Kitty had probably stayed at Ria's house for far too long, but she felt refreshed having been able to confide in her dearest friend. It was just about time for afternoon tea as Kitty got back to Jane's house. She knew she was late so she decided to go right to the drawing room before refreshing herself from the dusty streets that morning. That way her sister would not worry about her whereabouts.
As she drew near the drawing room however she heard voices and realized that Elizabeth was still present. She walked nearer to determined if she was interrupting a private conversation or if she could enter.
That's when she heard her name…. "Jane you must not defend Kitty. Her behavior was very unpardonable yesterday. Why she fainted in order to take the attention of the duke away from Georgiana. She needs to understand that there is no way that someone with such a title would be persuaded to marry someone with so low of connections. We ourselves were fortunate to have wealthy gentlemen fall in love with us. A duke however, would never have looked at any of us, even you with your angelic beauty."
"Lizzy, if a duke were to fall in love with Kitty we need to not interfere. I disagree with you, I think Lord Devonshire was quite taken with Kitty. He did after all single her out for the first two dance sets."
"From pity Jane...He felt sorry for the damsel in distress. Don't you see that is what she was doing? She is trying to catch him in any means possible. I am sure she picked that up from Lydia."
"Lizzy!...How can you say that about her! I know in the past she behaved rather badly, but other than her fainting spell I am sure even you couldn't find any blame in her now. I am sure there is a perfectly acceptable reason as to why she fainted. Last night for example she didn't even come down to dine with us Lizzy, and this morning her eyes were rather puffy. I think she herself is embarrassed enough from the whole experience."
Elizabeth paused for a while before she acknowledged, "Well...Perhaps you are right Jane, but she better not interfere with Georgiana's suitors."
"Lizzy, don't you also hope for our own sister to catch a good match this season? I feel as though you are more concerned for Miss Darcy. And need I remind you that Miss Darcy will not have a difficult time finding a match, for she has a lot to recommend herself. But Kitty's education was even more lacking than our own. As her elder sisters who have married well, I feel it is our responsibility to help her. I had hoped you would be willing to help me with this."
"Of course I care about Kitty. But she needs to know her place in society. I myself would have never aspired to catching a Duke. You know all I have ever cared about was marrying for love."
"I know that Lizzy...however what if a titled gentleman fell in love with Kitty?...As well Lizzy we both know that even someone with all the right connections can be silly. Miss Darcy for example when she attempted to elope with Wickham."
"Jane I told you that in confidence, please be careful what you say in case the servants were to overhear!" Elizabeth interrupted.
"I am sorry Lizzy, just please try to think of our sister in a more positive light." Jane entreated.
Elizabeth agreed she would try although it didn't sound very sincere to Kitty. It did however placate her sister Jane and allowed the two elder sisters to part on mostly civil terms with one another.
Kitty rushed away from the door as she heard Elizabeth preparing to leave. She rushed to the staircase and made it out of sight just in time as the drawing room door opened. Kitty remained hidden by ducking behind the staircase when her sisters walked out heading in the opposite direction for the front door. Wow...Kitty thought that was enlightening. Her first thoughts were of how much Elizabeth seemed to dislike her and she felt very slighted. She would have thought Elizabeth would have noticed the difference in her personality back before she married Mr Darcy.
Jane however had defended her even though she didn't know all the details behind Kitty's fainting spell. She also seemed to have Kitty's best interests at heart. Kitty felt the desire to confide in Jane...only she held that idea aside for she wouldn't want Elizabeth to know. And her elder sisters were so close that if you told one, you could be sure the other would soon know about it.
That thought brought to mind what was said of Miss Darcy. She had tried to elope with Mr Wickham! That was shocking indeed. Most likely the young girl had allowed the smooth talking gentleman to talk her into such an endeavor. He of course had most likely been after her fortune, similar to how he tried to get her dear friend Ria's fortune. Elizabeth had even once been deceived by Mr Wickham, and therefore she didn't look at the young Miss Darcy in a negative way. But what right did she have to judge Kitty? Whom she hadn't even seen for close to a year.
Kitty's mood spiraled down as anger reared its ugly head. She knew she would need to forgive Elizabeth someday, but at the moment it seemed impossible. Her own sister thought she was a fortune hunter. Trying to steal suitors who would never give her a second glance because of her low connections and silliness. She would have loved to have defended herself…for she hated when she was called silly. But why had she lost Philip in the first place? Was it not from her silliness?
She felt the dreaded tears fill her eyes again and her body tensed up from all of the pent up anger and sorrow. Her anger however was primarily evident in her eyes as they danced with glistening flames and her brow scowled from the injustice of it all. It was the first time in her almost nineteen years of life that she look almost intimidating.
That was also the moment the Jane was returning form her farewell with Elizabeth. Kitty had not moved during that duration of time and Jane thought to search her out to see how her visit had been. She had been about to climb the staircase when she spotted her.
"Kitty… there you are..." she started saying and then stopped as she saw the anger upon her younger sisters face. They were not very far form the drawing room and Jane feared perhaps she had overheard her conversation with Elizabeth. "Oh….you overheard?" she quietly asked.
"Yes."
"I am sorry Kitty. It was very wrong of her to talk about you that way. I hope you are not mad at me too?" Jane said in a small voice.
This is what Kitty needed to snap out of her angered state. "Oh Jane.. of course not. How could I be? You defended me and I love you all the more for it. It is nice to know that a least one of my sisters is not always looking for my flaws. I wish I hadn't overheard, I just wanted to let you know I was back."
Jane nodded in understanding, placing no blame on Kitty for eavesdropping. She then tried to get Kitty to open up a little further about her feelings toward Elizabeth. She knew that in order for Kitty to forgive Elizabeth it was going to take a while, so as a person who likes to be a peacemaker she wanted to help. Kitty hugged her sister, she was always so sweet, but this was something that Kitty was going to have to do on her own. So she excused herself and spent the remainder of the day in her room. Working though her emotions and plotting out how she would be able to act normal around Elizabeth in the future.
The night of Miss Darcy's come out ball had finally arrived, most young women would be filled with excitement and expectations, perhaps even some jitters. Kitty did feel the jitters, however she was more filled with nerves than excitement. Her good friend Ria was not invited to the event unfortunately, so she felt as if she would be rather alone. She was glad to have Jane, but for the past two days she had been pushing Kitty to talk with her about Elizabeth. Kitty just wasn't ready to do that yet, her feeling still to raw from the abuse. She decided she would be able to act with decorum around her sister, but she was not planning on going out of her way in order to see her.
So as they entered the ballroom at Darcy house and were greeted by the Darcys, she appeared completely relaxed and poised. Completely contrasting her feelings of anger and hurt. For the last two days she had became even more irritated with her sister, why was she so judgmental of her where at the same time she was completely in support of Miss Darcy? After all Miss Darcy had planned to elope. Miss Darcy's demeanor was also still of a silly youthful disposition whereas Kitty held herself as a posed Lady.
It didn't make sense to her, so she pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind as she listened to what her sister Elizabeth was saying. "You look very Beautiful tonight Kitty. I am sure you shall have many dance partners before the night is out." she look so sincere as she said it, that Kitty almost forgot about her hurt for a moment.
"Thank you Lizzy." Kitty replied. She didn't say much else for there were others arriving behind them also waiting to great their hosts. This also gave Kitty the escape she had been hoping for to keep her conversation with Elizabeth brief.
Charles as Mr Bingley preferred her to call him and Jane led her further into the ballroom and introduced her to some of their friends and acquaintances. She noticed that there were a decent amount of single gentleman that they were introducing her to. Some were handsome whereas others were plain in appearance. Not that Kitty paid much attention to any of them. Her thoughts of trying to move on from her Captain Stanford and finding a husband were stunted after she saw him again. At the moment her goal was to survive her first two dances who just happened to be with him.
About an hour after their arrival Charles and Jane settled into a conversation with a Mr and Mrs Montgomery. It seemed that they were nearby neighbors of the Bingley's townhouse. And therefore the two couples seemed to know each other well. Kitty somewhat blocked out the conversation, only paying enough attention to respond if someone were to direct the conversation her way.
"I dare say Bingley, we should introduce Miss Bennet to my younger brother. He has declared he shall take a bride this year and I think he would like Miss Bennet, from what you have told me about her." Mr Montgomery was saying.
Kitty looked up in surprise as Charles responded, "Capital, I always did like your younger brother. How has David been? Last I had seen him he had just finished at Cambridge."
"He has been great. In fact he used his inheritance to purchase a small manor near Sussex I think."
Kitty was absolutely mortified, but she didn't know what to say to end the matchmaking. Who would have ever though one of her brother in laws would take it upon himself to search her out a husband. And his friend was not much better. So here Kitty was in the marriage mart, where women come to find their husbands. Only her desire to flee was growing by the second. Herfordshire was sounding better and better, even with her mother in residence.
Kitty glanced around her not realizing that the first dance set was about to start. Her mind was otherwise occupied trying to block out the conversation going on about her marriage prospects. That's is when she saw The Duke of Devonshire approaching. He wore an expression of awe on his face as he gazed upon Kitty. Kitty looked back nervously. She suddenly worried that her simple gown was to plain to stand up with him. He was after all a Duke. Her gown although simple was expertly made and the pastel shade of green Kitty had picked brought out the darker green of her eyes. The pearls she was wearing were of the finest quality, but to the ton the pearls were considered inferior to the diamonds almost all of the other ladies were wearing, including Miss Darcy.
To the Duke she looked perfectly elegant, without the need of the diamonds to set her apart from the other ladies in attendance. The ladies of the ton viewed their diamonds as their position in society and therefore they were always trying to outdo each other.
"Miss Bennet, I do believe our dance is about to start." He stated as he bowed in greeting.
"Your Grace" Kitty said as she curtsied. "You have met my sister Mrs Bingley. But let me introduce you to her Husband Mr Bingley and Mr and Mrs Montgomery...Mr Bingley, Mr and Mrs Montgomery may I introduce His grace The Duke of Devonshire." They all bowed in introduction and then the Duke offered his arm to Kitty in order to escort her to the dance floor.
"Miss Bennet, I hope you are feeling better since our tea a few days ago?"
"Yes, Thank you. I am much recovered." she replied. Their conversation after that seemed rather strained. Which after the way they had parted over a year ago was not completely unexpected. It was however strange for them both for they had so much they would have liked to say.
The dance set started after the men bowed and the ladies curtsied. Their silence remained steady for a few more minuets until the Duke broke the silence, "Come on now Miss Bennet. We have always been able to converse without problems. Tell me about your life for the past year."
"There is not much to tell about myself. My sisters all have news though. Your can obviously see that my two eldest sisters have married well. Then there would be Mary, she married the new Rector in Merryton. And then Lydia….She Married Captain Denny."
"Oh yes I had heard about Captain Denny's marriage. I think he has his work cut out for him. Your sister as I remember was very spirited."
"I guess that is one way of putting it..." Kitty said with a bit of irritation and then the dance separated them for a while. All of the dance couples turned and spun gracefully before coming back to their original partners.
"I meant no offense Miss Bennet. I would just like to renew your acquaintance." Kitty wondered what he could mean by that, but she was not brave enough to ask him.
"Please tell me we can be friends again Miss Bennet."
"Of course...I should like that." She replied although she looked terrified. The Duke wondered what she was terrified of. He had hoped to see her smile and her eyes dance in merriment like they used to at the assemblies back in Merryton. Kitty for her part wanted more than anything to enjoy dancing with her captain. But after the heartache she had experienced it was difficult to let herself.
Their dances then suddenly ended with the both of them looking at the other expectantly. Both waiting for the words they so desperately needed to hear. But it was not to be, for the other couples were leaving the dance floor and if they continued in their staring game they would have drawn much unwanted attention their way. So the Duke offered his arm and escorted her back to her sister Jane.
As they walked he said quietly said for her ears alone, "I—I am glad to make your acquaintance again here in town K-kate. P-please know that you still mean the world to me..."
Kitty had no time to respond as they reached her sister. She just looked up at him in shock as he bowed and walked away….
Please comment it keeps me motivated. Also thank you for correcting me on the correct address for a Duke. I have corrected the previous chapters. Anyways I hope you enjoy this chapter.