Elizabeth and Kitty were packed and ready to go before breakfast was even served. Lizzie's sister was so excited she could barely eat anything, but neither of them needed to worry…there would be a sumptuous basket of food waiting in the carriage when they began their trek. The first stop was Netherfield; a very short trip, but Jane was thrilled beyond words that they thought to stop by for a quick visit and some small talk. "Kitty, you look wonderful – so healthy and grown up!" she gushed as they embraced.
"Oh Janie, I owe you and Lizzie so much! Thank you for meeting with Dennis, and even more so for liking him."
"Now Kitty, I explained to you that this is planned for a good reason. We do need the help for the long family visit, and we also wanted you to have a chance to get out from under Mother's wings for a time. Of course, Mr. Reynolds is welcome to visit you whenever his obligations allow, and you must understand when he is unable to cater to your wishes." She glanced at Jane, who was nodding in agreement.
"Neither of you must worry about me! I learned so much from watching Lydia and her outrageous behavior, and I can assure you that Mr. Reynolds is nothing like Mr. Wickham! I promise to take it slowly, and my beau has told me quite seriously that he intends to do the same. I fell in love with him moments after we met. So charming and polite, and he called me Miss Katherine; treating me as an adult from day one. So tell me, Janie, is there something we can do to help you before we leave for Pemberley?"
Jane brought them up to date on the progress being made at Netherfield. Everything was going smoothly, and the servants were all quite thrilled with the move. Charles had eased up on them a bit, and they had responded positively. "Darcy has been a very good influence on my husband. The house staff and I genuinely like and respect each other. They are almost as nice as your servants, Lizzie! Of course Miss Caroline is having a fit over it, and cannot wait until Charles returns so that she can complain to him about it. Still, she is quite thrilled to be moving into the mansion at Derbyshire and is well aware that she must not overstep or she will not be living there."
"Did Charles have time to mention the invitation to his sisters," asked Lizzie.
"Yes indeed, he did. Unfortunately, Mrs. Hurst had already accepted an invitation to her deceased husband's family home. She said she would probably be there only a few days, and that she will come later if that is all right with you. Miss Caroline came up with a long list of requirements and said she would have to discuss it with her brother before making a decision. I am quite certain she will accept – especially when she learns that Lady Catherine is going to attend!"
"I am devastated that Mrs. Hurst may not be there. She does a fine job of calming her snooty sister when she gets out of hand," commented Lizzie. "If you need nothing from us, I think we should be leaving. I would like to get home before darkness has fallen. And I dare say that our Kitty has probably been creating the perfect invitation to send to Parson Reynolds as soon as we get there." As Kitty dashed off to the carriage, carrying yet another basket of food for them to share on the way home, Lizzie hugged Jane and whispered, "I think I see a change in her already!" Hugs and good-byes and off they went, to set their plans in motion.
The journey was long, and the girls chatted for a while about Lizzie's honeymoon and life as Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Kitty updated her on the local gossip, the newest disagreement between their mother and her sister, and talked about her nephew and niece that had come to visit with Lydia when her wayward husband had disappeared yet again for several weeks. " You just missed her, in fact. The children are really quite lovely, and the baby is so good and adorable. Everyone will want to hold her and play with her. Her brother is another story…quite an armful considering he is barely two years old!" she said as she snuggled into Elizabeth's arms. And with that they both drifted off and slept almost all the way to Pemberley.