On the walk to the Wickhams' home, Kitty and Elizabeth talked and laughed about Mr. Collins' absurd proposal.
"I think, Lizzy, that he mentioned Lady Catherine's name more often than he mentioned mine. As I understand she is a widow, perhaps he would do better proposing to her," Kitty recounted to her sister's enjoyment.
"I wonder if he picked you from among us all simply because you have your name in common with her. That way, he will never error and call one by the other's name," teased Elizabeth, "In all due seriousness Kitty, I am proud of you for standing up to Mr. Collins and Mama. Jane and I have always sworn that we would only marry for love. I pray that you would do the same."
"I might surprise you when I say that I do not think that I require love to marry, Lizzy. I do want to like and respect my husband, and I should also think that it would be a requirement to not feel it a punishment to kiss him."
"I am very surprised to hear such sentiments from you, Kitty. How much you have changed!"
"I feel that seeing Mary and Jane so happy has changed my opinions. Mr. Wickham, Mr. Bingley, and even Mr. Darcy are very kind and amiable. Their temperaments are all different, yet they treat everyone with kindness."
"You are not in love with Mr. Darcy, are you?"
"Nay, I am not. I simply was using him as an example of a gentleman. He treats his sister and her companion, and even me, so well when we are in his company. He is rather too reserved for my liking, although I would likely not refuse him if he asked. No, I think it was largely Mr. Wickham who changed my opinions. No doubt he was anxious when Mary and he became betrothed as they knew each other not at all. He did not, however, use that as an excuse to leave her ruined. He accepted her hand, was kind and pleasant to her, spent time in her company and came to know her during the engagement period. He has a good income, even if they cannot afford live-in servants, and I have no doubt that they will come to love each other in time, if they are not already in love."
"I cannot fully agree with you, as I will only marry for love, irrational as that may be. However, I do agree that Mary and Mr. Wickham are well on their way to being in love and I think they will have a good life together. I am glad for it. Her lot could have been much worse if it had been anyone besides Mr. Wickham."
"We must cease speaking on this subject for we are almost there" Kitty said as they turned onto the street where their sister's home was located.
'Whose carriage is this? It looks very grand." Elizabeth asked, spying a black carriage with a crest on the door in front of the Wickham's home.
"That is Mr. Darcy's carriage, I believe," Kitty answered as they knocked on the door. Mr. Darcy himself answered the door and ushered them inside with a greeting and a bow.
"How do you fair to-day, Miss Kitty and Miss Elizabeth?"
"I have no complaints for myself, yet Kitty had an unpleasant homecoming so it behoved us to visit our dear sister," Elizabeth replied.
"Was it very unpleasant, Miss Kitty?" he asked.
"I will tell you, sir, what I told my sister. He mentioned Lady Catherine's name more often in his addresses than he mentioned mine. He mentioned my lack of fortune and connexons during his proposal. He would not accept my refusal and instead insisted that I must be only rejecting his suit to increase his love. I assured him several times that it was not the case before I fled from his presence and ran to my father who, thankfully, supported me in my rejection of his suit."
"He mentioned your lack of fortune and connexons during his proposals. Who does such a thing? How insulting. How did he expect to gain your acceptance when he addressed you with such little civility?" Mr. Darcy exclaimed in astonishment.
"He assumed that the entail acted in his favour. I told Mr. and Mrs. Wickham several days ago that I would sooner work as a maid than accept such a man."
"You may rest assured that Mr. Bingley would never allow his sister to work as a maid. Nor would I allow the sister of my friends to do so."
"You are very good, sir. Are Mr. and Mrs. Wickham not about?"
"They are, I apologize. Let me lead you to them. They are in the parlour with Georgiana." The three spent the entire afternoon with the Wickhams and the Darcys, laughing and making merry together. Only when it was time to take their leave did Kitty remember the storm that must await her at Longbourn.
"Perhaps you might remain here," said Mrs. Wickham.
"I cannot, dear sister. I may return tomorrow, but I fear I must ensure Mr. Collins understands my refusal before anything else. I suppose Papa may have spoken of it to him, but one cannot count on Papa to do anything if it is not of immediate importance," said Kitty.
"Brother," said Georgiana, "Do you and Bingley not have business in London overmorrow?"
"We do, dear sister," he responded.
"Might Kitty accompany us? I would so enjoy it if she might. Perhaps Lizzy and Jane as well? Then Jane need not be separated overly long from Mr. Bingley and Lizzy and Kitty might keep me and Mrs. Annesley company while you see to things in town."
Mr. Darcy had looked forward to his business in London as a means of escape from Miss Elizabeth and the feelings he had towards her. He had even thought of going afterwards to Pemberley until it was time to return for Bingley's wedding. Yet, he knew he could not deny his sister this. He would be very busy over the next fortnight, seeing to his investments and meeting with men of business. His sister would sit at Darcy House alone. He had considered asking if she might remain at Longbourn, for they certainly had at least one bed free now that Mary was wed. However, with the current state of Longbourn, he did not think that a sound plan.
He could not see how he could invite one sister without the other two. Miss Lydia he had no qualms about denying—for he did not think she would wish to go to London anyways when the regiment was in Meryton, nor did he think her a good influence on his sister. He would simply have to invite Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Kitty. He was certain he could keep himself busy enough that it would make little difference whether Miss Elizabeth Bennet were in his home or in Hertfordshire.
"Very well," said Mr. Darcy, "If Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Kitty desire to visit us while we are in London, I think that a grand plan. I cannot invite Miss Lydia, however. I do not think it wise."
"I would agree," said Miss Elizabeth, "I do not think my youngest sister should be out even in Meryton, much less London."
"Should your father agree that you might visit us, I would place a few restrictions upon you, Miss Kitty, that your elder sisters would not have," said Mr. Darcy.
"I do not understand, sir," said Kitty.
"You are only seventeen, Miss Kitty. While many girls your age are out in their own neighbourhoods, it is quite different to be out in London. It is not just the Lucas boys and Mr. Goulding who would attend the parties. Very few girls are out in London before they are eighteen," explained Mr. Darcy, "You may attend some functions, but you would have similar strictures to that which my sister has. No dancing with those unfamiliar to me. You would leave earlier from balls and parties than the others. You would go nowhere without one of your elder sisters, Mrs. Annesley, or another suitable female companion. I do not wish you to come to harm. Unfortunately, it is quite common in London for a unworldly young lady to come to harm because she was out unsupervised and a rogue came upon her."
Kitty's eyes widened at Mr. Darcy's last sentence.
"Is it so very dangerous in London then?" she asked, slightly afraid.
"Not if you follow what I tell you. Even your sisters will be required to be accompanied by a maid or groom when they go out, for their own protection. I am sure Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner have similar restrictions when your sisters visit them."
"They do. I am not able to walk out as freely as I do here," said Elizabeth. "Here, I am passing the houses of people I have known all my life. Should anything happen, ten to one Mr. Hae will come along with his wagon within a quarter hour to save me, or another of our neighbours will be about. I can go to any house for assistance. In London, that is not the case. If I walk, I must take a servant or one of my sisters or friends. It is not safe for a woman alone."
"Do not think that every man is a scoundrel in London, Kitty," said Mr. Wickham. "It is only a few, but those few are enough that prudence is needed. Most men in London are rather like myself or Mr. Darcy, so I would not have you fearing every man you meet in London."
"I see," said Kitty, "I do not mind overly much. I would like to spend most of my time with Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley anyhow, so I do not think it a problem. Can I attend Georgiana's lessons?"
"Of course," said Mr. Darcy.
They then began to speak of the different lessons that Georgiana attended. Mr. Darcy remembered that several of the masters had apprentices who might wish to teach a more inexperienced student for a change. He would send a note to each of the masters on the day of their arrival to see what might be needed for an additional student to attend.
"What of Mama?" asked Elizabeth suddenly, "We cannot leave Mama and Lydia with only Papa about. There will be no one to check them!"
Elizabeth blushed to have exposed her family in such a way in front of the Darcys, but she was certain all of them could not be gone at once, lest ruin come on their family.
"We can see to them," said Mary, "I am certain Papa will gladly hand over some of his cares to Mr. Wickham, as it will cause less trouble for him."
"And if you tell your mother that I will introduce you to my rich friends, she will undoubtedly ensure you are able to go." Mr Darcy jested.
"Your jest falls too close to the truth, sir. I may indeed tell her just such a thing to ensure we can attend." Kitty laughed.
Mr. Darcy gave Lydia and Elizabeth a ride home in his carriage. Upon being left at the front steps of Longbourn, Kitty and Elizabeth braced themselves for the worst and walked through the door.