Page 14 of Gold and Good Sense

Still, it was a house in Mayfair, and it certainly wasn’t uncomfortable. There were even two footmen who would be available to accompany the ladies if they wished to go out.

Lady Esther arrived that afternoon, and the following day their search for another companion and two ladies’ maids began in earnest.

Chapter 7

Kitty skipped down the stairs, headed for the breakfast table. Her heart was light. Only yesterday, Alan had told her he loved her. He had hinted strongly that he wanted to marry her, though he had not said so outright.

It had been two weeks since Papa had left for London to manage their new fortunes. Kitty couldn’t imagine why it was taking so long, but she didn’t wish to complain too much. Alan had visited her every single day, sometimes just visiting with her in the parlor and sometimes taking her for a walk, and his presence always made her forget her jealousy that her sisters were in London without her.

When Kitty entered the breakfast room, she saw that she was the last one there. Everyone was focused on their meal, so there was little chatter. Mama was reading the morning’s mail. Mary was reading the newspaper, and Lydia was humming to herself as she spread a large blob of marmalade on her toast.

Kitty poured herself some tea and settled into her chair. As she was buttering her own toast, Mama exclaimed, “That man!”

“What is it, Mama?” asked Lydia.

“It’s your father,” said Mama. “He has been delayed in London, but he says he will be home in two days. That is not what is so exasperating, though. He insists that there will be no marriages and no courtships until he takes us all to the seaside this summer.”

“But why?” The question burst out of Kitty’s mouth without any thought.

“He says we all need time to get used to the new situation before making any life-changing decisions,” said Mama. “What nonsense. There is nothing more natural in the world than that a girl grows up and gets married.”

“I think it’s a wise precaution,” said Mary. “After all, we wouldn’t want to attract fortune hunters.”

“But what if someone truly falls in love with us?” asked Kitty. “Will Papa still make us wait?”

Mama hesitated. Then she said, “Kitty, my love, you know how stubborn your father can be. Sometimes, I can convince him when he’s wrong, but every once in a while, he gets these ideas, and he won’t budge. I’m afraid this is one of those cases where he is unlikely to change his mind.”

Kitty wanted to complain that it wasn’t fair, especially after Alan’s declaration just yesterday, but she didn’t want to hear a sermon from Mary on the subject. So, she kept her peace even while Lydia complained vehemently.

While Kitty agreed with every single complaint coming from her sister’s mouth, she thought that it was ridiculous for Lydia to complain in the first place. She wasn’t out; she was too young to get married, so none of this should concern her at all. By the time Lydia turned fifteen, the family would be on their way to the seaside, and Papa would have relented a bit.

But for Kitty, it would be too late.

If she waited until this summer to return Alan’s declaration of affection, he might very well lose interest while she was gone from the neighborhood. This was Kitty’s one chance at happiness, and she didn’t want her father’s foolish decisions to ruin it.

After breakfast was over, Kitty went with Mama and Lydia into the parlor. Mary went to the music room as usual.

Kitty settled in with a little purse she was netting, but she wasn’t really focused on her hands. She was reliving those glorious moments just before Alan left her at the door yesterday.

He had told her he loved her with all his heart. Then he had said that he hoped to speak with her father about his feelings once Mr. Bennet returned from London.

Kitty had felt light as a feather, and she came very close to telling him how deeply she loved him, how she had always loved only him, but before she could say the words, he was gone.

After a while, Lydia threw down her work. “I am bored of just sitting here,” she said. “Come Kitty, let’s go outside, and you can push me on the swing.”

“I think I would prefer to stay inside, today,” said Kitty. She was too absorbed in her own thoughts to be able to tolerate Lydia’s selfishness today.

“I declare, you’ve become quite boring lately,” said Lydia. “You should be careful. If you aren’t, one day you’ll find yourself to be just like Mary.”

Lydia waited for Kitty to reply or to simply agree to accompany her after all, but even Kitty knew not to respond to such a statement, for it would only elicit harsher or more pointed complaints.

After a few moments of silence Lydia flounced out of the room. A few minutes later, Kitty heard the front door close loudly.

Now that she knew they were alone, Kitty said, “Mama, I wonder if I could ask your advice.”

“Is this about young Mr. Goulding?” Mama said.

“How did you know?”