Catherine Bennet

by Jessica McLean

  “Ohh! Kitty dear... what does the letter say? I haven’t heard you talk so before.” Georgiana exclaimed. The other girl sighed looking away.

  “Lydia is still much the same, though she is Mr Wickham’s wife now. There is some comfort in that I suppose. She is no longer tainted, though she is trapped, bound to such a man as he until death...” Kitty shuddered at the thought. How she hated Mr Wickham now, hated what he had done to her family. The impact he had, had on her whole family. Georgiana suddenly stood and strode to the window, saying passionately:

  “Why is it men may do as they please? To marry for money and to make love for pleasure? To pray on the youth and folly of a young woman? Simply to satisfy their own lusts. No, it shall not be. Let us make a promise my dear sister, to vow never to fall prey to such men as these. And to make sure we do everything within our power to prevent any of our friends from falling prey to them.” Georgiana stood defiantly by the window. Kitty smiled, impressed at such words and went over to her taking her hand.

  “Aye!” Outside of the window the gates could be seen opening up as the party returned from the village.

  “Come, our brother’s return, let us greet them at the gate.” She said returning to normal. The two young women went, hand in hand, with a new pact that both of them were determined to keep. They crossed the yard to greet the others.

  Chapter Five

  Kitty could not have been happier when she awoke on Christmas Eve morning. Alice came in a little after 8 to call her to breakfast. She was a sweet hard-working girl, with thick dark hair in a long braid down her back and bright, pretty olive-green eyes. She was a little older than Kitty and had worked for the Darcy’s since she was about Kitty’s age and whom everyone was very fond of. Friendly and active she was a great help to Miss Bennet on mornings where she had to decide what to wear for whatever occasion. At Pemberley there were constantly dinners to attend and balls to go to, even just suppers and cards, and dear Georgiana had made her a gift of some of her dresses for they were of similar height and build. She had never seen such beautiful gowns before and had almost been afraid to touch them when Alice had first brought them through with Miss Darcy a few nights ago. Her parents and Mary had arrived late last night, and she had not been given the chance really to see them and so breakfast was a long-awaited time. She had not seen her family in over a month, which was a long time for a girl like Catherine who had never been away from her family for more than a couple of nights (and even that was only to go and meet Elizabeth and Jane).

  Alice had a natural gift with style and Kitty was always amazed at how beautiful she looked after Alice had finished dressing her in the mornings. She had never thought herself beautiful. Jane was always the beautiful one, but Alice made her feel beautiful and she wondered what her mother would make of her when she entered the room.

  Mrs Bennet had changed little, if at all in the few weeks away from the youngest of her two remaining daughters. She sat at the breakfast table helping herself to whatever was laid before her without even waiting for the master of the house to be seated first. Her white cap was over her curls, she was once blonde with dark eyes and had apparently been a real beauty in her younger days. Kitty had observed once that she looked rather similar to Jane when she had seen an old portrait. However now she was plump with greying hair and wrinkles Kitty found it hard to picture her ever being the same age as she had been in that old portrait.

  Mr Bennet sat as quiet as ever with his nose already in the morning paper. Older than her mother, in his youth he had been tall with dark hair, his age was definitely starting to show now though as he sat in his black suit and wizard white hair that was wispy and scraggly a top his weather head. Her sister Mary seemed quiet too as she sat across from her mother not really looking at her and Kitty wondered what sort of life her elder sister would have to suffer through now as the only one at home. Mary’s freckles were far more obvious than her sisters, her hair seemed thinner and her sense of style was always wrong. She never cared about being pretty and sat in a simple high necked grey dress, her hair pulled back in a bun and pinned in place with no curls or anything. Mary was not ugly, but she was not pretty, and this didn’t seem to bother her at all. It was a mystery to Kitty. She did admire her sister for lack of caring, but it also bewildered her for Kitty enjoyed attention and compliments.

  Caroline Bingley and Jane were already there as was Lizzy. She met Georgiana in the corridor. “You look very pretty today” she complimented her as they approached the staircase. “I do like that colour on you.” Kitty smiled and thanked her as they headed into the breakfast parlour. Mrs Bennet looked up as she saw the two girls enter.

  “Kitty my dear” exclaimed she rising and embracing her daughter. She was as loud and critical as ever. “What are you wearing? Is that silk? How can you afford such things?” her mother cried examining the dress.

  “Good morning mamma it’s good to see you again” replied her daughter kissing her cheek. “It is silk yes; Miss Darcy gave it to me. For I have out grown most of my other gowns. I must wear something, and it cannot always be the same dress.” Her mother seemed less than pleased by this, no doubt feeling jealous that Mary could not receive such presents.

  “That would account for it then. But Miss Darcy need not spoil you so Catherine, if you need new dresses then I’m sure your father could afford it could you not Mr Bennet?” Her father looked up from his paper with surprise as if acknowledging his wife for the first time that day and said through a smirk

  “But it seems my dear that we need not provide for our daughter anymore as she is well taken care of by the Darcy’s. You should be pleased as that makes 4 daughters taken care of and we can effectively abandon her.” His wife let out a cry of alarm at this.

  “Oh, Mr Bennet how can you talk so! We are her parents and it’s our job to care for her until she is married. How can you abuse your child so, you will make her think she is abandoned! Oh Kitty, pay him no mind I will see to it that you are supplied with the money needed to afford your own dresses. You will not need to be a burden to your sisters.” Lizzy and Jane glanced at each other across the table.

  “Mamma I’m sure he is teasing you. You need not send anymore up to her, we love having Catherine with us and it’s no burden at all” replied Mrs Darcy.

  “No indeed Mrs Bennet” Georgiana added. “In fact, I am pleased that Catherine is here. I have too many dresses as it is, and I am happy to part with them. They look far better on her than they did on me anyway.” Mrs Bennet seemed more satisfied by this answer and after the arrival of Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley breakfast was a peaceful affair.

  There had been a lot of snow fall in the early hours and the ground was covered in a layer of crisp white snow which Kitty and Georgiana were anxious to play in, the gardens at Pemberley were particularly beautiful and shortly after luncheon a walk was proposed. To Mary the idea seemed quite absurd and she turned the offer down in order to pursue more intellectual pleasures and retreated to the library. Caroline of course had no desire to ruin her new shoes and went into the parlour to write to her sister Louisa whom she could not spend time with that Christmas. Mr Bennet was invited to a sherry in the smoking room with Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley and Mrs Bennet claimed her “nerves” were getting to her again. Therefore, a little after three, Jane Bingley, Elizabeth Darcy, Catherine Bennet and Georgiana Darcy headed out into the gardens. The route they took was along the lake, slightly frozen in parts and looked rather like a giant crystal pool in the wintry sun. A pair of water birds flew overhead hunting for fish or some other water dwelling creatures for their dinner.

  The younger girls took great delight in watching this and occasionally the bird would dive down and peck at something before taking off back into the skies. They laughed as the birds sometimes misjudged and skidded along the ice a bit. Along the path behind them their sisters were walking together and watching the girls.

  “How quickly she is growing up, do you not think so Lizzy?” Jane observed
as the two younger girls walked along the lakes edge and pointed up at the birds.

  “Aye indeed, and about time too. I think Blakewood was a good idea” responded her sister as they followed the girls down the path.

  “I thought so too, and it was nice to have her with me. I asked Mary too, but it didn’t interest her at all.” Jane sighed as she looked up towards the house. Mary was one and twenty now, nearly the same age Jane was when she had met Mr Bingley, but Mary was yet to meet anyone.

  “No, I can imagine it wouldn’t. Tis a shame but that’s what she chooses I guess. Now dear how are you feeling?” Elizabeth asked. Jane had been feeling a little under the weather a couple of days ago and did not accompany them on the carriage trip out into the Dales and she was greatly concerned for her favourite sister.

  “Oh. ‘Twas nothing. I’m all right at present. I felt a little bit dizzy earlier so fresh air is probably doing me some good. I am glad the snow has currently stopped though I dislike the cold. Kitty seems well in it though.” She glanced over at Kitty who had now left the path and was chasing Georgiana through the trees with a snowball. Lizzy just laughed.

  “She grows more like me every day. The other day when we took the carriage up into the peaks for the afternoon; she and Georgiana were scampering about the countryside as if they were school girls.” Her sister could not help but laugh at this.

  “I can imagine that” replied she.

  “Not that I blame Kitty at all. I know how I felt the first time I came out here. Miss Bingley’s face was somewhat amusing I must say.” Jane stopped and looked out across the lake.

  “You know Lizzy, I cannot understand her recently. It’s quite sad as I feel like I’ve lost someone who I thought was a close friend. She seems cold and almost bitter, especially towards poor Kitty who has been nothing but polite and respectful towards her.” She hesitated a moment and blinked feeling suddenly light headed.

  “Jane... Jane are you all right?” a concerned Lizzy rested a hand on her sister’s.

  “Aye fine... a slight headache... got a little worked up... I...” before she could finish she collapsed into the snow.

  “Jane! Kitty! Georgiana...” she shouted frantically over to the two girls who quickly turned around and came rushing over to her. “Girls please run into the house and fetch help.” They nodded and ran straight across the grass towards the house.

  ***

  The gentlemen were in the middle of a sherry and in deep conversation about Mr Bingley’s new tenants when the girls came in. Generally, the smoking room was for gentlemen only, but they considered Jane’s collapse a reasonable excuse for disturbing them. Darcy seemed quite shocked and rather displeased at being interrupted by the young girls but once the news was out his attitude quickly changed. A servant was sent into the village to fetch the doctor while the gentlemen followed the girls out into the gardens. Jane was quickly scooped up and carried into the house, taken to bed and covered to keep warm to try and bring her back around.

  Mrs Bennet of course, was incredibly anxious for her eldest daughter and spent the rest of the day at her bedside. She was continually questioning the doctor unsure if he was best suited and almost demanded that they immediately send for the Bennet family’s doctor who knew more about her having cared for her as a child. Elizabeth managed to talk her out of this though, expressing that Dr. Sterling was more than qualified to help Jane and stating that it simply would not be practical for them to call Dr Moore up from Meryton at Christmas, but Mrs Bennet could not be convinced. It was only when Jane came down the following morning to breakfast, a little weak but perfectly cheerful and stable that she felt at all relieved and the day went quite quickly and quite peacefully with nothing serious happening. The Bennet’s had to return to Longbourn the day after for commitments with the Lucas’s and the Phillips’ and also to welcome the arrival of Lydia who was to come down for the holiday. So much had to be crammed into the one day and it was over before they knew it. The morning after brought many tearful goodbyes and Mrs Bennet had to once again leave her three daughters.

  Mr Bennet remained as neutral as he could, expressing very little emotion but Kitty had seen him with Lizzy in the parlour after everyone else had retired where he would have confided in her his true feelings on the matter and told her to take good care of herself. Lizzy had always been his favourite as Lydia had always been her mothers. Kitty had never been a favourite and it made her feel a little sad.

  She had feared that with Jane not feeling very well that Elizabeth would send her home with her parents when they left. However, she had suggested no such thing and so Kitty stood on the steps with Georgiana as they bid them goodbye before all heading back into the house. The Christmas cheer still lingered, and the environment was much more pleasing than she imagined Longbourn to be with only Mary for company and of course Lydia, but she was to come down with Mr Wickham... She cringed at the name, yes she was quite pleased to be avoiding that man; if she could go the rest of her life without seeing him again she would consider it still too soon.

  ***

  The evenings that followed seemed a bit too quiet and Kitty found herself missing her family. Jane was still not fully better and so would retire early. She would often stay in bed later than usual and of course Caroline was never pleasing company. Elizabeth was nearly always busy, as were the gentlemen. So quite often it was just herself and Miss Darcy which she rather enjoyed but having grown up in a family of five sisters, one seemed a rather small number and she was happy to learn of the Westwood’s arrival, particularly to be meeting Julia who more than one person had said was very like herself. “Pray tell me what are the Westwood’s like?” she asked Georgiana one afternoon as they were walking through the grounds of Pemberley, the snow crunching beneath their feet.

  The sky was clear and a wintry blue, the sun was not warm, but it was bright and cast a beautiful shimmer across the white landscape. In their thick fur coats and extra warm gloves and bonnets, the young women could barley feel the cold and just enjoyed the scenery.

  “Well there are five of them in total, like in your family, but three of them are brothers” her friend responded. Kitty was slightly jealous of this.

  “I should have liked to have had a brother, things would have been a lot easier for my family if I had.” she mused as Georgiana took her arm and squeezed it reassuringly.

  “Perhaps so but then maybe things wouldn’t have worked out the way they did, and we might never have met and that would never do.” Replied her friend. Kitty smiled and kissed her companion affectionately.

  “You are right my dear and for that reason I am glad things worked out the way they did, now what of the Westwood’s?” the two girls turned down the lane and headed down towards the lake front.

  “From what I can gather it’s only the younger sons and Josephine that are arriving tomorrow. Julia has been kept in Maplebrook until her cold is better.” Kitty was slightly disappointed that she was not to meet Julia tomorrow.

  “Oh, that is a shame, I do hope she gets better soon” she said. Georgiana laughed.

  “I expect she will and she will join us in a few days she is never ill for very long.” Replied her friend. The lake was almost entirely frozen over now. Kitty threw a stone and it landed with a thud cracking the ice and then splashed into the water.

  “That is good news. Lydia and I were often quicker to get better than Jane or Lizzy when we were younger. What of the older Miss Westwood?” Georgiana paused, looking out across the lake she sighed as she watched the birds.

  “She was quite nice when she was younger, she was kind of like a big sister to me. You know I never had a sister, but as she got older, started going out more to balls and things she wasn’t as fun anymore. She cared more about what was worn in town that season and how much her newest dress cost and where the silk came from; if it was made by the best hands or not. She’s a close friend of Caroline Bingley’s...” she trailed off here and Kitty let out a laugh and put her finger to G
eorgiana’s lips.

  “Say no more. That alone is enough to explain her character to me. Now what about the brothers?” she asked, and Georgiana smiled as they walked on.

  “They are the politest and most charming of gentlemen as ever I did meet my dear. Henry is about Mr Bingley’s age perhaps a little younger. He’s a lovely man. He wants to join the church. The rectory at Maplebrook is beautiful and his father has promised it to him as soon as it becomes available. Fredrick, the youngest of the brothers turned two and twenty last summer. He wants to join the navy. I think he’s getting a little bored with doing nothing; he’s always been quite mature, wanting to prove himself that sort of thing. He’d always join in the rougher games with his brothers even though he was quite a bit younger and even helped them build the tree house I showed you last Christmas.” Explained Georgiana. Kitty listened intently to her friend talking about this family with such fondness, they were obviously very good friends with the Westwood’s. Kitty observed a cloud creeping over the gardens as they were walking along.

  “That cloud looks a bit threatening” she said pointing up to it. Her companion followed her gaze and shuddered.

  “Aye it does, perhaps we had better head back in doors” Kitty nodded.

  “Agreed.” With that the two girls hurried back towards the house, but they were at the other side of the gardens and one cold whip of wind brought hail stones clattering down onto the ground. The girls were instantly halted at least a mile away from the house and made a dash for the old oak tree whose sturdy branches held the big old tree house that provided a temporary shelter from the storm.