Kitty once again embarked on a question and answer session, not tiring in the endeavor. Sitting as the guest of honor on the sofa amid a gaggle of Bennet females, she waxed on as only a bride-to-be can do.
Mr. Daniels greeted his brother-in-law with staid formality, never considering Mr. Darcy more than a client. A tied packet of documents was delivered with appropriate rectitude, Darcy not even cracking a smile although his eyes glittered humorously. George casually leaned against the liquor cabinet, whiskey decanter in one hand and brandy in the other as he served drinks to the gentlemen gathered around.
“May as well get started on the celebrating,” he said jauntily. “Bingley, Daniels, drink up. Get a jump on the other gents at the pub!”
“The pub?” Mr. Daniels asked, taking the whiskey tumbler automatically as it was thrust into his hand.
Mr. Bennet answered, “The men of Meryton are gathering for an impromptu dinner and games. News of our guests has spread. Mr. Bingley especially has many friends in the neighborhood.”
Mr. Daniels paled. “I am not certain… that is I should stay with Mrs. Daniels and the girls.”
“Nonsense!” George airily waved the brandy toward the clutch of jabbering females. “All these women talking weddings and mothering? Lord, be merciful! We need to be surrounded by manly sweat, drunken cursing, and discourses on hunting and politics to remind us we are of the stronger sex for at least one night. Pity Colonel Fitzwilliam is not here to test my skill at darts.”
“Perhaps it is for the best, Dr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet offered with a smile. “Humiliation at games of skill twice in a row may not be healthy for your ego.”
“My ego is towering enough to handle it, I assure you. Besides, the chessboard shall not sit idle for long, Mr. Bennet. Be wary. ��Pride cometh before the fall,’ as the Good Book says.”
“Indeed,” Darcy said. “But does it not also ask, ‘Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?’”
George laughed heartily, pouring more whiskey into Darcy’s untouched glass by way of answer.
“Speaking of Colonel Fitzwilliam, have you heard from him, Darcy?” Bingley asked.
“Not for a couple of weeks,” Darcy answered, frowning into his glass.
“I still am in a state of shock that Colonel Fitzwilliam is now a married man,” Bingley said. “I do not know him as well as you, Darcy, but I have to say I thought bachelorhood had a firm grip upon him. The abruptness, his choice of wife, the whole matter took me so by surprise.”
“And many others, myself included!” George declared, features falling into a pitiable expression of mourning. “I am the lone bachelor in the crowd now. It is a tragedy.”
They all laughed, Mr. Bennet speaking with false placation, “Rest easy, Doctor. I am sure we can find you a nice lady somewhere.”
George gasped dramatically, hand clutching the vivid green silk swathing his bony chest. “Perish the thought! You wound me, sir!”
“I have an aunt, sir, who may be perfect for you.”
They collectively gaped at Mr. Daniels, not due to his statement, but due to the obvious teasing tone it was uttered in. Stunned silence fell for a heartbeat, Mr. Daniels’s face beginning to color, but the lull was broken by Dr. Darcy’s loud bray and a reverberating clap to the young man’s shoulder.
“Well done, Daniels! Well done! Here, have some more whiskey.”
“Married he may be, but it will be pleasant to see him again. It has been months. I hope he arrives soon.”
Darcy nodded at Bingley’s words, the frown intact. “I am a little concerned, but trust that they will arrive in time. Georgiana will not fail to attend Miss Kitty’s nuptials, so my wife assures me.”
“Elizabeth is correct, William,” George agreed. “The wedding is several days away. We have yet to see the groom even! In fact, I am betting they will all arrive together. At least then we will have more men to counteract the feminine twittering. This brings me to back to tonight. How are you at darts, Mr. Daniels?”
Meanwhile the women sat in a semicircle with Kitty in the middle. Lizzy poured tea and distributed tiny plates of cakes and fruit while the bride-to-be described her dress in minute detail. “A rosy pink with green ribbons and sash. Green is Randall’s favorite color,” she finished in a soft voice, her rosy cheeks dimpling.
Jane and Lizzy shared a glance. Even the serious, unromantic Mary found herself smiling tenderly as memories of her own nuptials and those heady days of blooming love were recalled. Each young woman glanced unconsciously toward the knot of laughing men by the liquor cabinet, eyes seeking out their spouses.
“Well, I was of the opinion that a regal silver or gold would be more fashionable,” Mrs. Bennet interrupted the sentimental fancies. “Green is so… ordinary. Who picks green as a favorite color?” She shook her head, reaching for a scone.
“I think it sounds lovely,” Mary said, patting Kitty’s hand. “In the end it does not matter what color the dress as long as the choice of husband is a wise one.” She nodded sagely. “Kitty has made an excellent match.”
“Indeed she has. Do not be distressed, Mama. Consider how wonderful it will be to have Kitty married! Then all your daughters will be safe and securely established elsewhere, and you can turn your attentions to other matters, having accomplished your primary task in life. Think what a joy that shall be!”
Mrs. Bennet’s face fell at Lizzy’s innocently uttered words. Jane nudged Lizzy’s knee, shaking her head ever so slightly with a stern look, but Lizzy merely shrugged.
Mary changed the subject. “Lizzy, I do hope Michael wakens soon. I cannot wait to see him. Does he still look more like you than Mr. Darcy?”
“His appearance is a melding of us both but mostly unique, I think. In temperament I fear he is me.”
“Strange how that happens,” Jane mused. “Alexander so incredibly resembles his father while Michael resembles neither. Ethan too is a melding of Charles and I, with some features that come from only God knows where.”
“Well, we know where he gets his red hair, to be sure!” Mrs. Bennet offered. “I never could figure such things as there seems to be no logic. Jane’s fair coloring has always been a mystery. Mr. Bennet was as dark haired as Mary before turning white, if you girls remember. I do not think there are any blondes in the family.”
“Deborah’s locks are sandy, although not as light as yours, Jane, but that could well be from my husband’s side of the family. Joshua’s mother is blonde.”
“And Claudia?” Jane asked. “Is her hair light? I could not tell with her bonnet on and did not wish to disturb her sleep.”
“Never disturb a sleeping baby!” Lizzy declared firmly.
“I daresay you would know that truth!” Jane teased.
“I am anxious to meet this tempestuous nephew of mine. You have me burning with curiosity. How does Mr. Darcy handle his personality?”
“William has enough experience dealing with me that it has been an easy transition,” Lizzy answered Mary with a tiny chuckle. “In fact he has far more patience than I, not that there is any shocking imparted truth in that statement. Patience is not a virtue I overwhelmingly possess whereas William is a walking example of the attribute. I have decided that God plans these matters carefully and with tremendous forethought, thankfully.”
“Yes, He does. To answer your question, Jane, Claudia is completely bald, I am afraid. She was born with a few wisps of light hair, but they fell out within a couple of weeks. Mrs. Daniels assures me that the same thing happened with all of her children and they now have lovely hair.”
“Ethan developed bald patches that were moderately unsightly. Caroline said he was piebald, which irritated Charles no end. Luckily his hair evened out and is now thick like his father’s. How are you feeling, Mary? Have you recovered completely?”
Jane spoke softly, treading too close to an area that elicited painful emotions, as her own recovery from the birth
process was not balanced by the joy of holding an infant in her arms. Mary sympathized and squeezed her sister’s hand. “I am well, Jane, thank you. Claudia’s birth was easy. Now if I could lose some of this extra weight, I would be right as rain.”
“A bit of flesh on the bones after becoming a mother is proper,” Mrs. Bennet asserted. “A maternal appearance is expected! Men prefer their women rounded, I daresay. Why, Lizzy and Jane stay so thin it is a wonder Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley remain romantically interested at all.”
“Mama!” Jane blushed scarlet, eyes inadvertently darting to her husband.
Lizzy, however, after a furtive gaze toward her handsome spouse, retorted, “I thought learning ways to divert our husband’s romantic interests was one of your chief lessons, Mama. I seem to recall a wealth of wise education on the subject during our engagement, remember Jane? Not that any of it seems to be working, sadly.” She sighed dramatically. “You know how men can be, yes, Mama?”
Mrs. Bennet fluttered her handkerchief wildly, one hand grasping at the lace at her throat, “Oh, Lizzy! How you do try my nerves! Speaking of such things!” She stood abruptly, muttering as she retreated to the window.
“God may well strike you down, Elizabeth Darcy,” Jane whispered in a quavering voice. Mary too looked near to bursting into giggles. Lizzy just shrugged.
“Oh!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed loudly, the whole room glancing toward her. “A fine carriage approaches! And two men on horseback!”
Kitty gasped, rising and dashing to join her mother. One squeal erupted before she pivoted and flew from the room.
“See, I told you they would all arrive together,” George declared calmly. “Should have taken wagers on the matter.”
“Any profit gained would have been lost tonight as I see one of the mounted men is Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Darcy grinned at his uncle. “Sure you still want to try your hand at darts?”
“Perhaps marital felicity has softened him as it has others whom shall remain unnamed.”
“Are you insinuating to have defeated Mr. Darcy in billiards?” Mr. Bennet asked in true surprise.
“Ha! He wishes!”
“Not as yet,” George spoke optimistically despite Darcy’s declaration, “but I have gotten close. And I hear that Major General Artois is prodigiously skilled at billiards, so Darcy may be in for a humbling experience this evening.”
“I daresay anything is possible, but we shall see who is humbled. For now, the speculations must rest as my present concern is greeting my sister properly. Excuse me.”
Any additional comments on the subject were left unsaid by the entrance of the Continental travelers and Kitty’s fiancé. The latter was somewhat inhibited in extending suitable greetings due to a glowing Katherine Bennet apparently soldered to his left arm and side! The Major General was clearly not disturbed by his clinging fiancée, everyone managing to bid him welcome and offer congratulations without deficiency.
With so many people clamoring to hug, extend cordial greetings, and report the past months events in one fell swoop, it was over an hour before Kitty and her betrothed were politely able to absent themselves for a stroll alone. The stroll, not surprisingly, quickly led to a secluded copse not too far from the house, whereupon Artois instantly drew Kitty in for an embrace and thorough kiss.
“I have missed you terribly,” she whispered, once able to use her mouth for speaking. “Two weeks apart is far too long. Every time you leave I fear never seeing you again!”
“And yet each time we part I always return. Do I not, my lovely Kitty? You must learn to have faith.”
“I have complete faith in you, truly I do, Randall. But…”
He halted her with another kiss, a soft one that soon left her lips to travel tenderly across her face while he murmured. “No doubts, kitten. I have waited patiently all my life for you. Fate wills us to be together, so what is there to fear?” He expected no answer, not that Kitty could formulate a negative emotion while her betrothed was kissing her.
The romantic part of Major General Artois’s nature would forever wish he could tell their children that he fell madly in love with their mother when they met in the darkened library during Colonel Fitzwilliam’s marriage to Lady Simone Fotherby. Alas, this would be an untruth.
The fact is that they spoke for a few more minutes, laughed over their circumstances, and then recognized that the risk of being caught alone was too great. So they discreetly exited the library and rejoined the assembled guests with renewed spirits. Kitty was introduced to Major General Artois’s father and two brothers, military men all, conversing politely until individual duties to family separated them. Aside from warm glances across the crowded room, Kitty and Randall would share no additional words that day. Before either could digest their impressions or the impact of the encounter, the day was over and they had gone their separate ways.
In the three weeks that followed, Major General Artois would think about Miss Bennet from time to time. He admitted that she had struck a chord within him, her wittiness and beauty intensely intriguing, and was honest when he told her that she was one of life’s glories. Meeting her had been a pleasure and he contemplated seeking her out, but decided that boldly appearing upon the doorstep of Darcy House was inappropriate. He felt no fervency over the encounter, not out of a negative response to her, but rather because of his natural inclination.
General Artois had almost given up on his son. The father of seven, widowed since the youngest was only five years, was in many respects like Mrs. Bennet in that he keenly felt the tremendous responsibility to ensure his offspring were safely married. Aside from the purely selfish desire to be surrounded by grandchildren, he wanted his sons and daughters to find the joy of steady companionship that he had experienced with the departed Mrs. Artois. To this end, he had succeeded with all but his third child, Randall.
Like all the five Artois boys, Randall had joined the military, displaying a subtle mind, sharp intellect, and reckless bravery. He rose fast in his chosen career and already outranked his two older brothers. General Artois was immeasurably proud but remained baffled by his son’s personality and outlook on life. Randall had endeavored to explain his feelings on the subject of life and marriage to his father on numerous occasions, but it was futile.
It was difficult for Randall to articulate because he did not comprehend his odd peace either. All he knew is that from a young age he had looked at life as something that largely passed by with minimal control on his part. Some would call him a fool, and maybe they were partially correct, but Randall preferred to see it as a peaceful reliance on something greater than him. He did not necessarily attribute it to God, although he was willing to accept that probability, but rather to a serene trust in destiny unfolding as it was meant to be.
Melancholy never afflicted him nor did great passion. Nothing riled him. This steady temperament contributed to his success as a soldier and officer. As for women, the same complacency ruled. He enjoyed women, in every way one can, but strong emotions did not exist. The perfect gentleman he was, treating them with kindness and respect, but easily able to walk away.
This detachment might have bothered him except that from his earliest forays into the world of women, he had known, simply known, that there was a woman out there just perfect for him. Thus he proceeded to amble through life, advancing in his career, amusing himself with friends and family and the occasional lover, all while confidently believing that she would fall into his lap when the proper time came.
Therefore, he was not remotely surprised when he rounded a corner onto Bond Street and nearly physically bumped into Miss Kitty Bennet. Again. She blushed becomingly but demonstrated the charm that he recalled from their wedding introduction. The conversation was brief, both remarking on the humor in both encounters involving nearly plowing into each other, and he seized the opportunity to ask if he could call upon her.
Within a month of frequent social interactions Randall was in love and had not the slightest doubt
that Katherine Bennet was the woman fate or God or whatever had been preparing for him. His entire family adored her, his father so relieved to see his reluctant son clearly in the throes of love that he would have blessed the union no matter what her background!
Kitty, however, struggled with her emotions. The joy she felt with Randall Artois was intense, but the wounds from her previous romantic misfortune intruded upon her complete happiness. Her heart was thawing, but fear of further pain and disappointment made it difficult for her to trust fully.
Randall sensed her reserve and patiently persevered with no demands placed upon her fragile shoulders. He never pushed for an explanation, and when she finally revealed her previous heartbreak, Randall interpreted her disclosure as a positive development and his heart soared. Of course, he also wanted to dash off and beat Mr. Falke to a pulp for hurting his Kitty and then extend profuse thanks to the idiot for allowing such a treasure to slip through his fingers!
He did neither, naturally. Instead he trusted in the familiar serenity that ruled his life, knowing without the tiniest doubt that Miss Bennet would someday be his wife. He offered friendship only, kept the depths of his sentiments controlled within his heart, and allowed their relationship to advance in small increments toward the goal he knew was inevitable. When the summons came to leave for an extended deployment, he was not disturbed. He was granted permission by Mr. Bennet to write to Miss Bennet via her father while he was away, confident that fate was playing a part in their unusual courtship.
The restrained tears in Kitty’s eyes when they said their good-byes were pleasing. As he hoped, the separation with frequent letters filled with details of his daily life and humorous ramblings allowed her love to blossom. Her trust in his steadfastness grew as his correspondence never wavered, his voiced affections never diminished, his devotion to her never waned, and his respect never faltered.