The Choices Series: Pride and Prejudice Novellas

by Leenie Brown

  Richard shook his head. “A note? You mean she has left?”

  “Yes, that is what I said.” Darcy stepped to the side. “You might as well come in and hear about it where it is warm.”

  Richard took a step towards the house, but he stopped when he stood chest to chest with his cousin. “For future reference, it would be good to remember that the word gone has more than one meaning, especially when used in reference to someone who is ill or has sustained an injury.” He stood there looking into his cousin’s face until he saw Darcy’s eyes grow slightly wider as understanding dawned. Then, after a firm pat on his cousin’s shoulder, Richard moved past him into the house and eventually into the sitting room while Darcy attempted to apologize for his choice of words.

  “This note,” said Richard to Elizabeth, who had just finished explaining how they had found Kitty’s room empty, “may I read it?”

  “Of course.” She pulled a folded paper from her pocket. “Darcy was just on his way to visit Mrs. Havelston to see if that is where she had gone. I would not worry so, seeing as she has taken care to be accompanied, but having hit her head so hard, I fear she may become disoriented or … worse.”

  Nodding his agreement and trying desperately not to allow his mind to contemplate worse, Richard opened the note and read it.

  Having slept so long yesterday, I find myself awake earlier than normal this morning. There are a few business matters I would like to see to, so I will be taking Thomas and Henriella as well as the carriage. I hope to be home before tea, but I do not know exactly how long business meetings take, so it is merely a guess. Do not fear, my head is sore, but my mind is clear. I am well.

  Kitty

  “Do we know how long she has been gone?” Richard handed the note back to Elizabeth.

  “Two hours is our best guess,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “I did not wish to disturb her too early as I felt rest was necessary, but when Lizzy arrived with that newspaper announcement, we decided we would wake her.”

  Richard stood and placed his hat back on his head. “Do you wish to accompany me?” he asked all who were in the room.

  “I do,” said Elizabeth.

  “As do I,” added Darcy.

  “Mrs. Gardiner?”

  She shook her head. “My children need me this morning, or I would gladly join you. Besides, it would be good for me to be here if she returns.”

  Richard agreed and motioned for Darcy and Elizabeth to exit before him.

  “Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Mrs. Gardiner called after him, “what was your purpose in calling today?”

  Richard’s smile returned. “My father has relented.”

  “He has done what?” Darcy nearly shouted the question in surprise. “Lord Matlock has reversed a decree?”

  Richard’s head bobbed up and down. “I never thought I would see the day, but then again I did not know about the necklace and note Mrs. Bennet spoke of to Aunt Catherine until this morning when Mary made mention of it.”

  Elizabeth hurried back towards him. “You mean the possibility of Lady Catherine’s illegitimacy is a great enough threat to cause him to change his mind?”

  “Very much so,” replied Richard. “You see she is not just his sister but his twin, so…”

  Elizabeth gasped. “If illegitimacy can be proven…”

  “Uncle Reginald could claim the title,” finished Darcy.

  “Quite so.” Richard motioned for them to leave and then gave a bow and his thanks to Mrs. Gardiner. “It is that very conversation which our uncle and my father had this morning.”

  Darcy whistled as he stood on the step.

  “That is only the half of the tale regarding our uncle and that necklace.” Richard nodded toward the carriage. “I will fill you in on the rest as we travel, as long as you know that not a word of this is to be discussed outside of our little group until our uncle decides.” He climbed in and closed the door, and as they rolled away, he began to tell them the tale of the second necklace, the one that had belonged to his grandmother.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~

  Kitty clutched the packet of sketches she had collected from Mrs. Havelston tightly to her chest. “Miss Katherine Bennet to see his lordship,” she tried to keep her voice from showing the fear she felt at coming to a place such as this.

  The butler gave her an appraising look. “Is he expecting you?”

  “No. But, I do have rather urgent business that needs his attention.” She squared her shoulders as she had seen Lydia do when asking for things that others might find impossible to consider receiving.

  “Do you have a card?” asked the butler.

  Kitty fought the urge to drop her gaze. “I do not. Please, just tell him who is here to call on him.” She tried to smile as sweetly at the elderly gentleman as she could. “And if you do not mind, might I wait inside instead of on the step. The wind is biting, and I promise to move no further than just inside the door while I wait.”

  He motioned for her to enter and then after closing the door and telling her to wait right where she stood, he moved slowly down the hall. Pausing to turn once and peer at her again.

  It was odd how he had seemed to recognize her name. His scrutiny had been rather unsettling. She should have been used to it by now. Everyone, especially her mother, was always weighing her features and accomplishments against that of her sisters, but no matter how often it happened, she always felt wanting. It was why she had attempted to emulate her sisters by picking dresses like Jane and flirting like Lydia. She was sure she would not be accepted as plain old Kitty, who liked to draw and would rather sit and watch a dance than partake. She smiled to herself. There was probably not one person who know such a fact about her. She sighed. He would. But then, she had, on Mary’s advice, been more herself with him than with any other person. She fidgeted with her papers. She had spent several hours last night considering her life and her dreams, and she was determined that from this day forward, she would be Katherine Bennet ─ not Lydia’s or Mary’s or Elizabeth’s or Jane’s sister ─ no, today she would begin being herself with everyone.

  She straightened her posture as she saw the butler approaching. “He will see you.”

  He turned and Kitty followed, stopping before entering the room to which she had been lead to hand her coat and hat to Henriella.

  “Miss Bennet.” Lord Matlock stood behind his desk and motioned to a chair. “I am expecting my solicitor soon, but if your business is of a quick nature, we can discuss it. I do not, however, see how we can have any business to discuss, you being a woman and all.”

  “I thank you for your time, my lord.” Kitty smoothed her skirt. She had taken care to wear her best dress today. “I assume you, as any good husband would, see to the bills acquired by your wife’s purchases?” She paused for a moment while he confirmed that he did. “I will also assume since I have heard that you are often seen with her in public that her appearance as she stands beside you is of great importance. I mean, one cannot be looked at as a great man with a wife who is wearing last season’s styles.” Again, she waited for his acknowledgement of the fact. She knew from spending so much time with her youngest sister and her aunt Philips that appearance and appealing to one’s sense of position and popularity could be used judiciously to achieve the desired end.

  She tapped the packet of papers on her lap. “I have with me some designs for dresses that I happen to know your wife adores.” She sighed. “I have been considering keeping the sketches for myself instead of selling them to the modiste whose shop your wife frequents. In fact, I stopped by that very shop to collect these just this morning.” She closed her eyes for a moment and rubbed near her eye. “Forgive me, I have a slight headache.”

  His eyes had been drawn many times since she entered the room to the gash on her forehead, and they were there once again.

  “I know it must look a fright,” she explained, gingerly touching the scar, “but it is in such a place that I was unable to cover it with my hair.” She chuckled softly
. “It shall only look worse as it heals, I suppose. Bruises are never pretty.” She smiled and opened her pack of papers. “But we are not here to discuss my beauty or lack thereof but that of Lady Matlock.”

  He blinked and turned his attention away from the wound on her head for a moment. “Why should I be interested in designs?”

  “Because, my lord, you have the power to decide if your wife will get to wear my designs or if they will be tucked away or, perhaps, provided to another lady.” She flipped through her designs. “She was particularly enamored with this one.” She placed it on his desk. “She would look lovely in it, do you not agree?”

  He picked up the sketch and examined it. “How is it that I have this power?”

  Kitty’s stomach fluttered, and she was unsure if she had the courage to continue.

  Lord Matlock placed the paper back on the desk. His eyes once again found that gash as he waited for her answer.

  “You, my lord, have something I want.”

  His brows rose. “Do I?”

  “You do.”

  “How did you do it?” He pointed to her forehead.

  “Some news took me by surprise, my lord.”

  He tapped his fingers on the desk as his head nodded slowly. “So you are that Miss Bennet.”

  “Pardon?”

  He sighed. “I know who you are and what you want.”

  She could feel the heat creeping up her neck and onto her cheeks. The room was spinning a bit faster than it had been when she walked in. “You will need to explain.” She tried not to let her head lean on her hand, but it was becoming far too difficult to keep it upright between the spinning and the throbbing.

  “You are to be my daughter. I must say I am impressed by my son’s selection. You are lovely and daring coming here to blackmail me with your sketches. Did you expect to win me over, so that I would allow you to marry him?”

  Kitty groaned softly and rubbed her head. “I did not come to win his hand. I came to win his freedom.”

  “Freedom? I do not see how he had ever been anything but free.”

  She straightened herself and folded her hands primly in her lap, attempting to ignore the movement of the objects around her. “My lord, if you will forgive me for being so direct, I must disagree. Neither man nor woman can be free when they are controlled by another. If you would but release him from this betrothal and allow him to choose his own path…” She swallowed and allowed her gaze to drop. “I will give you my drawings and turn him away, if I must.” She blinked at the tears that gathered.

  “I am afraid I cannot.”

  Kitty sucked in a breath. She had failed.

  Lord Matlock rose. “My solicitor will be here in moments, and I am under the impression from others, who are as eager as you to see my son choose his own path, that you and he are to wed, and I am to allow it.”

  She would have shaken her head to clear the fuzziness that was settling in if she did not know it would hurt so very much. “Is he not to wed Miss de Bourgh?”

  “She has withdrawn her consent. Have you not read the papers?” He held up a hand. “Of course, you have not. You are a lady.” He scrunched his face slightly as if considering something. “Although my wife does follow the society pages. I am surprised you do not.”

  Kitty stood slowly. “My uncle rises first and takes it with him to his warehouse. I do not see the paper until the evening, my lord.”

  “Warehouse?”

  “Yes, my lord, my uncle is in trade.”

  “Indeed?” Lord Matlock did not look pleased to hear such a thing.

  “I believe he is what you would call a cit, my lord.”

  Lord Matlock huffed as he came out from behind his desk and moved toward the door where he stood with his hand on the handle looking at her with some interest. “You seem well-spoken for the niece of a tradesman.”

  “My father is a gentleman, sir. Nothing less is acceptable.”

  His brows rose and his lips puckered as if he had never considered such a thing before. “Very true,” he agreed. “You are fascinating, Miss Bennet. I may find myself actually liking you in time.”

  She curtsied. “Thank you, my lord. You do me a great honour.”

  He straighten just a bit. “Indeed, I do. You know, I pride myself on honouring those who are slightly less than myself. I suppose I could extend that to your class as well.”

  “We would be most appreciative, my lord. Again, I thank you.” She clutched her packet of papers to her chest and began to exit through the door he held open.

  “One moment, Miss Bennet. About the sketches.”

  “They shall be returned to Mrs. Havelston when your son is completely free to choose his own path. As I see it, my lord, you refused my offer and countered with one of your own. However, your counter did not include mention of my drawings.” She put a hand out to steady herself on the wall.

  “Now, wait just a moment,” he sputtered.

  “Do not fret, my lord. You may have overlooked the mention of my designs, but I fully intend to honour my promise to you as soon as Colonel Fitzwilliam is free. It is what anyone of good breeding would do, is it not?”

  Lord Matlock looked confused for a moment but then agreed and bid her good day.

  “Miss, you are unwell,” said Henriella wrapping an arm around Kitty. “Please let Thomas and me take you home.”

  “No, I have one more stop to make, and then you may take me home and someone can explain to me about what Lord Matlock was speaking.” She leaned on her maid as she walked. “Perhaps a short rest in the carriage before the next meeting would be advisable. Do you think we could take a short drive?”

  “I will ask Thomas,” said Henriella. “La, you are so pale, miss.”

  “Is there anything I could get for you,” asked the butler who stood before the door. “A small sip of wine?”

  “I thank you, but I do not wish to impose.”

  “It is no imposition, miss.” He snapped his fingers and a footman hurried over. “A bit of wine for the lady.” He looked at Kitty. “He will bring it to your carriage. Your maid is correct; you do look pale. It would be best if you found rest soon.”

  “I thank you, Mr. ─?”

  “Harrison, miss.”

  “Mr. Harrison, you have been very helpful.”

  “It has been a pleasure, Miss Bennet.” He held the door as the two exited, and when Kitty looked back from the carriage, he was still standing there watching until she was safely inside the vehicle.

  Chapter 11

  “Miss,” Henriella nudged Kitty. “Miss, we are here.”

  Kitty opened her eyes and stretched. She straightened her hat and smoothed her clothes. “Oh, I feel so much better.” She rubbed her temples slightly. “It is only a dull ache now. It is not pounding as it was.”

  “I still think you should go home, miss,” said Henriella.

  Kitty patted her maid’s hands. “I must do this before I lose my nerve or my head heals, and I regain my sense.” She laughed lightly in an attempt to ease her nerves.

  “Shall I attend you?”

  “Yes, please. You may wait either in the room or just outside, but in case my head starts to swoon, I would prefer to have you near.”

  Henriella nodded and followed her mistress out of the carriage and up the steps to the Hursts’ townhouse.

  Kitty lifted the knocker and let it fall. Then, she turned slightly to see Henriella, who stood behind her. “I can do this, can I not?”

  “You can, miss,” Henriella assured. “And when you have finished, you may go home to a cup of tea and a good sleep.”

  “Thank you,” said Kitty. She managed to turn about just before the door opened to allow her entrance. “Miss Bennet to see Miss Bingley,” she informed the butler. “A private audience if possible.”

  “I shall see if she is home to you.”

  “Tell her,” said Kitty as the butler turned to leave, “that I have something of value to give her.”

  “Yes,
miss.”

  Kitty shifted from foot to foot. Facing Lord Matlock had been daunting, but seeing Miss Bingley was proving to be more unnerving. She put it to the fact that she knew naught of Lord Matlock aside from his rigid conformity to social expectations. However, Miss Bingley and her cutting remarks were well-known. It was knowing what surely would be hurled at her that caused her stomach to flutter and her hands to twist as she waited.

  “She will see you. If you will follow me.”

  Kitty waited as the butler announced her and then stepped into the room. As she had requested, there was no other person in the room save Caroline. She dipped a curtsey. “Miss Bingley, thank you for seeing me.”

  “I have no choice. Should my brother hear that you were here, and I turned you away, I shudder to think of what further strictures he would place upon me.” She grimaced at the sight of the gash on Kitty’s forehead. “I am sorry you were injured.”

  Although it sounded rather hollow, Kitty chose to take it as sincere. Today was not the day to dwell in the past. Today was her day to start a new beginning. “Thank you. I know it looks dreadful.” She took a seat and pulled a folded paper from her reticule. “I brought you something.” She held the paper out to Miss Bingley. “I have spoken to Mrs. Havelston, and that is an appointment to have measurements taken and a dress made.”

  Caroline’s hands stopped the work of unfolding the note. She looked at Kitty with wide eyes. “I do not understand. Mrs. Havelston said she refused to serve me.”

  “She did,” Kitty agreed. “But, you are family, and I could not let you be cut off from one of the best modistes in England.” She smiled.

  Caroline shook her head in disbelief.

  “Allow me to explain.” She folded her hands in her lap and drew a breath. “As you know, I have four sisters. As I am sure is true for you and your sister, I and mine have not always gotten along. There has been fighting. Hats and gloves have been taken. Hair has been pulled. Names have been called. There have been times when I have wished to be an only child because being compared to and teased by my sisters has been a torment.” She smiled at Caroline. “Even Jane, as sweet as she is, can be sharp and unyielding.”