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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.
The next morning, Elizabeth breakfasted early with Darcy, as he had to go out onto the estate again. The conversation was pleasant, if hurried, and she once again thanked him for his kindness toward her sister before he left. The look he gave her was the same one that always made her tremble. "You must know that I would do anything for you, Elizabeth," he said, and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand before taking his leave.
Elizabeth did not know whether she was entirely satisfied by his last words; his eyes still held reservations to her own plan, and he was just a bit distant, though he had long since concurred to the scheme. She wondered for the umpteenth time whether it was unfair of her to ask him to accept Kitty as a particular companion for Georgiana, after the behaviour he had witnessed from her sister in the past. Was it any wonder that he would not want such behaviour to influence the sister whose flawless education he had overseen himself?
But if he could not trust Jane when she told them that Kitty had improved, he might at least trust Elizabeth to know what she was doing, having been the one to grow up with all four of her sisters. Georgiana's gentle nature reminded her a bit of Jane, had Jane been given the opportunity to grow up shy. However, this had been quite impossible in the Bennet household, and remembering this, Elizabeth firmly stood by her decision to bring Kitty to Pemberley - after herself and Lydia, Kitty was easily their most energetic sister, not to mention that Kitty could learn a great deal from Georgiana, too.
A soft patter of footsteps was the only announcement Elizabeth had, before Georgiana entered into the room. "Good morning...Elizabeth? Why is my brother leaving so early?"
"There has been a fire in one of the tenants' houses, he has gone to see them about relocation and other matters. It is the Hardens who have been struck by such misfortune; you will come with me to visit them later today, will you not?"
Georgiana's face, which had been initially horrified at the news, lit with pleasure. "Of course I will, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth laughed. "Georgiana, surely after all this time you may call me Lizzy? I so wish for you to address me as my other sisters do."
Georgiana pinkened as she took a seat across from her sister; had she not been used to Elizabeth's teasing nature, she might have been further distressed. "I wish for nothing more than to remember this instinctively...but I always forget and..."
Elizabeth patted the girl's hand. "Never mind, Georgiana - it will come in time. It is better than still being addressed as Miss Bennet," she added.
Even Georgiana laughed, remembering how for a full three months after her brother's marriage, she had been unable to discontinue referring to her new sister as anything other than "Miss Bennet". It had been so embarrassing at the time.
"There, you see?" Elizabeth looked inordinately pleased at her laughter. "Oh Georgiana, if you would only let others see this side of you. All would love you even more than they already do."
Her sister was so kind! Georgiana smiled back at her as her blush deepened, thinking of a certain clergyman whom had thrown the neighbourhoods surrounding Pemberley into frenzy. Elizabeth noticed her prolonged silence, but said nothing and changed the topic to her other plans for the day.
"Elizabeth?" After a short internal struggle, Georgiana finally broke into Elizabeth's conversation, though it took a bit of courage. "Forgive my interruption, I meant no rudeness, only...Elizabeth -Lizzy - is everything well with you? I was so worried last night when Fitzwilliam sent me away, for I knew you had received letters from home. Is the news very bad?"
Elizabeth hesitated, but decided she could put this off no longer. "Georgiana, I promise you that everything is well in Hertfordshire - it is only that I have been a bit disappointed by the news from home, and fear you will be too. It seems that Kitty is not to come to us in two weeks...her visit will be postponed a month."
As expected, Georgiana looked visibly crushed. "Oh...is she ill?"
"No, but she had received a prior invitation to go to Bath with Miss Bingley and her friend Miss Avon, so she intends to come to Pemberley after a month in their company."
"Oh!" Georgiana's eyes widened, before she covered up her small exclamation. "I am sorry...it is only that, well, I did not know she was friends with Miss Bingley." Her anxiety was extremely palpable, and Elizabeth knew well how intimidated Georgiana had always been by Caroline Bingley. Kitty's visit had just become ten times more daunting to her.
"Truly Georgiana, I was not aware of the degree of their friendship until now, either," Elizabeth replied, frowning down at the two letters she had with her; one was to her Papa, giving her consent to Kitty's going to Bath; the other was to Jane, demanding information on the smallest details of this newfound intimacy between Miss Bingley and Kitty. "I believe it was founded quite recently...and truth be told, I cannot be entirely happy about it."
Georgiana worried her bottom lip. "But after spending a month in Bath in the company of Caroline, will she be content to remain here in the country with me?"
Elizabeth quickly went around the table to her side and stroked her hair. "Georgiana! Of course she would - if anything, I would imagine she would be rather relieved at the change. There is no reason that Miss Bingley is the only one who should be Kitty's friend this summer. In fact," her eyes suddenly gleamed brightly as an idea came to her, one that might ease her own anxiety about Miss Bingley becoming the only heavy influence in Kitty's life for a full month. "Georgiana, what if you were to begin a correspondence with Kitty until she were to arrive here?"
Georgiana turned to her, her expression one of mingled hope and fear. "Really? Oh, I could not...I mean," she corrected, "I am sure it would be far more difficult to think of what to say in writing than in person to a girl my age."
"You correspond with Anne," Elizabeth reminded her in a singsong tone.
Georgiana could not help but giggle back, instantly put at ease. "But she is not my age. And what if Kitty does not wish to hear from me at all? She may dislike me before she even arrives at Pemberley."
"Georgiana, one of Kitty's deepest regrets about postponing the visit - for she did write to me along with Jane and my father - is that she will have to wait so long before making your acquaintance. I am absolutely certain that she will be delighted to receive a letter from you."
The excited light came back into Georgiana's eyes as she looked hopefully at Elizabeth. "Do you really think so?"
"I am convinced." Elizabeth dropped a kiss on Georgiana's head before returning to her own plate. "Here, if you write your letter after you have breakfasted, I will send it to Longbourn with my own this very day."
Georgiana, once more showing the animation of the past week, all but scarfed down her breakfast before hurrying upstairs to begin her letter.
But once seated at her writing desk, the blank page stared at her, and Georgiana stared back in near terror.
She had never done this before. Yes, she now shared a correspondence with Anne - Anne, who was seven years her senior, whom she had only grown close to this winter but had known her entire life. Her only other correspondence went to her brother and her much older cousins, aunts and uncle. And while she had a number of female friends in London and near Pemberley, some truer than most, none had ever been close enough to share a correspondence with, let alone be labelled as sisters.
This was very different, but she desperately wanted to make a good impression on Elizabeth's sister. Georgiana's adoration for Elizabeth was second only to her love for her brother, and she had taken a special sort of pleasure in growing closer to Elizabeth through the members of her family. During their visits at Christmas and earlier this spring, she had come to feel as though the Gardiners had always been hers and Fitzwilliam's family, and it helped that in her quiet elegance, Aunt Gardiner reminded her slightly of her Aunt Matlock. She had been so excited about Kitty's visit because she wished to feel this same way with her, especially since Kitty was only eight months her senior. She had never before had a particular friend so close to her own age before.
But she may not like me at all. Georgiana left her writing desk as she became too anxious to remain seated.
A glance in her vanity mirror revealed the true extent of her anxiety; her face was rather pinched, and even a little pale. People told her that she was beautiful. Georgiana rarely thought about it, but when she did she never knew whether to believe this, for Fitzwilliam was widely acclaimed as being very handsome, and she bore no resemblance to him save for height and the small curls in her long blonde hair.
But perhaps she was too plain - might this spawn disgust in her new sister Kitty? What if she could think of nothing to say, either in person or in her letter? She knew very well that she tended to cringe instinctively from most social interactions. While her shyness had diminished through being in constant company with Elizabeth, it still remained, and though it had been her first Season after coming out, she had been so eager to accompany Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth back to Pemberley when they left Town early mostly so that she would not have to receive any more callers. Her shyness had been present even before Ramsgate; Georgiana could remember girls at her old academy mistaking her timidity for arrogance and becoming quite aloof.
Worst of all, what if Kitty was aware of her foolishness at Ramsgate? Georgiana knew that Wickham had married Elizabeth's younger sister; Fitzwilliam had explained the particulars to her after the engagement had appeared in the Times. More recently, he had warned her that Lydia was Kitty's closest sister, so she might expect frequent conversation about the poor girl and her degenerate husband. Wickham might have told Lydia of her humiliation, and Lydia might have told Kitty - and this was what Georgiana feared most, that Kitty's perception of her had been poisoned before she would even meet her.
But it was clear that Fitzwilliam was even more distressed about the pain this might bring her than Georgiana herself was, and she, with more nerve than she had ever possessed while speaking to her brother, had told him that he was being ridiculous when he had revealed this. She was no longer a child to be eternally protected...so then, what was she doing now?
With this surge of determination, Georgiana went straight back to her desk and inked her quill. She would pour her heart out in the letter, and then Kitty would judge her as she chose, and that was all there was to it.
Please let her like me, she thought, before taking a deep breath and putting the quill to paper.
Pemberley, nr. Lambton, Derbyshire
28 May, 18-Dear Miss Bennet,
Do not be alarmed upon receiving this missive, for I bear you no resentment or ill will for the postponement of your visit, and indeed have every wish for you to enjoy your time in Bath. Though I cannot pretend I will not miss your company this coming month, Bath is a beautiful city and you may have many adventures that I hope to hear about when you do arrive at Pemberley, if you will let me.
Our sister has suggested a correspondence between us until you come to Pemberley. Do you mind this very much? I think it a grand scheme, and am eager to begin, for I have a great desire to know you more intimately and become your friend, but if you would rather not that is just as well, too. In any case, I will be impatiently anticipating your visit, for I would love for you to see the grounds. Pemberley is very beautiful in the summertime. Elizabeth has informed me that you enjoy horseback riding, and I am so excited, for it is a favourite pastime of mine as well, though I know our sister dislikes the occupation.
Please give my regards to all your family, and know that I am anxious to meet you.
With love,
Your "new" sister
Georgiana Darcy
Her father had not even consented to anything, yet the news of Kitty's impending trip to Bath had somehow made it across Meryton and all its surrounding neighbourhoods. Kitty suspected her mother bore the guilt of this leakage of information, since it was mostly family acquaintances that were constantly asking questions and giving her advice on what to see in Bath. Amidst this were the crueller murmurs about her trip, and how it was sure to end in the same disgraceful manner that Lydia's had. Though Kitty was certain that these mutterings were only the product of jealousy over her good fortune from people like the Miss Longs and elderly Mrs. Goulding, this did nothing to curb her own anger, and she violently insisted that nothing and no one would induce her to elope, "if only to show those bitter old hags," as she declared to a similarly vexed Miss Samantha (after all, what did it say about her chaperoning skills if she were to allow such behaviour to take place under her nose?).
Even Lady Lucas had grown slightly cold to her these days, though she had always been most welcome at Lucas Lodge. When Kitty enquired the reason for this treatment, Maria appeared embarrassed. "I believe Mama is only disappointed that Papa will not arrange for me to go Bath as well; she is sure that with your mother's luck, you will meet a handsome earl who will fall madly in love with you."
Recalling her latest resolve, Kitty shrugged this off. "It should not matter if I do," she said stoutly, and the conversation turned to more agreeable topics. Maria was to go to her sister in Hunsford next month; like Lizzy, Charlotte was also expecting, though she was further along in her confinement than Elizabeth. The two young girls were equally excited about their journeys, and promised to correspond frequently. Kitty had every intention of keeping this promise, for out of all the girls in the neighbourhood, she had valued Maria's company the most since Lydia's departure.
Yet such plans and hostility would all be for naught should her father refuse to allow her to go to Bath. Kitty knew that he had applied to Elizabeth for advice, despite her mother's cries of, "What has Lizzy to do with any of this? She may see Kitty later, if she wishes." Kitty had added her own letter to her father's missive, and both were still waiting for a reply from Pemberley.
Two days after the Hursts' departed Netherfield for Sussex, Hill came into the parlour after having collected the daily post.
"Yes, yes, Miss Kitty, there is something here for you," she said quickly as Kitty leapt from her seat.
"Finally!" Kitty cheered, snatching up the thick missive. "Has Papa received something, too?"
"I have already given it to him."
Hill went on her way, and Kitty ripped open Lizzy's post with little ceremony.
Dear Kitty
As you may or may not know by now, I have given my support in favour of your trip to Bath-
Kitty released a shout of pure glee that earned her a glare from Mary through the open doorway of the music room. Making a face at her sister, Kitty took a seat quickly and read the letter in full.
Pemberley, Derbyshire
28 May, 18-Dear Kitty,
As you may or may not know by now, I have given my support in favour of your trip to Bath. So you may breathe easily now, little sister; like Jane, I feel the trip will be beneficial to you. I should not need to remind you to be on your very best behaviour, Kitty. Given your level of trust in Miss Bingley, I am sure you are well aware of how critical that lady can be, no? I would like to hear how you are coping in Bath, however, so try to find the time to write to me.
Furthermore, as Georgiana is a bit disappointed that you are not to come to Pemberley for at least another month, I suggested that she begin a correspondence with you during the time you will be in Bath. She was quite enthusiastic over the idea, and her own letter to you is enclosed within this missive. I hope you will also be agreeable to the scheme, Kitty, for she is very eager to know you, and it would be well if you knew each other in some way before you meet here at Pemberley. However, I must ask that, just as you are not to speak of Lydia or Mr. Wickham while here at Pemberley, you do not mention them at all in your letters to Georgiana. I am very serious about this Kitty, and am waiting for your promise in your next letter to me.
Have a very good time in Bath, Kitty, and give all my love to those at home and at Netherfield.
Best of luck,
Elizabeth
Curious and more than a little eager to learn about her other new sister, Kitty tore open the second missive and began reading. The tone of the letter was friendly, if a little reserved; Miss Darcy truly seemed disappointed in the postponement of her visit, and very keen to know more about her as well. Kitty was left feeling rather excited, in awe, and in more anticipation of her visit to Pemberley than ever before; Miss Darcy's style of writing was more elegant than she had ever seen from a girl her own age, and she was already proving to be a much better correspondent than Lydia had ever been. Kitty was a little worried that her own writing would seem lacking and provincial in comparison (Miss Bingley had assured her of the importance of a proper, elegant writing style) but there was nothing to be done for it, because Kitty was determined to be friends with Miss Darcy, and had already begun penning a responding missive. She could not imagine what Wickham had meant when he told her and Lydia that Miss Darcy was as arrogant as her brother!
But then Mr. Bennet entered the parlour, and she nearly pounced on him, all thoughts of her own letter having flown out of her head.
"Well, Papa, well?" she asked quickly, bouncing on the balls of her feet in fearful anticipation.
Mr. Bennet managed to push her aside and strolled further into the room. "I heard an alarming screech not too long ago. Would I be correct in assuming that this was you?"
Kitty reddened. "Perhaps."
"Ah." Her father continued his stroll. "Then would I also be correct in assuming that you are aware of Lizzy's support of you?"
Kitty caught her breath. "Yes?"
Mr. Bennet's slow wry smile began appearing. "Well, with such opposition, what can I do other than concede?"
"Oh!" Kitty quickly clapped both hands over her mouth to stifle yet another scream that she was sure Papa would not appreciate. The sound came out as a bubble of laughter anyway. "Truly?" she whispered.
Her father suddenly got an odd look on her face, one she had never seen directed at anyone other than Jane or Lizzy before. She was rather mystified by this, and her confusion showed.
"Kitty...I am not so blind as to not have notice how you have gained a good deal of sense in the past months," he began, "though I am sure I have never let on that I noticed."
"But Papa, I know you must have, or you would not have teased me about my reading so often," Kitty reminded him perplexedly.
He smiled again. "True, true...I still feel that there is much you could learn. I have every belief of you learning it at Pemberley," here he broke into a grin, "but you may begin with Bath."
With a squeal, Kitty flung herself at her father, who seemed quite thrown by this unexpected display of feeling.
"Now, Kitty," he said over the cacophony of "Thank you, Papa, thank you!"
"Kitty, you must understand that I am allowing Miss Bingley and Miss Avon to take you to Bath for the improvement of your education, rather than for leisure. You are to write to Jane and I every week to tell us of your progress and your adventures, and Mr. Bingley has placed similar restrictions on his sister with regards to himself. You are not to have any sort of relationship above a casual acquaintance with any gentlemen unless Misses Avon and Bingley are well acquainted with him, and have written to Jane, Mr. Bingley, or myself to inform us of the gentleman."
Kitty nearly laughed at this last one, but checked herself and recognized the intelligence of such a restriction. "Papa, may I go to Netherfield to tell Miss Samantha of the news? I will keep out of Jane and Mr. Bingley's way, and I will return within the hour," she quickly promised.
"I have already sent a note on to Netherfield informing them of my decision."
"Yet, I would so love to impart the news myself," Kitty pled.
Mr. Bennet sighed. "I will send for the carriage."
With a last embrace and a kiss on her father's cheek, Kitty ran to collect her bonnet and gloves while the carriage was sent for.
Miss Avon was just as ecstatic as Kitty over the news of her father's approval, and while she considered it beneath her to express her delight as unrestrainedly as Kitty was, for once she did not scold the girl for doing so (and she was not behaving very improperly). Even Miss Bingley seemed oddly pleased, though Kitty suspected this had more to do with the knowledge that her trip to Pemberley was being postponed.
Kitty was given as much information about the places they would visit in Bath, the people they would call on, and what she could expect of her daily schedule once they arrived, as the two ladies could convey in the short hour she remained with them. She was also given a good deal of advice on what to pack, though she assured them that this was not really needed, as Mama had been packing her things since the day the trip was first suggested.
Such was the tone of the interaction between the three young ladies in the confusing days leading up to their departure from Netherfield. However, this finally dissipated on the morning when the barouche, after leaving Netherfied, stopped at Longbourn for Kitty and her own luggage to climb aboard.
Her goodbyes to her family were very warm, knowing that she would not be seeing them at Longbourn until the winter of next year, at least. Mary was told rather insistently that she was to write of all the news from home, Mama was given a tight embrace amid her own weeping lamentations over the departure of her other "dearest girl", before Kitty was firmly told that she should wash her hair in lemon juice every day and to wear her green muslin at all formal gatherings, as the colour became her best.
"I promise I shan't do what Lydia did, even if it was romantic," she whispered to her father as she came to him last, kissing him again on the cheek for the second time in her life.
"You may run off with the worst man in England if you so choose, so long as we are all informed about it first," he said dryly.
"Papa!" And with that, Kitty climbed into the barouche and took a seat next to Miss Avon, who looked content to be returning to her own home, though in a show of graciousness, she did lean out the window with Kitty and waved farewell to the Bennets as the carriage left Longbourn.
Posted on Tuesday, 5 July 2005
My dear Miss Darcy,I apologize for the lateness of this missive; I had originally written it the moment I received your first from Lizzy, but was distracted by my father's consent for me to go to Bath shortly afterward, and misplaced it until only yesterday. I would not want you to think that I do not wish to continue our correspondence, or be your friend, for nothing is further from the truth, and it would in fact give me great pleasure to become all these things to you, and you to do the same for me. Miss Darcy, as we are sisters, would you mind very much if I were to refer to you by your first name? I absolutely insist that you do so for me, for everyone calls me Kitty, with the exception of Miss Bingley, and I would not wish for you to imitate her anyway.
To make up for my lateness, you may be the first to receive the entirety of all my news from Bath! You were very correct, Miss Darcy, when you warned me of how beautiful this city is, but I could never have imagined it to be such a fashionable place in all my wildest fantasies. My jaw utterly dropped when first I entered it by carriage, and Miss Bingley has yet to let me hear the end of it. To own the truth, I have not been out in society to date, and so have seen very little of the people, but this matters little, for Miss Samantha Avon and Miss Bingley are generous enough to take me driving in the parks every evening so that I may see the town, and have even taken me to the Pump Room and the baths twice. I have also been to visit museums and other such landmarks, and have learned more history in the past week than I have in my entire life!
I am happy to get out of the townhouse whenever I can, but you must not think that the house itself is terrible in any way, or that the people occupying it are unkind. I do not see Mr. Avon often during the day, but Miss Samantha and Miss Bingley are always present, and they say that I am improving in my studies. Perhaps I am; I can play more than just one song on the pianoforte now! It is a dull time of year in Bath, or so Miss Avon tells me, though I am sure I do not see how this place could ever be dull...but Miss Avon receives few callers, and in the interest of keeping me hidden from society as she promised Papa she would, goes calling even less. So unfortunately, aside from the tediousness of my studies, I have no further news to impart than the story of two of Miss Samantha's acquaintance whom I met in rather an embarrassing manner...
Two gentlemen had just turned into the Sydney Gardens, the elder gentleman speaking rather loudly to the younger, who had the look of a man desperately trying to smother amusement with polite interest.
"...you must know that I promised your mother I would speak to you about this," the elder gentleman finished, finally waiting for a response.
"I do, but you also promised me that you would not if I thrashed you at billiards," the younger gentleman replied, a grin escaping, "which I did. Does a promise to your son mean so little?"
"When compared to one made to my wife, it does," the elder gentleman retorted, well used to his son's humour and attitude toward his parents. "But in deference to your temporarily superior skills at billiards, I will agree not to touch upon the subject very often when you are in my company. It is only that your mother worries excessively about the dangers of your occupation and position in the regulars, and has held her tongue for more than ten years-"
"Father, surely you cannot believe that!" the younger gentleman interrupted.
"Well, more so than she has lately," the older gentleman corrected himself. "But I have told her that I will not influence any of your decisions, nor make you feel obligated to accept the inheritance and the title your Aunt Clarice left you before her death, though she and your uncle did love you so much. I have also refused to remind you of what a comfort it would be to your dear mother should you do this and retire your commission, so that you may live comfortably and she may cease having nightmares over the possibility of hearing the news of your death at any moment-"
"Papa!" Now the younger gentleman was quite vexed. "I remember that both you and Mama were insistent on my finding a profession, and though I am well aware that mine is hardly the easiest one, I feel I have much to be proud of in my current situation, and need little more, though it may not be so comfortable as your own. I enjoy what I do."
The older gentleman sighed before clapping his son on the shoulder. "I know you do, son. Make no mistake, I am very proud of you as well, and will support you in whatever decision you make, though you are not half so mature as I should like. Not at all like your brother. I have only promised your mother that I would relate to you her concerns, nothing more. Such as marriage: as a younger son, surely you have considered this and how you will support your wife when you get married. And yes, I do mean when," he added quickly when his son nearly jumped on the opening, "If nothing else, your mother will likely force you to the altar herself should you not begin to consider this, and you should, since your brother has only girls with his wife."
"Mother's concerns are extensive indeed," the younger man observed wryly. "Surely it has gone without saying for years that I will have to marry very well."
His father chuckled at his first statement, and shook his head over the second. "And all these months when you have been insisting that you intend to follow your cousin's example and marry for love? It was all nonsense then, as you did not have the freedom to marry where you chose, but it need not be any longer."
His son faltered for the first time in this conversation. "My cousin is a very lucky man," he said carefully. "However, my brother is a man of even greater means than him, and he was not half so fortuitous, if you will permit me to say so, Father."
"I have never stopped you before," smirked the elder man, before waving his walking stick in a gesture of impatience. "But never mind all this. I have done my duty and lectured you, and now we will move on to topics we both find agreeable."
But before such a topic could even be introduced, the elder gentleman was nearly thrown off his feet when something crashed into him with powerful force. The younger man panicked for a moment, before realizing that his father had not been grievously injured, nor even lost his walking stick, and was merely getting his bearings back.
In the next moment, he had looked down to notice the young girl who was just then scrambling to her feet, an effusion of apologies escaping her lips. His status as a gentleman required him to help her to her feet and collect the bonnet she had dropped, but as he was doing so, he could not refrain from a scolding.
"Young lady, just what is this business of tearing around the park on your own, charging into bystanders like some sort of ruffian?" For a moment, it occurred to him that she just might be one...but no, her clothing and her speech indicated that she was gently bred.
"I was trying to get away, I did not mean-oh sir, I am so sorry-"
"You were in such a hurry to get away that you could not watch where you were going?"
"It is not as though I ran into him on purpose, you must understand-"
They continued on in this manner until the elder gentleman coughed pointedly, dusting himself off.
"Well," he proclaimed in the issuing silence. "I will say this for you, young lady, you are rather strong for someone your size."
The young lady flushed as she looked momentarily at the ground. "Forgive me, sir, this was of course my own fault," she murmured.
"'Of course'?" the younger man mouthed at his father in disbelief, but his father was carefully watching the girl.
"I was not watching the path, and I did not...I did not expect many people to be around..."
"You did not expect many people to be in the Sydney Gardens in broad daylight?" the younger gentleman asked dryly.
The girl looked stubborn as she glanced at him. "Not at this hour, it is the regular calling hour-" she cut off with an exclamation as her gaze suddenly swept the ground surrounding the three of them. "Oh no! Have either of you perchance noticed a bonnet I may have dropped?"
The younger gentleman blinked as his eyes dropped to the bonnet he had picked up earlier. He held it up in view of all, and then realized that the girl was already wearing a bonnet, though it had fallen off her head and was hanging down her back by the ties.
The elder man groaned. "Please, do not tell me that you have stolen this," he said wearily.
The girl's eyes flashed indignantly. "I did no such thing!" she exclaimed hotly. "It is hardly my fault if she left it lying around, and then mocked me about the state of mine and practically begged me to steal hers." She reached out to snatch the bonnet back from the younger man, who held it out of her reach as his eyes met his father's with some alarm. Perhaps the young lady was not so gently bred after all, and they may have a thief on their hands.
"Who is 'she'?" the younger gentleman demanded suspiciously.
The girl suddenly paled and looked nervously over her shoulder at the hill from which she had appeared behind. "One of my frie-or rather, one of my current guardians," she admitted quietly, making one more desperate grab for the bonnet; when this was unsuccessful, she quickly dusted off her rose pelisse in an effort to make it more presentable, and then readjusted her own bonnet on her head. "Please sir, you must let me have it back!"
"You looked so panicked, young lady," the younger gentleman observed, almost teasingly holding the bonnet high out of her reach as she jumped for it this time. "Are you certain you are not a thief?"
"I am not!" The girl's indignation was back, though she spared one fretful glance over her shoulder. "But it is not mine, I only took it as a joke, but she is furious and if she catches me she will eat me!"
She blinked as the elder gentleman suddenly burst into laughter, while the younger hid a smile. "Eat you?" he chuckled a moment later.
The girl bit her lip. "You may never have met her, but I assure you that I do not exaggerate-" she broke off, and her eyes widened as she stared back the way she had come. Curious, the two gentlemen stared as well, and both nearly broke into laughter again as they recognized Caroline Bingley's figure storming over the hill, with a furious look on her face and Samantha Avon and a manservant in tow, the latter two looking rather harried.
"Kitty!" Miss Avon called, having also caught sight of the girl.
The elder gentleman prodded his son. "Return the bonnet," he said in an undertone, upon observing the girl's rather terrified look.
The son obeyed discreetly, and Kitty let out a sigh of relief as she felt the bonnet slipped into her gloved hand.
She did not have time to convey her gratitude, for Miss Bingley was upon her within the next moment, eyes snapping. "This, Miss Catherine, was the absolute final straw," she seethed, hardly even acknowledging the two men also present, "and mark my words, I will see you sent home if it is the last..." But the lady trailed off as she froze, recognizing the gentlemen.
The younger one bowed slightly, tipping his hat to her with an amused smile. "Miss Bingley, a pleasure to see you again."
Before Caroline could reply, Miss Avon and her manservant had reached the small group; Miss Avon was scarcely less horrified than Miss Bingley once she saw whom Kitty had run into.
"Oh!" She looked from one to the other, and then spoke directly to the elder. "My lord, I am so sorry about this, I do hope she did not cause you any inconvenience."
"Is she your ward?" The elder gentleman wanted to know.
"Yes, she is my friend's sister-" here she gestured at Miss Bingley; that lady appeared close to squawking in rage at being so linked to Kitty, but Kitty noted that the younger gentleman was suddenly observing her with a great deal of curiosity. "...she is staying with us for a little while." Miss Avon glared at Kitty, too.
"Well here now, there was no trouble at all!" The elder man interjected once he caught sight of Kitty's downcast expression. He half-turned to his son. "The young lady was trying to catch a bonnet that had gotten away from her, and we merely helped her do so, is that not right?"
The younger gentleman was no more cold-hearted than his father was, and so quickly nodded in agreement with perfect ease. Catching on, Kitty nodded frantically as well, and held up the bonnet for all to see. "Here you are, Miss Bingley," she said in an appropriately meek tone, returning the bonnet to her sister-in-law.
Miss Bingley accepted it with a just-as-appropriate sweet tone and smile, and let the ice shards in her eyes convey just how angry and unforgiving she felt toward Miss Kitty.
However, if Miss Avon did not entirely believe the fabrication, she at least accepted it as it indicated that Kitty had not disgraced herself, or worse, her guardians, in the eyes of the two gentlemen. "Well, thank goodness this business is over with, then. But my lord, Colonel, we did not know you were in town! I am certain my brother would have called had he known."
Kitty had lost interest in the conversation, now that she was sure she would not get into immediate trouble, and had appropriately conveyed her thanks to the two gentlemen with a single look. She could not help but notice that neither of the two gentlemen looked particularly excited about the prospect of Mr. Avon's visiting them. Yet they both engaged in civil conversation for a few minutes more before the younger gentleman regretfully informed the ladies that he and his father had to leave.
"You must come and call on us while you are in town," Samantha insisted.
The gentlemen promised they would, and Kitty gave them a look of gratitude that was for more than just their acceptance of this invitation.
The younger gentleman hid a chuckle at this, before graciously taking his leave of all three women. "It was charming meeting you, Miss..." he trailed off when he turned to Kitty, realizing he did not know her name.
"Bennet," Miss Bingley supplied through gritted teeth, very reluctantly. Miss Avon looked worried when a flash of surprised recognition flashed in the gentleman's eyes, but he merely continued his farewells, as did his father (who did not appear to recognize anything).
When she was sure they were gone, Caroline verbally released the full extent of her anger on Kitty, before stalking back to where they had left their picnic dinner. Kitty looked to Miss Samantha, who took her arm rather harshly and followed Caroline.
"You will get no sympathy from me, Kitty, though you will not be sent home," she informed the girl briskly and with not a little anger. "Are you aware of just who those gentlemen are? The elder is an earl, and I daresay he is one of the most esteemed men in all of Britain! Why do you not consider your actions before acting on them?"
"Who is the younger gentleman?" Kitty asked with much interest, instead of responding to Samantha's censure.
Miss Avon visibly hesitated. "He is a colonel," was all she said in clipped tones, groaning inwardly when Kitty's eyes danced in excitement.
...I have now been made to feel terrible about my actions, though I do not think they will send me home just yet, if for no other reason than Miss Avon's claims of my still having much to learn. But Miss Darcy, the whole experience was embarrassing to the highest degree, and I believe I would have felt terrible anyway, though the Colonel was fearful handsome. I beg you will not tell Lizzy about this, and allow it to be the first secret I will share with you. If she does not scold me just as harshly as Miss Bingley did, I am sure she will only laugh.Miss Bingley's anger seems to have cooled somewhat; she is still angry, but I am no longer afraid of sleeping at night for fear of her attacking me! She is now the picture of civility in her anger, and sends her regards to you and Mr. Darcy. I have made her extend them to Lizzy, too, so do be sure to let her know.
There, that is all the news I have to impart, other than my telling you how I long to see Pemberley after all you have told me, however much I am enjoying myself here in Bath. Lizzy was correct when she told you how I enjoy horseback riding; at one time, she took a great deal of pleasure in it as well, but her love for the entertainment disappeared when she had an accident at a younger age.
Miss Bingley has just come to my room to insist that I retire. I dare not cross her these days, so I will have to close this missive by saying goodnight and goodbye. Give my regards to everyone at Pemberley, and know that I can hardly wait to meet you.
With love from your new sister,
Kitty Bennet
Of course, neither gentleman was a complete mystery to Miss Avon, who was the first to meet them in the main entryway before the maid had a chance to formally introduce them. She not only knew exactly who they were, but was also aware of their new, if distant connection to her youngest houseguest.
Pleased as she was to see the earl, and especially his very pleasant son (she had always had a forbidden sort of fancy for the Colonel, and he had lately become even more interesting with the potential inheritance of a barony), she hoped to redirect them to a corner of the house where they would have little contact with the other ladies. Samantha had warily observed the way Kitty's eyes had lit up at the possibility of being acquainted with a Colonel, and she had no wish to see her ward return to her militia-chasing ways.
"My lord, good Colonel. You have called! My brother will be so pleased."
"Where is that gentleman, anyway?" The Colonel asked her. "We have not seen him around town all day."
"You have been around the entire town today?" Miss Avon could not resist asking flirtatiously.
The Colonel smiled tolerantly at her. "Yes, nearly, and we have quite worn ourselves out."
Samantha laughed, but catching sight of the earl's faintly exasperated countenance opted to end the conversation for now. "Well, if you will allow me to aid your search, gentlemen, I believe I last saw him in the billiards room. Shall I take you there?" Aware that the Colonel and his father did not know the Avons' Bath townhouse as well as many of her brother's other friends, Miss Avon led the two men to the billiards room anyway.
She left them to her brother's company and returned to the music room, where Kitty was just finishing up the "Sonata Pathetique". Caroline glanced up from a letter she was writing as the girl hit her final note.
"Adequate playing at best, Catherine," was her curt analysis before she turned back to her letter.
Kitty grimaced, forgetting her recent trepidation of Miss Bingley as she appealed to Miss Avon, "You promised you would not let her in the room!"
"I was here first," Caroline reminded her coolly.
"Pay no mind to her, Kitty, your playing was surely the best I ever heard," Samantha said quickly, taking up her needlework again. "I should like to hear it once more, if you could only play it with a somber tone."
Kitty sighed, but took Miss Avon's suggestion to heart and played the sonata over again. Miss Avon was a little despondent, but not as much as she knew she should feel after hearing this particular sonata of Beethoven's.
With an affectionate look at her young friend, Samantha was quick to identify the problem. Though Miss Bennet did play with so much feeling, her decidedly cheerful mood combined with her relative inexperience on the pianoforte, did not allow her to play the piece with anything other than a light tone that was rather foreign to the "Sonata Pathetique". Perhaps she should have left Kitty and Caroline to their battles, after all.
The ladies were thusly occupied for the next half hour, when the gentlemen all returned from the billiards room. Samantha noticed them as they passed the doorway to the music room, and suddenly reversed her decision to keep them away from Kitty in favour of further improving the Colonel's opinion of herself.
"My dear Kitty, surely you will not mind if the good Colonel and his father were to hear your playing? You have met them already, and I daresay you even charmed them as well; they were so quick to help you cover your follies, though you did not fool me." Without waiting for a response, she dropped her needlework and went to collect the men.
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen, come, you must see how well I have taught Miss Bennet. She is quite the proficient now, you see," she exclaimed, taking her brother's arm and beckoning the other two men into the room, where a cherry-red Kitty was sending panicked looks toward an unsympathetic Miss Bingley, who did not appear displeased with the new arrangements.
The Colonel looked through the doorway and spoke first. "Do you play, Miss Bennet?"
Kitty scrambled up from the bench. "I do not! That is to say," she back-pedaled quickly upon catching sight of Samantha's glower, "...Miss Samantha has taught me some songs, but I am not nearly as proficient as she claims I am."
"That is utter nonsense, Catherine," Caroline laughed, causing Kitty to glance at her in shock. "I believe you have learned much in the past fortnight."
Kitty was more than a little wary of Miss Bingley's abrupt change of heart on the subject, but the Colonel had already marched across the room to take a seat near the pianoforte, and was now leaning forward. "I should very much like to hear your playing, Miss Bennet, but I will not put you on the spot," he said easily. "I know well how intimidated young ladies can be when asked to display their talents." The last was spoken with an affection that could not be placed.
To Kitty's young and still rather immature mind, the charge of timidity was insupportable, and required an urgent rise to the challenge. "I am not intimidated, Colonel, and I will play. But the 'Sonata Pathetique' is all you shall get."
"A fine piece of music," the earl said amiably, also taking a seat with Mr. and Miss Avon. "I should not object to hearing it at all, for I have not heard that piece played in a long time."
Kitty could not refuse in the face of such hospitality and genuine interest, though her blush deepened at the Colonel's proximity, for he had taken the chair nearest to the instrument. Her newly acquired sense of propriety withstood its first real test when she had to remind herself that she was no longer in Meryton with Lydia, and could not carry on with her habitual flirtations, no matter how handsome she fancied the Colonel might look in his regimentals.
Yet she played the sonata through with tolerable compose, if not the proper mournful tone, and responded with equally suitable gratitude when the Colonel commended her skills, after the applause had died down and the others had fallen to polite conversation.
"Though I cannot claim to be very surprised," he added a moment later, which surprised Kitty in turn.
"You cannot? Will you not try? For I promise that I had absolutely no skills to speak of on the pianoforte a mere month ago," she replied, slightly affronted.
"Then your dedication to the practice is admirable indeed, Miss Bennet," the Colonel said placatingly, and Kitty decided then that he was a very agreeable man. "My lack of surprise is merely due to having heard your sister play and drawing the family resemblance," he continued.
Kitty's face brightened as surprise took over, and her earlier petulance was forgotten entirely. "Then you know Lizzy, or Mary? For they are the only accomplished players out of all my sisters."
This appeared to amuse the Colonel all of a sudden, though Kitty could not imagine why. "You might say that I have had occasion to make the acquaintance of both, though the acquaintance is slightly stronger with your sister Elizabeth- "
But at this point in their conversation, Miss Avon broke in with an enquiry about the business that had brought the Colonel and his father to Bath at such a dull time. "After all, over half my acquaintance in Town have removed to the country, and there is very little to attract visitors used to the bustle of the ton."
"I say, that is hardly how I would describe us at all!" here the earl interjected as well. "I should like to be in the country myself during the summer months, with my lady and the rest of our family - but our dear Colonel here is on leave from his regiment for the next while, and insisted upon enjoying the waters of Bath."
The Colonel was decidedly unimpressed with his father's vague condemnation. "There will be time enough to see them later in the summer, Papa...we do not intend to stay in Bath long."
But Kitty, not entirely having lost her old ways, was far more interested with the information about the Colonel's regiment than she was about his plans for the summer, and she redirected the conversation between herself and the Colonel by peppering him with questions about everything from his regimentals to his fellow officers. Samantha began casting apologetic glances in the Colonel's direction, which he interpreted correctly; but his position as a Colonel, as well as his situation in life as a son, even a younger son of an earl, had hardly left him immune to the frenetic attentions of young girls and women alike. He decided that he could stand to humour Miss Bennet for a while, as he felt somewhat obligated to the young girl, who he found to be tolerably charming in her inquisitiveness, when she was not crashing headlong into civilians in public parks.
"Sir, you said your regiment had served in India for some time. Was it very wild there? Was it not dangerous?"
"The place we resided in was as wild as is to be expected for a battlefield, and not nearly so dangerous as you are imagining, for the area has become civilized."
"Oh, I think it would be everything wonderful, and I have longed for an age to go there myself!" said Kitty excitedly.
The Colonel raised one brow, highly doubting the veracity of this exclamation. "Perhaps I should own that it is not very wild under proper conditions, Miss Bennet; there are not many ladies who live there," he said dryly.
"But why is it so hard to believe that I should not mind being one of those ladies?" Kitty challenged. "I will own that I only truly became infatuated with the idea upon reading the Arabian Nights-"
"Fairy tales, in other words..."
Kitty scowled and ignored this. "But I already knew Britain had made quite a few inroads in India, and have heard many other accounts of the place. Why, Mr. Wickham and Lieutenant Sanderson would go on forever about their adventures in India, though they had a similar reaction to yours whenever I mentioned the idea of ever visiting myself."
Unexpectedly, the Colonel's countenance became troubled. "Lieutenant Wickham? He has spoken to you of being in India?" he asked cautiously.
Kitty furrowed a brow over his oddly guarded expression. "Well yes, he is a lieutenant I suppose...or he was then. I only talked to him about the subject because he would tell us constantly about India and Spain, and I would always want to know more - he says he once fought with Wellington, you know."
"Did you believe him?"
"I did not, until I applied to the testimony of Mr. Denny, who revealed the very same. I was a little wary of believing either of them, for the officers at Meryton were very tricky, but I suppose it mattered little, as I forced them tell me of all their news from Spain and Portugal. But they would not tell me very much of their accounts of Vimeiro."
This temporarily distracted the Colonel from his gentle enquiries of Wickham, and he could not hold in laughter. "You are an odd one, Miss Bennet. I am sure many young ladies would hardly ask these sorts of questions at all when diverted by an army of redcoats, let alone be knowledgeable enough to converse on the subject."
Kitty forgot herself enough to stick out her tongue at the Colonel's reply. "There, you are just like my elder sisters and Miss Bingley. You must know that it cannot only be about the regimentals; an officer must have adventures to tell about as well."
The Colonel shook his head, realizing that this conversation was on the verge of becoming very inappropriate for people of such a short acquaintance as theirs. "Very atypical, Miss Bennet," he chuckled.
Kitty smiled in an unconcerned fashion. "Then perhaps I had an unusual upbringing. Perhaps we both did, Colonel, for you do not seem to be a typical man, either," she returned cheekily.
The Colonel was surprised by such an observation. "Miss Bennet, what have I done to make you think so?" he demanded laughingly.
Kitty squinted at him, considering. "It is nothing that you have done specifically. It is only that you are so friendly, without being mocking or indulgent. Most of the boys I have known have been either beastly, or so patronizing as to make one scream. Even the officers of the regiment that was at Meryton, though they could be forgiven, as they were very dashing."
This line of conversation did not interest the Colonel as much as his previous subject had, so he redirected it back to Mr. Wickham. Why he was so interested in Kitty's first brother-in-law, she could not understand.
"I would not want you to give too much credence to his accounts, Miss Bennet," he said, without explaining why. "Do you talk to him very often?"
Kitty nearly laughed at this. "I am rather obligated to talk to him now, whenever I should see him-" she began, before Miss Bingley decided it was high time that their conversation came to an end, and diverted the Colonel's attention by including him in her own discourse with Mr. Avon.
Miss Bingley's familiar ostentatious conversation and obvious attentions to Mr. Avon were soon found to be even more grating than Miss Bennet's brief spiel on the attractiveness of the men of the militia. The Colonel was similarly bored, though he did find her newest devotion somewhat amusing, considering his cousin had not been married a year. But Mr. Avon did not seem to mind these attentions (although it was questionable whether he even took note of them), and as he could hardly express his amusement, the Colonel chose to take a seat next to Miss Avon instead, whose company he could enjoy more than he could Miss Bingley's.
Miss Avon engaged him immediately. "It seems I am constantly apologizing for any inconveniences my ward has caused you," she said ruefully, looking to the pianoforte, where Kitty was absently tapping out a melody.
The Colonel followed her gaze, and protested, "There was no inconvenience at all, Miss Avon. She is a pleasant girl...hardly the type I would expect Miss Bingley to agree to take as a ward, however."
Miss Avon laughed at this. "Oh no, Caroline was hardly pleased about doing so, and it was all my idea. But yes, she is a sweet girl." She paused momentarily before leaning forward, as though to share a confidence with the gentleman. "I was wondering if, sometime during your conversation, Kitty became aware of your true identity."
The Colonel was confused by this, but remembered that Miss Bennet had not once referred to him by name. "I did not realize that she had been left so uninformed," he said worriedly, and with no small amount of embarrassment. "Had I known, I should never have spoken to her without introducing myself."
"You take too much upon yourself, Colonel, for it is through no fault but my own that Kitty has remained ignorant of your identity, and that of your father's. I had many opportunities to acquaint her with this knowledge, but chose not to, for I felt it could only do more harm than good. Miss Bingley and I have adopted her and brought her to Bath to teach her of grace and finesse before she goes to visit her sister; I doubt she has ever had a genteel, feminine hand to guide her-" here she delicately wrinkled her nose at the thought of the Bennets (even Jane, undeniably sweet and elegant as she was, had a decidedly provincial air to her), "but as apt a student as she is, she is still at the silly age to become infatuated with anything in a red coat. I fear that her natural reaction will only worsen should she become aware of your relation to her."
"I wonder that she seems to have no recollection of me beyond our collision in the Gardens the other day," he murmured with amusement.
"That I cannot explain - but Colonel," here she placed a hand on his arm. "I was hoping...though I suppose it would not do very much harm if she were to know your name, I was hoping that you might not yet apprise her of your mutual connection. We are already having such trouble keeping her hidden from the eyes of the general public as it is."
"I can imagine," he replied wryly, remembering the little he knew of the younger Miss Bennets, but he soon fell to contemplation: like many of his family, he disliked artifice and duplicity of any kind, but unlike the rest of the family, his position as a Colonel left no room for discomfort when he was placed in such situations, which was more often than he liked to admit. He knew better than most that sometimes those situations could not be avoided. He could appreciate the efforts that had gone into keeping Miss Bennet's presence a secret, and had no wish to destroy the currently successful endeavour. Miss Avon was hardly requiring him to lie outright. With this in mind, he accepted the lady's proposal, and their conversation turned to other matters.
For her part, Kitty had no notion of the exchange that had just taken place regarding herself, as she was far too busy observing Miss Bingley with something approaching fascination.
The older woman was conversing with both Mr. Avon and the earl, and seemed to have undergone a complete reversal in character. Well, not entirely...her affectations were at a maximum, her pretensions fluent, she was somehow exceedingly solicitous while her conversation remained peppered with harsh criticisms and cutting remarks toward many of her (female) acquaintance, and Kitty thought she even heard some cruel observations about herself. Essentially, she was the same Miss Bingley Kitty had long been accustomed to, but amplified to an unbearable degree, and Kitty was sure she hated it. Why did Miss Bingley have to behave so ridiculously in the presence of gentlemen?
And yet it seemed to engage the gentlemen successfully, as they appeared content enough, and even entertained.
Allowing that Miss Bingley's comments might be seen as witty despite their cruelty could not lessen Kitty's perturbation, and she turned away from the display. Being left to her own devices had quickly become dull, and she almost wished for the gentlemen to leave, so that things could be normal again. Of course, this would mean that the Colonel would leave as well, but that gentleman was talking to Miss Samantha with a spirited easiness that Kitty found very pleasant, though she was not a participant of the conversation, and Miss Samantha...
Kitty blinked as she observed the discussion between her friend and the Colonel more closely. She could barely hear their voices, but Miss Avon was very obviously flirting! Kitty wondered that this did not irritate her, for she fancied that she could fall violently in love with the Colonel herself, though he was so much older than the other officers she was acquainted with. Yet she was merely fascinated, for Samantha's flirtations were nothing like Lydia's bold innuendos, and Kitty had never seen the like. She did not lower the décolletage of her gown, nor did she laugh wildly or permit him any liberties, but through her looks in his direction, a gentle press of his hand, a light brush of his sleeve there, she conveyed the same message. And the Colonel did not seem to mind! Kitty would never have imagined that there were so many different ways to flirt, let alone imagine that there might be a way that was permitted by society.
So engrossed by this display was she that the earl's sudden presence went unnoticed, and he had sat down in the seat the Colonel had vacated, apparently having tired of Caroline's "humour", before she took note of his presence. She was effectively sidetracked when he began to speak to her of music, and she actually understood the subjects he brought up. The earl informed her that while he had enjoyed her rendition of the "Sonata Pathetique", it had not been nearly as mournful as it should have been, and Kitty could not help but wilt a little at this, though Miss Avon had told her the very same thing, and even Miss Bingley had hinted at it.
"I suppose it is just as well that I care so little about that piece, for I have withstood much criticism because of it. I much more enjoy 'Voi Che Sapete'."
"Then you sing after all, Miss Bennet?" the earl enquired, his manner oddly criticizing. "Miss Bingley seems to be of the opinion that you do not, and as an aria, that song cannot be played properly unless it has also been sung."
Kitty could never have imagined herself reacting with anything other than submission to the criticism of an earl; yet she found herself retaliating to this opinion with the same contrariness that had enabled her to stand against Lydia for so long, and now against Miss Bingley when necessary. She bluntly informed the earl that she did not sing, nor did she intend to begin in order to fit his mold of a well-performed aria, though she was sorry for nearly knocking him down the other day.
Wavering between laughter and downright appal, he in turn replied that she had barely made him lose his balance that day, and that she must learn to sing, or she could not claim to have mastered that song. They argued lightly on this score for some time before Kitty, in exasperation, called for peace lest her guardians believe that she had done something wrong. She agreed to his demand that she play a concerto she had learnt the previous week before the gentlemen left.
When that time came, she played with such determination and spirit that even the earl owned that the song had been performed very pleasantly.
"I am glad to have met with your approval, Lord..." but here Kitty trailed off, panicking as she realized for the first time that she did not even know the names of their guests, though they had been visiting for over two hours.
Yet the earl, having only known two Miss Bennets in his lifetime, and not having connected the young girl before him to either one, took pity on her and saw no reason to conceal his identity, or take her to task for not being aware of it. "I am afraid I have been most remiss, and have not yet formally introduced myself," he apologized, taking her hand and bowing over it graciously. "Lord Matlock, Miss Bennet," and as the name held no significance for Kitty, their leave-taking ended on that agreeable note, rather than what Kitty had feared.
But as the gentlemen went to collect their hats and gloves, Kitty realized that she had not yet learnt the name of the son, though she now had the name of the father. This revelation prompted her to hurry up to the men before they disappeared through the front doorway and tap the Colonel on her shoulder; but not wishing to behave exactly like Lydia anymore, she phrased her dilemma carefully. "Colonel, I have only just realized that I have not the pleasure of referring to you by name."
The Colonel cast a swift glance in Miss Avon's direction before responding smoothly, "Of course - my name is Richard, Miss Bennet. It is a pleasure to have met you. " He gracefully tipped his hat to the girl before leading his father out the door, ignoring the man's rather surprised look.
As they were entering the carriage, the earl was chuckling and musing over the rather pleasant two hours they had just spent.
"I certainly did not expect to be half so well entertained in that house, though Miss Avon is a lovely sort of woman," he exclaimed, watching his son take the seat across from him. "I see she continues her attentions to you, Richard, though she is hardly the only lady in the household who does so." Here he chuckled as his son rolled his eyes.
"Miss Bennet is a sweet girl, Papa. Certainly her disposition is very different from that of my cousin, but her manners are pleasant and her air lively...though perhaps she is still too much of a child, and as such is very like other girls of her age group," he sighed, hiding a smirk when his father threw back his head and laughed.
"Yes, the infamous allure of the red coat. Perhaps we should have concealed your occupation from her, though I suppose her friends would have told her." At the reminder of the two elder ladies, he sighed himself. "She is a charming girl, is she not? Regardless of your one criticism, I think her rather original, and would hope you do not let her fancy blind you. I find it a ghastly shame that all that unaffected freshness will soon be crushed out of her, for she seems to have a great mind in spite of her exuberance."
"...Father, what do you mean?"
"The company she keeps!" the earl explained as his son gave him a perplexed look. "Mind you, I am saying nothing against Miss Avon or Miss Bingley, but their characters...all I can say is that constant exposure to their society will be the death-warrant of all that is spontaneous and innocent in that girl."
This troubled the Colonel, as he could well see his father's point. A few moments' acquaintance had revealed that Miss Kitty Bennet had little knowledge of society beyond a very small group of friends and family. She could know nothing of the larger, more fashionable circles of society, of either the charms or the poison...yet there were few ladies more knowledgeable about such things as Misses Bingley and Avon.
Yet as their carriage took them back to their own lodgings, they said nothing more on the subject. If the Colonel wondered why the earl had not yet connected Miss Bennet to the only other Bennet women he knew, he did not ask; and if the earl was curious as to why his son had given Miss Bennet his first name instead of his last, he similarly did not ask, and the ride home was completed in silence.