Chapter 13
Mary woke early the next morning and got right to her reading. When Kitty awoke the room was empty and Kitty took her time getting ready. She wanted to look extra special for Mr. Lowell, since he promised he would call. When she finally got downstairs everyone had already finished their breakfast. Kitty ate quickly and then joined everyone in the parlor.
"Finally Kitty, you are usually awake so early." Mary said upon her entering.
"I've been up for quite some time, I was taking my time getting ready." Kitty smiled.
"Sophie was just telling us about her evening with a particular gentleman." Georgiana said teasing.
"Oh really?" Kitty said in an intrigued tone. "I did see you becoming quite comfortable with Mr. Dison last evening. Is that the gentleman to which you are referring?"
"Yes." Sophie blushed.
"So you have formed an attachment? You know he is very handsome, I wouldn't be surprised if you had." Kitty prodded.
"No, not an attachment."
"But you fancy him, do you not?" Georgiana pressed.
"If you must know, yes, I suppose I do fancy him. But I am quite certain that he does not return my feelings."
"Please Sophie, how could he not. Your so sweet, not to mention beautiful. And such a lady." Kitty rationalized.
"Enough about me. I have been meaning to ask you something for some time. What is it that you and my brother talk about on your walks?" Sophie asked, trying to remove attention from herself. "You must talk about something, you are gone for such a long time in the morning."
"Why do you ask?" Kitty said, trying to avoid the question.
"Well first, you are gone for so long as I've said. And I've noticed such a big difference in my brother since we've been here, and I can attribute it to nothing but your walks."
"Oh, well, if you must know, we talk about Amelia." gasps irrupted around her. "But he is the one that began speaking of her. He said that he needed to talk to someone about her, so the memories weren't constantly flooding his mind with no way to escape." Kitty said quickly in explanation.
"I don't understand, why couldn't he have spoke to me about her?" Sophie asked, hurt and puzzled.
"Or me." Burton added quietly.
"Well if you must know, he found it a great deal easier to talk to someone who didn't know Amelia and who doesn't know him very well. He doesn't want pity or sympathy and can't stand to cry anymore. But he has to talk to her, he can't just pretend that she never was. He loved her with all of his heart, he wants her memory to live on, especially for Hannah's sake."
The room grew quiet, no one could believe that Mr. Cadogan had confided so greatly in Kitty. She was not usually the one that would be considered the most trustworthy. Sophie looked a bit hurt and Mr. Burton looked utterly confused over her confession.
"Please, don't mention any of this to him. It is supposed to be between us." Kitty pleaded.
"No, of course not. He is finally returning to his normal self, we do not wish to cause him more grief." Sophie said somberly.
"Of course we'll keep our mouths closed Kitty." Georgiana said.
"Thank you."
Once again the room grew silent and somber. Kitty could not manage to get the conversation out of her mind. She had changed Mr. Cadogan? Thinking on it, she had noticed that he smiled a bit more now, but had never thought she had anything to do with it. The front door opened suddenly and Victoria Willoby entered to break up the silence of the room.
"Hello Miss Willoby." Georgiana said.
"Oh please Georgiana, do call me Victoria, all of you, please." she smiled, looking around at everyone. She looked beautiful and was elegant even in her day gown. "Where is Mr. Cadogan?" she asked, noticing his absence immediately.
"Gone on business for the morning, we expect him back for lunch." Sophie answered.
"Oh alright then." Victoria smiled.
She sat down next to Kitty and began to talk to her. Kitty found herself liking Victoria, she was much more enjoyable when Mr. Cadogan was not in the room. She reminded Kitty a bit of her sister Lydia. Fun, outspoken and very opinionated, but could be very elegant and mature when needed, in that aspect she differed a great deal from Lydia.
Victoria stayed and joined them for lunch and was immediately attached to Mr. Cadogan once he entered. After lunch they were joined by Mr. Rawlins and Mr. Lowell. Kitty quickly persuaded Mr. Lowell to accompany her on a walk. She was eager to go and be away from Victoria and Mr. Cadogan, she was positively shameless with regard to him.
The door opened again and Mr. Bingley entered. "Good afternoon." he bowed.
"Hello Mr. Bingley, is your wife with you?" Georgiana asked.
"No, no, I was sent to ask something of Mary?"
"Me?" Mary said in a confused tone.
"Yes, you see, young Charles has taken ill..."
"Oh no! Will he be alright?" Georgiana asked quickly.
"Yes, yes of course, he just has a bit of a cold. But he has requested that his Aunt Mary come read the special book to him. That is if you are not to busy to do so."
"No, of course I will come."
"I assume you know to which book he is referring?"
"Yes, I know just the one." she smiled. "Forgive me Mr. Rawlins, we will have to finish our discussion another day."
"Quite alright Miss Bennet, you are needed elsewhere. I wonder if I might accompany you. I do enjoy a good story reading."
"Oh, yes, of course." she said, thinking his request rather odd.
Mary gathered her book and bonnet and she and the two gentlemen set off for the Bingley's town home. Jane was anxiously awaiting Mary's arrival and was very happy to see her when she walked through the door.
"He is upstairs in his room and has been in bed all day. He's terribly bored and has been asking for you all morning." Jan sighed, looking a bit flustered.
"Shall I just go up then?"
"Yes, you know which room is his right?"
"Yes, please Jane, relax, go and have some tea." Mary smiled, thankful that she could bring some relief to her poor sister.
Mary and Mr. Rawlins headed up the stairs. They opened Charles' door slowly and saw the boy laying wearily in bed. Mary pulled a chair up to Charles' bed and he smiled at her eagerly.
"Hello Aunt Mary, did you bring the special book?"
"Of course I did. How are you feeling?" she asked, touching his warm forehead.
"I'm sick." he whined.
"Poor dear, well, shall we read?"
"Yes please. I think we're still on the part with the little people." he said as he adjusted his pillow.
"I believe you are correct."
Mary began to read in her sweet voice, and Charles paid eager attention. She read a bit less monotone this time and tried to create excitement with her voice. Both Charles and Mr. Rawlins seemed to be hanging on her every word. Mary was rather enjoying herself as well, and had not even realized that several hours had gone by.
Jane slowly opened the door, seemingly shocked to find Charles looking so lively. Mary's expression puzzled her as well as her sister was usually looked so bored. She looked so happy sitting there reading the story to her young nephew.
"Charles, it's nearly time for dinner. I was just coming to see if you were feeling well enough to eat at the table or if you wanted a tray brought up to you." Jane asked.
"A tray please mother."
"Of course my dear. Mary, Mr. Rawlins you are welcome to stay for supper."
"Thank you Jane, but I really must be going, Georgiana is expecting me. I had no idea it had gotten so late." Mary said, placing a bookmark in the book and closing it gently.
"I must be off as well, but thank you very much for the invitation Mrs. Bingley."
"Stay Aunt Mary, stay. We didn't finish." Charles pleaded
"I know my dear, it is a very long book, but I shall be back tomorrow to continue if that is alright with your Mother." Mary smiled.
"Please Mother!"
"Of course it's alright, come whenever you like Mary. You'll be most welcome to stay for dinner as well."
"Thank you Jane. Good bye Charles, feel better."
"Yes, do feel better." Mr. Rawlins added as well.
Mr. Rawlins and Mary left the Bingleys and the cool of the evening poured down upon them. They walked in silence for a few paces until Mary decided to speak.
"Are you going back to the Burtons?" Mary asked.
"No, no I'm not."
"Then forgive me for asking, but why are you walking this way?"
"To escort you to the Burton's of course." he smiled.
"Who knew you were a gentleman." she laughed.
"Whatever do you mean Miss Bennet?"
Mary's face suddenly grew solemn, she had not anticipated him wanting an explanation for her joke. "Well, you don't always have the most proper manners."
"To what are you referring?"
"Well, to give one example, you began speaking to me and even insulted me without ever having been introduced." she said in a rather fiery tone, she could not believe he had no idea of his own rudeness.
"Oh, yes, perhaps you have a point." he said looking at his feet.
"Forgive me Mr. Rawlins, I did not mean it to discourage you. I was merely joking. Please know that you have become a very good friend to me, despite the fact that your manners are not always the most polished."
"You have become a dear friend as well, I am glad you decided to look past the unpolished manners."
"Now lets forget my joke, I am very sorry."
"It is forgotten. Suppose you tell me about one of the new books you are reading."
Mary began talking about one of the books she had purchased at the bookstore. She told him the story and then gave her viewpoint on the text. He asked her some questions and proceeded to debate her about her position. After walking slowly for quite some time, they reached the Burtons. Mr. Rawlins bid Mary good evening and continued on his way.
When Mary entered everyone was just sitting down for dinner. Mr. Lowell and Victoria were still there. Kitty was beaming and Victoria seemed to hang on Mr. Cadogans every movement. Mary took her place next to Kitty and dinner was served.
Mary was bombarded with questions about her nephews state as they began to eat. Eventually they moved on in their topic of discussion and all attention turned in the direction of Mr. Lowell and Mr. Cadogans direction. The evening progressed and the guests finally left after tea was served.
