Mary Bennet is marrying the love of her life! Of course, Kitty is happy for her sister, but she also realizes she is the last Bennet sister to be unwed.

Despite that, she has two very handsome young men in love with her so she’s not upset, just confused as to what her future holds. She is very much in love with both suitors in different ways, but sadly, neither young man can currently support a wife like Kitty who has no dowry to speak of. What’s to be done?

Ever the optimist, Kitty gets on with her life, certain that somehow, some way, her torn heart will be mended. Here comes the next chapter in Kitty Bennet’s story!

---

Purchase
Kindle ♥ Smashwords ♥ Nook ♥ Apple ♥ Google Play ♥ Kobo ♥ PRINT

Release Date: November 12, 2024
Genre: Historical | Regency

~ A Pink Satin Romance ~

---

Excerpt

Chapter One

Another Marriage, Another Bouquet

“Oh, Mr. Bennet,” Mama cried as she stood in the pew near me, and we had just finished watching our vicar announce Mary and Mr. Atkins as they now were becoming man and wife. “I am crying. I am crying at a wedding again!”

“Yes, you are, my dear,” Father replied, “when you wept at Jane and Lizzy’s happy day, I thought you produced so many tears that you wouldn’t find the ability to weep again for another year. But somehow, you managed it.”

“Oh, wicked man you are.”

Maria Lucas and Diana Long were friendly enough to assist me. The happy couple remained in the church while those who had come filed out on both sides of the church doors.

Maria and I took up the wedding arch of leaves and prepared to hold it over the couple when they emerged.

Diana picked up the bag of rice and made sure that everyone got a handful. When they were all ready, Elizabeth went back into the church and told the newlyweds that they could come out.

When Mary and Mr. Atkins emerged from the church, we all cheered for them, the crowd threw rice, and both the new husband and wife were truly happy as they walked past the well-wishers.

At the end of the walk, Uncle Philips had his carriage brought, where they would be conveyed to the Philips home. It may not have been further than half a mile, but it’s the principle of the matter!

When Mary reached me, she looked at me fondly.

“Will it be your turn soon?” she asked me.

“I have no notion,” I responded, without any feelings of remorse or insecurity. I had abandoned any feeling of inadequacy for being single long ago, and such ill-feelings toward myself would not return any time soon. I would not have it. “You shall bear the title of being the most recently wed for quite a long time. I am for you.”

“And I owe you everything.”

Mary looked at Mr. Atkins, overjoyed.

“Such acts of public affection are not considered proper,” she uttered, still smiling.

“But you wish to show it anyway,” Mr. Atkins said, reading her mind. “I’m your husband now. The world’s reaction is not worth considering.”

“No, it is not.”

Under the leaf arch that Maria and I held up, Mary jumped into his arms, he held her tightly and they kissed.

The reaction was splendidly diverse. Maria and I looked at each other, cooing.

My father’s eyebrows shot up.

“Oh, my word!” Mama cried. “Mr. Atkins is actually kissing Mary. What do we do?”

“Clap for them, sister,” Aunt Philips replied.

“But yes,” Uncle Philips said, equally as astonished, “I confess, seeing Mary so affectionate is something new for the ages.”

Once they both stopped kissing, they got into the carriage and Mary held out her bouquet.

Wait...no, she wouldn’t?! Oh, she would!

Maria immediately dropped the arch. Diana and any other single ladies raced to the front. Even the other smaller Lucas children also joined the small throng, hoping to catch something.

“Even I see the reasons for giving into gaiety, sometimes,” Mary announced to us. “May luck find one of you.”

She threw the bouquet into the air, and a merry work was made of it. I watched as the scurrying occurred, but this time, there was no falling over and grass stains to be had. Wonderfully enough, it was Diana Long who caught it.

“And victory is mine!” Diana cried. “The day is mine.”

“Well,” Mrs. Long said, coming up to her niece, and smoothing out her hair, “since this is now becoming a Hertfordshire custom, my niece will find her charming prince next.”

“As long as it’s not the Prince Regent himself,” Elizabeth said. “Diana, we give you leave to find your royalty.”

“I can tolerate marrying the Prince Regent,” Diana replied, “for I am quite certain, that right after he marries me, he will ignore me altogether and find a dalliance somewhere else. That would give me the right to be the Princess of England without having to be burdened by ever seeing her husband.”

We all laughed.

“Oh, Diana, the words you say,” Mrs. Long said, “remember, men do not like such talk.”

“I’ve got a bouquet—I have the upper hand.”

“Kitty,” Mary called to me, and then told me to come towards her. I obeyed. As she sat down next to Mr. Atkins in the carriage, she produced one flower. “I saved one.”

I laughed, taking the flower.

“You remembered?”

“Yes. Enjoy your one bit of luck.”

“Enjoy your wedding day.” I turned to Mr. Atkins. “Enjoy being the only man in England perfect for Mary.”

“I’ve gained my excellent wife and four charming sisters,” Atkins said, “I don’t need to do anything. The way was made perfect without my having to have lifted a finger.”

“And remember, you two lovebirds,” Sir William Lucas said, “tomorrow night, you must attend our dinner party. I know how newlyweds can sometimes lose all concept of schedules.”

“Sir William,” Mary said, “we would never forget a dinner party in our honor.”

“Mary,” Mr. Atkins cooed, “I think Sir William thinks we are coxcombs. We must prove that we can be in love and be in our right minds. Sir William, we not only will arrive, but we will be five minutes early.”

“Capitol, capitol!”

Jane and Elizabeth came forward and kissed Mary on the cheek while I moved back and stood next to Georgiana.

I took the flower, cut the stem shorter, and secured it behind my ear.

“So,” I said, turning to Georgiana, “how do I look? Roguish enough?”

“As roguish as a lady can look with orchids behind her ear,” she responded.

We all stood back from the phaeton as Mary and Atkins waved to us all as they drove down the road and disappeared.

“We wave to them as if we will never see them again,” Elizabeth said to Jane, “even though they are really just going down the road.”

“And yet, anything else would feel improper, wouldn’t it?” Jane wondered.

“Yes, it would.”

Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy joined their wives just as Sir William approached them.

“Once more, we look forward to your coming for our dinner party,” Sir William said, “I saw it written in the newspapers, Mr. Darcy, that you presented your lovely wife and our dear Miss Kitty at court.”

“You want stories, don’t you?” Elizabeth inquired, reading his thoughts.

“I want to know every detail.”

“Kitty and I will supply it and treat every moment as if it were as important as climbing Mount Olympus.”

“I knew that I could rely upon you, Mrs. Darcy.”

Sir William Lucas walked away.

“Never fear, Mr. Darcy,” I overheard Elizabeth whisper to her husband, “I shall talk in a way that you can speak as little as you wish.”

“You complete me,” Mr. Darcy responded.

“I had better.” Elizabeth smirked. “If I did not, where would we be?”

“Up a proverbial creek.”

 

↑ Return to Top ↑