The Last Miss Bennet

Chapter 1

Miss Kitty Bennet, late of Hertfordshire, walked quietly in the park at Rosings, still trying to understand how she had come to visit that grand estate. One minute she was being taken to task by her mother for being the last unmarried daughter; the next she was being shown to an elegant room next to Georgiana's and her friend was telling her how they had come to be there together.

Georgiana had been corresponding with Kitty all winter, and was dismayed to hear how her friend had been much put upon by her mother. It did not help that Mary Bennet's marriage to the Earl of Trowbridge that winter had given Mrs. Bennet thoughts of grandeur where her second youngest was concerned. Unfortunately, her mother had wailed, Lizzy and Jane were both increasing and not attending the Season in London, else Kitty should have plenty of opportunity to meet eligible, titled men.

Kitty did not dare remind her mother that she had been in London in the autumn, sure her mother would consider her a failure. Mary, who had always been considered such, was now her mother's most precious child, supplanting even Lydia and Jane in her heart.

Miss Darcy had taken pity on Kitty and was about to tender an invitation to Pemberley when two things happened.

One, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, upon hearing Lizzy was with child, had visited Pemberley to put an end to her animosity, much to the Darcys' surprise and relief. Two, Mrs. Darcy had been extremely ill in the first few months of her confinement and Lady Catherine considered it prudent to take Georgiana to Rosings. Whether this was to keep her niece from being exposed to that aspect of childbearing, or to give Mrs. Darcy some peace and quiet, no one knew.

Georgiana, reluctant to leave her family, had insisted Miss Bennet be invited as well. She knew from previous experience that her cousin Anne was poor company. Lady Catherine, eager to discover why Miss Bennet had failed to take during the Little Season in London, when her sister had managed to snare an earl, agreed.

Mrs. Bennet, in awe of the great Lady Catherine, consented immediately. Kitty spent the next week listening to her mother harp on how privileged she was - not even Lizzy had been invited thus, having had to make do with the Hunsford parsonage. She must make the most of her time at Rosings, as Lady Catherine had made it known that her nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, would be in attendance.

Kitty found herself rolling her eyes every time the good colonel's name was mentioned. He was a nice gentleman and had been so kind to her and Mary, but she was not in love with him or he with her. Still, she was looking forward to seeing him once again. He would liven up Rosings, she was certain.

It was Miss de Bourgh, however, who was to liven up the visit. Kitty was taking a walk through the garden and when she rounded a corner on the path found a strange gentleman locked in an embrace with… Miss de Bourgh?

The lady looked less sickly than she had the evening before, and there was no evidence of her ever-present cough. In fact, there was no sound at all, Miss de Bourgh being decidedly lip-locked with the stranger.

Kitty, knowing she had not been seen, ran back the way she had come. She came around the hedged entrance to the garden and found herself being ploughed down by her cousin, Mr. Collins.

"Cousin!" she squeaked in surprise. She must not let him see Miss de Bourgh! Her horrid cousin would surely go straight to Lady Catherine who would, in turn, punish her daughter and possibly send Kitty and Georgiana to the parsonage or worse - Longbourn. Kitty's mission was clear: Keep Mr. Collins from discovering Miss de Bourgh and then keep Lady Catherine from discovering the strange man.

"How is Mrs. Collins?" she asked her cousin. "I was just on my way to the parsonage to visit the two of you together," she told him, trying to slip an arm through his without being totally repelled by him. "I have greetings to you both from Mrs. Bingley."

"How kind of Cousin Jane," he replied, looking over her shoulder at Rosings. "But I really must attend Lady…"

"And Mrs. Darcy," she added, dangling that plum in front of him. Mr. Collins paused and then shook his head.

"That is more than generous of Cousin Elizabeth, but…"

"And the Countess of Trowbridge…"

That did it, for certainly a countess must be courted for her connections, where a mere baronet's widow, albeit the daughter of an earl, must wait. He escorted his cousin to the parsonage as quickly as possible. Kitty did not even mind the hour she was forced to sit with Charlotte and the simpering Mr. Collins.

Later, her short-term objective taken care of, Kitty knew she had to bring Georgiana into her confidence.

"She what?" Georgiana exclaimed that afternoon when Kitty told her everything. "Who is he?"

"I have no idea."

"Aunt Catherine will not be pleased. She might even take us all away to separate them."

"Oh?" Kitty started getting ideas. "Take us away? To London for the Season, perhaps?" Her eyes were alight with the possibilities.

"I doubt it," Georgiana said gloomily. Having gotten a taste of London a few months ago, she had lost some of her shyness, although she still had a great fear of Almack's.

"What a shame. If your cousin was introduced to society, her health might improve."

Georgiana sniggered. "Sounds as if she's had a miraculous recovery already."

"Do you have any influence over your aunt?" Kitty wondered.

"I doubt it."

"Hmmm…" The wheels in Kitty's head began to turn.

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"You are looking particularly intent this evening, Miss Bennet," Lady Catherine snapped at Kitty after dinner.

Kitty started slightly - she had been staring rather hard at her hostess. She was relieved that her cousin was not present, though. Having to hear him apologize for her would have been almost too much to bear.

"I beg your pardon, Lady Catherine. I was only wondering how you maintain such a commanding presence. I should wish to be exactly like that."

Lady Catherine preened, always pleased to be the focus of frank admiration.

"Someone of my exalted position has to be constantly on her guard, Miss Bennet, lest her countenance slip. How astute of you to notice and wish to emulate me."

Kitty could only nod and look at Lady Catherine. Had she caught Georgiana's eye, she would have burst out laughing.

"I like you, Miss Bennet. You show a remarkable sense of respect much lacking in your other sisters. I am most pleased to have thought of inviting you to Rosings."

Georgiana started to protest, but Kitty nudged her slightly and she stayed silent.

"Thank you, Lady Catherine. You are too kind." The colonel joined them at that moment, and the conversation turned to other subjects.

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"You're playing a deep game, my girl," the colonel said the next morning as he went for a walk in the woods with Kitty and Georgiana.

"I am?" Kitty asked coyly.

"Aunt Catherine was full of advice this morning on how you must become just like her.

"Oh, that! It's just part of my plan to - " She stopped in her tracks, for there, in the copse ahead, was Anne de Bourgh kissing that same stranger. This time there was no turning back.

"Well, well, little cousin," the colonel said, strolling up to Anne with an odd gleam in his eye. "Won't you introduce us to your friend?"

Anne stammered for a moment and roses bloomed in her cheeks.

"Er, Mr. Bromley, my cousins, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Miss Darcy, and Miss Darcy's sister-in-law, Miss Bennet…"

"Charmed," the colonel said dryly. Anne hung her head. "We were just heading back to Rosings, Cousin Anne. Won't you join us?" There was nothing kind in his look and she nodded.

Kitty held out her arm to offer support to Miss de Bourgh, Georgiana very gingerly taking the colonel's arm. No one spoke in the face of the colonel's anger.

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"Colonel!" Kitty hissed as she hid in an alcove leading to what she called Lady Catherine's 'audience chamber.' The colonel, coming to tell his aunt about her daughter's behavior, paused.

"Miss Bennet?"

Kitty reached out, took his hand and pulled him into the alcove with her.

"Must you speak with your aunt just yet? If Miss de Bourgh gets into trouble with her mother, we shall be stuck here forever."

The colonel raised one eyebrow. "You wish to be somewhere else?"

"London! Mr. Darcy was to have me enjoy the Season with Georgiana, and I was so looking forward to it."

"Hence the campaign to win over my aunt's affections, Miss Bennet?"

Kitty grinned. "Am I that obvious?"

"Oh, no. I don't believe even Georgiana realizes the depths you've sunk to remove yourselves to London, you sly little puss."

"Then you won't inform your aunt of your cousin's indiscretions?"

The colonel thought about that for a moment. "I have an idea, Miss Bennet, that will not only separate Anne from her admirer, but will put my aunt on guard against future fortune-hunters as well."

"I should like to hear it, sir."

"It goes like this…"

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The Battle of Rosings, waged that evening at dinner, fortunately, was won almost before it was begun.

The colonel started by telling his aunt about Anne and her beau just as soon as Lady Catherine began to eat her soup.

"We saw Anne in the garden this afternoon, Aunt," he said conversationally from his seat of honor on her right. "I was pleased to see her in good enough health to be locked in an embrace with an unidentified gentleman." There was no reason to give the man's name, not to his aunt.

Lady Catherine's spoon clattered into her bowl.

"I am sure you must be mistaken, Nephew. Anne is far too ill to be outside." As if to accentuate her mother's words, Anne coughed delicately into a handkerchief. She glared at her cousin, however, as her mother looked down to retrieve her spoon.

"I believe Cousin Georgiana and Miss Bennet will agree, Aunt, it was Cousin Anne who was kissing the gentleman, although I do use the term loosely."

Two spoons fell to the table and Georgiana caught hers just in time to keep it from doing the same.

"If you do not quit making these accusations against Anne, Nephew, I shall have to ask you to leave Rosings," Lady Catherine insisted, glancing up in time to see her daughter sticking her tongue out at the colonel. She had fixed her niece with a steely stare. "Is this true, Georgiana?"

Georgiana worked her mouth open and shut a couple of times before nodding, ignoring Anne's angry expression. Mrs. Jenkinson, who alternated between outrage and sheepish embarrassment for not keeping a better eye on her charge, hung her head.

"I cannot believe this!" Lady Catherine exclaimed, her face mottled red with rage. She turned to the colonel. "You brought this to my attention, sir - you may advise me on how to deal with this… this… mushroom who dares attack my daughter in broad daylight! In the garden!"

The colonel coughed lightly to cover a small smile.

"We could report the er, 'attack' to the authorities, of course, but then Anne's good name would suffer, no matter the lady's innocence. I think the best thing to do is take the young ladies away from here for awhile. Bath, perhaps. The company there is superior, and Anne can take the waters - we would not want a relapse of her improved health, would we?"

"Bath?" Lady Catherine said indignantly. "Bath? I should as soon take my daughter to Edinburgh! No, it will have to be London."

"London!" Kitty said just loud enough for Lady Catherine to hear.

"London? Oh, no, that wouldn't do at all," the colonel interjected. "Why, the air there alone would ensure Anne's miraculous good health would all be for naught."

"But Miss Bennet should like to go!" Lady Catherine replied.

"Miss Bennet is at our mercy," the colonel reminded his aunt. "She may either go with us to Bath or return to Meryton."

"Us?" his aunt queried.

"Of course. I cannot allow you to go unescorted while I am in residence, and I am still on holiday. Why would I stay here by myself? I could always rejoin my regiment, but it is, sadly, in London. I beg of you, Aunt, please do not take us to London."

Lady Catherine gave him a rather malicious smile. Now that Darcy had been reinstated as her favorite nephew, the colonel had been relegated to his usual subordinate position.

"You, sir, could remain here by my leave, or go to Matlock, if London is abhorrent to you; Miss Bennet wishes to go to London, and I am of a mind to take her there. If Anne should take ill, the finest physicians are to be found there, as well."

"But…" the colonel began.

"No, my mind is made up. We are going to London."

Chapter 2

Kitty found herself in London a few weeks later, comfortable settled in the Matlock townhouse. Lady Catherine, not wanting the expense of something she would get little use of, did not keep a house in town. She had, however, bullied her brother into letting her use his establishment. Kitty had to admire the lady - she had even convinced the earl to foot the household bills.

Kitty liked her pretty blue and white bedroom, and the green and gold salon was elegance itself, but the sunny little breakfast parlor, where she dined every morning with Anne and Georgiana, was a delight, even though it reminded her of home.

"What shall we do today?" she wondered that morning.

Georgiana put down the toast she had been spreading with marmalade, and smiled.

"We must visit the modiste. Our new gowns for tonight's ball are to be ready today. Anne will be so lovely in that rose-colored silk, won't you, Anne?" Georgiana looked over to where her cousin was reading the Morning Post and saw no sign of life except for a pair of whitened knuckles clutching the sides of the pages. "Anne?"

Kitty and Georgiana watched in horror as Anne toppled sideways out of her chair, having fainted. The newspaper slowly fluttered to the floor in her wake. Kitty was the first to react. In no way must Lady Catherine know her daughter had fainted - Kitty had no desire to visit Bath or go home.

"Quick! Guard the door! Don't let anyone in, especially not the servants!" she instructed Georgiana, but it was too late. The colonel had arrived, hoping to break his fast with the three young ladies. He told a footman in the hall that he could announce himself in his father's home even as he was pulled into the room quickly by Georgiana.

"Why, cousin! I didn't know you missed me!" He noticed his cousin on the floor. "What the devil is wrong with Anne?" He ran to her side and watched while Kitty attempted to revive her.

Georgiana, wanting to help, retrieved the newspaper and settled it back on the table. It opened to a list of engagements and nuptials, and in the third column was Mr. Bromley of Kent, announcing his marriage to a Miss Elaine Farnham, also of that county.

"Oh, no!" Georgiana was now well aware of what had caused her cousin to faint. As quickly as she could, she showed the colonel the offending notice. He blanched and then turned red with rage.

"The cad! Anne has been out of his grasp for less than a month and he manages to snare an even greater heiress! That money-grabbing, mercenary…" He curbed his mutterings as Anne made sounds of returning to consciousness. He also had the presence of mind to toss the newspaper into the fire. As Anne was made to sit up by Kitty, the colonel pulled her into his arms tenderly and settled with her upon the window seat.

"Strong tea, if you please, Miss Bennet… Georgiana, our cousin's shawl…" Used to being obeyed, the colonel thought nothing of the ladies jumping to do his bidding, concentrating instead on Anne.

"Are you quite the thing now, cousin?" he asked kindly. Anne nodded.

"Thank you, sir, I am." But she looked as if she would burst into tears any moment. The colonel waved Kitty and Georgiana out of the room, frowning when Georgiana stopped for her toast. When they had left, he turned back to Anne.

"If that poor excuse for a gentleman even comes near you again, there won't be anything left of him to ship back to his wife! I beg your pardon, cousin. I did not know the depth of your feelings for that scoundrel," he said contritely as she began to sob, the tears staining the front of his coat.

Holding her gently while she cried, the colonel knew he had to do something to make Anne forget Bromley and discover that her perfect match was, indeed, right under her dripping little nose. Literally. Handing her his handkerchief, he uttered soothing syllables and let her have her cry.

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Mrs. Caroline Morris-Smeeth, nee Bingley, smiled coyly as she waltzed with Lord Litchcombe, who was easily the most handsome gentleman at Lady Teaberry's ball. The former Miss Mary Bennet could keep her rather quiet and studious earl - this charming baron who held her almost too indecently in his arms was her newest goal. What woman could resist his blue eyes, golden hair and body like a Greek statue? Certainly not Caroline.

Bored with her role as the wife of a country parson - and to one even more repellent than Mr. Collins, if that was possible - she had prevailed upon her sister, Louisa, to deliver her from the evil that was her new life. Now she was back in London and ripe for an adventure. When she had met Cameron Whitten-Whyte, Baron Litchcombe, the evening before at Almack's, she knew she was ripe for a seduction, as well.

Louisa, of course, had warned her earlier that day not to get too involved with the "Bachelor Baron," as he was known.

"He prefers married women, it's true, but he discards them on such a regular basis, I couldn't begin to tell you who he is currently seeing."

Actually, Cameron was not linked to anyone when he met Caroline, but he knew he had discovered his next conquest. In fact, the tall, dark-haired lady he had encountered at the assembly fairly screamed "neglected wife," and that was one crime he did not like to see unpunished.

"I wondered, Mrs. Morris-Smeeth," he said to her as they waltzed at the Teaberry ball, "have you had the privilege of viewing Lady Teaberry's Chinese Room before?"

"Rooms done in the Oriental style are nothing new," Caroline said densely and sniffed.

"I think you fail to see the significance of this particular room, Mrs. Morris-Smeeth." She had never had an affair before or was seriously dicked in the nob, Cameron thought. Or both. Aloud, he only laughed and explained that Lady Teaberry's Chinese Room was privately located on the other side of the house, and it had a door that locked. His plan was to give this woman a quick try, and if he liked her well enough, he would make arrangements to take her to a little love nest he owned just outside of London.

That was the plan. Whispering instructions in her ear, he suggested they go separate ways as soon as their dance ended, with both of them meeting shortly in the appointed room.

"I'll go now," he said softly as he escorted her over to Louisa, who glowered at him. "You excuse yourself to the retiring room in about fifteen minutes."

Caroline's eyes sparkled as she thanked him kindly for the dance.

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Lady Teaberry's ball that evening was a strained affair for the de Bourgh party. Anne kept her lips in a straight line and she was pale, prompting her mother to declare Bath might have been the better choice after all. Georgiana was worried about her cousin and Kitty was worried about Bath. The colonel, providing escort to the ladies, was worried about Anne. He was also worried about Miss Bennet and her fertile imagination. No doubt she had a plan for all this, and as it directly concerned Anne, he tried to prepare himself for the worst.

"I don't see why you had to drag us over to this out-of-the-way place just to discuss Anne," the colonel protested later as Kitty and Georgiana pulled him into one of Lady Teaberry's empty rooms. Georgiana was busy coaxing her cousin to sit and listen to Miss Bennet's plan, while Kitty locked the door to prevent interruptions and stood there for a moment gaping at the Oriental décor. The room had a rice-paper screen, Chinese drawings on the walls and a large lacquer cabinet in cinnabar red.

"It's rather simple, really," Kitty said, startled out of her observations when Georgiana called her name. "We need gentlemen to pay court to Anne to keep us here, Anne needs some positive male attention to distract her, and there are rakes out there who have entire families waiting with bated breath to see the head of their clan linked romantically with such an heiress. It's an ideal situation!"

"Miss Bennet!" the colonel exclaimed. "I refuse to go along with this preposterous scheme. There's too much danger in it for Anne. What if one of those men decides to take advantage of her? What if she falls in love with one of them?"

"But Colonel Fitzwilliam," Kitty protested, "we need your help! Georgiana and I only know one rake between us, and the further he stays away, the better!" Georgiana nodded her agreement.

They were just about to argue the point again when the door handle wiggled and a woman's voice called out a name - Lord Somebody or Other. The colonel raised a hand, motioning for the ladies not to say a word.

The voice became louder and the knob rattled in an alarming fashion, but neither Kitty nor Georgiana could make out the words or the voice. They all waited quietly until the lady in the hall went away, at which point the colonel said they had better return to the ballroom.

He told the girls that the discussion was now closed - there was no way he was going to introduce them to a rake or a rogue - and suggested they return separately, so as not to arouse too much suspicion. He offered an arm to Georgiana, saying he would take her as far as the main hall. He suggested Kitty take the straight route and meet them by Lady Catherine.

Kitty watched as the cousins left the room together and then she went back the way she had come.

After she left the Chinese Room, Cameron climbed out of the lacquered cabinet, eager to unfold his long legs. So the mysterious Miss Bennet needed rakes and rogues to pull some Anne or other out of the doldrums, did she? The idea was as intriguing as the sound of Miss Bennet's voice. And he had two clues as to the whereabouts of this mystery lady: her name and the fact that one of her companions was a colonel.

All thoughts of Caroline having flown right out of his head, he adjusted his cravat and left the Chinese Room in search of a special someone who knew all the latest on-dits. His mother.

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Caroline, hiding just around the corner, was angry. Litchcombe had directed her to that room only to refuse her entrance. Then an idiotic footman waylaid her to escort her back to the ballroom. If that wasn't enough, when she looked again, she saw Miss Kitty Bennet leaving the Chinese Room.

Eager to see who she had been locked in there with, Caroline waited, only to see Litchcombe leave not too long afterward. Adjusting his neckcloth!

It was not to be borne. Miss Bennet - one of the despised Bennet sisters - was ruining her plans. However, if she could get some proof that the little upstart was doing something scandalous with the baron… Caroline was determined now to make them both pay.

Chapter 3

Contrary to popular belief, Lady Catherine did have friends, and some of them even lived in London, at least during the season. The arrival of Lady Catherine in town, then, was a reason for any number of people to call on her every afternoon. That Anne was an unknown entity, and a source of curiosity, only added to Lady Catherine's popularity.

Not only that, the young ladies and their brothers who had formed acquaintances with Kitty and Georgiana the previous autumn were in attendance. The house soon overflowed daily with people.

Into all of this strolled Lord Litchcombe the day after the Teaberry ball, having spent the morning making inquiries of his mother.

"I can't even begin to wonder why you want to know a young lady's name and whereabouts, Cameron, darling," Lady Litchcombe said as she and her son chatted over their morning chocolate.

Litchcombe shrugged. "I overheard something last night that amused me greatly and I want to know more. The elusive Miss Bennet can tell me."

"Well, the only Miss Bennet I know of is a sister-in-law to Mr. Darcy… and he is not in town. His wife is increasing."

Lady Litchcombe was a pretty, petite blonde who resembled a little china doll as she sat in her private sitting room in a silk wrapper. She certainly looked much too young to have a 25-year-old son, but she had a full social life and could be counted on to know all the latest on-dits.

"Come to think of it," she added, reaching for a piece of toast, "I had heard Mr. Darcy's sister was here, but she's with her aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh."

"Lady Catherine?" Litchcombe made a face.

His mother nodded with a rueful smile. "I'm afraid so. However, if you are intent on finding this Miss Bennet, perhaps you could visit Miss Darcy at the Matlock's. Lady Catherine is Matlock's sister, you know, and she is using their house this season. Their second son, Colonel Fitzwilliam, also is in town."

"Colonel?" Litchcombe sat up straight in his chair, causing his startled mother to drop the jam spoon in alarm.

"Yes…"

"The Matlock house sounds like a good place to start," was all he said.

That was easier than he thought. Lady Catherine was indeed at home that day, a footman told him when he called that afternoon, taking the baron's card into his employer's sister.

"Litchcombe?" Lady Catherine said upon reading his name. "He's a rake! A rogue! I have no earthly idea why he is calling, unless his silly little mother has sent him… Send him up," she told the footman with a sniff, curious despite her misgivings.

Kitty, sitting nearby, was instantly on the alert. A rake was just what she needed for her plan, one she was determined to see happen despite Colonel Fitzwilliam's disapproval. Her belief in her plan became even stronger once she caught sight of "The Bachelor Baron."

All conversation died when Litchcombe strolled into the room, but he blithely ignored the stares as he made his way unerringly to Lady Catherine.

"Litchcombe," she said haughtily, but in a voice only he could hear. "I'm surprised you aren't off visiting a brothel or sneaking out of some married lady's boudoir right now. How kind of you to give up the pleasures of the flesh to call. And why have you called?"

Litchcombe laughed, knowing the lady thought the worst of him and not really caring. However, a pretty brunette with a cheerful smile poured out some tea for a guest at that moment and he thought she might be Miss Bennet. He proceeded to charm his hostess, his efforts culminating fifteen minutes later in the hoped-for introduction.

"Miss Bennet," Lady Catherine called imperiously, bringing the brunette to her side. "Lord Litchcombe wishes to make himself known to you. Why the worst rake in Christendom wants to do that, I have no idea," she added, bringing a speculative gleam to Kitty's eyes. "I will give you a few moments leave to converse with Miss Bennet," she said to the baron. "But only a few moments." She did not mention Anne or Georgiana, not wanting them exposed to such a reprobate as he. Miss Bennet, she surmised, could handle him better than her daughter or her niece.

She would have ordered both of them out of the house if she knew what Kitty and Litchcombe planned.

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"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Bennet."

"I cannot imagine why."

"Let us just say I was privy to your conversation last evening with Miss Darcy and the colonel."

Kitty's brown eyes grew wide. "How could you possibly…"

Litchcombe chuckled. "I think your idea has merit, too."

"You do?" If possible, Kitty's eyes became even rounder. "I thought so, too, but Colonel Fitzwilliam…"

"You do everything the colonel tells you?" he wondered innocently.

"No, not usually."

"Someone who schemes like that probably would not follow orders very well."

"Scheme? I do not scheme," Kitty said rather haughtily. "I only try to rearrange people and situations to suit my own plans."

Cameron laughed out loud, causing all eyes to turn their way. Lady Catherine started to frown, but Colonel Fitzwilliam was announced, drawing her attention away from the plotters.

He scanned the room as he approached his aunt. Anne was absent, Georgiana was surrounded by a group of very young ladies and Miss Bennet was enjoying a tete-a-tete with Litchcombe.

Litchcombe?

His countenance was grim as he sat down next to his aunt and accepted a cup of tea.

"What is he doing here?"

"Making the acquaintance of Miss Bennet," Lady Catherine said stiffly.

"He did not ask after either Anne or Georgiana?"

"No. Nor will I let him. You must have a word with him, nephew. I won't have him dangling after Miss Bennet any more than I would the other gels."

"He's not going to dangle after her, aunt. That's not exactly what he has in mind…"

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"They are basically the same thing, Miss Bennet," Litchcombe pointed out to her.

"But it sounds better my way," Kitty said with a grin.

"What would you say if I tell you I wish to help?"

"You? Help?" Kitty looked at him suspiciously. "What is there in it for you?"

"What do you get out of it, yourself?" Litchcombe asked instead. "Miss de Bourgh is not your relative except by some tenuous link through your sister's marriage."

"My, you have done your homework," she teased. She really wished for his assistance, however, and she explained the situation. Litchcombe appeared amused.

"Home is not an option, and all your sisters have their own lives… To want to remain in London is reasonable enough. You have a better chance of finding some poor nodcock looking for a wife."

"I have no wish to marry just anyone," Kitty said with a sniff. "My younger sister married in haste - and while she is not quite repenting in leisure, I have no wish to repeat her mistake. All three of my brothers have contributed to a dowry for me, and although it is not a fortune, it is enough where I may be selective and marry to suit myself. Hertfordshire, unfortunately, holds few matrimonial choices, and also contains my mother. She would have me married off yesterday if she could."

"We must meet again," Litchcombe said suddenly, seeing Fitzwilliam headed in their direction.

"The colonel escorts us to Hyde Park this afternoon," she said. "Look for Lady Catherine's barouche, with the colonel on horseback."

Litchcombe rose and brought one of Kitty's hands to his lips. "Your servant, Miss Bennet." He nodded to the colonel, bowed respectfully to Lady Catherine and left without a word to anyone else.

The colonel was about to make a disparaging remark concerning Litchcombe, but Kitty turned to him with such a bland expression, he decided she was just as annoyed with the baron as he was. He made himself agreeable to her instead.

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The early spring afternoon was chilly, but bright, as Kitty, Georgiana and a reluctant Anne rode in the carriage, the colonel at their side.

Kitty wore a pretty pale blue pelisse and matching bonnet Lizzy had bought her last year, and was pleased to see the style was not yet outmoded. Georgiana resembled an English rose in pink and Anne wore a muddy shade of brown that did nothing for her coloring.

The colonel did not seem to notice, but Kitty had already sensed a more-than-cousinly attachment on the colonel's part - there was no need to present a pretty Anne to him. He was already sold. But to sell everyone else? Anne was going to need some help.

"It's a beautiful day to be outdoors," Kitty said to no one in particular. Anne smiled thinly, but Georgiana broke out into a wide smile.

"Oh, yes! Lovely! Too bad tonight is Almack's…" She frowned. "I am not fond of the assemblies."

"I agree," Anne said faintly. "I shall ask Mama to excuse us all." She glared at Kitty, who looked stricken. They had reached the park at that point and their progress was slowed considerably by the press of fashionables out for a promenade.

Kitty wondered how Lord Litchcombe was going to find them in the crush when she heard the colonel groan and saw the baron headed their way.

"It appears you have made a conquest, Miss Bennet." The colonel did not sound impressed.

Kitty shrugged as the baron approached.

"We meet again, Miss Bennet. Fitzwilliam. May I be introduced to your lovely companions?"

"Lord Litchcombe, Miss de Bourgh and Miss Darcy. Anne, Georgiana, Lord Litchcombe."

Georgiana smiled. How could she not when a tall blonde god on horseback had descended from Olympus to speak to mere mortals? Anne sniffed - a habit of long-standing that more than had its uses - and nodded. It was Anne, however, who was addressed by Litchcombe.

"Do you attend Almack's this evening, Miss de Bourgh?"

"Oh, yes!" Georgiana piped up. "My aunt plans for us to go!" She ignored her cousin's stare and smiled at the baron.

Kitty panicked. What if Litchcombe took it into his head to pay his attentions to Georgiana and not Anne? The colonel and Mr. Darcy would have her head.

The gentleman in question only said politely that he hoped to see them there and asked Anne for a dance.

"Me?" she blurted. "You want to dance with me?"

The colonel started to protest, but closed his mouth when Anne agreed.

As soon as he had secured the dance, Litchcombe moved on. The colonel waited until he was out of earshot before asking Anne for a waltz, to which she graciously assented.

Georgiana was rather put out that neither gentleman asked her for a dance, and pouted the rest of the afternoon. Kitty, not having been solicited for dances, either, was rather put out herself.

Chapter 4

Kitty loved Almack's. She loved the elegant clothes, the glittering jewels and the loud chatter. She loved the music and dancing, and she loved making fun of the insipid refreshments. Most of all, she loved to watch the patronesses of the establishment.

Lady Jersey, the ringleader, was a gossipy busybody. Mrs. Drummond-Burrell was a dragon. The Countess Lieven, the wife of the Russian ambassador, was fond of intrigue, and Kitty would be a hypocrite if she said she did not admire that lady.

The nicest patroness, according to rumor, was Lady Cowper. What was more, she had taken a liking to the young ladies in the de Bourgh party.

"I've been waiting for you in particular, Miss Bennet," the patroness said with delight when Lady Catherine introduced her three charges.

"My lady?" Kitty asked in some surprise.

"I'm not the only one," Lady Cowper added with what sounded mysteriously like a giggle. "You shall see…" She fussed over Georgiana, saying the young lady looked like an angel in pale blue silk. She complimented Anne's hairstyle, as there was not much else nice to say - Anne was in a smoky gray lustring that met with only her mother's approval. Kitty was also singled out for her fashion sense, having chosen a primrose gown with golden threads running through it, another gift from Lizzy. Lady Cowper spent a good fifteen minutes with the de Bourgh party before excusing herself to see to other arrivals.

The dancing started soon afterward and once Lady Catherine had settled the young ladies, the patroness returned with Lord Litchcombe in tow. Kitty sat up a little straighter, as did Georgiana.

"I would like to present Lord Litchcombe as a suitable partner, Miss de Bourgh."

Kitty's face fell even as she remembered this was the dance his lordship had solicited in the park. She watched as Anne was led out onto the dance floor.

"I could watch that gentleman dance all evening," Georgiana whispered to Kitty at one point, and she could only agree.

Lady Catherine, however, was fit to be tied over her daughter dancing with such a well-known rake, although anyone could have told her it would only increase Anne's consequence. But she complained so much, Kitty all but begged Colonel Fitzwilliam to take her to the refreshments when he made an appearance.

"What do you expect, Miss Bennet?" he said, even as he obliged her. "You have set a fox among the hen house and must live with the consequences."

Kitty made a face at him and didn't protest when he moved along the beverage table to speak to an acquaintance. The petite blonde to her left asked her what she thought of the lemonade.

"Must I answer?"

"Oh, heavens, no! I know it is horrid," the lady said with a laugh. "I just wished to strike up a conversation with you, Miss Bennet. Lady Litchcombe," she introduced herself, holding out a hand.

Kitty was amazed that the lady was the baron's mother and knew her name, even as she took her hand.

"I apologize for accosting you in this manner, Miss Bennet, but I have heard something about you…"

"Me?" Kitty squeaked.

"Yes, you." The countess was clearly amused. "We must get better acquainted soon. Until then…" Lady Litchcombe disappeared into the crowd as the colonel turned back to her.

"You did not get any lemonade, Miss Bennet," he gently chided.

"I beg your pardon. I was distracted by all the beautiful gowns."

The colonel smiled and handed her a drink. They reached Lady Catherine's side in time for Lord Litchcombe to return Anne to her mother. Anne did not look pleased as she seated herself, the baron had a resigned look on his face, and they were not speaking to each other.

The next dance was a waltz, and Litchcombe was still standing there when Lady Cowper made another appearance.

"Miss de Bourgh, may I offer the colonel as a suitable partner for the waltz?" She went on to introduce a young, rather baby-faced gentleman to Georgiana, and then she turned to Kitty.

"You will not find a better partner for this dance, Miss Bennet, than Lord Litchcombe."

"Your ladyship is too kind," Kitty murmured as the baron led her out.

"The perfect place to discuss your plan, Miss Bennet. Don't you agree?"

Kitty nodded. "You are truly interested?"

"Of course! Your reasoning is sound enough. Give the lady some confidence, which, after dancing with her, I fear she sadly lacks, and keep a few rakes and rogues safe from the clutches of matchmaking mamas."

"Exactly!" Kitty's eyes shone with pleasure as she realized this handsome man who held her in his arms not only agreed with her plan, he was going to help her.

"When do we begin?" he asked.

"Whenever you wish."

"I shall drop in at White's later this evening and see who might be interested."

"That meets with my approval."

"Now that we have that settled, tell me something about yourself, Miss Bennet. My source tells me you are the last of the famous Miss Bennets of Hertfordshire."

"Your source?"

Litchcombe laughed. "My mother. She knows almost everything about everyone."

"Even the famous Miss Bennets?"

"Especially those. I know, for instance, that your oldest sister is Mrs. Bingley, your next eldest sister is Mrs. Darcy and your other older sister is Lady Trowbridge. Your younger sister is Mrs. Wickham. You have come to town with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, her daughter and Miss Darcy."

"Why should I tell you anything about myself, then, if you know it all?" she said with a laugh. "Did you know all this before you called earlier today?" He nodded. "Your mother truly is a font of information. She's a very lovely lady, too."

"You have met my mother?"

"Earlier this evening at the refreshment table."

It would be exactly like his mother to discover Miss Bennet and introduce herself, just to see the young lady in person. He made a mental note to speak to her against a continued interest in Miss Bennet. His interest, he knew, stemmed from boredom. The season had barely begun and already he was making assignations with women he had little interest in and agreeing to madcap schemes concocted by devious girls. For all he knew, he could be walking straight into parson's mousetrap with this chit.

But her gaze was anything but calculating and her demeanor was far from the fawning he usually experienced around females who wanted something from him. Either she was a great actress or she was sincere in all this.

"I'll bring my candidates to Miss de Bourgh's attention Monday next," he said as the waltz ended. "Do you think… would I be presumptuous in asking if Miss de Bourgh could appear a little less…"

"Frumpy? Dowdy? Downright frightful?" Kitty said in her usual, forthright manner.

"Yes."

"Absolutely." Five days to transform Anne into an attractive young lady? She and Georgiana would have to work fast.

He was escorting her back to her companions when their way was blocked by a tall, dark-haired lady Kitty knew only too well.

"Good evening Miss Bing… er, Mrs. Morris-Smeeth," she said politely.

"Miss Bennet." Caroline's words dripped with ice. "And Lord Litchcombe…" Her voice thawed, heated up and boiled over in seconds.

"Mrs. Morris-Smeeth. I was unaware you are acquainted with Miss Bennet."

Caroline opened her mouth to speak, but Kitty beat her to the punch.

"Mrs. Morris-Smeeth's brother, Mr. Bingley, is husband to my eldest sister. They are soon to be blessed with an interesting event. You aren't soon to be blessed, by any chance, are you, Mrs. Morris-Smeeth?" Kitty asked innocently.

A look of horror came over Caroline and she involuntarily put a hand on her abdomen.

"Good God, I had better not be!" As if to erase such a thought, she linked her arm with Litchcombe's and started to walk away with him, leaving Kitty to tag along behind. The baron gently detached Caroline and offered his other arm to Kitty.

"I must return my partner to her companions."

"Oh?" Caroline's interest was piqued. "I know Jane is not in town, nor is Mrs. Darcy," she all but hissed, "so your sister the newlywed countess must have roused herself from the country to escort you."

"Not at all - I believe Lady Trowbridge is still happily in Wiltshire, training her little dog and discussing Fordyce with the earl."

"Surely you are not in the company of…" Caroline pretended to stifle a gasp, "…your parents!"

"No, they are still situated in Hertfordshire, Mrs. Morris-Smeeth. I have come to London with Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Miss de Bourgh, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Miss Darcy."

"Indeed!" Caroline took the baron's other arm again. "I should dearly love to see Georgiana!"

"I am sure," Kitty replied insincerely, knowing Georgiana did not feel the same.

Caroline spent a few moments gushing over Miss Darcy when they returned to Lady Catherine and tried to charm that august lady, as well. She ignored Anne completely and Kitty did not even warrant another glance. Eventually, she persuaded Lord Litchcombe to take her away, giving the other ladies leave to talk about her. Surprisingly (or not), Georgiana was the first.

"I wonder what that cow is doing in London? I thought my brother had taken care of her last autumn."

"Georgiana!" her aunt exclaimed. "That is totally uncalled for. Now tell me what he did."

"I'm not quite sure, only Miss Bingley ended up married to this vicar, Mr. Morris-Smeeth, and I was so sure we had seen the last of her."

"I thought the very same thing," Kitty murmured.

Another dance began, the younger ladies were all besieged by partners and the conversation concerning Caroline had to be abandoned for the moment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You danced with Litchcombe, didn't you?" Louisa accused as Caroline floated back to where her sister sat watching Mr. Hurst drink. "I told you not to get involved with him."

"I am not involved with him. We are just… flirting for the moment." For the moment. Caroline had no doubt her charms would be enough to take her to the next step with the gentleman. As Miss Bennet's had done. She hugged that knowledge to herself at the moment, however - no sense playing her trump card until she had to.

"You are a married woman and he is known for dalliance with married women. Do you want your husband coming to town to take you home, should word get around that you are Litchcombe's latest conquest?" Louisa, like her sister, shuddered at the word 'husband.' Mr. Morris-Smeeth was even worse husband material than Mr. Hurst.

"I know what I am doing, Louisa."

"I am only trying to protect you, Caroline. Look what happened the last time you thought you knew what you were doing! I turned my back for one second and you got yourself married to some horrid, unconnected oaf of a vicar!"

"You forgot miserly."

"Miserly oaf of a vicar, then!" Louisa exclaimed. "If I had not offered to support you while you are here, he never would have let you come."

Caroline rolled her eyes. Her sister had managed to bring up a favorite subject and remind her of her largesse, all at the same time.

"I will be careful, sister," she promised, putting her crossed fingers behind her back. She also would be keeping an eye on the latest upstart from Longbourn.

Chapter 5

“Good evening, my lord,” the White’s porter said in greeting as Lord Litchcombe strolled into that gentleman’s club. He stopped and asked the porter about his family before heading off to find a warm fire, a bottle of port and a friend.

“Find any lovelies this evening at the assembly?” Sir Justin Evers asked, settling in an adjacent chair just as a servant brought the port and a glass. A second glass was quickly added.

“A few.”

“All married and looking for a little excitement, I’ll be bound,” Sir Justin jested.

“Actually, one is an unmarried girl.”

“Fancy that! Finally thinking of setting up your nursery, Cam?”

“No!” he insisted. He looked at his friend with renewed interest. “And neither are you. Yet we both have family members expecting us to do just that, don’t we?”

“The dowager says my inability to settle on a chit and produce an heir shows a lack of respect for the Evers name,” Sir Justin said glumly.

“What would it take to get her off your back for awhile?”

“Produce a young lady for her approval.”

“Even if nothing comes of it?” Cameron asked rather intently.

“She starts planning a wedding if I even blink at a girl, and that keeps her happily distracted for days.”

“Want to distract the dowager for weeks?”

“I wish I could, but I don’t dare.”

“Why ever not?”

“You can’t depend on chits not to get ideas once you speak to them. I bowed over my own cousin’s hand a month ago and she thinks we are betrothed.”

Cameron shook his head. He never went near young ladies for this very same reason.

“But what if you could guarantee the lady would not pursue you or expect anything from you, especially not a declaration.”

“Show me such a paragon, Cam, and I’ll give you Rover!”

Cameron’s eyes gleamed. Evers had a magnificent race horse with the unglamorous name of Rover, called such because he had a way of following people around like a dog.

“Prepare to hand over your horse,” Cameron teased. He called for White’s famous betting book.

“You don’t trust my word?” Evers said with a frown.

“With Rover at stake, I’m not taking any chances.” When he was finished with the book entry, it read:

Lord L. bets Sir. J. that the next chit he introduces him to is not interested in marriage. If she is, Lord L. will pay Sir J. 1,000 pounds.

“The next chit?” Sir Justin said in amazement.

“The next one I introduce you to,” Cameron confirmed.

“When will this be?”

“Monday in the park.”

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Cameron’s next stop was Brooke’s club. There he found just the gentleman he was searching for, the Marquess of Heatherly. Heatherly was plagued by an overabundance of female relatives eager for him to do his duty to the family. Cameron knew he grew weary of dodging questions and complaints from his grandmother, four sisters, two maiden aunts and his mother. His mother, in fact, was an old crony of Lady Catherine’s, and the fact that her daughter was the lady in question almost turned Heatherly away.

“If the girl falls for me, Cam, and I lose interest, there will be the devil to pay from both sides,” he said after the situation had been explained to him.

“But that’s the beauty of this, Heatherly – she’s not the least bit interested in anyone! She had her heart broken just the other day. Do you think she will be in a hurry to fall for the next chap that comes along?”

Heatherly seemed to consider his friend’s logic.

“How will I know for certain?”

Cameron grinned and called for the betting book. If he won, he would be a thousand pounds wealthier, but the thought of making Miss Bennet smile was at the forefront of his mind.

“And when am I to meet the unexceptional lady?” Heatherly asked.

“Monday in the park.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One last stop. Boodles. There he found Lord Kenneth Moore, the second son of the Duke of Roylston. Not only was Kenny an old friend, but he was a rake in good standing and his father was pressing him to marry. Cameron knew such a thing was not always encouraged in a second son, but Kenny’s older brother was sickly and the duke was not taking any chances with the succession.

“Cameron!” Kenny called from the hazard table, where he sat dicing with some of his cronies. Rising, he left Cameron wondering if he was losing.

“Haven’t seen you in awhile, Cam,” he said, throwing his arm about the baron and leading him over to a couple of quiet chairs. “How is Lady Litchcombe?”

“Mother is well. Lonely, though.” The two men looked at each other and grinned. The Duke of Roylston was a widower and Cameron and his friend thought he might deal rather well with Lady Litchcombe.

“I must get Aunt Viola to invite you both to dinner sometime soon,” Kenny said.

“And perhaps Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the young ladies in her household?” Cameron suggested.

“Young ladies, Cam? Have you defected from the club?”

“Not I!” he stoutly defended himself. The two old friends had often declared themselves members of the Society of Rakes and Rogues, its main purpose to provide gentlemen with support to keep them from falling into parson’s mousetrap.

“Then why the sudden interest in the chits?”

Cameron shrugged. “One of the ladies has a scheme that intrigues me and is a low matrimonial risk at the same time.”

“What’s in all this for you?” Kenny asked warily.

“Entertainment?” Cameron suggested. It was just that, he told himself, and nothing more. Not even a desire to be helpful. He was doing this because he was bored.

His friend gave him a wary look, not quite buying what his friend said, but knowing Cameron would play his little game just the same. “So when do I get to meet these ladies?”

“How about Monday in the park?”

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There was one very real pleasure Kitty had felt when she was reunited with Georgiana at Rosings: Marie, the French maid they had shared the year before. She presented the problem of refining Miss de Bourgh to the maid, who had some definite ideas on how to improve the mademoiselle – it was just getting the lady to agree to the changes.

Kitty was pondering this on Thursday morning as she received a note from the modiste. A gown needed to be fitted, and could Miss Bennet come in that day? Kitty sent back an affirmative reply and wondered how she could get Anne to join her in the outing.

It was Lady Catherine who provided the reason. A doctor had been summoned earlier to exam her daughter, Lady Catherine not quite convinced that Anne was truly on the mend. She had been looking rather peaky that week, and Lady Catherine thought perhaps a laxative might be called for.

The doctor, fortunately, recommended plenty of fresh air and exercise. When Anne protested, Lady Catherine would brook no argument, and when she heard Kitty was to visit the modiste, she insisted Anne go, too.

“I don’t know how much fresh air I will absorb in a modiste’s shop,” Anne sarcastically replied. “Or exercise, for that matter.”

“Then take the barouche and walk briskly up and down the shop aisles,” her mother countered. “But you will accompany Miss Bennet.”

“I don’t particularly like this,” Anne confided in Kitty later as they traveled to Bond Street. “I will never be anything but a dowdy spinster who sits at home with her mother and a pompous clergyman and makes up a fourth in cards with those two and her companion.”

“I beg to differ,” Kitty replied, “but I cannot help you without your consent.”

“I could never…” Anne broke off as the carriage pulled up in front of Madame Durocher’s dress shop. She ducked down behind Kitty and whimpered.

“Whatever is the matter?”

“Mr. Bromley!” Anne whispered. “He’s on the sidewalk in front of the modiste!”

“Why, so he is. Now really, Miss de Bourgh, are you going to let him intimidate you so much you stay cowered in the carriage?”

“No,” Anne said. “But I’ll let his beautiful fiancee intimidate me.”

Kitty hazarded a peek at the lady in question. She was a stunning blonde with large blue eyes, rosebud lips, dark lashes and a shapely figure outlined in celestial blue and white. All in all, a tough act to follow. Kitty waited till the couple were joined by a haggard-appearing companion and had continued down the street before she gave Anne the all-clear to head into the shop.

“How can I look like that?” Anne asked.

“I wonder what they are doing in London?” Kitty said.

“Shopping for bridal clothes?” Anne sniffed and Kitty could only agree with the assessment.

“Those colors are all wrong for you, of course, but you could use a little work.”

“You think so? I don’t care about Mr. Bromley, but I wouldn’t want the lady thinking she was the better catch in looks as well as fortune.”

“No, we cannot have that,” Kitty said with an absolutely straight face. “Shall we see what Madame Durocher advises? And when we get home, Marie has a few thoughts as well. You really need to get your own maid,” she added, “and stop borrowing your mother’s dresser. She’s not quite a la mode, if you wish to know the truth.”

“You seem to be quite adept in getting Mother to bend to your will. Will you help me obtain a maid?”

“I will help you procure whatever you wish. How about a beau, while I’m at it?”

“Truly?” Anne’s brown eyes grew wide. “I consider it impossible.”

“I don’t,” Kitty said with a secret smile. “You would be surprised what some people can do.”

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The transformation of Miss Anne de Bourgh did not happen overnight, but then Kitty knew it wouldn’t. It actually took the better part of five days.

After a variety of gowns in more vibrant colors were ordered – no plain pastels for Miss de Bourgh – Kitty insisted they visit a milliner down the street, where a good hour was spent trying on bonnets and hats of all sorts. They bought two. One was a wheat-colored straw bonnet that could be dressed up or down as needed. The other was a violet hat that matched one of Anne’s new pelisses of the same color, to go over a lavender gown sprigged with flowers of that darker hue.

Well-pleased with their purchases, they returned to the Matlock townhouse and shared their plans with Georgiana and Marie. The maid agreed that a fellow countrywoman was needed for Miss de Bourgh. But how to convince Lady Catherine? Kitty pondered that dilemma as she and Georgiana watched Marie wash, cut and curl Anne’s mousy locks.

“What will you wear down to dinner tonight?” she asked as the caterpillars over Anne’s eyes were tamed.

“Mademoiselle has a white gown with silver thread… No, that belongs to Mlle. Kitty.”

“She may have it; I am not overly fond of it, really.” She went to her room, found the dress in the back of the wardrobe and brought it into Anne’s bedchamber. “We shall try this out on Colonel Fitzwilliam this evening, and if he likes it, it is yours to keep.”

The colonel must have liked the gown – he could not keep his eyes off his cousin all evening. In fact, it was hard to get rid of him for a few days after that, as well, but whenever he pressed Anne to go for a drive, she pleaded fatigue, or a fitting, and refused to show herself to the outside world. Kitty could only agree. It was better to wait till the cygnet became a swan.

In the end it was one of the colonel’s unwitting remarks that convinced his aunt to hire a maid for Anne.

“Your dresser is becoming more fashionable,” he said to his aunt Saturday evening at dinner. “Anne looks quite improved.”

“My dresser has not been required of Anne since Georgiana’s maid took her in hand.” Lady Catherine was only slightly put out. After all, she no longer had to share her dresser with her daughter.

“Then Anne must have her own maid, Aunt.”

“French!” Kitty added. “Miss Darcy’s maid is French.”

That settled it. Anne could have no less than Georgiana, after all. A foreign maid was procured the very next day.

Chapter 6

"I am not ready to be seen in public," Anne insisted. Kitty and Georgiana ignored her and buttoned her into her purple pelisse.

"You never know who might be in the park," Kitty said mysteriously.

"Exactly my point," Anne protested, but Francine, her new maid, sided with the other two young ladies.

The maid had entered enthusiastically into their plans the second she had met Anne. Furthermore, Anne had already begun to confide in the woman, telling her things she could not say to Miss Bennet and her cousin. Francine knew, for instance, all about traitorous Mr. Bromley (good riddance!), the constant support of the colonel (family is important, the maid had replied with a sly smile) and the constant battle to live her own life.

In the end Anne had gone along with the makeover plans, but only because Francine said looking good would make her feel better. That the maid’s words faintly echoed something said earlier by Kitty did not register.

Anne allowed herself to be softened, crimped and corseted, and salved, pomaded and pushed up until she did not even recognize herself. Before she knew it, it was Monday and time to show herself off.

"I, for one, hope we see Lord Litchcombe today," Georgiana said as innocently as possible. She was rightly wary of rakes, but this one seemed different. It did not hurt that he was as handsome as sin, or that his reputation was not as black as her Aunt Catherine had painted it.

She knew this from her own maid, Marie, who seemed to know every servant in Mayfair. The major domo she had been stepping out with had a sister in service to Lady Kevington, who lived three doors down from Lady Litchcombe, and knew his lordship’s valet, Firkins.

The grapevine said Litchcombe was a generous employer who offered decent quarters, paid well and kept his hands off the servants. If his amorous exploits were legend, it was also said that he was unstinting with his women and he adored his mother. Georgiana thought that high praise.

Her little tendre for the baron had fallen by the wayside, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t still willing to be friendly, and when the three ladies were driven to the park, escorted by the colonel, she thought perhaps Kitty had formed one for the man. She wasn’t quite sure.

Georgiana and Kitty wore pretty pastel spencers and bonnets over sprigged muslins for the drive, but they could not compete with Anne, who was fine as fivepence in a violet pelisse and bonnet. The darker color stood out like a beacon among the paler shades. It was not long before they were approached by Lord Litchcombe and another handsome gentleman.

"Good day, ladies!" the baron called, approaching on foot. "Fitzwilliam," he added, almost as an afterthought. Georgiana almost giggled at the sour expression on her cousin’s face.

"May I introduce Sir Justin Evers?" he continued. "Evers, this is Miss de Bourgh, Miss Bennet and Miss Darcy. You know Fitzwilliam."

Sir Justin bowed and the ladies nodded. The colonel frowned.

Everyone exchanged pleasantries, allowing Georgiana a chance to get a good look at the gentleman. He wasn’t quite as tall as Litchcombe, but he wasn’t short, either, and he had a nice smile. He certainly seemed to be smiling a lot at her. She liked the way the wind ruffled his brown curls and his shoulders did not appear padded in a coat of dark blue superfine. His lighter blue eyes twinkled merrily as she took inventory of him and Georgiana blushed when she realized she had been staring too long.

"I beg your pardon," she said softly, gazing down at her hands.

"No need, Miss Darcy. I hope I meet with your approval?"

Georgiana’s eyes flew back up to his in surprise. "Yes."

"Would you care to take a stroll with me?" he asked.

"I…" She looked at everyone else, who had stopped their conversation to listen to this exchange, and her eyes met the colonel’s. He was one of her guardians and permission would have to be granted by him.

"Do not go far," he said and she breathed a sigh of relief. It would not do for her cousin to object overly much in public, but he might have a few words for her later in private. In the meantime, she allowed Sir Justin to help her out of the carriage and she took his arm.

"Is this your first Season in town," he inquired as they strolled away from the group.

"My first spring. I was here for the Little Season last year with my brother and his wife, and two of her sisters." And an entertaining time that was. She thought fondly of Mary and Lord Trowbridge and sighed.

"Was it that onerous a visit?" Sir Justin wondered.

"Oh, no! My brother’s sister-in-law met her husband then, and it was so romantic…"

"You like romance?" he quizzed, mindful of his wager with Litchcombe.

Georgiana blushed at the question. "As well as the next young lady, I suppose."

"And your heart… was it engaged last year?" he pressed. Georgiana had to laugh.

"Oh, no! I am just eighteen, much too young, in my mind, to be thinking of such things."

"Many ladies are engaged or married in their first season."

"Perhaps, but not I. It is a thought I refuse to entertain for the moment," she assured him.

"Are you telling me you are not hanging out for a husband, Miss Darcy? I find that most singular."

Georgiana turned on him, eyes flashing.

"You may choose not to believe me, Sir Justin, but I vow I have no interest in marriage!" They stared at each other for a long moment.

"It is my turn to beg your pardon, Miss Darcy," he finally said. "I see I am laboring under the impression that the goal of all young misses is to change their surname. My mistake."

"I am sure you have done your investigating, Sir Justin, and are aware of my family and my financial status. Even were my heart engaged, that gentleman would find himself under considerable scrutiny from my brother, not to mention the rest of my friends and relations."

"Ah, yes, the formidable Mr. Darcy…"

"Quite so. He is enough to scare off even the most intrepid of suitors. The colonel also is my guardian and I imagine the thought of meeting with his approval, as well as my brother’s, would rout almost anyone."

"You seem resigned enough to your fate, Miss Darcy."

Georgiana shrugged as they turned back toward the carriage. "It is easier to imagine myself a spinster than to become attached to any one gentleman only to see him fail to pass muster."

"I sincerely doubt spinsterhood is in your future, Miss Darcy."

As soon as Georgiana had disappeared with Sir Justin, Lord Litchcombe also invited Kitty for a walk.

"Is Sir Justin one of your rakish friends?" she asked without preamble as they wandered away from the carriage, leaving the colonel to entertain Anne.

"He is, although I confess it was Miss de Bourgh I hoped he would take for a stroll. Miss Darcy is perhaps a little naïve for Sir Justin’s taste."

Kitty thought Georgiana, for all her sweetness, to be much more of a sophisticate than Anne, at least where men were concerned. She would be in no danger of Sir Justin’s charms.

"Perhaps. But what does it signify?" She was not aware of the wager, but if she had known its terms, she could have put Lord Litchcombe’s mind at ease. "What next?" she wondered.

"I have two more friends to present this afternoon, and we shall see if they have any attraction to Miss de Bourgh. My goal is to have at least one of them solicit a dance at Almack’s."

"A commendable goal," Kitty said with approval.

"I must say, whatever you have done to Miss de Bourgh, she appears much improved."

"I cannot take any credit other than to help obtain a new maid for the lady."

"She has worked wonders. Fitzwilliam cannot keep his eyes off her, and I would not be surprised if Evers comments later on the beauty of the three ladies he meets today in the park."

Had Litchcombe just called her beautiful? Kitty’s first inclination was to protest, but something inside her glowed at the thought of the baron’s compliment.

"You are too kind, my lord," she murmured, unsure if this was Lord Litchcombe laying on the charm or if he meant it.

They did not go as far as Georgiana and Sir Justin, and it was just as well. When they returned to the carriage a handsome dark-haired gentleman was leaning over the carriage and flirting outrageously with Anne. Anne was blushing furiously and the colonel seemed ready to throttle the man when he caught sight of the baron and Kitty.

"Litchcombe! I see you were not exaggerating the beauty of Miss de Bourgh," Lord Kenneth called.

Anne turned a surprised gaze on Lord Litchcombe.

"Indeed not," he assured his friend smoothly. "She is a charming lady, as you have no doubt ascertained."

"Miss Bennet," the colonel said tightly, dismounting. "I would have a word with you – in private."

Kitty sighed, but she nodded. A jaw-me-dead from the colonel was inevitable. Leaving Anne and the colonel’s horse with the other two gentlemen, she took his arm.

"You are certainly playing fast and loose with my cousin’s heart," he said severely, wasting no time on pleasantries.

"Not I, sir," she said innocently. "I am merely broadening the lady’s horizons beyond the duplicitous Mr. Bromley. If I were you, however, I would not play fast and loose with your cousin’s heart. I am sure if you would lay your own heart at her feet, she would be sympathetic to your cause. But you had better make some haste," she sweetly added, "because there are now three gentlemen buzzing around your honey, sir."

The colonel frowned as Anne laughed out loud at one of the gentlemen’s sallies, but he stood his ground.

"I do not welcome interference, Miss Bennet."

"You should! You are going to lose her if you do not do something soon!"

"You would do well to remember your own advice," the colonel warned, indicating where Litchcombe had gone to speak with a female driving her own phaeton, a female who was obviously not a lady.

"Oh, pooh!" Kitty exclaimed. "I do not care for Lord Litchcombe in that way, so he may do as he pleases in that quarter."

"And most likely will, whether you care or not," the colonel said almost sympathetically. Kitty tossed her head, but said nothing as they returned to the open carriage, where she was introduced to the third gentleman. Lord Litchcombe returned to her side. The other woman had moved on.

"We have been trying to settle a wager, Miss Bennet," the baron said, "as to whether or not you three ladies are typically marriage-minded. Miss de Bourgh says she has no immediate plans. Do you agree?"

"I believe the lady speaks the truth," Kitty sincerely replied. "Ask her again in the near future and you may get a different answer," she added, seeing the colonel lose some color, "but then females are noted for their contrariness, are they not?"

The gentlemen all laughed, even the colonel, although Kitty thought his was somewhat tinged with relief.

Georgiana returned with her escort and was asked the same question. She gave a similar reply and Kitty noticed the smug expression on Lord Litchcombe’s face. What was he up to?

"Miss de Bourgh," Lord Kenneth said. "Might I have a dance this Wednesday at Almack’s?"

Kitty watched, fascinated, as Lord Litchcombe’s superior smirk became a full-fledged smile.

When Kitty came home from the assembly, she was sure she would be up half the night worrying about Lord Litchcombe, how such a rumor started and what the morrow would bring. Instead, she changed quickly into her nightclothes and went right off to sleep.

She was much less confident the next morning, fretting that Litchcombe would call and propose; concerned that he might not call at all and instead leave her ruined beyond anything her sister Lydia had done; and afraid she would get shipped back to Longbourn and never see Litchcombe again.

When the baron did call, it was early and he had brought his mother with him. Kitty blinked in surprise when she entered the drawing room and found herself folded in that kind lady’s arms.

"Don’t worry about a thing, dear. Cameron has it all worked out."

Kitty glanced shyly at him and when he returned her look with a warm one of his own, she relaxed.

Lady Catherine was tense, however, as she sat in her throne-like chair and proceeded to lament the deplorable lack of morals in young people.

"Litchcombe has something particular to say to you, Miss Bennet," she finally said. "You may have fifteen minutes in the blue salon."

Georgiana and Anne, who had been summoned to help entertain Lady Litchcombe, gave Kitty encouraging smiles as she went past them on the baron’s arm.

"First of all," Lady Litchcombe said as soon as her son and future daughter were out of the room, "Miss Bennet was never compromised by my son." She went on to explain what had occurred at the Teaberry Ball, and her story was so sincere, she convinced even Lady Catherine that Miss Bennet had been a victim of circumstance and a vindictive tattlemonger.

"Caroline!" Georgiana exclaimed, putting two thoughts together in an uncharacteristic outburst.

"I am not surprised," Lady Catherine said with a sniff.

"What will Fitzwilliam say?" Georgiana added with a moan.

"If he is this Fitzwilliam, he would rush over as soon as he heard and ask Miss Bennet to marry him," the colonel said from the doorway. "I should have known that Litchcombe would…"

Lady Litchcombe coughed discreetly so he would know she was present, and he had the grace to blush.

"I beg your pardon, my lady. I… what the devil are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same," she said impishly, "but you have already informed us. Aren’t I allowed to be one of the first to welcome my future daughter to the family?"

"Um, er… yes, I suppose so, my lady, but…"

"Yes?" she asked sweetly.

The colonel looked anywhere but at the baroness, and his gaze alighted on Anne. "I have some personal news for Anne, Aunt Catherine. Might we be excused for a moment?"

Lady Catherine raised one eyebrow and nodded regally, but her expression said she was to be told the whole upon their return. With a bow for the company of ladies, Fitzwilliam and Anne left the room. By unspoken agreement they went to his mother’s conservatory, long one of his favorite spots.

"I had heard of this room for years, but was deemed too ill to journey to London. I have spent many hours in it since," Anne said. "I must write to my aunt and compliment…"

"Miss Farnham has jilted Mr. Bromley," he said suddenly, finding no good way to introduce the information into the conversation.

"Oh?" Anne replied with an unconcerned air, but her hands, just reaching for a rose, began to shake. She unsteadily grabbed the stem and pierced her thumb with a thorn. She gave a small cry.

"Have you hurt yourself?" The colonel instantly produced a handkerchief and wrapped it tenderly about her hand.

"Thank you," Anne whispered and blushed. He was still holding her hand. "About Mr. Bromley…" she said in a soft voice.

"He was your first love?"

"No, not my first. Darcy wasn’t either, if you could even call that love. I had an affection for him, being a cousin, but it was never love. No, he is very happy where he is, and I am glad for him. I’m glad for Mr. Bromley, too."

"For being jilted?"

Anne nodded and giggled. "You should have seen how Lord Heatherly defended my honor last night at… ow!"

The colonel, none to happy to be hearing this, squeezed her hand tight.

"I beg your pardon, Anne. May I ask how your honor needed to be defended?"

"You may. Mr. Bromley accosted me and suggested I was the one who jilted him. Lord Heatherly took offense, as did I, of course. You know no such thing occurred. At any rate, Lord Heatherly did exactly what I wish I could have done – hit him in the face. He sent him sprawling across Almack’s famous refreshments."

"I should have been there to defend you myself!" he exclaimed, filled with dread thinking his cousin might even now have switched allegience to Heatherly.

Anne lay her other hand on top of their entertwined ones.

"I wish it had been you as well, cousin."

"Anne?" He looked down into her brown eyes and realized she was looking extremely healthy these days.

"Fitzwilliam?"

He dropped her hands and coughed uncomfortably. "May I ask you a personal question?"

Her smile was tender. "You may ask me anything."

"Have you truly been ill all these years?"

Anne blushed. "Not exactly, but most of them, yes. A couple of years ago, though, I met one of our tenants while I was out for a drive, an old wise woman who thought I might not have healthy blood. She gave me a horrid tonic that I refused to take once I returned home. It would still be sitting on a shelf if I had not accidently taken some of it some day, mistaking it for something else. It was horrid, yes, but I felt better the next morning and did not require my usual nap. I continued to take the tonic and continued to feel better, but I also came to realize I did not wish to marry Darcy, so Mrs. Jenkinson and I began to cover my pink cheeks with a rather pasty cream. I could not let mother know the truth, and I could not let Mrs. Jenkinson become unemployed." She paused a moment and smiled.

"When Darcy married Miss Bennet, I was more than relieved. Then I met Mr. Bromley."

"Where did you meet?"

"In Hunsford village. I had stopped at the greengrocer’s for an apple, tripped on the uneven floor and was caught by him."

"Very romantic," the colonel said dryly.

"Oh, prodigiously," Anne sarcastically replied. She wondered if he ever noticed Mr. Bromley was not dissimilar in coloring or looks to himself. Those were the main reasons she had been attracted to the man. "I was flattered by his attentions, of course. No one else had ever shown me such romantic interest." She looked at him intently, daring him to dispute that fact.

"Well, er…"

Anne looked even closer at the colonel and saw something there that pleased her. She moved in a little closer. "Then I met Heatherly. He’s ever so handsome and quite eligible…"

"He is far from eligible and he will never make you a respectable offer. A man like that will take what he wants and leave you behind with the consequences. But he will never marry you."

"What if I do not wish to marry him! What if I said I’d rather marry someone else?"

"If it is one of those rakes of Litchcombe’s, you would be better off forgetting him."

"It is not one of those rakes of Litchcombe’s and if you can’t tell whom it is, you may just leave right now!" She crossed her arms and turned her back on him.

The colonel stood and stared at her back a moment, fascinated with the tiny dark hairs falling out of her coiffure. He thought he was beginning to understand…

Coming up behind her, he put his hands on her shoulders and his mouth directly behind her right ear. "Why didn’t you say something sooner, dear heart?" he whispered.

Anne stood her ground, but a small smile hovered on her lips. "Why didn’t you?"

"Because I am a fool, and a blind one at that. But I have known for a while, darling Anne, that I had finally found the lady I wanted – and under my own nose all these years."

"I don’t know whom you are talking about."

He turned her around so that she faced him, putting her arms about his neck and his arms around her waist. "Don’t you?" he asked before bringing his lips down to hers.

Anne started to protest, but was too involved in kissing him back to worry whether or not she had punished him long enough.

"What is your mother going to say about this?" he wondered with a sigh, breaking reluctantly away. Anne’s answering grin was impish.

"Let us not tell her until we are certain we’ve both been thoroughly kissed…"

They were both very pleased with that suggestion.

In another room, Kitty was facing off against Lord Litchcombe.

"I assume you know why I am here," he said without preamble.

"Yes." Kitty was not happy about this entire situation, but she knew neither of them had any choice. However, she felt keenly that her family would instantly compare her to Lydia, and that she could not bear. She had worked hard to remove what she had come to perceive as her sister’s taint. Lydia was a fool, but now Kitty knew herself to be no better.

Who in the world other than the colonel, Georgiana and Lord Litchcombe himself knew she had been in that room at the Teaberry ball? Only Litchcombe knew they had been in there but briefly together. Now they stood staring at each other, neither one eager to speak.

"I am not pleased with this turn of events," Lord Litchcombe finally said. Kitty frowned. What did he mean by that?

"Perhaps you could explain yourself, my lord?" she asked in a sugary voice that did not fool either of them.

Lord Litchcombe must have realized the awfulness of his words, because he apologized.

"I should have said, Miss Bennet, that this is not exactly how I envisioned our relationship would progress."

Kitty eyed him warily. "Oh? And how exactly did you envision it, my lord?"

Lord Litchcombe closed the distance between them and took one of her hands in his.

"I won’t deny I have had one eye on the future from our first meeting," he admitted, his thumb caressing the top of her hand. Distracted, she was having a difficult time comprehending his words.

"Oh?" It was all she could think to say. Besides, her foggy mind said, he was here to propose to her. All she had to do was accept, or not. There really was not much thinking that had to be done on her part, not on what to say, at any rate.

"Yes – I like you very much, Miss Bennet, and I think you like me, too." Litchcombe led her over to a settee and when she was seated, he placed himself at her side.

"I am not immune to your charms, Lord Litchcome," Kitty said rather primly, and the baron chuckled.

"I am pleased to hear that, Miss Bennet, as we shall be spending quite a bit of time together."

"Oh? I was unaware that our combined future included actually spending time together, my lord," Kitty could not help but reply. "Indeed, it has been my observation of other couples that they spend as little time as possible together." Her own parents came to mind and she conveniently forgot the closeness of her elder sisters and their husbands.

"That is not exactly the way I think it should go…" Lord Litchcombe said. He would have continued, but the door opened and in strode Mr. Darcy. From the look on his face, he had already had an accounting of the situation from someone.

"I would speak with you, Litchcombe. Now."

Chapter 9

"Mr. Darcy!" Kitty gasped. "What are you doing in London?" To say she was shocked by his arrival, when everyone had him placed firmly at Pemberley, was an understatement. Especially since she was sitting alone and rather intimately with Lord Litchcombe, who was about to propose.

"I am come to London on business," her sister’s husband calmly replied. "And when I called a few moments ago to enquire after everyone, I was given some very interesting information." His tone was neither enthusiastic nor judgmental, and for that Kitty was grateful.

Mr. Darcy glanced at Lord Litchcombe. "Will you excuse us?" he asked Kitty.

"But…" She had not even had a chance to accept anything!

"Catherine…" Mr. Darcy warned and fixed her with a steely glare.

Kitty was not pleased with this high-handed action, but she knew better than to argue – when someone used her full name it was serious. She nodded and quit the room.

She would have gone straight back to Lady Catherine, if only to help entertain Lady Litchcombe, but Georgiana and Anne were there, so instead she wandered about the house wondering exactly how his lordship would have worded that proposal. Would he have used "love" in his offer, or would he have chosen words such as "duty" or "honor"?

She stopped in several empty rooms before reaching the conservatory, but one glance in there showed Anne was not in the drawing room as expected. Nor was she alone. And by the looks of things, there was at least one proposal and engagement in the air. With a smile she left Anne to the tender ministrations of the colonel.

If Anne and her cousin were to make a match of it, Kitty realized, it could prove exciting to be in the same room as Lady Catherine when it was announced. She made a beeline for the drawing room, where her ladyship was telling Lady Litchcombe how the younger woman would like meeting Mrs. Darcy. Georgiana was hiding a smile as she bowed over her needlework.

She looked up when Kitty came into the room, and her startled glance flew to the door. Her brows knit in consternation when she realized Kitty was alone.

"Did you know my brother has called?"

"Oh, yes," Kitty said dryly. "I have seen him, as well. He and Lord Litchcombe are having a discussion."

"And what did they…"

Lady Catherine’s shrill voice cut into their conversation. "Have you accepted him, Miss Bennet? Of course you have. And if you have not, it would not make a bit of difference. It is all a mere formality at this point," she added, not waiting for a reply. "I shall have Darcy put the announcement in the papers. I think the nuptials should take place as soon as possible, but not too soon, because there really is no reason to hurry things. Is there, Miss Bennet?"

Kitty shook her head and Lady Catherine droned on about arrangements. At least Lady Litchcombe seemed sympathetic to her cause. On her way out a few minutes later, after they had all been informed by a servant that the two gentlemen were going to White’s, she squeezed Kitty’s hand.

"Meet me in the small park in the center of the square in fifteen minutes. Feel free to bring Miss Darcy with you."

Kitty gave her future mother-in-law a fleeting smile.

Darcy waited until they were settled in front of a fire at their men’s club before continuing the subject at hand. He was not quite sure what he would hear from Litchcombe, and a public place such as the club, where one was required to remain civil, suited his purpose better than having a possible argument at Lady Catherine’s.

"I have heard my aunt’s account of the matter, but I should like to hear yours."

"Very well," Lord Litchcombe agreed, sensing the anger underneath the other gentleman’s calm façade and knowing exactly at whom it was aimed. "I attended Lady Teaberry’s ball recently, where I had arranged to meet a certain lady in the Chinese Room."

"Miss Bennet?"

"Er, no. A Mrs. Morris-Smeeth, to be exact," he truthfully answered.

"I see." Darcy’s eyebrow rose a notch at the mention of that certain lady, but he kept his own counsel for the moment.

"However, I was forced to hide in a cabinet when the next arrivals were three people instead of one person. Colonel Fitzwilliam came in with Miss Darcy and Miss Bennet."

"Indeed, I cannot imagine what they were doing there. Pray enlighten me. I’ve no doubt you heard every word."

Lord Litchcombe nodded. "Miss de Bourgh had been jilted by a gentleman and Miss Bennet had a scheme to restore the lady’s confidence."

Darcy paused. Anne? Jilted? With a flick of his hand he bid the other man to continue.

"Miss Bennet wished to attract a few gentlemen known for their rakish behavior to the side of Miss de Bourgh, considering it rather harmless. The men would not be hanging out for wives, and Miss de Bourgh was in no condition to consider marriage."

"It seems I shall be having a word with Miss Bennet about her ideas," Darcy said.

Litchcombe chuckled. "Actually, it was a good plan. My friends have made their female relations happy without any real attachments on their part, and Miss de Bourgh and Miss Darcy have been willing accomplices."

"Miss Darcy?" That lady’s brother had appeared calm and relaxed, but now he came to full attention.

"Yes, sir. Miss Darcy has attracted some attention in all of this, but she appears to be as detached as the gentlemen."

"Miss Darcy has some explaining to do, as well. But continue your story, please," Darcy said smoothly. Litchcombe picked up the thread of it once again.

"While your three relatives were in the Chinese Room, there was a knock at the door and Mrs. Morris-Smeeth was heard, wondering why she was being denied entrance. After she left, everyone else quit the room and I came out of the cabinet. I did not see anyone as I made my way back to the ballroom. I was intrigued, however, by Miss Bennet’s scheme, not to mention her person, and have been a fellow conspirator ever since."

"And now you must marry her, according to my aunt and your mother. She has agreed to this?"

Litchcombe blurted out an expletive and started to his feet. "I was trying to ask her when you walked in!"

"Sit down," Darcy commanded. "She is not going anywhere. You may speak to her again when we return," the baron was assured. Litchcombe sat back down.

"When did the gossip begin concerning you and Miss Bennet?" Darcy wondered.

"Last evening at Almack’s. I can’t help but think someone has been waiting for the right moment with all this. How would they know about Lady Teaberry’s ball if they weren’t there and not say anything until now? The only other person even near the Chinese Room during those few moments was…"

The two gentlemen seemed to have the thought at the same time. "Caroline!"

Kitty was wracking her brain, trying to think of a way out of the house, when Anne and Colonel Fitzwilliam returned to the drawing room. They were holding hands.

"Mama…" Anne began, but her mother had already noticed the familiarity between the two cousins.

"What is this?" she demanded.

"My cousin and I are engaged, Mama."

"Oh? And I suppose you are expecting to receive my permission?" Lady Catherine asked in the most haughty of tones.

"Actually, no, Aunt Catherine," the colonel replied. "Anne is of age, after all. However, we would like your blessing."

Kitty cleared her throat to gain Georgiana’s attention, but that young lady was already heading toward the door. Kitty all but ran as well, thinking she didn’t want to be there to hear the rest of this after all. They left the happy couple glaring at Lady Catherine.

"Would you like to take in some fresh air with me?" Kitty asked when they were safely out in the hall.

"I would be delighted," Georgiana said with no little relief.

Once clad in their outerwear, the two left the house and walked across the street to the park.

"Well, my dears," Lady Litchcombe said as she joined them in the park, "how did you find Lady Catherine upon your departure from the house?"

Kitty giggled. "In the process of gaining a nephew for a son. I have no doubt the colonel will stand his ground and take the day."

"Excellent! And did you have an interesting chat with my son earlier today, Miss Bennet?"

"Not exactly…" Kitty said with a frown.

The countess nodded in understanding. "He can be rather dominating, can’t he? Did you accept his offer?"

"Not exactly…"

"You have refused him?" the baroness exclaimed. Georgiana gasped.

"I have not accepted Lord Litchcombe because he has not yet made an offer!" Kitty hotly replied. "What if he never…" she said, close to tears.

"Nonsense!" Lady Litchcombe had already recovered from her surprise and her response was brisk. "You shall get your offer, Miss Bennet. And in the meantime, I doubt you two wish to return to the house. Since your mother is not present to help you with such things as a trousseau, let us go shopping. We need to get you a special gown for your wedding!"

"But…"

"People will say you had to get married, Miss Bennet, but I do not want them to say you went to your wedding in an old or borrowed gown." She was only half serious, but she had to get Kitty to agree somehow. The girl needed a distraction and Lady Litchcombe was determined to take her under her wing. Especially when she had yet to face Mr. Darcy. The baroness had no doubt he would be a tougher nut to crack than Lady Catherine.

Georgiana linked an arm with Kitty. "Let’s go shopping," she said softly.

Kitty could not deny Georgiana and asked one of her ladyship’s footmen to run a message into the house as to their whereabouts – Bond Street.

"Cam! I have the most excellent idea! Good to see you, Darcy," he added before turning back to his friend. "I have found the perfect reason to have a dinner party. Your engagement!" He stood there with a smile on his face, waiting for his friend to agree. "In fact, I am going to ask your mother to be the hostess."

"That is a fine idea," Cameron said. "But Miss Bennet and I…"

"Would be delighted to have a dinner in their honor," Darcy finished for him. "In fact, the entire family will be pleased to attend. You may send invitations to Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam and myself. Miss Bennet and Miss Darcy will be moving tomorrow into my townhouse."

"I shall call on your mother this very afternoon!" Heatherly said and bounced off, no doubt eager to put his plans in motion.

To Cameron’s complete surprise, Darcy laughed at the retreating back of his friend.

"He reminds me of a close friend of mine – Mr. Bingley. Have you met him? I believe you have met his sisters," he said when Cameron shook his head. "Mrs. Hurst and Mrs. Morris-Smeeth."

Cameron felt the blood drain from his face. How close a friend was Mr. Darcy to Mr. Bingley?

"I’m certain you will get to meet Mr. Bingley soon enough. His wife will see to that."

"Oh?"

Darcy’s grin was rather smug and for the first time that day, Cameron felt trapped by this entire situation.

"Mrs. Bingley, as well as my own wife, of course, is one of Miss Bennet’s elder sisters."

Chapter 10

When the baron and Mr. Darcy returned to the house, Lord Litchcombe was informed that his mother had taken Miss Bennet and Miss Darcy off to Bond Street. Because he had been planning on tendering a proposal on his return, he felt rather disappointed. Miss Bennet was supposed to be waiting, dash it all! Without even stopping to pay his respects to Lady Catherine, he departed.

Darcy, feeling as if he had lost a buffer of sorts, went in to greet his aunt alone, only to find her arguing with her daughter and nephew - who wished to be married?

"Darcy! You are just in time to tell Mama that Fitzwilliam and I should have her blessing."

Darcy was rather amazed at the transformation of his quiet, sickly cousin, who was now ordering him about as she never would have done before. The colonel sat calmly off to one side and allowed his future wife to handle the discussion, much to Darcy's amusement.

"Why should she have any objections?" he asked as if his aunt were not in the room.

"I have no idea," Anne replied in the same vein. "After all, the money and estate stay in the family, just as she has always wished it to."

"That is true."

"You will dine with us this evening?" she asked.

"I would be delighted, cousin." Sensing he could now make his escape before his aunt, who was turning beet red, could give full vent to her feelings, he said he would return later and went home to write a couple of letters. The first would be to Elizabeth and it would be quite full of news.

Kitty was not pleased, either, when she returned home to learn Lord Litchcombe had asked for her. After all, she had only been off fingering materials, being measured and dreaming too much of the proposal she had been so sure of receiving from him. But what if it had not been his intention to make some passionate declaration? What if he had been about to make a dry request, one that did not appeal to her romantic sensibilities?

She sat on a sofa, refused a glass of sherry and managed to talk herself into settling for a one-sided marriage.

Once Mr. Darcy arrived and everyone had been called to dinner, she had worked her way up to being the mother of two children and living with them in the country while her husband conducted a separate life in town.

"You are much too quiet this evening, Miss Bennet," Lady Catherine snapped halfway through the fish course. She seemed disgruntled, still, that her daughter had managed to become betrothed without any interference from her whatsoever.

"I am certain the gentlemen will forgive us if you tell me where you went shopping today."

"We went to Mrs. Duval's," Kitty said softly. "To order some bridal clothes."

"I hope you had the good sense to have the bills sent to Darcy."

Kitty gave her brother-in-law a quick glance. "Yes, ma'am," was the meek reply.

"And how is Mrs. Darcy faring?" Anne asked. She would never admit it, but she had always liked Elizabeth. She was pretty and lively and had saved Anne from marrying the wrong cousin.

"She is well," came the reply. Anything else about his wife would have to be asked in private. He was not about to discuss her current condition at the table. Or in front of everyone.

After the meal - when the ladies had defected to the drawing room and port and cigars had been set out - he finally had a chance to speak to the colonel, who confirmed Litchcombe's account of the situation and added a few comments concerning his youngest cousin and Miss Bennet.

"Perhaps you should speak with Georgiana first," the colonel counseled. "She seems to have a certain delicacy of mind so sadly lacking in Miss Bennet."

"I was not aware of your animosity toward Miss Bennet."

"I was not aware I had any, either," the colonel admitted. "Until she almost cost me a fiancée."

"With the gentlemen of dubious reputation?"

"Yes."

"And Georgiana?" Darcy quizzed, knowing it was as much his cousin's responsibility to watch out for her as it was his own.

"I have been keeping an eye on Georgiana," came the rather terse reply. "You may ask her yourself."

"I intend to." Darcy reflectively sipped his port.

"I do not believe she plans to be taken in by them."

"She did not plan to be taken in before, either." Even now, Darcy could not bring himself to say that name.

"Talk to her before you draw any conclusions," his cousin urged. Darcy looked at the colonel over the rim of his glass.

"How is it that you are in Georgiana's corner over all this, but not Miss Bennet's?"

"That is simple - Georgiana was not taken in and Miss Bennet was. You don't think Litchcombe wished to be caught, do you?"

Darcy was of two minds about that, but he held his tongue. Instead, he suggested Fitzwilliam go spend some time with his fiancée.

"Are you going to speak privately with the other two young ladies?"

"Tomorrow," Darcy assured him. "After they have been removed to my house."

Darcy's letter to his wife had been sent by private courier to Pemberley and arrived in Derbyshire the next day.

Mrs. Reynolds, well aware that Mrs. Darcy would wish to be notified as soon as possible, sent the courier off to the kitchens for a meal and took the letter personally to her mistress.

Elizabeth, who was trying to read a book in the library, took the missive with a smile.

My dearest Elizabeth,

I have reached London in safety and, as always, I miss you every moment we are apart. I was greeted by some alarming news upon my arrival, however, and because of its nature am not certain I will be home as soon as planned.

Lizzy frowned. Kitty and Georgiana were in London - she hoped this did not concern either of them. Ahhh, she thought as she scanned down further. The colonel and Anne...

...are betrothed, although Lady Catherine is not exactly welcoming her nephew as a son.

Lizzy grinned and rubbed her stomach. Lady Catherine would come around eventually and then her child would have cousins on both sides of the family to play with.

I will be in London until your sister is wed, of course, but that will not take long...

What? Lizzy backed up and read with growing dread how Kitty's good name had been wrongly linked with a known rake, Lord Litchcombe, how they were now engaged, and who was suspected in regards to spreading the rumors.

"Caroline!" she exclaimed after reading that specific name.

Hmmm... She might not be able to travel, but there were others in the family who could and would come to Kitty's assistance, if only for a show of familial support. Lizzy went directly to her writing desk and started a series of letters that would be sent by Darcy's courier as quickly as possible.

Mr. Darcy waited until his sister and his wife's sister were established in his household before speaking to either young lady about their recent activities.

After a midday repast, when both Georgiana and Kitty assured him that their rooms were satisfactory, Georgiana said she was going to practice the pianoforte. Darcy waited until she left the dining room and then asked Kitty into his study. She reluctantly agreed, having more than an inkling as to what this meeting would entail.

"How is Lizzy?" she asked after he settled her into a chair in front of the fire. That he joined her instead of sitting behind his desk put her somewhat at ease.

"I have a letter for you," was the kind reply. Darcy had a soft spot for this Bennet sister - she was the one who had gone out of her way to befriend his sister. And if things had gone a bit astray, he could not, as his cousin did, hold Miss Bennet completely responsible.

"Shall we discuss your wedding?" he added.

"My wedding? Don't you wish to berate me for embroiling everyone in this situation and for putting your sister's own reputation at stake by association?"

"I am convinced that you have done little wrong despite gossip to the contrary. It is more like being in the wrong place at the wrong time... I confess that I think you are playing with fire by encouraging a handful of disreputable men. However, you should not worry too much," he said. "I understand Litchcombe has been snared..." He gave her a rare grin to take the sting out of his words and Kitty fairly goggled at the sight.

If this was what marriage to Lizzy did to him, Kitty thought, he was going to turn into Mr. Bingley within the decade!

"And if you are desirous of a tongue-lashing, I believe there might be a letter from at least one sister, if not three, in the next few days. Mrs. Bingley's will be gentle, Lady Trowbridge's will no doubt be couched in a few platitudes and Mrs. Darcy's will be straight and to the point. Do not say you were not warned."

"You wrote to them all?"

"No, just Elizabeth. I'm sure she will take it from there."

Kitty groaned. "And Papa? Mama?"

"Do you doubt that her first letter went to Longbourn?"

"I'm sure her first letter went to London. But her second letter, no doubt, went to Hertfordshire. I must write to them..."

"And so you shall," Darcy said indulgently. "I'll leave you to the pen and paper on my desk." He bowed and left the room, knowing Miss Bennet would be busy while he had a chat with his sister.

The sound of the pianoforte led Mr. Darcy to the music room and he stood just inside the doorway while his sister finished the piece she was playing. After giving her a round of applause for her efforts, he indicated she was to stay seated and he strolled over to lean on the instrument.

“I understand you and Miss Bennet have had an interesting time of it while in London.”

Georgiana’s smile was serene. “Interesting is a good word.” She knew what her brother wished to discuss, but she had not done anything wrong and, perversely, wished to make him work for his information. “Who would have imagined our cousins becoming engaged?”

“That is not exactly what I had in mind, but I’ll admit I am surprised at that turn of events. Elizabeth will be equally amazed.”

His sister gave him a shy but knowing smile. “No doubt she is already in possession of the news.”

“No doubt. What I wished to speak to you about is the inordinate amount of time you have been spending with gentlemen of…” He paused for the right word.

Georgiana held up a hand, the first time she had ever forestalled him in her life. “I pray you do not read more into the situation than is warranted, brother.”

“But I feel you are in danger of…”

“Repeating history?” Her tone took on a slight edge, but her cheeks were flushed. She found herself more embarrassed by the past than the present. They had not spoken much of Ramsgate in the ensuing years, but it had to come out sometime. “I do not believe the circumstances are the same.”

“No?” Mr. Darcy’s voice held a tinge of sarcasm. “A gentleman fixes your interest under false pretences and you say it is not the same? It is my understanding that this entire scheme of Miss Bennet’s is one big lie where certain families are concerned.”

Georgiana turned red and looked down where her hands rested on the keys. They were shaking and she moved them to her lap. “It was only to help Anne. The gentlemen are aware of the deception and we did no harm. I will drop the acquaintances if you wish…”

“No, they are Litchcombe’s friends and you will be seeing them in the future. I will let them know, however, that there can never be anything from you but polite distance.”

She looked up, a frown marring her pretty features. “Please do not. I shall speak to them when the situation warrants it. Until then, I beg you, let me leave everything as it is.” Perhaps if he saw there was nothing to fear, she could continue her little friendships – they were helping her learn how to get over her fear of the male of the species, something even her brother and gentle Mr. Bingley had been unable to do completely.

“It shall be as you wish,” her brother agreed, impressed in spite of himself with her attitude and willingness to take control of the situation.

Georgiana breathed a sigh of relief when he kissed her forehead and left the room.

After Mr. Darcy left the study, Kitty was informed that flowers had arrived for her and were awaiting her arrangement of them in the drawing room.

Arrangement? Kitty didn’t think she could do such a thing. Certainly, she had been the recipient of little nosegays, but never anything that couldn’t just be admired until it died. Even at Longbourn she had gotten out of flower arranging duties by doing such a poor job, her mother would hiss and sigh and send her off somewhere else.

But she had been aware since that morning that Mr. Darcy’s household was informed of her new status, and not just as a betrothed young lady, but as a future baroness. In fact, the butler handed her the accompanying note without batting an eyelash, as if she was now entitled to her billet-doux.

Kitty walked into the drawing room and gasped. This was no tiny nosegay sent by a previous evening’s dance partner, one of many in a proscribed size and kind. No, these were large bunches of daffodils, each tied with a purple silk ribbon.

Daffodils are for regard…

She didn’t know what to do or say until Mrs. Anderson, the housekeeper, cleared her throat and looked at the note in Kitty’s hand.

“Oh…”

As she read (privately, of course), Kitty began to smile. Litchcombe was a complete hand!

My dear Miss Bennet, you are no doubt reading this in front of Mr. Darcy’s senior servants, who will now bestow you with discreet but knowing smiles.

Kitty looked up to see that this was absolutely true, and flushed.

You, of course, are blushing becomingly, as is your wont, and they will move toward the door. Ask them to wait, as there will be a reply.

“Wait, please,” Kitty found herself saying automatically, and then laughing. The butler and housekeeper were, indeed, inching toward the door.

Will you accompany me on a drive through the park today at the fashionable hour?

“There will be a reply,” Kitty said and went to the small writing desk Lizzy kept in the corner for such occasions as this.

The servants exchanged glances and the butler said he would wait in the hall for the return note. Mrs. Anderson excused herself to retrieve a couple of vases, and Kitty was left alone.

Alone now? I wished to speak to you about something important yesterday, when we were interrupted. When I returned, you were not at home. Shall we continue our conversation this afternoon? Cameron

Kitty sighed as she read the name at the bottom of the paper. His name was Cameron…

Chapter 11

Kitty was determined to make his lordship wait when he called for her at five o'clock, and so she dawled over her toilette. Finally, Marie begged her to go downstairs. Kitty pouted. It was only five minutes to five, but she could tarry at the top of the stairs, out of sight, until he was ushered into the drawing room. It never occurred to her that his lordship's horses might not care if she made an entrance.

Smoothing down her new primrose muslin gown and fussing with the wrists of her darker spencer, she heard a servant ask the butler “to hurry Miss Bennet along,” because the horses were feeling their oats and would not stand long. Mustering what dignity she could, Kitty descended in a regal manner completely lost on Lord Litchcombe’s tiger and interrupted the butler’s explanation as to why she was not ready.

“Thank you,” she said to the older man and followed the smaller one out to Lord Litchcombe’s phaeton.

“Your promptness is appreciated,” Litchcombe said. She hoped the hint of exasperation in his voice was directed toward his cattle, else this was not going to be a fun drive.

“You’re welcome, my lord.”

“Cameron, please,” he asked, urging his team into traffic and heading toward Hyde Park. “And shall you be Catherine or Kitty when we are not required to be in company?”

“Which do you prefer, my – Cameron?”

“Kitty, or perhaps I shall call you Cat. We can be Cat and Cam to each other. I rather like that.” He seemed well pleased with himself, but until Kitty got her declaration, she was determined not to give in completely to his every whim.

“I think Cameron will suffice, as well as Kitty.”

“There you are again, Miss Priss and Prunes!” he exclaimed with a laugh.

“What?”

“You sound just like the rather cold, haughty reply I received to my note earlier today.”

“That was not…” Kitty stopped herself because she realized she sounded just like Lady

Catherine.

“Exactly. ‘Dear Lord Litchcombe,’” he recited in a stuffy, feminine voice. “‘Thank you for your kind invitation.’”

“What is wrong with that?” Kitty demanded.

“You need more humor in your life, Miss Bennet.”