Catherine Bennet

by Jessica McLean

  “Thank you Alice. Please inform Mr Bingley that everything is ready to go.” Alice nodded “Aye ma’am” and she curtsied and hurried away.

  ***

  The air at Pemberley seemed to carry a sense of peace and tranquillity. The Westwood’s remained in the area, much to Kitty’s delight and everyone seemed merry. Even the arrival of Lydia Wickham, who was to stay with them for a few days while her husband had some business to attend to had not upset the master of the house too much. Mr Wickham of course was not permitted on the premises, but as the sister of Mrs Darcy and Miss Bennet, his wife could be tolerated. On an early spring morning, Miss Bennet was in the parlour reading old letters from her favourite sister when the sound of a carriage could be heard in the yard and shortly after Alice entered the room. “Mrs Wickham, ma’am” she said. Kitty smiled and rose

  “Thank you Alice” she said setting the letter down. The maid curtsied and left as Lydia bursts into the room . She was much the same as she had been before. She was the tallest of the five sisters and had rosy cheeks and dark hair that was pinned back in an elaborate style, Kitty observed that she had been experimenting with different variations of makeup, Kitty suspected to make herself look older and more ‘attractive’ to keep Mr Wickham’s attention on her instead of wandering.

  ***

  Lydia was two years younger than herself but because reality had finally hit her she looked quite a bit older. She was trapped in a loveless, low income marriage with a rake. She was wearing a light pink gown and a thick cloak, but Kitty couldn’t help but notice there was a few tears and scuffs in it that Lydia had attempted to repair rather unsuccessfully. The young woman rushed over to Kitty embracing her and saying in such a fluster.

  “Kitty! Oh, what a laugh it is to see you after all this time and look at you. I swear you look at least 5 years older.” Her younger sister exclaimed. Rather ironic really Kitty thought but said nothing as Lydia continued to ramble. “What are you doing to your hair these days? And your gown...” she looked at her sisters pinned back hair, wrapped in the net and loose curls about her face. The light blue gown, silk with a lace overlay, was one of Georgiana’s old dresses and quite her favourite but Lydia wrinkled her nose. “I bet it’s that awful Mr Darcy’s influence.” Lydia barked.

  “Lydia ...” Kitty responded firmly. “You are most welcome here. But you should be careful what you say, remember whose house you’re in...” Lydia just shrugged, tossing her cloak over one of the chairs

  “Oh, never mind all that. Tell me all the news, the latest gossip from town, how everyone’s doing for I am so behind. The north is nice enough, but the life style is so quiet, the people there so droll. I long for a bit of excitement.” Lydia blustered. Kitty shook her head.

  “I never thought there would be a day where Lydia Wickham would think redcoats were droll...” she laughed.

  “It’s not that, the soldiers themselves are all fine men but they don’t give me a second look.” Lydia cried. “Too many eligible females around. Wealthy merchants’ daughters and so on... I have been quite bored I tell you I could not be happier to hear that Mr Wickham was to head to town and I could get the chance to come and see you all. Oh, it seems an age since we were all at Longbourn together!” said she with a sigh.

  “It was nearly 2 years ago now” her sister responded.

  “Two years! Good heavens has it really been 2 years?” Lydia exclaimed. “What’s it like at Blakewood? In Jane’s letters she tells me that it is an old building. Nottingham is such a beautiful city is it not? With all its historic buildings and surrounded by trees. We passed through it on our way to Newcastle.” Lydia spoke so fast sometimes it was difficult to keep up and Kitty found herself pausing before speaking in case her energetic sister wasn’t finished before she spoke.

  “Aye it is beautiful but it’s too loud, too rough, too crowded for my liking. Blakewood Manor I am quite pleased to say sits a good few miles outside of it... It’s nice enough but the grounds around Pemberley are so much nicer than those at Blakewood. And Derbyshire, I love the peaks, the fields and the forests. Georgiana and I can get lost out there for hours...” she finally responded.

  Oh fie!” Lydia almost spat. “How can you say trees and countryside are better than busy streets and shops? And Georgiana Darcy! Is that the only company you have out here?” she snapped, shocked at her sister.

  “No...” Kitty responded. “I have Lizzy and Miss Julia Westwood is lovely. But Georgiana is my closest friend.” She answered honestly.

  “Well I’ve never met the girl, but Wickham says she’s most unpleasant.” Her sister responded sharply, looking around the room. “So, this is the famous Pemberley.” She observed. “You know 2 years ago I never would have thought I’d ever come here. After the way Darcy treated my poor Wickham, over something so silly as well. And how can you be so friendly with Miss Darcy? After all she betrayed Wickham.” Lydia barked.

  “She did not betray Mr Wickham.” Kitty responded amazed at her sister’s views on the situation. “She only told her brother she was going to run away with him.” She answered logically, for she knew the whole situation a lot better than her sister did.

  “If it was just that Mr Darcy wouldn’t have reacted the way he did now would he?” Lydia responded having none of it. “After all it’s not like they were doing anything wrong. They were in love.” She exclaimed.

  “Lydia !” Kitty said, she was shocked at her sister’s behaviour especially considering how her own marriage came about. “What?” her clueless younger sister answered. “Really this is hardly a suitable conversation.” Kitty eventually said, thinking it best to steer away from this topic.

  “Well, her loss is my gain after all had she not told Mr Darcy their plan and had they ran away together it might be her he’d be married to now and not me” she said this with a laugh. “But now tell me all the news.” Relived the topic was now over Kitty answered her sisters question happily.

  “Well I suppose the biggest news is Jane is pregnant. She’s returned to Blakewood now and there she’ll remain for the duration of her pregnancy. We are to visit her when the child is born. Unfortunately, I think Miss Bingley is now with her. I hope to God she goes back to town and stays there, for the woman has managed to upset everyone at Pemberley. Though I do feel sorry for Jane who cannot escape her so easily.” Kitty answered.

  “Oh, that old harpy!” Lydia snapped “Yes I feel for Jane too” she added more sympathetically. Their conversation was interrupted by sudden and frantic shouts from the hall and then sounds of voices in panic as the door was flung open. Kitty stood up concerned as Georgiana followed by Fredrick entered the room.

  “Oh, Kitty come quickly! I don’t know how it happened.” Georgiana exclaimed in a panic. “What, what happened?” Kitty asked.

  “It’s Julia, she fell from a tree, she landed quite hard and she’s not moving!” the young man added.

  “Please you must come immediately and bring Lizzy...” she hesitated noticing Lydia, a surprised look on her face but she quickly remembered her manners and curtsied “Mrs Wickham” she said politely.

  “Miss Darcy” the other woman responded returning the gesture but coldly. There were a few moments of awkward silence before Georgiana spoke again.

  “Please Kitty, come quickly...” her friend nodded.

  “I shall indeed, excuse me Lydia” Kitty kissed her sister before quickly hurrying out the room with Georgiana.

  ***

  Chapter Eleven

  Lydia was only to stay a couple of days and so that afternoon, after it became clear that Julia was not going to die for she had just a sprained ankle and so the two sisters went for a walk into the village, where they could talk and not be interrupted. The village was small and only consisted of a street or two. Lydia and Kitty had only been walking around it for an hour or so looking in shop windows, like they used too and were nearly ready to head home. “So, the Westwood’s are staying longer are they?” asked Lydia as they crosse
d the square.

  “Yes, though Fredrick Westwood is due back at his father’s house; shortly, he’s enlisting in the navy you know. For a third son must make his fortune one way or another and his father is to organise his exams at the first possibly opportunity. Julia cannot be moved yet.” Her sister answered.

  “Well I dare say that you are not in the least bit bothered by Mr Westwood’s lengthened stay. In fact, I believe you are secretly relieved that Miss Westwood took a fall when she did.” Lydia laughed, and Kitty blushed.

  “Oh, hush Lydia do not talk so! Julia is fortunate that she did not break anything.” The younger girl only laughed more.

  “If I remember rightly Kitty you and I spent a great deal of time charging about the countryside when we were that age.” answered Lydia.

  “Yes, and how much trouble did we get ourselves in? Do you not remember how many scrapes and bruises we came back with? How many tears in our gowns? Not to mention that time you slipped and rolled all the way down that hill and nearly broke your ankles?” responded Kitty. That was before you ran away from home and married a cad’ she thought silently to herself but did not say this out loud for fear of hurting her sister’s feelings. Instead she finished with. “But you are right about one thing. I am glad Mr Westwood will be staying longer.” Her sister just laughed.

  “Of course, you are. For you are violently in love with him!” she cried out. Kitty put a finger to her lips.

  “For heaven’s sake lower your voice!” she hissed. Her sister shrugged.

  “Oh, don’t you just sound so like Lizzy!” Kitty was just about to retaliate but then Lydia was distracted by a bonnet in the window and ran across the road to see it. “Oh, look at this bonnet. Is it not the prettiest thing you ever did see?” she exclaimed excitedly. “How much is it?” she asked heading into the shop and checking the label, before letting out a frustrated sigh, “Oh fie. I can’t afford that much!” she muttered quietly. “With such a small income it’s a wonder I can afford anything these days.” By now her sister had joined her.

  “But father gives you a yearly income, not to mention the fortune you were given before your marriage as well as Mr Wickham’s own income.” She added reassuringly but Lydia just left the shop and sank down onto a bench. pausing for a moment looking a little upset. Not everything is as happy in her marriage as she has been making out.

  “Money is a little tight at the moment Kitty.” She said quietly confiding in her favourite sister. “Wickham... he kind of owes a lot of people... a lot of money... He... he...” she was stumbling slightly now fighting back tears. “...maybe has a little problem, when it comes to... well he gambles. There I said it.” She sniffed. “The money is gone and well what he earns as well as what father gives us, barely puts food on the table...” she sobbed. Kitty sat beside her and took her hand comfortingly as her sister began weeping bitterly. “Have you spoken to our father? Is there nothing he can do?” Kitty enquired.

  “There is nothing he will do.” Her sister sobbed. “It’s like he’s angry with me and I just don’t know why... Does he disapprove of my dear Wickham that much?” she wailed. Kitty of course knew exactly what her father’s views on his youngest daughter’s marriage was, they all did, but Lydia was in no state of mind right now to hear the truth. “I’m sure he has his reasons.” She simply said.

  “Yes, I’m sure they’re the same reasons why he banned you from coming to the north to see me!” snapped her sister, dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief.

  “Our father may make some decisions we may not agree with.” Kitty tried to explain as best she could without upsetting her further. “But it’s not our place to question them. I’m sure he thinks he’s doing the right thing and it’s not like we never see each other or never write is it?” She finished.

  “But I miss you.” Lydia said after a pause. “I miss my Catherine.” Kitty was quite touched by this.

  “You didn’t seem to miss me that much when you went to Brighton with Mrs Forster.” She said.

  “I am very fond of Mrs Forster , she’s a good friend but I could never love her as I love my sister.” Lydia responded sincerely. “I just wish I could see you more. But travel is expensive, and Wickham never wants to come to Derbyshire.” She sighed looking back at the bonnet again. “If he did maybe I could get the shop to save it for me...” she trailed off. “Somehow Lydia, I don’t think your husband will ever come back to Derbyshire” responded Kitty sympathetically.

  “You think not?” her sister asked.

  “I’m afraid so. So how about I buy it for you?” she offered. “I still have plenty of my allowance left. I do not spend anywhere near as much as I used to. Lizzy is very strict about that. What do you say?” Lydia’s face brightened.

  “Oh Kitty!” she exclaimed happily throwing her arms around her sister and laughing. “Thank you. Yes, I can imagine Lizzy being strict about money. 10,000 a year and she is still as careful as ever. Lord what I wouldn’t give for 10,000 a year!” Lydia said as they stood up.

  “You and me both my dear.” Her sister responded as the two girls headed back into the shop.

  ***

  Lydia’s stay had been brief but it had been nice for Catherine to be able to see her sister again and she hoped it would not be so long until they saw each other again. After her fall Julia was told she had to rest, an instruction she wasn’t at all happy about and had a pouty face on all the while she was confined to her room . While sat on the bed her leg had, had to be bandaged; a task Mrs Darcy had been given as Julia refused to let anyone else touch her.

  “Hold still Julia.” Elizabeth scolded as she tried to secure the leg.

  “But I want to go and play. You said it’s just a sprain. Where’s Freddy. I want Freddy!” She demanded purely for the sake of making a scene; everyone else was in the room but Freddy wasn’t. She was in pain from her leg but since she was claiming she was fine she wanted something else to moan about.

  “Your brother just had to nip out, he’ll be back soon.” The older woman responded severely.

  “I think I hear him now.” Added Henry. After a pause, there were footsteps and then Fredrick appeared in the doorway. He had a letter in his hand that he’d just collected from downstairs.

  “There you are!” his sister exclaimed.

  “Julia… are you causing trouble for Mrs Darcy?” he asked her crossly.

  “I can handle it, she’s not making anywhere near as my fuss as Kitty and Lydia made when they were younger.” The ever-patient Elizabeth responded.

  “Hey… that’s not fair…” protested Kitty and would have continued had Julia not then spotted the letter.

  “What have you got there?” Julia asked.

  “Just a letter from a friend.” Her brother responded.

  “Who ?” persisted the young girl.

  “No one Julia…” Fredrick tried to defuse the situation, but she was having none of it. “WHO!” she demanded. Fredrick hesitated but Julia’s severe face made him cave.

  “Mr Croft…” he said reluctantly. Mr Croft was an old friend of Fredrick’s and Julia had been very fond of him. She sat up suddenly.

  “Croft… John Croft? Let me see!” she cried reaching out to try and grab the letter, but her brother was too quick for her and dodged around the side. “LET ME SEE!” she demanded again.

  “It’s not for you!” Fredrick answered adamantly.

  “Well what’s it say? Is he ok? Does he explain why he stopped calling?” Julia asked quickly. John Croft had always been a particular favourite of Julia’s and as she was growing up she had believed herself to be in love with him.

  “It says nothing of the kind. He’s just checking in on us all.” Said Fredrick calmly.

  “But me? Does he say anything about me?” his sister persisted.

  “Only wishes you good health.” Her brother answered.

  “Is that all…” Julia sank back into the pillows with a tear in her eye. Kitty exchanged puzzled looks with Georgiana and L
izzy after this which Julia noticed immediately and sat up again. “Mr Croft was my fiancé…” she said proudly.

  “No, he wasn’t…” Fredrick stepped in suddenly. “Well he did say he’d marry me once!” the young woman said adamantly.

  “Yes, when you were 8…” was her brother’s sarcastic response.

  “Still counts…” Julia said with a determined look on her face.

  “Oh… what happened? If you don’t mind me asking…” enquired Kitty always intrigued by gossip.

  “I don’t really know” said Julia propping herself up. “He’s a friend of Freddy, he lives in London. We used to go over and play lots when in town. I liked him very much and I thought he liked me. Yes, I was 8 when he proposed, and it may not have been serious to my brothers, but it was to me and I thought it was to him.” She said with another pout. “Did anything change?” Georgiana asked puzzled.

  “Must have” Julia continued. “One day, he just stopped calling. And whenever Freddy went around to call father said I had to stay home…he said it’s no place for a lady… he never used to mind…” she finished.

  “No place for a lady?” enquired Kitty. “Mr Croft has a few small shops in town, some in certain parts of town…” answered Fredrick.

  “I see…” said Lizzy who understood things a little better. There are certain areas of town that are not safe for a young woman. But Julia was still adamant that he never used to mind.

  “I know Julia,” her other brother Henry said ruffling her hair softly. “But sometimes things change. I’m sorry Mr Croft stopped calling, I’m sure there was a reason for it. It’s a father’s job to make choice, not all we will agree with…” he said reassuringly.