No Less Resentment

Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

U nexpectedly, Kitty was a faithful correspondent. Her letters, both to Elizabeth and Mr Bennet, expressed her delight in the bustle of the great city.

March 21, 1813

Gracechurch Street, London

Dear Lizzy,

How lucky I am to be here in London, staying with the best aunt and uncle in the world! I never dreamt of living in such a place. So many people, horses, carriages, wagons, houses, shops… I do not know whether I shall ever cease to be amazed by it!

Mary told me that she once envied you and Jane for having had the opportunity to spend time in town with our aunt and uncle. I never did envy you. I am ashamed to say that I was so silly and ignorant that I thought it better to stay at home and chase officers in Meryton. All I ever thought about was giggling with Lydia and Maria, dancing, and what ribbons I should purchase with my pin money.

Jane and Mary took me to see some beautiful paintings at a gallery, and it made me wish to learn to draw. Alex says he will teach me! I listen to Aunt and Uncle, and Jane and Alex, and now Mary and Gerhard, and I learn so much about being an adult. I visited Uncle’s offices and got a small idea of how his business works.

Do you know what I think is the saddest thing about Lydia? She will never see anything beyond Meryton. She will never see any other part of the world or understand about different points of view. She did not even imagine anything beyond our little town. She thought she was already a grown lady, not a foolish girl. She did not know that she never even came close to being a lady.

I miss you so much, Lizzy! I miss Papa too. I wish you were both here. I do understand why you want to stay at home longer; I also miss Longbourn. I have promised myself to write often to Papa, even if he does not write back. I do not want either of you to ever be lonely.

All my love,

Kitty

Elizabeth put her letter down and looked at her father. Mr Bennet was reading his own letter from Kitty. The March afternoon was dark with heavy clouds, and it was raining hard. They had settled cosily in his library, a fire blazing in the hearth, as they had often done since she was a little girl. It had been a shared refuge: for him from the noise and chaotic dissatisfaction of his wife, for her from enduring her mother’s criticisms. She opened the letter to read it a second time; it made her so glad.

Gracechurch Street, London

April 2, 1813

Dear Lizzy,

My work proceeds apace. You will think it ridiculous, but I call it my work, the work of learning. It is also my pleasure. My drawing lessons, my cousins, Aunt’s charity work, their friends, our wonderful dinners with clever people. I can almost imagine myself to be clever, not like you are clever, Lizzy, but I understand more of the conversation every time. Aunt has given me books to read, and I do enjoy them very much. In my next I shall share with you my thoughts on The Romance of the Forest .

I am happy for Mary and Gerhard since he has taken up his position at Cambridge and they have moved away, but I miss them. He can no longer be my music master, but Aunt’s friend Mrs Newfield says she will teach me. She is often Aunt’s guest for tea, and last week she brought her son, Mr Henry Newfield, to dinner. He is intelligent and speaks well. He wishes to work as a barrister, and Mrs Newfield says he will be called to the bar very soon. I do not quite understand what that means, but I think he will be good at it. It made me think of Aunt and Uncle Philips. Do you remember their little card parties and the delicious cakes that their cook baked? They were always so kind to us. I know they had to cut us, but I miss them. I have sent a letter to them and hope they do not mind it. I like receiving letters, but to receive them one must write them. I did not previously enjoy writing letters, but I do now.

Your loving sister,

Kitty

In late May came the news Elizabeth had anticipated. Mr Newfield had proposed to Kitty.

…Aunt says she is very proud of me and that I have grown up a great deal in the last year and during my time in London, but that I am full young to be married. You may agree, and I do understand. But I am almost nineteen. Mama was only seventeen when she and Papa married and was a mother when she was eighteen. Somehow, I think Mama never truly grew up. It makes me sad to realise that, and to understand that they were neither of them happy.

But I have grown up, enough to know that growing up is something that we do all our lives. I can tell because it seems the more I learn, the more I understand how much more there is to know. I also know that marriage is work, and the more one works at it, the better one’s chances. All young ladies think about is the wedding, when we should be thinking about the marriage. When I remember how foolish was my behaviour, how ignorant I was only sixteen months ago, it mortifies me. Henry never saw me as I was then, and for that I am glad.

Uncle has sent a letter to Papa with his thoughts on the matter. Lizzy, would you please ensure that he reads it and responds to Uncle in a timely manner?

Mr Bennet performed his paternal duties with some alacrity. At the breakfast following Kitty’s wedding, he and Elizabeth were seated next to Captain Samuel Bancroft, godfather to Henry and longtime friend and counsellor to Mrs Newfield. The captain, who Mr Bennet thought only nine or ten years younger than himself, stood up with Mr Newfield during the ceremony.

“Lieutenant Henry Newfield Senior, an excellent man, gave his own life to save the lives of several of his shipmates, including mine, during the sea battle at Pulo Aura in the year four. We had known each other since we were middies, that is, midshipmen,” the captain explained. “Mrs Newfield was utterly lost without him, and I felt a great responsibility towards her and her son. With her permission, I introduced her to a good man to act as trustee for her money, a solicitor her late husband knew and trusted. Together we made sure she received her late husband’s prize money and any other moneys due to him.”

“You provided funds for Henry’s education, I understand,” said Elizabeth.

The captain blushed and cleared his throat. “That is not generally known, but yes, I did, and gladly. Mrs Newfield would not hear of young Henry going to sea. He needed a gentlemanly occupation. We are fortunate that he chose the law. He quickly found that he had an aptitude for it, and it interests him. He will do well.”

“You are fortunate to be in England to see your godson married, sir.”

“I would not usually be. My former ship, the frigate Juniper , sustained considerable damage on our last voyage. The Admiralty chose to have it decommissioned. I have been waiting to hear of my next command.”

It was a remarkably enjoyable conversation. Although somewhat reticent, Captain Bancroft was well-spoken and intelligent and had lived a fascinating life as unlike their own as possible. Mr Bennet noted that the good Captain seemed to warm to Elizabeth’s interest in his travels, and he tucked it away in his mind for later consideration.

“Kitty will do well, do you not think so, Papa?” said Elizabeth as their much-abused carriage again travelled north to Longbourn after the wedding.

Mr Bennet nodded slowly. “I never thought I would say it, but Kitty has become a sensible young lady. Henry’s godfather, Captain Bancroft, is a sober and thoughtful fellow. Although he is more often away than not, he seems to have been a good influence in that young man’s life.”

And without the influence of Lydia and Fanny in her life, Kitty has come into her own, poor child , he thought to himself sombrely. His regrets were never far from his mind, but at present, he was more concerned with Elizabeth. For a third time, his Lizzy had chosen not to stay in town . As their carriage passed through the land showing the effects of the summer weather, he wondered whether she was putting her concern for him over her future happiness.