Page 59 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

I did not tell him that whenever I imagined myself in that garden, I hoped to look up and find him coming towards me.

16 August

Ophelia stole part of Darcy’s breakfast this morning.

She had come downstairs with Georgiana and behaved with sufficient propriety while we were taking our places. I saw her beneath a chair and thought no more of it. The kittens often accompany us now, and have generally found enough to interest them upon the floor.

Darcy was speaking to Elizabeth when a black-and-white head appeared beside his plate, at the empty chair where Kitty had been sitting a moment earlier.

I had scarcely understood what I was seeing before Ophelia put out a paw, secured his entire kipper and slid it off the plate and onto the floor.

“Georgiana,” Darcy said.

She looked up.

“Your cat has my breakfast.”

Georgiana rose at once, but the kitten had already gone beneath the table with its prize.

“Oh! I am so sorry. Ophelia, come here.”

I do not think Ophelia had any intention of doing so.

Richard put down his cup and peered under the table. “She has chosen her position very well.”

“You need not sound so approving,” Darcy said.

“I was speaking only of her judgment in finding shelter.”

Kitty began to laugh. This made it rather difficult for the rest of us to remain serious, though Georgiana was plainly distressed at her kitten’s misconduct.

“She has never done such a thing before.”

“She has never had the opportunity,” Elizabeth observed, looking at the empty chair.

“I only left it for a moment,” Kitty protested. “I went to fetch some fresh toast from the sideboard.”

“And somebody else wished for fish.”

Christopher, who was sitting near the end of the table, reached down and caught Ophelia as she attempted to emerge beside his chair. She had abandoned the remains of her prize somewhere beneath the table.

She did not appear ashamed.

Georgiana took her, apologising again, and Darcy assured her that there was no great harm done.

“But she must not be permitted upon the chairs while we are at breakfast.”

Ophelia settled against Georgiana’s arm and began to purr.

“I fear she finds the consequences rather agreeable,” Richard said.

Darcy gave him a look which only made him laugh.

I think Georgiana was relieved when Mrs Annesley offered to take the kitten upstairs. She returned to her breakfast, though she kept looking at her brother as if she expected him to discover some further offence.

Elizabeth rang the bell for the footman, and requested a fresh kipper be cooked for Darcy. The footman looked puzzled at Darcy’s empty plate, but retired to the kitchen with the instruction.

“You have been very forbearing, my dear,” Elizabeth said, pouring a cup of tea.