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Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst shared the sofa across from the door, increasing Kitty’s odds of managing to alight beside Cat Archer when the time came. For now, Kitty sat to their right. Silence fell. Miss Bingley twisted her hands in her lap, her gaze fixed on the doorway. Mrs. Hurst frowned at nothing, toying with a bracelet Kitty had not seen before. A gift from Mrs. Hurst’s newly re-devoted husband?
What would it be like to have a man look at her the way Mr. Hurst looked at Mrs. Hurst? Or the way Mr. Bingley looked at Jane, for that matter. Or…did Mr. Darcy look at Elizabeth the same way? Were the gentlemen with them, she could mention her sister and study his reaction, but they’d all agreed it best to begin their trap with only the ladies. That would give Cat a reason to hurry her repairs to her gown, not dawdle and poke about in the room they would take her to for the purpose. If she’d already seen Mr. Bingley, she might decide to retreat back to the Longs’ after Kitty dumped tea on her.
Since he was not present, Kitty conjured up Mr. Darcy’s face as he looked at Elizabeth. He certainly did so with intensity, but beyond that, Kitty wasn’t certain of his feelings. She’d been certain at the assembly when he issued his blanket insult of her, Elizabeth, and Mary, but since then he seemed changed somehow.
Was Mr. Darcy like the tabby Cook kept to keep mice out of the kitchen? For those he loved, Cook’s giant, tuft-eared tabby would purr and purr, and rub his big face on their hands, but he would also take a few nips. Kitty always thought he was testing. Making certain Cook’s affection was real enough to survive his temper.
Yes. Maybe Mr. Darcy was a great big tabby cat.
Did that mean he enjoyed chasing mice? She giggled.
Miss Bingley shot her a repressive look.
Kitty made a face at her. Miss Bingley’s tension would only warn their prey.
Footfalls sounded, plodding down the hallway. The butler.
He stepped into the open doorway. “A Mrs. Archer and three Miss Archers to see you.”
Three? Worry sped through Kitty. What if neither Miss Edith nor Cat…but, no, Cat must want to see Mr. Bingley, if only to torment him.
“Show them in.” Miss Bingley’s voice sounded unnaturally high.
Kitty willed the other woman to find calm.
The butler retreated but soon returned, this time with slippered feet pattering along in the wake of his plod. Mrs. Archer swept in, followed by Miss Archer, Miss Edith, and Cat.
Kitty exhaled in relief as she rose to greet them.
“Mrs. Archer, Miss Archer, Miss Edith, Miss Catherine.” Miss Bingley had a smile firmly in place now. “How lovely to see you. But where are your other daughters?”
“Laura is at her lessons—”
“It is so important to instill education and thoughtfulness into girls of that age, or they run wild,” Miss Edith inserted over her mother, casting Kitty a look of mock sympathy.
“—and Mabel is, as usual, out walking with Mr. Collins.”
Cat aimed a smirk at Kitty.
Did they still think Kitty wanted Mr. Collins? Miss Mabel was welcome to him.
“Well, we will miss them both.” Miss Bingley gestured. “Please, join us.” She and Mrs. Hurst sat back down, side by side.
The Archer women fanned out, Miss Edith sitting with their mother, which made it easy for Kitty to join Cat on one of the couches. That earned her a sour look, and she realized that both Miss Archer and Cat wanted to leave room for someone to join them. Kitty could easily guess which someones they hoped for.
As if in confirmation of that, Cat looked about. “Will my betrothed join us? When he called yesterday, he went to considerable trouble to invite us.”
“As did Mr. Darcy,” Miss Archer said primly. “I am certain they both wish for our company.”
“And I am certain they will be along.” Miss Bingley’s smile appeared too brittle to be real, but Kitty didn’t think that gave anything away. Miss Bingley often employed false smiles. She turned to the still waiting butler. “Please send for tea, and inform my brother and Mr. Darcy that we have guests.”
“Yes, miss.” He bowed and backed from the room, his visage polite but a snap of anger in his eyes as his gaze raked over the Archers.
It pleased Kitty to hope that the staff would be delighted with the results of the plan.
“Dear, sweet Miss Bennet is not joining us?” Cat asked in a voice like honey. “My betrothed told me that she is residing here to help care for Miss Elizabeth. I hope she is not avoiding me.” Cat lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “I suspect she formed some slight attachment to Mr. Bingley. It would pain me to know that someone as kind as Miss Bennet harbors dislike for me.”
“Jane is too kind to dislike anyone, for any reason,” Kitty replied, trying not to twist her fingers into her skirt. How long would it be before the tea arrived and she could accidentally overturn some on Cat?
