The Ways We Fall
Summary: A simple turn of events sends Kitty and Darcy onto a much different path than either could have anticipated. Or the Kitty/Darcy AU that no one asked for!
A/N: I have always found Kitty and Mary to be the most interesting characters of Pride and Prejudice. I felt like neither were given any consideration. We never really knew what the two were up to or their true feelings throughout the book. So of course I had to write a Kitty AU fic! Hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter 1-
Longbourn was in an uproar.
Not that such a thing was unusual in a house of 5 girls and an overly excitable mother.
However, what was unusual was the urgency in Mr. Bennet and the three gentlemen he lead into his library.
So it was with little regard that the two remaining Bennet sisters in the household found themselves quickly ushered out of the way. Unfazed at being dismissed in such a manner and seemingly uninterested in the happenings around her, Mary simply donned her bonnet and pulled her sister from the chaos surrounding them.
Kitty on the other hand was captivated by the scene unfolding before her eyes. She strained her ears as she peered behind her, hoping to catch some sort of clue to the happenings. Her efforts were rewarded when she saw her mother clutch at her chest and exclaim about her nerves. Sadly, the slam of the front door cut off any further useful information her mother may shout.
At the stern countenance of Mary, Kitty frowned; how her sister could be so unaffected she would never know! Clearly the situation was to be found fascinating!
From the little snippets of hushed conversation between the men, Kitty gathered the fuss had to do with Lydia. Kitty was unsurprised, for where Lydia went, shock and gossip tended to follow. She also was not surprised to hear Mr. Wickham's name involved. Lydia's letters had been all too eager to describe in detail to Kitty how the many soldiers were falling over themselves for Lydia's favor, and that she had deemed Mr. Wickham as a favorite of hers.
However, she could not fathom what the detestable Mr. Darcy had to do with the situation and why he was attending her father at this very moment. If only Mary had not been so quick to pull her from the house, for she may have learned even more! If there was one thing Kitty hated, it was being excluded- and with Lydia's smug letters chronicling her every adventure, that was all Kitty had felt recently.
Kitty felt her mood darken as she thought of the last few weeks. She still could not believe that she had been abandoned here while her younger sister was enjoying the pleasures of the militia! What's worse, she had been left with no entertainment beyond the preaching of Mary and the nerves of her mother.
It did not seem fair that while she was wasting away in the country, Lydia would have some grand adventure and with the dashing Mr. Wickham!
Oh how she envied her younger sister. To have such a handsome and charming soldier calling on her! Not that Kitty was likely to receive such attention; Lydia had always made sure to point such a fact out. It was a cruel thing for her sister to say, but Kitty found as much as the thought pained her, she could not argue with it. Her plain light brown hair could not compare to the chestnut locks of both Lizzy and Lydia, nor did she have Jane's lovely eyes; her own being a rather boring greenish gray. It was no wonder she had never been able to entrance men like 3 of her sisters had done so often.
Kitty huffed to herself, feeling herself wilt under such thoughts. Mary gave her a stern look and gestured to the group of women walking around the bend. She knew she was expected to hurry her stride and catch up to the other ladies, but found herself dragging her feet.
She couldn't bear to be faced with Miss Scott and Miss Lucus, not when she knew they would expect her to recount all of Lydia's triumphs.
Pasting a grimace on her face, one that she found was more sincere than she would have wished; Kitty pulled her sister to a stop. "I seem to have a pebble in my slipper, do go on without me for I shall be a moment and you don't want to lose our dear friends."
Sensible and shrewd as she was, Mary eyed her sister with skepticism. However no fight was to be had. It seemed Mary was not in the mood for a sisterly battle of wills today as she simply nodded and hurried to catch up to the other group. "Don't be long."
Kitty waited until her sister was out of sight before quickly looking around and walking off the path in the direction of a nearby stream.
In a pique of rebellion, Kitty slipped off her stockings and shimmied out of her dress, leaving her only in her shift as she splashed in the cool water. It was an odd sort of thrill to be so daring, even if no one would know of it. Still, it soothed her heart that she too could have adventures just like her younger sister.
Mr. Darcy was known as many things; an excellent and very wealthy business man, a good guardian, and a loyal friend. Although to be fair, in some areas such as the county he was currently in, his listed attributes were far less flattering. Still, no matter where he was, it was hard to argue with the fact that Mr. Darcy was known as a good horseman and capable owner. Which was why at this very moment, Mr. Darcy felt sudden guilt while riding his clearly fatigued thoroughbred.
The poor creature had been put through the paces with a rapid race to London, then back to Meryton with little rest and even less care from its master. He had not thought to ask the staff of Longbourn to tend his horse, too distracted by the urgency of his mission and, Darcy was loathe to admit, too heart sick being in the home of the woman he adored. He had called off when asked to partake in a meal before his leave, opting to escape the surroundings so touched by Miss Elizabeth and left his cousin and Mr. Gardiner to the care of their clearly grateful hosts.
It wasn't until after he was already mounted and out of sight from the house did Mr. Darcy take his poor horse into consideration. With a sigh, he altered directions and made for the stream he recalled from his previous visit to Meryton.
Reaching the babbling water, Mr. Darcy leapt down and allowed the thirsty animal to approach the stream ahead of him. Before he could so much as sit down by the water's edge, there was a startled cry and Mr. Darcy found himself looking at the panic stricken face of Miss Elizabeth's younger sister.
His eyes widened as he took in her lack of attire before quickly being averted to look at the tree across the stream.
How a young lady found herself so exposed and in such a public place, Darcy would never know. It was shocking that a young lady should display such abandon for herself and society!
He was not sure why he should be so surprised though, as his only recollections of the Bennet sister before him were of the occasions he saw her at balls as she ran wild with Lydia Bennet; both girls giggling and succeeding in making spectacles of themselves in the company of the soldiers. He already knew of the scandalous behavior her younger sister had already partaken in, so of course the other silly girl should attempt to follow!
It was moments like these that Darcy found difficult to reconcile his feelings with a woman that had such an uncouth and disgraceful family. How Miss Elizabeth was borne from these people, he would never know.
"Where pray tell are your clothes?" Voice strained with disapproval, Darcy kept his eyes trained on the tree as he awaited her answer. He was tempted to ask many other questions though; did she have no common decency? Where was her chaperone? What in the world did she think she was doing? For now though, he settled on the most pressing issue at hand.
"I-I was swimming..." Her voice sounded weak even to her own ears. Kitty felt as if her cheeks were on fire as she ineffectively tried to cover herself. Her thin shift did little to preserve her modesty and now thoroughly wet was barely any concealment at all. To her horror, she realized she might as well have been naked for how much was revealed! She wished she could simply run past the horrid man and make her escape, however her clothes were too far to reach, especially with an audience. "They're b-by your horse."
Swiftly turning on his heel, Darcy grabbed the items in question and thrust his arm towards her, eyes never turning to her direction.
Of course, fate was not in the mood to be kind today and before Kitty could take offered clothing, a loud gasp filled the tense silence.
Both heads whipped towards the sound, hearts filling with dread as four sets of stunned eyes took in the tawdry scene before them.
