Beginning, Section II, Next Section

In the library, Miss Avon was privately lamenting Miss Bennet's lack of proficiency on the pianoforte, as the girl herself read aloud from a chapter in the Arabian Nights.

She truly enjoyed having Kitty as her pupil; it was as though she had a ward of sorts, and she had never had one before. She and Caroline had both imparted all the lessons and dictates of decorum that had been learned during their years at school. The young lady was quick and eager enough to learn, while still spending a good share of her time pretending disobedience in the face of hers and Caroline's teachings. Beneath all the talk of regimentals and bonnets, which was slowly being stripped away by the elder ladies' influence, Samantha felt that Kitty had a good deal of sense as well as entirely too much sensibility, which, while tiresome, she found oddly endearing.

Though Kitty could be most wicked, of course.

Now, for example, Samantha thought, as with a groan of frustration, Kitty flung the book aside in mid-sentence.

"Lord, I am sure I cannot read another word; I'll soon be turning into a blue-stocking!"

Samantha suppressed a chuckle with little success, but still managed to glare censoriously at the girl. "Kitty, that is absolutely ludicrous - Caroline and I have read every one of the books we have suggested you read, and I can assure you that neither of us have ever been labelled as blue-stockings. And take care with that book, it is not my copy, you know. It's Mr. Bingley's. And how often must I tell you not to use that vulgar exclamation in my presence?" She added the last, knowing very well that Kitty was only doing so to annoy her.

"At least a dozen times more, and then I promise I will listen," Kitty returned impishly, and Miss Avon was unable to suppress her own groan.

"It would seem Catherine is not half the reader Miss Eliza is," said Miss Bingley sardonically, not even glancing up from the pages of a letter she had been poring over all afternoon.

"She is married now, you realize," Kitty piped up. She quickly ducked her head in the face of Caroline's poisonous glare.

"Oh, enough of this, you two," Samantha insisted, biting her lip to avoid adding her own degree of teasing to Kitty's. She enjoyed teasing Caroline when Kitty was present - the other woman tended to neglect the majority of her "fine breeding" and became much more interesting. Kitty was not a sensational wit, but she certainly had her own methods of provocation. But Samantha, having the advantage over Kitty by knowing the particulars of Caroline's dislike for her elder sister, lost interest in the current subject much faster than Kitty had.

"Perhaps if you had learned to play, you might be able to do something other than read." Samantha continued her earlier lamentations aloud, unaccountably annoyed with Kitty's family as a whole for not teaching the girl to play. "But since you are determined to be obstinate, and refuse to go near a pianoforte at all-"

"Miss Bingley has heard both Mary and Lizzy play, and is overcritical of the skills of both," Kitty protested. "As their skills far surpass my own, I have no wish to expose myself to that sort of censure."

Miss Bingley snickered behind her pages, but said nothing. Samantha frowned in displeasure. "There, Caroline, you see how you have frightened her? Kitty, should I teach you, I daresay you would become proficient in very little time at all, and I will not allow Caroline in the room."

Caroline may have taken exception to this, regardless of how badly she wished to keep Miss Avon's approval, but she was otherwise engaged in her sister's news from France, where she and her husband had gone to visit his family. Kitty had taken up the Arabian Nights once more and by all appearances was reading silently. Samantha was quite put out at being so thoroughly ignored by both.

"So what news do you have of your sister, Caroline?" she asked.

Caroline finally looked up from the letter. "Louisa writes that she and Mr. Hurst will be coming to visit Netherfield on their way home. They will be arriving in a matter of days, and plan to stay for a fortnight. I do hope Charles is aware of this."

Kitty carefully hid her grimace, having recently learnt that this would be an unforgivable breach of civility. Miss Bingley had just become a rather interesting and amusing, if challenging companion; it was not much different from managing Lydia, though Miss Bingley had less of the vivacity and much more of the venom.

However, with Mrs. Hurst arriving, Miss Bingley would probably spend all her time with her, being even more high-handed and coolly distant than she already was. Kitty could not be cheerful in the face of such a possibility.

"It's been a long time since I have seen Mrs. Hurst," Samantha said, sounding rather cheerful in contrast to Kitty's mood. "I shall look forward to her company. How fortuitous that she should visit when she will, Caroline, for it is mere days after her departure that we remove ourselves to Bath."

Kitty tried to ignore the odd pang she felt at the reminder of Samantha and Miss Bingley's impending departure. She had been long informed of the two ladies' future plans; Miss Bingley was to spend the summer with Miss Avon at Mr. Avon's house in Bath. Kitty could not help lamenting how dull things would become once they departed, and was sure she would miss even Miss Bingley's company, let alone Miss Samantha's.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries with Miss Bingley on the subject of Louisa Hurst, Samantha returned to sit next to Kitty, where she gave an exclamation of surprise.

"Kitty, you are not reading at all! And here I thought you were putting aside your aversion to the occupation in favour of furthering your education. What is that you have there?"

She attempted to pry Kitty's drawing portfolio, which Kitty had hidden between the pages of the book, from her hands. But Kitty, with suddenly-wide eyes, clutched the book to her chest. "I will not show you, for you will only laugh," she insisted.

Samantha was intrigued. "Oh, now you must tell us. Me, at least. Why would I laugh?"

Kitty seemed to consider her decision very carefully. "You must promise not to laugh, for I shall be forced to tickle you if you do. I have never shown this to anyone before, including my sisters, though I do take some pride in it."

Even Miss Bingley was fascinated by this, and set aside her letter. Samantha quickly promised and made Kitty loosen her death grip on the folder. Once it was in her possession, she spent quite some time critiquing the contents with a consistent "hmmm".

"Kitty, this is rather good," she finally murmured, when it appeared the girl was going to expire from anxiety. "Actually, it is very good, but...oh, if only your subjects were of more significance!"

"Here, let me see," Caroline interjected, unable to pretend indifference any longer. She snatched the portfolio from Miss Avon, who gave Kitty an apologetic glance.

"Just as I thought, nothing but gowns and regimentals. You are a constant surprise, Catherine," was Miss Bingley's rather harsh judgement.

Kitty might have been furious at such a blow to her vanity, were she not very used to such treatment from Miss Bingley by now, and doubted very much the other woman would change. She settled for sticking her tongue out.

Miss Bingley looked down her nose at Kitty disapprovingly. "Stop that! How often must we tell you it is a most inelegant gesture?"

"Well, I heard you snort over your sister's letter a while ago, can you tell me that is also not an inelegant gesture?" Kitty retorted.

Samantha giggled, and Miss Bingley went a bit red. "Never mind that," she snapped. "Neither of us have laughed, and thereby broken any promises to you. I suppose you have some talent, though your chosen subjects make it quite as empty as your head. Can not you draw scenic portraits, or even your home, Longbourn?"

Kitty blinked. "I...suppose I have never really considered it, Miss Bingley," she admitted. "My foremost goal as far as my drawing went was to someday have an officer sit for me while I drew him." She sighed in what she considered a very romantic manner. It was not, and Miss Bingley sneered.

"Begin to consider it. I wish to see something by your next visit, Catherine. Perhaps your paltry talents may surpass those of your elder sister." The contemptuous tone of this address left no doubt as to which elder sister Miss Bingley was referring to.

Though cognisant of the fact that this was perhaps the highest compliment Miss Bingley had ever paid her, Kitty chose to rebel against such high-handed treatment. "For someone who expresses her dislike of Lizzy so untiringly, you certainly mention her very often. How much do you dislike Lizzy, Miss Bingley?"

Samantha cast censuring looks in Miss Bingley's direction. It was enough that the girl had apparently acquired Caroline's talent for asking innocently malicious questions, she did not need to have her mind poisoned against her sister by Miss Bingley as well. For all the amusement she derived from Caroline's rants about the new Mrs. Darcy, she had become slightly protective of Kitty, and had no wish for her to bear witness to one.

But Miss Bingley had even less wish to enter this conversation than Samantha desired to have Kitty observe it. She did not relish the idea of Catherine, of all people, being able to perceive the extent of her hatred so easily. "I do not."

"Do you dislike her very much?" Kitty pressed.

"Perhaps."

"Oh." All vindictive intentions suddenly vanished in deference to genuine curiosity. "Why?"

Caroline had become well aware that Kitty could continue on in this vein forever. "It is none of your business, child, and if you truly wished to know you would put your eyes and your brain to some use," she snapped. "But I will not answer your incessant questions!"

Kitty recoiled, stung. "I only wished to know why you sometimes act as bitter as the old maids in the novels," she said in an injured tone.

Samantha burst out laughing, and Caroline glared. As sometimes happened in her conversations with Kitty, childish instinct won precedence over any other emotion.

"At least I am not an uncultured, unfashionable country chit!"

Amid the following volley of "Old maid!" and "Country chit!", Samantha shook her head. Perhaps she was gaining entirely too much amusement from these interactions, but it seemed that once more, Caroline's attempt to exercise authority over Kitty had become a riot. At least the awkward moments had passed. When Mr. Bingley came in minutes later, wishing to know whether Kitty had enjoyed the Arabian Nights and whether Caroline had received a letter from Mrs. Hurst, both answered in the affirmative and the previous subject was all but forgotten.

Chapter 6

Kitty was not as quick-witted as Elizabeth, and while she felt she could stand her own ground, she did not know how to come out ahead in a battle of wits. However, Miss Bingley seemed to get very irritated whenever Kitty mentioned Lizzy's name, or showed open admiration of her sister. Kitty justified that this was as good a way as any to get revenge in Elizabeth's honour, and found great fun in provoking her sister-in-law.

But in the days following the odd conversation in the library at Netherfield, Kitty found herself trying to remember the actions of the Netherfield party as it had been two years ago, the little she had seen of them.

She had not paid much attention to the visitors at Netherfield back then, after it became clear that Mr. Bingley was not going to choose either herself or Lydia to fall in love with. She had felt that Mr. Bingley was a very amiable man, but the rest of his companions were snooty enough to make her lose all interest in them, so she had left the matter at that. The militia had arrived shortly afterward, and between flirting with Captain Carter and dressing up Lieutenant Chamberlayne, she had been more than occupied.

However...she did remember her first impression of the Netherfield party as they had appeared at the Meryton assembly. Miss Bingley had behaved with such possessiveness toward Mr. Darcy that for the entire first half of the evening, Kitty had been certain that she was the married Bingley sister, and Mr. Darcy her husband. Miss Goulding had later helped her correct this assumption, but it had been rather clear to her that if Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley were not yet married, they would soon be. Even back then, Kitty had observed enough to reason that with such similar dispositions, Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley must be of a mind to like each other.

Yet Mr. Darcy had married Elizabeth. Could that be the source of Miss Bingley's dislike? Were she in a Gothic romance novel, Kitty might have been convinced of nothing else. But having since been taught not to take such writings seriously, she instead asked Jane when her eldest sister next called at Longbourn.

Given the serious nature of the topic and her earnest desire to receive a definite answer rather than a dressing-down, she phrased the question carefully, instead of asking bluntly as she was wont to do. Jane was not insensible to the effort, but felt she could not, in good conscience, reveal such intimate details that had nothing to do with her, and were certain to portray either Caroline or Elizabeth in a bad light to Kitty. She merely told Kitty that Miss Bingley had suffered a disappointment of sorts, and to some extent blamed Lizzy. Jane had observed Kitty's growing affection for two of her houseguests, and knew that with Kitty's weakness for gossip and asking questions, such a subject could hardly be avoided, but she still begged Kitty not to speak about it with Miss Bingley.

This intrigued rather than deterred Kitty, but she agreed with Jane to set aside the matter, for though she longed to know the full story, she was still somewhat intimidated by Miss Bingley and had little desire to destroy the fragile understanding she had reached with the woman.

However, Jane was correct in assuming that such subjects could not be avoided, despite all of Kitty's good intentions, as the current conversation between Miss Bingley and young Miss Bennet revealed.

It was the afternoon of the Hursts' scheduled arrival to Netherfield, and Misses Avon, Bingley, and Kitty were taking a turn around the grounds of the estate. This was not an activity in which they partook very often, as Kitty was prone to coughing after remaining outdoors for extended periods of time. But the Hursts' carriage was expected to arrive at any moment, and they were awaiting word of it.

Miss Bingley continued to own that she disliked Elizabeth Darcy very much, but refused to explain why. Miss Samantha was being just as tight-lipped on the subject as Caroline was, if not more so, and in her frustration, Kitty cast aside good intentions and fragile understandings.

"I merely do not see why you should dislike her so strongly," she griped. "And I understand even less why you refuse to talk about it. She is very well liked by all, and yes she can sometimes be bossy and self-righteous, but she is one of the best sisters anyone can hope for!"

Miss Bingley was fully prepared to hear the same emotional drivel from Kitty as she would have expected from Jane on the subject of Elizabeth, but she pounced on what interested her right away. "Bossy and self-righteous?" This, she knew, Jane would never say.

"Well, yes she-" Kitty began, remembering the many tiring lectures delivered to her by Lizzy and Jane regarding her conduct. But she immediately cut herself off, and with a loud exclamation pointed accusingly at a rather taken aback Miss Bingley. "Oh no you do not! Very clever, Miss Bingley, but I see your game. Attempting to get information about your worst enemy from the naturally biased and antagonistical opinion of the little sister? Well, you shall have to find another victim, for I am a master at such artful schemes, and I will not give an inch. Lizzy is one of the best people in the world, and even I can admit that!"

Miss Avon smirked, amused, while Miss Bingley curled her lip and remained very unimpressed.

"Antagonistical, Kitty? Very original, I like it," Samantha declared, teasing the younger girl about her inability to work with her new vocabulary.

Among other things that had improved over the weeks, Kitty's vocabulary had been expanded while her speech had become more refined. This was due mostly to the books she had been reading, and to a lesser degree Samantha's helpful suggestions. However, in her excitement to show off what she had learned, Kitty tended to make many words sound more complicated than they truly were, resulting in a collection of made-up words that Kitty refused to correct, which greatly entertained both Samantha and Mr. Bingley.

"And when did you become 'a master at such artful schemes', Kitty?" Samantha wished to know.

Kitty looked back at her. "Well, I had to in order to survive the other girls in the neighbourhood, did I not? Maria is very sweet, but even Lydia could be absolutely venomous, and the Miss Longs are just terrible-"

"Yet you pretend to be friends with all of them. Such hypocrisy, Catherine - all young ladies are taught that they should not speak ill of their acquaintance behind their backs," said Caroline disapprovingly.

She got an odd sort of shock when Catherine froze in her tracks and stared at her with such an expression of utter disbelief that it caused Samantha to burst into hysterical laughter.

"And just what is the meaning of that look, Miss Bennet?" Caroline demanded furiously. Kitty, always wary when Miss Bingley reverted to her formal address, hurriedly began apologizing but Miss Avon cut her off.

"You must not apologize for a thing, Kitty, for it is very true! Caroline, in the past hour that we have been walking, I have heard you criticize everything from Mrs. Darcy to the flowers in the garden. Many of your own acquaintance have been caught in the crossfire, I can assure you."

Caroline blushed at this rather obvious breach of propriety on her part. Of course, a lady was meant to show graciousness at all times, whether in the presence of their acquaintance or not. How often had she forgotten this dictate of proper civility?

Miss Avon went on. "Did not I say it? I warned Caroline, Kitty, that should you spend enough time with us, you would become just as wicked as she is!"

This disturbed Kitty so much that she spoke little for the duration of the walk. She did not even need her two eldest sisters to tell her that adopting Miss Bingley's hypocrisy was not beneficial...but then she had always had a penchant to speak poorly of people behind their backs.

She had never believed her character to be deficient because of this, her mother did it very often, and yet her mother's behaviour was hardly beyond reproach.

Soon the trio approached Netherfield's entrance once more, where they spotted the Hursts' carriage steadily approaching the front. Samantha hurried on ahead to talk to her brother, where he was waiting with Mr. and Mrs. Bingley on the front steps of the house. Caroline and Kitty followed at a more leisurely pace, and Kitty cautiously introduced a topic of conversation.

"I truly do believe that Lizzy is very good for an elder sister, Miss Bingley, but if you must know, there have been times when I have been very angry with her. Particularly when there were boys in the neighbourhood that I happened to like very much, and then found out that they preferred her. I remember I would cry for days, and would not speak to her for even longer. Of course, this did not just happen with her, Lydia and Jane were very good at making men fall violently in love with them, too - considering this, I was never surprised that they were the first three to marry."

Caroline could not suppress an inelegant snort at Kitty's very loose definition of "marry", but Kitty ignored this (perhaps not fully understanding its meaning) and went on. "And it was never Lizzy's fault, for she was sure to let all of the boys know that she did not return their affections. Also, I now realize that their preference may have been helped by my conduct, which has never been exemplary. But such incidents became so frequent that they all lost significance."

Caroline was quiet after Kitty's open admission. "Dare I enquire the purpose of such a soliloquy, Catherine?" she finally asked.

"'Tis merely my own confessions of guilt, nothing more," Kitty chirped brightly; she was very proud of herself for the rather sensible and intuitive speech. "This is perhaps the most unpleasant information you will ever get from me on the subject of Lizzy, so should you wish to keep it, treasure it." She waved exuberantly to Jane as they drew nearer to the house, and flouting propriety, ran up the steps to her sister's side. Caroline stared after her, and remained distracted until her own sister embraced her a bit later.

Mrs. Hurst had always been seen as interchangeable with her sister, for they shared many of the same values. She was not nearly so bitter as Caroline, and thereby lacked a great deal of her venom, but it was no secret that had she not married when she had, she might well have been worse. Both she and Caroline felt that they and their brother had much to be proud of, and had no qualms about taking pride in the fact. But Louisa Hurst did not view the world through a calculating, ambitious eye, as evidenced by her marriage. She only desired that her siblings be happy and well settled.

However, she was well aware that Caroline did view the world through such an eye. Thus, when Louisa saw the way Caroline had taken Kitty Bennet under her wing, she was not a little confused. Whatever could Caroline be thinking now?

She recognized the game; she and Caroline had always taken pleasure in adopting "strays", polishing them up a bit and seeing them successfully married within their own station. But after the last subject had backfired so disastrously on them - the last subject being Jane Bingley, of course - she could not fathom why Caroline would be trying again with the former Miss Bennet's younger sister.

After all, Louisa knew better than anyone how hurt Caroline had been by their brother's marriage. Though Louisa did not openly begrudge Charles and Jane for their marriage, and observing their obvious felicity was moderately satisfied (if not a little jealous), she was as distressed as Caroline by the new low connection, and further aggravated that the happiness of one of her siblings had come at the expense of the other's happiness. Her own desire to see Charles marry into the Darcy family was second only to Caroline's.

Of course, this had long since become water under the bridge, and by all appearances Caroline had since set her cap for Mr. Avon. But Louisa could not forget the tears of rage and long tantrums that had shortly followed the news of both the Bingley and Darcy engagements. Should history repeat itself, and another Bennet sister walk away with the man Caroline had set her sights on...

She had voiced some of her concerns to her sister earlier in the day, but Caroline insisted that she had everything under control. Observing the party gathered around the Netherfield dinner table, Mrs. Hurst really had to doubt that.

The Bennets had been invited to supper at Netherfield once more, as they had already been present during the Hursts' arrival. Mrs. Hurst could barely pretend to be pleased about this, but she supposed there was no polite way to send Mrs. Bennet and Jane's sisters back to their home. Mrs. Hurst was now seated next to her sister, and across from Kitty Bennet, who was placed next to Miss Avon.

Her eyes narrowed as she observed the amiable conversation and friendship between Miss Avon and the younger Miss Bennet. It already seemed as though Miss Avon was inordinately fond of Miss Kitty, and Caroline did not appear to mind this! In fact, a good deal of the conversation between Miss Avon and Caroline centered on the subject of Kitty Bennet.

Louisa could not understand this imprudence, and could approve of it even less. When Caroline had written rapturously about her newfound friendship with the illustrious Miss Avon, Louisa had written back and cautioned her sister to strengthen the friendship as much as possible, for it was sure to be beneficial. Not only was Mr. Avon almost certain to gain a title in later years - or so went the rumours - but also, Miss Avon was highly connected, and Louisa so wished to see her sister married well. Now, here was Caroline allowing Miss Kitty to become even closer to Miss Avon than she was.

Yet as supper drew to a close, Mrs. Hurst found that her initial disapproval was lessening, as it became clear that there was little danger to Caroline. The affection between Miss Avon and Miss Bennet did not appear to be any stronger than the affection one would have for a ward, and as Caroline had pointed out, surely it was useful to have at least one of their new relations become less of an embarrassment. Miss Kitty appeared completely indifferent to Mr. Avon, and Mr. Avon even more so to her. Once Louisa observed this, she realized she was silly to have worried. Mr. Avon, whose disposition so reminded her of her own husband's, was not the type of man who would appeal to a girl like Miss Kitty, and vice versa.

Toward Kitty Bennet, Mrs. Hurst allowed that the girl had slightly better manners and an improved sense of style, but she reserved any other observations until she came upon the girl on her own, much later in the evening, when she received an odd surprise.

The gentlemen had just withdrawn to their port, and Mrs. Hurst excused herself from the other ladies to go collect her shawl from her room. On her way back to the drawing room, she heard strains of music coming from the music room. The door to the room was open, but she was certain that every guest in the house was either in the study with port, or in the drawing room.

As she drew closer, Louisa vaguely recognized the aria as Mozart's "Voi Che Sapete"*, a personal favourite of hers. The playing was paltry at best, and no one was singing, and none of this negated the fact that the music room was supposed to be empty, so Louisa marched into the room intending to confront the offender, assuming it was one of the more disobedient servants. She supposed it was only to be expected that Charles and Jane, both too kind-hearted for their own good, would have little control over their servants.

"Miss Bennet!"

The tentative melody ended on a bad chord as Kitty whirled around on the bench, looking very guilty and not a little frightened. "Oh! Mrs. Hurst, I was just-"

"Sneaking around your host's home, flouting decorum and humiliating your sister in the process?" Mrs. Hurst raised a sarcastic eyebrow. "So this is the fruit of all my sister's and Miss Avon's labours!"

Kitty flushed bright red and said nothing, studying the carpet.

Mrs. Hurst did not intend to allow such disobedient indulgence to continue, and told Kitty so. Hearing the authentic condemnation in the woman's tone, Kitty deemed it wise to keep silent, having never been so scolded for such a little thing by anyone who was not her elder sisters.

Fortunately for Kitty, Louisa did not share in her sister's pleasure of gloating over her new in-laws' follies, nor of bringing them to the public's attention, feeling that this was a very thoughtless thing to do. Having already dismissed Kitty as any threat to Caroline's prospects, and seeing little point in continuing to deliver reproaches that were sure to pass over the silly girl's head, Mrs. Hurst allowed curiosity to overtake her censure.

"Where did you learn that piece, Miss Bennet? I was not aware that you played, and Miss Avon seems to be under the impression that you do not." Certainly, there had never been any indication that either Miss Kitty or Miss Lydia knew a pianoforte from a harp, if Mrs. Hurst's memory served her correctly.

"I do not - I mean, not really. Apart from this song, which I do not play half so well as I would like to anyway, as I am sure you noticed. See, Mary is always dominating the pianoforte, and only Lizzy was ever brave enough to challenge her, but I remember that Lizzy used to play this song for me and Lydia all the time, and I wanted to see if I could do so, too-" Kitty cut herself off with a faint grimace, aware that she was rambling excessively, even for her. She was honest enough to admit that in some small part of herself, she had wanted to make a good impression on Caroline Bingley's sister.

Mrs. Hurst approached the pianoforte slowly. "Lydia and I," she corrected absently, curling her lip at the reminder of that impossibly vulgar girl. "You say you learnt this piece from your sister?"

"Yes," Kitty replied, as modestly as she could. "Or, somewhat - Jane used to read aloud from The Marriage of Figaro when we were younger, and Lizzy would play the songs from the opera for Lydia and I, since we both loved them so much." She frowned. "Though I personally preferred that Lizzy read - Jane read clearly, but Lizzy did voices better. I remember because I read the book myself a few weeks ago, and that made me remember the song."

Mrs. Hurst looked down at Kitty with her own frown. "You are aware, of course, that it is a most inappropriate opera for young girls?"

"Well I have never seen it," Kitty said defensively. "Jane and Lizzy saw it in London once, and were terrifically rapturous for weeks afterward."

Mrs. Hurst's eyebrow was raised once more at the peculiar exclamation, and her countenance became contemplative, and rather judgemental again. "Why has Miss Avon been misled about your proficiency on the pianoforte?"

"She had not, has she?" Kitty asked playfully. "I do not play, with the exception of that one song, and you heard what a mess I made of it."

Mrs. Hurst could not quite hide a smile, and Kitty stared. "You did butcher it horribly, did you not? Would you like to hear it played properly?"

"May I?"

Louisa obligingly took a seat on the bench next to Kitty, who moved over to make room. The song was played from beginning to end, quietly, beautifully, confidently, and quite the opposite of what Kitty had played, though Mrs. Hurst did not sing either. The music and the easy movement of Mrs. Hurst's fingers silently bewitched Kitty, and she could only whisper "Oh..." when the song was concluded.

Mrs. Hurst did not attempt to restrain a soft smile this time, recalling her fondness for the piece. "It is perhaps my favourite aria," she admitted. "Of course, I am partial to all of Mozart's pieces."

"It is beautiful," Kitty agreed reverently, still stunned. "I might play it that way someday."

"You would do well to learn," Mrs. Hurst told her crisply, slightly warming to the girl because of her eagerness. "Should you come to Netherfield to play it, I may teach you as best I can during my stay."

Kitty considered this for a moment. "If you should teach me, may we still keep Miss Avon ignorant of the lessons? I daresay it may be more fun to surprise her."

The mischievous, almost cunning look that graced Kitty's countenance as she suggested this was oddly reminiscent of one of Caroline's expressions, and this decided the matter for Louisa in the end. For her part, Louisa did not see how improving Miss Bennet could be productive to either herself or Caroline beyond giving them at least one less connection to be embarrassed over, and could hardly understand the amusement Caroline and Miss Avon were obviously deriving from their protégé. But she had never been quite as fixated on calculations and ambition as her sister was...and really, why should Caroline have all the fun?

"You realize that you will have to learn to brave your elder sister after all, do you not?" she finally said. "If your plan is to work, you will have to do a great deal of practice at Longbourn, though I will teach you what I can when you come here."

Kitty's grin lit her entire face, but even stranger was the rather impish smile that Mrs. Hurst gave in return.

The lessons that followed were not nearly so bad as both Kitty and Mrs. Hurst had expected. It certainly helped that Kitty had a clear remembrance of the aria, and consequently a good ear for the music she was learning to play, so there was little need for Louisa to constantly review the notes with her. While she lacked confidence and tended to fudge the notes frequently, she played with heart and Louisa was surprised to find that she enjoyed Kitty's soulful rendition of the song, though it could not compete with her own skilled perfection.

Little suspicion was raised among the current inhabitants of Netherfield. Mr. Bingley, quite accustomed to being oblivious when such schemes were taking place under his nose, behaved no differently this time, and whenever Jane saw Mrs. Hurst with Kitty, she assumed that Mrs. Hurst was simply being kind and solicitous to Kitty, as was her due now that the two were sisters. Miss Avon and Miss Bingley, who were used to spending more time with Kitty than any other resident of Netherfield was, were curious as to why Kitty had taken to disappearing for hours at a time, only to reappear very suddenly; Samantha especially appeared a bit injured that Kitty would squander their time together when there was so little of it left, as she and Miss Bingley would soon be leaving for Bath. Kitty began to sneak into Netherfield through side entrances, so that she might have her lessons with Mrs. Hurst and surprise Samantha and Caroline later.

Mr. Avon and Mr. Hurst had never been good at noticing such intrigues before, and were certainly not inclined to begin doing so now, when there was sport to be had.

Mrs. Hurst, caught up in the ridiculous mystery that Kitty insisted on spinning, was indifferent to her pupil outside of practice and said nothing to anyone about music lessons. Within their lessons they were also quite impartial to each other beyond the level of teacher and student, though the odd confidence was sometimes shared; for example, Mrs. Hurst laughingly admitting that she had always wanted a daughter of her own with Mr. Hurst, though she might have strangled her had she turned out to be anything like Kitty.

At Longbourn, Kitty spent nearly all her time practicing the aria, determined to play it perfectly if she was to play it at all, though it appeared that no one noticed. Even Mary did not put up as much of a fuss as Kitty had anticipated at having her own practice time so encroached upon. Kitty sensed that this was attributed to Mary's ambiguous courtship with her Uncle Phillips' clerk, Mr. Simmons, and could not be happy of the fact. Mr. Simmons was as odious to her as Mr. Collins had been, and he made no secret of the fact that his primary motive was to raise his position in her uncle's firm. Perhaps it was her fanciful sensibility that led her to judge Mr. Simmons so harshly because of his motive, for surely these sensibilities had only been strengthened by witnessing the obvious and (in Kitty's opinion) very romantic love between Jane and her new brother. But she felt that even Mary did not deserve marriage to such a man - at least Mr. Collins had had his position as a clergyman to recommend him! Kitty still found clergymen to be very boring, but Mary was so fascinated with Fordyce and her other biblical readings.

And so the time passed, until over a week after the arrival of Mrs. Hurst to Netherfield, when the lady decided that Miss Kitty was ready to perform in front of a very informal crowd, though she did not bring this to Kitty's attention. Instead, she prepared "Voi Che Sapete" on the pianoforte in the drawing room and prodded her brother to invite the Bennets to supper again. If he found the odd request to be suspicious, he did not own it, but made sure the request was carried out.

After supper, at which all the Bennets (including even Mr. Bennet) were present, the gentlemen retired to their port. When they returned, Mr. Bingley called for entertainment, and Louisa volunteered Kitty to start it off.

"Kitty?" Mary sounded shocked, and she was not the only one.

"I have never heard her perform before, and insist that we do so now," Mrs. Hurst responded evenly, ignoring Kitty's horrified look. "I believe she will do tolerably well. Come, Miss Kitty, I will turn the pages for you." She gently pulled Kitty over to the pianoforte, leaving no room for opposition, though Jane wondered if she should interfere. Oddly enough, Caroline was the only other one in the room who thought to do so, having lost her desires to see Miss Kitty publicly humiliated.

But Kitty observed the already-prepared music lying on the pianoforte and realized that Mrs. Hurst must have organized them there, believing she was ready, and thus, she must be, even if Miss Bingley was in the room.

Never one to become shy in front of people, and rarely deterred by the threat of humiliation, Kitty ducked her head and began to play after only a moment's consideration, consequently missing the way Jane's hand clapped over her mouth as her eyes widened in recognition of the song.

Kitty played with all the feeling of before and the new finesse that a week's worth of ceaseless practice had given her. She fudged her way through more than a few passages, and her performance was by no means as exquisite as Louisa's had been. But as the rest of the room silently listened, awe-stricken by such change in a normally silly girl, it was decided that Kitty's playing was very touching, certainly not embarrassing and even more than just tolerable, and was soon deemed very enjoyable entertainment by all.

Mrs. Hurst turned the pages for Kitty with one hand, while keeping the other gently on the girl's shoulder until the very last note, when a brief silence fell before the room burst into praise and applause, and Mr. Bingley began insisting that she play again.

"I cannot," said Kitty apologetically, her cheeks rather pink. "I swear I do not know any other songs." And Mrs. Hurst supported her claim on this when there was an instant outcry of protest.

"You sly thing!" cried Samantha Avon, half-laughing and half-put out, annoyed that she had not been the one to prepare her young friend for her performance, even though this was only an informal gathering. "You led me to believe that you did not play or sing, how could you deceive me so?"

"But I did not," Kitty protested. "I certainly do not sing-" here she shared a glance with her father, who had been the first (but not the last) to tell her that her singing sounded like a dying cat, "and I did not play until little over a week ago, and you had stopped asking by then." She dimpled at Miss Samantha's responding pout, and turned to Mrs. Hurst with a faintly accusing eye. "Well, you might not have known at all, you know, if not for Mrs. Hurst's spontaneous decision to display me, though her sister is so very critical."

Mrs. Hurst could not but laugh, though luckily for Kitty, Caroline seemed too pleased with Kitty and her sister's success to take offence. "I have nothing to criticize, Catherine, you are safe from me."

Kitty beamed, knowing that this was perhaps the highest praise she had received all evening, and pressed Louisa's hand in gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered when the woman turned to her in surprise, before hurrying to take a seat next to Jane. Mrs. Hurst smiled faintly before taking up on the pianoforte herself.

During Louisa's performance, Mr. Bingley pressed Kitty for information about her new ability. Able to discern by the man's grin that her brother was rather proud of her, Kitty felt safe in revealing some of the less shocking details of her sneakiness during the past week. Papa chuckled as he asked her whether she had any other surprises hidden up her sleeves, and even Mary assured her that her performance had been lovely, though she could approve of neither the song nor the inappropriate opera from which it had originated. Jane's eyes were bright as she kissed her sister's cheek and congratulated her, and Kitty was too highly affected and gratified by this to be very bothered when Mrs. Bennet began exalting her "talents" to Mr. Avon. But then Miss Samantha and Miss Bingley engaged her in conversation; Samantha may not have introduced Kitty to the pianoforte, but she was determined to be the one to prepare her for any future public performances. Kitty did not notice when Jane excused herself from the party to write a letter.

*"Voi Che Sapete" is an Aria from the opera "The Marriage of Figaro," by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Chapter 7

Posted on Saturday, 25 June 2005

The morning following Kitty's performance, Miss Avon introduced a new scheme that significantly cooled Caroline's admiration for Miss Catherine's success, and made her believe that her amusement regarding her new "adopted stray" had once again backfired horribly on her.

Samantha had been extremely impressed with Kitty's newfound skills on the pianoforte, and was utterly certain that with her own guidance, young Miss Bennet could become quite the talented player, "but there is not enough time to teach her all that I wish to, as we are to leave in little over a week."

"You wish to invite Catherine to Bath with us?" Caroline cried sceptically.

Samantha made a face, one she likely would never have made in public had she not met Miss Kitty. Caroline was only irked further. This was not to be borne!

"Dear Caroline, surely the idea cannot be so objectionable!"

"I cannot pretend to relish the possibility of spending the entire summer with Miss Bennet," Caroline told her cuttingly, violating her usual deference to Miss Avon in favour of her own interests. "Surely if you must continue your schemes, I may ask my brother to extend our visit. He will hardly refuse."

Samantha frowned. "Yet it is the height of incivility to so infringe on the hospitality of our hosts. I will not be persuaded to do so. You need not come to Bath if you find the rest of my company distasteful."

Caroline gritted her teeth and fell silent, realizing that this was exactly what Louisa had warned her of; it now seemed clear that Miss Avon's affection for Miss Kitty far outweighed her regard for Caroline.

Yet this was not strictly true, as Samantha was coming to some understandings of her own. Not only did she not truly wish to carry out her threat (Caroline had become far more amusing than most of her acquaintance in the past few weeks), but also it would hardly be possible to.

"That was unkind," Samantha admitted after a moment. "I apologize, and beg you would reconcile yourself to the idea, for I should so enjoy your society this summer, Caroline! I do not intend for Kitty to spend the entire summer with us - perhaps only a month or so, I am sure that I can teach her enough in that time. I daresay the three of us will be a merry party, as we are here-" she giggled faintly at Caroline's grimace, "I believe you may still have a few things to teach her, you know."

"She is your pupil more than mine." Caroline began to pace, though it was an unladylike act. The entire scheme was absurd. "My dear Samantha, have you truly considered this? Even with the aid of our influence, Catherine's mannerisms and conduct are only just tolerable for an informal country party, as you have allowed her many liberties." This was said rather accusingly, and Samantha had to bite her tongue at such hypocrisy. Kitty was rarely anything other than the picture of civility when she was with Samantha. Her insolence and impish behaviour was only at its climax when confronted by Caroline, who, by directing retribution toward the symptoms of such behaviour rather than the cause, only encouraged the girl further.

"Her speech is still unseemly; it is as though the girl purposely rebels against our attempts to correct it. But here you intend to release her into the polished society of Bath. Are you aware of how potentially disastrous this could be?"

"You have never had the highest opinion of her achievements, Caroline," Samantha replied calmly. "And for the record, she rebels against your attempts to correct her speech, which is respectable enough when she works at it. But never mind, I am convinced that she is ready, for I deeply enjoy her company. And," she added quickly upon catching sight of Caroline rolling her eyes, "I do not need any muttered remarks about how I have always been ridiculously fond of Kitty. I will own that I liked her from the beginning, but I am capable of objectivity, and have only now come to fully believe that introduction to fashionable society would be advantageous rather than hazardous to Kitty. I have not yet settled everything with my brother, but assuming the plan is agreeable to him, I hope it will become agreeable to you, for you must be the one to ask her. She is your sister, her family may not be as amenable to the scheme if it were only I to extend the invitation, and for all your disputes she seems extremely fond of you."

Caroline appeared mutinous, and Samantha took a seat next to her, hoping to persuade her further. "Only think about it, Caroline; you may not think well of the Bennets as a whole, but imagine the stir we will cause - me, bringing one of the famous Bennet sisters into society! I daresay it may be the talk of the town, even at this dull time of year. Of course, I have no intention of exposing her to all that nonsense - I am sensible to the danger, Caroline, and realize that we will have to keep the sensation muted. We may have to conceal her from society altogether."

Caroline fumed, but said nothing, realizing that this was hardly her decision to make. She had entertained hopes of seeing Kitty settled and safely out of the way in the country before she and Samantha left for Bath. Perhaps not with that odious law clerk of her uncle's whom Caroline had met on one of her calls to Longbourn, but anyone from Hertfordshire would have done, really. But it now seemed as though another Bennet girl could be thrown into the path of wealthy connected men. Her mother will be thrilled, she thought bitterly.

She was unable to look upon the scheme with any happiness for herself, and was quite icy toward Kitty Bennet during her visits on the days following, though Kitty did not appear to notice, or care. Louisa Hurst, after being informed of the particulars behind Caroline's behaviour, chose not to remind her sister that she had warned her of this possibility before; instead she only struggled in silence and wished that Caroline would bear her disappointments gracefully

Regardless of Caroline's bad temper, the invitation was extended two days before the Hursts' departure, and accepted with not a little enthusiasm.

"You are not serious! Lord, really, you would truly take me with you!?"

Samantha laughed at Kitty's squeals of rapture, and Caroline felt a headache take hold of her.

"Not with this behaviour, I assure you," she snapped, glowering at the younger lady. "Control your excitement, Miss Bennet, and your speech. I need not remind you of the great honour that my friend does you, so do try to be worthy of it. You are not to run on in the wild manner that you do in your sister's home; you are to go to Bath to continue your education, and to be presented as Miss Avon's ward, nothing more. You will be mostly hidden from the eyes of society, granted, but nevertheless you are to conduct yourself in a manner befitting a respectable young lady, or you will be sent home."

Kitty, looking rather crestfallen at such restrictions, pouted. "I now see why Miss Bingley has been so cross with me these days - I am sure she does not want me to join you at all."

Samantha frowned. "Foolishness! And Caroline, you need not sound as though we will be locking the girl up in our house - Kitty, we will take you out occasionally, though you must keep in mind that you are in Bath to continue your music lessons, not to be presented to society."

"But does Miss Bingley truly want me to go?" Kitty persisted in being a nuisance. "I must know, Miss Bingley, as you are the one formally inviting me."

Caroline looked down her nose at the girl. "It matters little to me," she sneered.

"That would be a yes," Samantha supplied.

Kitty's face virtually shone with delight at being so approved of. " Oh thank you - and I promise I will be on my very best behaviour, for I die to see Bath!"

Samantha was quite satisfied with the afternoon's proceedings. Caroline, unimpressed by such effusions and determined to remain in a state of high dudgeon toward Kitty Bennet, was nonetheless sensible of the girl's ardent efforts to check both her conduct and her speech for the remainder of the day. Kitty was prepared to be the model of propriety if it would allow her to go to Bath.

Mrs. Bennet, whom Kitty had accompanied to Netherfield that afternoon, could hardly contain her elation when the scheme was announced, but Jane was rather concerned, remembering Elizabeth's own plans for Kitty and worried that Miss Avon's invitation may interfere with them. Out of respect for Elizabeth and her brother Darcy's private decisions, Jane had not yet informed anyone other than Charles of Elizabeth's idea in her last letter, but in light of the missive she had sent Lizzy a few days ago, she had been awaiting an announcement at Longbourn about Kitty's formal invitation to Pemberley. She asked that Miss Avon and Miss Bingley not make any definite plans regarding Kitty until they had talked to Mr. Bennet. She was sure that her Papa must have received the letter by now.

"After all, it is to be his decision in the end," she pointed out gently.

Miss Avon was agreeable on this point, but her mother exclaimed, "Jane, what utter nonsense! Mr. Bennet would not be so cruel and hard-hearted to refuse our dearest girl such an opportunity! Miss Avon, Miss Bingley, I am sure there can be no objection whatsoever to the scheme."

Except that recently, he has little guilt in denying me such pleasurable activities, Kitty thought bleakly, while adding to Jane's efforts to check their mother, for perhaps the first time. She wished to make a good impression, but it occurred to her that she could not be half so sure as her mother on the subject of what Papa would say - there was a very real possibility that he would be hard-hearted enough to forbid her to go to Bath.

Mr. Bennet had, in fact, only just received Elizabeth's letter in the post, along with other correspondence that did not interest him half so much.

And he had little guilt in denying his youngest daughter at home anything, if he truly felt himself to be in the right. Having recently been dealt a shocking blow regarding his paternal skills and control of his family, he had no desire to have the experience repeated, and was determined that, unlike common speculation, Kitty would not go the way of her closest sister. Mr. Wickham had quite unwittingly made the problem of Lydia his own, but Kitty was still Thomas Bennet's. And while he had assured her once that she could have any man in England when the time was right, he would have no more wild behaviour under his roof - and if he had to become his daughter's gaoler in order to ensure this, then by God, he would.

Yet here in his study were two missives, arrived today, offering to relieve him of the task. The first he held in his hand and made him smile at the thought of his second daughter and his future grandchild from her. His dear Lizzy, born with wit and cleverness to add to her striking appearance and naturally twinkling eyes, had always been his favourite daughter by far. Easily the brightest girl he had ever known, she had been an anchor of intelligence in a house full of silliness and lace, and he was hard pressed to deny her anything. Her society was greatly missed.

She wanted Kitty to come spend time with her and her new family at Pemberley, where Mr. Bennet had already visited once and been pleased with Lizzy's situation. He was quite open to the idea; as he had observed to Kitty not long ago when he had come upon her reading from Wordsworth, "Good heavens, Kitty - did I not know better, I could almost think you very sensible." He felt she was ready to leave home if she so wished, he knew that being under Elizabeth's tutelage could only have a positive effect on Kitty's still-developing character, and the Darcys, of course, were perhaps the best people he could entrust responsibility of Kitty to.

But Lizzy was not the only one who wished for the company of her sister. Sighing, Mr. Bennet put down Elizabeth's missive in favour of the one from his youngest daughter. Lydia had not bothered to write a letter to her father discussing Kitty's invitation to Newcastle (again). This letter he held was addressed directly to Kitty, but Mr. Bennet had few scruples about this, though he was not normally in the habit of reading his daughters' private correspondences. He had learned the hard way not to trust anything that Lydia felt she could only say to Kitty, and had taken to restricting Lydia's letters to his fourth daughter, only allowing the latter to receive the ones he deemed halfway acceptable.

Lydia wrote of her usual subjects, of her desolation over the lack of skilled bonnet trimmers, and all the "gentlemen" she would introduce to Kitty should she come and visit. Mr. Bennet shook his head at her delight in such a meaningless, wasteful existence. Wickham was barely mentioned, but it seemed Lydia had been appraised of Mr. Bennet's strictures regarding her letters: Papa, if you are reading this, I must tell you that I think it an unforgivable breach of confidence, but beg you would allow Kitty to join me here, for I doubt you would want her to become an old maid like Mary! I could easily take care of that! He just bet she could. He could clearly see his youngest daughter's bold beauty and laughing countenance as she wrote this line, and rubbed his eyes as he set down the letter, awed and disappointed as ever by the girl's immeasurable silliness.

One thing was certain; if exposure to Lizzy's company would be advantageous to Kitty, exposure to Lydia's would only be detrimental. Kitty would not set foot within a hundred miles of Newcastle if Mr. Bennet had anything to say about it. The invitation to Pemberley, however, had merit.

Before Mr. Bennet could think any further on the subject, the peace of the house was disrupted by the abrupt return of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty from Netherfield.

Mr. Bennet listened with alarm as Mrs. Bennet's footsteps drew closer to his study, and she called his name all the way. Mrs. Bennet was well aware by now that when her husband was in the study, it was his sanctuary and none were to enter it without his permission; yet this did not seem to cross her mind, as moments later she burst through the door, curls flying and handkerchief fluttering as was her norm.

"Oh Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bennet!" she shrilled excitedly, utterly immune to the man's irritated glares. "Such news! Kitty has been invited by Miss Bingley and Miss Avon to go with them to Bath when they leave! You must allow Kitty some new gowns, for there will be such wealthy gentlemen there, and I daresay one of them will fall in love with her, she is quite pretty, you know. Now, I have invited them to dinner tonight so that they may plan further for the trip, and they have expressed a wish to discuss with you some particulars about the length of time Kitty will be with them-"

"Mrs. Bennet, you plan rather ardently for something I have not yet given my consent to," Mr. Bennet observed wryly, resting his chin in his hand.

Mrs. Bennet turned to him with a horrified look. "Oh, Mr. Bennet, you would not be so cruel to deny our dearest girl such an opportunity!" she cried.

Mr. Bennet remained unmoved by the impassioned plea. "Once again, it seems I am not to have the pleasure of understanding you, my dear. Do tell me clearly of what this excitement is about, and what it has to do with Kitty."

Mrs. Bennet became quite vexed. "Of Kitty going to Bath, of course! Miss Avon and Miss Bingley have extended an invitation for Kitty to accompany them to Bath when they leave Netherfield next week. More elegant and charming women I have never seen, and for them to pay such a compliment to my favourite daughter!"

Mr. Bennet snorted at the woman's free use of the term; Mrs. Bennet had now applied it to every one of her daughters save Mary, to his recollection.

Mrs. Bennet had continued speaking during his silent reflections. "I daresay she could use a bit more lace on her blue dress, and of course she will need new gloves, she must look her best if she is to secure Mr. Avon, which would be best, as he is the brother of her dearest friend, and may soon have a title! Mr. Bennet, you must give your consent to Miss Avon and Miss Bingley, you can do so when they come to Longbourn tonight. Oh, and I must plan for the dinner, too. Kitty! Kitty!" She began flouncing out the doorway nearly as quickly as she had stormed in.

"Just a moment, Mrs. Bennet," Mr. Bennet called her back. "How does Kitty feel about this invitation?"

Mrs. Bennet stared at her husband incredulously. "Mr. Bennet, what sort of a question is that?"

Mr. Bennet raised a sardonic eyebrow. "Should Kitty's own thoughts on the subject not matter a wit? After all, she is the one who will spend time in the company of these very elegant women, and she has other options available to her as well."

"She is ecstatic with delight, of course!" Mrs. Bennet huffed at the very idea of Kitty reacting any other way. "What a fine thing this is for her, is it not? What other options could be so agreeable as this?"

"Both her sisters are desirous of her company, and she has the choice between Bath, Pemberley, and Newcastle."

Mrs. Bennet fairly shrieked. "Lydia!? You have a letter from my dearest girl, oh, let me see here!" She nearly lunged over the desk for the letters in Mr. Bennet's other hand, and he quickly moved aside.

"Kitty has a letter from Lydia." He said nothing about reading the letter himself, not wishing for another fortnight of wails about how cruel he was to deny Lydia he company of her favourite sister. "If she so wishes, she may appraise you of its contents herself, after she has read the letter."

"You are a cruel husband, Mr. Bennet, you have no compassion on my poor nerves after so long an absence from my dearest daughter! If you would let us all go to Newcastle, we would have no such problems! But never mind this - though I am sure Lydia would help Kitty find a husband as she has, neither Newcastle nor Pemberley can be anything to Bath, for Kitty is sure to meet rich, single gentlemen there!"

"If I should give my consent," he replied teasingly. At his wife's shriek, he shrugged. "After all, I have few problems with being cruel, if the charges you have laid at my doorstep are to be believed."

"Oh Mr. Bennet!"

Mr. Bennet frowned thoughtfully. "Perhaps we should let Kitty decide. Have her called in."

Mrs. Bennet, slightly more cheerful, bustled madly out the door, shouting for Kitty. Mr. Bennet fell into a contemplative mood.

Like others, he had noticed the growing intimacy between Kitty and Jane's houseguests, and until now had had little other reaction to it than gratitude for the peaceful life it gave him.

But he had strong reservations against the idea of Kitty leaving Longbourn for any destination other than Pemberley. Reservations that were not quite overcome by the small improvements he had noticed in Kitty.

His thoughts were once again interrupted as Kitty's head poked around the doorframe. "You wanted to see me, Papa?"

He studied her for a moment, as she stood halfway through the doorway. Tiny Catherine of the china doll features had always been the most insipid of his daughters, content to imitate the antics of whichever one of her sisters was currently gaining the most favourable attention. Additionally, she had been lively but silly for the majority of her lifetime, rather frivolous, very easily led, petulant and insolent, and though constant favouritism of Lydia had kept her from being entirely spoilt, she was even now prone to act selfish or spoilt when given the choice.

Yet even he could see that her character had strengthened in more ways than one lately. When Lizzy and Jane had both left home, he had been sure that all sensible, enjoyable conversation to be had at Longbourn had left with them, and for the first few months after their departure, this had been the case. He had never been able to get intelligent conversation out of his wife during the entirety of their marriage, though he had tried for the first few years. Mary, too much like himself in some ways, too much like her mother in others, was rarely seen by him during the day, and replied with little more than a proverb whenever he would exert himself enough to talk to her. Between Kitty's melodramatic spiels, petulant disposition, and constant slammed doors, it had been quite like having Lydia back in the house again - while in a never-ending temper tantrum.

But time went on, and where Kitty had once reacted to his conversation with tears, hysterics, or very blank stares, she gradually developed enough resistance to hold discourse with him for more than five minutes without becoming needlessly agitated by his sarcasm. Her blank stares lessened in intensity, if not frequency. Mr. Bennet noticed few of these changes until he had one day made a comment to Mrs. Bennet during one of her rants, about intending to follow the excellent example of Baptista Minola*. Mrs. Bennet had been the one to stare blankly, while Mary had been entirely uninterested (refusing on principle to have anything to do with Shakespeare). Kitty, on the other hand, had suddenly disappeared up to her room, only to return moments later in high dudgeon with both him and Mary, and Mr. Bennet realized with some surprise that she had recognized the allusion.

Remembering this incident more for the surprise Kitty had given him than any true shock over her newfound intelligence, he beckoned her into the study. "Come in, Kitty. Shut the door behind you and then have a seat."

She did as he asked, not a little apprehensively. "You have heard the news, Papa?" she questioned hurriedly. "You will allow me to go, of course?"

Mr. Bennet placed the two letters in his hand on his desk. "'Of course'? Well Kitty, you may first wish to know that you seem as popular among your sisters as you are with your friends," he observed casually, "for I am sure you would never forgive me if I withheld such information."

Kitty's brow furrowed, obviously thrown by this turn in the conversation. "I beg your pardon?"

Mr. Bennet gave her a dry look, recognizing the motive behind the uncharacteristically elegant expression of her confusion. "There is little need to ask if you truly want to go to Bath, however," he added quickly as she opened her mouth to interject, "However, both of your sisters have also extended similar invitations for you to join them in their new homes. Here," he handed her Lydia's missive, "is one I am sure you have been expecting for some time, and here," he next handed her the part of Lizzy's letter that Lizzy had written especially for Kitty, "is one from your other sister."

Kitty stared blankly at the second letter. "From Lizzy?"

Mr. Bennet was amused. "Do you have any other sisters who would need to extend so formal an invitation?" he asked.

Kitty scowled. "Of course not, as Jane is right here, but...well, why is Lizzy writing to me? I have never been a favourite of hers." Certainly not since her part in Lydia's near-disgrace, which Kitty still felt Lizzy had been highly unreasonable about.

Mr. Bennet softened a little toward his youngest daughter but one at such a sentiment. "I will let you discover that on your own. Do tell me what your sisters have to say after you have finished both letters."

Kitty blinked. "Is this a test, Papa?" she demanded, squinting suspiciously at her father.

Mr. Bennet chuckled. "See that you pass," was all he said, turning back to his accounts. Kitty pursed her lips, intending to look stubborn, challenging, and refined, but was undermined by the appearance of her dimples.

"Well, I just will then. And if I do, you must allow me to go to Bath." Without waiting for a response, she made her way out of the study to read the news from her sisters. Mr. Bennet watched the open doorway she had just disappeared through.

Though he found that her character was still wanting, especially when her principles were compared to those of her eldest sisters, he had observed enough of her general improvement (and even monitored a bit of it) to be almost certain that should she go visiting on her own, she would not behave the same way Lydia had, whether or not she was in the company of her sisters.

A clatter of footsteps brought him out of his reverie and Kitty careening back into the study, looking both excited and torn.

"I read the letters," she announced breathlessly. "Lizzy wants me to go to Pemberley! Me, go to Pemberley! Me! To Pemberley!"

"I am glad to see you have grasped the essence of Lizzy's invitation, Kitty," Mr. Bennet responded with his usual dry humour; if nothing else, it appeared Kitty would go to Lizzy if only for the splendours of Pemberley. Well, whatever it took to get her there.

"Oh stop it, Papa," Kitty giggled, taking a seat in front of his desk at the moment and watching him earnestly. "Of course, I want to go to Lizzy, and it's such a grand place I am sure, and I am eager to meet Georgiana Darcy, Lizzy wants me for her particular companion, you know - but I also want to go to Bath, and I see no reason why I cannot do both. Lizzy writes that her time is set for December, so she cannot be so far along just yet, and Miss Avon and Miss Bingley only wish to take me for a month, and I fear Mama has not told you all the reasons they have invited me to go."

"Pray, what are these reasons?"

"Well, you remember of course the night I played at Netherfield?" Not wanting her tentative playing skills to become the subject of her father's wit just yet, she plunged on. "Miss Samantha wants to teach me a few more songs on the pianoforte, for she enjoyed my playing that much. Do speak to them about it all, for they can explain it much better than I can, but I long to go, please let me go!"

Mr. Bennet considered her plan with some surprise - it was hardly a ridiculous idea at all, though Kitty would have to arrange to get to Pemberley from Bath by coach, likely on her own. And the girl was going to Bath to further her education. He was not at all so trusting as to believe that this was the only reason Kitty wished to go, but he was impressed that she had mentioned it at all.

"What of Lydia, and what of the pleasures of Newcastle? Have you no opinion on that front?" he asked suddenly.

Kitty hesitated. "Lydia is well," she said.

"Is she truly? I am glad to hear it." A line he had overlooked in Lydia's letter suddenly echoed in his mind: You must come here, for there is something I die to tell you, and I could never tell anyone other than my dearest sister.. "Has she any news to impart?"

His tone was laden with suspicion, and Kitty instantly shook her head. "Nothing of consequence."

Her father's look only became more suspicious, and Kitty scowled defensively. "Truly Papa, if she has any important news, I have not heard any more of it than you have. I am not so stupid as to keep such secrets again, you know. She wishes for me to go to her in Newcastle, but this you knew already."

"Do not you wish to go?" he asked, rather surprised that she had not yet started her pleading.

Kitty visibly considered the question. "Lydia wants me in Newcastle to trim her bonnets and her gowns, while Lizzy needs me at Pemberley to take care of her during her confinement. I still wish to go to Newcastle as much as I have ever wanted to, but I know I must go to Lizzy - and I would prefer to in this case." She nodded decisively, feeling rather noble after such a sacrifice on her part. Then she paused a moment. "Did I pass?"

Mr. Bennet was unsure whether to be pleasantly surprised at the truth behind her first sentiment, or mocking of both the dramatic way she had expressed it and her final question. "Truly, Kitty, I believe that is the most reasonable you have ever sounded," he remarked wryly.

Kitty beamed mischievously before going on. "But I still long to go to Bath! For such a place must be the height of fashion in the country, second only to London, and can you imagine the silks and hats and lace and of course there will be such gentlemen..." Kitty could no longer keep her countenance at the open expression of dismay on her father's face. She burst out laughing and sprung out of her seat. "There you are, Papa - that was for this and all the other times you have teased me so mercilessly." And she bounded out of the study.

Mr. Bennet remained shell-shocked for a full minute before bursting into quiet laughter himself. No, it certainly was not the witty repartee he had exchanged with Lizzy, but sometime in the last few months, Kitty had learned enough from her father to give as good as she got. He wondered where the insipid girl he knew had gone.

But by the time dinner was over, and the rest of the Bennet family were sitting in Longbourn's drawing room with the party from Netherfield, listening to Mary play on the pianoforte, Mr. Bennet had fallen into morose contemplations once more.

Miss Bingley and Miss Avon had both applied to him for permission to take Kitty to Bath with them; Miss Bingley insisted that she was inviting Kitty, and Miss Avon had no objections to the scheme. Mr. Bennet had not yet given them his sanction.

He observed as Miss Avon and Mrs. Hurst civilly attempted to carry on a conversation with Mrs. Bennet, then turned to where Miss Bingley was holding a private conversation with Kitty. While watching the two, he realized that he had never really studied Kitty, or any of his daughters before, including Jane and Elizabeth, for all he enjoyed their conversation. All five of them had always had each other for that sort of thing. Severe, moralizing Mary, who was different from her sisters in that her own beauty was hidden beneath her bushy hair, dowdy frocks and spectacles, reminded him so much of himself in her tendencies to withdraw from the world that she had never really seemed to need help. Lydia had always seemed lost to him from the day she had begun epitomizing her mother. Elizabeth he loved for her wit and Jane for her goodness, but as much as he cared for the latter two, he had never truly studied them.

And Kitty...well, if he had noticed during their few confrontations that she had been gaining a more independent personality, he had attributed it to her being forced to defend herself against his own attempts to needle her. But watching her as she stood her ground with Miss Bingley now, he realized that confronting Miss Bingley on a regular basis was surely a character-building experience. He had certainly never paid attention to their friendship before, beyond noticing how much quieter his life had become due to it. It now occurred to him that much of Kitty's recent improvement could probably be attributed to Misses Avon and Bingley, far more than he could take credit for it himself.

And even now, he could not quite forget Miss Bingley's very bitter expression on Lizzy's wedding day, though she seemed changed now.

"Help me, Jane," he said to his eldest when she sat down next to him. "Kitty is set on going to Bath, and I am inclined to think well of both Miss Avon and Miss Bingley. But my judgement has misled me before, and I have harshly learnt the dangers of loosing my sillier daughters into the world without the chaperonage of one of their elder sisters."

Jane pressed her father's hand in obvious concern; a kinder soul than his angelic daughter could not be found, and if he was not in the habit of regularly applying to her opinion of others, it was because she was too good to think ill of anyone. Yet, this was slightly troublesome at the moment, for he needed a harsher perspective.

"I understand your concerns, Papa," Jane was saying, "but I have the fullest confidence in both women's sense and affection for Kitty. Indeed, my main concern was that their invitation might interfere with Elizabeth's plans for Kitty - you have received her letter, have you not?" She waited for her father to affirm this before continuing. "But Kitty is so eager to go, and it would be cruel to deprive Misses Avon and Bingley of her company entirely, especially when they seem to desire it so. I suppose Lizzy's plans can be postponed for a month, should you give your consent, Papa - I will write to tell her of it."

Mr. Bennet nodded gravely, thinking that this response was very similar to the one Mr. Bingley had given when applied to earlier in the evening. But of course, Mr. Bingley was just as eager as his wife was to think well of the world, and everyone in it. He grinned ironically at his daughter, wondering if he could tease her into less than favourable sentiments toward her acquaintance, if only for the sake of the truth.

"But what of their more fallible traits, Jane, what of the overall material gain for Kitty? I will grant you that I have never seen Kitty so sensible to the dictates of propriety before, and she has certainly become knowledgeable about subjects I had lost all hope of her ever understanding. But in both women's characters I have found a lack of the same estimable traits that Kitty wants for - such as proper values - and indeed an indulgence of those character traits she still suffers from. Between the two of them, I daresay there is enough frivolity and vanity to spoil Kitty in an entirely different way than she has been previously spoilt at home."

Jane was troubled by her father's harsh criticism, but could not deny the truth of it. "Miss Avon does tend toward exaggerations and frivolities, and Miss Bingley can be somewhat proud...but Papa, few people are entirely perfect, and both are very respectable people. Miss Avon, especially, is highly esteemed in the town of Bath, and this alone will ensure that Kitty is on her best behaviour when with them."

Mr. Bennet chuckled. "If you insist, Jane," he said, and a few minutes later, publicly excusing himself from the room to withdraw to his study. He could tell from Jane's countenance that she was still rather worried about the memories that the current situation must be recalling, and even Kitty and Mary looked rather concerned, though almost certainly for different reasons.

Closing his study door behind him, Mr. Bennet once again considered a possible decision. While he did, in fact, value his eldest daughter's opinion, he could only remember that it had been Lizzy who had attempted to warn him against the folly of sending Lydia to Brighton. He had not listened then, and had suffered the consequences; perhaps he could attempt to remedy the situation once more.

Seating himself at his desk, he produced a quill and began to write.

*Baptista Minola is the father of Katherine and Bianca in William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.

Chapter 8

It was not that she begrudged her sister the opportunity; indeed, Elizabeth was glad that Kitty might experience such a place. But the reminder of Brighton lay heavy on her mind, and gaining knowledge of the company Kitty was to keep could not placate her unease.

Georgiana was the first to observe her preoccupation only moments after she had taken the post from Mrs. Reynolds. Her new sister was quick to ask her whether she had received any news from home, or whether Kitty had written. Looking into the lovely glowing face that had been more animated in the past week than Elizabeth had ever seen it before, Elizabeth could not bring herself to say the whole truth just yet. "She has written, but only briefly to tell me that Papa is still considering her plans for the future," she said absently, before changing the subject to a letter from Anne de Bourgh. Georgiana had not been fooled, but agreed to let this pass.

After this, Elizabeth was much more careful, and therefore Fitzwilliam Darcy, already overly preoccupied with his tenants' care that day, did not perceive her discontent until that night at supper, when Georgiana's concerned looks and Elizabeth's worriedly pushing food around her plate did not escape his notice.

His own concern became instantly palpable, but he did not say a word about it until the family had adjourned to the music room, and Georgiana was nearing the end of her third sonata.

"Elizabeth?" he whispered, his eyes meeting hers when she turned. "Will not you tell me what is wrong? You have been so quiet this evening."

Elizabeth smiled ruefully. "I had rather hoped you would not notice until later. You realize that if I were truly cruel, I might only consent to impart such information in exchange of the secret you insist on keeping with Charles," she replied wickedly.

Darcy did not immediately respond to this barb, but when Georgiana finished playing, he requested that she leave them for a short while. Rather than feeling insulted, she was relieved that Fitzwilliam was finally going to get the truth of what was so bothering Elizabeth, whom she had come to love very much. With a kiss to her brother's cheek, and a reassuring press of Elizabeth's hand, she bid them goodnight, choosing to retire early.

Elizabeth ducked her head to hide a smile after Georgiana left. "Really Fitzwilliam, there was no need to excise Georgiana from the room. What she must be imagining now."

A touch to her cheek brought her face up to his again. "As I have the fullest conviction of Georgiana's intelligence, she may think what she chooses. Are you very cruel?"

"I might choose to be, in which case I might even win this battle of ours once and for all," she shot back impertinently. "But no, you are too honourable to break a confidence to a friend, and so there is little to be gained by my cruelty and subsequent silence."

His look of mingled relief and amusement had her laughing, and she felt a bit better about the news from Longbourn and the situation as it stood. "If I am out of spirits, Fitzwilliam, it is only because I have received three missives express from Hertfordshire. 'Tis nothing distressing," she added hurriedly as his concern visibly increased twofold. She then paused and reconsidered her words. "Well, not truly, for everyone is well at Longbourn and Netherfield. But it seems that Kitty is not to come to us in June after all, and I have been left to decide a rather unsettling argument."

She watched him carefully as she said this last part, well aware that he had never been enthusiastic about Kitty's visit in the first place. Her suggestions for Kitty had been at the root of many quarrels lately; he could not pretend to be happy that the silly girl who had aided Lydia's scandal could potentially influence his own dear sister, and she was stung that certain members of her family were not quite welcome to him, as well as irritated that he could not trust her to know her own sister better than he did.

But Darcy could feel no relief at such news. No matter his own reservations, he was not insensible to the way both his wife and his little sister looked forward to Kitty's arrival. "I am sorry to hear it; do any of the letters explain the reason?"

Hearing the genuine regret in his tone, Elizabeth relaxed against him and opened up completely. "They all do," she said, pulling out the three letters she had kept with her for the whole day. "It would seem that Kitty has been invited to Bath by Miss Bingley and her friend, Miss Avon. She is to remain with them in Mr. Avon's house for a month, and then, if we are still inclined to receive her, she will come to Pemberley by coach from there."

Darcy frowned at what he had just heard. "She has been invited by Miss Bingley? Caroline Bingley, Charles Bingley's sister?"

Elizabeth eyed him playfully. "Do we know another Miss Bingley?"

A pale flush appeared in Darcy's cheeks and he tried to scowl at her, to no avail. She enjoyed teasing him more than she did anyone else, and he had long since lost a good portion of his natural ability to intimidate, anyway. Having his dreams so fulfilled, witnessing his wife and his sister grow closer every day, seeing the halls of Pemberley filled with life and laughter - all this and Lizzy had done it to him.

"I am well aware that we do not, Elizabeth, I am merely surprised to hear of this friendship Miss Bingley has formed with your sister. I was not aware of it."

"I must own that I was very surprised myself upon first hearing of it," admitted Elizabeth, a teasing light still in her eyes. "But if Kitty has managed to meet with Miss Bingley's sparingly given approval, surely she may hold out hope of someday receiving yours?"

"Elizabeth!" Darcy was quite stung; she had not likened him to Caroline Bingley since the first days of their engagement, when she had been cornered into admitting that during their earliest acquaintance, she had thought Caroline Bingley might have been his twin, as their dispositions had been as similar as their disdain toward her family. He could still remember the shame of his actions being perceived as such. That he, who had thought Miss Bingley to be lacking due to her many pretensions and unbearable pride, had unconsciously behaved the very same as she, was hard to bear.

But then Elizabeth kissed him, and all brooding thoughts (along with thoughts of any other kind) vanished from his mind. They were thusly occupied for quite a few minutes before Elizabeth remembered what they had been discussing, and pulled back.

"I was only teasing you, Fitzwilliam," she whispered.

Darcy's countenance remained troubled. "I would hope that you do not truly believe I hold your family in contempt, Elizabeth. I realize that my past behaviour may be unforgivable..."

Elizabeth watched him closely, unsure now whether he was being serious, or purposely trying to make her feel guilty. It was so hard to tell - she had trained him too well. "I forgive you, my dear, on grounds of being quite hopelessly in love with you, and holding you in higher esteem than anyone of my acquaintance-" she was cut off as he suddenly crushed her to him and buried his face in her hair, always lost whenever she said such things to him.

"Of course, I shall never reach a decision if you do not let me go," she said at length, though half-heartedly.

Darcy did not wish to let her go, but respected her wishes and did so anyway. She grinned up at him.

"To what do these letters tend, that they had to be sent so urgently?" he asked, to get the conversation back on track. "And what decision are you required to make?"

"All three apply to my apparent knowledge of such situations. Papa," she held up the first letter, "is inclined to allow Kitty to go with Miss Bingley and Miss Avon, but he wishes for my opinion of the scheme before he makes any decisions. I suspect he is remembering the time I advised him against allowing Lydia go to Brighton, though I wish he would not blame himself! Jane," here she held up the second letter, "reminds me that both ladies are women of good sense and truly seem to care a great deal for Kitty. She believes they will be able to check her behaviour, though she also doubts it will be necessary, for she says Kitty is uncommonly improved and has learned much. Kitty, of course," she held up the third and final letter, "is wild to go, and begs me to decide in her favour. She writes rapturously of her friendship with both ladies." She sighed. "I might be inclined to believe that these sentiments originate from her desire to travel to Bath, had Jane not been writing me of this growing intimacy for some time now - and even Papa has observed it."

"Your word is to be the final one on the matter?"

"I wish it were not so. I would prefer it not be, for Kitty may never speak to me again if I do not vote in her favour. Though this is nothing to worry about, for she has threatened to do the same countless times before, but never being able to stay quiet for longer than five minutes, she would usually be speaking to me again by the end of the hour. All the same, however...of course, I will not allow such a possibility to affect my own choice, but I am afraid that choice may not be as credible as my family seems to think it is. We have not seen Miss Bingley since our wedding day, and cannot know for certain if she is as changed as Jane and Kitty seem to believe."

"What are your thoughts, then?" Darcy asked carefully.

Elizabeth bit her lip in contemplation. "I do not know Miss Avon at all, and must defer to my family's opinion of her. However, Miss Bingley...I cannot help but question that lady's motives, Fitzwilliam. It would not be so hazardous as it was to send Lydia off to Brighton with the Forsters and the regiment - Miss Bingley is a good deal more sensible than Mrs. Forster, but she also has more motive than Mrs. Forster would to see one of my sisters disgraced in the eyes of society."

Darcy took her hand and began to rub circles across the palm, perceiving her deeper tension. "Are these all your objections?"

"Yes," she said quickly, and then, "No." She pushed herself up from the seat and began pacing the room. "Perhaps I am irritated that there must be a choice at all! That Kitty would rather go to Bath with a complete stranger and a woman who has made herself a determined enemy of my family, than come to visit her sister, even if it is only a month deprived of her company - Georgiana will be so disappointed. Family loyalty has never meant as much to either Kitty or Lydia when it stands in the way of pleasure, and I have always known this, yet it still bothers me! And what if Kitty is only succumbing to some scheme of Miss Bingley's to hurt her? I have never known her to show anything but the highest disdain for my family as a whole, and it seems strange that she would choose Kitty, of all people, to befriend. Kitty is hardly the best judge of character, she is rather naïve, and I can recall other people who have been deceived by Miss Bingley. I have no wish to see that happen to yet another of my sisters!" Pausing in the middle of her rant, she took a glance at her husband, only to find him smiling as he watched her march around the room. "And now you laugh at me, Mr. Darcy!" she cried.

Darcy quickly got up and took her in his arms to quell her frustration. "I am not laughing at you, Elizabeth-" he kissed her rather adorable scowl. "I merely find your protective rage to be very appealing, if albeit unreasonable, and am quite thrilled that it included my sister as well."

"Fitzwilliam, she will be so crushed," Elizabeth sighed. "She has been planning for Kitty's arrival almost since the very moment I told her. I am not looking forward to informing her that she may have to wait another month."

Darcy felt a warm rush of emotion for her at such concern for Georgiana. "It touches my heart more than anything to see the two of you become true sisters to one another, Elizabeth," he told her softly, unable to convey the extent of his gratitude to her for bringing light back into Georgiana's countenance. "Would you prefer that I inform her?"

Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. "No, it would be best if I do it." She paused. "Do you really think I am being unreasonable, Fitzwilliam? I am happy that my sister has an opportunity to go to Bath, I do not begrudge her this...or maybe I do a little," she said despondently as she took her seat again. "Is that not terrible? But I was looking forward to Kitty's company as much as Georgiana was. I have missed her."

"You are not terrible," said Darcy firmly, taking his seat next to her.

"My reasons against this trip are entirely selfish," Elizabeth replied. "So I cannot be a good judge, and wish they had not asked me. I did want Georgiana to be the first to influence Kitty as a friend, after Lydia's absence. It now seems that Miss Bingley will be the one to do this, and I am wary of a Kitty influenced by Miss Bingley."

"What does Catherine have to say?" Darcy asked after a moment's consideration.

Elizabeth went to retrieve Kitty's letter. "The usual that you might expect; raptures about her new friends and delight about finally travelling. Pleas for me to use my own influence over Papa to - oh, wait a minute." She paused as she came across something she had overlooked. "'Now, Lizzy, if I have grown to know you at all in the past eighteen years, I know that you must be thinking that I am only pretending at friendship with Misses Avon and Bingley to go to Bath. Well, stop it! Neither of them would be fooled by such a thing, and I should not want to travel anywhere under such circumstances. I will own that I love Miss Avon very much, especially since she has promised to teach me so that I will play as well as you do.'" Here Elizabeth stopped briefly to smile mischievously at her husband when he raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Well, we shall see, won't we? 'I will also relieve your concerns and own that though I have a high opinion of Miss Bingley, and believe she is much changed from when we first met her two years ago, I do not trust her as far as I could throw her with anything other than my reputation, and this is because of the mark it will make against her own name should I be involved in a scandal, for she is now my sister - and I beg you would remember this when you give Papa your final decision. I will be on my guard.'"

Darcy was rather surprised at the almost sensible tone of the letter, and could see his astonishment reflected in Elizabeth's eyes. "She has a point, Elizabeth - Caroline is now your sister," he said.

Elizabeth bit back a sarcastic reply - Lydia was now Georgiana's sister in the eyes of the law as well, but she doubted he would ever consent to sending her anywhere near Mrs. Wickham's vicinity. "I am still uncertain, but at least Kitty seems to be aware that she might do well to employ caution around Miss Bingley. I can pass no judgement right now, for I have not seen her in so long, but from what I remember of her..."

Darcy was uncomfortable. "Do you truly wish for my input, Elizabeth? I have little right to impart it, your family has asked for your opinion."

Elizabeth smiled. "She is now your sister," she replied archly.

He cupped her cheeks with his, looked into her face, and sighed in defeat, biting back his own reservations. "All will be well," he reassured gently. "Should Catherine be permitted to go, I will advise Charles to maintain a very steady correspondence with his sister - and should you wish to know what your sister is up to, you may thusly be apprised. Furthermore, for all of Miss Bingley's flaws, she knows how to exercise discipline when she feels it is needed, and she will not be the only one present to influence your sister. And Georgiana will bear the disappointment - it is only for a month and she is not one to become despondent over such a small thing." His hand slid further down to the barely discernable bulge of her stomach, and he felt a thrill of exhilaration that he had not yet gotten used to, though he had now felt it countless times. "And she and I will take care of the both of you until your sister arrives to do the same. Of course she is still invited here, and I will arrange for a carriage to bring her to Pemberley at the end of the month."

Elizabeth smiled at him, her eyes full. "You are so very good," she whispered.

But she had discerned tightness in his voice that still disheartened her. Not wishing to start a quarrel at this hour, she suggested that they retire, and decided to call him on his obstinacy the next day.

Continued in Next Section