by Robin Helm
Two footmen opened the double doors, and the couple entered a magnificent foyer with marble floors and a wide, curved staircase. Bess followed behind them quietly.
The housekeeper met them at the foot of the stairs and curtseyed. “My Lord, your mother awaits you in her parlour.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Wallace. This is my guest, Miss Bennet. See that she has anything she wants.” He gestured to Bess. “Please make Miss Bennet’s maid comfortable. I believe her name is Bess, and she is likely in great need of refreshment.”
The woman nodded. “Miss Bennet, Bess is welcome to come with me. You can ring the bell when you need her.”
Kitty nodded at Bess, and she walked away with Mrs. Wallace.
“How did you know her name, My Lord?” she asked as they started to climb the stairs.
“I make it my business to listen to what you say, Miss Bennet. Whatever concerns you is of interest to me. Bess was with you yesterday, and I heard you say her name. I also saw her arrive and leave in the coach with you and Sir Julian. I am pleased that you observe the niceties and avoid the appearance of anything improper.”
“My sister and her husband are very fastidious. Mr. Darcy is the most correct of gentlemen. Even though I view Julian as a brother, I recognize that others do not see it that way.”
The earl glanced quickly at her and was silent for a few moments. They soon were at the landing. “This way to mother’s parlour.”
He guided her down the hallway where a footman waited to open the door for them, and they crossed the room to stand before the grand lady.
“Mother, may I present Miss Katherine Bennet?”
Kitty curtseyed low.
“I am most pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Bennet, for I have heard much about you, and all of it was most complimentary. Would you like some tea and biscuits? Cook prepared my favourites as a special treat for you,” she said, gesturing with her delicate hand to the chair opposite her.
Kitty sat across from the silver-haired Dowager Countess as Lord Beaumont directed. A table between them held a tea service. “Yes, thank you, My Lady.”
“I am neither as formal nor as steady as I used to be, Miss Bennet,” answered the elderly lady. “Would you mind pouring for the three of us? If you do, I can certainly ring for Susan.”
“I would be happy to do so,” answered the younger woman. Her hand shook a bit as she picked up the teapot.
“Now, I have made you uncomfortable, child, and that will never do. Robert, pull the bell for Susan”
Lord Beaumont immediately followed his mother’s instructions.
Without delay, Susan appeared and served the company. Then she stepped back and awaited further instructions.
“You may go, Susan, but not too far away. I may need you again,” said the dowager countess.
The girl curtseyed, then left the room.
“My son tells me you are from Hertfordshire, Miss Bennet. I understand your father’s estate is called Longbourn, and it’s close to a town called Meryton. Mr. Darcy of Pemberley married one of your sisters, and Mr. Bingley of Netherfield married another. I believe you have other sisters, too, do you not?”
Kitty nodded, noticing the noblewoman’s eyes were the same color as her son’s with the same lively intelligence shining from them. It made her more comfortable.
“I am the fourth of five sisters, My Lady. They are all married, so I am quite lonely at home. Elizabeth says I may stay with her, or her husband will set up a household for me if I choose to be independent.”
“You are quite beautiful, my dear. Surely you must have had many offers. There will be no need for your brother to do that, though it certainly speaks well of him that he is willing.”
Thoughts of Julius’s unhappiness and sudden departure filled her head, and tears filled her eyes. She could not speak, so she glanced at Lord Beaumont.
“Mother,” he said, standing to his feet. “I promised to escort Miss Bennet on a tour of the hothouses. The time is passing swiftly, and soon she will return to Darcy House. Would you like to come with us? I can roll you in your chair. You might enjoy it.”
The dowager countess fluttered her hands. “You see how he takes care of me, Miss Bennet? My son is such a blessing. However, I think I shall just have Susan read my letters and my current book to me, unless you need her as a chaperone. I am quite solicitous of the reputations of my guests.”
Lord Beaumont offered his hand to Kitty, and she stood.
“There is no need, Mother, for Mrs. Darcy is as careful with Kitty’s reputation as anyone could wish for. Bess, her maid, is waiting for us.” He bent over to kiss his mother’s cheek. “I shall send Susan to you directly. Enjoy your book and the letters from your friends.”
The dowager countess nodded, leaned back in the chair, and closed her eyes.
He and Kitty walked silently from the room. Susan stood in the hallway.
“Go to her, though I think she may sleep a bit. She wishes you to read to her.”
Lord Beaumont and Kitty continued on their way down the stairs.
Mrs. Wallace met them at the bottom of the staircase with Bess, and they turned down another large hallway.
Just when Kitty had despaired of ever achieving entrance to the hothouses, a footman opened a door for them, and she had a breathtaking view of manicured grounds and several large buildings made almost entirely of glass.
She suddenly realized she had stopped walking and was staring, so she turned her face up to glance at him. He was smiling down at her, and she felt the full force of his attention fixed completely on nothing else but her.
Her stomach seemed to flip within her; several seconds passed before she could look away. What is wrong with me?
“Kitten?”
“Hmmmm….?
He chuckled, and that shook her from her reverie.
She blushed a bright red. “Yes, My Lord?”
“He called you ‘Kitten,’” the gentleman said gruffly.
“Who did?”
Lord Beaumont pressed his lips together for a moment. “Sir Julian. He called you ‘Kitten.’”
Is that disapproval in his tone? “Julian has called me ‘Kitten’ for most of my life. I think of him as my brother.”
“I daresay he does not think of you as his sister.” His blue eyes flashed.Kitty’s voice dropped to a whisper. “He no longer thinks of me as anything at all.”
Her eyes filled with tears. To her mortification, she was unable to keep them from running down her cheeks, and she hung her head.
A long moment passed before he spoke again. “Is this the first time he made you cry?” His voice was soft and gentle.
She shook her head.
“Tell me.”
Something in his tone made her raise her eyes to his. She gasped at the coldness there.
After taking a deep breath, Lord Beaumont faced her and held both her hands in his, softening his tone. “Tell me, please.”
Kitty closed her eyes. “He asked me to marry him and became quite angry when I would not.”
“Why did you refuse him?”
Perplexed, she looked up at him. “I love him as a brother – a best friend. I told you that. It feels wrong to marry a man I do not love as a wife should love her husband. He deserves more. I want more.”
“Most women marry for position in society, money, and security. Wealth and connections join to create even more power. You would not? You would marry only for love? Even if your husband was a poor man?”
Shaking her head, she answered, “It is highly unlikely I would ever meet a poor man who would ask me. However, I shall have to take care to fall in love with a man of good fortune, for my inheritance is almost nothing.”
Lord Beaumont threw back his head and laughed aloud. “It would be quite easy to love you, Miss Bennet. You say the most outrageously honest things. I have never before known any other woman who would tell me she has almost no money and would not wed for wealth. I have everything you do not re
quire of a husband. If I should decide to ask for your hand, I must first make certain that you love me with your whole heart. Only then may I be sure of being accepted.”
Kitty smiled. “I cannot imagine very many women in all of England would refuse you, My Lord. You are much too charming and handsome for your own good. Shall we explore your hothouses before I must return to Darcy House?”
The earl released her hands, offering her his arm instead, and they continued on their way to the morning’s planned activity.
Bess followed behind them at a discrete distance, but Kitty knew her maid had not missed the exchange. She wondered what the woman would make of it, for she hardly knew what she thought of the odd discussion herself.
~~oo~~
After a full two hours of wandering through the beautiful plants, listening to the earl speak enthusiastically about his love of horticulture, and hearing him vividly describe the exotic places from which he had carefully gathered his specimens, Kitty felt herself in real danger of falling under his spell.
Then, when they walked back through the house to get to the coach, he retrieved a beautifully wrapped box from a table in the foyer and handed it to her.
“I hope you enjoy these, Miss Bennet. I ordered them at Gunther’s when I heard they were your favourites.”
“The scones in your mother’s parlour were in the other box?” she asked.
He smiled. “Yes. It seems you and my mother are very similar in your tastes.”
She decided then that Lord Beaumont was quite simply the most fascinating person she had ever met.
However, she knew that men of his looks, power, wealth, and position in Society did not marry country maidens with small dowries, no titles, and connections in trade. Her mother had often told her she should accept the first eligible offer which was made for just that reason.
Though Lord Beaumont was the most pleasing, honest, interesting man of her acquaintance, she made a conscious effort to harden her heart against him. He would be her friend. No more than that.
As he helped her into the Darcy carriage for her return to her sister’s house, Kitty decided she must not see him again except in company. The risk of a broken heart was far too great.
She could not bear to lose her friendship with both Julius and the earl.
That would surely crush her.
CHAPTER 8
Alice asked, “How long is forever?” The White Rabbit responded, “Sometimes, just one second.”
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
The following morning, Kitty was, at first, far too occupied by struggling to make interesting conversation with the steady flow of ladies to think about anything else. However, she was thankful to have her sisters and Maria with her to converse properly with everyone, and before long she relaxed a bit and began to enjoy herself.
As, the chatter in the room continued, Kitty noticed the butler present a salver with an envelope to Elizabeth. Her sister read the note, left her seat, and glanced at Kitty meaningfully. Then she spoke quietly to Bess.
Bess quickly walked to Kitty, bowed, and whispered, “The mistress requires your assistance, Miss Bennet.”
The young woman immediately made her excuses to the other ladies, left her chair, and joined her sister.
“The Countess of Beaumont just arrived, my dear,” said Elizabeth quietly as they stepped into the hallway. “She pays you a great compliment, dearest, for I cannot remember the last time she left her home. Her Ladyship does not venture into Society anymore, and she receives very few visitors. In fact, no one goes to Waterford without an invitation.”
They waited by the open door as Lord Beaumont exited the carriage and helped his mother descend the coach steps.
As two footmen helped to position her into a chair with wheels, her son quickly climbed the steps to the entryway. “Take her into the hallway,” he commanded. “I shall be there in a moment.
After he turned back and bowed to the ladies, he said, “My mother insisted upon paying this call, Mrs. Darcy. I hope it isn’t too much of an inconvenience, but she can be stubborn. She would have her way in this. I attended her to make certain she was delivered safely to your door, but I have business in town and shall return for her shortly, if that is acceptable.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Very kind of you, My Lord. But will you not simply stay here and wait? My husband, Mr. Bingley, and Colonel Fitzwilliam are in my husband’s study. I’m certain they would very much enjoy a visit with you.”
He hesitated but a moment. “I do not wish to impose myself upon your husband and the other men; however, if you’re sure they wouldn’t mind, I would definitely feel more comfortable about leaving her in your care if I am nearby. She has not left the grounds of Waterford House in several years, and she might have need of me.”
The earl turned toward Kitty. “I confess I was astounded when she was so adamant about paying a morning call on you, Miss Bennet. I hope it does not inconvenience you and your family too badly.”
“On the contrary, My Lord. I am honoured that Lady Beaumont went to all this trouble to grace us with her presence, and I know we shall have a pleasant visit. Do you not think it best that I attend her now?” she asked. “I would not wish to make her wait when she may tire quickly.”
The gentleman smiled and nodded. “You are quite considerate. I shall join the men in the study after I settle her in your parlour. Lead the way, and please send for me when Mother is ready to leave.”
With that, they entered the house and the earl wheeled his mother into the room with the other ladies.
They were met with total silence for a few seconds, then whispers.
Elizabeth quickly took a seat among the ladies, starting a conversation about the joys of being a mother, skillfully shifting the attention from her sister and the elderly lady.
Kitty leaned over the countess, speaking quietly. “Where would you like to sit, Your Ladyship? By the window? Near the other ladies? I shall go wherever you wish.”
The grand lady looked up at her, waving a bejeweled hand. “I have no desire to visit with those ladies, for I know very few of them, but I should like to talk with you, dear girl. There is a private spot across the room by the window. I see a lovely view of the park. Will that do?”
“Of course, Your Ladyship. Lord Beaumont can position you wherever you like.”
The countess replied, “I trust my son to do what is best for me. He knows my preferences, and he takes prodigious care of me. Indeed, I cannot imagine a kinder, more compassionate man than my Robert.”
Lord Beaumont grimaced. “That will do very well, Mother. Please do not bore Miss Bennet with a recital of my virtues. I shall speak to Bess concerning your refreshments, and you may send for me when you are ready to return home.”
Having situated her comfortably, he bent and kissed her cheek, rolled his eyes at Kitty, and strode across the room.
As her eyes followed him, she could not fail to notice he spoke to one of the maids as he gestured toward his mother.
He is a loving son, she thought. He will make a wonderful father and husband for some fortunate woman and her children.
She returned her attention to the countess, only to find her watching the scene with amusement and not a little speculation.
“I can read your thoughts on your face, Miss Bennet,” said the countess. “You are in a fair way to falling in love with my son, but you think he is too far above you. You have already given him up to a more – suitable – woman. Is that not true?”
Kitty blushed, but determined that she must be absolutely honest, just as the countess had been. “Nothing about me is deserving of your son. I have connections that must be unacceptable to him, very little standing in Society, and no fortune to speak of. Your son is of a noble lineage, wealthy, intelligent, and a pillar of Society. He has political aspirations, so he needs a wife who can help him achieve his ambitions.”
The countess’s blue eyes, so like her son’s, bored into Kitty’s. “I se
e. You have decided all this for my son. He is to have no say in the matter?”
The girl was astonished. “I am an inappropriate choice in every way. You cannot seriously approve a match between us.”
The lady placed her hand on Kitty’s arm. “You must forgive my plain words. I am old, and I would see my grandchildren before I die, so I must know only one thing – do you love my son?”
“I could easily love him if I allowed myself that feeling. I have fought it, for I cannot allow myself to hope. My heart would be broken.” Kitty clenched her hands in her lap and kept her eyes on them.
The countess smiled. “You already love him, Miss Bennet, and I am glad, for I think he returns those tender feelings. And that is what makes you a perfect match. He has wealth, power, friends in high places, education, good sense, curiosity, and an unblemished reputation. He is enough. His wealth and family are enough, whether yours are stellar or not. In fact, I think he would prefer it that way. He would not want to have his achievements or the respect of his peers given to him on your behalf. Robert has the proper background, but he earns his way. From the time he was a youth, he has done his duty and worked hard.”
She shook her head and continued. “My son is handsome, kind, and caring. He will make an excellent husband and father, as I’m sure you have already surmised. However, because you think you aren’t good enough for him, you would turn him away. Is his happiness not to be taken into consideration?”
Kitty struggled to hold back her tears. “I have seen the results of men marrying below their stations. Love was not enough to keep those men from despising their wives eventually.”
“Ah! You have experienced it first hand, I think. A sister? A friend? A relative? It does not matter. He is not that man. You are not that woman. I have observed many, many unhappy unions between men and women in the upper crust of England. A pedigree and large fortune are no guarantees of happiness in marriage.”
“But they do have a better chance of compatibility. Do they not?” asked Kitty.