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?”
“I could hardly miss it,” said Mama. “He has visited you every day for two weeks. What else could it mean but that he wants to marry you? Has he given any indication as to when he might come to the point?”
“Yes, just yesterday,” said Kitty. “He told me he loves me and that he would speak to Papa when he returned from London.”
Under normal circumstances, Mama would certainly have squealed with delight, but these weren’t normal circumstances.
“Hmm,” she said, “that does seem to be a problem. I think your father was truly serious when he said he would not countenance any courtship or talk of marriage for at least a few months. Even if Mr. Goulding came to talk to him, I don’t think it would change your father’s mind one jot. ”
“What am I to do, Mama?” cried Kitty. “If I take too long, he may change his mind, or he may leave the neighborhood. He has spoken a few times of returning to London. If he does that, he is certain to fall in love with someone else.”
“Well, I hate to even hint at anything bad about our neighbors. You know that,” said Mama. “Nevertheless, for your sake I will. Are you certain he is not after your new fortune?”
“It can’t be,” said Kitty. “He began giving me more attention even before he found out about it. Even when I mentioned it, he didn’t seem interested in the least. He said he never paid any attention to rumors.”
“Well, that does sound like he truly loves you,” said Mama. “Let me think for a few minutes.”
Kitty acquiesced, and the room was quiet for a time.
Eventually, Mama said, “Well, as far as I can tell, you have two choices. You can follow your father’s orders and tell Mr. Goulding that he will have to wait until after you return from the seaside this summer, or you can elope before your father gets home. ”
“Elope!” cried Kitty. “Is that even possible?”
“It isn’t cheap, and it isn’t easy, but it is certainly possible,” said Mama.
“Is that what you think I should do?” asked Kitty.
“If you are certain he loves you enough to make the journey all the way to Scotland, then I think it might be best,” said Mama.
“On the other hand, if you have any doubts as to his intentions, you should not. If you get halfway to Scotland, and he changes his mind, you will be ruined, and we will have to send you away to prevent our whole family from being ruined with you.”
Kitty had no doubts about Alan’s affection for her, so she was not concerned about that part of the plan. “And do you think I should elope?” asked Kitty.
“I do not,” said Mama. “While I do want to see all my daughters married, I think it would do you no harm to wait. Perhaps you will meet someone else you like better when we travel this summer. It will be much simpler to wait until you can get your father’s permission.”
Kitty was certain she would never meet someone better than Alan Goulding. She had liked him for nearly two years, ever since she first met him at her first ball.
“Thank you for your advice, Mama,” said Kitty.
~~~~~
That afternoon, Alan called on Kitty, just as he had every day for the last fortnight. He suggested they go for a stroll in the garden.
As they walked, he spoke of the little cottage he had built for himself.
It was small and snug, but it had all the luxuries and comforts of a larger home, such as a larger drawing room and two bedrooms for extra servants.
It even had the latest heating stove which would keep everything warm without the smoke and soot of an open fireplace.
His description had Kitty imagining what kind of life they would have there if she could marry him, and her mind whirled with thoughts about how to bring up the idea of an elopement.
After a few minutes, Alan offered to push her on the swing.
Kitty loved being on the swing, but she hardly ever had a chance to do so.
It was too high off the ground for her to kick herself into motion, but Lydia would never agree to push her.
She always insisted on going first, but she ran away when it was supposed to by Kitty’s turn.
Kitty readily agreed. Once she was settled, he placed his hands on her waist and pulled her back a bit before letting go. The sensation was delightful, both the feel of his hands and the feel of the wind as she flew forward.
Every time she flew back toward him, he nudged her higher. Gradually, the place where his hands repeatedly touched her back grew warm, a sensation which was reflected by a growing blush on her cheeks.
They didn’t say anything, but Kitty felt like nothing needed to be said. She was thrilled by the motion of the swing and utterly delighted by the attention she was receiving.
After a few minutes of this, Alan stopped pushing her. Instead, he held her by the waist and slowed her down. Even when she was at a complete stop, however, he didn’t let go. His hands crept forward toward her front until she was completely encircled in his arms.
“Kitty.” His voice in her ear sent the most pleasant shivers down her spine. “Kitty, you are as delightful to hold as I had imagined. Honestly, I don’t ever want to let you go.”
“I don’t want you to let me go, either,” she said, finally putting her feelings into words. “I love you, Alan.”
“If that’s the case, then please say you’ll marry me.” His voice was a little husky as he said this into her ear.
“Yes,” she said. “Definitely yes.”
She was about to add that they would have to wait until they could get Papa’s permission, but he began kissing her neck, and her thoughts scattered.
When he stopped kissing her there, he moved around in front of the swing and pulled Kitty to her feet by her hands.
“I do hope your father will agree to a short engagement,” he said. “I so long to be married to you so that I can fully express all that I feel.”
“I don’t think he will,” said Kitty. “He wrote to my mother just this morning saying that he will not approve of any marriages or courtships before this summer. He said that it’s to discourage fortune hunters.”
“But I am not a fortune hunter,” he said. “I loved you long before your inheritance.”
“I know you are not just after my fortune,” said Kitty. “But my father can be oddly stubborn sometimes, and Mama thinks this is one of those cases.”
“Then what shall we do?” he asked. “I don’t think I could bear to be near you and not be able to hold you in my arms and to kiss you.” With that, he bent down and brought his lips to hers.
Again, Kitty’s thoughts were scattered as she was swamped with so many new sensations. Her only real thought was that if this was what it felt like to kiss Alan, she didn’t think she could bear the thought of not experiencing it again.
When he pulled back from kissing her, she voiced the one clear thought she had. “Let’s elope,” she said.
His eyes widened in surprise. “It’s a long way to Gretna Greene, Kitty. Are you sure?” he asked.
“I have never been more sure of anything in my life,” she said.
“When?” he asked.
“My father will be home in two days,” said Kitty. “If we are to do this, it will have to be tomorrow.”