Beginning , Section II, Section III

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Chapter 14

Posted on Tuesday, 28 December 2004

While Kitty and the Whitten-Whytes spent the first night of their visit in Hertfordshire, Mr. Darcy and his sister prepared to run the gauntlet for them at Almack’s. Fortunately, they had managed to enlist the aid of their cousins, Colonel Fitzwilliam unbending toward Miss Bennet enough to help her out in this instance. As he did not make any remarks regarding her having orchestrated her own downfall, Darcy accepted his assistance.

Anne was in good looks that evening, he noticed, and Darcy marveled anew at how well the betrothal suited both cousins. Fitzwilliam had already put their announcement in the papers and they all expected it to be a starting point of conversation for those eager to know why a second family engagement had not yet appeared.

"There you are!" Caroline Morris-Smeeth exclaimed the moment she spied the Darcys, making a beeline for them the minute they set foot in the assembly rooms. "How is your family?" She looked behind Mr. Darcy and Georgiana, as if searching for Kitty. She smirked when she realized someone had opted out of the evening. "Why, where is Miss Bennet? I thought surely she would be here to explain herself…"

"Miss Bennet is in Hertfordshire," Darcy said.

"Oh?" She gave him a fake smile. Could it be little Miss Bennet had turned tail and run? That she was disgraced forever? It was a delicious thought. "Is it possible she is not betrothed, then?" she asked as innocently as possible.

"Not at all."

"Lord Litchcombe took her and his mother to Longbourn so he could meet her parents," Georgiana chimed in.

Caroline was not quite sure if Miss Darcy sounded smug. She could be mistaken – Georgiana was such a dear, sweet girl. "What a wonderful notion!" she said with another false smile. "Litchcombe and his mother meeting Mr. and Mrs. Bennet…" Her smile grew sly. "I am sure they will be most diverted by the inhabitants of Meryton."

"And Netherfield!" Georgiana said brightly. "Mr. and Mrs. Bingley are so charming."

"I have no doubt Litchcombe and Bingley will get along famously," Mr. Darcy added. "Imagine what they would have to discuss."

Caroline felt the color drain from her face. Surely Litchcombe would not tell Charles of their almost-alliance? Litchcombe would not come across too badly in the telling – not as much as she would. For some unfathomable reason, Charles had been less than his usual, warm, annoying self toward her. As if she had been to blame for her unfortunate marriage. It wouldn’t be fair now if Litchcombe were to make everything worse by opening his mouth.

What in the world had she seen in him in the first place? Well… besides the handsome face and the god-like body… After all, hadn’t he thrown her over almost immediately for Kitty Bennet?

While Caroline was mentally writing off Lord Litchcombe, Sir Justin Evers, Lord Kenneth Moore and Lord Heatherly had all approached and had solicited dances of Miss Darcy carefully from under her brother’s stern gaze.

"And you, ma’am," Lord Kenneth said politely to Caroline. Georgiana stifled a laugh as Mrs. Morris-Smeeth set her sights on the rake.

"For the first dance?" Caroline suggested coyly. He took her hand and brought it to his lips.

Mr. Darcy was eyeing them all with misgivings until his sister slipped an arm through his and beamed at the other gentlemen. "I will gladly give you all dances," she said.

Later, however, when she and Sir Justin had gone for the horrid lemonade served at the assemblies, a pretty young blonde with bouncing curls approached.

"Won’t you introduce your companion, Sir Justin?" she asked, her hair dancing as she looked back and forth between the baronet and Georgiana.

"Miss Darcy, may I present Miss Watkins? Miss Watkins, Miss Darcy."

"Darcy? You are friend to Miss Bennet, then?"

"I am," Georgiana simply replied, not having to guess too hard what the lady’s point might be. "Her sister is my brother’s wife."

"I had thought so – is Miss Bennet with you this evening? I should like to make her acquaintance."

"I am afraid it is impossible to introduce you this evening. She has gone to Hertfordshire."

"Alone? I had heard rumors…" Miss Watkins said slyly. Georgiana wanted to smack that expression off her face.

"If you must know, she was accompanied by Lady Litchcombe and that lady’s son."

"Oh." The wind seemed to have gone out of her sails. Georgiana and Sir Justin exchanged glances. "I had heard… and there was no announcement…"

"Would you become betrothed without your father’s consent?" Georgiana asked pointedly.

"Of course not!"

"Why should Miss Bennet be any different?"

"Because of the scandal!" Miss Watkins blurted out. Sir Justin shook his head.

"You should know better than to listen to gossip, Miss Watkins."

Georgiana had been told recently that the young lady had a tendre for the baronet. She watched smugly as Sir Justin now used this to his advantage.

"Well… My mama…" she tried to explain.

"You could do me a great favor if you tell your mother that Miss Bennet and Lord Litchcombe were never seen in a compromising position, that they are a love match and have gone to her parents for their approval. They will make their announcement in their own time."

Miss Watkins seemed momentarily taken aback by his vehemence, but she finally nodded and flounced off, eager to spread the news.

"Who next?" the baronet asked the shy young lady at his side. In an instant, his smile grew wide. "Shall we say good evening to Lady Jersey?" he asked, offering Georgiana his arm.

"She is rather daunting…" Georgiana stayed out of sight of the patronesses as much as possible. Not only did their top-lofty position in society scare her, but she was always afraid they would find her partners she would be frightened to speak with, let alone dance with. For some reason, however, Lord Litchcombe and his friends did not leave her bereft of things to say.

"Nonsense. You just need to know how to turn the ladies up sweet, and you could do that just by smiling at them. In fact, just smile and follow my lead…"

They approached the dragoness, as Georgiana privately viewed her, and she did as the gentleman had bid. She curtsied low in deference to the older lady’s position and then gave her a wide smile. "Good evening, my lady," she said shyly.

Lady Jersey melted at the sight of the young miss and her handsome escort and she immediately launched into a tale of how society seemed to be so topsy-turvy lately. She finally paused for breath and looked straight at Georgiana.

"And where is Miss Bennet this evening?" she boomed. Heads turned and ears strained to hear the answer to the night’s burning question. "And Litchcombe! They didn’t run off to Gretna did they?" She laughed heartily at her own joke.

"Actually," the baronet said smoothly, "they are visiting Miss Bennet’s parents in Hertfordshire. Miss Bennet could not wait to show Litchcombe and his mother the beauties of her part of the country. Nor would she wish to marry without her parents’ blessings."

Lady Jersey was quiet for a moment, as nonplussed by this answer as Miss Watkins had been. "Well, of course, they will give their blessings! No need to run off to… Hertfordshire, you say? No need at all!"

Sir Justin shrugged, as if it were of no great import either way. "I believe it was the countess’ notion. After all, nothing truly happened at Lady Teaberry’s ball. Miss Darcy and her cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, were also present at the time."

Georgiana smiled brightly on cue and nodded.

"I’m sure Darcy would not be happy if the wrong rumors got about concerning his wife’s sister…"

"I’m sure…" Lady Jersey said. But this was as good as if the scandal had become even jucier. She now had a piece of gossip that others did not, and she could be the first to spread it, not knowing she was the second.

"It is a love match, after all…" Georgiana added for good measure, earning a nod of approval from her escort.

"Are you certain?" the countess asked. "I heard…"

"Oh, no, my lady!" Georgiana protested. "One only has to watch them to realize that the rumors are not quite true."

Lady Jersey could not argue with such sweet sincerity, and she dared not brand Mr. Darcy’s sister a liar. So it must be true. She broke off their conversation to go spread the news and the baronet took Georgiana back to her brother.

"I thought you handled that rather nicely, Miss Darcy," he said as they strolled along the edge of the dowagers to where Darcy had appropriated a chair. Georgiana blushed.

"I have never been so brave in my life," she admitted.

"Oh, come now, Miss Darcy. You are quite brave – it takes courage to stick up for a friend in the face of a scion of London society. And win."

"We did win, didn’t we?" she asked almost incredulously.

"Yes, we did," he laughingly agreed.

She felt him tuck her arm under his just a little tighter, and she blushed again. That would never do. Fitzwilliam would notice in a moment and she could not bear to be parted from Sir Justin over such a minor thing.

"Would you allow me to call on you tomorrow, Miss Darcy?" he suddenly asked. Georgiana looked up in surprise, but she willed herself not to redden.

"Yes. I would like that."

After calling at Netherfield, the party at Longbourn went into Meryton to see Mrs. Phillips. That lady did not say a word when Mrs. Bennet announced that Kitty was to be married in a fortnight, but she looked her niece up and down. She gave Lord Litchcombe a once-over, as well, but Kitty was fairly certain it wasn’t because her aunt thought he was already increasing.

The entire situation was finally declared by Aunt Phillips to be most satisfying, and they were begged to stay another night so that she might give them a party. With a smoothness Kitty could only admire, Lady Litchcombe declined, but suggested Mrs. Phillips should be informed in advance when her niece next returned to Longbourn so that arrangements could be made at that time.

Much mollified by Lady Litchcombe’s gracious manner, Kitty’s Aunt Phillips said she would be pleased to fete her favorite niece at a later date.

"My sister always gives such delightful parties," Mrs. Bennet assured Lord Litchcombe as they headed to Lucas Lodge. "Everyone attends and there are food, cards and dancing…"

"We shall definitely come to stay before heading to Lincolnshire this summer, ma’am," Cameron politely replied.

Kitty suppressed a smirk. No doubt he would be thrilled to attend a small soiree after months of ton parties in London.

"That reminds me, Cameron," Lady Litchcombe said. "I need to go home in a few weeks and move my belongings into the Dower House."

Kitty and Cameron exchanged alarmed glances, but Mrs. Bennet was all charming solicitude.

"How thoughtful of your ladyship," she said.

Kitty flushed, sure her mother was even now calculating how long it would be before she visited the newlyweds to count the silver. She was probably planning a whirlwind tour of England, with stops to see children and new grandchildren in Wiltshire, Derbyshire, wherever Jane was moving, Lincolnshire and Newcastle.

"I am looking forward to the Dower House, actually," Lady Litchcombe assured her son and his betrothed. "After all, a fifteen-room house is nothing to shake a stick at. I shall be close enough to help out as needed, but still able to go off to my own home."

Mrs. Bennet nodded her approval, even as she wondered how large the manor must be with a dower house that size.

Conversation became centered around Lincolnshire once more when they called on the Lucas family. After everyone had been introduced and Mrs. Bennet was allowed to gloat over Kitty’s engagement once more, Lady Lucas insisted Lord and Lady Litchcombe see her prize tulips.

"And what, pray tell, does that have to do with Kitty’s engagement?" Mrs. Bennet snapped.

"Lincolnshire is a large supplier of bulbs," Lady Litchcombe patiently explained. "We also specialize in peas and beetroot."

"You’ll never get Kitty to touch a beetroot," Mrs. Bennet insisted.

"Actually, it is Lydia who dislikes them so, Mama," Kitty said.

She had been glad to see Jane and Mr. Bingley this visit, and know they were to dine that evening at Longbourn; she was pleased to introduce Cameron and his mother to the Lucases and Aunt Phillips; she was thrilled to have a ring to wave under Maria’s nose. But if she did not have all these people acting as buffers, she was sure she would have already strangled her mother!

Chapter 15

Posted on Tuesday, 5 April 2005

The day after Kitty returned to London, she had the satisfaction of reading about her engagement in the newspapers. She knew she would also be charged with welcoming a variety of friends and family to Mr. Darcy’s townhouse. But first there was a letter from Lizzy that had to be read.

It had been waiting for her at the breakfast table, along with a letter each for Darcy and Georgiana.

Mr. Darcy put his in a pocket for a later, more private, perusal, but Kitty and Georgiana broke into theirs immediately. Kitty did so only because she was certain it contained a bear-garden jaw, and the sooner she got it out of the way, the better. She was pleasantly surprised, then, when her sister’s missive only congratulated her on her upcoming marriage, asked her to enjoy her engagement and not to keep Mr. Darcy too long so that he could be restored to Pemberley.

“His steward is quite bereft without his expert directives,” Lizzy teased, bringing a chuckle to Kitty’s lips.

“She is trying to tell me not to detain her husband much longer without making me feel too guilty,” Kitty told the Darcys, who had looked up at her laugh. “And you, Georgiana… Will you return to Derbyshire with your brother or shall you stay in town?”

“I have been invited to stay at Rosings to keep Anne company until her wedding, which is to be in June. Our cousin,” she happily added, “is to be assigned to take command of the militia in Kent. I cannot imagine how he managed that,” she said with a smile.

“How convenient,” Kitty agreed. It seemed everyone would be settled, at least temporarily. “I will have to see what I can do about traveling to Kent at that time. Come August, most likely, I will be in Lincolnshire.” She was a bit frightened by the prospect, having never managed a household before. She made a mental note to ask questions and advice of Lizzy, Jane, Hill and Lady Litchcombe, whose house it had been for so many years. She set her thoughts aside as Georgiana asked what she was to wear to Lord Heatherley’s dinner party, and whom she thought might call that day.

“I cannot imagine who might,” Kitty replied. She hoped one of the callers would be her Aunt Gardiner, because she had remembered to send her a note saying she was in town.

As it was, Mrs. Gardiner came to call on her first, not only because she had received her niece’s note, but she had also seen the announcement in the Times. She arrived at the same time as Mary and Lord Trowbridge, and it was a joyous reunion not only for Kitty, but Georgiana, as well.

“How do you like being betrothed?” Aunt Gardiner asked Kitty quietly as Georgiana and Mary resumed their friendship of the year before. The earl, knowing he would be happier in a more masculine setting, had said all the right things to each lady before heading off to Mr. Darcy’s study.

“I like it well enough, Aunt, but I am completely terrified of being a wife!”

“What exactly are you worried about?” Mrs. Gardiner took Kitty’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Everything! How am I going to manage a house? What am I going to do with myself during the day? What about…” Her voice dropped to a whisper, even though it was unnecessary. Mary and Georgiana were in their own little world. “What about nights? I don’t dare voice my questions in a letter…”

“I doubt Lydia would mind,” Mrs. Gardiner acerbically replied.

“I wouldn’t ask her at any rate!” Kitty said hotly. “Can you imagine her answers?”

“I can.” Her aunt’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“And I! I had thought to apply to Lizzy – she speaks her mind and she would not steer me wrong, but it occurred to me that she no doubt had some excellent, older counsel, and I do not mean Mama or Aunt Phillips.”

“I should hope not, for Mr. Darcy’s sake,” Mrs. Gardiner murmured.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Are you, perchance, asking for my advice?” her aunt teased.

Kitty was relieved. “Yes, Aunt, I am.”

“Then you shall have it. We’ll arrange for a private coze tomorrow, when you call. I doubt Mr. Darcy would appreciate his sister listening in, however, so do come with just your maid.”

“I’m sure Georgiana would be interested,” Kitty said innocently.

“If she wants my advice, she will have to become betrothed first, and then she shall have to ask for it. In the meantime, you will be glad you came alone, if only so you may ask your questions freely.”

“Thank you!” Kitty’s gratitude was written all over her face.

Because all the callers were family, or soon to be family, Kitty asked her sister and aunt to stay when Lord Litchcombe and his mother were announced.

The countess was delighted to meet not only the sister of her future daughter, but was even happier to be introduced to Mrs. Gardiner.

“I have heard so much about you!” Lady Litchcombe exclaimed, embracing the other woman as if they were already family. The ladies were quickly drawn into conversation between themselves, leaving Kitty and Georgiana to entertain Lord Litchcombe and Mary. To Kitty’s consternation, however, Mary drew Litchcombe away for her own little interrogation. Kitty prayed her sister had outgrown some of her sermonizing.

“We have been invited to attend Lord Heatherley’s party,” Mary said to the baron. “But I fear the Bennet contingent will outnumber everyone else.”

“I welcome the chance to meet so many of Miss Bennet’s family, immediate and extended, and as Heatherley holds your sister in some esteem, I see no problem with a largesse of Bennets.”

“And how has Kitty managed to earn his lordship’s regard?” she wondered.

“By managing to hold the interest of his confirmed bachelor friend.”

“Oh? I suppose you are put off by my queries, my lord,” she said, “but I wish to assure myself that my sister is making a love match.” She did not wish to see Kitty follow in Lydia’s footsteps for several reasons, the least of which was to keep her sister from becoming an emotional burden on the family. From all accounts, Litchcombe had plenty of the ready, which would keep her in comfort. But did he love her?

“I can give you my solemn vow, Lady Trowbridge, that this is, indeed, a love match. Had not certain rumors been spread, this would still have come about, perhaps with just a little less haste.”

Mary’s smile was wide. “You don’t know how pleased I am to hear it. Does she know this?”

“Not yet, but she will.”

Mary leaned over and patted his hand. “Then until that time, it shall be our secret.”

Kitty watched Mary and Litchcombe and wondered what in the world they had in common. Beside herself… oh, dear!

“Despite anything she has said, I do not snore, nor do I slurp my soup!”

“I am sure you do not,” Litchcombe said in an attempt to placate his betrothed. “Nor do you have warts, I’m sure,” he teased, winking at Lady Trowbridge.

“I’m sure I – Mary!”

“You used to!”

“That was Lydia! She is also the one who switched you because you would not push her in the swing.”

“When you were children?” Litchcombe inquired, much amused.

“Three years ago!” Kitty said. “And it was most ridiculous of her – she is the tallest and there was no need for her to be pushed at all.” But that was Lydia for you, always wanting someone to take care of her every whim.

“I remember that you pulled her off me even before Lizzy and Jane could interfere,” Mary said softly, as if seeing the incident for the first time.

“Lydia could be good company, but she is extremely selfish,” Kitty said.

“We should talk about something else, perhaps? Our sister would not appreciate us showing her in a poor light to such a handsome man.”

Litchcombe blushed at Mary’s frank comment, and Kitty giggled.

“No, indeed!”

“Tell me more about Miss Bennet as a child,” the earl begged of Mary. Georgiana seconded his request.

“Yes, tell us more,” Lord Trowbridge added. He and Mr. Darcy had come in together and Kitty’s host was greeting Mrs. Gardiner and Lady Litchcombe.

“I was the quiet one,” Mary said innocently.

“Not when it came to ringing a peal over my head!” Kitty protested.

“Girls!” Mrs. Gardiner said with a laugh. “They were normal little girls, sirs, as were Jane, Lizzy and Lydia. Jane was perhaps a bit more angelic than the rest… When she was very small, Kitty was always asking questions. ‘Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green?’ I understand Lizzy was much the same,” she said for Mr. Darcy’s benefit.

“I have always looked to books for information,” Mary said.

“And I have a hefty addition to my library to prove it,” Trowbridge replied. Everyone laughed.

Mrs. Gardiner said it was time she must leave, and invited everyone to dinner in Gracechurch Street soon. They all willingly accepted the invitation.

Lord and Lady Trowbridge were the next to begin an extended leave-taking, but were forestalled by the unexpected appearance of Mr. Bingley, whom they all believed to be in Hertfordshire, and his sister, Mrs. Morris-Smeeth.

Kitty and Litchcombe exchanged grimaces before putting on polite expressions, but it was not necessary, as she cut them completely, as well as the Trowbridges, to speak directly to Georgiana. That left Miss Darcy, who had no wish to speak to her, to deal with the lady alone.

“Darcy!” Mr. Bingley called. “Litchcombe! Trowbridge, how nice to see you again. Lady Trowbridge…” He greeted Mary with a kiss on her cheek. “Could I trouble you gentlemen for a quick conversation in another room?”

The men nodded, although Darcy knew from long experience that nothing was ever quick with his friend, and they left the room, making their apologies to the ladies as they went.

“I wonder what that is all about?” Kitty mused.

“From all I have heard, it is bound to concern Mrs. Morris-Smeeth,” Mary softly replied. She gave her sister a serene smile, not upset in the slightest by that woman’s snub. Neither cared if she greeted them or not, but they felt horrid about leaving her to Georgiana.

“What brings you to town, Charles?” Darcy asked once they had settled in front of the study hearth.

“Caroline. I’ve heard some very disturbing news and Jane – and, incidentally, Louisa – think she needs supervision.” The others nodded, which startled Bingley. “What? Does everyone already know?”

“Calm yourself,” Darcy advised. “None of us is a gossipmonger and we’ve all, even Litchcombe, done what we can to keep this entire situation within the family.”

“But she has done her best to ruin Miss Bennet’s reputation!”

“True,” Litchcombe agreed. “It is not, however, common knowledge that your sister instigated the entire situation. Unfortunately, only her husband has the right to take a horsewhip to her.”

They all chuckled at the picture that conjured in their minds, even Trowbridge.

“So where is this husband of hers?” he asked. Litchcombe shrugged, Darcy looked at Bingley and Bingley stared back.

“I take it, then, a trip to Essex is in order?” he meekly suggested.

“I’m afraid so.” Darcy clapped his friend on the shoulder. “I’m sure you are up to it.”

“Well, well…” Colonel Fitzwilliam drawled from the doorway, interrupting Bingley’s reply. “It’s a conclave of the Bennet husbands. The good ones, anyway,” he amended.

“We’re just hiding out from the ladies,” the earl said with a wink. “And I understand congrats are in order, Fitzwilliam.”

The colonel nodded. “This summer in Kent. I know everyone will be invited. It will be in June, Litchcombe, so you will be able to return to London afterwards to finish Parliament for the season. But tell me… what is of such import that you have to hide from the ladies?”

“I have to travel to Essex to discuss a matter with my brother, Mr. Morris-Smeeth,” Charles said dejectedly.

“I wondered when we were going to get around to settling this,” the colonel said tightly.

“We?” Bingley queried.

“Why not? We are all family, or near enough.”

“Are you volunteering, then, to accompany him?” Darcy asked.

“Why not? If I can get the leave, I would be more than happy to offer my company.”

That settled the matter for the moment and they all drank to that before heading back to the drawing room and the ladies.

Chapter 16

Posted on Monday, 16 May 2005

"You are looking rather pale today, Kitty," her Aunt Gardiner told her when she called the next day. Kitty wanted to retort that her aunt would be, as well, if she were coming to ask such personal questions. She politely refrained. After all, Aunt Gardiner was graciously sharing time and knowledge. Kitty just wished she did not feel so nervous.

"No need to be anxious, my dear," her aunt said, correctly reading her mood. "I only hope my little bits of advice help you through the first few days of marriage."

"No one knows why I am here, do they?" Kitty whispered. She would die of shame if her uncle knew, and she had slipped out of the house early to avoid lengthy explanations to Mr. Darcy and Georgiana.

"This is just between the two of us," her aunt assured her. "Your uncle is at his warehouse and the children are about their lessons. No one even knows you have come to call." She led Kitty into a parlor and asked the maid to bring some tea. After they were settled with refreshments and the maid had gone away, Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece with some interest.

"What do you wish to know?"

"Why... everything!"

"Your mother... She must have explained some of it, obviously."

Kitty blushed. "Yes, aunt, but I don't understand certain, er, things I have not yet experienced."

"Of course you don't." She gave her niece a detailed description of the information she sought and was hard-pressed not to laugh at the expression on Kitty's face.

"It sounds rather disgusting," Kitty said, making a face. "As well as painful." Her aunt chuckled, but kindly.

"I think once you get past the first few times, you will find it more pleasurable. And sometimes..." Her voice dropped low. "It can even be fun."

"Fun?" Kitty was taken aback. "But Mama said..."

"I am sure I have an idea what your mother said. I thought that was the reason you came to me." It was a gentle rebuke. "I think you can discount anything she said about lying back in the dark and thinking of England."

"How did you..."

"I've spoken to Jane and Elizabeth, remember?"

"And Lydia?"

Mrs. Gardiner snorted. "That one could probably tell me a thing or two."

"She is rather smug about it," Kitty agreed. "Thank you very much, aunt, for your information. Shall I tell you what I think about it after I've done that a couple of times?"

Her aunt turned bright red. "Er, no, I think not."

That next evening was the Heatherly dinner party. Kitty and Georgiana had given much thought to their appearance. Sir Justin Evers was to be a guest and Kitty could not help but tease Georgiana just a little.

"He's quite handsome, isn't he?" she said with a sly look at her friend. Their maid worked on their toilettes in unison in Kitty's room.

"I do not think of him as other than a friend. Will you be calling at Gracechurch Street again this week?" she asked in an attempt to change the subject. "I like playing with your cousins."

Kitty knew Georgiana had been put out about not being invited to visit the Gardiners the day before, and offered an olive branch. "We could go together on Thursday, if you like, and we have been invited to dine there on Friday."

Georgiana said she was looking forward to both visits and they finished dressing in companionable silence.

The drawing room at the duke's palatial London mansion was far from quiet, but even Georgiana had to smile when she encountered the sea of friendly faces. There was not a stranger to be found.

Lady Litchcombe, as hostess, came forward to greet Kitty and the Darcys.

"You remember His Grace from Almack's," she said, leaving Darcy to join the other gentlemen as she reacquainted the young ladies with Heatherley's father.

"My felicitations, Miss Bennet," he said, bowing over her hand. "You have managed to rein in an elusive bachelor. I, for one, am pleased to see it happen. After all, can the same fate be far behind for his friends?"

Kitty smiled. "It might be an interesting occupation, making an attempt to see such a thing occur."

"Perhaps the next to fall could be my son, then. I'm not getting any younger, and every gentleman wishes to see the continuance of the family."

"Not the title?" Kitty asked.

The duke laughed. "That is important, but tends to take care of itself once the other is settled."

"And if Lord Heatherley presented you with only granddaughters? I know too well the problems caused by the absence of a male heir on entailed estates."

"I should love to have granddaughters! They would be well provided for and the title can return to the crown."

"A refreshing approach, Your Grace."

"I am noted for my eccentricities," he admitted modestly.

"You would not wish to see the title revert to the crown!" Lady Litchcombe exclaimed.

"As long as the family was well provided for..."

It did not take long for Lords Heatherley and Litchcombe to step into the discussion that ensued between the duke and the baroness.

"Not that old wheeze about the title again!" the marquess said with a groan. "Come, Miss Darcy. Justin says you play the pianoforte. Will you come settle a debate on Mozart for us, please?" Georgiana agreed and allowed herself to be escorted away.

Litchcombe, in the meantime, had led Kitty over to a footman with a tray of sherry and procured her a drink. "You look absolutely stunning this evening, Miss Bennet."

Kitty beamed. She did look especially fetching in palest pink, and her silk evening gown was of a modest, but modish, cut. The maid had pinned a tiny pink and white orchid in her hair and pearls hung from her ears and neck. "Thank you, my lord. You are not so difficult to look upon yourself." She made a mental note to always have him dress in black and white dinner clothes. His fair hair and blue eyes were a perfect foil for the plain clothes Beau Brummel had declared de rigueur for fashionable gentlemen.

"You must not monopolize your future wife," Heatherley teased, taking Kitty's hand and tucking it up under his arm. "Enough time for that after next week. Besides, Cam, I would like Miss Bennet to introduce me to her family," he said hastily when the baron glared at him.

"I would be honored, my lord. You do not know Lord Trowbridge?" she asked as they strolled over to where Mary and Simon had just come in. She made the introductions and then they all joined Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, where Heatherley was introduced all over again.

Kitty then found herself bringing her sister and brother Trowbridge over to the duke, amazing herself with the ease at which she made more introductions. It was while the duke and Simon discussed the dowager countess and her pugs that the Hursts and Mrs. Morris-Smeeth arrived. Kitty had not realized they had been invited, but supposed it stood to reason. After all, Mr. Bingley was to come, but he had been called out of town.

"My dear baroness," Mrs. Hurst cooed as she came into the room and approached Lady Litchcombe. "How lovely of you to invite us this evening! We are practically family, you know." She gave Kitty a gracious smile. "But I do wish our brother could be here." She turned to Kitty and addressed her as a real person for the first time ever. "So strange. He hurries up to Town and then disappears almost as soon as he arrives."

She clearly expected Kitty to know the meaning of it all, but Kitty only shrugged and commiserated with the lady. "Who can understand the male mind?" Kitty said to both ladies and they all laughed. "Especially when one is expecting a certain blessed event."

"I am so longing to become an aunt!" Mrs. Hurst admitted in a whisper. A dinner party was not the place to speak of such things. She tucked her arm into Kitty's and walked them over to an empty sofa, nodding greetings along the way. "Aren't you? And you shall be one several times over," the lady said with relish. It was the most animated Kitty had ever seen Mrs. Hurst.

Louisa Hurst waved Georgiana over, completely ignoring her own sister, who was being handed a sherry by Lord Kenneth Moore. "Here is someone else who must be happily anticipating an interesting event!"

Georgiana smiled shyly and allowed that she was. "Although I shall be in Kent until after my cousin's wedding."

"Is that still going to happen?" Mrs. Hurst cast a furtive glance over to where Mr. Darcy was conversing with his aunt and cousin. "Caroline told me the colonel has run out of town and has no intention of returning."

Kitty and Georgiana exchanged shocked looks. Kitty hadn't even realized the colonel was out of town until that moment, not having been privy earlier to Lady Catherine tendering her nephew's regrets.

"Where did she hear such a thing? There is absolutely no truth in that rumor, Mrs. Hurst and I beg you not to repeat it," Georgiana pleaded.

"I haven't!" Louisa assured them. "I only heard it on the way here and even then I thought it best to tell you first."

Kitty was impressed. When had Mrs. Hurst become a nice person?

"I shall tell Caroline her source is wrong and malicious. But where is the colonel, if he is not out of town?"

"He is out of town," Georgiana said softly. "But expected back before Miss Bennet's wedding."

And not a moment too soon, Kitty thought with some relief, if Caroline sought to spread more rumors. But whom to tell? Her gaze went immediately to Lord Litchcombe.

Of course! Not only was he able to take care of such a problem, but Kitty actually felt warm all over with the thought that such a man was going to be hers by the end of the next week. How wonderful to know there was someone to champion you when there was cause. She knew this was true - he had already done so for her.

Excusing herself from Mrs. Hurst and Georgiana, Kitty strolled around the room, exchanging a few quips with Lord Heatherley here, making a polite curtsey to Lady Catherine there, slowly working her way to where Cameron now stood with Mr. Darcy. Even better.

Cameron took her hand and tucked it into his arm as she greeted them both, and did not allow her to remove it. Not that she wished to.

"I've been watching you make your way over here," he said with a warm smile. "Do you have news or did you just wish for my company?"

"Both." Mr. Darcy was about to move on, no doubt thinking they needed a few moments of private conversation, but Kitty touched his arm with her free hand. "Please stay, Mr. Darcy. You should hear this."

“Something has happened?” Cameron asked, concerned.

“Not yet. Mrs. Hurst has told Georgiana and I about a rumor she learned from her sister. She was told that Colonel Fitzwilliam has quit town to avoid marrying Miss de Bourgh.”

Darcy’s eyes narrowed as he glanced briefly at Mrs. Morris-Smeeth, being paid court to by Lord Kenneth. At least that is what it seemed like to Kitty. They were off to one side and she was laughing over whatever he was whispering in her ear.

“Where would she have heard such a thing?” Cameron asked.

“Who said she heard it?” Kitty said calmly. “Would it surprise any of us if she was the one who thought it up?”

“We cannot prove such a thing, and we could not do anything here, of course…” Mr. Darcy said.

“Of course,” the other two agreed.

“The Colonel and Bingley aren’t even expected back any earlier than tomorrow,” Cameron remarked.

“If that soon. Who knows what tactics they will have to employ,” Mr. Darcy replied.

Kitty had no idea what they were talking about, except that it seemed the colonel was indeed out of town on business with Mr. Bingley.

The butler appeared at the drawing room door at that point and they were forced to give up their speculation as Lady Litchcombe directed them all into the dining room.

The meal started out innocently enough, with more thought put into showing deference to age than position. The duke sat at the head of the table, Lady Catherine on his right, Mrs. Gardiner on his left. Although Mary, as a countess, should, by rights, sit in Lady Catherine’s place, Lady Litchcombe had announced outright that this was a family dinner and no one was to be overly concerned with where they had been placed. Mary did not seem put out.

Kitty had no complaints, either. Seated on her left was Lord Litchcombe and on her right was Mr. Hurst. A few comments placed here and there in between refills of his wine glass and she could devote the rest of her time to Cameron.

She was seated in the middle of the table, with Georgiana directly across from her, and had a good view of Mr. Darcy on his sister’s left, Mrs. Morris-Smeeth just beyond him. Caroline had already continued her flirtation with Lord Kenneth, and it was drawing disapproving stares from Lady Catherine, on Lord Kenneth’s left.

“Some of us would like to enjoy our soup,” that lady said stiffly when Caroline and Lord Kenneth broke out into raucous laughter.

Kitty, who had been eating her soup with one hand in Cameron’s lap, glanced down the table at her future mother-in-law, who was frowning. Evidently her intention to keep Mrs. Morris-Smeeth away from certain people had backfired. Who knew she and Lord Kenneth would decide to flirt?

Kitty turned back to the others. Lady Catherine was glaring over at Mrs. Morris-Smeeth, who was haughtily ignoring her. Everyone else had their heads buried in their bowls, hoping the contretemps would blow over.

“At least now I know why Darcy and Mr. Bingley went to so much trouble to put Mrs. Morris-Smeeth and that nasty little vicar of hers into a compromising position,” Lady Catherine remarked conversationally to the duke. “Otherwise she would have half the male hands in London up her skirts. Such as Lord Kenneth is mentally doing this very moment.”

“I say!” Lord Kenneth exclaimed, blushing as if he had, indeed, been doing that. Caroline stood up from her place, her chair falling backwards behind her.

“If I were a man I would call you out for that!” she retorted over the top of Lord Kenneth’s head. “It’s not true, is it, Mr. Darcy? That nasty little vicar accosted me on his own accord and you and my brother just happened to…” Caroline suddenly deflated, as if the truth of that night had finally sunk in.

“It was nothing more than you deserved,” Mary said suddenly from the other side of Cameron. “After all, you lied to me when you said you and Trowbridge were betrothed.”

“And then you spread false rumors concerning Miss Bennet,” Cameron added. “Forcing her into a hasty betrothal. I wouldn’t be surprised if you are the reason Darcy’s announcements to the newspapers went awry.”

“What if I did…” Caroline sneered. “I have to hold my own around you people!”

“And now you are trying to start gossip concerning my daughter,” Lady Catherine interjected, not wishing to be left out.

Kitty looked sharply at Georgiana, who sat with an innocent look on her face. The faint glimmer of a halo seemed to sit askew on her golden head. The rest of them stared at Mrs. Morris-Smeeth for answers, but were rewarded only with the flinging open of the dining room doors and a booming voice.

“Caroline!”

Chapter 17

Posted on Friday, 20 May 2005

Caroline blanched when a deep, booming voice bellowed out her name. “Harriet?”

Harriet? Kitty turned to her left as a large, burly woman bounded into the room, the weight of her walk shaking the crystal drops on the candelabra.

“Caroline!” the woman called in a sing-song voice, as if she were coaxing her to come to her. “I heard you have been a naughty girl…”

“Who the devil is she?” Cameron whispered to Kitty.

“I have no idea.”

“I don’t like it when you have been naughty,” the big woman called. The wine in their glasses danced about at her passing. Caroline looked like a cornered animal.

“I’ve been a good girl, Harriet,” Mrs. Morris-Smeeth insisted. “Ask anyone! Ask… Miss Darcy!” She pointed to Georgiana and Harriet stopped behind the girl’s chair.

“My brother doesn’t like it when his wife is bad, Miss Darcy. And when he is unhappy, I am unhappy. You don’t want me unhappy, do you?”

“N-n-n-no,” Georgiana stuttered. Everyone else was quiet. Even Lady Catherine had been cowed into silence.

Kitty was able to study Miss Morris-Smeeth (as she guessed that lady’s identity to be) from across the table. Harriet was the perfect name for her. The woman had a wealth of dark hair, all scraped back into a serviceable bun at the top of her head, and a mustache. Kitty shuddered to think what the lady looked like in evening dress, with short sleeves and decolletage.

“So I’m asking, Miss Darcy. Has Caroline been a good girl?”

“N-n-n-no,” Georgiana admitted honestly. “S-s-s-she s-s-started rumors about my cousin and my sister.”

Kitty approved of leaving Mary and Trowbridge out of this. That had happened the previous year before Mrs. Morris-Smeeth’s marriage.

“That is what I heard,” the prizefighter-built woman behind her bellowed, causing Georgiana to jump three inches. “Now, come along, Caroline.” She rubbed her hands together gleefully and Kitty suppressed a smirk. “Time to go home.”

“No!” Caroline shouted. “I won’t go!” She grabbed Mr. Darcy by the arm. “Don’t make me go back there! You don’t know how I am mistreated! I’m not allowed to spend money on new clothes, I have to visit the poor…” She made a face. “I have to attend church almost every day and…” She cringed. “I have to spend my nights with Mr. Morris-Smeeth.”

Several people, trying to appear unconcerned about this entire matter, put their soup spoons down at that point, having met the vicar.

“Come along, Caroline,” her sister-in-law said more forcefully. She took Caroline by the hand and led her from the room. Lady Litchcombe’s chair quivered as the vicar’s sister strode by. “I promise you won’t have to milk the cows if you go quietly…” They disappeared from view.

Silence prevailed. Judging everyone to have either finished their soup or no longer interested in it, Lady Litchcombe rang for the fish course.

“I don’t understand how Miss Morris-Smeeth knew Caroline required retrieving,” Georgiana admitted once the ladies had adjourned to the drawing room after dinner.

“Mr. Bingley and the colonel,” Anne said. “They went to Wessex to discuss her removal from town, and I imagine Miss Morris-Smeeth was sent to take care of the problem.”

Mrs. Gardiner, now aware of what was happening at what was turning into one of the more entertaining dinner parties she had attended, chuckled. “Who would dare oppose such a woman if she decided to take matters into her own hands?”

“Not Mr. Bingley!” Kitty said with a laugh. “Can you imagine the discussion she must have had with the colonel?” Even Lady Catherine smiled grimly at that thought.

Mrs. Hurst was quiet through all this, and Lady Litchcombe asked if perhaps she wished to lie down somewhere after such a dramatic scene. “You must be worried for your sister,” the baroness said soothingly.

“Did you see the muscles in that woman’s arms?” Louisa Hurst whispered. “I’ll wager she could lift a cow over her head!”

“And toss it into the next pasture,” Mary murmured to Kitty, who had to stifle a snort.

“You seem overwrought, Mrs. Hurst,” Lady Litchcombe kindly continued. “Can I get you something?”

“Brandy would be nice. I just cannot believe there are such large, hairy women like that! Imagine!” Louisa started to laugh, a sound that was slightly tinged with hysteria. “Can’t you picture Caroline trying to milk a cow?” she asked Lady Litchcombe.

The baroness hastened back with the brandy, but Mrs. Hurst waved it away. She was too occupied in laughing.

Quiet, little-girl giggles suddenly erupted from Georgiana. “Or gathering eggs?” she suggested.

Lady Litchcombe chuckled. “Beating rugs?” Everyone snickered.

“Sewing sheets?” Mary offered.

“Baking biscuits…” Anne said.

Louisa Hurst was laughing so hard, she was in tears.

“Shaving both their faces?” Kitty asked with a grin. They were all laughing now.

“Weeding a garden,” Mrs. Gardiner added.

“Bearing children!” Lady Catherine declared, which sent them all into fresh whoops.

That was how the gentlemen found them – the brandy decanter in Lady Litchcombe’s hand and all the ladies leaning against each other, attempting to catch their breath. Even Lady Catherine had unfurled her fan and was using it vigorously. Kitty thought perhaps she was smiling behind the black lace, but she wasn’t sure.

Their merriment seemed to set a gayer tone for the rest of the evening, and after the younger ladies and a couple of the gentlemen provided musical entertainment, the company began to break up for the night.

Cameron took Mr. Darcy aside, and, moments later, Mr. Darcy and his sister left without Kitty.

“We shall escort you home soon, Miss Bennet,” Lady Litchcombe assured her. “I’ll allow you and Cameron a few moments, then, while I speak with the duke.” She quit the room, leaving Kitty alone with her betrothed.

“It has been some evening, hasn’t it?” Cameron asked with a laugh. “I’m not so sure even Mrs. Morris-Smeeth deserves such a fate as she will no doubt receive.”

Kitty shrugged, not inclined to be so generous. “I daresay, but only as long as she has to milk the cow." They grinned at each other.

“I would not expect you to do that in Lincolnshire,” he said, putting his hands on her shoulders.

“You don’t know how relieved I am to hear it. My duties won’t be too onerous, will they?” She blushed, recalling her intimate conversation with her aunt. She somehow doubted those would be so.

“I’d like to think they won’t,” Cameron replied, wondering at her sudden blush. “It won’t take an intelligent female like yourself long to learn how to run the household, and the neighbors and tenants are all basically congenial.”

Kitty warmed under his compliment. She was not used to being referred to as intelligent. “Leaving me plenty of time to tend to my lord’s wants and needs?”

Cameron got it this time, and his eyes gleamed bright blue. “Something of that nature.

“Is that a duty I can begin to work on right now?” She stepped in closer, the urge to be held in his arms overwhelming. It occurred to her suddenly that on her side, at least, this marriage was going to be a love match.

“I can’t think of a better time to start…” Kitty was folded into his arms and kissed thoroughly, a foretaste of things to come. At least she hoped so.

Life became much more hectic after that, with the wedding looming. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet arrived from Longbourn and stayed with Lady Litchcombe. Kitty was thankful for the couple of hours of peace in the Darcy household every morning until her mother would invade. Then it was off on a whirlwind of shopping with a bevy of female relatives, including Mary, Aunt Gardiner and Lady Litchcombe. Fortunately, her aunt and Cameron’s mother were voices of reason in the face of her own mother’s tendency to go overboard.

If Mrs. Bennet thought Kitty should buy linens, Lady Litchcombe was there to gently remind her that Litchcombe House and the Lincolnshire estate were well stocked. If Kitty’s mama said she should have more than several filmy nightdresses, Mrs. Gardiner would take her sister aside and say a few words. A blushing Mrs. Bennet would allow that Kitty, most likely, would not require more than three.

And the wedding presents flowed into Litchcombe House and the Darcy residence like water.

Lady Jersey sent a silver platter with entwined C’s engraved in its center; Beau Brummel, to Kitty’s amazement, gave them a pair of crystal candlesticks; and even the Prince Regent was represented. He gave them a complete set of china with an oriental design. Cameron thought perhaps the set had been destined for the Marine Pavilion in Brighton. He and Kitty had them shipped north to the manor, as they had done with most of the gifts.

Lady Catherine gave them a ceramic vase so hideous in design, they consigned it to one of the guest rooms in the London townhouse, and Lady Litchcombe was the one who thought the huge silver epergne from one of her relatives should stay in town.

“When Cousin Bertha comes to dine, you can place it, and her, in the center of the table and use large pineapples to block her from view.”

“Cousin Bertha still wears her hair high and powdered,” Cameron explained to Kitty, who had to laugh.

“You will see her at the wedding,” Lady Litchcombe had warned, “and after you return from Brighton,” where they were to spend two weeks, “we shall have a family dinner and put those pineapples to the test.”

Mr. Bingley had gone to Hertfordshire to collect Jane and they were now a welcome addition to the calm Darcy household. Kitty was pleased that her elder sister was to be present for her wedding, but found herself missing Lizzy and wishing that she, too, could have been able to attend. And if she was, surely Mr. Darcy was missing her even more.

She caught up with Mr. Darcy the evening before her wedding, in the book room, where he had retired after dinner. Georgiana was practicing the pianoforte and the Bingleys had already retired. Kitty, however, had too much nervous energy to go to bed.

“I hope I am not interrupting,” she apologized when he looked up from a book and a brandy at her entrance.

“Not at all.” Ever the gentleman, Mr. Darcy abandoned his reading and got to his feet. Kitty took the other chair by the fire and they settled down together.

“Is there something on your mind?” he queried.

“A couple of things. First, I wish to thank you for everything you’ve done.”

“I have not done a thing,” he said modestly.

“More than anyone else!” she exclaimed. “You bailed Lydia out of an untenable situation, you got rid of a troublemaker for Mary and now you have helped me weather scandal. And through everything you’ve done for me, I know all you have wanted was to return home to Derbyshire.”

Mr. Darcy nodded, but he did not speak.

“I wish Lizzy were here,” she said with a sigh.

“Not Mrs. Wickham?” he asked and Kitty knew what it cost him to say that name.

“Hard to believe, isn’t it? For as long as I can remember, life revolved around Lydia – and her wants and wishes. It wasn’t until she was gone that I realized that my other sisters were of more worth as friends.” Even Mary, especially since she had married Simon. “And I will always consider Miss Darcy as a sister.”

“I can’t thank you enough for the friendship you have given my sister.” Still, thoughts of Lizzy made him seem so sad.

“Don’t worry,” Kitty said sympathetically. “You can leave for Pemberley soon.”

Mr. Darcy’s smile was as wide as she had ever seen it.

Epilogue

The bride was radiant in pale blue and white, with orange blossoms on her bonnet and in her hand, and the groom was handsome. He stood at the altar in St. George’s that morning in a dark blue coat, pale blue waistcoat and buff breeches, orange blossoms in his buttonhole. Only Lady Litchcombe, already wiping away tears, knew her son’s waistcoat matched Kitty’s dress exactly. She had made sure of that.

The groom’s friends watched solemnly, and a bit sadly, as Mr. Bennet gave his daughter away. They knew, even if Cameron did not, that he was now doomed to a life of domesticity, no matter how much they wished it were not so.

Kitty’s family and friends were wreathed in smiles, and Mrs. Bennet made a big show of lamenting the loss of her last unmarried daughter, even while she congratulated herself on a job well done. No one had the nerve to correct her, although Lady Catherine, too far away to say anything during the service, made a mental note to inform Mrs. Bennet later that she was responsible for Miss Bennet’s advantageous marriage.

The colonel could have begged to differ, of course. He had introduced them, after all, but he was too intent on holding Anne’s hand and thinking a couple of months into the future, when he would be standing at the altar, to even care.

Mr. Bennet had mixed feelings about losing his last daughter, but he had spent enough time with Litchcombe in the past few days to know she would be in good hands.

Before Kitty knew it, she was a married lady, the wedding breakfast had been consumed at Litchcombe House, and she and Cameron were in a coach and on their way to Brighton.

“Why Brighton?” she asked.

“It’s close,” he replied, “and my godmother has offered us her cottage for a couple of weeks.”

“Cottage” was a misnomer, she thought as he handed her out some hours later at what a sign proclaimed was “Shell House.” Situated outside of the coastal town, it was on a slope that headed toward a sandy beach and the sea. A swiftly running stream on the east side of the property emptied into the English Channel and there were bowers and swings and all manner of intimate spots for lovers. Kitty would discover all these later.

Now she was faced with a setting sun, a contingent of servants and a husband who was, no doubt, hungry, despite the stops earlier to change horses and have refreshments.

“May we have dinner in half an hour?” she asked the housekeeper when that lady said they had just been waiting their arrival to serve.

“It shall be as your ladyship wishes.”

She was a ladyship! Kitty found that it wasn’t nearly as important as the man at her side, however, who was asking if she were ready to go upstairs.

“Now?” She goggled at him. In the daytime?

“You will want to dress for dinner,” he said blandly, but he was laughing at her, she was sure of it. She went regally up the stairs and to the room set aside for her use.

Later, over a dinner for two of roast duckling, potatoes and a beautiful little iced cake, Cameron proposed a toast.

“To the most beautiful bride ever…”

Kitty blushed, but dutifully lifted her glass.

“And to the most darling female I know – the woman I love.”

Kitty’s eyes grew wide. “You love me?” she squeaked, but did not wait for an answer. Abandoning her glass, she quickly relocated to Cameron’s lap, wrapping her arms about her neck. She leaned over and recovered her champagne. “I’ll drink to that. Especially since I love you, too.”

Cameron’s eyes glowed. “Definitely something to celebrate.”

Kitty drank some sparkling wine and sat the glass down once more. “But if you love me, does that mean you would have made me an offer even if we had not been embroiled in scandal?” she asked, tightening the hold she had on his neck.

Cameron chuckled. “Makes us rather beholden to Mrs. Morris-Smeeth for moving up the wedding date, doesn’t it?”

“It does! Perhaps we should send her a present!” They looked at each other and grinned. “A cow!” they said together and dissolved into laughter.

That happiness set the tone for after dinner, when they went upstairs together, and Kitty thought, perhaps, it set the tone for their future life.

It didn’t take long for her, either, to appreciate her aunt’s advice.

The End