Kitty Bennet's Ruin (Pemberley Presents) by Eliza Austin

Author:Eliza Austin [Austin, Eliza]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2024-08-10T00:00:00+00:00

It seemed to Kitty that she had only been asleep for an hour or so when a persistent tapping at her door roused her.

‘Go away,’ she muttered, thumping her pillows into a more comfortable nest and turning over. She did not wish to be disturbed from her recollections of an evening spent almost exclusively in Richard’s company. Today, consequences would have to be faced, but Richard had assured her he would handle any threats or insults his father hurled at him and…

‘Kitty, Kitty, wake up!’

A hand shook her shoulder. Lydia’s voice penetrated her sleep-addled brain and she reluctantly opened her eyes.

‘Lydia, what is it? Has something happened?’

‘No, silly, but you need to get up.’

‘No I don’t. I only just came to bed.’

‘You can sleep later.’ Lydia tugged the covers away. ‘We have to go into Lambton, remember? To see Denny.’

Kitty sat up and blinked sleep from her eyes. ‘Now? What time is it?’

‘We have to go before anyone else gets up and wants to come with us.’

‘They won’t,’ Kitty said with an expansive yawn and equally expansive stretch. ‘It was almost dawn before we all got to bed.’

‘Never mind that. Come on, Kitty, you promised. If you order a carriage, no one will dare to ask you why you need it.’

‘What’s the urgency, Lydia?’ Kitty asked, awake now.

‘Denny won’t be here for long. I don’t want to miss him. Wickham told me most particularly to call early in the morning, before he has second thoughts about repaying the money he owes, which is a goodly sum, I might add. If I can collect it, Wickham might look more kindly upon my situation.’

‘Of course.’ Kitty gave her sister a swift hug and climbed from her warm bed. ‘I hadn’t thought of that. Debtors will use any excuse to avoid making restitution. Help me get dressed and then we can be gone at once.’

‘You used to be able to dress yourself,’ Lydia reminded her.

‘Yes, but I have got out of the habit.’ Kitty grimaced. ‘Does that make me sound terribly spoiled?’

‘Not in the least. If I could afford the luxury of my own maid… But there is no point in harbouring unrealistic thoughts.’

‘How do you feel today?’ Kitty asked, running a brush through her hair and tying it back with a ribbon before squashing a straw bonnet on her head at a jaunty angle. She felt energetic, full of optimism, and nothing, not even Lydia’s dilemma, could spoil her mood.

‘There was nothing really the matter with me. Just a fit of the blue devils.’

‘Then I am glad you have recovered from them.’ Kitty picked up her reticule. Knowing Lydia, once she had seen Denny she would notice something in one of the shops that she absolutely couldn’t live without, and she’d probably have no money of her own. Kitty hoped rather than expected Denny to change that situation and wanted to tell Lydia it was a very strange arrangement anyway. If Denny wanted to repay his debt, surely a more convenient means of doing so could be contrived.

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