Over the next two days Lord Matlock took the rounds of Pemberley with Darcy. He also met with Darcy's steward over several productive sessions. Lord Matlock left each feeling more confident he could meet with his own steward Mr. Higgins, and have a reasonable understanding of his estate. He had the feeling his life was finally moving in a positive direction after a year of grief, waste and excess.

Kitty helped Elizabeth and Georgiana with ball preparations over the next few days. A seamstress came and the ladies had their gown final fittings. Georgiana's gown was as beautiful as she'd described it. It seemed the Darcy's were looking on this ball as a pre-coming out for Georgiana, and the seventeen year old was looking forward to it with delight. Kitty could not help but notice that Elizabeth's gown seemed a bit tight. She figured it would be hard to keep a slim figure with a gourmet cook in residence. She mentally made note to not overindulge once she became a countess. She fleetingly rejoiced at her sister's weight gain, thinking perhaps Lord Matlock preferred slim women. But she put the thought out of her mind. Kitty wasn't a conniving or mean girl. She just generally felt overlooked within her family and was grasping to be somehow better than Elizabeth.

At meals, and cards in the evening Kitty paid close attention to how Lord Matlock treated Elizabeth. She did not see any preference between them, and began to wonder if she had heard correctly through the door that night. Her mind would have been almost entirely set at ease, except that Lord Matlock did not pay her any particular preference either. She secretly hoped for another stolen kiss, a quick wink, some token of affection, but there were none to be had. Upon reflection she realized they had not even been left alone together. Unbeknownst to her, Darcy had discussed Lord Matlock's description of Kitty's "eagerness" with Elizabeth and they had decided to thwart off any further scandal.

So, it was not until the morning of the day her parents were set to arrive that Kitty and Lord Matlock found themselves in the breakfast parlor alone for ten whole minutes. The happy accident was through a miss-communication between Darcy and Elizabeth, who each believed the other to be chaperoning.

Lord Matlock found Kitty eating alone when he entered the breakfast parlor and he sat down with his usual casual air next to her. He smiled and told her, "I'm happy to have a few minutes alone with you Miss Bennet."

"And I you. I have something I want to discuss."

Lord Matlock looked at the lone footman and said, "Some fresh coffee please." When the footman left he looked back to Kitty, "By all means, please, go ahead."

"Well, you see. I don't believe you've met my mother. Other than at the wedding of course, and I don't think that brief meeting would give you the correct impression of her personality." She paused and looked at him for an indication to continue, he gave her a slight nod and so encouraged she went on. "I hoped that Mr. Darcy had warned you. But I think perhaps his decency has prevented him from complaining to you. "

"He's not discussed your mother with me, no."

"Well you see, she is rather sensitive. And excitable. I fear she might react…overwhelmingly to the news of our engagement."

"Well you certainly speak boldly of your mother Kitty!" He teased.

"I see you're not taking this seriously, and must think I'm over exaggerating. But if she does react embarrassingly I hope you will remember this conversation. Please believe me when I say I've spent the past year trying to separate myself from my mother, my sister Lydia and the faults of both."

Gently he touched the top of her hand before replying, "I'm sure if she raised such lovely woman it can't be as bad as you describe. Besides I was an army man for almost ten years. An excitable mother will not scare me!"

"You're quite confident Lord Matlock." Kitty responded, appreciating his compliment and knowing she said as much as she could. She thought though, that even an Army Colonel would cow down during an attack of her mother's poor nerves.