“If she wasn’t counting on you, would you still wish to go?” asked Mary.
Catherine shrugged. “I am not certain. I do think it could be fun, but since I have no intention of marrying anyone, it takes away some of the purpose of many of the activities. The alternative is simply to remain here, which isn’t particularly appealing either, especially in the winter when it can be hard to get out sometimes.”
She had no compunction in mentioning her plan to never marry to her older sister. In fact, Mary was the main reason she still planned to stay single. Lydia was pretty and fairly well-behaved. Additionally, she was determined to get married someday, and she wasn’t particularly picky about who. Mary on the other hand was likely to remain unwed. With her lack of social skills or inclination, she was not likely to meet anyone she would get along with.
Between Mary and Mama, Catherine was determined to save them both from want whenever the awful day of Papa’s eventual demise came.
After a bit of hesitation, Mary said, “I think I will decline.”
Catherine noticed the hesitation, so she said, “If you change your mind you will certainly be welcome.”
“That is good to know,” said Mary, and it gave Catherine a bit of hope that perhaps her sister would decide to come with them after all.
When Lydia arrived home, Catherine shared the invitation with her. Both Lydia and Mama squealed with joy at the prospect. Mama seemed even more excited than her daughter, and she went on and on at length about how her two youngest daughters were certain to come home married after spending winter and spring in London among the very highest society had to offer.
Catherine bore with it, not believing a single word her mother said, but not attempting to correct her either. It was entirely possible that she would receive an offer of marriage, but she would certainly decline.
On the other hand, Lydia would almost certainly not attract a gentleman from among Mr. Darcy’s friends. She was simply too poor to be attractive to gentlemen who, by necessity, must pay some attention to finances. Only the wealthiest and most romantic gentlemen, like Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley, would be willing to marry someone without a dowry, and such gentlemen were few and far between.
Thinking about how little attention Lydia would attract in London reminded Catherine that she had yet to discuss her sisters’ dowries with her father. She hadn’t needed to do anything about it before Jane or Elizabeth’s weddings. All ofthat had happened so suddenly, and neither Mr. Bingley nor Mr. Darcy had need of such a small dowry as what Catherine could have provided at the time.
On the other hand, her fortune had grown significantly since then. She didn’t even know exactly how much she had, but since very little of it had been used in the last two or three years, it should be quite a bit more.
Once Mama’s flow of excitement slowed down a bit, Catherine declared her intention of speaking to Papa about it, and she headed to her father’s study.
After knocking, she entered. She had seldom been in this room except when she was summoned. She couldn’t remember the last time she sought out her father’s company.
“I heard echoes of your mother’s exclamations of joy,” Papa said as soon as she was seated in the chair in front of his desk. “I assume you are here to tell me what this is all about?”
“Yes, Papa,” said Catherine. “Georgiana has invited my two sisters and myself to join her for her debut season beginning in January. Mama is merely thrilled at the prospect of getting two more of her daughters married.”
“Two? Did you not say that all three of you were invited?” he asked.
Catherine did not wish to admit that her mother had ignored Mary’s prospects, so she said, “Mary has declined the invitation, though I am hoping she will change her mind before we depart, assuming of course that you give your permission.”
“I certainly cannot deny my permission to you,” he said waving his hand. “After all, this is what that expensive education of yours was for. I suppose I can give permission to Lydia as well, since her behavior in public has improved enough that sheshouldn’t be an embarrassment. If Mary changes her mind, she has my permission as well, though I doubt she will.”
“Thank you, Papa,” said Catherine. She hesitated, wishing to speak to him about her sisters’ dowries, but not knowing how to bring the subject up.
“Is there something else?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Do you recall me asking if I could use some of my fortune to provide dowries for my sisters? At the time, you said we could discuss it once my fortune had gained interest. I think it might be a good idea to establish officially what I can do for them before we go to London. It may make it easier for Lydia to find a match.”
“I see,” said Papa. “The thought hasn’t crossed my mind since your older sisters’ weddings. I assumed that, since you didn’t bring it up at the time, you had changed your mind on the subject.”
“Elizabeth and Jane were fortunate enough to not need my money to attract suitable gentlemen. I don’t think Lydia or Mary will be quite so lucky,” said Catherine.
“I suppose you are correct,” he said. “What did you have in mind?”
“I would like to take whatever fortune I have that exceeds fifty thousand pounds and split it between them,” she said.
“And do you know how much that will be?” asked Papa.
“Since I should have earned about two thousand a year in interest, and since you have spent about two thousand on my education and clothes, I would assume that it would be about ten thousand pounds, giving my sisters five thousand each,” said Kitty.
“You are close, but you neglected to take into account compound interest. You also forgot the initial twelve hundred pounds you received from Mrs. Parker before Lady Slope’s fortune eclipsed it. In fact, you have sixty-three thousand pounds,” said Papa.
“Even better,” said Catherine.
