Title: Two Brothers
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Sir Felix and Bertram belong to me.
Summary: The visit of two brothers to Pemberley has the potential for romance.
Chapter Nine
"London, Felix," Bertram said as he stuck his head out of the carriage.
"So you have kept saying for the past two weeks and the entire journey," Sir Felix said. He had been pretending to be asleep in the hope it would stop Bertram from commenting on everything he saw through the window. It had not worked. It had been tiresome for him to spend the past few days in a carriage with an overexcited Bertram and no means of escape. He had almost 'forgotten' him a number of times at the inns they had stayed at. "I am not likely to forget where we are going."
"No, Felix. I mean really London. We are approaching it," Bertram said. He did think his brother was unfairly annoyed with him. He would soon be seeing Kitty for the first time in nearly three weeks. Naturally he was eager to get to Town. She was waiting for him, she had written and told him so.
"At last!" Sir Felix exclaimed. "How much do I need to bribe you to go out this evening?" he asked, entirely serious.
"I am invited to the Darcys anyway," Bertram replied sounding slightly hurt. "So I shall not be bothering you."
"Good," Sir Felix said. "Otherwise your intended may find herself a widow before she is even married."
"You are being unfair," Bertram protested. He could withstand Sir Felix's teasing but this was undertaken with complete seriousness and it was instances like this when his brother could be almost cruel. "And that is impossible anyway. She would need to be married first."
"Of course. How silly of me to forget," Sir Felix said sardonically.
"I hate you in this mood," Bertram said. "Do not make me suffer because you dislike travelling." Sir Felix was always the same when they went on long journeys. He reckoned it was because it meant that his brother had to be polite and obliging to the strangers they met.
Sir Felix looked at his brother and saw how upset he was. It was very different to the ecstatic Bertram he had been used to for the past few weeks and he felt a twinge of guilt. Bertram really should not be on the receiving end of his bad tempers. He often forgot that his brother was influenced greatly by his moods. He like a child still in that way. That would change, though, when he married. He had noticed Bertram had started to challenge him lately, which he had rarely done before. He was starting to become more mature then.
"Bertram, you really must learn to ignore me in these moods. You are no stranger to them by now," he said, "But you do see that I will be bad company tonight."
"You are always bad company," Bertram said, slightly placated, "It is fortunate for me that I am able to seek out better company now we are in London." He stuck his head out of the window. "We are here. I can see the townhouse." He then turned to smile at his brother. "It shall make a fine home for Kitty and I."
"Sir Felix and Mr Calder have arrived," Elizabeth said to Mary. They were sat alone in a room in the Darcy townhouse. Kitty was being held captive with Mrs Bennet and a pile of fabric samples. Kitty had found their mother possessed a plethora of ideas for a wedding dress and she had sat through her explanations of some of them but there were still many more to come. Georgiana was with them; Kitty had begged her to remain with them. As dresses were the main topic of discussion Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy were taking refuge in the latter's study. Elizabeth and Mary had likewise escaped. "Mr Calder will call upon us this evening."
"With Sir Felix?" Mary asked.
"No," Elizabeth replied. "He is to remain at home."
Mary caught the enquiring look on her sister's face, "I wished to discover his opinion on a book, that is all."
Elizabeth did not believe her. There were members of her family that would satisfy her need to talk about books. Sir Felix was not the only person she knew who read widely. "You can admit to liking him, Mary. There is nothing sinister about him. We would not censure you."
"I enjoy his company, yes. We have similar interests," Mary said but did not elaborate any further. She was not going to gossip about it as if it was a strange and novel idea to find someone you could relate to. "So I am unbothered by the fact that he is not to accompany his brother tonight. I am in no hurry to see him."
Elizabeth suppressed a smile. She had not said anything about Mary being upset that Sir Felix was not to come. This unnecessary protesting from Mary was only succeeding in proving that she liked him.
"Mr Calder will also stay for dinner." Elizabeth said. She felt it would not be wise to pursue the conversation about Sir Felix.
"Kitty will like that," Mary said.
"Yes. I am glad that Kitty is marrying someone like Mr Calder," Elizabeth said. Now Kitty was engaged to someone of good reputation a worry was removed from the minds of various parties. "I was afraid she would fall for another Mr Wickham."
"Kitty has developed some sense now she has been isolated from Lydia's influence," Mary said. "It is to her credit. Will Mr and Mrs Wickham be invited to the wedding?"
"I am not certain." Elizabeth replied. That was a difficult issue for many reasons. "Mr Wickham's presence is so loathsome to Mr Darcy and it would not be fair on Georgiana if she was to see him. We can only hope Lydia can attend alone. It will make things easier."
"Mamma will want to see her," Mary observed.
"Yes and we cannot refuse her that," Elizabeth said. Their mother had been unusually patient in asking that Lydia should visit. There had been little melodramatics and declarations about 'poor Lydia'. Perhaps Mr Wickham could be persuaded to stay away for the wedding. Once Kitty was married she and Mr Calder would choose whether they would receive the Wickhams in their house. Their mother could freely visit Lydia then. "I am sure it will all work out well. Come Mary, we must dress for Mr Calder's visit."
"This is as alone as we will get," Kitty said. Bertram had come but she had not been able to welcome him properly yet. Her family would not leave them be. There was always someone nearby. She was sure it was worse now they were engaged. However now it was after dinner they had settled down for the evening and Kitty had secretly persuaded Georgiana to play the pianoforte as a distraction. Everyone else was listening to her so she had cornered Bertram on some chairs at the end of the room.
"Be grateful Felix is not here then. He does not care whether he would look rude by not paying attention. He would watch us like a hawk instead," he said stealthily giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Nobody saw?"
"No but Papa is looking now," Kitty said as she saw him glance over. "How much do you think we could get away with?"
"Little unfortunately," Bertram replied, "See, now Mr Darcy is looking." He smiled serenely at him whilst carefully taking hold of her hand so nobody could tell what he was doing. Kitty smoothly placed her open fan, which she held in her other hand, over their joined hands as if it was a completely natural movement. "I have missed you."
"And I you," Kitty said. "You look well." Bertram now seemed to be properly recovered from his illness. He must be for Sir Felix to allow him to travel. "Though you are still very pale." She had been anxious to see him again so she could witness with her own eyes that he had returned to his usual good health. She was happy to see he had lost the gaunt look he had had on the day of his proposal.
"That is completely normal for me," he replied. "Felix has always been more worried when I am not so pale. You look very beautiful tonight, Kitty."
"I feel beautiful. Is that not a strange thing to say?" she asked but she had noticed she had felt different ever since that day. She decided it was love. It had to be, naturally, but proper love this time not the childish emotions she had felt with the officers from the militia. "I think I am bridal. I want to flaunt you, you know."
"Likewise. How much persuading do you think our families will need to attend assemblies?"
"Very little, actually," Kitty replied. "We have a whole stock of potential escorts. Among them is Mamma who will always be willing to take us. She longs to attend assemblies in Town. I wish we knew more people in Town, though, who go to these places," she said. They were decidedly deficient in people they could call upon. Mr Darcy knew people and there were Mr Bingley's sisters but Kitty did not find any of those appealing. Mr Darcy's acquaintances were bound to be boring, she thought, and Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst would never deign themselves to associate with her.
"My Aunt and Uncle Bentley will be knowledgeable on that sort of thing, especially Aunt Bentley," Bertram said. They would have to call upon them anyway to introduce them to Kitty. "My cousin Helena attends assemblies regularly."
"She was supposed to marry you, I think you said," Kitty remarked. She did not much like the idea of socialising with her.
"Partly. Aunt Bentley wished me, or hopefully Felix, to marry Helena. Helena is not that bothered whom she marries, he just needs to have a generous sized fortune," Bertram replied. "Helena is harmless. She will be decent company for you but not good friend material like Miss Darcy. However, I do not think you will dislike her. She is just very silly and giggly."
"What is she like? Is she pretty?" Kitty asked.
"Yes in a superficial way. Blue eyes and blonde ringlets. Nice to look at but little going on inside. She is a huge gossip though," Bertram said. "She is like a butterfly, I suppose, a very social butterfly and she will think you wonderful. Aunt Bentley, however, will dislike you and hate Mary. Simply because your presences makes my brother and I unavailable."
"We shall introduce her to Mamma then," Kitty said.
"I would take your mother over Aunt Bentley any day," Bertram said. He did not like his aunt but Mrs Bennet obviously adored him. She helped fill the mother-shaped gap in his life somewhat. "My aunt is evil, very, very evil."
"Hello Papa," Kitty said suddenly. Her father had appeared beside them.
Bertram looked at him and blushed. It was not exactly polite of him to describe his aunt that way amongst strangers. He smiled guiltily then protested, "She is, Mr Bennet, truly."
"As you like," Mr Bennet was unbothered by it anyway though was intrigued at what this 'very evil' woman was like. "Miss Darcy has finished playing. Are the lovebird going to grace us with their presence or carry on billing and cooing all night?"
"Coming, Papa," Kitty said and they stood up. They had managed some time alone together at least.
"Aunt Bentley," Bertram heard his brother's voice through the open doorway of the sitting room as he descended the stairs. His eyes widened in alarm. He had heard a servant show somebody in and hoped it was a certain Bennet. This, however, was something completely different. He turned on his heel and hurried back upstairs as quietly as he could.
Sir Felix pricked his ears up at the sound of footsteps disappearing quickly and looked at his aunt. She did not appear to have heard it though. He debated whether to drag his dear brother back down to face her with him or whether that would be too unkind.
"Where is Bertram?" Aunt Bentley asking, making him wonder whether she had heard. She was an interesting-looking woman. She was not finely dressed but had very aristocratic air. Mr Bentley was a lawyer and he was a successful one at that. His family did not want for anything due to a lucky inheritance but he could not compete with the very rich. In spite of that his wife held herself like a duchess. She felt it was only right she should do so. If not for her sister, she would have married the baronet and be titled.
"Resting, Aunt Bentley," he replied. It would be too cruel and he was feeling rather caring towards his brother today. "Did you receive the letter I sent some weeks ago telling you my brother was ill?"
"Yes but I expected him to be recovered by now," she replied looking suspicious. It had not escaped her notice that Bertram had been unusually fond of the outdoors the last time she had visited Grantholme. She had only excused it then because Helena had taken to going with him.
"He still tires easily," Sir Felix lied. If Bertram was tired it was only because he had returned late from the Darcy's. "I would prefer it if he is not disturbed. I do not wish to compromise his health, you understand."
"If it must be," she sounded annoyed. "I did wish to talk to him. Who is this Bennet girl?"
"You mean Miss Catherine Bennet," Sir Felix replied, suddenly feeling rather protective of his future sister-in-law. "She is the girl who Bertram is in love with."
"I know who she is," Aunt Bentley said making Sir Felix wonder why she had asked before. "Her sisters snared Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley last year."
"If you mean she is the sister of Mrs Darcy and Mrs Bingley that is correct," Sir Felix was at the point of losing his temper. He knew where this was going to lead.
"Another little fortune hunter then," Aunt Bentley said in disgust. "After Bertram's money."
"Aunt Bentley, please!" Sir Felix protested. It was becoming difficult to keep calm in the face of his aunt's hypocrisy. When the time came for his cousin to marry she would be 'guilty' of the same thing as Kitty.
"Felix, it was your duty to ensure Bertram made a good match. This girl is not suitable," she said but decided against describing her as a 'nobody'. She was well aware that Helena could be accused of the same thing.
"Miss Catherine loves my brother and makes him very happy. She is a perfect match," Sir Felix said warmly. "It has my full approval."
"You have our family to think of and the reputation," his aunt told him.
"'Our' family, madam? You are related to Calders due only to the marriage of your sister," Sir Felix reminded her though he knew it would probably be a mistake. It was never wise to remind his aunt that her sister married Sir Wilfrid Calder and not her.
She went an unbecoming shade of red. "She has a sister, I think, this Miss Catherine. I believe you should be on your guard. It seems these Miss Bennets consider eligible gentlemen suitable prey."
"I thank you for the warning," he smiled dangerously, "But please desist from insulting my family."
Now she resembled a tomato. "Felix, I must go," his aunt said, "I shall return in a few days. I hope you will be more amiable then and you brother sufficiently recovered."
"Yes, Aunt Bentley," he bowed then turned to a nearby servant. "Please show my aunt out."
He waited for her to go then went to the foot of the stairs, " BERTRAAAM!" he yelled up them.
Bertram appeared behind him. "Here, Felix."
"When did you sneak down?" Sir Felix asked.
"A little while ago. I was hungry. I heard what she said about Kitty. Thank you for defending her. I promise not to hide next time," he looked contrite as he said this.
"I forgive you, Bertie," Sir Felix said. "I think Aunt Bentley would be inclined to be more offensive towards Kitty had you been there." He noticed Bertram was dressed for outside. "Are you away?"
"To see Mrs Bennet. She sent for me. She wishes to talk about wedding matters," he replied. Of course there was the added bonus of a potential sighting of Kitty.
"Goodbye then," Sir Felix smiled.
"Mrs Bennet?" Bertram said as he entered the room she was in. She smiled when she saw him and eagerly beckoned him towards her. He crossed the room and bowed.
"Oh never mind that!" she exclaimed, "Come, sit down!" He took a seat next to her.
"You wanted to see me," she said.
"Yes. We need to decide what you are to wear," she told him. It was all part of her plan for the perfect wedding. Bertram's oufit had to be organised just as much as Kitty's did.
"A suit, Mrs Bennet?" Bertram said, smiling.
"No, silly boy!" she said, affectionately. "The colours. Black is always sensible."
"Not black, Mrs Bennet," he said. "I am too pale for black. I look like a corpse in black."
"Mr Calder, you cannot say that! You are very handsome," she protested. "I cannot believe you look bad in anything. You wore brown at the ball, I remember?"
"Yes, it is my safe choice," he replied. "That or dark blue."
"Dark blue may work, yes," Mrs Bennet said, deep in thought. "Yes. Your cravat and waistcoat much match, of course."
"Of course, Mrs Bennet," Bertram said. He was enjoying himself. "How about different shades of blue?" he asked.
"Yes, I like that. No! Cream, Mr Calder," she said. "That would look very fine, I think." She frowned, "But perhaps not. Does your brother have a good tailor?" she asked.
"Yes, the best, madam. My brother is very particular about his clothes," Bertram said.
"We will pay your tailor a visit. I will come, of course," she said, not caring what Mr Bennet might think to it. Nothing would stand in her way of the pursuit of perfection for this wedding. "Oh such a handsome boy," she sighed looking at him. 'Poor motherless lad,' she thought to herself. "That is enough for today, I think. Let us find your beloved." They both stood and Bertram offered his arm to her. She took it and they went to find Kitty.