Kitty oversaw the packing of her bags. They were leaving early the next morning for Longbourn. She had actually enjoyed the past few weeks. She had met the twenty-six families that called the area home. Out of all of them, Kitty had struck up a friendship with the wife of the man her husband considered one of his oldest and closest friends; Mrs. Julia Bates. She was a few years older than herself and had been married almost two years. Mr. Bates had met her at Bath. Her parents had a prosperous estate in Devon. Mrs. Bates was happy to have a new face in the neighborhood.

Kitty found most of the families to be pleasant enough, and she enjoyed visiting with them, but there were a few who did not appreciate her presence. Grandmother and Mrs. Bates had already warned her about them. One family in particular were the Willard's. The ladies of the family looked as though they found nothing pleasant about life in general. On the five occasions she had seen them, she never once witnessed a genuine smile from any of them. According to Mrs. Bates, they found it offensive that their most eligible bachelors found brides outside of the neighborhood. Kitty had been lucky to have Mrs. Bates by her side each time she encountered them.

In truth, she was sad to be saying goodbye to her new friend, temporary as it was. It had been nice making a friend who did not compare her to the rest of her family. She thanked Millicent for packing and helping her prepare for dinner. She exited her door and was met by Oliver. He walked her down to the front of the house to greet their guests for the night. The Bates were their only guests for the evening.

The Andrews greeted their guests and soon they sat down to dine. Grandmother dined with them also, as did Mrs. Smith. They were a merry group. They finished and the gentlemen remained while the ladies headed for the salon. Grandmother attended the piano forte accompanied by Mrs. Smith, while Kitty and Julia sat on one of the settees.

"So, tell me; are you excited to be returning to your family home? I know it has not been long since you last saw it."

"Honestly, I don't know. It has only been about six weeks, and I have already become accustomed to life here at Dalton. It is very different from Longbourn. We were not poor, per say, but my family home is not as grand as Dalton. Being the fourth of five daughters, the best was always reserved for Jane, which is her right as the eldest, but she has always shared her things. The dress I married in was supposed to be hers."

"I remember the first time we visited my family home. It was so awkward. I had no idea what my place was anymore. Several times my mother tried to order me about as she had before. It took a bit for me to adjust to being a guest. I even stayed in the guest suites, as my room would hardly have been accommodating."

"I am sure… oh my!" said Kitty, really taking in what her friend had said.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I just remembered something. Nothing for you to worry about. I, too, have wondered how I shall be treated. If it is a horrible experience, I can at least soothe myself with the thought that I shall only be there for ten days. We are to return home on the 2nd."

They laughed. Their husbands joined them a few moments later.

"And what are you lovely ladies talking about?" asked Julia's husband, Thomas. Kitty thought he was a very happy person.

"I was telling her about our first trip to my parents' home after we were married. I had asked Catherine if she was excited to be returning to her family home."

"Ah, yes. That was fun, wasn't it," he laughed.

"You certainly seem amused by it," added Oliver.

"I am. It was not a relaxing time in the least. I dread returning for another visit."

"Thomas!" cried Julia, amusement in her eyes.

"I am sorry, my love, but it is true. I have never met a man who was comfortable in their in-laws home. If it wasn't her mother fawning over me, her mother and sister were trying to put Julia back into the mold she once filled." The husband and wife continued to banter, but Kitty caught her own husband's eye. He was thinking about something. She figured she would hear about it soon; if not that evening, then at some point of their journey.

The party soon broke up and the Andrews saw their guests out. Millicent came and helped her ready for bed. Her maid left at her request and Kitty continued to sit at her dressing table, in her gown and robe, waiting for what she had come to expect in the last few weeks. As was her new norm, her husband knocked and entered her room.

"Catherine."

"Oliver, something was brought to my attention that I feel I must warn you about."

"That your family will try to treat you as they always do? I have thought of that, too, and I shall not allow it. If it is done in my presence, I will make my displeasure known."

"Well, that, but it is another issue. Longbourn is not Dalton. There are not as many rooms as we have here and my Aunt and Uncle Gardiner will be staying through to the New Year, as well."

He seemed to be trying to catch her meaning. She glanced away, though she knew her blush would be visible to him. She was only slightly used to his habit of visiting her after she had readied for bed. It didn't seem proper for him to see her in such a state, though he claimed it was more than proper, as she was his wife. The discussion she had opened with made her more uncomfortable.

"Ah," he said, finally understanding what she was trying to indicate. Kitty was grateful that she would not have to try and explain it further. "Yes. Whatever the situation we are presented with, we will handle it privately."

He said nothing more on the subject, though she wished he would.

"Are your things ready for our departure?" he asked.

"Yes. Everything is packed and ready to be loaded into the carriages."

"Good."

"Yes."

"Did you select any of the jewels to bring with you?"

"Yes. They have been packed and hidden. I am nervous about traveling with them." He had brought her several selections from his family's jewelry collection weeks before, telling her it was her right to wear them as his wife.

"They shall be safe enough. I will leave you to your rest. Goodnight, Catherine."

"Goodnight, Oliver."

He left and Kitty laid her robe aside and climbed into bed. Exhausted from the visit and conversations that evening, she blew out the candle and went right to sleep.

After the first day of travel, Kitty decided that she really didn't like long distance travel. Going to Town to visit her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner was alright, but two days on the road was enough to drive anyone mad. To top it off, her annoying husband truly did only stop at certain places. He stated that he would only stop for young children and expectant mothers; as she was neither, she could wait. Her glare seemed to amuse him. In retaliation, she asked several times if they had arrived at their next stop yet. His annoyance boosted her mood.

Finally, the landscape became more familiar. They passed a few people she knew and she would wave, trying not to laugh at their surprise at seeing her; their carriage was quite grand. They turned into the drive and the house came into view. Kitty smiled as a warm feeling built within her. She supposed she did miss the place. She saw the crowd gathering at the front. She spied her aunt and uncle standing at the back, likely curious about the man their niece had married. The carriage came to a stop, she took a deep breath, and readied herself to disembark.

Oliver watched his wife as she took in her familiar surroundings. Overall, she seemed happy to be back. This had been her home for the whole of her life, after all; it was only natural for her to have affection for the house. He looked out and saw those gathering outside the house. There were only two he did not recognize, so he decided they must be the Gardiners. They came to a stop and he watched her prepare herself. He exited first, turning back to help her down the steps. He, too, was curious about how her family would receive her. She appeared much more polished than when she left, and even in a little more than a month's time, her manner was more refined. He followed behind her as she greeted her family, her mother the most excitable of them all.

"Kitty! How well you look!" exclaimed Mrs. Bennet. "Such fine clothes! You have done very well for yourself!"

Oliver ignored her comment. He noted her sisters were looking at her in a shock, though he did not care for Miss Lydia's expression. She looked both jealous and calculating.

"And Mr. Andrews, it is wonderful to see you again! I am so glad you decided to come!" the matron continued, acting very familiar with him, which, he reminded himself, he should expect. He and Mr. Bennet greeted each other with a stiff bow. Oliver turned his attention back to his wife and her sisters. He did note that something seemed off with the eldest Miss Bennet.

"I am happy to see you again, Kitty," she said. "I am sorry I have not written as I should."

"As am I," said Miss Elizabeth, taking over greeting her sister. "We have no excuse other than we allowed ourselves to become a little distracted."

"It is alright. I found myself quite busy adjusting to being the mistress of an estate. It is not what I thought it would be."

Miss Lydia snorted. "It cannot be so very hard. But I am glad you are back. We shall have such a merry time! Everyone has been so boring. And you are married now! There is nowhere we cannot go!"

"I think you will find my wife's time is not all her own," Oliver cut in. "There are many friends she wishes to visit while we are in the area, and what time she has left, I fear, I will monopolize."

Even Catherine's eyes widened at the statement. He told her the night before they left that he would not allow her family to treat her as they had before, and privately he decided that he certainly wouldn't allow the youngest sister to try and influence her again. Miss Lydia's face morphed from shocked to glaring.

"Hello, Aunt, Uncle," said Catherine, drawing his attention to the new couple. She greeted them and then moved back to stand with him. "Mr. Andrews, allow me to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. Mr. Gardiner is my mother's brother. Aunt, Uncle, this is my husband, Mr. Andrews."

"A pleasure," Oliver said, giving them a proper bow. They smiled at him and returned the greeting. He liked the look of them.

"We are to dine with the Phillips this evening," said Mrs. Bennet. "I realize it is short notice, but your Aunt is eager to see you again and wished to claim your first evening."

Catherine stuttered a reply and Oliver restrained himself from rolling his eyes at her mother. This was not his home and he was subject to the plans of their hostess. He witnessed the jealous look of the youngest once more before he and his wife preceded her sisters into the house. When his wife had removed her pelisse and bonnet, her mother had exclaimed once more over her clothes. He was surprised when the woman looked near tears.

"Oh, you look so lovely, and so grown! You hardly resemble the girl I remember."

"Of course she doesn't, dear," said Mr. Bennet, "she is a married woman now."

It had not escaped his notice that the man had yet to greet his wife, yet she had not moved to greet him either.

They moved into the drawing room and took their seats. Tired of sitting, Oliver stood next to the fireplace. His wife was situated between her mother and aunt, her father and uncle taking the chairs across from them. The Miss Bennets' sat around the nearby table. He was proud as he watched his wife take her tea and answer the questions her mother showered her with. She was asked how her trip was, what her new home was like, and if she liked her new neighbors. She sat straighter than before and her answers were laced with confidence. She soon turned the attention on her aunt asking about her young cousins.

"They are well, now. They were most upset that they were not to come with us, but I agreed with Mr. Gardiner that I could use a holiday away. They shall be well cared for in the hands of my sister. I doubt they missed me ten minutes before they decided they much preferred the company of their cousins."

Everyone laughed. They chatted a few more moments before Catherine begged her leave. "If we are to dine with the Phillips, I would like to rest for a bit."

Her aunt volunteered to see them to their rooms. As they walked, the older woman began to speak softly to her niece. He noticed his wife visible relax at her words. He knew she had been stressed over the sleeping arrangements. Mrs. Gardiner led them up the stairs and down the hall.

"Since the children did not accompany us, I insisted you be given our usual rooms."

"Thank you, Aunt," his wife cried, embracing the woman.

"It is no trouble. Your uncle and I have been married for near ten years. It is no bother for us to share." She then led them to neighboring doors. He finally realized what had happened: the Gardiner's had relinquished their claim on the suites so he and his wife would not have to share bed chambers. Whatever their reasons for doing so, he was grateful. He may have been making steps to see that his wife was comfortable with simply standing in the same bed chambers, that didn't mean she was ready to share a bed, no matter how innocent.

He entered his room and found his valet, Marcus, already putting his things away. The room was simpler than he was used to, but it was clean and comfortable. He noticed the door he was sure led to his wife's room, knocked and entered. He found Catherine directing her maid and looking through her clothes.

"How about the green and crème? It would look lovely paired with the pearl and diamond parure," suggested the maid.

"I quite agree," he said, making his presence known to the room.

"Thank you, Lucy," said Catherine, "I believe I shall." The maid nodded and went about ignoring the couple. Looking at him, his wife spoke. "Is your room comfortable?"

"It is sufficient," he answered before leaning in, "I see your worries were for naught."

"Thank goodness. My aunt and uncle are the only ones I know to have ever used these rooms. I suspected, since they had been invited first, that the rooms would be rightfully theirs."

"It was kind of them. Well, I shall leave you now. Shall I collect you in time to leave?"

"Yes, please."

He nodded and went back to his room, wanting to enjoy the solitude while he could.

Yes, Kitty has a different maid travel with her; I didn't forget the name of her maid at Dalton. I have several chapters ready for this story, so be prepared to receive another soon. I simply want to stagger them a bit.