“You call it that again and I will keep all the pennies myself. See if I do not!” she said as she punched him in the arm.
“Alright, alright! Calm down already!” her brother replied as he rubbed his arm.
“So you really do not hate me?” asked a relieved Harry.
“No! You took it and did not even bring us into it. I was going to blame it on Amelia if your Dad had asked me straight out who was responsible. Girls always get off easier than boys. Especially if they just lost their one beauty.,” laughed Robert. “Do you think we can go back to Butterfly Orchard tomorrow?”
Harry then informed his cousins of his punishment, and they were bitterly disappointed. “You should have just asked for the strap and gotten it over with,” said Robert.
“He did not give me that choice. I wish he had! I cannot imagine not seeing Midnight for a month complete!”
“Say, do you know what happened to those other kids?” asked Amelia.
“I have no idea,” said Harry. “If my Papa was as angry with them as he was with me, we will probably never see them again.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Charles and Jane left mid-morning to meet with Hugh and Louisa. When they arrived at the Hursts, they heard Hugh shouting, “No, no! Stop right there!”
“Oh no, what now?” Charles said as he and Jane quickly walked around the house to the back.
They turned the corner and saw Hugh yelling directions to a blindfolded Levi. Louisa, Lilly, and the twins were ten feet in front of Levi with hands covering their mouths as the boy tried to find them.
“Straight ahead, boy! That is it! Keep going! A little closer! Haha! We have you now!” yelled Hugh as Levi reached his targets. The children and Louisa all started to giggle, and Levi took off his blindfold. He had a huge smile on his face as Hugh ran up to him and patted him on the back. “Good job! We make a good team, do we not?”
“Ma tun!” said eighteen-month-old old Gus.
“Hello there!”
On seeing her brother and sister-in-law, Louisa put Ellie down and walked over to them. “Hello, my dears. You have stumbled upon a game of tig. Mr. Hurst and his brothers used to play blindfolded, and we are trying it out as you see.”
“Children, say hello to our guest. Levi, you may continue playing with the others if you would like, while we grownups go inside,” said Mr. Hurst.
“Let me ring for tea,” said Louisa as they showed their guests into the drawing-room.
“Those are some great children, let me tell you,” began Hugh. “Lilly positively adores her big brother. Now, that is a sign of a good young man!”
“And did you notice how much Lilly looks like Ellie?” added Louisa. “Both are miniatures of Mariah herself. She has much of Mariah’s shyness as well, but I believe she may outgrow it in time.”
Charles looked at Jane as the tea was served. Both were wondering the same thing. “Well, that is what we are here to discuss. What should be done about the children?” said Charles.
“Oh, we could not part with them now, brother. They are like older versions of Gus and Ellie. There is such a connection between the four of them already. It is as if they have known each other since birth. And I do think they have taken to Hugh and me as well.”
“Yes, yes, there is no question about it,” Hugh said. “Louisa and I thought we had a lively home before but seeing all four of those children together, well, it was like the house is finally complete now.”
“Our family is complete now,” added Louisa smiling contentedly.
“I will write a letter stating our intentions to adopt them and post it tomorrow.”
“I must say, it is quite remarkable,” said Charles. “I had no expectations whatsoever of you taking them in like this. Jane and I thought we might find a home for them and set up a trust to help with the expenses.”
“We might still do just that, Charles,” inserted Jane. “I think it is still a very good idea.”
“Indeed, I agree with you, my dear! There are many added expenses that come with a large family. You will be in need of a governess for the boy to be taught his lessons and before long for the girl as well. Please allow us to set up an arrangement so that these additional necessities never become a burden to you.”
“Thank you, Charles, Jane. That is very kind and generous of you both. But we can easily support a little family of six. If we had had children of our own, who knows, we might have had eight or ten,” answered Hugh.
“However, there is the matter of the children’s lessons and the need for a governess,” said Louisa. “What do you think of the idea of the children doing their lessons with Harry? At least for a little while, until we all get settled. Levi and Lilly could ride to Bethany House each morning and sometimes they could play with Harry in Butterfly Orchard afterward. You do not need to give us an answer now. Perhaps you could think it over and let us know later what would work best for all concerned?”
When Charles looked at Jane, he could see her excitement at the idea. “You think it is a good idea?” he asked.
“Oh, I certainly do, Charles! I think it will be of great benefit to Harry to have other children around regularly. I believe he would do well having others to work with in the school room and to play with,” Jane said.
“It is settled then. We can try out the new arrangement and see how it goes.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The Gardiners returned from Pemberly after welcoming the new addition to the Darcy family, a boy named Lawrence Jonathan Darcy. They retrieved their children and were quite surprised when Amelia’s bonnet was lifted. The girl’s nonchalant attitude about it, helped to soften the blow for her mother. Aunt Gardiner made sure she got all the little details from Jane, so she could share them with her friend, Caroline Gibb, now a new mother of twin girls herself. She knew they would have a good laugh the day she would repeat the story.
Jane had a baby in early March, a little girl named Laura Helen Bingley. Harry was thrilled to have his new friends and cousins to spend his days with. This year they had a mild winter, and spring was almost upon them. The children were able to spend many afternoons in Butterfly Orchard.
Chapter Fourteen
When others spoke of the Bennet girls’ beauty it always went the same way. Jane was the most beautiful with her blue eyes and golden hair. Elizabeth was next in line, with her dark mahogany hair and intelligent eyes. Some might even call them fine. Lydia, the youngest, jumped past her other two sisters. With her similar coloring to Elizabeth, dimples and sparkling personality, when she was getting her way, she was considered the third most beautiful.
Mary was the only plain Bennet sister. She had been born practical and with reading and playing the piano being her favorite pastimes, she worried not about hair and fashions. At least not until she met a man who she liked enough to begin to care. She then willingly submitted to her mother and aunt’s alterations. Her brown hair was done up in a softer style and she got more flattering spectacles for her small brown eyes. Her sisters sent her lovely fabrics to make a few becoming and stylish dresses in lighter and therefore more appealing colors. She had been so severe in her dress and grooming before this that anyone seeing her after the changes were in place, were quite surprised and thought her not so bad after all.
Then there was Kitty Bennet. She was considered average in every way. She was thought to be a pretty girl but nothing out of the ordinary. She was certainly never considered to be a beauty. She was a pleasant girl in others company, but did not have the elegance of Jane, the confidence of Elizabeth or the enthusiasm of Lydia. Somehow no one seemed to notice that right there on her round face she was the only other sister who had the same blue eyes as Jane. The hair that framed this round childlike face was neither golden nor dark curls. Her hair was very straight but a lov
ely chestnut color, much like her father's sister but like none of those in her own household. She was shorter than the other girls until at the age of seventeen when she suddenly grew three full inches. Her father called her a late bloomer.
As Kitty grew taller, she thinned out quite a lot. Her childish figure became long and lean. It took some time for her to adjust to this change, feeling more awkward than elegant for a full two years’ time.
Kitty at one and twenty was a woman of whom people took double takes. Especially in the last year had her looks undergone a most significant transformation. She had been at Pemberley when she was among those seriously stricken with influenza. A few months after she had returned home to Longbourn, she once again looked the picture of health. But the full cheeks of her childhood had been replaced with the high cheekbones which had been hiding underneath. Her blue eyes seemed larger in her thin face and were set off nicely by the contrasting brown hair. Her long limbs had been trained to carry her gracefully along.
Kitty Bennet regarded herself as one of the more respectable girls in Meryton. At least, that was what her mother always told her to think about herself.
Kitty allowed herself to think as her mother had always looked upon her, as a young lady in the making. But, somewhere deep in her heart, she knew it was not true. She had followed in Lydia's shadow for far too long and had not truly been her own person until her sister had married Wickham.
The dashing fellow that he was, Kitty hoped to find someone that had a bit more...practicality about him. Her sisters had revealed bits and pieces of what had occurred during the courtship but never told her outright what made Lydia's decision so undesirable.
She had also become a very close friend of Georgiana Darcy. The contrast between Georgiana and Lydia was quite remarkable. Georgiana was a true lady and Kitty admired her gentle manners and level headedness.
Kitty still allowed the tendencies of her youth to slip out from time to time. But her two older sisters made sure that she was ready to come out into society with the best manners and the backing of two of the wealthiest families at her side. The Bingleys and Darcys were supportive and hosted as many parties as they could once Kitty and Georgiana had come of age. Jane and Lizzy made sure that their husbands kept an eye on any potential suitors, and if the two gentlemen gave any indication that they disapproved of a match, the man was disposed of. But neither Kitty nor Georgiana had formed a connection with any of the gentlemen they had met at any of these functions. Then out of nowhere, last year, Georgiana Darcy, had fallen in love with a man she felt comfortable around and who cherished her.
Kitty was not perfect but prided herself on being able to hold a conversation with a gentleman without raising her voice in a squeal of joy. And there had been a few gentlemen that had called on her, but none of them seemed to be the one that she wanted to spend more time with. None of those that showed an interest in her, that is. It had been a few months since she had first met a man that had piqued her interest.
Kitty often wondered what would have happened if Mr. Darcy had never revealed his true feelings to her sister. She expected Lizzy would still be unmarried, but considered the fact that Mr. Darcy was far too stubborn to let a woman like her sister go. He was stubborn through whatever he did, even hosting a celebration, and Kitty would find herself trying not to fidget whenever her sister had to ease him into a conversation.
The man was tall and lean, his brown coat and pants tailored well. His hair was long, pulled back into a small tail to keep it out of his eyes. He gave her a polite smile as he passed, and Kitty had to make sure that her mouth was shut when he was out of sight. Mr. Bingley and Jane had raised their eyebrows at her blush, but she assured them that it was merely the heat of the day getting to her.
The man had appeared before her suddenly and was gone within moments, but Kitty would never forget the feeling that came from looking at his face. She found herself taking more trips into town, just to see if the man would be there. Sometimes he was, with his polite smile and small nod; sometimes he was not, and Lizzy and Jane would later tease her about popping into town just to sneak glances at unsuspecting gentlemen.
The man's name was Mr. Covington, and he was truly a gentleman that Kitty could admire. They often talked whenever they were both in town. He was an apprentice to the lawyer in town and lived above his office on the main street of Meryton. He was polite to all but did not seem to pay any special attention to any one girl. Georgiana had given her opinion that perhaps there was some leftover shyness from the man’s youth that prevented him from being more forthcoming about his preference.
He would keep a bag of small sweets on his desk and would sometimes feel the need to stretch his legs after sitting for long periods. He would stand outside and offer anyone who passed one from his bag of treats. Whenever she ended up in town, she always took what he offered and tried to make small talk. She never learned anything of real significance from their communication but his actions spoke louder than his unspoken words. He was polite, smiled at all and never had she heard him say a negative comment about anyone.
Maria Price, formerly Lucas, and Kitty Bennet, entered the hall together and made their way through the crowd toward the punchbowl. “Oh Kitty, it’s so good that you can come along — finally!” Maria said as she threw her arms up into the air in a flurry of explosive energy. She had missed her friend over the last few months and was glad Kitty had recovered from her illness. “The dances just haven’t been the same without you darling. You look so much prettier now. You have . . . hmm, developed into a beautiful woman . . . I am so jealous! Just look at you. Not pudgy like me.”
“You are not pudgy Maria, you are lovely.”
“Lovely maybe, and round last time I checked.”
“Stop it will you, you look just fine.” Kitty had to reprimand her friend often when she spoke foolishly.
Marias’ brown almond–shaped eyes glistened in the light as she took in the vision of her friend. She looked Kitty up and down critically and then flicked some of her blonde hair back, which had escaped her plait and was creeping forward upon her slight shoulder. “We cannot have you looking roughed up like that Kitty. Go on, pull your shoulders back and look relaxed. Oww, we might see M–i–s–t–e– r Covington,” she said in a sing–song voice.
“Oh Maria, you are so droll, he does not even cast an eye towards me.” Kitty rolled her eyes in despair as she spoke.
“Oh but Kitty, I have noticed something that you have not. He is one of those creatures that find it hard to articulate their f–e–e–l–i–n–g–s; they do not understand us.” A blank look formed across Kitty’s sweet face.
“Ugh! You have no idea do you?” Maria breathed out exasperated and felt pity for her naïve friend. No wonder her dad called her a late bloomer, she thought. “Oh Kitty, men can be real pigs at times; but other times they can be . . . wonderful.” Mrs. Price was approaching her second anniversary and as an expert she was just about to explain a little more about men, before suddenly choking on her punch as she caught a glimpse of who was approaching them from their right hand side. Kitty hadn’t seen him yet.
“Oh Maria are you alright?” Kitty asked, concerned and began to thump her back.
“Oh fine, really; just fine. Look over my shoulder, can you see him?” Kitty craned her neck around to look past Maria and immediately recoiled as she saw Mr. Covington not more than a few strides away, looking intently at her. Oh his eyes; his beautiful blue eyes! She suddenly felt hot and held her breath, hoping he would not see her.
“Miss Bennet! Oh how are you ma’am? And Mrs. Price.” He tipped his hat at the girls. A true gentleman, she thought. Breathe Kitty, just breathe, you silly goose. She then scolded herself at the way she was feeling.
“Oh, Mr. Covington! I did not expect to . . . see you here.” Her face flushed red as she swallowed.
“Now have you been Kitty? I could not help overhearing your mother say you had not been well for a time; influenza as I unders
tand?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact. I was quite ill . . . but I am alright now, Mr. Covington. How have you been?” She nearly stuttered as she spoke.
“Oh fine, never better.
“Mr. Price! Good to see you again sir.”
“Always a pleasure, Mr. Covington. Miss Bennet, you are looking well tonight. Your color seems to have returned,” said Mr. Price with his usual grin. “Mrs. Price, may I be so bold as to claim the next dance?”
Maria’s face lit up. “You certainly may, Mr. Price. If you will excuse me, Miss Catherine, Mr. Covington.”
“Miss Catherine, shall we?” asked Mr. Covington.
“Absolutely.” And they entered the floor. It was a beautiful dance floor, despite its slight size, and the lights swirled and danced as they did. There was an air of familiarity dancing with Mr. Covington. It reminded her of their few dances prior her illness, and each spin stole her breath away. It was a magnificent feeling dancing with such a man as Mr. Covington. Kitty wondered if he shared the emotions, but their conversations never ventured to that topic, rather they remained on simple subjects. She recalled that Maria had said men were lacking in the articulation of emotions, maybe she was correct.
Though, Kitty did begin to learn of Mr. Covington's habits.
“And so, how did you win? Go on, go on.”
“It was nothing.”
“Quite certainly it was something. Indulge me.” Kitty replied.
Mr. Covington spun Ms. Bennet as he continued his story. “Alright, alright, here it goes. Mr. Baltimore had just moved his rook, and from my perspective it was like he had won. Indeed, I was ready to surrender. Though, as it turned out, he had left himself open for my strike. It was not an immediate victory; I had to out maneuver him. Though poor Mr. Baltimore never did see my plan.
“He had been too focused on the new protection his rook provided that he lost sight of the protection it had been providing. Of course, it was a simple mistake, but allowed Mr. Covington to move his knight two spaces to the left and three spaces up. Then at the very next turn, moving his queen just one space right, Mr. Baltimore was in check-mate!” Kitty exclaimed with excitement, making gestures of the victory.
Love is in the Air Page 7
