26. Chapter 26 (1/2)

happy tuesday! i love feedback and i thank each and everyone of you who take the time to do so. i admit, i have been dealing with headaches, so when i read over this chapter, there is a chance i missed quite a bit. i think i could have written it better, but i hope you enjoy it none the less. if the grammar is really bad, please let me know.

benjamin richards was glad to be out from under his father. compared to many, he realized he was lucky to have a parent who cared, but that didn't mean that he was free from expectations. though he was only 25, his father was eager for him to marry. he wanted to see their estate's future. benjamin understood this, he simply hadn't met a lady he thought well enough of to marry. he remembered his cousin's ill-fated first marriage, and he feared suffering the same. he wanted a marriage where he could be happy. he wanted the same for his friend and neighbor, lilly hampton, which is why he left. she and mr. wesley had a better chance of convincing her father they should marry if he were gone, and he didn't have to hear his father complain about his not marrying her himself.

upon reaching roxwood, he went straight to the stables, where he was sure his cousin would be. he finally found him in his indoor riding ring. he was standing with an attractive blonde woman and amelia to the side. there was another young woman in the middle going through the course that was set up.

"very well done, kitty! alright, i think you are ready. i'll have dancer set aside for you, though you cannot ride through the fields without letting one of us know you are going, and always give a time you shall return. better yet, i'll make sure a groom always goes with you…"

"oliver," laughed the blonde. he supposed that was his new wife. he had to admit, his cousin had good taste.

"benjamin!" cried amelia. she darted for him.

"amelia, do not run around the horses," said his cousin as he approached. "benjamin, it is good to see you."

"likewise," he said, holding the little girl in a firm hug. "i was hoping i might impose upon you for a while. i could use some time away from newedge park…"

"you could use some time away from your father, you mean. of course, you know you are always welcome in any of my homes. come and meet my wife."

he set amelia down and allowed her to lead him to the now two young women.

"benjamin, allow me to introduce you to my wife, mrs. jane andrews. this is my sister, miss catherine bennet, whom we have all come to call kitty."

"it's a pleasure to meet you both."

"jane, kitty, this is my cousin, benjamin richards. he is the son of my mother's

other. she'll be happy to see you, by the way."

"i am sure she shall."

"i am happy to meet you, mr. richards. we have heard much about you from your aunt," said mrs. andrews. yes, his cousin had very good taste.

they all walked back to the house. once inside, the ladies left to prepare for dinner and oliver took him to a new room.

"kitty and amelia now dwell down the hall you usually stay. mother said it would be wise to have you moved closer to her when you stay here, at least while kitty calls roxwood her home. i hope you do not mind."

"i am absolutely appalled," he said dryly.

"i thought as much."

they chatted and then parted ways once they reach his room. very soon, he was ready for dinner. his aunt was pleased to see him, asking after her

other and her niece, who had recently returned home. he reported that they were both in good health. everyone had assembled, and he was thankful to find that no dinner party had been planned and that he had not disrupted any plans. he sat and enjoyed his dinner. he complemented his cousin's wife on her excellent table and listened to the conversations going on around him. miss bennet teased oliver, who teased back. his wife rolled her eyes and smiled at the two. his aunt reminded miss bennet of her manners, though she too was amused. amelia smiled adoringly at her stepmother. the sight gave him a great deal of peace.

he had been surprised when he learned that his cousin was remarrying. benjamin had been almost sure that oliver would avoid it always, and leave the estate to amelia. he decided to hear from his cousin himself, as to how this all came about.

the house was unbearable for her at the moment. kitty had found that she liked the society of many of the local ladies, young and old alike. however, miss sophie appleton was another story. the young woman hated kitty. her crime: being the sister of the woman who married the neighborhood's most eligible widower. she was three years older than herself, and had been trying her hardest to catch the special attentions of her new

other, but he never paid her any kind of attention. his choosing a

ide elsewhere angered the young woman, but she obviously knew treating jane in any way but civil would be unacceptable, but petty rivalries between young women were perfectly agreeable. it was a shame because kitty found her mother and younger sister to be enjoyable company. she decided early on that it was better to avoid miss appleton when possible. this is how she found herself in the stable.

she had taken her first ride on dancer the afternoon before, though it was once more in the training ring. kitty was getting frustrated over it. she begged jane to make oliver see reason, but her sister just smiled and told her to be patient a little longer. she stroked the sorrels face as she let her thought fly. she thought about her correspondence with mary. mary was completely forgiving of their parents, but unforgiving to lydia. kitty felt sorry for lydia, was forgiving to her mother, but she was having a hard time forgiving her father. she felt awful every time he wrote and she would reply as though all was well. she was angry with him. mary tried to tell her that he really was trying, but it still hurt. why was she suddenly only worth his time when they held something in common? why couldn't she have been good enough even if she was a little silly? or even very silly?

"that is a pensive face. what could that pitchfork have done that upset you so much?"

"mr. richards! pardon me, i did not hear you approach."

"obviously. you seem deep in thought. the horse seems please with your subconscious attentions, however." she was still stroking her face.

"yes, she loves any attention, no matter how it is given to her," she said, frowning at the last. it reminded her too much of herself.

"there it is again. what has caused you so be so downhearted?"

"i was just thinking."

"they must not be good thoughts."

"not all thoughts are. our thoughts reflect our realities, and they are not always good or right, but thinking of them can

ing about a solution."

"or more stress."

"yes, or that."

mr. richards had been at roxwood for three days. she found that she liked his company. he was friendly and inviting. she was almost positive that it was his presence that

ought the appleton's to roxwood that day.

"i thought you would be enjoying our company. i was given to understand that you have spent a great deal of your summers here, and that many of the neighbors have the privilege of calling you friend."

"yes, well, you are not the only one to wish to escape certain people's company, though for vastly different reasons."

she giggled at him. she knew full well what miss appleton thought of him.

"i escaped with my cousin when he claimed he suddenly remembered a matter he needed to see his head groom about. will you not be riding today?"

"if i do, it will be in the ring again," she grumbled. it was his turn to laugh.

"he shall turn you loose soon enough. he cares about you. a man always protects what he cares about."

kitty's easy smile slipped from her face again. once more she thought about her father. what did that statement say about him?

"oh dear. i had hoped i was taking your mind off your troubles, but i seem to have added to them."

"no, mr. richards, i am afraid there are some things that i am trying to sort out. it is not your fault."

"perhaps you should talk to your sister about them."

"no, jane has enough to deal with. i would not add my troubles to her. i have been writing one of my other sisters about it, though i do not believe i am getting anywhere."

"you seem close my cousin, perhaps he could help you."