Her Summer at Pemberley Read online

  Her Summer at Pemberley

  A Pride and Prejudice Sequel

  Sallianne Hines

  Grasslands Press

  Dedicated to Julie, forever our “bright sunshine”

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  Her Summer at Pemberley

  Copyright © 2020 Sallianne Hines

  All rights reserved.

  SALLIANNE HINES asserts her moral rights to be identified as the author of this work.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  A GRASSLANDS PRESS publication

  www.salliannehines.com

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  Cover design by Sallianne Hines and Rachael Ritchey

  Interior design/formatting by Sallianne Hines

  ISBN 978-1-7333844-1-4 (paperback)

  ISBN 978-1-7333844-0-7 (ebook)

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Apart from well-known historical figures, any similarity or resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events, business establishments, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  About the Regency Era

  (or Why do they care so much about getting married?)

  In the Regency Era, a gentleman was a man who had/needed no profession other than managing his estate or wealth, and might include a clergyman or anyone in trade who had enough wealth to be considered “respectable.”

  A gentleman’s daughter could not, for the most part, inherit an estate, own land, or have money of her own. Under the early nineteenth century British legal system, “primogeniture” determined that inheritances went from father to eldest son, in whole—estates were not divided amongst the children because that would lessen the wealth and power of the estate. If there were no sons, the estate was often entailed to the nearest-related male relative. This left a widow and daughters and younger sons with little to nothing, wholly dependent on the kindness and generosity of the male who did inherit. Lacking his kindness, the widow and daughters would depend on other relations. Some amount might be left for a girl’s dowry if the estate was not heavily encumbered. When a woman married, all her wealth was usually assigned to her husband, to use wisely or gamble away, as he chose. Women in this economic class called “the landed gentry” were not allowed to work. If they did not “marry well,” their lives could be unpleasant indeed.

  CHARACTERS FROM Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

  Catherine ‘Kitty’ Bennet—‘missish’ fourth daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Bennet of Longbourn

  Mr. Bennet—known for sharp wit and indolence, father of five daughters

  Mrs. Bennet—a silly woman determined her daughters will marry well

  Jane Bennet—soft-spoken & kind eldest daughter, marries Charles Bingley of Netherfield

  Charles Bingley—inherited wealth his father made in trade, rents estate at Netherfield

  Lizzy Bennet—witty, lively second daughter, marries Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley

  Fitzwilliam Darcy—very rich, owner of Pemberley (a great estate in Derbyshire)

  Mary Bennet—petulant self-righteous third daughter still at Longbourn

  Lydia Bennet—wild youngest daughter, eloped at age sixteen with womanizer/gambler George Wickham

  George Wickham—son of Pemberley’s steward, grew up with Darcy but turned to gambling & other vices

  Georgiana Darcy—Fitzwilliam’s younger sister, nearly tricked into eloping with George Wickham at age 15

  Mariah Lucas—daughter of Sir William & Lady Lucas, neighbors of the Bennet family

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  ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS CREATED FOR THIS BOOK Her Summer at Pemberley (in order of named appearance)

  Poppy—lady’s maid to Kitty at Pemberley

  Cara—Arabian mare Kitty rides while at Pemberley

  Johnny—Pemberley stable lad

  Riley Connor—Pemberley stable master

  Lord & Lady Drake of Cedars; sons Christopher & Benjamin

  Mr. & Mrs. Wyndham of Greystone; sons Douglas & Owen, stepdaughter Lucy Jamison

  Squire & Lady Stapleton of Swan’s Nest; son Andrew, daughters Julia, Matilda, Emma, Honora

  Earl & Lady Matlock of Thornhill, near Matlock; daughter Alice

  Alfred Cressley of Oakhurst near Windsor; sons George (Murielle), Charles, William

  Margaret Mercer Elphinstone of Windsor & Charlotte Augusta of Windsor

  Chapter One

  There was no hope at Longbourn. Kitty Bennet had fallen into her sister Lydia’s shadow long ago. And now, two years later, Kitty was still seen as merely a dimmer version of Lydia. How could Kitty gain respectability and marry well?

  Even her own family did not think highly of her. Her father was heartless. Mr. Bennet’s rebuke still rang in Kitty’s ears: I have no time for missish girls and their silly notions. What gave rise to this tirade? Kitty’s request for Maria Lucas to visit a few days at Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet was spending much time at Netherfield whilst her eldest daughter Jane prepared for her first lying-in, and Kitty was bored. Not that being deprived of Mrs. Bennet’s company was a great loss, but she was less dull than sister Mary.

  Mr. Bennet’s reproof had driven Kitty to seek solace on horseback, an activity that expressly violated her father’s will. In light of that, her thundering ride had delivered a dose of satisfaction, but Kitty could not be content at Longbourn if things did not change.

  And change was not likely. Mr. Bennet did not care for change. The most recent—the marriages of his daughters Jane and Elizabeth—had not improved Longbourn. Their absence was felt by all. With no gentle comfort from Jane and no witty retorts from Lizzy, Kitty felt her father’s rants most acutely. In short, Longbourn could no longer satisfy. She buried her face in the horse’s thick mane and sobbed.

  With an indifferent education, a less than respectable fortune, and a family estate entailed away, Kitty’s prospects were bleak at best. Now, with the regiment removed from the nearby village of Meryton, there were no dashing young men to offer diversion or romance. It was monstrous unfair! She had not the smallest hope of finding happiness in the neighborhood.

  If only she could start afresh … but how? Where? Netherfield, the seat of her sister Jane and husband Charles Bingley, was still in the neighborhood, and Kitty could not burden Jane during her confinement. Mr. Bennet firmly prohibited any visits to Lydia. Kitty frowned. Then slowly her face brightened. Perhaps Lizzy would allow her to visit at Pemberley! The more she thought on this scheme, the more it appealed.

  She dwelt on it while she groomed the horse, her right hand moving the currycomb in steady circles followed by the brush in her left hand smoothing down the coat. Her efforts were rewarded by the horse’s head slung low in pleasure. Most ladies in her sphere—if they rode at all—relegated this task to a groom, but Kitty found it gratifying. This simple farm horse showed his spirit with Kitty in the sidesaddle—or when she secretly rode astride or with no saddle at all.

  Kitty was singular in her equine interest; none of her sisters were horsewomen. They preferred a carriage—except for Lizzy, who would rather walk. For Kitty, riding was a passion, albeit a clandestine one. Her father disapproved of young ladies “galloping about the country”—which diminished her joy in the pursuit not a jot. She chuckled. In this, her father’s indolence worked in her favor. He had never kept close watch on his daughters. Thus, whilst Mary kept to the house with extracts and music, Kitty was free to pursue her own pleasures with no one wanting a
n account of her time. In many ways that was a blessing, but her life at Longbourn was a lonely one.

  Kitty took a piece of carrot from her pocket and the horse lipped it from her open hand. She handed the now-sleek animal to the stable lad, then slipped into one of the stalls to remove the riding breeches—which she kept hidden in the feed room—from beneath her skirt. It would be a great scandal if anyone discovered she rode astride. The groom who accompanied her knew of her daring misdeed, but was sworn to secrecy by misdeeds of his own. Kitty patted down her hair, shook out her skirt, and hurried off to the house.

  Once in her room she pulled out her writing desk, prepared a quill, and penned a request to her sister.

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  Dear Lizzy,

  I am in agony with only Mary and Mama for company. I long for a change of situation and neighborhood, and I greatly desire to meet new people. Could I visit you at Pemberley? Will Mr. Darcy approve? Truly I will be no trouble—I am not so much like Lydia as everyone believes.

  Papa would be vastly happy to see you. I am sure you could convince him to accompany me to Pemberley. Mama visits Jane very often and is in great anticipation of her first grandchild. She is sure it will be a boy. Jane and Bingley are as happy as ever. Mary keeps mostly to herself.

  Please reply soon. I am most eager to escape Longbourn and Papa will not allow me to visit Lydia.

  Your sister,

  Kitty

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  She sanded and folded the letter, sealed it with a wafer, and tripped lightly down the stairs to place it in the silver tray for outgoing posts. Then she sprinted back to her room to change for luncheon. It would not do to smell of horse. Her secret might be discovered, and Mama was so disagreeable when upset.

  With Mr. Bennet off to another part of the estate, the noon repast was a quiet affair but for Mrs. Bennet bemoaning the lack of letters from Lydia. Between mouthfuls of food, Mrs. Bennet also prattled on about Jane’s health and approaching confinement. Mary responded with truisms, and Kitty felt more invisible than a ghost.

  Her eye wandered idly to the window. It was a fine April day so she proposed a walk to Lucas Lodge. Chatting with Lady Lucas would divert her mother, and Kitty longed for conversation less stilted than Mary’s but more sensible than Mrs. Bennet’s. Maria Lucas was somewhat empty-headed, but any variation would be welcome.

  “A call on Lady Lucas is just the thing for my poor nerves. What with your father off, no one will miss us, and I must tell Lady Lucas all the particulars of Jane’s situation.” Then Mrs. Bennet frowned and heaved an exaggerated sigh. “And I suppose Lady Lucas will insist on boring me with every tedious detail about Charlotte’s new daughter, as if I care anything about the future mistress of Longbourn.” She sniffed. “Oh, why must your father’s estate be entailed away from—”

  “Mama, you know it does your nerves no good to dwell on that,” Kitty reminded her.

  “Oh, well, if it must be so … but I am delighted with this idea for a visit today. Go now and get yourselves ready. I suppose we can walk—the road is not likely to be muddy,” she commented, peering out the window at the unclouded sky.

  The young ladies went to fetch their bonnets as the hall rang with the familiar sound of Mrs. Bennet ranting for her maid: “Hill! Where is Hill? If only my feathered hat were mended …”

  After far more to-do than rationally necessary, the three set off for Lucas Lodge. Mrs. Bennet filled the half-mile with her nattering. Mary trudged silently at her side. Kitty alone appreciated the sweet scent of apple blossoms carried on the breeze, and the pungent smell of Hertfordshire soil now fully awakened. She found much pleasure in country life—when not overset by its loneliness.

  Hopeful of an invitation from Lizzy, Kitty smiled to herself. Pemberley would be lovely at this time of year.

  Chapter Two

  The carriage bowled north towards Derbyshire. Mr. Bennet dozed, chin bobbing on his chest, spectacles perched precariously at the end of his nose. He had mostly read or slept during the journey and made little effort at conversation, so Kitty was left to contemplate the landscape and examine her own thoughts. She knew her father anticipated seeing Lizzy; and was likely more than eager to leave herself in Lizzy’s care. She frowned out the window. Could he not see she and Lizzy were not so different?

  Kitty had been overjoyed at Lizzy’s invitation to Pemberley. This visit would be a new beginning, away from her dull childhood home and the same tiresome people. Kitty was determined to prove herself worthy of a fine future, but she needed assistance. Jane and Lizzy were her best hope. She must earn their good opinions. But Jane could be of little help now. With a new infant to care for soon, sweet-tempered Jane would have little time to spare. Lizzy, on the other hand, would have nothing to do but order the Pemberley servants about. And Lizzy was skilled at putting forth her opinions and working through difficult situations.

  Yes, on this visit Kitty would watch Lizzy and learn. Maybe, with them both being from home, they might grow closer as sisters. Kitty had always envied the bond her elder sisters shared.

  And who knew what eligible beaux she might meet in such a neighborhood? The Darcys would mix with the best families. Her eyes gleamed at the prospect. Then she grimaced, realizing there would likely be many accomplished young ladies as well. She was pondering this dilemma when a large jolt threw her nearly out of her seat.

  It also jarred her father awake. He scowled and removed his spectacles to look out the carriage window.

  “Well, Kitty, that rut was almost large enough to get lost in. Regrettably, it wasn’t enough to bounce us right to Pemberley’s doorstep. These roads are a trial. Are you doing tolerably well?”

  Here was her chance to engage him, to prove she was by no means deficient in wit.

  “Yes, Papa, I am well. I believe you are right about the roads—winter has left them close to impassable. You have made this trip a few times, have you not? How much longer until we reach Pemberley? I do so long for a cup of tea and a biscuit.”

  He twisted his mouth into an annoyed expression and cast her off with a wave of his hand.

  No, she would not allow that! She gathered her thoughts.

  “How can one tell, Papa? Where we are, that is. I’ve seen no road signs for some time. Does the landscape inform you of our progress? I see such different landforms and trees here. The farmlands have given way to higher, wilder country these last hours. Look how the large boulders pierce the meadows. Are there certain landmarks that indicate the way?”

  Mr. Bennet looked at Kitty with a curious eye.

  “Yes, in fact, there are. That lone peak to the northwest tells me we are nearing the posting station. After we change horses, we have about two hours more of our journey. I wasn’t aware you took note of such things as boulders and trees. I thought your interests limited to bonnets and lieutenants.”

  The fragile smile fell from Kitty’s face. She struggled to hide her trounced-upon feelings, gulped back a sob, and persisted.

  “I find the landscape fascinating. I would love to know more about the rocks and trees, and why they are so different here. In spite of the roughness of our journey, I have so enjoyed the views that my book has not been opened today.”

  “Well, perhaps Mr. Darcy has some books on the history and topography of the area. It would certainly do you no harm to avail yourself of Pemberley’s library; it is one of the finest in the kingdom. Although I predict you will be preoccupied, as usual, with gowns and lace and dances and beaux. I wonder what Lizzy has planned for your visit? Oh, well. Be a good girl now and save your questions for later, and preferably for someone else. You may find your book of little interest, but I assure you I do not find mine so.” He replaced his spectacles and opened his book, closing the conversation.

  Kitty narrowed her eyes at him. How could a young lady respond to this? Were he any other gentleman or acquaintance, would his remarks not be rude? At least at Pemberley she might be in more polite society and not dismissed as a troublesome
child. Nearly nineteen was not a child. How could he think it?

  She sighed and turned to the scenery, noting features she could ask Mr. Darcy about, if she could rally the courage. His presence was formidable. She had rarely seen him smile, and then only at Lizzy. Kitty had never spoken to him on her own. The very thought made her tremble. How would he treat her? She hoped he would at least allow her the use of his library.

  ≈

  The carriage came to a stop at the Red Lantern to change horses. Kitty could not help but feel sorry for the exhausted beasts and was relieved they would get food and rest. Their plight always tugged at her heart. If she were a horse, she would not wish to be a hired carriage horse.

  Her father stepped out of the coach, cleared his throat impatiently to gain her attention and, after handing her out, strode off. Should he not offer his arm? She glanced around to see if others had noticed his lack of manners, then shrugged and followed him into the inn. Some lemonade would be refreshing.

  They entered the bustling common room and found a table. Immediately her father began talking with the gentleman next to him—as if she did not exist—so Kitty looked about the room to amuse herself. As her eyes came to rest on the table behind her father, a young man there looked up and met her gaze. He smiled and nodded. Kitty blushed and turned her eyes back towards her own table, but could not quell the smile that bloomed from within her.

  A tavern girl brought ale for her father and set a small glass of weak wine in front of Kitty. After a disappointing sip, she stole another look at the young man. He was in the company of an older gentleman, perhaps a father or uncle or older brother, although there was no resemblance. His spirited blue eyes sparkled and his dark cropped hair bobbed when he spoke.