And the first two chapters are posted! Enjoy!
The whole situation was mortifying. She was currently pacing the floor of the sitting room closest to her father's study, as her father had told her to stay nearby. The men were discussing 'the incident'. Kitty wished Sir William had been with his wife. He was so easy going; he would have seen the broken branch and took their story for the truth it was. However, it had been Lady Lucas and Maria alone who had come across them in their carriage, and neither claimed to have seen the fall, but they had certainly seen her sitting on Mr. Andrews. She blushed at the thought. Oh, why didn't he just leave like she asked? Why did she have to climb that tree in the first place?!
Just as had began to focus on not crying, Mr. Andrews open the door of her father's study and stepped out.
"You father wishes to speak to you."
His face had been blank since they had been discovered. She couldn't say he had ever been very expressive, though smiles were not completely uncommon on him, but she wished she knew a least a little of what he was thinking. She made her way to her father's study.
"Shut the door, Kitty." Her father looked weary. Shutting the door, she did as he bade and took a seat in front of his desk. He was quiet for a few moments before leaning back and focusing his eyes on her. "What were you doing in a tree, Kitty?"
Unable to stop herself in her flustered state, she began to fidget with her hands. "I… I was still angry with Lydia and I, I wanted to be alone and I didn't want anyone to find me."
"Yet you were found none the less," he quipped tiredly.
"I am sorry, Papa! I didn't mean for anything to happen! It was silly, I know…"
His eyes flashed. "You spend entirely too much of your time being silly!"
"Papa…" she began to plead.
"Do you realize what could have happened?!" he shouted. "If Mr. Andrews hadn't been nearby, you could have severely injured yourself. But that is not the real issue we are facing. You should be thankful Mr. Andrews is an honorable gentleman."
"What do you mean?" she managed, her chest tight.
"Kitty, I know you are naïve, but surely you are not completely ignorant. Lady Lucas found you in a very compromising position; a position a lady should never be found in, especially with a man she is not married to. Lady Lucas will not keep this to herself. You must marry Mr. Andrews."
Kitty suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe. Marry Mr. Andrews?! She didn't notice her father get up from his chair to come to her side. She didn't hear him call for Mrs. Hill. All she knew was that she couldn't breathe and she was getting married.
Oliver stood in the foyer near Mr. Bennet's study. He knew the moment he realized the position they were found in that he would have to marry the girl. Even knowing it was an accident, and that she hadn't intended to entrap him, he was still angry. This was never supposed to happen to him; he wasn't even ready to marry. At twenty-five, he had only been managing Dalton for the past two years, since his father's passing. How was he supposed to explain this to his grandmother?
He was brought from his thoughts by the door swinging open.
"Mrs. Hill! I need your assistance. Please bring Mrs. Bennet's salts," called Mr. Bennet. Andrews looked past to see Miss Catherine looking very ill and hyperventilating.
"Is she alright?" he asked as he rushed towards the father and daughter. Before he made it to them, he watched as her eyes roll back and she fell forward into her father. Mr. Bennet picked her up and carried her to a settee. She looked very pale. The housekeeper hurried into the room with a bottle in her hands. Mr. Bennet took it and waved it in front of her face. The other sister, Miss Mary, came into the room.
"Papa?"
"Not now, Mary." The young woman came and stood near him, worried eyes on her sister. Miss Catherine's eyes fluttered open, but they were soon filled with panic.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Miss Catherine chanted.
"Calm down, Kitty," Mr. Bennet soothed, "it's alright. We'll finish talking later. Mary, take your sister to her room and see to it that she is settled, please."
The young women left, leaving the gentlemen alone. Mr. Bennet sat upon the settee and sighed.
Feeling awkward, Oliver thought it best he take his leave. "Mr. Bennet, I will go and speak with the minister directly about a license. If you and your daughter agree, we can marry early Monday morning. I think it best to then take Miss Catherine directly to my home in Nottinghamshire."
"If that is your wish," the man answered tiredly. "Lady Lucas has, undoubtedly, begun to spread her tale throughout the neighborhood. It would be best for Kitty if we can quickly curb the gossip."
Oliver bowed and headed out to his horse. A quick stop at the church to make arrangements, and he was headed back to Netherfield. He passed the Bennet's carriage on his way out. The two curious faces made him glad he was able to leave when he did. That was one conversation he did not want to be a part of.
He took his time making his way back, avoiding the main roads, then he remembered the gleam in the eye of Lady Lucas. As Mr. Bennet said, she would be sure to pass the story around as quickly as possible. This caused him to quicken his horse's pace. He would not take the chance that the gossip wouldn't beat him to Netherfield.
He handed the reigns to the groom and made his way into the house and towards his friends study. He was thankful to find both men in the room. Without greeting either man, he went to his friend's cabinet and poured himself a drink.
"Andrews," said Bingley, "what's the matter?"
"Everything." He began to share his tale.
"So, now you must marry her," stated Darcy.
"Yes," Oliver held his close friend's eyes. "There is no other choice. I could never live with the knowledge that I had been a part of the ruination of a family and did nothing to stop it. As angry as I am, she is not to blame."
"You're absolutely sure it wasn't set up?" asked Darcy.
Oliver stared at him incredulously. "I hardly believe she climbed in a tree hoping I, or any gentleman, would just happen by her. It was by chance that I noticed her at all. I had to move closer to see that it was a woman, and closer still to identify the lady. No, this was not by her design."
"When?" wondered Bingley aloud.
"Monday morning. Afterwards, I shall take her to Dalton. I regret that I shall not be able to stay as long as I intended," he smiled mirthlessly.
Bingley's reciprocated smile held pity. "Under the circumstances, you are forgiven."
"I am not sure you should continue with the ball, Bingley," said Darcy.
"What ball?" asked Andrews.
"While you were acquiring a wife, Bingley was convinced by Miss Lydia Bennet to throw a ball."
"I see no reason not to continue with it," defended Bingley. "There will be no scandal once Andrews and Miss Catherine marry, and the ball will likely take the attention away from any lingering gossip. And, I did promise to hold one at some point. Better to do it now and take some attention away from Andrews and his bride."
Oliver smiled his thanks, and Darcy reluctantly agreed. "Now, what should we do about the Bennet sisters who are currently residing in this house?"
"Miss Bennet is not quite well enough to leave, but I am sure she and Miss Elizabeth would like to know what has happened, since it concerns their family," said Bingley.
"I doubt it is our place to inform them of the matter."
"Perhaps not," began Oliver, "but considering the parties involved are their younger sister and myself, I hardly think it would be right for us to act as though nothing is amiss."
"Blast!" Bingley stood quickly in alarm. "Caroline is always asking the maids about the latest gossip in the neighborhood. She will know of this by tomorrow at the latest."
The men groaned. They agreed that it would be best if Bingley told his sisters about what had happened, before they received a skewed tale from another source. Andrews excused himself to ready for his trip to Town.
