Her Summer at Pemberley

by Sallianne Hines

  Was she in danger here? Her heart thumped and her breath grew shallow. Not wishing to be seen, she slipped from the log and slowly made her way back along the path she had come. After rounding a dense grouping of cedars, she risked a look back. One man was heading her way, quickly enough that he would overtake her before she reached the lawn.

  Gathering up her gown, she sprinted down the path whilst he was yet out of sight, then slowed to a walk, thankful she had worn a gown of darker green. The lawn was within reach and she breathed a sigh of relief. Pretending to look down the valley, she watched the man’s progress from the corner of her eye. He was coming to the house.

  Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she sought for logic. But it would not serve; there were too many unknowns. She feigned to wander aimlessly along the edge of the lawn. When she heard his footsteps, she turned.

  “Mr. Cressley!” Her astonishment was genuine.

  He was equally surprised. “Miss Bennet! What do you do here?”

  She dropt him a quick curtsey. “I am enjoying the solace of the woods, Mr. George. I fear I am unused to being in so much company for so long.”

  His eyes narrowed.

  “And how was your return trip? I have not yet heard where the couple were found. They do both seem happy.”

  His face relaxed somewhat. “Our trip was … expedient. And how do you recover from your ordeal in Windsor Forest, Miss Bennet?” he asked, nodding towards her wrapped wrist.

  “Very well, sir. I thank you. I am sorry you and Mr. Owen were tasked with such a chore in finding the missing couple. Was it an elopement?” she asked, knowing full well the true situation.

  “I must talk to Mr. Darcy before I share any information, Miss Bennet, but do not trouble yourself—all involved are safe now,” he said with a smile as he offered her his arm.

  She did not ask him where he had been or what was of interest up the pathway. Would he notice that? Or just take her for an empty-headed female? She smiled insipidly as she took his arm and began to talk about the evening’s party.

  After escorting her to the drawing room door, he bowed.

  “I must see my wife, Miss Bennet.”

  “Of course. Please give her my best wishes,” she replied with a curtsey.

  Turning into the doorway, she saw Darcy’s barely-perceivable raised brow. It was not nearly as comforting as Lizzy’s wink.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  After tea, the four younger ladies met in Georgiana’s room. Gowns were discussed and chosen.

  “Who shall be amongst the company this evening?” Kitty asked Georgiana.

  With a sly smile, Georgiana said, “Perhaps you should ask Matilda. She has been deep in conference with Mr. William, and I believe knows far more about this family and the neighborhood than I.”

  Matilda gurgled with laughter. “I will not deny it, nor do I wish to!” she exclaimed. “Every minute in his company is happiness beyond words.” Her irrepressible delight shone in her eyes and was contagious to them all.

  “Then speak! Tell us who will intrigue and delight us this evening,” Lucy demanded, dancing about the room with an invisible form that Kitty could only guess was Christopher.

  “The Lodge family and the Cavendish family will be the guests. There are several younger brothers and sisters, but of interest to us are Louisa Lodge and her brother Philip, and Martha Cavendish and her brother Lewis. My William and Mr. Lewis Cavendish are very thick. A cousin of one of them—I don’t remember which—is visiting and will also join us—a Mr. Graham Waverly from Sussex.”

  “And have you met any of them?” Kitty asked with interest.

  Georgiana smiled. “We have indeed. The ladies have called on us twice, and we have called at their homes with Mr. William. The gentlemen called here once. Mr. Waverly is particularly handsome, and I found Mr. Cavendish most congenial. What is your opinion, Matilda?”

  “I confess I hardly noticed. After all, my William was present.” She feigned a great swoon and they all broke into laughter.

  “It promises to be a pleasant evening,” Lucy said. “And it seems you, Kitty, are the only one who might consider herself eligible to meet new men. After all, I am engaged; Matilda confesses she is in love, and Georgiana is all but promised to Mr. Benjamin Drake.”

  Georgiana started at this.

  Lucy sniggered. “I am not blind, Georgiana. Your mutual affection—and most markedly his affection—has been obvious for months. Are either of the visiting ladies in love or engaged?”

  “Miss Cavendish claims a suitor in Brighton. Miss Lodge spoke of no particular gentleman but she has a fortune of twenty thousand pounds,” Matilda said.

  “Within our company only Mr. Charles and Mr. Owen are unattached,” Lucy said. “So that makes three for Kitty and Miss Lodge—no, five if we count Charles and Owen—to choose amongst. The odds are in your favor tonight, Kitty.”

  “Except I do not have a fortune of twenty thousand pounds,” Kitty said softly. “That may change the odds.”

  “Not for those who are worth having, I should say,” Georgiana remarked. “Plus, you have the Bennet spirit, Kitty, which my brother found irresistible. And he is the most wonderful man in the world … along with Benjamin, of course.”

  “Time to dress, ladies,” Matilda announced, and all left for their respective rooms to prepare for the evening.

  ≈

  The guests arrived and introductions were made. Cocktails were served, and all were ushered into a room where several tables were set for cards. Dozens of candles flickered invitingly, and the long golden rays of the sun shone through the many-paned windows. Sunset would come late at this time of year.

  Murielle Cressley acted as hostess for her father-in-law and so did not sit down to cards herself.

  “Please, find your name and take your seat,” she announced. The twelve younger people were seated at three tables, and the older members at two tables.

  Murielle rang a tiny bell. “We shall play for half an hour; then the gentlemen will rotate tables amongst their set—we shall do that twice—so all may mingle before supper. You may begin when ready.”

  Kitty was paired with Martha Cavendish, whom she found friendly. At their table were Christopher Drake and Philip Lodge. Mr. Lodge had an elegant manner about him and was reserved in contrast to Christopher’s showy demeanor. Philip and Martha had an easy familiarity, having been neighbors for many years, but he did not meet Kitty’s eyes. Was he uncomfortable with ladies or with new people in general? Or did he feel himself above his company?

  Christopher tossed his hair and aimed his charms at Martha; and when he discovered she had a beau, only increased his attentions to her. Perhaps he felt free to practice his manly arts, knowing he would not be expected to follow through. Whilst he did not look towards Lucy during his time at Kitty’s table, Lucy eyed him several times. What a troublesome beau Christopher would be.

  Murielle rang her bell. Glasses were refilled. Kitty and Martha were joined by Lewis Cavendish and William Cressley, who were chums and quite jolly. Much conversation and laughter accompanied the rollicking and haphazard game.

  Kitty watched William with amusement. He was continually diverted by Matilda’s voice and made many poor plays, but these were all laughed away with good nature. Besotted!

  Lewis Cavendish, as personable as his sister, kept up an animated conversation and asked Kitty many questions about her interests, her visit, and about Hertfordshire, where he had visited once. She was easily drawn in by his friendliness and flattered by his marked interest.

  Once again the bell rang. Joining Kitty and Martha this time were Owen Wyndham and Graham Waverly, Martha’s cousin. Owen maintained the reserve that Kitty had observed of him when in groups. Graham Waverly was quite bewitching. He regaled them with stories of his training in medical work, sharing only those anecdotes with happy or amusing outcomes it seemed. His eyes twinkled with merriment.

  In addition to his own stories, he asked Kitty about hersel
f and her life, and especially her visit in Derbyshire and the Pemberley estate. He sat next to Kitty and often leaned in close to make a point or share a laugh. Kitty was highly aware of the special attention he was paying her and responded warmly to his dimpled smile and blue eyes. His blonde good looks rivaled Christopher’s, and were unmarred by the latter’s sometimes sneering quality.

  As she basked in the charm of Graham’s attentions, a flush crept up Owen’s face. His eyes flashed at her a few times, and his mouth was set in a rigid line.

  Oh, Owen, must you always be troubled? Can you not just enjoy yourself? She wished she could ease his many burdens, but she also wished to feel unhampered in making new friends without upsetting an old friend. In spite of her esteem of Owen, resentment was growing. She was less desirous of his company because it was only occasionally pleasant. His many problems wore on her. She found the sunny charm and affability of a Graham Waverly or an Andrew Stapleton to be more desirable.

  The younger people filled both sides of the large dining table, with the older members of the party being honored with places near to the head and foot occupied by Mr. Alfred Cressley and his daughter-in-law Murielle. Kitty was seated between Graham Waverly and William Cressley. Across from her were Matilda and Georgiana, with whom she exchanged many speaking looks but little conversation. Seated between those ladies was the ebullient Lewis Cavendish. Also on that side of the table sat Christopher Drake, next to heiress Louisa Lodge—much to Lucy’s consternation. Owen was on the other side of Louisa.

  Drawing all eyes to himself, Christopher exclaimed loudly, “I, for one, am famished! What a fine spread we have here.” He then leaned over just a little farther than was proper to help Louisa, whilst looking into her eyes and smiling. Christopher’s appetite for the fine supper had likely been enhanced by his appetite for Louisa’s twenty thousand pounds.

  Kitty wrinkled her nose. She did not envy Lucy one jot.

  The rosy hues streaking the midsummer sky were diminished by the blaze of candles on and around the table. What was it Owen had once said? Candlelight was nice, but he preferred the stars. Kitty glanced down the table but was unable to catch his eye. He, too, was gazing out the large windows at the sky. Her heart softened towards him once more.

  The meal went on for some time. Afterwards some of the younger group preferred to dance, but Kitty’s heart was not in it, nor did she wish to jostle her injured wrist. The crowd felt constraining, and the lingering twilight called her out of doors.

  Seeing Darcy nearby, she walked over to him.

  “I long to walk about the garden alone. May I do so?”

  “Certainly. Why not. The evening is lovely. I will station myself here at the terrace door, but do keep within the walls.”

  “I shall.”

  The sky’s rosy streaks had melted into a mantle of violet with golden stars winking through in clusters like flowers. A crescent moon hung low in the sky. The coo of the doves was soothing, and Kitty walked the perimeter of the garden slowly, savoring the scents of earth, herbs, and night flowers mingled with the nearby woods. She breathed deeply, reflecting on how far she was from Longbourn and that, even when she returned, it would not be the same. It would never be the same, because she was not the same. This visit had changed her. At this critical point in her life, her future depended on her own choices over the next months—and to a degree on what luck brought her way. She prayed that Providence would guide her to happiness.

  As she pondered what that happiness might look like, the motion of someone moving towards Darcy caught her eye. It was Graham Waverly. Darcy shook his head and motioned him back indoors. She sighed with relief and began another turn about the garden. She wanted to make the choices about her life, not have them made for her by some scandal. When she looked back, Darcy was facing indoors, talking with Mr. Cressley and the Cavendishes.

  After a time she perceived a shadow along the garden wall, moving towards her. The gait was not familiar and until the silhouetted figure came quite near she could not recognize him.

  When his face came into the light, she saw it was Graham Waverly. What was he about? Had Fitzwilliam not stopped him from intruding on her reverie just moments ago? A prickling sensation moved up her neck, causing her to move quickly towards the lighter area near the doors. Fitzwilliam was still turned away.

  Mr. Waverly stopped in front of her and bowed.

  “Miss Bennet, is it not a lovely evening?” His face looked pleasant and sincere. But a turn alone with him in the starlit garden would give a very wrong impression. Although she found him attractive and intriguing, this disregard of Fitzwilliam’s direction cast his character in a less flattering light.

  Unsettled by his sudden appearance, she said, “Mr. Waverly, what do you do here? Did my brother not—”

  “Miss Bennet, we are not children to be directed. The evening calls for romance, does it not? You are so lovely. You enjoyed my earlier attentions I believe, and I only sought to …” He faltered, following her gaze.

  Owen and Georgiana were speaking with Darcy and, at Darcy’s nod, headed towards Kitty. In a trice the other couple had joined them.

  With a brief bow, Owen said, “Miss Bennet, Mr. Waverly. Who could remain indoors on such a pleasant evening? Miss Darcy also expressed a desire to enjoy the outdoors.”

  Georgiana dropt a curtsey and approached Graham.

  “Have you ever traveled to Derbyshire, sir?”

  Owen offered Kitty his arm. Looking up she mouthed a silent ‘thank you.’ A smile spread over his face, but he said nothing and led her away a few steps, putting Graham in the position of escorting Georgiana.

  “I have not been to Derbyshire, Miss Darcy. Have you been to Sussex?”

  “No. I should dearly like to travel more. Do tell me some of the delights of Sussex.”

  Leaving the other couple several steps behind, Kitty and Owen walked on in silence. It was a comfortable silence. His body had lost its earlier tension and his countenance had smoothed. She glanced back at Darcy, who continued at his self-appointed post. Turning to Owen, she asked in a low voice, “How did you know?”

  “That you might need assistance?” He looked long at Kitty and then spoke.

  “I would not have you think I keep watch over you—not that I do not wish to—but that is your brother’s job at present. I only help when I can. I happened to overhear when Mr. Waverly expressed to Mr. Darcy his desire to walk with you in the garden. Alone. He was, of course, denied. My instincts told me to watch how Mr. Waverly took this refusal. I watched him gulp down a glass of wine then quietly move to a side door. I followed, just to see what he was up to. He went out and, after stopping at a nearby tree, walked around the outside of the house. I stationed myself so as to observe anyone entering the garden area. It is walled in, true enough, but there are three ways to enter. It was not long before he entered through the west gate, but he kept to the shadows near the wall rather than openly walking the path. Naturally, that aroused my suspicion. For someone to disregard your brother’s entreaty indicates to me a grave lack of integrity. Miss Darcy came to converse with me and when I mentioned what I had seen, she was eager to accompany me in your behalf. You know the rest.”

  “I was unaware of my risk until Mr. Waverly was in front of me.”

  The night sky had deepened and there was a hush about the garden. Owen sought her eyes again.

  “No, I imagine not. You are strong and resourceful. Your integrity I doubt not. But women are in a precarious position as concerns their reputations. I do not agree with it, but I do not make these rules. Some small thing can cast a long shadow on a woman’s honor. Mr. Darcy’s intervention would have drawn undue attention. If Miss Darcy and I simply joined you, all the requirements of propriety would be met with little or no notice by anyone. I hope I have not offended?”

  Kitty squeezed his arm. “Of course not.” They walked on for a bit, the other couple still trailing them by several steps. “With your honor giving rise to such ca
reful attentions towards me, the predicament of your sister must be most frustrating to you.”

  He gave her a wry smile. “It is, for the sake of my family, and especially my father. My sister seems oblivious to any ill effects. Whilst I honor her as my sister, she has never been kind to me. Not that she has singled me out; just that she is not … well, she has only herself and her own desires in mind as she walks through life. I do not believe her intentionally unkind. More unawares, I would say. She lacks insight, but she is not evil. She enjoys adventure—not unlike you—but she wants your wisdom and common sense.”

  Kitty flushed at his compliment.

  Owen went on. “I wearied of the continual drama between Lucy and Christopher Drake this evening. I believe him especially vulnerable to any heiress at present. He is not above leaving my sister in the lurch—especially with the engagement not yet public, nor even known or sanctioned by her father or his. I know not what happened between Drake and Lucy whilst they were missing. She does not take me into her confidence in that way. I wish she had a sister. Perhaps she would talk more with another woman.”

  Giving this last comment some thought, Kitty saw a way she might help. If Lucy would confide in her, the true danger of her predicament might be found out. If it were possible she could be with child, a hasty marriage would be imperative. If things had not progressed that far, perhaps a more suitable mate might be found. The disappearance of the couple was known only to their immediate group, most of whom could be relied on for confidentiality. Perhaps she could help Lucy make wiser choices than her own sister Lydia had done.