Chapter 1

Sisterly Affections

“I do wish you would reconsider your decision to stay so long from home. Eight weeks is entirely too much. I daresay your sister will have little for you to do in Hertfordshire, anyway.” With a huff to emphasize her annoyance with her friend’s travel, Lady Susan Corwell, the sole daughter of the Earl of Effington, moved her bishop to capture Elizabeth Gardiner’s pawn.

Elizabeth studied the board before replying. “I dare say the diversions in Meryton will not equal those in London, but I cannot deny my excitement for clean air and long walks in the sunshine. But most of all, I look forward to getting to know my sister better. We had so few opportunities when we were growing up. My aunt would not countenance Jane coming here for too long for fear that she would lose Mr. Collins’ attention were she to stay out of his sight for more than a week. And, of course, I was not permitted to stay there given my father’s continued anger with her.” She picked up her knight and toppled Suzy’s bishop.

“Drat. I had plans for that piece.”

Elizabeth smirked. “I suspected you did.”

Suzy studied the board before continuing the conversation. “I know you love your sister, but I do not trust that she will have your best interests at heart. Do you not remember how she acted when we visited Ramsgate for our birthdays?” She cautiously slid her rook over three spaces.

“Ramsgate! That was all of ten years ago. And you cannot blame Jane for her actions then. We were still young girls while she was blooming and moving into adolescence. Three years is not such an age gap now, but the difference between a girl of ten and another of thirteen is rather stark. It is no wonder she found our giggling and boisterousness displeasing.”

“Then can you account for her actions last year when she came to purchase her trousseau? She was hardly the picture of sisterly affection.”

Elizabeth sat back in her chair. “What do you mean? Jane was everything good and kind. There was nothing she did to warrant your scorn.”

“Ha!” Suzy retorted. “I will admit she was polite on the surface, for she has a manner of speaking softly while wearing a smile that convinces one of her kindness. But I did not like how she spoke to you. ‘ You are so short, Elizabeth. You wear too many dark colors, Elizabeth. Having a tradesman father must materially lessen your chances for a good marriage .’ As if her own adopted father is not a tradesman, and not one half so well accomplished!” Suzy’s ire had risen in earnest. “But that is not the worst of it.”

Elizabeth giggled. “There is more? What else did she say that I failed to remember?”

“She implied that she is more beautiful than you. I nearly screamed when she said it. And you did hear it; you must not pretend otherwise. We both sat on the settee while she sat in the chair where your companion sits now. You had just served a lovely tea. That is when she mentioned that you were meant for the orphanage because you were too ugly to keep!”

Elizabeth sighed. “I cannot deny it. That was what prompted me to ask Papa about why he adopted me while Jane stayed with Aunt Phillips. But I do not blame Jane. She is a sweet and loving sister, and I hope to grow closer to her during our visit. She simply has not had the exposure that I have had to what is right and wrong. I have had all the luck to be raised by Papa and Mama, who are both intelligent and refined. Jane, unfortunately, has had little exposure to such polite society and had the distinct disadvantage of growing up in my aunt’s home.”

“That is hardly an excuse.”

Elizabeth reached across the table and touched her friend’s arm. “I am pleased to know that you are a staunch defender of my honor, but I must ask you to be kind to my sister. She has not had the advantages that we have had. She has been loved solely for her looks, whereas we have been loved for ourselves and valued for our wits and personalities.”

Suzy’s face softened. “I suppose her upbringing has been far different. It would be a terrible burden to be valued only for what people see on the outside.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Exactly, though I cannot deny she is a beautiful woman. I do not pretend to be unaware of my own appeal, but I cannot compare to Jane.”

Throwing up her arms in frustration, Suzy exclaimed, “Cannot compare! I declare you are practically identical except for your hair. You are dark and she is light, but aside from that you are nearly impossible to keep straight.”

Elizabeth giggled. “So you think I am pretty, then?”

Suzy rolled her eyes. “You are certainly pretty enough for the gentlemen around Meryton.” Abandoning the chess board, Suzy turned in her seat and called out to Mrs. Gardiner who sat at a far table reviewing the account books. “Mrs. Gardiner, you must promise me that Lizzy will take as burly a footman as you can spare with her to Hertfordshire. I do not wish to see her compromised by one of the ill-bred gentlemen of that county.”

Mrs. Gardiner smiled at her daughter’s lively friend. “Do not fear, Suzy. My husband has assigned Howes to attend with Lizzy. And of course, she will take her companion, Mrs. Annesley.”

∞∞∞

“Promise you will write me daily.”

Elizabeth hugged her dearest friend close. “I cannot promise to write you daily, but I will write you often. Twice a week, at least.”

Suzy frowned. “I cannot like it, but I must allow you to have your diversions.”

“Very magnanimous of you.” Elizabeth pretended to be serious, causing her friend to deliver a friendly swat to her arm. “I will miss you,” she said before hugging her friend one last time. “I will return in time for our annual Christmas celebrations.”

“Oh yes, I have already planned many diversions for us. And then after, we must visit Madame Etienne’s for new dresses. Nicholas has already accused me of being an old maid. I must find a husband this season.”

“We have only just turned twenty! Your brother was teasing you. And I believe Uncle Paul will wish to keep you in his home for at least one more year.”

“Father would keep me in his home forever, if he could. Nevertheless, I do not wish to be an old bride, and I do not wish it for you either. This spring we will find our husbands.”

“I will help you find a husband. I do not wish to marry for anything less than the greatest of loves. If I must wait until I am an old maid before I find him, then so be it.”

“Oh, I shall also only marry for the greatest love. But I shall do it this year.” Suzy’s smile widened as she waited for her friend’s resulting laugh.

The friends hugged one last time before Suzy stepped out to her waiting carriage. Since the Gardiners moved to Brook Street, Suzy and Elizabeth often walked to each other’s homes, but the day was cold and rainy. Shutting the door against a gust of wind, Elizabeth turned to find her mother waiting for her.

“Darling, I would like to speak with you for a moment.”

Elizabeth quickly acquiesced and followed her mother into the parlor. “What is it, Mama?” Her mother indicated she should sit next to her on the settee.

Taking her daughter’s hands in her own, she began. “Elizabeth, I do not wish to alarm you, but I must admit I share some of your friend’s reservations for your trip to Meryton.”

Elizabeth scrunched her nose in confusion. “Why? Surely you do not fear that Jane will harm me in some way.”

Mrs. Gardiner patted her daughter’s hand. “Not intentionally. Jane is, as you said, a sweet lady, at least on the surface. But she has been too spoilt by your aunt and made to think too little of others and too much of herself.” Elizabeth nodded, though she did not fully understand what her mother was trying to say.

“You worry she will do something to harm me, Mama?”

Her mother shook her head. “I worry that she will unintentionally hurt you. You love her unconditionally, simply because she is your sister by birth. When you love, Elizabeth, you love with all your heart. You are fiercely loyal. I think Jane loves you, in her own way, but she loves her comfort more. It is why she married that imbecilic husband.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Mama, that is hardly a nice sentiment, but I must agree. Mr. Collins did not impress me as having a superior wit when we met at their wedding.”

Her mother attempted to hide her own smile. “He most certainly did not. But with Jane’s paltry portion, he may have seemed the best option she had. Especially since your aunt was loathe to let her out of her sight.”

“Her portion was five thousand. That is not so small a dowry, though I do wish my aunt and uncle had allowed her to keep the interest the money earned over the last twenty years.”

Her mother scowled. “As I said, they are selfish, and they have raised a selfish daughter. It is only her nature that has saved her from being impossible to tolerate. But you are correct, that is not so small an amount. Given her birth as a gentlewoman and her good looks, your father could have easily found her a wealthy tradesman to marry. But she wished to be a gentleman’s wife, and so she settled for the only one she knew.”

“Do not fear for me on that front. As I told Suzy, I will only marry for the deepest of love and affection.”

As her friend had done only minutes ago, her mother pulled her in for a tight hug. “You must promise that you will not wander off without Howes or Mrs. Annesley to protect you. Your dowry of fifty-thousand pounds is a mighty incentive for a gentleman, both in London and in the country.”

“I promise, Mama.”

Mrs. Gardiner released her daughter and reclaimed her hands. “You are not the daughter of my body, Elizabeth, but you are the daughter of my heart. I dare say I loved you even before I loved your father.”

Elizabeth blinked away the tears that rapidly formed in her eyes. “I love you, too, Mama.”

“Then you must promise to write me twice as much as you write Suzy. If she is to receive two letters each week, then I must receive four. It is only fair, after all.”

Elizabeth agreed with a laugh. “Of course. I shall carry a pad of paper with me so that I can write down my every thought and experience as they happen. You will open my letters to find a flutter of unconnected comments and events on small pieces of paper that you must piece together to understand.”