Charlotte: The Practical Education of a Distressed Gentlewoman (9 page)

A few minutes later they were done.
Elizabeth rose, followed by the man. “Mr. Jones, you have done an
excellent job with these figures. The proposal looks to be on
course. Mr. Netherfield will be pleased with your work.”

“
Thank you Ma'am.” Elizabeth gave
him a quick sharp glance, “Sorry, Miss Talbot.”

Elizabeth paused for a moment, then
remembering Charlotte introduced them. “Mr. Jones, this is Miss De
Vere, the daughter of the late Lord Staverton.”

“
Sister, Miss Talbot.”

“
Oh yes, I'm sorry, I forgot about
your brother.”

“
That's understandable, he was
only Lord Staverton for a short while and didn't do much more that
put us further in debt.”

Mr. Jones replied, “Miss De Vere,
Mrs. Jones mentioned you to me last night. Said you were pleasant
company yesterday. I can see now that she understated your
charm.”

“
Thank you.”

“
Miss Talbot, Miss De Vere, I do
have to get moving with these proposals, if you want to see results
soon.”

“
Please do go, don't worry about
it. I expect that Miss De Vere has something she wants to ask
me.”

Mr. Jones bowed and then left for
the main office of the firm.

“
Eliza, Lizzy, Does Mr. Jones find
it odd answering to a woman?”

“
Probably, but he's never said
anything about it to me.”

Actually he didn't mind, at least
not with a member of the family. He had taken more than a little
good humored razzing from his friends one evening at the pub. He
explained that he was working directly with one of the Talbot's,
and even if she were a mere woman, he had learned more in the few
days under her tutelage than in the last few years as a junior
under Mr. Netherfield. Besides, he continued, it was a rare chance
to directly impress the founder's daughter, which could only be
good for his chances. Provided he succeeded.

“
So Charlotte, I'm free. What did
you want to talk to me about?”

“
I wanted to see if you were going
to the assembly tonight?”

“
It's such a crush, I hadn't
planned on it. There's this excellent book I've wanted to
read.”

Charlotte's face fell with
disappointment. “Oh, I was hoping you would. It's just I don't
really know anyone and.”

“
You want me to find you a dance
partner?”

“
With your friends, surely you
must know some gentlemen.”

Elizabeth chuckled, “Charlotte, do
you remember who I introduced you to yesterday?”

“
Some of them, if I saw them
again, but it was so confusing.”

“
They were all Mrs. someone or
another. Wives of the clerks. It was a sort of 'factory wives'
outing. I wouldn't count on dancing with their
husbands.”

“
Is that why you paid the piper
for those buns?”

“
Of course. They were showing me
around Bath and helping me find my bearings. It wouldn't be right
if I made them pay for the privilege.”

“
So you don't know that many
people either?”

“
A few. Just not as many as you
think.”

“
Please, still, the assembly
tonight?”

“
Oh, alright. I may bring my book.
I can always read while you dance. I take great pleasure in
reading.”

Charlotte looked at Elizabeth in
wondering dismay. How was it possible that anyone could want to
read more than dance? Elizabeth's straight face broke into a grin.
“I'm not as good at it as Freddy, but I had you going didn't I? Of
course I'll come. We can keep each other company while we wait for
Mr. King to introduce partners to us.”

“
Oh, good!”

“
There is a problem, I need a
chaperon. 'Miss' Talbot can't simply show up at the assembly
alone.”

“
Oh, Lizzy, I'm sure Mrs. Answorth
would chaperon you.”

“
You'd best ask her
first.”

“
We'll ask her. She'll be at the
pump room, or nearby waiting for Dr. Answorth to finish his
bath.”

They walked from the Paragon to the
center of town, and looked for Mrs. Answorth. The walk took them
past Cheap Street. Elizabeth asked, “Is this where you and the
Answorths are staying?”

“
Yes. Dreadful isn't
it?”

“
Not the nicest of dwellings, but
it is near the baths, isn't it?”

“
I suppose so.”

“
Are the baths helping Dr.
Answorth?”

“
I don't know. He's not enjoying
the waters, says they're truly vile.”

“
That's what I've heard. My father
said that the way the worked was that you felt so relieved when you
stopped drinking the waters that the pain was minimal by
comparison.”

“
The only effect so far has been
on his temper, and it hasn't helped with that.”

They found Dr. Answorth hobbling
from the baths back to his apartment. It wasn't the best time to
ask him for a favor, but Charlotte asked anyway. “Dr. Answorth,
could you or Mrs. Answorth chaperon Miss Talbot and me to the
assembly tonight?”

“
No.”

“
Why not?”

“
I do not hold with dancing. It is
an immoral activity.”

Elizabeth asked him, “Sir, did you
dance when you met Mrs. Answorth?”

“
That was different, more refined.
None of this deplorable modern wild dancing.”

“
You were younger,
too.”

“
I was.”

“
Your leg didn't hurt then did
it?”

“
No.” He laughed at the
remembrance, “You can't sweet talk me into this Miss Talbot. Sorry
to disappoint you.”

“
Can't be helped.”

Charlotte asked Elizabeth, “How do
you get chaperoned?”

“
In London, my mother or a friend
of hers.”

“
Here?”

“
I'm on my own.”

“
Why don't you ask one of your
employees’ wives?”

“
I can't. It would be
improper.”

Mrs. Jones was walking by on her
way to the shops that lined the ground level around Cheap Street
and happened to overhear them. “Miss Talbot, what would be
improper?”

Charlotte impulsively shot out, “We
need a chaperon for the assembly tonight, and Dr. Answorth does not
feel he or Mrs. Answorth should do it.”

Elizabeth interjected, “I was just
telling Charlotte that we can't ask you. It wouldn't be
right.”

“
I don't know about that, Miss
Talbot.”

“
I do. I don't mix personal
requests with business matters. I don't want you to feel that Mr.
Jones' employment depended on your finding me a dancing
partner.”

“
Oh, I see what you
mean.”

Charlotte interjected, “I suppose
we could stand by the door and wait for someone we
know.”

Dr. Answorth was listening,
“Charlotte, did you really want to go to this assembly?”

“
Very much. It won't be as bad as
last time if we have Miss Talbot for company. At least we'll know
someone, and can talk about something while we wait.”

“
I was perhaps a bit short, it's
this gout.”

Elizabeth asked him, “Have you had
your leg looked at by the doctors at the Rheumatic
Hospital?”

“
No.”

“
You know the doctors at the baths
always prescribe baths and pump water for every
complaint?”

“
They do?”

“
How do you think they make their
blunt?”

Dr. Answorth thought for a second,
then broke into a grin. “Dam-me Miss Talbot, you're right. You
don't know anyone at the Rheumatic Hospital do you?”

“
I might be able to introduce you
to the faculty, but my memory has lately grown very
forgetful.”

“
You really are a Talbot, aren't
you Miss. What's the price?”

“
I was thinking that an evening at
the assembly might help me remember the names.”

Dr. Answorth laughed, something he
hadn't done for the last week, “Alright, Miss Talbot you have your
bargain. Mrs. Answorth and I will be pleased to accompany the two
of you to the assembly tonight.”

Charlotte clapped her hands, “Thank
you.”

Miss Talbot wrote something on the
back of one of her calling cards and handed it to Dr. Answorth.
“Show them this. You'll find they are very cooperative.”

“
And if not?”

“
Let me know. I'll talk to
them.”

Since the Paragon was much closer
to the new upper assembly rooms than the apartment on Cheap Street,
Elizabeth invited the Answorths and Miss De Vere to dine with her
before proceeding to it. Besides, her cook was likely far better
than the one who served the rooms over Cheap Street. Suitably
refreshed, and for Charlotte and her friends with the best supper
they ate in several weeks, they proceeded to the assembly
rooms.

They arrived early, about nine and
just before tea. There may have been a hundred people in the long
room, with a few more awaiting friends in the octagonal one. It was
a bit dull, with only a few couples dancing one of the tamer
country dances, while the orchestra played quietly in the
background.

Charlotte was disappointed, and
started to suggest that this night at the assembly, like the last
two she had attended would be a slow and tedious affair. “Just
wait,” Elizabeth replied, “Things will pick up once more people
arrive. We're very early.”

“
If you say so, Lizzy.”

“
When did you leave the last time
you were here?”

“
Just after tea.”

“
I haven't been to many of these
assemblies, but that's when it just gets started.”

“
But it finishes at
eleven!”

“
Not much time is it? But a quick
and rushed dance is better than no dance at all.”

Mrs. Jones showed up with her
brother in tow shortly after tea. He was a reasonably handsome
young man, dressed in a relatively sober suit. She looked over the
room and then headed directly for Elizabeth. “Miss Talbot, have you
met my brother, Mr. Christie?”

“
No, I'm glad to.”

“
Would you like to dance the next
set?”

“
Can I introduce my friend Miss De
Vere?”

“
Charmed.”

Charlotte agreed and as the
orchestra took up the first chords of a country dance, she and Mr.
Christie took up their positions in the line. As they danced, they
kicked and leaped, while carefully keeping to the figures of the
dance.

Elizabeth told Mrs. Jones, “You
really shouldn't have done that.”

“
Why not? It's not as if Mr.
Christie is an unsuitable companion.”

“
I'm just hoping that it doesn't
lead to complications.”

“
Don't worry Miss Talbot, my
brother is not looking to marry into your family.”

“
Thank you. I must seem a bit
rude, but I'm a bit gun-shy over introductions to handsome young
men. Too often, it's my fortune and not me or my character that
intrigues them.”

“
I understand, or at least I hope
I do.”

“
In any case it looks like he and
my friend, Miss De Vere are enjoying the dance.”

“
Is Miss De Vere
eligible?”

“
By birth yes, by fortune
no.”

“
Oh, what a shame. She seems such
a personable young woman.”

“
She is, but I'm not sure her
problem isn't better than mine.”

“
How so?”

“
I'm eligible not by birth, but by
fortune. At least my friend will know that her suitors aren't
interested in her estate.”

“
Don't be so cynical Miss
Talbot.”

“
I try not to be.”

“
Sooner or later some sensible man
will come along and sweep you off your feet.”

“
That's what I hope.”

The dance came to an end. Miss De
Vere and Mr. Christie curtsied and bowed to each other, then came
over to Elizabeth and Mrs. Jones. Charlotte was enthusiastic,
“Thank you Mrs. Jones for asking your brother to come and
dance.”

Mr. Christie replied, “It was my
pleasure. Should we go for tea?”

After tea, as Elizabeth predicted,
the crowd grew. Very quickly both she and Charlotte were introduced
to partners by Mr. King. The rest of the evening was spent dancing
or conversing with partners while waiting for a set to form. All
too soon Mr. King held up his watch. It was the fatal hour of
eleven which meant the music and the dancing stopped. Charlotte and
Elizabeth both curtsied to their partners who bowed in return, then
went to find the Answorths.

Outside the assembly building,
Elizabeth bid her friends goodbye and returned to the house on the
Paragon. She was alone, practically alone, with only a footman to
escort her and insure her safety. Much to her surprise the candles
were lit in the front parlor.