Second Glances: A Tale of Less Pride and Prejudice Continues (Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice) (2 page)

The gentleman smiled and greeted her congenially, the pleasure he so happily betrayed in making her acquaintance easing some of Kitty agitation. Handsome, charming, an old friend of Miss Burke’s, and apparently quite taken with her younger sister – if his taking advantage of the older sister’s presence to heavily pepper his speech with Miss Lydia’s, the L rolling from his tongue caressingly, might be taken as an indication of infatuation. She could see nothing objectionable in the chance meeting, but she wanted to know more of Mr. Beaumont.

“How long have you known Mr. Beaumont, Lydia?” she questioned as they headed back towards the school.

“Oh, any number of weeks now. We met one day at Letty’s house, when I joined her there for tea.”

Letitia Burke was a resident of Bath, but her father, a widower, found it more convenient for his only child to reside with Mrs. Rivers while completing her education, as he was incapable of doing anything other than spoiling her. She had spent some years in her aunt’s household before that good lady refused to undertake the task any longer, claiming she could no longer guarantee the girl’s safety. School suited Miss Burke just fine, as she was free to go back and forth to her own home as often as she liked, while providing her with a great deal more interesting companionship. She had become fast friends with Lydia within days of their meeting, and together they were quite the bane of their instructors’ existences.

Now she giggled mischievously, “But they have seen a great deal of each other since.”

Lydia glared at her friend. “I have seen him twice more: once again at Letty’s, and another time, like today, we met him in the street.”

“He’s very handsome,” Kitty acknowledged, and Lydia adopted a more amiable attitude.

“Is he not? I wish you had seen him in his blue coat!”

“I do not know what you think attractive in Hugh Beaumont!” exclaimed Letty, making a face of disgust. “You would not be able to bear him if you knew him at I did, a fat and sticky child. I used to hate to dine with him.”

Lydia defended her admirer, claiming his past had no bearing on the present, and the two began to slacken their pace as they argued over Mr. Beaumont’s merits. This conversation bore every appearance of being well-rehearsed. Kitty, anxious to at least begin a response to Georgiana before her music lesson, was several paces ahead of her companions when she reached the next intersection. Perceiving an opening in traffic, and not wanting to dawdle, Kitty boldly stepped into the street. She had almost reached the pavement opposite when a curricle came upon her, proceeding at a most reckless speed, and only stopped short just in time to avoid running her down. Kitty had jumped backwards upon perceiving her peril, and now her body trembled with fright as she contemplated her near escape. In such a moment of duress, an angry voice penetrated her through the seemingly violent noise of her pounding heartbeat, “What do you think you are about? Do you not know you might have been killed? Get out of the street!”

This advice, though roughly delivered, was so sound that she heeded it immediately, scrambling from the thoroughfare before allowing her anger to register. Observing the gentleman wrestling with his reins, trying to calm his frightened horses, Kitty found her voice and responded with equal heat, “In such a crush, sir, I am astonished you would proceed at such a pace!”

Sir James Stratton, having gained control over his team, noticed that it was a genteelly dressed young lady upon whom he had nearly inflicted grave injury – one whose agitation added a very becoming glow to an already rosy complexion – and jumped down to render assistance. Kitty, in turn, took notice of his fine frame, elegant dress, and handsome face. However, though her appearance might work to quell his chagrin, his made her only more indignant. A man of such refined appearance should be more solicitous, like her sister’s husband, Mr. Darcy. His next statement, “You really should take care to watch where you are going,” though spoken gently, was taken as further reprimand, doing nothing to quell her ire.

“I was perfectly aware of my proceedings, sir, and this near accident would never have occurred if you heeded your own unsolicited advice!” she proclaimed shakily, her heightened emotions starting to overtake any semblance of calm she had thus far managed to maintain.

Perceiving her very understandable distress, as well as recognizing the justice of her claim, Sir James offered her his escort, beginning to in introduce himself when an anxious call of “Miss Bennet! Are you alright?” came from the corner opposite, claiming the attention of his damsel in distress.

“I do not require your assistance, sir!” she declared as firmly as she could. “I am perfectly well to proceed on my own,” and turning on her heel she began to make her way back across the street, hoping she did not betray her weakened knees. However, as she almost immediately fell into the path of yet another vehicle, her attempt at composure was in vain.

She heard the young man snicker beside her as he grasped her arm and steadied her balance, and unwittingly leaning for a moment upon his support, he quickly guided her out of traffic. Overcoming her bewilderment, she threw off his grasp and turned on him, her face now fully flushed with the heat of her outrage, “Unhand me, sir! As much as I am obliged to you for nearly killing me, I feel far safer without your attendance!”

A determined twinkle shot from his eye as he smiled broadly (his apparent humor acted as an additional insult to the vexed Kitty, who found herself infuriatingly inclined to smile back), before he replied, “Oh yes. I can see you are perfectly capable of navigating a street all upon your own.”

“I do not know what you can possibly find amusing!” she declared in perplexity, straightening her disordered pelisse.

“Do you not? Please accept my humblest apologies, not only for my own reckless driving, but also that of all the other carriages hereabouts, as they all seem determined to get in your way.”

“Oh!” cried an indignant Kitty as she turned her back upon the gentleman, gathered her companions, and proceeded on her way, now taking the utmost care to avoid any further potential mishaps. As she once again reclaimed the pavement, she turned round to see the man directly behind them, gathering his reins and smiling at her, laughter in his eyes as he waved goodbye. Kitty thrust her chin into the air and continued up the street, Lydia and Miss Burke’s questions echoing behind her.

“Aunt Augusta!” Sir James kissed the widow’s hand in greeting. “How nice to be here at last!”

“Was it a terrible journey? We expected you a few hours ago.”

“Not at all. I come only from Bristol, where I spent last evening.”

“Bristol? A strange stop over, seven hours out of your way.”

“I was seeing to some shipping interests.”

“Really, Sir James! I wish you would leave such matters to your man of business.”

“Mine is a maritime land, dear Aunt. I cannot neglect its needs.”

“Humph!” she replied. “Neither your father, nor mine before him, ever saw the need to go to Bristol on business.”

“We live in changing times, my dear Aunt, but let us speak of other matters. I believe you have found a bevy of eligible ladies for me to fall in love with, am I right?”

“Surely not so many! I have merely invited a few unexceptional members of the fairer sex, who may or may not entrance you, I could not say. I know I wrote you a sharp letter, James, but were I not distraught to learn of your accident, I would never have taken such a tone.”

“Certainly not,” he smiled.

“I will not engage in matchmaking, if that is what you are thinking. Such matters I leave between Cupid and you.”

“Of course you do,” he laughed, “and a good thing it is, too, for an arrow has pierced my heart this very day, as I passed through Bath. I am quite undone, I assure you.”

Mrs. Westingham’s still youthful eyes sparkled with interest, “Do tell me your tale!”

“I was riding quite recklessly, as you well know, (Bristol is only five hours out of the way, dear Aunt, at the rate I drive), when a young lady stepped into my path, very nearly losing her life in the process.“

His aunt looked shocked. “What kind of behavior is this? Will you not even conduct yourself properly in Bath itself? Someone surely recognized you.”

“That I do not know, but a great many people certainly saw me, and the likelihood of your being acquainted with at least one of the many spectators is quite good. The lady gave me the scolding of my life.”

“I have no doubt you deserved it. She might have been killed! Quite frankly, it’s about time you saw the consequences of your shenanigans.”

“My gratitude for her safety is a more effective lesson to me, Aunt Augusta, than any lecture you can possibly deliver.”

“So it was love at first sight! Who is the lady?”

“I haven’t the slightest notion. A schoolgirl, I would imagine, though certainly not for much longer. One of her companions called her Miss Bennet, I believe.”

“Bennet? I believe that is the name of Darcy’s new wife, is it not? Perhaps there is a relation. Regardless, you have little time to waste waiting on school girl misses to come out.”

“I have no intention of doing anything of the sort, but she has set a new bar for any perspective wives.”

“Too bad, really, for the lady who could like you despite being nearly run over by you would be particularly suited to be your wife, as she will surely have to accustom herself to all sorts of wild stunts.”

“It is a sad loss. I feel it acutely,” he assented, adding bemusedly, “I wonder if she is a relation of Darcy’s?”

“Perhaps I shall warn my young guests that you respond well to a sharp tongue.”

“To the great chagrin of their careful mamas! Besides, Aunt Augusta, you said you would not engage in matchmaking!”

--

“Mr. Bennet! Mr. Bennet!”

“Yes, my dear?”

“How can this be? Lydia writes that Kitty is leaving school, to go frolicking through London as Miss Darcy’s chosen companion, but Lizzy has not included her in the invitation! That seems most unfair, does it not?”

“Not in the slightest. Kitty is older and has applied herself far more than Lydia. She has become a most unexceptional companion for Miss Darcy, while all my youngest daughter has proven with her education, I am afraid, is that she is an incurable romp.”

“I do not see what age has to do with the matter, and Lydia is just as much Lizzy’s sister as Kitty. There is no reason to betray such favoritism. Lydia must feel dreadfully, and rightly so, to be so left out. Lizzy must not be so disagreeable. I will write to her at once to tell her how much my sister Phillips thinks London would be just the thing for Lydia. She was saying, only yesterday, how time in town adds an unmistakable refinement to a young lady’s demeanor. Mary King returned so very much improved from her time there. One scarcely notices her freckles at all.”

“You may write all you like, but it will make not the slightest difference, not even with the benefit of Mrs. Phillips’ sanction or the evidence of Miss King’s complexion. Neither Lizzy nor Mr. Darcy will consent to bringing Lydia out at this time, and even if they were so foolish as to agree to such a proposal, I would not allow it, having lost count of the number of missives I’ve received from Mrs. Rivers regarding Lydia’s bad behavior. Poor woman! If it wasn’t for the peace her suffering buys me, I would sincerely pity her.”

“Nonsense, Mr. Bennet! How can you say such things of your own daughter?”

“I can say them, Mrs. Bennet, because they are undeniably true.”

“Oh! You have no pity on my poor nerves!”

“I had thought that seeing so many of your daughters properly disposed of would have cured your famous nerves, but instead they find new sources of worry with which to plague me.”

She grew red with indignation. “Mr. Bennet!”

“And for that matter,” he continued, “do I not have claim to nerves of my own? Yours have played such a decided role in our lives, I believe it is time that mine might be considered, lest they feel neglected.”

“Oh, do not talk such nonsense when important matters are at hand. I insist you write to Mr. Darcy. He will persuade Lizzy to include Lydia in the invitation.”

“I am sorry to inform you that I have already discussed the matter with Mr. Darcy, and we both agree Lydia is not ready to leave Mrs. Rivers.”

Mrs. Bennet narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her husband. “How long have you known of this, Mr. Bennet?”

“Oh, at least a fortnight, if not more.”

“I would think that, as a mother, I might be consulted in such arrangements.”

“You are perfectly right, my dear. What do you think of the notion of Kitty spending the season in London with the Darcys?”

“I think it a splendid notion, especially if Lydia might join them.”

“Then we are in agreement that it is a very nice thing for Kitty. Lydia will have her turn next year.” Mrs. Bennet looked disgruntled, and her husband offered the following balm to her ruffled sensibilities: “Oh do think of the great men Kitty is sure to meet. She may very well have an Earl falling desperately in love with her. How can that irritate your nerves?”

Mrs. Bennet took a moment to consider. “She should do very well, as all her sisters before her made excellent matches, and without the benefit of a London season. Of course, they had my guidance, which Kitty will be without. If she should attract a very great man – someone with a title – I hope she isn’t fool enough to let him slip away. I always thought it would be Lizzy who would cause us trouble, but never did I see two people fall more furiously in love than she and Mr. Darcy when they first met. There certainly was no question of her ever rejecting him. And, of course, Jane could never have considered such a thing, nor Mary, not when Mr. Collins was so good as to ask for her!”