Chapter 7

"Good morning!" Kitty smiled as she entered the dining room.

"Good morning Kitty, did you sleep well?" Georgiana asked. "Ready to shop?"

"Of course! I even think Mary is excited to shop."

"I wouldn't go that far." Mary said entering the room. "Good morning."

"Good morning Mary." Georgiana smiled.

They finished eating quickly and made their way to Jane's home where they were supposed to meet. Lizzy and Darcy were already there when they arrived.

"Mr. Darcy, what on earth are you doing here? I thougth just the women were going." Kitty said, a bit worried.

"Indeed you are, I would not imagine intruding on your day of shopping, trust me. But someone has to watch the boys and Samuel requested to spend the day with his cousins."

"Ah I see." Kitty said, feeling a bit foolish, as her nephews ran past her."

"Shall we go then?" Jane asked.

"Yes please!" Kitty said excitedly.

"Lizzy darling, please don't walk to much. If you begin to feel fatigued please call for a carriage, or stop for some tea." Mr. Darcy said as he kissed her on the cheek.

"I'll be fine. Have fun with the boys." Lizzy smiled lovingly.

The ladies walked quickly and didn't talk much until they reached the main square. They all agreed on a shop and went in. Lizzy, Jane and Georgiana were each looking for one dress, and Mary and Kitty needed four.

"Do you like this print?" Georgiana asked of a pretty green and white pattern.

"I think it would look lovely on you Ana." Kitty smiled.

"Oh yes, beautiful, but I do believe gowns are to be solid colors?" Jane laughed.

"Well perhaps I could deal with one more dress for everyday? I do love this pattern."

"Then perhaps you should go get fitted!" Kitty laughed.

Georgiana had the dress fitted while the others continued to look through the store. Mary found a beautiful red dress that looked fabulous on her, red was most definitely the color that she looked best in. No one else found anything in the first shop but they continued their day with enthusiasm.

Mary found dresses quickly. She wasn't picky enough to refuse trying anything, and found dresses quite easily. Everything seemed to look wonderful on her. She bought an elegant white ball gown and a beautiful blue one. Then she found a pale blue dinner dress to go along with the red one she bought earlier. Kitty was having a more difficult time finding dresses that looked right. By the fifth store everyone else had found what they needed and Kitty had only found one dress.

"Shall we stop for some tea before we continue?" Jane asked, noticing Lizzy looking tired.

"Yes please." Kitty said as they stopped in front of the tea parlor. "I'm so sorry, but I can't manage to find anything!"

"We don't mind." Georgiana smiled.

"I know this is going to be hard to believe, but even I am getting sick of shopping." Kitty laughed.

"That is shocking!" Lizzy said, joining in laughter.

"What's even more shocking, is that I am enjoying myself." Mary smiled.

"You know Mary, you should smile more often, you are very beautiful when you do." Lizzy commented.

"Thank you Lizzy." Mary blushed, sipping her tea.

"Are you feeling alright Lizzy?" Jane asked. "You look a bit pale."

"I am a bit tired, but I am fine, the tea will help."

"Well if you begin to feel poorly you must tell me." Jane admonished. "Your husband will kill me if I allow you to do to much walking."

"I will Jane, but really, I am fine as of now."

"When is the next ball?" Kitty asked excitedly.

"Tomorrow night I believe." Jane answered.

"Then I really must find a gown today." Kitty sighed in exhaustion.

"Indeed." Jane smiled.

They finished their tea and went about looking for three more dresses for Kitty. She grew so desperate that she found herself trying every possible fabric.

"What about green Kitty?" Mary asked, holding something up.

"I don't usually like green, but let me try it anyway." Kitty said taking it from her.

"Oh Kitty, that looks wonderful on you!" Lizzy gasped.

"It does? Even though it's green?" Kitty asked before looking in the mirror.

"Indeed!" Georgiana smiled.

Kitty stepped in front of the mirror and gasped, the green dress was by far the most beautiful one she had tried.

"May I have this one?" Kitty asked her sisters.

"Of course you may." Jane laughed. "Lets get it fitted."

After Kitty found the green dress she had no problem finding two others. She made a habit of trying things she though were ugly, and they always managed to look exquisite once they were on. At the end of their outing she had a cream dinner gown and a maroon one and she found a dark blue ball gown to add to the green one she found earlier.

"Shall we go back to my house for some supper? The boys would love the company I'm sure." Jane offered.

"Of course, thank you Jane." Mary said speaking for the group.

"Might we stop at my house first? I would like to make sure Mr. Burton gets the invitation." Georgiana asked politely.

"Why yes, it will be no trouble at all." Jane smiled.

They got on their way and stopped at the Burton's home where Mary and Kitty dropped off their packages. Mr. Burton was waiting for them and joined the ladies in the carriage. They headed toward the Bingley's home which was not far away.

"Ah, you're here!" Mr. Bingley called from the parlor as they entered.

"Lizzy darling, you look horrid, come sit down at once." Darcy said rushing to her side helping her into a chair.

"My dear, please, I am quite well, just a bit tired. You really are overreacting. Where is Samuel?" she asked as Darcy settled into a chair next to her.

"He's taking a bit of a nap with his cousins." Darcy smiled, proud of his triumph in his fatherly duties.

"William! At this hour? He will never go to bed!" Lizzy yelled.

"Doesn't he always take a nap at this hour?" Darcy asked, quite puzzled by his wife's outburst.

"No darling." she said calmly.

"Then I suppose I should go wake him?"

"Yes dear." Lizzy laughed.

"Perhaps you would like to take a nap?"

"William...I am fine. I am beginning to think I should have waited to tell you about my condition."

"Alright alright, your fine, I'll go get Samuel right away." Darcy kissed Lizzy on the cheek and headed quickly up the stairs.

"Charles, you had better go with him if our boys are sleeping as well, for I will not be the one to stay up with them this evening." she laughed.

"Yes my dear." Charles said leaving quickly.

"What are we going to do with them?" Lizzy sighed.

"They try." Jane laughed.

"There is a lesson for you my dear, no naps after two o'clock in the afternoon." Georgiana said to Mr. Burton.

"Lesson learned." Mr Burton laughed.

"I suppose we shall have to wait a bit for dinner, the boys will be cranky for a bit after waking up. So come, have a seat in the parlor while we wait."

They sat and talked about the inconsequential for a while as the groggy children began to come alive again. Dinner was served and the conversation was lively at the table. The ladies shared their stories of town as the gentlemen laughed at their frivolity.

"Oh Georgiana, I had forgotten to tell you, I got a letter today from Mr. Cadogan. Would you mind if I read it aloud?" Mr. Burton asked.

"Who is Mr. Cadogan?" Kitty inquired.

"He is Michael's dearest friend, the one I was telling you about." Georgiana answered. "Go ahead my dear, read the letter."

Mr. Burton

I am terribly sorry for missing your wedding. I hope this letter finds you and Georgiana in perfect wedded bliss. Upon the day I was to leave for the happy occasion, I found myself in a terrible depression. It reminded me of a certain happy occasion in my own past. But, with careful consideration, I would love to take you up on your offer to visit you in London. I hope it will not be a problem for Sophie and Hannah to join me for I hardly let either of them out of my sight. Unless I hear from you, we will see you on Saturday, and will not trespass on your kindness for longer then you wish.

Your Friend,

Bradley Cadogan.

"Oh Michael, that's wonderful!" Georgiana said excitedly.

"We will have enough room for the three of them?" Mr. Burton asked.

"Of course! We still have two empty rooms."

"Who are Sophie and Hannah?" Kitty asked.

"Sophie is his sister, I adore her, and Hannah is his daughter."

"And what of his wife?" Mary asked.

"That is the difficult thing he has been plagued with."

"Oh I see." Kitty said sadly.

"If you don't have enough room, they are welcome to stay with us Georgiana." Darcy offered.

"Thank you William, but I think we will have enough room."

They continued their dinner conversation and laughter abounded at the table. The joke of the evening was the boys being put down so late for their naps. The women simply wouldn't let the gentlemen forget it.

"Lizzy dear, perhaps we should be going home." Darcy said as soon as dinner was finished.

"Perhaps we should not. I'd like to have some tea and there is no way Samuel will go to bed, unless he is given some more time to play with his cousins."

"Yes lets play!" Samuel screamed from his seat.

"May we go play now Mother?" Charles asked politely from his seat.

"Of course my dears, go ahead." Jane smiled.

"He is so well mannered for only being four." Mary observed.

"Yes, he has mastered knowing when to turn on his young charm. Trust me, he is not so well mannered when we are home alone." Jane laughed.

"I just hope they tire Samuel out!" Lizzy said.

"Shall we go into the parlor and have some tea? Perhaps Mary will play her newest piece for us?"

"Of course Jane." Mary smiled, she loved being asked to play the piano-forte

They all went to the parlor where the women poured themselves tea and the men lit cigars. Mary and Georgiana both played the piano-forte for a while and everyone began to grow somber and quiet. It had been a long day.

"William darling, would you mind going to gather Samuel and his things, I am getting quite tired." Lizzy yawned.

"Right away my dear, I knew you looked fatigued." Darcy kissed her on the forehead and went to find Samuel.

Everyone said goodnight and left Jane and Charles to put their boys to bed. When they reached the Burton's home, Mary and Kitty went straight to bed. They too were exhausted from their shopping adventure. London was far more entertaining and busy then their life at Longbourne or either of their two sisters homes. It would take some time getting used to all the excitement.