Thanks so much for all of your comments, they are so encouraging to read. Please read and review, I'd love to hear your thoughts! I hope you enjoy it! I'd love to tell you all what is going to happen with Kitty and Lowell, cause a lot of you are asking, but that'd ruin the plot, so you'll have to just keep reading! Thank you all.

Chapter 14

Several weeks had passed and life continued normally. Kitty had continued her walks with Mr. Cadogan and had been spending an increasing amount of time with Mr. Lowell. Victoria Willoby was also constantly at the Burtons, it almost seemed as though she was living there. Mary continued to visit Charles every morning to read to him, even though he had recovered within the week of his illness.

Sophie and Mr. Dison had become greatly attached and Kitty and Georgiana expected an engagement shortly. Truth be told, Kitty was also expecting her own engagement to happen soon. Mr. Lowell had come to visit so often she assumed he had become attached to her, and therefore would not be long in making his proposal.

Kitty woke early and readied herself for her walk with Mr. Cadogan. Despite her feelings for Mr. Lowell, she still enjoyed her friendship with Mr. Cadogan. When she got downstairs she found Mr. Cadogan reading the daily paper at the table. She sat and buttered some toast and ate quietly, waiting for him to finish. Once she finished crunching, Mr. Cadogan asked if she was ready and they set off.

"Mr. Cadogan, if you don't mind me asking, how did you know you were in love with Amelia?" Kitty asked, curious to know what her own feelings were for Mr. Lowell.

"Of course I don't mind Kitty, that's what our walks are for. I don't really know how I knew or when I knew, if was almost as if I was immediately drawn to her. I suppose I knew I loved her when I realized one day that I wanted to be with her then anywhere else on the planet. I knew I could very easily spend every day of my life with those eyes, that smile, her easy temperament."

Kitty was looking dreamily into space and heaved a sigh. "That's all I needed to know."

"Really? And why is that."

"You've just helped me realize that I'm in love."

"In love? With whom?"

"Why, with Mr. Lowell of course, who else?" she giggled.

"Your in love with that fool? Kitty do think, please, he's ridiculous, he has absolutely no personality and I'd not be surprised to find that he has no brain."

"Do not say such unkind, un gentlemanlike things about my future husband!" she spat angrily.

"Future husband! Has he made you an offer of marriage?"

"Well not exactly, but if he does, you can be most assured of my acceptance."

"Really, don't be ridiculous, he never smiles or laughs or really even talks. You deserve better Kitty Bennet."

"Let us not forget that you also went through a time when your smile was not seen very often. What makes you so different from Mr. Lowell."

"My wife had just died! Surely you can not believe that it is my natural disposition to be moody and upset all the time."

"Well Mr. Lowell is also going through some difficult times, as you know."

"Hard times indeed! He's a scoundrel, I don't trust him." Cadogan says quickly.

"He is helping his family! That is very admirable." she screamed in a very un ladylike manner.

"A thief is more like it!"

"Have you any proof of such accusations!" Kitty said, shocked that Mr. Cadogan would even suggest such a thing.

"No." he said softly.

"Then I suggest you keep your opinion to yourself. You are a pathetic man who can not bear to see someone else happy because of his own misery! Let it be understood that I will not tolerate you damaging the name of my beloved. It is completely astonishing to me that you would even suggest such things with no proof. It merely confirms my belief that you would rather watch everyone suffer to help you feel better about your current state of life." she spat.

"Miss Kitty, I..."

"I believe it is starting to rain, we shall have to end our walk." she said coldly and began to walk away.

He looked around to see the sun shining and the birds singing. "It's not raining." he said, quite confused by her statement.

"Oh, but it is, and I do believe it will be raining for the next several weeks." she stomped away in fury, not waiting for him to catch up.

"Miss Kitty! Wait!" he called after her, but to no avail, Kitty merely walked away with more zeal with each call.

Kitty stormed into the Burtons home and told Georgiana and Mary that she would be spending the day at the Darcy's home. With that she walked back through the front door and passed Mr. Cadogan who was coming in. She picked up her chin and completely ignored his muttering, attempting to get her attention. Her pace quickened and she walked to her sisters home.

"Hello Darcy." she smiled as she was shown into the dining room.

"Good morning Kitty. I'm sorry Elizabeth isn't feeling well this morning. I don't know that she is up for a visit."

"That's alright, I would like to speak to her, but if she's not well, I can wait. Would you mind if I stayed for the day? I'd be happy to watch Samuel so that Lizzy is able to rest." she pleaded.

"Of course, that would be fine, but if you don't mind me asking, is something the matter?" he asked, putting down the paper he was reading.

"Perhaps." she said softly.

"Would you care to talk to me about it? Or is it something purely for your sister to hear?"

"I, uh..."

"Come Kitty, we're family, if you need to talk, I am ready to listen."

"Thank you. I was talking to Mr. Cadogan this morning, and I told him that I had formed an attachment to Mr. Lowell. Well, he began telling me that I am being ridiculous, and that Mr. Lowell is ridiculous as well. I of course got very upset by his speech. Then he went further to say that he does not trust Mr. Lowell, and even called him a thief."

"And is Mr. Cadogan a trustworthy gentleman?" Darcy asked thoughtfully.

"Yes, I believe so."

"Then how do you explain his outburst?"

"He is miserable! He is dealing with a terrible tragedy and is miserable because of it."

"You must allow a person time to grieve over something as tragic as losing a wife."

"Yes I know, but not only is he miserable, but he wants everyone around him to be miserable as well. It's as if he can't stand for anyone else to be happy because he is not happy. This is what I attribute his outburst to."

"Perhaps you are correct, or perhaps he really is concerned about the character of Mr. Lowell."

"He has no reason to be concerned. Mr. Lowell is a perfect gentleman, there is no reason to be alarmed."

"Kitty, when a person becomes attached it is quite common to see only the good in a person. Sometimes others are able to see the evil in a person. Take for example your sister Lydia. She saw no bad in George Wickham, but the rest of us did."

"But Lydia is stupid!" Kitty said in her own defense.

"No, she was in love." Darcy sighed.

"Are you telling me that Mr. Cadogan is right and that I should stop seeing Mr. Lowell?"

"No, I am just advising you to be careful."

"Oh Darcy, why must things be so complicated?" Kitty whined.

"Perhaps you should go speak with Lizzy. I'm sure she will want to help, as long as she can stay in her bed."

"Thank you Darcy, you are a fine gentleman. I am so glad Lizzy changed her mind about you." she smiled.

"So am I." he opened his paper again and began to read it as Kitty headed up the stairs.

Kitty made her way to Lizzy's bedroom and slowly opened the door to see Lizzy sitting up reading a book. Lizzy smiled upon Kitty's entrance and beckoned her to her bedside. Kitty asked after her sisters health and was relieved to hear that she was feeling better. After Kitty discovered such, she began to re-tell the story to her sister.

"Are you quite sure Mr. Cadogan is not acting in jealousy?" Lizzy asked.

"Jealousy? Perhaps he is jealous of my happiness." Kitty said thoughtfully.

Lizzy laughed. "That is not what I meant. Do you think that perhaps Mr. Cadogan has formed an attachment to you?"

"Don't be ridiculous! First of all he has sworn never to marry again because of the loss of his first wife. And secondly, Miss Willoby has been following him around and never leaves his side, she is much prettier, and richer then I. So I'm sure if he were to change his mind about marriage, he'd choose her." Kitty explained, laughing at her sisters ridiculous comment.

"Well just be cautious with this Mr. Lowell of yours. Mr. Cadogan may have some insight, or he may be jealous. But please be careful, don't fall into the same trap as Lydia."

"I am not Lydia! I will not make the same mistake. I promise Lizzy, I will not. I know Mama would not be able to deal with it, and I don't want to live as Lydia does."

"I trust you Kitty, and I know you are not your younger sister. But as your older sister, I must warn you, you understand."

"Of course Lizzy, thank you."

Kitty spoke with Lizzy for a bit longer, and then went downstairs to find Samuel. She stayed with the Darcy's all day and returned to the Burtons just before bed. Upon entering the house she made her way right to bed. She had no desire to speak to Mr. Cadogan and felt it would be easier to ignore him if they were not in the same room.

This behavior continued for more then a week. Kitty would wake early in the morning and leave a note, explaining which sisters house she was at. Mr. Lowell would be able to visit her there and she could avoid Mr. Cadogan.