Authors Note - - If you read chapter 18 before I edited it. I made a bit of a typo. Kitty does not want to end up like Lydia, and I know some people read it as I wrote it which is completely unlike Kitty's character! So sorry for the mix up! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks for reading!
Chapter 19
The first week at the Wickhams had gone by quickly. Kitty kept her nieces and nephew away from their mother as much as possible. Since Lydia didn't get off the couch for any reason, it wasn't difficult to keep them out of her way. Kitty loved spending time with them, and almost didn't want to return to London. But she missed everyone in London as well, her heart was torn.
Kitty woke and readied herself to take the children for a walk into town. Mr. Wickham had left each of his children one pound to buy something with and they were all eager to spend their fortunes. On the way downstairs, Kitty saw a letter on the table in the hall. Upon inspection, she discovered that the letter was for her, from Mary. She raced back into her room and quickly tore open the letter.
Dear Kitty,
We all miss you a great deal here in London. I hope you are doing well with Lydia and the children. You missed a most entertaining time last evening. Mr. Rawlins took us to the theater! Oh Kitty it was absolutely marvelous! I could write you sheets and sheets about it, but I shall spare you the details until you return. Just know that I have never enjoyed myself more in my entire life. Mr. Cadogan, Sophie and the Burtons came as well. Oh and Victoria Willoby. She clung to Mr. Cadogan in a most disturbing way, she is really quite attached to him. I wonder if he might not make her an offer of marriage. Lizzy and Jane are doing well also and send their love, they are glad to hear that all is well with the Wickham's. We were all quite shocked by your report of Lydia. But as I think upon it now, I am really not all that surprised. Do enjoy the company of Wickham and the children, and we shall see you soon.
Your Sister,
Mary Bennet
Kitty put the letter down, completely outraged by it's contents. Of course Mr. Cadogan won't propose to Victoria! Why would he, he doesn't love her! Victoria is far to snobby for a man like him, he would never be able to stand it. But, then she wondered why she cared so much. Realization suddenly flooded Kitty's mind. She began to remember all of her morning walks, and his protecting her at the ball and Hannah and, the feeling she felt when they had said goodbye. She loved Mr. Cadogan, that was why victoria had always irritated her so! But, how could she be so foolish? He vowed never to marry again, and he certainly didn't love her.
As she thought about Cadogan she was suddenly interrupted by the children. They had been waiting for her and were very anxious to go to town. Kitty smiled, and folded her letter. She would write back to Mary, leaving out of course the fact that she loved Cadogan.
"Good morning Kitty, children." Lydia smiled as they entered the kitchen.
The children mumbled good morning to their mother and sat in their places.
"Good morning Lydia, I am quite surprised to see you off the couch." Kitty laughed, walking to her place at the table.
"I must get things ready. Busy day!"
"What are you talking about?" Kitty asked, very confused by her sisters behavior.
"We are having guests for dinner! Including the gentleman I told you about in the letter."
"Really Lydia, I don't need to meet any gentleman." Kitty said, thinking of Mr. Cadogan as she spoke.
"Nonsense! Of course you do. No need to thank me though Kitty, I would do anything for you, my dearest sister."
Kitty was somewhat puzzled by her sisters new found energy but figured that the promise of more adult company was what made her so excited. This was much more like the Lydia she had grown up with, always excited for balls and parties. The chance to make herself seen by others.
"Mama, may we have dinner with everyone?" Sarah asked.
Kitty answered quickly, before Lydia had the chance. "Of course you may my dear."
Lydia gave Kitty a very unhappy look and then added to Kitty's answer. "If you promise to be on your very best behavior."
"We promise mama!" the three children said in excited unison.
"Very well then, now finish your breakfast, I have a lot to do."
Kitty sat and ate with the children. Once they finished, she took them into town to buy their trinkets. They returned home in the afternoon and all three children were required to rest for an hour, due to the party that evening. While they rested, Kitty fixed her hair and put her dinner dress on, so she would be able to help the children once they woke. Both girls were dressed in matching pink gowns which brought out the youth in their cheeks. Albert dressed in a small green suit which made him look quite the little gentleman.
"Kitty! Must you be so dressed up? Go change!" Lydia said, jealous of her sisters fashionable attire.
"This is all I brought Lydia, and I am not going to wear a day dress."
"Very well. Alright lets go downstairs, people should be arriving shortly." Lydia said, irritated by her sisters unwillingness to change.
They walked downstairs and got there just in time for the first knock on the door. Two people entered, a younger gentleman and lady. They were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Southwell. The gentleman looked sullen and not at all happy to be there. The lady on the other hand was incredibly boisterous and bubbly, she seemed to laugh at everything. Kitty had no doubt that this was one of Lydia's close friends.
As they stood and waited, four other couples entered the house. A Mr. and Mrs. Cassidy, Mr. and Mrs. Donivan, Mr. and Miss Clay, they were a brother and sister, and finally Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy. All of the couples were young all probably still within their twenties. Everyone looked elegant, but didn't act the same way. Kitty could tell that most of these couples lived far beyond their means, or gained their wealth through ways that were not honest.
"Kitty, let me introduce you to Mr. Clay, he is the gentleman who I particularly wanted you to meet." Lydia smiled.
"Lovely to meet you Miss Bennet, I have heard a great deal about you from your sister." he smiled.
"Good to meet you as well." Kitty said, with false excitement.
"Well I will leave you two to get acquainted." Lydia said, very happy with herself.
"Your sister really has been quite anxious for us to meet. I must admit that I had hoped that you would look a bit more like your sister, but I suppose you are pretty enough." he said, smiling. Revealing terribly disfigured teeth.
Kitty stood absolutely astonished by his speech. While she remained silent, he continued his appraisal. "I realize you have no wealth, which is a bit disappointing, but the connections you now have through your sisters husbands is quite appealing."
Kitty stood still silent in awe of this man's lack of social etiquette. Despite her silence and looks of complete un-interest, he continued. "And once we are married I suppose I shall be able to take well enough care of you, but do not think you will be buying any more dresses of that expense." he said, motioning to the beautiful dinner dress she was wearing.
"Married!" she said, finally breaking her silence.
"Your sister said that you were quite desperate when it came to finding a gentleman to married. So she has convinced me to marry you. You will do well enough for me, and I'd imagine that I am a great deal better than what you could hope for in a husband."
"A great deal better? What are you talking about, you have no idea who I am, how could you have any idea of what kind of husband I am capable of getting." Kitty said, trying to contain her anger.
"Well, from what your sister says you have never been able to find a man willing to attach himself to you. Probably because of your mediocre personality and looks that don't exactly attract a man at first sight."
"Did Lydia say that?"
"Well she hinted at it, but from my few minutes of talking to you, that is my assumption."
"Is it now."
"But fear not, I am willing to deal with such attributes in my wife. I figure that you will be good enough to bring my children into the world, and from what I have seen with your nieces and nephew, you are quite good with children, so I shall not be required to deal with them." he smiled. Kitty could not stand to look at his mouth due to the missing teeth she just noticed.
"You are unbelievable." she said, disgusted by his arrogance.
"Hopefully you will change your mind when we are married."
"We will never be married." Kitty said in unbelief.
"But Lydia assured me that you would not object to marriage, and that I should start the preparations."
"Lydia had no right to do such a thing. I would advise you to stop with whatever preparations you have started, because we will not be getting married, ever. I will not consent to a marriage to such a man, and I can equally assure you that my father would never allow it. Now, if you would excuse me, I am feeling unwell, I do believe I will take my supper upstairs." Kitty said, curtsying politely and then moving toward the stairs.
She gathered the children, explaining to them that they would be eating upstairs. The children followed her obediently because they had no interest in the other guests, but just wanted to be with their Aunt. And Albert had quite had enough of all the ladies touching his face and coddling him. He was quite glad to be going upstairs. Kitty informed the cook to have their supper sent upstairs and the children changed and met in Kitty's room.
They ate peacefully in Kitty's room, laughing and enjoying themselves immensely. After dinner, Kitty read to them for a while and then put them to bed. She went back to her room and answered her sisters letter, explaining what Lydia had done. Once she had finished, she spent some time silently thinking about Mr. Cadogan, wondering what he was doing now. Suddenly the door to her room burst open and Lydia stood in the doorway.
"What was the meaning of your behavior this evening? You did not even eat with us, and I know you are not ill. How incredibly rude Kitty Bennet."
"Perhaps not, but I was not going to sit there for an entire evening with Mr. Clay staring at me!"
"And what would be wrong with that?" Lydia yelled.
"That you would even ask me that question makes me wonder Lydia. You told him that I would marry him! What right did you have to promise him such a thing?" Kitty was furious with her, and began to yell.
"You are unattached and I gather you have no prospects. Why would you not marry him? I thought you would be happy."
"I do have prospects, and he is no gentleman! He looks as though he never baths, and he has no manners. Do you not believe that I deserve better than that?"
"I married a man who was untrusted by most, why can you not marry Mr. Clay."
"You were foolish to marry Wickham, and you did it on an impulse. You were young and he was most definitely not to be trusted, and still you married. You are so lucky that Mr. Wickham has changed his ways and become a good man. But we could not be sure Mr. Clay would do the same thing. And, even if he was a nice gentleman, I do not love him!"
"Love! You are to old for love, it is time to settle." Lydia laughed.
"I am just about the age Jane was when she married Bingley, and they were in love, and still are."
"You are foolish Kitty, you will never find that kind of love."
"I already have!" Kitty screamed, furious that her sister could be so unfeeling.
"I don't believe you."
"You don't have to. I don't know if he loves me or if anything will ever come of it, but knowing this feeling is possible, I will never settle."
"He doesn't love you." Lydia said in a cruel tone.
"Why must you be so against me? Why can't you be happy for me? What happened to my best friend, my sister?"
"She grew bitter and jealous, and you have grown lovely and intelligent. I hate watching people in happiness because I know I will never et it myself." Lydia said, beginning to cry.
"This is so selfish Lydia. And, you can be happy, you just need to enjoy what you have. You have been so blessed and you don't see it."
"I will never be happy, and that's all I ever wanted when I was young." Lydia sobbed.
Kitty stood and put her arms around her sister. Despite the fact that she was angry with her, she wanted to help. Perhaps Lydia didn't deserve her love, but Kitty gave it anyway, they were of course sisters. After Lydia stopped crying Kitty tried to understand what might make her sister happy.
The only idea Lydia seemed to have was to be away from her children for a bit. And perhaps she and Wickham could get away for vacation or just to be alone for a bit. Kitty thought that perhaps there was a way to help, and told Lydia that she would talk to Jane about it once she returned to London.
Kitty gained a bit of appreciation for her sisters circumstance after talking with her. But at the same time, she couldn't understand how those children wouldn't bring her joy. Lydia seemed to get off the couch a bit more in the last week Kitty was there, which made Kitty feel as though their talk had had some effect on her sister.
Friday came quicker than Kitty had wished. She would miss the children, and was almost afraid to leave them with Lydia. But, she was equally excited to go back and see everyone, especially Mr. Cadogan. The children cried as she got into the carriage and Kitty's eyes stung with tears as well. She promised the children that she would see them again soon, with that, the carriage pulled away and soon the house disappeared from view.
