New chapter! Yay! Enjoy!
"I knew it! I knew that family was unsuitable!" Caroline Bingley paced before her seated siblings.
"Caroline, did you hear anything I just said?" Bingley asked from his place on the sofa.
She spun towards him. "Yes, one of the Miss Bennets' managed to entrap Mr. Andrews! If we are not careful, you or Mr. Darcy will be next!"
"You are being irrational. It was an accident! Louisa, please say something," he implored his oldest sister.
"Sister," Louisa began softly from her place beside their brother, "it truly does sound as though it was unintentional. There is no possible way she could have known Mr. Andrews was going to take a ride in that direction and at that time. These things do happen, though it is unfortunate that it happened to your friend, brother."
"You cannot both be serious?!" shrieked Caroline.
"Yes, Caroline, we are," Charles stood, wishing to bring the conversation to an end. "What is done is done. He will wed her on Monday morning. Before you say anything to the contrary, we shall still be hosting a ball. Andrews decided he would rather you hear the true story of the events before you hear the gossip. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth will still remain until Miss Bennet is well enough to return home. I will hear no arguments to the contrary."
Charles quickly escaped the room. Caroline was fuming as she paced. She finally stopped and looked at her sister. "Tell me you do not truly believe a word of that story."
"Caroline," Louisa tried to mentally prepare herself for her sister's temper, "I don't want to believe any of it, but I do not see why I should not. You and I both know, even from our limited acquaintance, that Lady Lucas embellishes her stories, and Mr. Andrews is an honest man as well as respectable. I also do not want to do anything that would upset him. We owe much of our good fortune to him and Mr. Darcy. It would not do to offend the man by adding to the gossip already circulating. As Charles has stated, what's done is done. Let it go. We shall do as we have been asked, and go about as if nothing has changed."
Caroline refused to meet her sister's eyes and was about to say something else when the door to the library opened. Louisa hardly stifled her groan when Miss Elizabeth Bennet stepped through the doors.
"Well, I imagine you are quite pleased!" Caroline sneered at her.
"I beg your pardon?" Miss Elizabeth startled, staring wide-eyed at the sisters.
"Caroline, you look tired. Why don't you go and have a rest before dinner," Louisa intervened. Caroline huffed and rushed past their guest. "Miss Bennet, I was about to call for some tea. Will you join me?"
Miss Elizabeth was clearly leery of the invitation, but accepted. Tea was called for and the ladies settled themselves.
"Miss Bennet, it is possible that I may receive the ire of the gentlemen of the house for what I am about to tell you, but since my sister seems to be having trouble controlling herself today, I feel it is best that I explain. I would hate for you to take issue over something no one has had any control of." Seeing she had Miss Elizabeth's attention, she continued. "As you may be aware of, Mr. Andrews decided to have a ride earlier today. His ride brought him near to your family's estate. He noticed a lady sitting in a tree and he went to investigate. I am unsure of all the details, but in an attempt to help your sister, Miss Catherine, they were caught in what appeared to be a compromising position by Lady Lucas."
The maid brought in tea at that moment. Louisa kept her eye on Miss Elizabeth. It was slightly satisfying to watch the color drain from her face. However, Louisa hoped she wouldn't have to call for assistance. Once they were alone again, she continued.
"Do not worry, Miss Bennet, everything shall be well. Mr. Andrews is to marry your sister on Monday and a scandal will be avoided."
"Marry?!" Miss Elizabeth exclaimed. "Kitty is seventeen! She's not ready to be married!"
"But married she will be. Surely you see that there is no other way." Louisa took a sip of her tea, then set her cup quietly and securely on the saucer. "If your sister does not marry Mr. Andrews, her reputation shall be in tatters, as well as that of your entire family. Despite the circumstances, it is most advantageous, wouldn't you agree? I daresay a connection to him will improve your family's standing greatly." She raised her cup to her lips again.
"You think this was done on purpose?" Miss Elizabeth glared.
Louisa smiled in return. "I did not say that. I only meant that regardless to how the marriage has come about, your family will benefit from it. Mr. Andrews is respectable, as well as a man of means."
The younger woman covered her face with her hands. She was clearly distraught. Only a moment later, she stood to take her leave. "I must speak with Jane. We must leave at once."
"I would advise against such an action, Miss Bennet. Leaving now would not help the situation. By staying, it shows that your family has the support of Mr. Andrews' friends and that all is well."
Louisa watched the brow of the younger woman rise in question. "Why would you want to help my family?"
"Politics," she stated truthfully. "Your sister is marrying a good friend of my brother's, one that I do not wish to offend. As his wife, your sister will now be a part of our circle."
Miss Elizabeth merely nodded, accepting her answer, and excused herself. Louisa called to have the tea cleared away and went to look for her brother. He would need to know that Miss Elizabeth was aware of the situation.
Elizabeth found her sister awake and sitting up. Smiling as he sister entered the room, Jane quickly realized that something was the matter. As was usual, Elizabeth told her of what she had learned.
"I know Mrs. Hurst is correct, but I can't help but feel as though we should be home. How could Kitty do something so thoughtless? And now she must marry," Elizabeth paced about the room.
"We do not know all the details, Lizzy," the elder tried to calm the stress in the room. "It sounds as though it was all a big misunderstanding. We should be grateful that his friends are handling the matter with such care, regardless of their reasons."
"Jane…" Lizzy turned to her sister with a scoff.
"And we should be thankful it was Mr. Andrews and not a less honorable man. He is kind; Kitty will do well with him."
"She barely knows him," Elizabeth was determined to get her sister to understand.
Jane would not be moved. "Not many are fortunate enough to know much about their spouses before they marry, Lizzy. We know enough, and what we know greatly recommends him."
Elizabeth remained silent. She knew there was nothing she could do, but she hated the idea that this could harm Jane's chances with Mr. Bingley. She also knew that, despite her silly antics, Kitty would not do it on purpose, so it would be better not to entertain the idea. They talked for a while longer. Together, they decided to return home no later than Saturday. After everything that had happened that day, Elizabeth requested to take her dinner with her sister that evening. No one saw her again until morning.
Andrews handed his coat to his man and strode into his study. He had just come from his solicitor, where the details of the contract he had discussed with Mr. Bennet were finalized. Now he only had a few personal details to handle, and he could return to Hertfordshire in the morn to prepare for the wedding. He sat and went about his business. He had to have been working for a little over an hour when his door opened.
"So Agnes was right, my grandson has returned. I thought you were going to be staying with Mr. Bingley, in his new home, until just before Christmas?"
"Hello, Grandmother," he greeted the older woman with a kiss to the cheek. "I was, but something came up. I will be returning to Hertfordshire tomorrow morning."
"Am I to know what spurred this sudden trip?" his grandmother shifted a few papers on his desk.
"Of course. I am getting married." He hid his smirk well when his Grandmother paused and quickly took a seat across from him. It was not often that one caught Margret Andrews by surprise.
"What do you mean you're getting married?!" her voice was raised.
"I mean that I am getting married… on Monday," he leaned back with a depreciating smile.
"Oliver, I think you had better explain. How did this come about?" she sat in one of the chairs situated in front of his desk.
It did not take long to tell her the tale of his engagement. After allowing her time to absorb everything, he grew annoyed when she started laughing.
"Oh, only you, my love! What kind of a lady is she?" she asked honestly.
"Truthfully, I do not know," he leaned forward, dismissing her humor at his expense. "She is not a malicious person, but she is naïve. I thought her as silly as her youngest sister, but she seemed to have a grasp on how serious the situation is. I do, however, know her education is severely lacking."
"Am I to assume you have plans to rectify that fact?"
He nodded. "I don't want to introduce her into London Society just yet. She is not ready. I plan to take her to Dalton, so that she may adjust to her new role."
"No wedding trip?" his grandmother arched her brow.
He shot her a look that told her he was not amused.
She rolled her eyes. "Do I need to make my way to Dalton, as well?"
"I would appreciate it, if you did. I doubt she has any idea of what it means to be the mistress of an estate such as mine. Mrs. Bennet does a fair job of running her household, but she seems to have put little effort into ensuring her daughters understand what would be expected of them. It is possible the two eldest daughters have been instructed, but I am certain the youngest three have not."
Margret sighed. "We shall have a lot of work to do."
"Yes. I have sent a letter to Mrs. Croft asking her to select a personal maid for Miss Catherine. Someone mature in age and disposition. Someone who will discourage the worse of her habits."
"Hmm. I suppose that is a start. Mrs. Smith was once a governess. I shall ask her where she thinks we should start."