CATHERINE (Pride & Prejudice continued.... Book 2)

by Sue Barr

  “But—”

  Elizabeth held up her hand to stop his protest.

  “Hear me out before you disagree and harrumph.”

  “I do not harrumph. All right,” he conceded at her one eyebrow arched in disbelief. “I harrumph sometimes, but why do you want her to miss another Season?”

  “Several reasons. For one, she is not ready. Since our wedding her confidence has grown, with much credit being given to Caroline Bingley. Her guidance has surprisingly brought out Georgiana’s desire to attempt new things, but she has lived a very sheltered life here at Pemberley. All her encounters have been with those she knows and trusts.”

  “What do you then propose?”

  “Mrs. Annesley returns next month, which is good as Georgiana misses the companionship Caroline brought, and I thought this might be a good time to invite Kitty and Mary to stay with us. Kitty is only one year older than Georgiana, and Mary a scant two years older than Kitty. I believe Mrs. Annesley would be a wonderful influence. I propose all three girls make their debut together, next year. I shall write Papa and ask that my sisters stay with us this summer.”

  “What you say is true, but my sister was to be presented at court this year. Aunt Matlock is thrilled to sponsor not only Georgiana, but also you, Mrs. Darcy. Richard will be disappointed. He looked forward to partnering his new cousin at the ball the Countess has planned.”

  “This brings me to my second reason to postpone Georgiana’s season.” She clasped her hands together, aware they’d gone damp from nerves and excitement. “As you know I have a special gown commissioned for this occasion and with such a beautiful design, I hate to ruin the cut by letting it out.”

  His brow furrowed. “Why on earth would you have to let it out?”

  “Because, dear husband, the baby refuses to stop growing so I can be presented at court.” She smiled as understanding dawned in his eyes, more than pleased she’d managed to surprise him.

  “Baby?”

  Those warm hazel eyes she loved so much shone bright with tears and she nodded yes. He rose from the desk and drew her to her feet, kissing her with a passion that ignited a flame in both of them.

  “Your letter writing will have to wait,” he whispered against her soft throat. A few hours later the door to the study was unlocked and a sleepy bride was carried to her room.

  Longbourn – the very next week

  “Kitty?”

  The halls of Longbourn echoed with the shrill sound of Mrs. Bennet on the hunt for her second youngest daughter. “Oh, where is that girl? Hill, have you seen Kitty?”

  She hurried from one room to another, calling for her daughter every few seconds until Mr. Bennet cried out from his book room.

  “Enough, Mrs. Bennet! Cease and desist your caterwauling. I am of a mind to banish you to your sister’s house in Meryton so that I may have some peace and quiet!”

  “You may well hush me, Mr. Bennet, but I have important news and cannot locate Kitty.”

  “I hate to ask, but I shall, otherwise I will have no peace.” Mr. Bennet appeared at the door of his book room, glasses perched on the end of his nose, a book in his hand. “For what reason do you require the presence of Kitty when Mary is in the drawing room playing the pianoforte. Can she not lend you aid?”

  “Oh, Mr. Bennet, you know Mary is useless in these things.”

  “Which can only mean you are doing something with lace and buttons. Mary, good girl that she is, abhors such frivolous activities.”

  “How you vex me at times with your impatience.” Mrs. Bennet waved a letter in front of his face. “It so happens, Lizzy has written, inviting us to attend Pemberley this summer. We shall have to go to London and buy new clothes. I’m sure my brother has some lovely fabric in one of his warehouses.”

  “Let me see what Elizabeth wrote.” Mr. Bennet held out his hand, his countenance showing he would brook no argument from his silly wife. With a sullen pout she handed over the letter. He raised his eyebrow when he noted the letter was addressed to him, quickly perused the pages and upon removing his glasses, said, “Get your story straight next time, Madam. Elizabeth invited Kitty and Mary to Pemberley. I see no invitation extended for you to attend with either of them.”

  “That’s preposterous. I’m sure she wants her mama to visit and this was an oversight.”

  “An oversight, you say. I think not.” He folded the letter and tucked it inside his book. “No, it is settled, you will say your good-byes from the front entryway and find something else to entertain yourself with while they are gone. You might even have time to visit Lady Lucas, who enjoys extolling the virtues of her new grandson, William. The one who will inherit Longbourn from his own dear father, Mr. Collins.”

  “Have you no regard for my nerves? Reminding me how Mr. Collins will turn me out to the hedgerows as soon as you are in the grave.”

  “My dear, you are completely wrong. I have the highest regard for your nerves and who knows, I may outlive you.”

  Chapter Three

  Kitty ambled along the road between Lucas Lodge and Longbourn. She’d been visiting her very best friend, Maria Lucas and was now on her way home before the sun set and it became too dark to see the road.

  Lucas Lodge was such welcome respite after the chaos that signified life at her home, Longbourn. With three of her sisters married, everyone assumed Mama would calm down and relax knowing her daughters were secure. Well, at least two of the daughters were secure. Lydia rarely wrote and when she did it was usually to petition money from ‘dear mama’. As always, Mama could never say no to her ‘dear girl’ and much of her pin money found its way north, along with Kitty’s and Mary’s. Mama was not above purloining money from their treasure boxes.

  This behavior should not have surprised her. Mama always favored Lydia, allowing her to take any ribbon or bonnet she fancied from her sisters, the exception being Jane. No one was permitted to take anything of Jane’s.

  To Kitty, Lydia’s letters were filled with details of parties and balls she attended, with or without Wickham, and of flirtations with other officers. Any money being sent was not being used for food or household affairs, but for supporting a self-indulgent lifestyle. Almost a year’s separation gave Kitty a more sobering view of her younger sister and what she saw filled her heart with sorrow. Nothing good could come from their degenerate lifestyle and she prayed for them daily.

  She’d turned onto the road which led to Longbourn, traversing the small slope immediately following when thunderous hooves pounded from behind. Before she could move out of the way, a horse and rider crested the hill, jumping over her body at the last minute. Startled, she screamed and tumbled into the ditch.

  She rolled once, arms flailing helplessly and came to a soggy stop at the bottom of the shallow gully. With shaking hands, she pushed her bonnet back off her face and took a few precious seconds to gather her wits. Nothing was broken, that she could ascertain, and her heart raced along as though she’d run all the way home from Lucas Lodge. She heard the rustling of tall grass as the rider of the horse slipped down the embankment toward her.

  “Are you hurt?” he queried.

  She nodded, not trusting her voice. Tears threatened to overflow onto her cheeks with the realization of how perilously close she’d come to being injured or killed.

  “Here, take my hand.”

  She raised her hand, but when he went to pull her toward him, she cried out at the sharp pain in her side.

  “You are injured!”

  “I am not sure,” she managed to breathe out and pressed her palm to her side where the pain still radiated.

  She finally lifted her head and looked up at the rider, gasping aloud when she realized it was none other than Lord George Kerr. The last time she’d seen the handsome gentleman was at Lizzy and Jane’s wedding breakfast last November. Their brief interlude had been the highlight of her whole week, ending when she’d been rudely called away by Mama.

  “Miss Catherine Bennet!” He seemed e
qually surprised. “I am so sorry for having caused you such undue pain. Please allow me help you up this embankment.”

  Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment. She’d been giddy over the small attention received from him and for months had painted a romantic dream around his dark good looks and storm colored eyes. Now, the fantasy presented itself in living color and she was mortified to be covered in mud and weeds, through no fault of her own.

  He slipped and slid closer and with a perfunctory ‘Sorry’, cradled her in his arms and lifted. She clenched her jaw tight and tried to not cry out but couldn’t stop a small whimper from escaping.

  “I am truly sorry, Miss Catherine. I would not blame your father if he called for a public flogging because of my recklessness.”

  “No worries, Lord Kerr,” she panted out in quick breaths. “Father is not bothered by much. Mama wore him down years ago.”

  She thought she heard him chuckle and dared to glance up at his face, which was achingly close now that he held her in his arms. She noted a firm chin and full mouth which was most definitely curved in a smile at her comment. Before he caught her staring, like he did at Pemberley, she fixed her eyes on the ditch they were in.

  “There is a natural incline over there.” She pointed to the area where the gully gradually met the road. “If you must carry me, this would make it much easier to gain access. I do not wish to be a burden.”

  “Miss Catherine, you are no burden. I swear you are as light as a feather, but I agree, the access is much easier over there.” He began walking toward the berm and within minutes set her on her feet, holding her arms for a few seconds longer until he was sure she wouldn’t collapse.

  “I am fine, Lord Kerr. I will be on my way.” She attempted a small curtsy and winced.

  “What kind of gentleman do you think I am, allowing an injured female to walk home when I have a perfectly fine horse to carry us?”

  “No!” She pulled away from him and almost fell again in pain. This time, her ankle refused to hold her weight. With lightning fast reflexes, he caught her before she hit the ground. “We cannot ride together. What would people say?”

  With his arms wrapped around her, he glanced up and down the road. One eyebrow arched and he grinned. “What people do you see, Miss Catherine?”

  “You never know who could come along. No, I shall have to walk.”

  She pushed lightly against his chest and he allowed them to separate, but kept his hands firmly on her forearms, to steady her balance.

  “No.” His tone was resolute. “We will ride Buttons.”

  “Buttons?” She tried not to laugh out loud as it hurt, but the horse was a handsome steed, worthy of a name like Zeus, Juno, or Lightning.

  “Laugh if you must. I bought him from a friend whose son named the beast. To change it now would confuse him greatly.” He placed his hands around her waist and lifted her with ease onto the saddle. She grimaced from the pressure on her ribs and once again he apologized. “Let us get you home and then we can send for a doctor.”

  With that he swung up behind her and she stiffened, arching her body away from his strong, solid one. He slid an arm around her waist, his other hand loose on the reins.

  “Relax, Miss Catherine. I have you.”

  Jaw clenched tight, she nodded and relaxed her body into his.

  “You might want to hold onto my arm, to give you better balance.”

  He was wedged against her so tight his voice resonated through into her body, and his essence, the sheer maleness of him surrounded her. The sensation was as much frightening as it was exciting. Face aflame, she did as he bade. All her romanticized day dreams of Lord George having his arms about her did not come close to the real thing.

  Soon the thrill of his arms around her subsided. With each rocking step Button’s took, pain spiraled across her ribs and it required all her concentration to take in shallow breaths.

  “We are almost there, Miss Catherine. I can see a house through a break in the trees.”

  She lifted her gaze and almost wept at the sight of Longbourn. Both her mother and father exited the house to greet them, no doubt having been warned by a servant they were coming up the drive. She expected a full-on assault by her mother and was not disappointed.

  “Whatever happened?” Mama’s mouth gaped open at the sight of Kitty seated in front of Lord George, his arms around her in a familiar fashion.

  Lord Kerr slid off the horse and turned toward Kitty. She placed her hands on his broad shoulders and with great care he lifted her off Buttons. She fully expected him to set her on her feet, instead, with little effort he swung her up into his arms and turned to face her parents.

  “I apologize for this breach of decorum, but Miss Catherine has been injured. Do you have somewhere I may take her?”

  “Right this way, Lord Kerr.” Papa said, waving his arm in the direction of the door. He’d obviously recognized Lord George from the wedding.

  “Oh, my nerves. My body is trembling. Hill, I need my smelling salts.” Mama held the back of her hand to her forehead and swayed on her feet.

  Mortified by her mother’s antics, Kitty fought the urge to burrow her face into Lord George’s shoulder. How could Mama behave so badly in front of such an esteemed guest? The son of a Duke, no less.

  “Pray, calm your nerves, Mrs. Bennet.” Papa paused on the doorstep and glared at his wife. “Your daughter is in need of a doctor. Kindly send a boy for him.” He turned back to Lord George. “Come through to the front parlor, Lord Kerr.”

  Lord George followed Papa, taking care not to bump the door frames or any furniture that loomed in their path and Kitty was reminded of how gentle he’d been throughout this whole ordeal. He carried her as if she were a feather pillow and all too soon, found herself being deposited on one of the couches in the parlor.

  “I must check on Buttons, Miss Catherine and shall return shortly.” Lord George stepped back and gave her a polite bow.

  Kitty watched him depart, thankful that she was not standing as her legs felt as though they had the rigidity of embroidery thread. He took her breath away and if she weren’t careful, her heart could become involved and that wouldn’t do.

  Within the hour the local doctor, Mr. Wilson attended Longbourn and treated both she and her mother. One for a bruised rib and sprained ankle, the other for a nervous disposition.

  With her ribs and ankle bound tight, Kitty attempted to rest on one the settees scattered about the drawing room. Lord George had stayed to dinner and as soon as it was polite, joined her. Standing by the fireplace he watched her with what she’d come to recognize as a habitual grin. Normally she would have fussed and fidgeted, but the slightest movement incurred a biting slice of pain.

  “I believe you are the most fetching patient Mr. Wilson has had these past few months,” Lord George offered by way of a conversation starter. “I overheard him tell your father that all he treats lately are red coated soldiers with broken noses and twisted shoulders from holding their muskets the wrong way and not learning when to duck.”

  “I would rather the injuries happen here than on French soil.” Kitty said, thinking about the young men who would never return to Meryton. Maria Lucas worried constantly about her brother, Jonathan. They hadn’t heard from him in over a month.

  At one time, Kitty fancied herself in love with the tall, lanky boy. Not hard to do when they were such close neighbors, but he never saw her in the same light. Over time and a few shed tears, she learned to treasure their friendship and when he’d enlisted, added him to her daily prayers along with Lydia, Elizabeth, Jane and Georgiana.

  “There are many in France who live for the day that ‘Le Corse’ is defeated,” Lord George muttered, the muscles along his jawline clenching as his lips formed a thin line.

  There were bitter tones laced throughout that one short statement and she was filled with curiosity at his brief display of emotion.

  “You sound as though you have been there and seen that for yourself.”


  If she hadn’t been watching him so closely, she wouldn’t have seen him give a small start. Minutiae in terms of reactions, but there all the same.

  “No, not this boring English gentleman. My French is deplorable, almost as bad as my Latin.” He pretended to shudder. “I took an interest in what Old Boney was up to when Nathan enlisted. I played no part in the war.”

  A revised quote from Shakespeare fluttered through her mind at his declaration.

  The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks.

  Kitty determined Lord George didn’t want her to question his connection with France and nervously pleated the throw rug on her lap. She wondered how much longer her family would take before they joined them. Although she was infirm and Lord George was clear across the room by the fireplace, the fact they were alone in the drawing room was socially unacceptable.

  As if on cue, Mary entered the room and sat opposite her, Mama and Papa not far behind.

  ***

  George watched with mild amusement as Mrs. Bennet fussed with her skirts, chastised her daughters for any number of things not worth worrying about and almost laughed out loud when she finally turned her full attention toward him. The calculated gleam in her eye, barely concealed by much fluttering of eyelashes, led him to believe she’d pegged him as son-in-law number four.

  “We barely had time for conversation, what with all the excitement of Kitty nearly being killed.”

  George caught a slight eye roll from Catherine, who hid it by looking down at her fingers, which continued to pleat and tug at the blanket covering her legs. If she kept that up, the poor thing would be torn to shreds before night’s end.

  “What brought you to Hertfordshire, Lord Kerr? Surely there are lots of pretty girls in London to catch your eye, although Kitty is quite lovely when she’s not covered in mud.”