr. Bennet had been about to reach for the square of linen in his pocket, but paused. "I was not aware of any engagement, Catherine." His gaze was not friendly.

"That is why we are here, Papa," she replied, sniffling.

"Suppose you tell me how all this came about, then." He paused once more. "Are you in some sort of trouble, forcing you to marry that Adonis in the other room?"

"Yes, Papa, but not in the way you think," she hastily added. "Honest."

"I’ll take your word for it," he answered dryly.

"I met Lord Litchcombe in London, Papa. You recall that Lady Catherine took us to town?"

He hadn’t – he could have sworn she was at Pemberley with Elizabeth – but he didn’t tell her that.

"One evening, at a ball, I was having a conversation in a private room with Miss Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and evidently Lord Litchcombe was in there, hiding in a cupboard." She giggled. "I think he was hiding from Mr. Bingley’s sister."

"Good gracious! Mrs. Hurst?"

"No, Mrs. Morris-Smeeth." They shared a rare look of understanding. Most people of their acquaintance would do the same. "But we did not know he was there. Later, he asked for an introduction. He also offered to help me with a small problem concerning Miss de Bourgh's love life. We became friends," she persevered, "and then, the other evening…" She lapsed back into tears. "Someone started spreading rumors that we were seen leaving that private room together and we were forced to become betrothed.

"I see. And now you have come seeking my blessing?"

"Yes. Also, Mr. Darcy is in town and he sent the announcements to the papers, but they never appeared! So instead of exposing us to more censure, he sent us here."

"Darcy usually knows what he is about, so let us have your young man in here, shall we? No need to announce the happy event to your mother just yet. Will Lady Litchcombe tell her?"

"I am certain she won’t." She was in agreement with her father – let Mama think this a love match as long as possible. Like forever. "Oh, Papa!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining as she fairly danced from the room. "You are going to like Cameron!"

With a return to decorum, she entered the parlor, smiling brightly when Cameron stood.

"Where is your father?" her mother demanded.

"He is in his study and determined to stay there."

"That insufferable…"

"And he wishes to speak to Lord Litchcombe, please."

"Oh! Well, of course he does!" Mrs. Bennet said jovially. Her last unmarried daughter, already in her good graces for bringing a gentleman home, rose another notch – at least – in her mother’s estimation at this news.

Cameron bowed to them all and asked Kitty to lead the way.

"Don’t forget to ask for his lordship’s favorite dishes," Mrs. Bennet called gaily as they headed out of the room.

Cameron chuckled. "Does she ever stop?" he wondered.

"Never," Kitty assured him. "But Papa will be less easy to please, I fear, especially in light of how we met."

"Ahhh. In that case, wish me luck," he requested, swooping down to give her a quick kiss before knocking on the study door and being asked to enter. "And I am quite fond of chicken with mushrooms," he said before stepping into the study and closing the door behind him.

Kitty touched her fingers briefly to her lips, smiled in rather a silly way and went to find Hill.

"Miss Bennet said you wished to speak to me, sir?"

"I think it’s rather you needing to speak to me, isn’t it?" Mr. Bennet replied. "Have a seat. Can I get you a drink?" he offered.

"No, thank you, sir. It is rather early for me to imbibe."

"Do your drinking late in the night and into the wee hours of the morning, do you?"

"I…" Cameron let it go.

"I heard Darcy gives this union his approval. I suppose being in loco parentis for Kitty gives him some authority, but tell me… how in the world could someone come to the conclusion that you and my daughter had been in that room alone together unless they were right outside the door?"

"I’ll be honest, sir – after all, Darcy already knows the details. I was supposed to meet a different lady alone in that room, but your daughter and her friends made it there before her. I can only surmise that she waited outside to see whom I might be sequestered with, and when she saw Miss Bennet, took it rather personally. I believe the lady is the source of the rumors."

"Mrs. Morris-Smeeth. That does put a different spin on this. I am sure you are aware by now that her brother is my son-in-law?"

"Yes, sir. For the record, I have not had any dealings with the lady since then."

"You believe jealousy led to the gossip?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, for what it’s worth, you have permission to marry my daughter. Make her happy, now, or I’ll tell Bingley about you and his sister."

All the color drained from Cameron’s face. "But that’s just it, sir. I have no intention of taking up with Mrs. Morris-Smeeth, and I have every intention of making your daughter happy."

"You’ll excuse me, my lady, if I see to dinner?" Mrs. Bennet had spent a pleasant time visiting with the baroness, but Kitty had finally returned and she needed to oversee so many things relevant to the baron’s comfort – and his mother’s, too, of course. She also needed to find either Mrs. Long or Lady Lucas (or – joy! – both!) and inform them of her exalted houseguests.

No, better to wait until Mr. Bennet gave Kitty’s hand to Lord Litchcombe, and then she would have such wonderful news! She squealed in delight when Kitty offered, without waiting to be ordered, to take Lady Litchcombe upstairs to her room.

"What a pleasant place!" that lady exclaimed upon entering Jane’s former bedchamber.

"It belonged to my sister Jane, who is now Mrs. Bingley. I thought we could call on her tomorrow. She lives but three miles away at Netherfield."

"I should like that. Where else would you like us to go while we are here?"

"We should call upon my friend Maria Lucas, and my Aunt Phillips in Meryton would be most put out if we do not see her."

"I will be pleased to do so," Lady Litchcombe warmly replied, having already heard of Mrs. Phillips and the Lucases from Mrs. Bennet. But she was puzzled about one thing. "We have not yet met the Gardiners and we must remedy that when we return to London."

Kitty groaned. She had been so wrapped up in her own affairs, she had forgotten to let Aunt Gardiner know she was in town!

"You dislike them?" the baroness queried, misinterpreting the groan.

"Oh, no! I like them very well!" She was sure that the baroness, after having met her mother and willing to meet Aunt Phillips, would like the Gardiners as much, if not more. "I will introduce you to them as soon as it may be arranged."

Lady Litchcombe smiled brightly. "I look forward to all of it."

Kitty was skeptical and hoped the baroness was this kind after making the neighborhood rounds the next day.

Chapter 13

Posted Tuesday, 26 October 2004

Mr. Bennet announced Kitty’s engagement right before dinner, after which Mrs. Bennet alternated between tears, effusions of joy and fretting over the paltriness of her table in celebrating the happy occasion.

“Five daughters married!” she kept exclaiming. Lady Litchcombe, sitting between her hosts on one side of the table, encouraged Mrs. Bennet to talk about all her daughters, leaving Kitty and Cameron to speak softly between themselves under the watchful eye of Mr. Bennet.

“You have done well, Kitty,” her father said at one point while Mrs. Bennet was waxing eloquent about her middle daughter, the countess. “But I fear Litchcombe is destined to become one of my least favorite sons-in-law, rating up there with Darcy, Bingley and Trowbridge.”

Cameron paled, but Kitty laughed, giving her father hope for her intelligence if she caught his jest.

“Yes, Papa. We know who your favorite son-in-law is.”

“Our dear Mr. Wickham, of course,” Mrs. Bennet said proudly. “I am so sad they are in Newcastle and unable to share this happy day with us.”

Kitty could not share her mother’s sentiments. Lydia, through her letters, proved to be as shallow and as incapable of personal growth as her earlier life had promised.

“We shall invite Jane and Mr. Bingley to dine with us tomorrow,” her mother continued. “Oh, Jane will be so thrilled. Where are your estates, my lord? I do hope they are nearby. Or perhaps you could also take a house in Hertfordshire…”

“We are from Lincolnshire, Mrs. Bennet.”

“Oh, dear! So far away! Further than Mary in Wiltshire, I dare say.”

“We shall be in London for the Season and Parliament, Mama,” Kitty reminded her. Mrs. Bennet brightened.

“Yes, well, that is all to the good. Now, when shall the wedding be? September should be lovely, and then you may travel north from here for the hunting season, my lord.”

“I had thought we would be wed a fortnight from now, Mrs. Bennet,” he said calmly. “In London.”

“What? Catherine Bennet!” Mrs. Bennet’s eyes were wild and she stood up and searched her daughter for signs of indiscretion, as if they would be written all over her child. “You don’t have to be married, do you?” she screeched.

“No, no, Mrs. Bennet,” the baroness soothed, not doubting Mr. Bennet knew the entire story, but reluctant to tell the mother. “But why wait? You and Mr. Bennet will be my guests when you come to London?”

Mrs. Bennet sat down slowly, her expression calculating. “Where do you reside while in Town, Lady Litchcombe?”

“Berkeley Square.”

That decided it. “We would be delighted to stay with you, my lady.”

“I thought you and I could begin planning the wedding breakfast on the morrow. There is much to decide.”

Mrs. Bennet happily agreed and thought Miss Darcy would make an excellent bridesmaid. Mr. Bennet made a noise in the back of his throat and his wife rose and signaled for the ladies to follow her out of the room. “Because we should leave Mr. Bennet and dear Litchcombe to their port, and we can plan the wedding in peace.”

The next day was a flurry of calls about Meryton and the surrounding area, with Lord and Lady Litchcombe the most accommodating of guests. The fates were on Kitty’s side at their first stop, Netherfield. Everything there was slowly being packed, as the Bingleys had bought an estate not thirty miles from Pemberley. Mrs. Bennet, unhappy at the thought of losing her eldest, took the opportunity to insist the housekeeper take her about.

“For you know there are so many of dear Mr. Bingley’s belongings that must be packed just so,” she said, wanting to keep her hand in the proceedings. Never mind that she did this every time she visited and she had just been over from Longbourn the morning before.

This left Kitty to make introductions, which she did gladly.

Jane, however, barely attended their words. She was staring at the ring on her sister’s hand. Kitty had not worn it in Hertfordshire until the previous night, having decided to wait until the union had her father’s blessing. Her mother had spent much of the evening before in raptures over it, until even polite Lady Litchcombe grew tired of her words.

“I hate to tell her that the original owner of the ring was a famous courtesan,” she had muttered to Kitty.

The ring’s past was not something Kitty would reveal to Jane, either, but she could relate its current history.

“Do you like it, Jane? It is my engagement ring, a present from Lord Litchcombe.”

Jane, unaware of his lordship’s reputation as a rake (and probably not willing to believe it if she knew), nodded happily. She had been worried about Kitty ever since she had received Lizzy’s letter the day before, and had been ready to send Charles to London. A hasty note from her mother, informing her of the guests at Longbourn, waxing poetic about the engagement and inviting the Bingleys to dinner, had relieved her on that point. Now, however, with Kitty officially betrothed, Jane could write to Lizzy with a light heart and not have to send Charles after all.

She gave Kitty a congratulatory hug and offered Lord Litchcombe her best wishes for the future. “I wish now we were not moving so soon,” she said sadly as she settled her guests in the drawing room and rang for refreshments. “We may not be able to travel back here for your wedding.” She alluded, discreetly, to her interesting condition. “Nor will Lizzy.”

“You won’t have to!” Kitty hastened to assure her. “We are to be married in a fortnight in London.”

“You are?” Lizzy seemed to think Kitty needed only to announce her engagement to stem the tide of gossip, but if they were to be married so soon, Jane could only come to the same conclusion as their mother. “You don’t have to be wed that quickly, do you?” she whispered, her cheeks turning pink with embarrassment.

“No…” Kitty struggled for words.

“What Miss Bennet is trying to say, Mrs. Bingley, is that we have decided a prompt wedding will counteract some of the malicious rumors concerning our friendship and subsequent engagement,” Lord Litchcombe coolly interjected. “Otherwise, this would be as normal a courtship as you could ever wish to see.”

The ladies began to speak at once, discussing plans for the happy event, but Kitty could only stare at Cameron. What had he meant by that declaration? Had he seriously considered courtship before the scandal? She did not have time to give it any further consideration. Mrs. Bennet chose that moment to return to their party, telling Jane she must see about purchasing two bronze cupids from Netherfield’s landlord.

“And do find something appropriate for Kitty’s new home,” she urged. “We are to stay with Lady Litchcombe when we come to London for the wedding,” she added, as if to impress her daughter.

“I shall think of something suitable for a gift, Mama,” Jane calmly replied.

“See that you do. What sort of décor do you have, Lady Litchcombe? Not that it matters, naturally. Once my Kitty is the baroness, she will wish to redecorate.”

Kitty had no such intention and she rolled her eyes at the thought. Cameron shot her a sympathetic smile.

“Her Aunt Gardiner knows all the best drapers, upholsterers and warehouses. Oh, and we really should discuss Kitty’s gown for the wedding…”

Lady Litchcombe had been staring out the window at the park surrounding the house, but the moment Mrs. Bennet said ‘gown,’ she entered the fray.

“Miss Bennet, why don’t you show Cameron the park? It’s such a lovely day and there can be no harm in a quick turn about the lawn…”

Kitty gratefully accepted the excuse to leave the room. Mama must have been up all night worrying over wedding dresses, redecorating a house she had not yet seen and packing Jane’s belongings in her mind, because her mother immediately launched into a description of what she thought Kitty’s gown should be. She was glad to make an escape, knowing the gown had already been designed and ordered.

“Before you wonder,” she said to Cameron as soon as they were out of earshot, “none of my sisters will admit to turning into Mama as they grow older, and yet I fear we all shall. You might want to flee now, while you may.”

Cameron only laughed as they headed outdoors, and maintained that she could never turn out exactly like her mother.

“Perhaps not, but it would not surprise me if Lydia did.”

“Lydia… I am unfamiliar with all your sisters. Tell me more about them.”

“Jane, that is, Mrs. Bingley, is the eldest. She is kind and sweet and only sees the goodness in others. Lizzy, Mrs. Darcy, is witty and lively and just a touch cynical, much like Papa. Mary is next. She can be prosy and preachy, but she has been less so since she married Lord Trowbridge.”

“You are next in line?” he asked as they walked hand in hand.

“Yes, and my younger sister, Lydia, is Mrs. Wickham. She was married first, but only because she eloped and caused a great scandal. She brought it on herself, however, which is very different from our situation. I never did anything to whomever sullied my name - and yours!”

This would have been a good time for Cameron to explain the details and tell her why Mrs. Morris-Smeeth was the cause of their betrothal, but she looked so adorable, seething with righteous indignation, and he kissed her instead.

“Why did you do that?” she demanded, taken unawares but not truly affronted.

“Because I felt like it. Get used to that, Miss Bennet. I get these odd notions on the spur of the moment and you will most likely be the recipient.”

“Most likely?” she coyly asked.

“Very likely,” he amended.

“Very?”

“Most definitely.”

“Much better, my lord. And now that I approve, you may make me the recipient once more. After all, we have to return to Mama at some point, and there are two more places to call today. I am going to require some reinforcement.”

“It would be my pleasure.” Cameron kissed Kitty again, in plain view of the drawing room window. Fortunately, Jane was fussing with the tea tray and trying to ignore the argument between her mother and Lady Litchcombe. Mrs. Bennet was giving Lady Litchcombe a jaw-me-dead over already helping Kitty select patterns and material for a wedding gown and trousseau. Lady Litchcombe was staring into space while she waited for Mrs. Bennet to catch her breath. The baroness was the only one who saw her son kiss his intended, and she wasn’t about to alert anyone to that fact. It made Mrs. Bennet’s tirade all the more bearable, knowing those two were well on their way to being a love match.

Not that she was going to back down from Mrs. Bennet, either. Kitty was going to be married in yellow sarcenet and Lady Litchcombe’s grandmother’s veil, and that was that.

Continued In Next Section