Chapter Ten #3
Kitty nodded emphatically as she opened her diary to the page on which he had recorded the rapturous details of their first meeting – fourteen months prior. “It was love at first sight,” she said, and she read the page aloud to him with tremendous feeling.
He nestled against her as they continued looking at her diary, which documented their fanciful romance in heartfelt detail. “Should you like to see one of the letters you sent me?”
Darcy laughed. “Kitty, I have never sent you any letters.”
“You need hardly remind me that I was forced to do so on your behalf. Fortunately for you, it is my greatest triumph. The three I wrote for you after I ended our courtship were so beautiful, and so badly spelled….”
“Our courtship? But you ended it! Why would you do such a thing? I am sure my heart must have been quite broken.”
“It was!” Kitty took his hand in hers and leaned closer to him. “That is what taught me the depth of your regard. The letter of reconciliation you wrote me was even lovelier; it brought tears to my eyes as I transcribed it. Here, you may see for yourself, though I fear it will make you quite smug.”
He looked over the entry in her diary, which, like most of the pages, had been embellished with her intricate drawings of the scenes she described. “And did you forgive me, and open your heart to me once more?”
“Of course I did.” She turned the page and read aloud to him of their tender reconciliation, as she had imagined it.
He brushed away a stray lock of her hair, and then stroked her cheek. “You have a way with words, to be sure, Kitty. I am entirely convinced that my heart is utterly yours.”
“I am glad to hear it, for mine has been in your keeping for quite some time. Ever since I heard of you, I have been quite inspired by William’s accounts of you. Your very name has struck music into my heart. I hope you will wish to continue our courtship, now that I have actually met you.”
Darcy flinched. “My name?”
Kitty turned her diary to a page on which she had merely written Catherine Darcy in a variety of increasingly embellished styles. She gave a dreamy sigh. “Darcy….”
He laughed and shifted his posture as she laid her head on his shoulder. “My darling, whatever you do mean? My name might be anything….”
“But it is Darcy, which suits you perfectly – it absolutely captures your very essence. It has a divine lyrical quality, which I think says a great deal of your lively and complicated character.”
“Complicated? Oh no, surely I am not that.”
“But you came here to make some mischief on William – I am sure of that much – and yet you did not. You reconciled with him, amended your ways, and have tended our kittens with a warm and gentle heart. I think that shows a great nobility of spirit, just what the name Darcy commands.”
“Yes, of course, my love, but I might be just such a man if my name were anything else.”
Kitty wrinkled her nose in distaste but decided to play along. “Like what?”
“Like… well, I have some relations called Hurst….”
“They must be the worst….”
“Or Bingley, that is not so bad – is it not musical, as well?”
“Not especially. It sounds rather made up.”
“Yes, well, are not all names made up, when you think about it?”
“That may be, but nonetheless, I am glad yours is Darcy – especially if I am to cherish any hope it is to be mine one day, as well. Is that not the usual result of courtship?”
He blinked at her. “I suppose it is, and I am very happy you wish me to court you, darling Kitty. But you really could not love me if my name was not Darcy?”
Kitty tapped her chin playfully. “I might respect you. I might admire your character, your fine looks. But I fear it is impossible that I could give you my undivided attention.” She leaned close, batting her lashes at him, willing him to kiss her again.
He did not, and she was obliged to rest a hand on his face and draw him closer.
He gazed into her eyes, his own so full of feeling that Kitty gave a giddy laugh, marveling at the sight of the man she had long imagined now finally made a reality.
And he was taking her in his arms – how right and perfect it was!
He kissed her gently – but this would never do.
She curled her fingers into his lovely blond hair, wordlessly beckoning him closer.
They tangled themselves together in the confines of the little treehouse, kissing with a greater passion until Darcy broke away, panting.
“Kitty, I must speak to your guardian at once!”
She gave him every proper encouragement, and walked back to the house with him, full of advice on how he might best make his case to court her properly, appealing to William’s sense of honor and duty, and other such principles that he too often let dampen his sense of humor.
Dinner had been put off for another hour, but her ardor in the treehouse had given her an appetite, so Kitty resolved to take some refreshment at her favorite table in the back garden.
Not ten minutes after she sat down to enjoy some tea and the lovely muffins the cook had made for breakfast that morning, a visitor intruded upon her reverie… .