A/N: This is my next installment of Affairs of the Heart, Lydia and Kitty are the main characters. I promise a happy ending for Kitty, not so much for Lydia. Working on a subtitle, help is much appreciated. Thanks for reading.

Chapter One

Lydia spied Kitty and John Lucas from the parlor window and frowned. They were strolling through the garden path, a narrow, graveled lane surrounded on either side by roses, interspersed with lilacs and honeysuckle. A short distance away was Mary, following in their wake, pausing occasionally to sniff a newly bloomed rose. Lydia narrowed her eyes at the sight and huffed. On the other side of the room she was in was Mrs. Bennet speaking with her sister, Mrs. Phillips, who had come to visit to hear any news of her newly married niece to one Mr. Darcy of Derbyshire.

"And so they are settled at Pemberley then?" Mrs. Phillips asked of her sister.

"Yes," Mrs. Bennet said, putting her cup of tea down on the side table, a muted clinking noise as cup hit saucer. "Mr. Darcy wished for Elizabeth to see her new home straight away. After finishing off Miss Darcy's season they all retired to Derbyshire. Once they are settled they assured me they would ask for me to visit, though I am loath to go for it would mean separating dear Kitty from John Lucas."

Both women looked toward the window, where Lydia was seated, and could barely discern the couple in the distance. "They make a fine couple," Mrs. Phillip said, smiling. Lydia snorted.

"Fine couple indeed," Lydia pouted, resting her head upon her arm, which rested on the window sill.

John Lucas was a fine man, tall, dark haired with bright blue eyes and very athletic looking. Kitty had gone on and on about his medal he won for fencing so much so that Lydia was very tempted to poke her with whatever needle she had at hand next time she brought it up. Add insult to injury by everyone she met congratulating Kitty on catching such a fine fiance. It just wasn't fair!

Before going away to school John Lucas had been a gangly youth, all limbs and too tall for his person. Lydia remembered him having the goofiest grin, and a mouth full of teeth. Even though she herself was but twelve, she had, at that age, begun to notice the male sex, and how it differed from woman kind. She could already discern a handsome man from a homely one, and appreciated the former, while scoffing at the latter. She had not given John Lucas another thought all those years in between, for why should she? He never aroused her interest, not even when he came home at end of term. She had thought he would forever remain the awkward fifteen year old.

Until Kitty noticed him.

"It is a shame they are not formally engaged," Mrs. Phillips voice brought Lydia back from her reverie. She looked out the window but could not longer espy her sister and would-be suitor, nor Mary. They either went to the orchard, or 'round back of the house to the pond.

"Yes, his Father was adamant they court a year before becoming engaged," Mrs. Bennet tsked. She was of the mind that if you fancied someone you best marry them straight away. "Then after they are engaged it would be another year or so before they can marry. John is to go into law, as well as manage the Home farm."

"Yes," Mrs. Phillips nodded, "my husband has told me the details of the arrangement. Though why he cannot stay here and learn under my husband is beyond my knowledge. Hatfield is no better than Meryton in anything, least of all law." There was pause between the women in which they both fumed over the idea of the Lucas' thinking so very little Meryton. "As to their informal arrangement, you know how those Lucas' are. Saphronia went through beaux as a youth like no other girl I knew, and only settled on Sir William because of his prospects. If young John Lucas takes it into his head to marry a passing heiress, you have no recourse."

Mrs. Bennet frowned at the idea of any of her girls being looked over, not bothering to take into account that heiresses were few and far between in Meryton. "Well," she took her tea up and took a sip, "then Kitty should just have to hold his interest."

The matter being settled, Mrs. Phillips rose to leave her sister, exclaiming once again at her luck to have kept her home and see two daughters married to fine gentlemen, and another on the same way. Lydia bade her a farewell, but remained at the window seat while Mrs. Bennet went to speak to cook over that night's supper.

It didn't really matter to her that John Lucas was showing Kitty his affections, not really. The fact that he looked over herself to do so is what irritated her. Lydia was sure that if she had been home when John Lucas had first arrived home after school he wouldn't have given Kitty a second glance. Lydia was by far the prettiest Bennet daughter, to her it was common knowledge. It wasn't her fault she was born so out of order or that her Mother dragged her to Scarborough when John chose to first set eyes on Kitty. Why, he was probably regretting his mistake at this very moment, forced to look into Kitty's dull brown eyes, and listen to her uninspired speeches. Kitty was nothing without Lydia to guide her.

"If only he knew what he was missing," Lydia muttered under her breath as she watched her Aunt's carriage carry her away.

Oh my! A most dreadful, delicious thought entered her head. He should know what he was missing, thought Lydia. It wouldn't be fair to anyone if John Lucas married the wrong Bennet. Once he realized what a mistake he had made, of course he would be hers to take up or discard at will. She wasn't exactly sure at the moment whether she wanted to be Mrs. John Lucas or hold out for a man who wore regimentals, but the choice should be hers to make.

"Lydia Lucas," she mused, a wicked smile playing across her girlish features.

Meanwhile, outside Kitty was saying goodbye to John Lucas, their gloved hands held together. She blushed as John leaned forward and whispered in her ear how he would miss her while he was away. Looking into his bright blue eyes did funny thing to her heart, so she focused on his nose.

"After I finish practicing law under Mr. Tuttle, I shall buy a cozy cottage for us," he assured her. "Would you like that, my Kitten?"

Kitty giggled at his use of a pet name for her. She took a surreptitious look toward Mary, who frowned at the both of them and looked as if she were ready to place herself between them.

Clearing her throat, Kitty said, "That sounds nice, Mr. Lucas."

John gave a small laugh before squeezing her hands in his, then bidding her a fond farewell. "And to you, Miss Benet," John called as he was walking away, "a fond farewell. Give my regards to your Mother."

Mary gave a curt nod, then sidled up next to Kitty. "Though I did not find anything untoward in your manners, it would be best if you kept your distance. A female's reputation is fragile without idle gossip speculating about her."

"Oh Mary," Kitty huffed as she made her way to the house, "John and I are to be married. Who cares if it's hastened by speculative gossip."

"You should care!" Mary called, catching up. "You are not formally engaged and therefore he has no obligation to marry you, should you come to ruin. Remember, Kitty, Papa is dead and there are few male relatives who would risk their lives challenging a young man like Mr. John Lucas for your sake."

"Oh, Mary, must you always be sermonizing?" Kitty pushed through the door to the house and ran up the stairs to her room to freshen up, leaving Mary below, looking very grieved and feeling as if she were the only Bennet left at Longbourn with any sense at all.