Chapter Nine
“You look lovely tonight,Charlotte,” Elizabeth said, hoping to lift her friend’s spirits. “I am certain you will enjoy yourself.”
“Thank you, Lizzy. I am trying, truly.”
“We are here to have a wonderful time, Charlotte,” Jane added. “The music is lively, and the company is delightful.”
The assembly hall buzzed with excitement, laughter, and the shuffling of feet. Elizabeth stood beside Jane and Charlotte Lucas, their second-best gowns a splash of colour against the darker tones worn by the gentlemen in the room. Familiar faces animated with anticipation moved through the crowd. Elizabeth glanced at Charlotte, who wore an artificial smile. How dearly she wished she could do more to ease Charlotte’s melancholy! The Assembly was meant to be a joyous occasion, yet the weight of Charlotte’s sadness seemed to cast a shadow over the evening.
“Look, here comes your brother John,” Elizabeth said, watching the young man approach. “I think he means to ask for a dance.”
John Lucas, barely sixteen and awkward in his newly acquired evening attire, made his way toward them. He stopped in front of Elizabeth, his cheeks flushed. “Miss Lizzy, may I have the honour of this dance?”
Elizabeth smiled warmly. “John, I am flattered, but I mean to stay with your sister. Perhaps another time?”
John’s shoulders slumped slightly, but he quickly rallied. “Miss Bennet, it is just one dance. Charlotte can manage for a few minutes. Please?”
“I appreciate your persistence, John, but I have quite made up my mind. Unless Charlotte has a partner, I shan’t be dancing tonight.”
John’s brow furrowed in determination. “But, Miss Bennet, you cannot miss the chance to dance. You may not get another one, you know. I promise I am a very good dancer. I have been practising.”
Elizabeth glanced at Charlotte, who was watching the exchange with growing embarrassment. “I do not doubt your skills, John, but another time. Tonight, I must decline.”
John sighed dramatically, throwing his hands up in mock despair. “I shallneverget a partner! Even Elizabeth Bennet turned me down!”
“Oh, did you hear that little scamp?” Elizabeth gasped in mock horror. “As if I were his third or fourth or fifth choice! The very nerve of that rascal!”
Charlotte managed a genuine laugh, but as soon as the laughter faded, the melancholy returned to her eyes like a cloud obscuring the sun. Elizabeth exchanged a worried glance with Jane, who responded with a subtle nod of understanding.
Determined to keep Charlotte’s spirits up, Elizabeth and Jane engaged her in light-hearted conversation as the lively music and laughter filled the ballroom.
“Did you see Mrs Long’s hat?” Elizabeth asked, grinning. “I believe it has grown even larger since last year.”
Jane giggled. “I half expect it to have its own chair next time!”
Charlotte managed a small laugh, glancing around the room. “It is certainly something to behold. Perhaps it will start a new trend.”
“I do hope not,” Elizabeth said, mock-serious. “I fear we would all be lost beneath such creations.”
They moved closer to the musicians, and Elizabeth pointed out the vibrant decorations. “Look at those garlands, Charlotte. They have outdone themselves this time. The flowers are so fresh and colorful.”
Charlotte nodded, her eyes lingering on the decorations. “They are beautiful. I wonder how they managed to get such lovely blooms in this season.”
Jane squeezed Charlotte’s arm gently. “It is a bit of magic, I think. Just like this evening. Let us enjoy it together.”
Charlotte smiled faintly. “You are right. It is a lovely night.”
Elizabeth caught sight of Mrs Jenkins and leaned in conspiratorially. “Did you hear what Mrs Jenkins said to Mr Harrison at the market yesterday? She asked him if he had any ‘reputable’ ham, as if he might be selling the scandalous kind.”
Charlotte laughed again, a more genuine sound this time. “Oh, Lizzy! Scandalous ham, indeed.”
“And speaking of the market,” Jane added, “did you see Mr Green trying to sell his ‘miracle vegetables’? I do not think anyone believed his claims that they couldcure all ailments.”
“Yes, and he was so serious about it! I half-expected him to start performing miracles right there among the cabbages.”
Charlotte’s smile widened, and she began to relax a little. “Jane, I believe you made that up.”
“Jane?” Elizabeth scoffed. “Jane could not tell even a little fib. Why, Jane looks guilty when she is telling the truth. Come, Charlotte, let us put her to the test.”
