Kitty awoke abruptly some hours later. She had fallen asleep easily enough but now finding herself awake and in a strange bed soon began to feel more hungry than sleepy, and quite thirsty as well. She looked out the broad glass window and saw that it was not yet dawn. Her stomach was sending the signs that it badly wanted tea. Before pulling the bell she remembered Lizzy's warning that the servants would not be available this morning. She pulled on a thick dressing gown and shawl to fight the cold. After grabbing a candle she stepped into the large corridor.

She had not spent much time at Pemberley and was only vaguely sure where the kitchens were. She headed in the general direction, and along the way was reminded of the affluence that her sister Elizabeth had married into. She saw this wealth as a stark contrast to the scandal of her one time best friend and sister Lydia's marriage. She knew, from staying with Jane and her husband Mr. Bingley that Lydia frequently wrote and asked her married sisters for money to dispatch some bills. Looking amongst the tapestries, paintings, and thick curtains which hung throughout the corridors of Pemberley she thought she could safely say Elizabeth would never struggle for material needs or write her sister begging for a few quid. With a hint of jealously she also thought about the love that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy shared. Kitty saw the marriages of her two older sisters as ideal. She wished that someday she would be half as lucky as either of them. Just to be out of Longbourn and away from Mother's poor nerves and Mary's pious remonstrances would be happiness enough.

Some minutes later Kitty found the kitchen. It was a beautiful kitchen if one could be such, and showed the prosperity of its owner, as well as the pride of its cook. It was clean and orderly and she quickly found the tea things. She was not particularly adept at making fires and was glad to see one waiting to be lit in the stove. Just as she was putting the kettle on there was a knock at the kitchen door. With a feeling of domesticity she ran to open it.

"'ello miss. I've got the milk 'ere," a plump milkmaid said with a slight curtsey.

"Oh yes, of course please just put it where you normally do. The servants are all off this morning."

"Aye, miss," the milkmaid responded as she bent to pick up the milk bucket. Just at that moment another figure appeared. This one much taller, leaner, and quite a bit more handsome than the small round girl he stood behind.

"My god, I've been ringing the front bell for ages!" The man proclaimed as he walked past the two females and into the now warm kitchen, "this is quite unlike Mrs. Reynolds. Where is she?" he turned and addressed Kitty, as the milkmaid was busy with her work.

"I'm not sure, the servants all have the morning off," she replied.

"Well, good there is one of you here then, some tea please. I'm completely famished. I've ridden all night."

Kitty started to correct him when he turned and spoke to the milkmaid who was heading out the door, "have someone see to my horse please, he's tethered out front." The maid nodded and closed the door behind her.

Suddenly Kitty was alone with a gentleman who although not unpleasant, clearly thought her his inferior. As she poured out the tea in two cups she stole some glances at his person. She recognized him as Mr. Darcy's cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam; the new Earl of Matlock, as both his father and older brother had died in an accident last year. In fact the accident had been just a few weeks after her sisters' wedding. She wasn't surprised that he did not recognize her, dressed as she was in night clothes and robe, and a year since their last meeting. She had danced with him at her sisters' wedding celebration and remembered thinking him very good-natured.

He had removed his hat and coat and sitting on a stool looked over at her and before she could ask and said "just black please."

She carefully carried his cup across the stone floor. He was watching her and she suddenly felt self-conscious. She stood close enough to smell him, and after depositing the cup on the table he gently touched her arm and spoke, "Thank you, miss."

In response to being startled at the slightly inappropriate gesture she curtsied. My god, she actually curtsied! Her thoughts raced; What am I doing? I should correct him and remind him of who I really am! But there was a little of the old Catherine still in her and she decided against it. It wouldn't hurt to play a part and flirt a little.

"How's your tea, Mr…?" She trailed off to form a sort of question and smiled coyly at the tall man.

"Lord Matlock. Perfect thank you," he responded quickly and looked up at her. He saw the glimmer in her eyes and recognized it immediately. He hadn't spent the last year raking through London for nothing. Since the death of his father and brother, he had disappointed his mother and aunt repeatedly. He wasn't the most handsome man, but he was very kind and recommended himself easily to women. He was both rich and titled which added immensely to his attraction. He had an informal way of conversing, and was quite as tall and lean as his cousin, which combined with his kind manners made him a favorite among the young widows, and unhappy brides of London. He in turn found solace from his loss and grief. He had never expected to become Earl, and found it much easier to focus on friendly women than the pressure of his responsibilities.

"Are you hungry my lord?" Kitty was no stranger to flirting. She'd been out in society for some years, and had spent many an evening honing her skill amongst the red coats. Her father and older sisters had often accused her and her sister Lydia as being the biggest flirts in England. But that's as far as it went. Although she'd once had an innocent kiss with a young officer, she hadn't been nearly as misbehaved as Lydia.

Lydia however spared no detail from Kitty, and she was quite abreast on the happenings between men and women.

He raked his eyes up and down her figure. He was hungry. Very hungry, and he didn't mistake what this pretty maid was offering him. He stood and walked towards her.

"Yes, I am very hungry. And still a bit cold," he added as he reached out for her hands. He gently took them and kissed the tops of each while looking into her eyes.

Kitty was quite shocked, she'd only meant to innocently flirt, but at the same time she found his advances quite welcome. She only smiled back, and he was encouraged. He slid his hands up her arms and stepped forward. As their torsos came into complete contact with one another, he cupped her jaw in both hands and kissed her thoroughly. Kitty found herself enjoying the deep kiss. It was different from the one she'd shared with that young officer. It was warmer, more passionate. The pair were so engrossed that neither heard the footsteps in the corridor.

A shocked gasp came from somewhere, and the kissing couple quite slowly and unabashedly looked up.

"Catherine!" Her sister Elizabeth exclaimed. "Get to your room, now!" she admonished.

Kitty remember her conversation with her sister last night, and feeling the error of her way, blushed quickly. She really wasn't like Lydia! Surely she had lost Lizzy's respect now. She still stood with her body completely against Lord Matlock's. He didn't move away, and seemed in no hurry. Kitty felt her embarrassment rising and broke the embrace before shuffling past her sister and out of the room.

"Oh, go easy on the young maid Eliza," Lord Matlock said turning to her with a grin, "we were up to no harm. How are you cousin?" He asked smoothly.

"That young maid cousin, is my SISTER!" She turned quickly and stomped away without ceremony.

She had to find Darcy.