What Kitty Did Next

by Carrie Kablean

  ‘Will you wear the pearls?’ Kitty asked as she picked up first the white, then the blue gown, holding each in turn against Georgiana.

  ‘Yes, I shall. And I have pearl and diamond combs as well.’ She went to a drawer, found them and held them to her hair.

  ‘This one then,’ said Kitty. ‘The white sets off your complexion so very well and with the pearls it will be even more becoming. Those combs are very pretty, I like them very much.

  ‘Oh, it is good to be here with you,’ she continued, sitting down on the bed. ‘We have not spoken properly since that day at the folly. I cannot imagine how difficult it is for you.’ She did not want to specify the conversation.

  ‘You have been spending most of your time with Mrs Wickham,’ said Georgiana, coolly.

  Kitty looked at her. ‘You are not reproaching me, surely? Do you not know that it was done for you? It would be strange indeed if I did not spend some time with her – and I am not entirely unhappy to see her, although I could wish she was not at Pemberley at this moment – but her arrival was such a shock to me, as it was to everyone. We – Elizabeth, Colonel Fitzwilliam, your brother, me! – have been most concerned for you. Especially me, after what you had told me only that morning! I have been seeking to protect, not exclude, you. Spending time with Lydia, taking her on tours of Pemberley, was done to spare you her company as much as possible.’

  Georgiana coloured.

  ‘Did you not know?’ persisted Kitty, standing up.

  ‘I did not think…’ began her friend. ‘I saw only you and Mrs Wickham chatting and laughing together. I thought…’

  ‘You thought we were discussing you? How could you think such a thing of me?’

  ‘But she is your sister so…’

  ‘So therefore I would disregard my loyalty and friendship with you? I gave you my word, Georgiana. You are as dear to me as Lydia, perhaps even more so. I care for her, it would be unnatural if I did not, but we are not friends as you and I are friends. You have shown me nothing but affection and kindness since we met. I would never betray you!’

  She stopped. The vehemence of her little speech, which had welled up and out of her heart, had taken her by surprise.

  ‘Then I am sorry,’ said Georgiana. ‘I have been so concerned with my own difficulties, but I should never have doubted you.’

  Kitty nodded, took Georgiana’s hand and smiled. ‘It has been a trying week for many of us, has it not? Let us leave it all behind and look forward to tonight. I am longing to dance.’

  ‘What will you wear?’ asked Georgiana, clearly thankful to return to the subject of the ball.

  ‘My white silk gown, the one trimmed in pink. I have not worn it since I came to Pemberley. I like it very much, but will it be formal enough? Lizzy assured me it would do as well as any – and that I look very well in it.’

  ‘I imagine some of the older ladies will have more elaborate gowns, and no doubt we will see a few bejewelled and feather headdresses,’ said Georgiana, ‘but I do not envy them those. So heavy! Your white dress is most becoming and hardly less formal than mine.’

  ‘I had not thought about feathers!’ said Kitty. ‘Though I wish I had some pearls or something for my hair. Perhaps Lizzy has something I can borrow.’

  ‘You can wear this!’ said Georgiana, going to a velvet-covered casket on her table and bringing out a small yellow-gold tiara, set with brilliants and garnets.

  ‘Oh, but this is beautiful, so delicate,’ gasped Kitty.

  ‘Yes, it is,’ agreed Georgiana. ‘It belonged to my mother. I like it but I never wear it. Put it on.’

  Kitty did as she was bid, turning her head first one way, then the other and enjoying the way the light caught the diamonds.

  ‘I feel quite the princess! Thank you, but I cannot wear this. I should be afraid to lose it.’ She immediately thought of the cameo and wished she could take back the words.

  ‘Nonsense,’ replied Georgiana, unconcerned. ‘What possible harm can come to it here at Pemberley.’

  ‘But it belonged to your mother.’

  ‘And now it belongs to me, and I would like you to wear it tonight at the summer ball, a ball that was such a favourite tradition of my mother’s, one that is to be continued by our sister Elizabeth. It is all quite fitting. My mind is made up. I shall send Annie to arrange your hair just as soon as she has finished mine. You will find her better than your maid at such things. There!’

  It was all settled. Kitty took the precious tiara back to her room and placed it carefully on the table. She could hardly believe she would be wearing something so very fine. She was sensible to a certain reserve in Georgiana’s attitude to her, something that she had not experienced before, but now she had allowed her to wear this beautiful tiara. Perhaps it was her way of making amends.

  Her gown was laid out on her bed, along with new white leather gloves; she had little pink roses on her shoes. Everything was in readiness, but there were still a few hours before the ladies needed to dress. She would have preferred to spend that time chatting with Georgiana, but she had said she must finish her letter, so Kitty went downstairs; she supposed she had better find Lydia.

  Large bouquets of flowers were appearing on the landings of the staircases that led to the ballroom and supper room; even more floral arrangements were being carried hither and thither by servants Kitty had never seen before. The house smelled of lavender, roses and geraniums.

  She heard Lydia before she saw her; she was in the drawing room engaged in a noisy game of backgammon with Captain Morton. ‘We are playing the best of three,’ Lydia told her. ‘The captain here has just taken the second. It is not too late to wager on the outcome.’

  ‘I am content to watch,’ said Kitty. ‘Although I do not know the rules of this game.’

  ‘That is to your credit, Miss Bennet,’ laughed Captain Morton. ‘Your sister knows them very well, however. Please excuse me, I must have my wits about me if I am to win.’

  Win he did, although Kitty was given to understand the game was close. Lydia was in excellent spirits and good-humoured in defeat, pushing across the few pennies that had been at stake. The captain made a show of protest but Lydia was adamant. ‘It shall never be said that I do not honour my debts, sir,’ said she, affecting a serious tone. ‘Though given the opportunity, I shall try to recover my position in another game.’

  She turned to Kitty. ‘Shall we take a turn outside? I never saw so much activity in my life as I did earlier today. They are lighting the way from here to London, I think.’

  Lydia’s reference was to the lanterns being placed in the trees and along the curving drive that led through Pemberley’s grounds. The sisters followed the path for a half hour, counting the distance between lanterns, before turning back.

  ‘It will look exquisite,’ said Kitty, as they neared the house. ‘I can hardly wait to see it in moonlight.’

  ‘It looks fearfully expensive as well,’ returned Lydia. ‘I suppose this is why Darcy has his ten thousand pounds a year!’

  ‘Don’t speak so loud,’ chastised Kitty, looking around. ‘Someone might hear you.’

  ‘Ooh la la! Who is near?’

  At that moment, Georgiana and Freddie Fanshawe came into view, perhaps bent on the same exploratory task, but then they changed course and wandered in the direction of the stream.

  ‘Miss Darcy does not care to speak to me,’ declared Lydia. ‘She is monstrously proud.’

  ‘I am sure you are mistaken.’

  ‘I most certainly am not! Did you not see just then how she and Mr Fanshawe deliberately avoided speaking to us?’

  Kitty had seen of course, but chose not to admit it. ‘Perhaps they do not want any company at all, Lydia. I do not think they intend any slight.’

  Lydia was unconvinced. ‘They are both proud,’ she insisted. ‘That Mr Fanshawe as well; he thinks himself mighty important. Well, never mind. There will be plenty of others to dance with tonight, I am sure.’ Kitty agreed, while thinking
how much like their mother Lydia sounded. Her words were an echo of Mrs Bennet’s sentiments when they had first been introduced to Mr Darcy.

  They reached the house and met Elizabeth coming out of the drawing room. ‘The house looks wonderful,’ said Kitty, ‘and the ballroom! And the lanterns! The flowers! Everything looks wonderful!’

  ‘Thank you,’ she smiled. ‘I am happy to agree with you. I must look to my own appearance soon. And you? You have everything you need?’ She looked at them and received nods of assurance. ‘I was going to wait until tomorrow to tell you that I have just received a letter from Jane, but since you are both here I will do so now. She is well, she writes, but she is become concerned about Mama, who is tired and increasingly out of sorts. The physician has visited her twice in the past week but, according to our father, has no real explanation. Jane wonders if Papa is keeping some information from her, given that her confinement is so near, but she owns that this is speculation on her part.’

  ‘Poor Mama,’ said Kitty. ‘I will write to her tomorrow. She will want to hear all about the ball. Perhaps she is just sad to be missing all the excitement.’

  ‘More likely her nerves are plaguing her,’ said Lydia, somewhat dismissively. ‘She needs little encouragement to play the invalid!’

  ‘That is enough, Lydia!’ snapped Elizabeth. Turning to Kitty, she said, ‘She will appreciate an account of the ball. That is a good idea. We should all write; there is nothing else we can do at present.’

  ‘No indeed,’ agreed Lydia. ‘We married ladies can do no more.’

  Kitty felt the implied comment that she, as the only unmarried daughter, might look to be at their mother’s side.

  ‘None of us can do anything more at present,’ said Elizabeth firmly. ‘I shall see you both at dinner. Excuse me. Oh, and Lydia, there is a letter arrived for you as well.’

  CHAPTER 49

  Kitty looked at her reflection in the mirror. As a result of Annie’s ministrations, little curls now framed her face and the tiara sparkled, securely pinned into her dark brown hair, which had been swept up higher than she normally wore it and allowed to tumble in ringlets to the nape of her neck. She was most pleased with the result. She adjusted her bodice, smoothed her skirts and pulled on her gloves. The only thing missing was a necklace, which she did not have. Did that matter? She thought of asking Georgiana but hesitated. She had already lent her the tiara, she did not want to ask too much of her.

  There was a knock on her door. ‘Ha!’ she called. ‘The very person I need. Come in!’

  ‘Well,’ said Lydia. ‘You look very fine. A tiara, indeed! Did you borrow it from Lizzy? I suppose she has plenty of Darcy jewels now.’

  ‘No, it belongs to Miss Darcy,’ said Kitty, recovering from the surprise of seeing Lydia rather than Georgiana in her room. ‘Lizzy does have some splendid necklaces though. I saw them while we were in London and she will be wearing her emeralds tonight.’

  Lydia feigned indifference.

  ‘I have some news that should be of interest to you,’ she said, a smug look upon her face, ‘about your new and fancy friends. You remember I said I thought I knew the name Fanshawe?’

  ‘I do remember,’ said Kitty, wondering what Lydia could possibly know about the Fanshawes.

  ‘I wrote to my dear Wickham,’ she continued. ‘He knows all about Freddie Fanshawe! It turns out they were at Cambridge together. He says he is the most prolific gambler, always at the races or at the card tables. A sharper, he calls him. And not at all concerned about leaving his debts of honour unpaid.’

  ‘A sharper!’ exclaimed Kitty. This was horrifying. ‘That cannot be true!’

  ‘Why? Because he is the son of a knight?’

  ‘No, of course not,’ said Kitty, struggling with the information and thinking that it would be another shock for Georgiana to bear. ‘Surely, though, this was years ago? Perhaps he has reformed.’

  ‘Reformed?’ cried Lydia, scornfully. ‘No, not according to my husband’s letter. Fanshawe is a gamester and renowned for it. Everyone knows it.’

  ‘But how can that be?’ asked Kitty. ‘His reputation would be ruined were it true.’

  ‘Wickham says he has a wealthy old relation who is continually paying his debts,’ said Lydia. ‘His father, I suppose. Sir Frederick, isn’t that his name? He is here now, is he not?’

  ‘He is,’ said Kitty, her thoughts racing. She had no doubt in her mind that it was not his father who was paying Freddie Fanshawe’s debts; it was Sir Edward! She had no proof of course; she just knew it to be true. Poor Sir Edward, whose own sons had been taken from him, had become the most generous uncle, had taken it upon himself to protect his eldest nephew from scandal. She thought back to the scene at the stables and was even more convinced. He tries to keep him in check! The cruel irony of this information coming from a person such as Wickham was not lost on her.

  ‘By all accounts, he is not a very clever gambler,’ Lydia was saying. ‘Hopeless, in fact. But he knows his debts will be paid, so he keeps on doing it.

  ‘My dear Wickham saw him in London, not long before he came down to Meryton I suppose, and Fanshawe lost fifty pounds to him at faro. He had not thought ever to see the money but now that we are here under the same roof, I intend to ask him for it.’

  ‘Lydia, you cannot! Not here!’

  ‘Why not? He acts as though he were an honourable gentleman, therefore he should pay his debts. Why should my dear Wickham suffer at his hands.’

  Wickham’s suffering, such as it may have been, was of no concern whatsoever to Kitty.

  ‘Lydia, you cannot confront him here. Have some care, please! Do not cause a scene.’

  ‘I can, and I will if I wish,’ retorted Lydia. ‘All he has to do is pay, then there will be no unpleasantness.’ She did not wait for Kitty’s response. ‘I will see you in the drawing room,’ she called, as she opened the door and disappeared down the passage.

  Kitty could not believe what she had heard. She had had misgivings about Freddie Fanshawe but she had not expected this. What should she do? The first guests for the ball would be arriving in an hour; Elizabeth and Darcy would be far too engrossed in receiving them to deal with such news. Colonel Fitzwilliam! He would know what to do, she would tell him.

  She picked up her reticule and opened her door to find Georgiana about to knock.

  ‘You will have no shortage of dance partners this evening, Miss Bennet,’ said she, appraising Kitty as she stood back. ‘The tiara suits you very well. Are you ready to come down?’

  ‘I am,’ said Kitty, taking a deep breath and forcing a smile. ‘Let us go. You are looking very becoming yourself, Miss Darcy.’

  Georgiana was all smiles again, no sign of her former reserve. Kitty could not tell her what she knew; she was afraid to be the bearer of such terrible news and perhaps – it was just possible – that Wickham was misinformed. No, she wanted advice from the colonel.

  ‘I have never seen Pemberley look more enchanting,’ said Georgiana, as they descended the grand staircase. ‘Shall we step outside and see it as our guests will see it as they approach? I should like to see the lanterns lit.’

  Despite, or perhaps because of, the turmoil in her mind, Kitty agreed. She too wanted to see the effect of the lanterns illuminating the trees and the drive. Careful of their dresses and dancing pumps, they passed through the entrance hall and stepped into the warm night air. In front of them, the lake reflected the house, its large windows ablaze with light, and the drive the carriages would soon be taking had become a golden serpentine leading up from the park and woodlands.

  ‘Sublime,’ murmured Georgiana, gazing around her and then up at a moon bright in the cloudless sky. They turned back to the house, where silhouetted figures were moving about in the drawing room.

  ‘From here, it looks like a very large doll’s house,’ observed Kitty.

  ‘Then let us go and play in it,’ laughed Georgiana, taking her hand and pulling her along with her. ‘Don’t look so
serious! This is going to be a wonderful night!’

  CHAPTER 50

  Entering the drawing room, Kitty could not see Colonel Fitzwilliam among those already assembled. Elizabeth, a picture of elegance in her cream silk and looking taller than usual, courtesy of a matching turban complete with an emerald brooch and small feathers, was standing next to an equally dignified Darcy. She beckoned Kitty and Georgiana over.

  ‘You are perfect,’ said she to them quietly. ‘White becomes you both. Kitty, I see you have acquired a crown?’

  ‘Only for this evening, Georgiana has kindly allowed me to wear it.’ She gave her friend a gleeful look. ‘I feel like Cinderella!’

  Darcy, noticing the tiara, made an approving face, first at Kitty and then at his sister.

  ‘Well, it won’t disappear at midnight, even if you meet your Prince Charming,’ teased Georgiana. ‘When shall we go to the ballroom?’ she asked Elizabeth.

  ‘Very soon, the first carriages are expected at nine. The musicians are ready. Everything is ready.’

  Darcy placed Elizabeth’s arm in his own and smiled at her. ‘You have made it so,’ he said proudly. His expression as he looked at his wife said everything else.

  Georgiana and Kitty moved away, one to speak with Felicia Fanshawe, the other to seek out Colonel Fitzwilliam. Lydia, Kitty noticed, was with Captain Morton. She was on her way to join them and ascertain Lydia’s mood, when she was greeted effusively by Sir Edward, who was in the company of Sir Frederick and Lady Fanshawe.

  ‘Miss Bennet. Enchanting as ever!’ Sir Edward boomed. ‘Is this not a splendid occasion? Quite the event of the summer. I hope I may not presume too much if I beg the honour of a dance this evening?’

  ‘Of course not, Sir Edward. I should be delighted,’ said Kitty, with sincerity. If only Frederick Fanshawe were more like his uncle, she thought.

  ‘My younger nephew tells me he has claimed the honour of the first two. Rightly so!’ he said, beaming at Kitty and the said gentleman’s parents. Kitty smiled her best smile at all three, wondering at the innocence or otherwise of Sir Frederick and Lady Fanshawe in regard to the behaviour of their eldest son.