The Road to Pemberley

by Marsha Altman

  Sincerely,

  Mr. C. Denton

  She had seen Mr. Denton on one other occasion—the day after her fall, when he kept his appointment with Mr. Darcy. The master of the house had allowed Denton to see her briefly before the two men sequestered themselves in Darcy’s study for three hours.

  Kitty had wondered what could keep the men talking so, but then, Kitty hadn’t realized that Darcy held the advowson to the Lambton parish, nor had she known that he had only recently appointed Denton to the position.

  What a great amount of responsibility Darcy held—appointing clergymen, acting as magistrate, caring for tenants, and making sure the land was producing enough so all in the area had jobs and food to eat. Her respect for the brother-in-law who had once terrified her grew.

  “Are you sure you’re well?” Kitty jumped at her sister’s voice, so engrossed in her letter and thoughts of powerful men that she had not heard Lizzy walk into the room.

  It had been three days since Kitty’s foxhole incident, and she was more than fine—she was feeling downright caged. She wanted to walk and knew her ankle could withstand it, but Dr. Wendington had recommended three full days without walking, and Darcy insisted the instructions be followed to the T.

  “You know I’m mended, Lizzy.” Kitty looked at Elizabeth, who was standing behind her, her hands gripping the settee where Kitty reclined. Lizzy was the one who didn’t look well. Her skin was pale and she had lost weight. “But are you well, Sister?”

  Mrs. Darcy clasped her hands together and looked up at the ceiling. Looking back down at Kitty, Lizzy said, “I have been meaning to speak with you about it.”

  The drawing room door swung open, and Darcy strode toward his wife. “Lord and Lady Chalmer have just arrived. Lark is showing them to their rooms, and they should be down presently.” Darcy took his wife’s hand, pressing a kiss to her fingers, and then held it between both of his. “You are up to this? They need not stay overly long.”

  “How long, sir?” Lizzy smoothed his cravat.

  “He tells me no more than a fortnight. His mother does not travel well, and they mean to continue on to London thereafter.”

  Husband and wife turned toward the door as it clicked open.

  “Darcy, you old dog! It is a pleasure to see you looking so well, and Pemberley is the jewel I remember.” A thin, dark-haired man, wearing a pomona green dress coat and gleaming Hessian boots, declared in a lazy manner as he walked into the room. The man, whom Kitty assumed was Lord Chalmer, had the most delicate wrists she had ever beheld on a man.

  “Lord Chalmer, we are at your service.” Darcy bowed.

  “Nonsense, Fitz, none of this ‘Lord’ stuff for you. You have pulled too many devious pranks on me and we share too many secrets, so I believe ‘Lord’ will not do at all.”

  Lizzy smiled. “Was my husband truly a menace?”

  “I am afraid to shock you, but yes.” Lord Chalmer straightened his jacket and ran two fingers over his mustache.

  Elizabeth smirked as she regarded her husband with a sideways glance. “I am rather pleased to hear it.”

  Darcy coughed, but Lord Chalmer continued: “On one occasion, he told me he would have my gig prepared. It would seem Darcy’s idea of preparing a gig is very different from mine. The scoundrel gathered a few of our classmates and they took the wheels off my carriage. Imagine, coming out ready to go to the club and finding just the box sitting there on the ground. He put the wheels back on later, but it ruined one good evening for me, to be sure.”

  Kitty pictured the whole scene in her head, and thinking of this stylish man striding out to his carriage only to find it unusable—and it being Darcy’s doing—brought on a fit of laughter.

  “Ah, I see you’ve lost your good manners, Darcy. You have been remiss, letting me speak of Pemberley as a jewel and not introducing me to this very pretty jewel in the room.” Lord Chalmer gestured toward Kitty, his words causing a flame to spread up the back of her neck.

  Darcy rolled his eyes at his guest. “Lord Chalmer, may I have the pleasure of introducing you to my sister, Miss Bennet.”

  Lord Chalmer bowed deeply and then proclaimed, “I should have known by your beauty that you were a relation of Mrs. Darcy.”

  “Lord Chalmer, it is an honor to meet a friend of Mr. Darcy’s. He tells me you are to be here a fortnight? What business are you on?”

  “Kitty!” Elizabeth chided her.

  “I see you are direct.” Lord Chalmer regarded her with a smile one bestows upon a clumsy puppy.

  Lark announced that dinner was served, and Darcy took Lizzy’s arm.

  Lord Chalmer rounded the settee and addressed Kitty. “Miss Bennet, may I offer you my arm?” She giggled, accepting it.

  At dinner, they were joined by Lady Henrietta Chalmer, Lord Chalmer’s mother. She sat regally, her back ramrod straight as she surveyed the room.

  “You have a large home, Mr. Darcy.” Henrietta announced.

  “We find it accommodates our needs,” he answered.

  Lady Chalmer stabbed at her asparagus. “Where is your young sister? Why have you hidden her from my son? And from me as well?”

  Everyone stopped eating. Lizzy stole a look at Darcy before she spoke. “Georgiana has been lately called to visit our aunt and cousin. She was sorry to miss your visit.”

  The older lady harrumphed and addressed Kitty. “And you, you are the unwed sister of Mrs. Darcy. What is your name, child?”

  “It is Kitty, ma’am.”

  Henrietta’s eyebrow twitched. “Kitty? Your parents named you after a ratting animal? It is a shame I wasn’t there at your birth. I would have convinced them to name you something acceptable. I believe the name Florence would have suited your countenance.”

  Lizzy kicked Kitty’s shin under the table in warning. “It is short for Catherine, ma’am,” she said.

  At this, Darcy let out a deep, rarely heard laugh. “Forgive me. I just imagined calling my aunt—Lady Catherine de Bourgh—Kitty. I believe she would send me to my room without dinner.”

  “Of all the flowers in Pemberley’s impressive gardens, you—dear Miss Bennet—are the most beautiful.” Lord Chalmer patted Kitty’s hand as it rested in the crook of his arm. Lizzy was abed that day and Darcy would be holed up in meetings with his steward for much of the morning, so Lord Chalmer had suggested a walk to distract Miss Bennet and himself from the dullness of having no entertainment afforded them. Kitty had begun to disagree with him because there was much to amuse guests at Pemberley, but he would brook no refusal.

  “I thank you, my lord, although many would call you a toad eater for such fine words.”

  Chalmer flinched, and then gave a small nod. “My, you speak as no young woman of my acquaintance.”

  Kitty stopped in her tracks, forcing him to do so as well. “Forgive me, did you take offense? It was meant as a joke.”

  He pursed his lips, and placed both of his hands upon her shoulders. “Pretty Kitty. If you want to tease me…there are, well, many other ways I would like to be teased.” He slowly traced his fingers up and down her arms—feather light—as he spoke. The sensation made her tremble, noting which, Chalmer gave a Cheshire grin and then leaned down, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered. “And, my dear, I picture you teasing me in such a manner all the time; in fact, I can think of scarcely anything but that when I am near you, you are so intoxicating.”

  Darcy crossed the room to where Elizabeth lay in their bed. He sat beside her, tracing his fingertips down her cheek.

  “Have I told you yet today, dear Wife, how much I love you?”

  Mrs. Darcy placed her hand over his, drawing his palm to her lips. “Only a hundred whispered times or so, but I do not tire of hearing it.”

  Lacing his fingers through hers, he voiced the thought that had been nagging him the entirety of the past month. “I cannot be silent any longer, Elizabeth. I must know, I must know how you are feeling. I am afraid—”

  His voice caught and Li
zzy seized the opportunity to sit up and lay a finger over his lips. “I have caused you so much grief,” she whispered.

  That bit of nonsense needed to be dispelled from her mind. Darcy pulled her into his arms, cradling her head against his shoulder. “Oh, my sweet wife, you could never, ever grieve me.” He took her shoulders in his hands and set her at arm’s length, so he could look into the brown eyes he adored. “I was grieved by the loss of our child, but that was not your fault. However, I am worried. You have grown ill.”

  Elizabeth blinked back tears. “I cannot argue with you. I don’t know what the matter is. In the past fortnight, I have come to tire rapidly, my head often aches, and anything I put into my stomach turns sour.”

  Darcy nodded. “You are dwindling before me and it is torture to watch. You are so pale.” He brushed a stray tear from her cheek.

  Elizabeth smiled. “Don’t men like pale women? Isn’t that quite fashionable?”

  Darcy shook his head. “Not my wife. I fell in love with a browned beauty who refuses to wear her bonnet while out on her walks. She lets the sun kiss her cheeks and her nose freckle, and I love her for it.”

  “I love you so much, Darcy.” Lizzy leaned against him and his arms immediately came up around her.

  Between planting soft kisses in her hair, he said, “You feel warm. I will call for Dr. Wendington tomorrow, and I will send away the Chalmer.”

  “I cannot have you dismiss an old friend.”

  Darcy flopped onto the bed, a sardonic laugh on his lips as he put his hands behind his head like a pillow. “Friend. Friend indeed!”

  “Are you serious, Darcy? You so rarely speak poorly about someone. What on earth is your relationship with the man?”

  “We were roommates at school, but never friends. Albert Chalmer had all the same haunts and downfalls as Wickham. Gaming. Drinking. Women. He spent his years in that fashion.”

  “No wonder you sent Georgiana away!”

  “Indeed. If only we could have shielded Kitty, too, but I did not believe her ready to deal with my aunt for a long duration. But as to the Chalmer, I received a note from a friend in town informing me that they are just short of losing everything. Both of their homes, their horses, and most of their staff—virtually gone. And they owe to creditors. I do not know the amount, but I must believe that they are in a great deal of debt. I am sure he was hoping to entice Georgiana to marry him and live off her fortune, the monster. Even if his worth were great, I wouldn’t let her near him. It is beyond that man to love a woman.”

  “But I cannot comprehend why you allow him to stay here.”

  “Honor—or my old imprudent pride.” Darcy turned to his side and propped his head up on his fist. “I made a mistake in school. I tried my hand at gaming once, the races to be exact, and I lost a great deal. I did not have the courage to tell my father, whereas the late Lord Chalmer kept a steady stream of money flowing to Albert. I begged him to pay my debt and he did, but he made me promise that I’d be accessible to him had he ever a need. I have paid him back a hundred times since then, but he will not let me forget the promise. I made a deal with the devil that day.”

  “We will endeavor to make sure he is not comfortable here, then.” Lizzy smiled at Darcy.

  “Come.” He moved over on the bed and opened his arms. “I want to hold you.”

  Kitty was attempting to read a book the following morning, but Lord Chalmer would not allow it. He sat within inches of her, reading aloud over her shoulder until she snapped the book shut.

  “Lord Chalmer, a woman cannot think around you!”

  He gave a seductive smirk and spoke just above a whisper. “I should hope you feel that way about me, pretty Kitty.”

  She gasped. “My lord!”

  “I cannot stay silent, Miss Bennet.” Lord Chalmer picked up her hand and squeezed it. Kitty cast a quick look toward the other occupant of the room, Lady Chalmer, but she seemed to pretend they didn’t exist.

  “I know it has been only three days, but I find myself quite besotted with you and—” His words halted upon Darcy’s entrance. Darcy’s eyes went straight to their clasped hands. And Kitty dropped Chalmer’s hand as though it were a hot iron.

  “Miss Bennet, I require your assistance. It would seem Mrs. Darcy is unable to accompany Mr. Denton into the village to deliver church baskets, as was originally planned for today. Might you fill in for her?”

  Kitty rose to her feet. “Of course, Mr. Darcy.” She looked to Chalmer, hoping he would offer to join them, but he turned and looked out the window.

  The day with Mr. Denton progressed much to Kitty’s liking. Although wary of going into the homes of the poor, Kitty decided not to voice her fears and simply followed Denton’s lead.

  She found herself amazed because Denton knew every person in every cottage by name. He asked specifics about their families and ailments, and prayed with those who welcomed it. Kitty handed out peppermints and butterscotch treats to the children, and cheese and bread from the baskets for each home. If felt good to do something tangible for needy people, and Kitty found herself wondering why she had never considered the poor before.

  “We made a good team today.” Denton relieved Kitty of the baskets, and they walked side by side.

  “Thank you for taking me with you. I have never done such before, and would like to go again with you the next time. Until today I have not given much thought to those who have less than I do. I did not think there were such people on Mr. Darcy’s property.”

  “Don’t mistake me, Miss Bennett. Darcy is an exceptional master and does all he can for the people who live near Lambton, but surely it is the church’s duty to see to these people as well. I believe I am called to care for them, and as you’ve seen, it was Darcy’s money that bought the provisions. These people are proud and don’t seek handouts, so between Darcy and myself, we try to give them all we can without causing offence.”

  “But, do these people work at Pemberley? I cannot say I recognized any of them.”

  “No. Darcy’s staff lives well—he would allow nothing less. But, even in a small bustling town like Lambton, there are never enough jobs to go around and people make due with very little.”

  They walked in silence for only a minute before Denton spoke again. “Miss Bennet, forgive me, but something you said more than a week ago now has caused me some restless nights.”

  Kitty started at that and squeezed his arm. “I did not mean to cause you distress. What did I say?”

  “You said someone had harmed you, but not bodily. It kept making me think about my sister Phoebe, you see, we had an unhappy childhood and she was so often downcast with no one to speak to. I couldn’t bear thinking that you were grieved without a chance to speak about it. It may not be my place, but it has made me worry for you.”

  “Mr. Denton, you are kind to remember. And I will reward you with the truth, because it means a great deal that you actually cared about my rambling that day.”

  “Actually cared? Of course I cared, and still do.”

  Kitty sighed. “Mr. Denton, on the day in question, you found me brought very low, and not just by the fall I took. You see, I am the only one of five daughters to remain unmarried, and I found myself, in that moment, quite downcast about my situation. I came upon a realization that I did not know who I was at all.”

  “That is a startling realization. How did you come to such a thought?”

  “Well, it has been a lifelong idea that I have finally put words to. Please understand that I am not asking for your pity, Mr. Denton.”

  Denton nodded.

  “In my family, my papa loved my sister Lizzy best, and that fact was one well known because he often voiced it himself. He and Lizzy would sequester themselves together to laugh at the rest of us. All the while, my mama adored my charming youngest sister, Lydia, and praised our eldest sister, Jane, for her beauty—which left Mary and me without any mooring in our home. Mary tried to win praise by studying books and practicing music. She
seemed not as affected by my family’s lack of interest in her. I was not so strong.”

  Kitty paused to see if Denton would just pat her hand and tell her that he was sure she was mistaken, but he didn’t do anything of the sort. He turned toward her and lifted his eyebrows.

  Kitty pressed on. “My eldest sisters treated me as though I were a bug in their ear. Understand, Mr. Denton, I just wanted someone to notice me…someone to tell me that my existence mattered and I was valued. The only person who gave me any thought was my sister Lydia, and now I see she wanted my company only to indulge her fancies. Thinking upon it, I feel ill used by them, because not even one of them wanted to know me, and they are my own family.”

  “I can see how you would feel as though you had lost yourself among them. You were a sketch, not a painting, or an afterthought, not the main subject,” Denton said. Kitty nodded. “That is exactly how I felt. And so I spent my time trying to be the person I thought Lydia wanted me to be, and then she was gone and I found that I had never even been there. I didn’t know who Kitty Bennet was.”

  Denton pointed at a felled log, and they sat down together. He turned toward her and asked, “Have you found her now?”

  Kitty looked out over the homes of Lambton. “I don’t know. I believe so, but I also believe no one likes who I really am. You see, the day you found me, I had just overheard my sister and her husband speaking about me in an unflattering way.”

  “What did they say?” Denton tilted his head and furrowed his brow.

  “They were accusing me of being changeable, which I was in the past. But they also sent Miss Darcy away because they thought I would be a bad influence on her.”

  “I can scarcely believe that. Enlighten me. How could you be a bad influence on anyone, Miss Bennet?”

  Kitty twisted her fingers together and bit her lip.

  Then she looked up into his eyes and the calming sea of blue drew the words right out of her. “They believe me silly. You see, when I was younger, I was a flirt and I fell in love often. And if that isn’t a grave enough offense, I also often speak what I am thinking—whether it is socially acceptable or not.”