"Mama, visitors are coming up the path! A few of the militia have come to call." Kitty exclaimed as she hurried from the window to take her seat and resume her embroidery. Jane and Georgiana had attempted teaching her how to stich neatly, however, she had not quite learned the patience required.
"This is a compliment to you, Kitty, for they are aware Mr. Bingley is courting Jane. He ought to be here soon as well. He is such a faithful suitor! When Lydia returns married, we shall be such a merry party."
Jane blushed. "Mama, you know we cannot speak of such things. We cannot be certain she will marry. If she does not," She paused, unable to think of what happened if they all were ruined. Mr. Bingley had been kept in the dark about Lydia's elopement, which turned out for the best when they learned Mr. Wickham would not marry Lydia. His place in society was tenuous at best, being only the first generation not to work directly in a factory. Since they were only courting, it would not be too improper for him to abandon her should her family sink into ruin.
Elizabeth's relationship was more solid. The settlement papers had been signed and the engagement had been announced. Not to mention Mr. Darcy's rank in society was almost as firm as could be, being nephew to an earl. The ruin would not destroy the Darcy reputation nearly as much as Mr. Bingley would suffer.
"Oh, la! Surely Mr. Denny will marry Lydia, and if he will not, Mr. Darcy will find someone suitable. I hope Mr. Denny has sent word. I should like to welcome him to the family, but no more of that now, ladies. I hear their footsteps. Mary, Kitty, pinch your cheeks. You still have no suitors. This has been such a lovely summer."
Mary and Kitty did not need to pinch their cheeks, such was their mortification at their mother's words. Georgiana smiled demurely as she enjoyed the mortifying yet endearing conversations she had never experienced. Despite Mrs. Bennet's seemingly endless matchmaking, she very clearly loved her daughters.
Mrs. Hill entered and announced the gentlemen. No letter came from Mr. Denny, for he was first to enter the room, and after proper greetings, he claimed the seat between Jane and Kitty. With a shy glance at Kitty, he announced that the roads from London were clean, causing his return to be uneventful. After a short pause that might have been awkward had anyone noticed his unease, he produced and distributed the letters from Elizabeth and Lydia.
Kitty watched Jane carefully tuck her letter in her pocket and followed suit. She had learned much from Jane since Lydia's elopement. The event had opened her eyes to the dangers of improper behavior. Jane had been very clear how close their reputations had come to ruin. Without Lydia's influence, and with knowledge of how horrible Lydia's elopement had been, she decided Jane and Georgiana were much better examples of proper decorum. As such, she nearly always looked to them when she attempted to behave properly.
Mrs. Bennet, however, could not care for propriety and hastily opened her letter and began reading aloud. Jane blushed anew in mortification and prayed Lizzy had written nothing too revealing. Thankfully, the letter was very short and to the purpose. Once she finished, Kitty and Georgiana leapt from their seats to embrace.
"We shall be sisters soon!" They exclaimed in unison before they realized they still had company, causing Georgiana to turn white in mortification while Kitty blushed again. Kitty, worried she might be ill, took Georgiana's arm and announced that they should like to take a turn about the garden. Not wishing to be rude, she turned to Mr. Denny and invited his party to join them.
Mr. Denny was more than thrilled at the invitation, so Jane led the group sedately to the foyer so that everyone could don their outerwear. Mr. Chamberlayne claimed Jane's hand for their walk, allowing Mr. Denny to claim Kitty's hand. Georgiana never released Kitty, so Mr. Denny escorted both outside while his two friends walked behind, utterly bored with the situation since the path would only admit three together.
Georgiana and Kitty squealed together as they exclaimed how happy Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy must be. This led to them peppering Mr. Denny for details about how the couple had behaved in London.
Mr. Denny, glad to have Kitty's attention, attempted to faithfully explain each interaction at Darcy house while avoiding his interactions with Lydia. Thankfully, Georgiana and Kitty had very nearly forgotten about Lydia's plight in their excitement for Lizzy.
While he was describing his final dinner in London, Mr. Bingley arrived on horseback, so the party turned their steps towards the stable. When he joined them, Mr. Bingley claimed Jane's hand, forcing Mr. Chamberlayne to step back. Annoyed but understanding Mr. Bingley's claim to Jane, he announced that they ought to be returning to Meryton. His friends departed with him, although Mr. Denny declared he would return after escorting the ladies inside.
This allowed Mr. Bingley a chance to lead Jane farther ahead so that he might speak to her with more privacy while Mr. Denny continued to speak with Kitty and Georgiana.
"I am so happy for my brother." Georgiana finally said. "He deserves someone as wonderful as Lizzy." After a pause, she seemed to come out of her dream. "We shall have to begin planning the flowers." She looked around the garden. There were quite a few roses and daisies in bloom around her. "We cannot cut the flowers until we know for sure when they will return, but we can prepare ribbons and plan which flowers will be best. The church must be beautiful for their special day!"
"I hope I meet a man I should like to marry!" Kitty blurted out before she gasped as she realized what she had said. Jane had been firm that she should not speak of marriage unless her company began such a conversation.
Mr. Denny blushed, "I hope you do as well." He took a deep breath before he added, "I am certain you will be beloved by whomever you choose to marry."
Kitty blushed and thanked him. Georgiana, feeling the discomfort emanating from Mr. Denny, felt certain there was a miscommunication of some sort and decided to move the conversation to safer ground and asked if he knew when Elizabeth and Lydia might return.
Looking ahead to see that Bingley was well out of earshot, Mr. Denny responded, "That has not been determined. There is no need to rush Miss Lydia into a marriage, however, it is also unwise for her to return to Meryton unwed. Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are remaining in town until they decide how they will proceed."
"But to stay in town until Lydia marries could take weeks."
Mr. Denny smiled. "Your sister and Mr. Darcy agree with you, and they have no intentions of forcing her hand. I have been speaking with Colonel and Mrs. Forster and suggested that they invite Miss Lydia to join Mrs. Forster in Brighton when they leave in three weeks."
Kitty frowned and scrunched her eyebrows together. "Is it wise that she get to enjoy her time with the militia when she has so very recently eloped? Mrs. Forster is barely two years older than her and quite as frivolous as Lydia. She gets everything she wants." She pouted until Georgiana squeezed her arm. "Forgive me my outburst." She quickly demurred.
"There is nothing to forgive. Your sister and aunt have had similar arguments. I am happy to have been of service to your family." He looked at Longbourn's front door with strife. How could he not bring himself to say that which he longed to say? "I ought to return to Meryton." He said instead.
"It is very kind of you to come so quickly to deliver our letters. I hope you will call again when you have more time to spare." Kitty said quietly.
In return for her pretty speech, he promised to call the following day. As he said his farewells, he kissed Kitty's knuckles lightly. Hoping to express his regard for Kitty, he bowed politely to Georgiana, who smiled politely.
As they returned inside, Georgiana hinted that Mr. Denny seemed very preoccupied. Kitty blushed before she changed the subject.
The following day, Mrs. Bennet exclaimed in delight as she spied Mr. Bingley and Mr. Denny entering their lane. The usual bustle ensued resulting in all ladies sitting properly with their sewing or other proper tasks when the gentlemen entered. Georgiana, who had not quite gotten used to such a bustle was chuckling under her breath and blushing as she attempted to appear calm.
Mr. Bingley immediately greeted the room and took his seat beside Jane. Mr. Denny claimed a seat beside Mrs. Bennet and began complimenting her on raising such charming ladies. Mrs. Bennet claimed the compliment and spoke with less eloquence on how hard it is knowing they might all be turned out of the house should the worst happen to Mr. Bennet.
When allowed to speak, Mr. Denny reminded her that Mr. Darcy would surely care for his new family. "Besides, I highly doubt many of your daughters will be unmarried at the end of the year. Their charms recommend them wherever they go." He chanced a glance at Kitty who blushed slightly as she lowered her view to her embroidery. After a couple stitches, she scowled as she realized she had carelessly allowed her thread to wander too far. Suppressing a small chuckle, he turned back to Mrs. Bennet to declare that no man could be immune to her daughters' charms.
Mrs. Bennet's eyes widened as she realized the import of his words. She nearly had a coughing fit in her impatience to determine the best way to clear the room, but her schemes failed upon the entrance of the tea tray. As they moved closer to the tea service. Mr. Denny managed to sit beside Kitty, and they spoke of everything and nothing, Mrs. Bennet impatiently waited for the tea to run out so that she could find a way for Mr. Denny to be alone with Kitty. She almost forgot about Mr. Bingley and Jane until Mr. Bingley recommended they walk in the garden.
As Kitty was busy with a biscuit, Mrs. Bennet saw her chance. "Oh yes, my Jane and Miss Darcy should be delighted to show you the roses. Kitty's cough is bothering her, so she should remain here." Her triumphant smile made Kitty choke on her biscuit, giving truth to her mother's statement. By the time she stopped coughing the room had emptied except for Mr. Denny. Mrs. Bennet had declared she needed to speak with the housekeeper and would only be gone a moment.
Mr. Denny, feeling tongue tied at the realization that his time had come to speak to Kitty, took a couple sips before he asked if she was feeling well once she recovered completely.
"Oh, I am very well, sir." She paused, wondering what she should say. "I was surprised by your declaration to Mama, is all."
"Do you doubt my sincerity?"
She looked away, "If Lydia's situation becomes known, we would all be ruined, and no one would consider marrying any of us."
Mr. Denny paused to take her hand, which was frantically turning her handkerchief around in her lap. "Some of your sisters are close to marrying. Mr. Darcy will surely stay by your side, and Mr. Bingley is unlikely to run away again even if there is scandal, much to Miss Bingley's despair. Their marriages will ensure your family is respectable."
Unable to help it, she chuckled, despite the warm feeling that was spreading up her arm from his touch.
He continued, his voice shaking, "There is also another who could have a suitor if she desired it."
Kitty blushed again, but she answered, "My sisters thought you might be prevailed upon to marry Lydia." She stopped and looked at their hands still in her lap. She could not believe that he was actually speaking of her. She dared not hope that her affection might be returned.
"I could not be prevailed upon to marry someone I do not love. My heart is thoroughly engaged, and I have only waited to speak because I wished to know that I could support her as she deserves. Colonel Forster told me today that I will be up for promotion this year."
"Any woman would be pleased you are so honest."
"I care not for how others see me. I wish to know your opinion." He paused as she drew her breath in shock. "Do you think you could grow to love me as I love you? Might you accept…"
"Yes!" She declared without even letting him finish. Blushing again, she apologized for interrupting him.
He attempted to respond, but Mrs. Bennet made a commotion in the hallway, alerting them to her eavesdropping. With a small chuckle, he moved closer and said quietly. "Will you marry me, my darling Katherine?"
Overcome with emotion, she nodded. Tears of happiness filled her eyes. He might have worried had her smile not been wider than he had ever seen. Pulling her hand to his lips for a kiss, he explained that Mr. Bennet had already granted his success.
Another commotion in the hall alerted them that Mr. Bingley, Jane, and Georgiana had returned, but Mrs. Bennet would not allow them in the drawing room. "Do you think she will keep us hear indefinitely should she not hear our news through the door?"
"Perhaps we ought to stay quiet and see how long our solitude can last."
In complete agreement, he kissed her hand again. He desperately wished he could kiss her properly, however, he knew she would be mortified should her sisters enter and witness such a scene. "I leave it to you when you decide to tell them our news. If you should like to wait until your sisters return from London, I can wait, so long as you allow me to call on you every day I am not busy with the regiment."
Remembering the regiment, she scowled. "You will leave with the regiment soon."
"Yes, I must remain with the regiment, but I can write to you now that we are betrothed. Once you determine when we shall marry, I will ensure I have leave to come. We can set up a house in Brighton."
"Mama!" Jane's voice rang out in the hall before she opened the door and entered, a blushing Georgiana in her wake.
Hastily, Mr. Denny pulled his hand from Kitty's, but his action was observed. He nodded to Kitty to give her permission to decide what they should say. Standing, Kitty smiled as she announced their engagement.
Jane quickly moved to embrace her sister and welcome Mr. Denny to the family. Georgiana also moved to her friend's side, but instead of congratulating her, she asked if they could announce the engagement without Mr. Bennet's permission. Her tone was quiet enough that only Kitty could hear.
"Oh, Georgiana, he spoke to my father in London."
This cleared all her hesitation, and Georgiana warmly congratulated Kitty for her splendid match.
Over the next few days, it was decided they would only wait for the banns to be read to marry. She could not bear to be away from him for any longer than necessary when he would move to Brighton. Mrs. Bennet enjoyed telling all her friends that two of her daughters would marry, and the rest of her attention was given to hinting to Mr. Bingley that he should be the next to propose.
AN: This chapter is dedicated to all my readers who took the time to comment. I have loved reading your opinions. We are nearing the end of this story, and I am delighted to have your support through this endeavor.