Hey everyone, hope you like this chapter :)

The youtube clip on the side is the piano piece that Little J plays, I just thought you might like to know what it sounds like. When Schubert wrote it way back when it was called 'Ellen's Third Song' but we know it today as 'Ave Maria' ... possibly one of my favourite piano pieces so I hope you like it as much as I do :)

Anyways, vote and comment if you like it!!

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Chapter Six

“Oh, welcome, welcome!” exclaimed Lady Russel as the Alcott family and their guests entered her humble abode. “I’m so pleased you could make it, Lord and Lady Ethridge, I fear at those large balls we hardly ever get to have a proper conversation!” Lady Russel led them through her house directly into her formal dining room. It was decorated beautifully with large bouquets of flowers spaced evenly along the long, rectangular mahogany table.

Kitty was impressed, everything looked divine. It looked like her family were the last to arrive. A few small groups of people were standing around talking quietly, including Sir Walter Martin.

Lady Russel cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. She looked lovely that evening. Her brilliant red hair was smooth and elegant in a neat knot and her emerald gown perfectly matched her green eyes. “If everyone would like to take their seats, we’ll have the first course.” Lady Russel motioned for the footmen to pull the chairs out for her guests.

Kitty felt slightly uncomfortable when she found that she was seated beside Sir Walter. She knew what she had to do, but she felt that she would have a little more time to rehearse what she had to say. She was sitting nowhere near Captain Aubrey much to her disappointment; he was down the other end of the table with her parents and Lady Russel. Sitting next to her was Sabine and then Little J.

Kitty stole a glance at Sir Walter who was wearing a rather solemn look on his rounded face. His black hair was, like always, slicked back, and his short bead was combed neatly. “How are you this evening, Sir Walter?” she asked quietly as a small bowl of water cress soup was placed before her by one of the footmen.

Sir Walter’s sharp, grey eyes flashed to her. “Perfectly fine, Lady Kitty,” he snapped quietly.

Kitty knew that he was very angry with her. She figured she would just have to give her apology without rehearsal. “Sir Walter, I wanted to apologise to you for my behaviour, it was inexcusable the way I treated you. You didn’t deserve that,” she said softly as she placed a small spoonful of soup in her mouth.

“No, I didn’t,” he replied curtly. “But I should’ve known better than to think that a silly little twit, like yourself, was ever good enough for a man as accomplished as I am.”  

Kitty’s eyes widened in astonishment. Had he really just said that her? “I should advise you to hold your tongue when you insult me, sir; I am the eldest daughter of a very fine gentleman.”

“I’m sure that very fine gentleman would abandon you quite quickly if he knew that he had bred a little slut,” he hissed under his breath so that no one around would hear.

Kitty checked her surroundings and was glad to see that Sabine and Little J were deep in conversation so they had not heard what Sir Walter had sad about her. She then looked down at the green soup before her and suddenly didn’t feel so hungry anymore.

“There is no need to be unkind, Sir Walter, I am trying to do the right thing by apologising to you,” Kitty said softly. She willed herself not to cry. She could feel the tears wanting to escape her eyelids but she wouldn’t let them.

“The right thing to do would to have not been entertaining me with false insinuations that you were interested in knowing me better, Lady Kitty,” Sir Walter replied quietly. “I am a gentleman and a fine match for a worthy young woman; you are a harlot who is no better than the prostitutes on the streets.”       

Kitty didn’t reply to him. Was he right? Sir Walter was not the first man she had teased. Did they all think of her so darkly? She did her best to eat the soup any by the time the next course of escargot was served she had consumed perhaps half of it.

“Kitty, are you alright?” Sabine whispered to her.

Kitty looked to her cousin and suddenly realised that most people had nearly finished their second course and she hadn’t even touched hers. How much time had passed? She put on a false smile and nodded. “Quite alright,” she assured her. “I was just admiring the general splendour that I forgot to eat.”

Sabine smiled, satisfied with her answer. “Well, try them, they really are delicious, though do not tell Cook in Southerby, for she will be heartbroken that I prefer another’s French cuisine to her own.”

Kitty laughed to make sure she was convinced of her good mood. “Your secret is safe with me,” she promised.

For the remainder of the meal she made small talk with those sitting opposite her on the table and with her sister and cousin. She did everything in her power not to look in Sir Walter’s direction for fear of a flood of tears that would surely come.

Once the meal was over Lady Russel suggested that they all retire to the drawing room so that a young lady could delight them all on the pianoforte. She also ordered the footmen for wine, fruit and cheese to be served promptly.

As soon as everyone had risen from their seats, Captain Aubrey was beside her. “What did he say that upset you so?” he asked quietly, his voice still thick with concern.

Kitty shook her head without meeting his eyes. “Nothing,” she lied. “Absolutely nothing.”

Lady Russel’s drawing room had been especially rearranged for her function that evening. The sofas had been repositioned to face the lovely white pianoforte and extra chairs had been added so that everyone would have a seat.

“Lady Jane,” Lady Russel called out as soon as everyone had gathered in the drawing room. “Little J, dear, will you please delight us with your skills?” she asked, gesturing to the pianoforte.

Little J pursed her lips and nodded. Kitty knew that her sister hated singing and performing, but it didn’t make her any worse at it. She was exceptionally talented. Kitty quickly occupied a single chair in the back so that nobody could sit beside her.

Little J had memorised many pieces, her favourite being the works by Franz Schubert. Kitty knew what she was to play before Little J had even taken her seat before the pianoforte. She was to play "Ellens dritter Gesang" or “Ellen’s Third Song”. Kitty liked Schubert very much. Little J liked his music not only because it was beautiful but because it didn’t require her to sing.

As Little J began to play to beautifully all eyes were on her. Everyone was smiling peacefully as the footmen entered bearing platters of food as well as a decanter filled with wine.

The music allowed Kitty to think deeply about what Sir Walter had said about her. She had done the right thing by apologising, and it was a genuine apology. She now knew that her behavior had consequences and she was doing her best to better herself. But what if everyone she had ever teased thought she was no better than a prostitute? She’d never given herself to a man, she’d never even kissed a man before, she was definitely better than a prostitute.

She didn’t realise that she had been crying until she tasted her tears on her lips. She rose from her chair quietly and crept out of the drawing room hoping to appear unnoticed. She didn’t have a handkerchief on her so she would have to search for one. She wasn’t familiar with the halls of Lady Russel’s house so she was guessing where she was walking. She came to a long hallway that was highlighted by a large gilded mirror in the centre of the wall. She stood before it and surveyed her face. It was obvious that she had been crying as her eyelids were very red. She wiped all of the remaining tears away and then fanned her face with her hands.

“Pull yourself together, Kitty,” she told herself. She straightened the skirt of her gown self consciously and adjusted the sleeves on her arms before turning back towards the direction of the drawing room. She hoped that her eyes returned to normal before she had to converse with anyone.    

As she turned she jumped as she realised there was in fact a person standing not five yards from her. He was standing just outside the mirror reflection so that she hadn’t seen him.

“Sir Walter,” she gasped. “What are you doing?”

Sir Walter took a deep breath as he glared at her. “You always manage to get what you want, no matter whom you squash in the process,” he said bitterly. He walked closer to her so that their bodies were about ten inches apart.

Kitty’s heart beat picked up as his steel grey eyes burned into her. She had nowhere to step back as all that was behind her was the gilded mirror. She wanted to be back in the drawing room where her family was, she wanted to be where she felt safe. Standing there with Sir Walter was not safe.

“Believe me, Sir Walter, I do not squash intentionally,” she whispered nervously.

His was twice her height and width and was ever so slightly closing the distance between him. He no longer looked angry, he looked lustful.

Kitty knew this was how girls were ruined, but she did not want it to be against her will. “Sir Walter, I’d like you to move away from my person, please,” she said firmly, trying to sound brave.

A smile spread across his face as she spoke. “I told my mother about you, you know,” he informed her giddily. “I told her that the most beautiful young woman was allowing me to pursue her. I couldn’t believe that someone so lovely fancied me. And then you showed your true colours. They turned out to be very dirty. You’re not clean enough to introduce to my mother. You’re clean enough for an abandoned corridor though.” 

As he spoke that last sentence his hands were on her waist pulling her to him. Their mouths collided and Kitty’s screams were muffled by his force. His hands covered her body quickly, one secured in her hair holding her face to his and the other on her backside, gathering up her skirts. She made her hands into fists and did her best to punch Sir Walter to get him off of her.

Kitty used all the strength she had not to open her mouth when she felt his tongue on her lips. She screamed as loud as she could but Sir Walter made it impossible for any sound to come out.

Her tears saturated her face as she was about to stop fighting. She wasn’t strong enough to stop fighting. As she let her hands drop to her side Sir Walter disappeared. Her legs gave way as her skirt returned back down to the floor. Violent sobs caused her body to shake, but through the tears she could see the shine of a silver blade at Sir Walter’s throat.  

“You dare lay a hand on an unwilling woman?” Captain Aubrey spat.

“She wasn’t unwilling,” replied a humoured Sir Walter.

“Do not insult my intelligence,” he seethed. “It is taking everything I have not to flick my wrist and have my sword take out your throat.”

As Kitty’s tears cleared the figures before her were no longer blurred. She could hear voices coming down the corridor, but the alarmed voice of her mother stood out over all. “What is going on?” she cried. “Kitty, what are you doing on the floor?”

Her mother’s arms enveloped her as the men surrounded Captain Aubrey and Sir Walter.

“What is happening?” she heard her father ask. “Sir Walter ... Captain, what had happened?”

“Lord Ethridge, this man just attempted to rape your daughter,” Captain Aubrey hissed.

Emilia let out a pained cry as she held Kitty tighter and Sebastian lunged for Captain Aubrey’s sword. It all happened very quickly from Kitty’s perspective. Her father was trying to kill Sir Walter as both her brother’s tried to hold their father back. Captain Aubrey was doing his best to hold off her father as well as keep Sir Walter at bay. Several other guests surrounded them so Sir Walter couldn’t get away.

Kitty wanted it to be over, she wanted to be out of there. She didn’t want to ever have this incident mentioned again. But she knew that London society would never let that happen, she would be the subject of gossip until someone became pregnant out of wedlock.

“I’ll send for the police,” Lady Russel exclaimed. “Do not do anything you will regret!”

Kitty knew that Lady Russel was talking to her father. He had stopped going for Captain Aubrey’s sword but he was still shaking with pure fury.

“Lady Russel is right, Lord Ethridge, you’re needed here more than you are in jail. Jail is where this man will rot,” Captain Aubrey seethed.

Sebastian turned away from Sir Walter and Captain Aubrey toward Kitty and Emilia who were on the floor still. “Come on, darling, I’m getting you out of here.” He knelt down on the ground and looped his arms behind her knees and around her back and lifted her off of the ground.

Kitty closed her eyes as she laid her head against her father’s chest. She felt safe in his arms, a feeling that she knew would feel foreign to her in many situations from then on. She could hear her mother following them swiftly.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again, Kitty,” he promised her as he carried her to the foyer of Lady Russel’s house. “That man will hang if I have anything to do with it.” She heard him call for Little J and Sabine who were in the nearby drawing room to follow him outside to the carriage.

As they rode her father informed them of what had occurred in the corridor with Sir Walter, and like him they were all outraged.

Kitty didn’t open her eyes until the carriage pulled up outside her house. She just wanted to be alone with her thoughts. Once the women were all out of the carriage her father returned to Lady Russel’s to make sure that Sir Walter had been arrested. Kitty knew that if he received a punishment it would not be hard; the law was not fair to females.

Kitty was grateful to her family when they left her be out in the courtyard that she had visited a few times that week. It was well into the night and the stars were very prominent in the sky. It soothed her, so she could see why Captain Aubrey liked it so much.

She sat down on the stone floor and hugged her knees tightly. At that point she didn’t care if her best gown was ruined, it was tainted anyway.

“The police arrested Sir Walter, though there isn’t much they can do, they say, as nothing actually happened. He can plead his innocence quite easily. I now wish that I’d cut his throat,” Captain Aubrey informed her.

Kitty jumped at the sudden presence of another. She had no idea how long she had been sitting on the floor but she felt the chill from the stone quite immensely. “I knew he would get away with it. He is a gentleman and I’m just a silly woman,” Kitty replied solemnly. “Anyway, if you’d killed him then you would be the one hanging.”

“It would have been worth it,” he replied seriously as he sat down beside her. Kitty saw that his appearance was no longer so crisp. His dark blond hair was untidy and his naval coat was undone.  “There is a special place in hell for men who touch women against their will.”

Kitty hoped that was true. “He called me dirty,” she said quietly. “He said that I wasn’t clean enough ... I’m inclined to believe it.”

Captain Aubrey took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. What Kitty liked was the fact that she didn’t mind the contact. He had saved her from Sir Walter, he was a protector. “That man ... he’s not even a man; he belongs with the rodents in the sewers. He is evil in every sense of the word. You are not dirty, you are pure and beautiful.”

Kitty smiled slightly at him. “Thank you for saving me. It seems all you’ve done in London is save me.”

Captain Aubrey’s face crinkled as he smiled broadly. “Happy to be of service, ma’am,” he said, pretending to tip his hat. “I don’t know what I would have done if I had got there too late,” he said shaking his head. “I would not have been able to stop myself from killing him.”

“How did you find me? I wandered off trying to find a handkerchief and I ended up in the corridor.”

“I’ve told you before that I’m good at observing. I saw you leave and then I saw Sir Walter follow you. There was something about him that I didn’t trust and I’m glad I followed my instincts,” he replied. Kitty liked the fact that he was still holding her hand, it was comforting.

“I’m glad you did too,” Kitty sighed. “I’m not angry at Sir Walter for the obvious reason, I’m glad that his true nature has been discovered so that he won’t be left alone with any other young girl ... and hopefully he will be expelled from several social circles ... but I’m angry at him because ...” Kitty suddenly regretted starting the sentence. It was embarrassing to tell Captain Aubrey of all people what she was angry at Sir Walter for.

“Because what?” he pressed.

Kitty groaned and hung her head. “Because he stole my first ... kiss,” she whispered, barely audible.

“Your first kiss?” Captain Aubrey raised his eyebrows. “I don’t think that that can be considered your first kiss, Lady Kitty.”

Kitty nodded. “I just imagined my first kiss being with someone that I loved.”

“It will be, the next time you kiss someone, you will love them and they will love you, I promise you that,” he said sincerely.

“How can you know that, Captain Aubrey?” Kitty asked, raising her eyebrows.

“I just do,” he smiled coyly. “And please, you are not one of my men, call me ‘William’.”