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She might as well have cried ‘viva la révolution’. There was instant uproar. Eventually Mrs. Bennet was persuaded to be silent.

“Why do you ask Kitty?”

Elizabeth had written out the words for Kitty in her letter.

“I am to be married off to Mr. Collins. As you yourself said the day he arrived, he can throw everyone in the house out into the hedgerows to starve. We will not be doing that of course, but there cannot be two Mistresses and Mama will be moving to the dower house. That is why I asked.”

“Why would I move to the dower house? Oh, you ungrateful girl. I will be staying at Longbourn.”

Kitty was amazed that her sister had gotten the response almost perfect. And had guided her further.

“No, you will not. You will be leaving Longbourn so that my husband and I can run the estate in the manner we wish, without having to deal with your constant interruptions.”

It was provocative, Kitty knew that, and it reminded both of her parents of the words of the missing sister.

“There is not a dower house Kitty. It was burned to the ground in the time of my parents, when I had not yet left for school.”

“You have never rebuilt it?”

That was self-evident but she wanted him to admit it.

“No, clearly not.”

“I see.”

And with that Kitty returned to her dinner. Mrs. Bennet pounced with her question.

“What do you mean? Do not just say ‘I see’ and then say nothing else. What do you mean?”

“I will discuss it with my husband-to-be at the appropriate time. I do not wish to discuss a situation arising from the death of Papa.”

Kitty never discussed it again with the Bennet family, despite near daily exhortations by her mother. Catherine Bennet might have been forced to marry William Collins but she would get her revenge. She had observed that Mr. Collins was much taken with his position as heir. It would be easy to flatter him into writing to Mr. Bennet asking that dower arrangements were made in advance of his demise. They would be written by Mr. Collins but both of her parents would know who had made the suggestion.

Elizabeth did not realise how faithfully Kitty carried out her suggestions.