Kitty agreed she would be carful and the two-girl’s parted as Kitty took off down the road towards the Westwood’s. Lizzy sighed, before turning and heading back indoors.
***
The small parlour in the Westwood’s town house was used for entertaining small numbers of guests, or in this case, the total number of one guest which was Kitty. Julia was playing softly on the piano, while the rain beat slowly down on the window. Kitty was sat with Fredrick near the fireplace with the card table between them. “And that’s a 6 on yours and I’m out. I win again. That’ll buy that new cloak I wanted.” Kitty said excitedly collecting the coins.
“I’m sure you cheated” the gentleman accused throwing his cards down on the table in mock indignation.
“Disgraceful charge! I never. You just can’t play properly.” Was Catherine’s reply.
“I never took much interest in cards.” Freddy said.
“No Maria doesn’t either. I never understood it.” Kitty observed.
“Miss Lucas doesn’t care for cards either?” asked the gentleman.
“Ooo bet he likes to hear that.” his sister Julia mocked. Fredrick shushed her, but Kitty was too smart.
“Your sister betrays you sir. Though I had not suspected an interest in my good friend Maria.” she replied.
“Miss Lucas is a charming young woman, but I will not admit to any particular interest.” Replied Fredrick humbly.
“Aye that is probably wise. Gossiping persons are likely to describe things completely out of proportion and swear you are engaged to another simply by you expressing a fondness.” Kitty said thoughtfully. Julia then enquired after her piano playing. Her mind never staying on the same topic long. Kitty replied that it was coming along quite nicely but she hadn’t really felt like playing for quite some time.
“Never mind. Will you play for us tonight?” asked Julia.
“Only if I’m made to.” Kitty laughed.
“Freddy , we must make her.” Joked Julia.
“Can we not persuade you?” enquired the gentleman.
“I may perhaps be persuaded but first you must tell me about Mr Goude. You agreed to remember? I have not forgotten, and you’ve been putting it off for months. It is most important to me.” Said Kitty.
“May I ask why you are so interested in the gentleman? Henry meant you no harm you know, surely your heart cannot be elsewhere already?” Julia accused. Fredrick reprimanded his sister, but Kitty just shuddered at the thought.
“No, oh god no I assure you I do not have any feelings for Mr Goude, nothing but disdain anyway. But he is showering a lot of attention on Miss Darcy and Miss Lucas and I distrust him as does my sister. It is imperative that I find out as much as possible and can save my dear friends from becoming involved with such a man.” Kitty explained.
“Is he truly that terrible?” asked Julia who always wanted to believe the best in people.
“You were not there Julia, you didn’t see what I saw… and he’s still at it! We have uncovered gambling debts and drinking habits of over 30,000 pounds so far.” She explained.
“30,000 pounds! Heaven forbid. Tom would get in such a rage if Freddy or Henry ran up such a debt.” Replied Julia shocked.
“Aye his father did and is threatening to cut him off if he doesn’t pay his debts. His brother also seriously offended our dear maid Alice who worked for the family before she came to us. He asked her to be his mistress in town while his wife stayed at their estate! So please, if you have any other information for me I would dearly love to hear it.” She asked.
“Well , I do not know much of him myself, but as I told you at the ball , my brother was at Cambridge with him and Darcy.” Said Frederick.
“And Wickham don’t forget Mr Wickham.” Reminded Julia.
“Aye yes Mr Wickham. Another sly devil of a man bent on ruining people’s lives.” Said Kitty angrily.
“The four of them lived on the same corridor, their rooms next to and opposite one another’s so they were all quite good friends. They would frequently come to Maplebrook during the summer and to town at Christmas and so our paths met quite regularly. Julia’s governess was married to my tutor, so we were mostly in the same house. Do you remember Mr Goude Julia?” he continued to explain.
“I remember Mr Darcy, he was the tall proud one. He and Henry were the ones I saw most of, the other two were mostly out on the town when they came to stay here.” Added his sister.
“Wickham was the one that spent a lot of time with Miss Darcy and yourself when you were girls and we’d go to Pemberley for the summer he taught you to ride.” Fredrick explained.
“Mr Goude was the other one then. Wasn’t he the one who we saw with Mol out in the yard after mother discharged her?” Julia wondered aloud.
“Who’s Mol?” asked Kitty.
“She was one of the chamber maids at our estate. She was frequently missing when our mother needed her.” Explained Fredrick.
“Why did Mrs Westwood let her go?” asked Kitty.
“I don’t know for sure. I know she started getting a little fat. And mother asked her why and she would not tell.” Said the younger girl.
”She was pregnant Julia, that’s why mother discharged her.” Explained Fredrick.
“What were they in the yard for?” asked Kitty curious now.
“It was dark , I didn’t see too well, but they were close , it looked like he perhaps kissed her; I know he gave her a bag of something , money perhaps? She then looked like she started crying and reached for him. He shoved her away and turned his back after that. I didn’t see anything more.” Julia explained.
“Pregnant ? And you think Mr Goude was the father?” asked Kitty.
“Most likely. Why else would he give her money? Wouldn’t be the first time either. I saw him a couple times about the town while he was staying with us. Usually coming out of a bar or billiard room, and more often than not with some woman or other, under dressed and over painted.” The gentleman responded.
“I cannot believe it. This is all quite shocking. How can Mr Darcy be so blind?” thought Kitty aloud.
“Darcy is a sensible respectable man Miss Catherine; these events happened late at night after he had retired for the evening and in parts of town that as a gentleman he would not venture into without a cause.” Explained the gentleman.
“And as a gentleman yourself why were you in said parts of town?” teased Kitty.
“As a lad John Croft and I were good friends.” Said Fredrick.
“He’s planning on going into the navy with Freddy now . It was nice to see him again I like him very much!” added the love-struck Julia. “I don’t know what happened before, he just kind of disappeared one day. That night in town was the first I’d seen of him in a few years…He was nice, and I’m 16 now, no longer a child. Yet he didn’t say anything about our previous agreement…” Julia said voicing her thoughts.
“He’s grown up, he probably doesn’t even think much of you anymore.” Explained Fredrick.
“I don’t know. I think it’s more. The way he spoke to me. It was… odd.” Said Julia.
“Odd, in what way?” her brother asked.
“I don’t know. Like there was more going on. Like there was something he wanted to say, but for whatever reason, didn’t…” mused Julia.
“Perhaps you’ll find out soon.” Said Kitty reassuringly.
“I do hope so… Freddy will be leaving with him to go to sea soon…” Just then there was a knock as a maid came in.
“What is it Abby?” Fredrick asked.
“Please sir, this just arrived from Maplebrook” she said shyly handing him the letter and exiting quickly.
“What is it Freddy? Is everyone alright? For heaven sake open it!” urged Julia.
“'Tis in Tom’s hand writing, dated 2 days ago.” Said Fredrick beginning to open the letter the two girls waited anxiously. “It’s about John…he apparently paid him a visit the other day. That’s odd I didn’t even know he was go
ing into the country.” He said. Julia sank back gripping onto Kitty and burying her face in her shoulder Kitty held her squeezing her hand comfortingly
“Go on...” she urged.
“He expressed condolences about our father etc…” continued the brother.
“And…” Julia urged getting frantic looking like she was about to cry. Fredrick reached for her and stroked her hair softly.
“Shh dear… he mentioned that he saw us in town…” continued he.
“Did he tell him where?” asked Kitty anxiously. Fredrick replied that he did not. Much to their relief.
“It’s a bit vague... He asks us to come home…” Fredrick said.
“So soon?” replied Kitty.
“It’ll be spring shortly. You’re returning to Pemberley soon” replied he.
“Oh yes... I had quite forgotten....” said Kitty.
“What could Mr Croft possibly want to say to Tom…” thought Julia aloud.
“Who knows. You best go home and see.” Replied Kitty.
“I guess so, I’ll go pack! ABBY!” called Julia running off as Kitty turned to Fredrick.
“What do you think?” she asked her friend once Julia was out of the room.
“Why don’t you have a read of the letter?” Said Fredrick passing the letter to Kitty who read it and smiled.
“Fredrick.
If you and Julia would wish to come home as soon as you see fit I have some rather exciting news for Julia, pray do not mention anything to her at present I wish to surprise her as she is 16 now.
Young Mr Croft happened to call upon me the other week. He offered his sincerest apologies about our father’s death, though I think this was just a formality considering our father’s reaction to him in the past. He explained that he happened upon you, Julia and Miss Bennet during your stay in London, was delighted to be reacquainted with Julia and remarked upon how well she had grown.
He enquired as delicately as one could if I intended to keep our father’s wishes about his attentions to our dear little Julia as he expressed an interest in marrying her. I know how fond of him she was as a child and so I was delighted that he felt this way towards her still. A few concern’s I could not help but enquire about was his financial prospects, he has very little in terms of fortune.
Upon further enquiry he expressed an interest in joining the navy as you are doing. However I know his family situation means that unlike you he will not be able to enter into the higher ranks for a very long time, if ever and therefore has no stable prospects and so I was unable to give him a definite answer.
However upon his departure I took it upon myself to find out a little more about his character and his family. His father owns as I understand a small chain of businesses in London, (I recall you spending a lot of time there in your youth and through his father’s tuition you gained a far better understanding of arithmetic than any of your school masters could ever teach you). This business he will inherit upon his father’s passing and so there will be some financial stability as the family accounts are legitimate and a profit is being made and all reports I have managed to find of him and his family seem to be of an upstanding nature.
Therefore I have decided to invest in him. He is young, and he is strong, and I feel he is trustworthy and dependable and will not be a disappointment to the family.
I have agreed to support him in his endeavours and he will enter into the Naval Forces with you. Upon Julia’s eighteenth birthday I will once again review his proposal and his financial situation and if all is satisfactory I will grant him permission to marry her. He has waited this long for her to come of age and therefore I trust he will not object to waiting a little longer. He seemed to accept these terms and I trust Julia will too.
Yours, Tom
“Oh that is good news. I don’t doubt at all that he will be a very loyal and devoted husband to Julia when the time comes” said Kitty setting the letter aside.
***
Chapter twenty-six
Early the next morning , when Kitty awoke , she decided to wear her gold dress , once she’d put it on , she was searching through her jewellery for a certain necklace that would compliment it and when she couldn’t find it proceeded to explore the other rooms around her nearly bumping into poor Georgiana who’d just come out of her room.
“For heaven sake Kitty. Whatever are you about this early in the morning?” her friend asked.
“Have you seen my locket?” asked Kitty.
“Which locket?” the other girl asked.
“The one Lizzy gave me for my 18th birthday.” Explained Kitty.
“Didn’t you lend it to Maria for the ball?” Georgiana asked.
“Ball… Maria, yes I did.” Said Kitty hugging her friend and running off. “Thank you Georgiana…” she called after her friend.
“You're welcome…” replied Georgiana stunned as she heard Kitty calling Maria as she ran down the corridor.
Kitty stopped outside Maria’s door and knocked on it. When there was no answer, she knocked again and when there was still nothing she quietly opened it and poked her head round the door.
“Maria?” she asked Opening the door fully and going into the room. “Are you up? ” Hmm she must have gone to breakfast early… she thought to herself. As she entered the room, the bed had been slept in, the covers were unfolded, and the night dress sat in a crinkled heap on it , but the curtains were drawn. The maids hadn’t come in to open them and remake the bed yet. The light from the door shone , creating a small path of light to the dressing table . Kitty seeing her necklace began making her way over to it. “Aha. There you are” she picked the necklace up and fastened it round her neck.
She then began to make her way back towards the door, but she missed her footing and tripped on something, stumbled crashing into the bed, knocking the bedside table with all of Maria’s letters on it and spilling a jug of water over them. She cursed under her breath and bent down to pick up the papers. Most of them were covered in water and the ink was running on them . She sifted through them and dabbed at them with the corner of her dress . One of them, the one at the bottom of the pile was slightly less damaged and she picked this one up. “That’s Mr Goude writing…” she thought out loud , glancing around there was no one else about and curiosity getting the better of her sat down on the edge of the bed and unfolded the letter reading it.
“Dear Miss Lucas….
I cannot begin to express to you the sheer delight your company has afforded me over these last few weeks. You will return to your family soon I expect as I must return to mine. I fear we may never see each other again. Understand my intentions miss, I am sincerely fond of you, and I cannot express to you how unfortunate it is that I cannot make you a more decided offer. I have quite a few accounts that need settling that my dear father will not help me with much to my annoyance. However all is not lost and so after my forthcoming engagement to Miss Darcy is settled…”
(at this point Kitty let out a snort of disgust and scoffed. ”in your dreams sir” she mumbled and continued reading)
“…and once all my debts are in order and we are married she will remain at my home in the country and I would be delighted to install you in my town house where you will have servants to attend you and a substantial income...”
Shocked she exclaimed “No..., you cannot be serious?... Maria…. No .” Folding he letter up and tucking it away safely in her dress she rose to her feet.
“Ooh how can such a man be Mr Darcy’s friend? I must put a stop to this immediately!” she exclaimed “Finally! This is just what I need!” she said triumphantly and stalked out of the room.
***
Mr Darcy sat at his desk reading a letter, there was silence for a few moments as he had a look of seriousness and concentration on his face before he picked up his pen and a blank piece of parchment and began writing a smile on his face as he wrote in an informal manner
“Westwood that all sounds wonderful, I am pleased everything is go
ing well and I hope everything runs smoothly. As for your offer I see no reason why...”
She knocked on his door. Kitty had made her way almost immediately to his study although she was terrified of confronting the man alone, she knew that it was the right thing to do under the circumstances. He put the pen down.
“Come in” he called. The door opened, and Kitty entered warily. She looked distressed and had been crying. Darcy stood up.
“Good heaven’s Catherine! Whatever is the matter?” asked the gentleman showing her into the room . She sat down only to get up again. He regarded her closely as he poured her a drink and handed it to her. Kitty took the glass warily as she eyed the master of the house.
“Sir...” She began after a pause. Mr Darcy was a powerful gentleman even in his own home, in his own space and he stood straight and proud. Kitty had always found him to be a little rigid, but she dare not say so out loud.
“Are you quite well?” He asked her after she did not continue. His eyes were full of genuine concern as he seated himself across from her and studied his young sister in law, barely two years older than his own sister and quite a good friend of hers.
“I beg you sir… “She continued again after an even longer pause taking her seat again. “Do not fuss over me. I am quite well. I bring some rather distressing news about... but I’m afraid of angering you.”
Darcy looked puzzled at this last statement. Kitty had never angered him previously. Yes she was frequently foolish and headstrong, and she was sometimes a little careless, but she had improved greatly over the last year or two and he could tolerate, almost like her in fact most of the time.
“Go on...” He urged. She hesitated again but the gentleman’s intense gaze terrified her, and she continued in a hurried manner.
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