Chapter 17

Kitty woke the next morning and met Mr. Cadogan for their walk. Their walks had become a great deal of fun for Kitty and she looked forward to them every morning. Mr. Cadogan seemed to talk less of Amelia and more of his odd likes and dislikes. On this particular morning he admitted that he sometimes wished he was a lady instead of a gentleman. This admission cause Kitty to fall into a fit of hysterical laughter. Cadogan of course redeemed himself by informing Kitty that he only wished to be a woman because their lives were so much more relaxing, and sometimes he hated the work of being a man.

They walked a bit longer then usual and just managed to make it back to the Burtons for lunch. As they entered, Kitty heard Miss Willoby's voice, she was always there. Kitty began to walk to the parlor and noticed a letter on the table, it was addressed to her. She thought perhaps her mother had written her, and was very surprised when she recognized the handwriting as her sister Lydia's.

Dearest Kitty,

How are you my darling sister? I am so sorry that I have not written more faithfully, but as you know, the children and my dear husband keep me fretfully busy. Of late I really have been missing our conversations. I was hoping that perhaps I could persuade you to come and visit us. My nanny must go to her home for a fort-night to tend to her ill mother. I would very much appreciate your help with my darling children. Though I love them, I do feel as though I may grow weary while she is gone. I know you will not disappoint me my dear Kitty. Since you are coming, I have a gentleman for you to meet. I really think you will like him, and perhaps it will turn into a love like Wickham and I share. I shall expect to see you within the week, we shall be able to catch up then. Say hello to my sisters for me.

Your sister,

Lydia Wickham

Kitty sunk into a near by chair completely astonished by the letter. She hadn't been invited to visit Lydia in five years, why now? She would have died to go before, and now she was having a wonderful time in London, and wasn't sure she wanted to leave. But, how could she refuse to go? She had not seen Lydia in such a long time, and she had never met her nieces and nephew. But, could Lydia and Mr. Wickham be trusted? Father had never wanted her to go before, but now, she needed help. Perhaps Jane and Lizzy would know what to do.

Kitty gathered the letter and went to fetch her bonnet. Without eating, she told the Burtons that she was leaving and hurried to Jane's home. Jane was easily persuaded to join Kitty, and the two sisters set off for the Darcy's home. When they got there, Mr. Darcy informed them that Lizzy was not feeling well and was keeping to her bed. But, he could sense the urgency in their coming, and allowed them up to see Lizzy. Kitty and Jane walked up to the room, and found her sipping some tea, and reading a book.

"What a pleasant surprise!" she smiled, looking up from her book.

"Are ou feeling alright?" Jane asked, taking a chair next to the bed.

"Yes, just a bit tired and weak, but I will definitely enjoy your company, it grows quite tiresome to be alone so often."

"Well, we came to speak to you about something specifically." Kitty said quickly.

"Oh? And what is that?" Lizzy asked.

"Actually, I don't know what it is about either, Kitty came to my house and said she needed to speak to us both." Jane added.

"Well, go ahead then Kitty."

"I got a letter from Lydia today, she wants me to go and help her with her children for a fortnight. I am incredibly confused and have no idea what to do about it."

Kitty read the letter to her sisters and explained her thoughts. Jane and Lizzy were surprised by Lydia's letter, and had to really think about the proper response. They of course knew that Lydia was their sister, and if she needed help, something should be done. But at the same time, Lydia could be very irresponsible, and who's to know what that terrible Mr. Wickham might do. The three sisters debated for more than two hours about what ought to be done.

"Do you feel as though you'll be able to keep your head around Lydia?" Lizzy asked. "You've grown up quite a bit in the past five years, and I trust that you would be ok. But I also know the type of influence Lydia can have on you, and that is where the danger lies."

"How do you feel about it kitty dear?" Jane asked sympathetically.

"I believe I could keep my head, and if I felt as though she was beginning to influence me, I could write you..."

"And we would send a carriage for you immediately." Lizzy said quickly.

"Then, I think it will be safe for you to go. I know you miss Lydia, and I'm sure she would really appreciate the help with her children." Jane smiled. "And we will still be in London for a full month when you get back, so it is not as if you will be missing to much."

"Very true, alright, I shall leave tomorrow." Kitty wasn't entirely sure how she felt about the situation. She knew that she missed Lydia, and that she longed to see her. But she was very unsure about how strong she was is regard to saying no to Lydia.

"We will expect to hear from you regularly, just so we can make sure all is well. And one of us will write to Papa, explaining the whole thing after you've left." Lizzy said, finalizing the details.

"Thank you both so very much, you are wonderful sisters. I suppose I should go and pack my things." Kitty smiled.

"You are quite welcome Kitty, we are always here for you." Jane hugged her tightly as she left the room.

Kitty walked slowly back to the Burtons home, thinking of how she would miss everyone. It was almost the same feeling as when she had left her sisters families at the end of the summer. For some reason she felt nothing but dread when it came to seeing Lydia again. She liked the person she had become and was so afraid to revert back to her 18 year old self.

She finally reached the Burtons and told everyone of the newly devised plan. Mary and Georgiana seemed extremely upset at Kitty going, but understood why she needed to. They had an extravagant dinner to say goodbye, and then Kitty went to her room to pack her things and go to sleep early.

The next morning Kitty woke early and got ready for her journey. If she left early enough, she could be there by that evening. That way, she wouldn't have to spend the night at an inn all alone. As she walked down the stairs she heard the faint sound of silverware scratching a plate. She entered the dining room to see Mr. Cadogan reading his paper and eating some eggs quite noisily.

"I should have known it was you." she laughed.

"Ah yes, who else in this house would be up so early? It seems that I have become so accustom to our walks that I can not sleep in even if I wish to." he smiled.

"Perhaps your sleeping patterns will go back to normal without a morning walk for a fortnight. When I get back, I am sure you will wish me gone again." she laughed.

"Oh no. Miss Kitty, I will greatly miss our walks, and I will miss you more. Please know that you have become a very dear friend." he said, turning very serious.

"Thank you Mr. Cadogan, you have become a very good friend to me as well. But don't worry, I am sure you will have plenty to keep yourself occupied while I am gone." she smiled, trying to lighten the moment.

"Yes of course, Hannah is enough to keep me quite busy. But even still, you will be missed."

"And I will miss all of you, I am terribly frightened about visiting my sister and her family." she admitted.

"I thought you were close to your sister Lydia? How could you be frightened."

"Well, I am, but her husband is very similar to Mr. Lowell. Their whole marriage was a scandal. I hear from her so seldom that I have no idea if his behavior has changed. I don't want to fall into one of his schemes."

"Miss Kitty, you will be fine. You have a very good head, you just have to use it."

"But I fell for Mr. Lowell, I had no idea that he was a scoundrel. You had to inform me of that, and when you did I didn't believe you! I was in such a state of disbelief that I was willing to end our friendship over it. That doesn't sound like a very good head."

"Just don't fall in love while your gone, and you'll be fine." he smiled.

"Do be serious, I can be so frivolous at times, I don't want to turn into my sister and grieve my parents again."

"Then you won't. That desire alone is enough to keep you safe. We all have faith in you Kitty. Your sisters would not allow you to go if they did not trust you. If you wonder about anyone, just write, we will check their history immediately."

"Thank you." she smiled. "Oh! I really must be going, I'd forgotten."

"Let me carry that for you." he motioned to her small bag.

"Really it's alright, it's very light, just my embroidery to keep me busy." she explained, trying to save him the trouble of being proper.

"Miss Kitty, I do not care what is in that bag, or how heavy it may or may not be, but I will be the one to carry it to the carriage for you."

"Yes of course." she handed him the bag and began to walk to the door.

"Safe journey Miss Kitty." Mr. Cadogan said as he helped her into the carriage and handed her the bag.

"Thank you, I shall see you in a fortnight."

"Until then." he smiled.

The carriage pulled away and Kitty leaned out the window to wave goodbye. The morning was pleasant and Kitty enjoyed driving through the country side. Fog slowly began to lift and the green hills could be seen much more easily. After a while, Kitty grew tired of sitting idle , so she opened her embroidery bag and worked on that until it began to get dark.

As dusk was breaking the driver informed Kitty that they would arrive very soonHer nervousness grew in her stomach again, but it was soon overcome by excitement. She couldn't wait to see Lydia's face and see how much she had changed in five years. This would also be the first time she would meet her young nieces and nephew, she was anxious to see them as well. The carriage stopped abruptly, she had arrived at the Wickham's home.