Chapter 2

The Assembly

“Y ou are here!” Jane Collins hurried down the stairs to greet her sister before Elizabeth even had a chance to step from the carriage.

“Madam, if you will excuse me.”

“Oh, yes.” Jane stepped back, a tinge of embarrassment on her cheeks. “Forgive me.” The hulking footman Mr. Gardiner had assigned to his daughter assisted his mistress from the vehicle, followed soon after by Mrs. Annesley, and finally by Milly, Elizabeth’s maid.

When Elizabeth was finally on the ground, Jane closed in and clasped her sister in a tight hug. “My dear, dear sister. You can have no idea how much I have anticipated your visit. I have wished all my life for you to come and stay months with me so that we can be true sisters. But it was not to be. Mother insisted she did not have the time or money to house you, nor would she spare me for more than a few days to visit in London.”

Elizabeth willed herself not to cry. This was exactly the type of welcome she had most hoped for in her heart. “I am so thrilled to be here. I wish we had arrived earlier, but there was a carriage with a broken wheel ahead of us. It took up much of the road and we were unable to get around it for the longest time.”

Jane pulled her sister into the house. “That is no matter at all. I am only glad you made it in time, else you may have missed tonight’s assembly.”

“Assembly?” Elizabeth eyes widened. “You did not mention it in your letters. I dare say neither Mrs. Annesley nor I are prepared for a ball after hours of travel.”

Mr. Collins, her sister’s husband and, though she loathed to admit it, her brother-in-law, joined the ladies in the entryway. “Welcome, sister. It is good to have you here at last.” He pulled his wife to him and gave her a wet kiss on the side of her cheek causing both Jane and Elizabeth to wince.

“I was just telling Lizzy about the assembly. She has indicated she is tired after so many hours of travel, but you must help me convince her to attend, husband.”

Mr. Collins clapped his hands together, so delighted was he to practice the art of persuasion. “Oh yes, sister. Tonight will be a grand event. It may not be hosted in a private ballroom like those you attend in London, but I daresay there will be more gentlefolk than tradesmen in attendance, which must surely be a relief since you are so often attending parties with the opposite attendance rations.”

“I believe you mean ‘ratios’,” Elizabeth suggested.

“No, no. Rations. I am certain that is correct.” Mr. Collins jowls jiggled for a full two seconds after he shook his head to indicate his sister-in-law’s mistake. Though he was not a heavy man, he did have an abundance of excessive skin. His face crept directly into his neck with no evidence of a jaw or chin. Elizabeth was shocked when she viewed him for the first time at the wedding. She had not anticipated that her beautiful sister would marry such an unattractive man, but she consoled herself that he was likely an intelligent and kind gentleman. Unfortunately, soon after the vows were said, Mr. Collins opened his mouth to speak, and all hope of his intelligence fled. That he showed every indication of being kind, however, must count for something, Elizabeth silently reassured herself.

Mr. Collins cleared his throat. “As I was saying, the assembly will offer you a chance to meet the people of the neighborhood and to dance, though I dare say you will not be as popular as my Jane. She always dances every set.” Elizabeth was shocked. A matron dancing every set when surely men will be scarce due to the war — it was not what she would have imagined from her sister.

Jane smiled obligingly at her husband. “We purchased our tickets, but we did not obtain one for you or for your companion. I hope you do not mind. I am sure my uncle has sent you with ample funds. Mr. Collins asked Sir William Lucas to save you a ticket. I hope he does not forget, else you will not have a way in and will be forced to come back to the house.” Elizabeth ignored the slight, for surely it was unintended. She could not, however, prevent herself from noticing the vexed look on her companion’s face. She contented herself that Mrs. Annesley simply did not wish to attend an assembly. Certainly, the lady knew that Jane spoke without thought and no ill intent was intended.

∞∞∞

“Milly, I apologize for the rush, but it seems I am to attend a public ball tonight. I have asked Mrs. Annesley to assist with my hair. You must hurry and steam my gown.”

“Aye, miss. I can have the violet gown ready in a trice. Mrs. Annesley already warned me that we would need to rush this evening. I asked the housekeeper to send up warm water. It will not be enough for a bath, but it should allow you wash away the travel grime and freshen yourself as best you can.” So saying, Milly pulled the silk gown from the as-yet unpacked trunk and swept out of the room to find the laundry.

Elizabeth busied herself with unpacking the trunk until a knock at the door indicated the water had arrived. After emptying half the water into the basin, the young girl hurried to help Elizabeth from her dress so that she could cleanse herself.

Elizabeth thanked the maid and then set about washing her body as best she could. Though she would have wished for time enough for a proper bath, she could not blame the absence of a soak for the source of her discontent. No, that fault could be aptly assigned to her sister and Mr. Collins. Though she was certain her sister had meant no ill with her comments, it was still astonishing that she expected her guests to attend a ball on the first night of her visit! And to have failed to secure tickets for Mrs. Annesley and herself? Unfathomable! She could not bring herself to be angry with her sister, but her Aunt Phillips did not warrant the same generosity. This is what would have befallen you, Lizzy, had you been raised by your aunt. Lucky for you, your mama and papa taught you to behave with impeccable manners.

But soon, Elizabeth had coaxed herself from her ill temper. As the cloth in her hand served to remove the dust from her face and body, time did the same with her uncharitable thoughts.

After a brief knock at the door, Mrs. Annesley entered. “Miss Gardiner, I am hardly as adept as Milly, but allow me to fix your hair.” Elizabeth smiled at her dear companion. The lady had long served as her governess. When Elizabeth turned seventeen it was decided she no longer needed lessons, but as a valuable member of the Gardiner family, she was loath to let Mrs. Annesley go. She convinced her papa she required a companion, and he, unable to deny his daughter anything, relented.

Elizabeth took the brush from the elder lady’s hands. “Allow me to brush it out. I am certain it has become quite knotted today. It will be faster if I do this first part.”

Soon, Elizabeth’s hair was brushed and shining. Mrs. Annesley placed a few drops of lavender oil in her palms and then ran her fingers through her charge’s dark mane. “There, you will smell as sweet as you are.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Hardly. I would have wished for a full bath. If I had known there was to be an assembly tonight, I would have waited until tomorrow to arrive.”

Mrs. Annesley deftly twisted and pinned Elizabeth’s curls on top of her head. “Yes, I would have preferred to skip tonight’s festivities, as well, but it is not to be. We are here and we must do as our hosts wish for us.” She patted Elizabeth’s shoulder. “It is only one night, dear. You will have many other opportunities to get to know your sister.”

∞∞∞

“See here, sister, I will introduce you to all the best people.” Mr. Collins pushed through the crowd before turning to give Elizabeth an imperious look, prompting her to follow.

“Sir William Lucas, may I introduce my sister, Miss Elizabeth Gardiner?”

Sir William had long been acquainted with Elizabeth. He had invested in her papa’s businesses and had taken supper with them many times over the years. “Miss Gardiner, it is a pleasure to see you again.” With a bit of nostalgia, he added, “I held you when you were just a babe. I have never seen a happier father than Mr. Bennet. He surely would have been proud to see what a fine jewel you have grown to be.” Elizabeth smiled at the jolly man before her.

“Sir, I believe I need to purchase a ticket for myself and my companion.”

Sir William looked affronted. “You did not obtain your sister’s passage to tonight’s event?”

Mr. Collins jowls shook with nervous energy. “I… I believe I asked you to save her a ticket.”

Sir William scowled. “I do not believe you did. In any case, it is my pleasure to say that tickets are sold out, Miss Gardiner, so you and your companion must attend as my guests of honor.”

Elizabeth’s smile widened. “Thank you, sir, though I do have funds to pay.”

He patted her hand. “No doubt you do. May I reintroduce you to my daughter?”

Elizabeth allowed Sir William to escort her to greet Miss Charlotte Lucas. They had been introduced at Jane’s wedding the previous spring and had enjoyed one another’s company very well. They had exchanged regular letters since then, but Elizabeth was happy to spend more time in her company. Mrs. Annesley indicated she would sit in the corner before bidding the party adieu.

“Miss Lucas, it is good to see you again.”

Charlotte greeted Elizabeth as though they were old friends. “I believe you agreed to call me Charlotte.”

Elizabeth smiled. “And so I did. And you are to call me Elizabeth.”

“I have been so looking forward to your visit. When Jane mentioned that you were to stay with her for a full two months, I was beside myself with glee. I hope you do not mind my impertinence, but I anticipate we will become the best of friends.”

“Since I am known for my own impertinence, I do not believe it would be wise for me to snub yours.”

Charlotte called over two more ladies Elizabeth remembered from the wedding, Miss King, a shy young lady with bright red hair, recently moved to Meryton to live with her aunt, and Miss Goulding, a plump, pretty blonde of about Elizabeth’s age.

“Is it true you only arrived to Longbourn this afternoon?” Miss King said the words in a breathy whisper.

“Yes, our carriage was delayed, so it was closer to supper hour when we arrived. I had less than an hour to unpack and prepare myself for the dance.”

“My mother says that Jane and Mr. Collins together have less sense than a chicken in a pigsty.” Miss Goulding laughed in a pleasing way, which made it difficult for Elizabeth to take offense. It did not matter, since Charlotte was quick to jump to Jane’s defense.

“That is not fair, Constance. Jane is not senseless, she simply does not have the ability to say no. Because she is so easily pleased by circumstances, she believes others will be as well.”

Miss Goulding only laughed more. “You say that for Miss Gardiner’s benefit and not my own.”

“It is quite shocking, though,” Miss King softly added. “To require a guest to attend an assembly on their first night at one’s home and then to leave them no sooner than they enter the room.” All four ladies turned to look at Jane who stood next to her mother, Mrs. Phillips, and a group of other matrons.

A sensation of disappointment washed over Elizabeth, but she mentally shook it away. She planned to stay a full eight weeks in Hertfordshire. There was plenty of time to get to know Jane. Tonight she would dance and laugh and make new friends.