Page 11 of Ashes and Understanding
“Indeed!” one of the children exclaimed, already reaching for another piece of bread.
“You spoil them, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner, a smile softening her words.
“And that is precisely why you decided to relocate closer to Meryton,” retorted Elizabeth with a cheeky grin.
Mrs. Gardiner laughed and shook her head, then tucked into the poultry on her plate. As the meal continued, the room filled with laughter and warmth.
It will be wonderful having them so nearby.
Once the meal was completed, Mrs. Gardiner shooed her children towards their nurse. “Time for bed, now, my dear ones.”
Elizabeth turned to Mr. Gardiner. “Uncle, do you mind if I retire as well?”
Mr. Gardiner smiled fondly at Elizabeth. “Not in the slightest. We had quite the busy day, and there is still one more week of overseeing the packing until we officially leave. I think an early bedtime is a wise choice for all of us.”
“Do not stay up too late reading,” she said, nodding at the book that had somehow appeared in his hand once the family had left the table.
“I might say the same to you,” he responded with a wink and jovial grin.
Elizabeth smiled in response, then excused herself from the table and made her way up the stairs, not far behind the Gardiner children, their mother, and the nurse. Their playful chatter echoed down the hallway as they continued on to the third floor, while she made her way to the guest room that had been hers to use during her visit.
Once inside, she shut the door gently, taking a moment to breathe in the stillness. As much as she loved the Gardiners and enjoyed spending time with them, one of the difficulties of Gracechurch Street was the lack of solitude. At Longbourn, if her family became too loud and overwhelming, she could retreat to the familiar paths that wound their way through the property and up to Oakham Mount.
No matter, Lizzy. Only one more week, and you will be back to your ramblings again.
Crossing to the vanity, she ignored the bellpull on the side of the wall and began moving the hairpins that held her coiffure in place. Though the Gardiners had a maid who might assist with her toilette, Elizabeth preferred to manage her routine herself unless she was preparing for a formal engagement. No servant could replace her beloved sister Jane’s attendance, and tonight especially, Elizabeth welcomed solitude.
As she laid each pin on the small tray before her, Elizabeth’s dark curls tumbled free, the weight lifting from her scalp. She reached for her small silver brush— a gift from the Gardiners two Christmases ago— and ran it through her hair in slow, deliberate strokes until the curls shone in the candlelight.
Once the one-hundred strokes her mother insisted upon each night were complete, Elizabeth dipped a soft cloth into a small porcelain bowl of warm water. She gently wiped away the day’s dust and faint traces of soot from their excursions in the city.A jar of rosewater infused cream was next, its delicate scent soothing as she massaged it into her skin.
Her face now clean, Elizabeth stood from the small stool and reached behind her to begin unfastening the buttons of her gown. She wore no stays this evening, as the loose day dress she had chosen required none. Had she been wearing a more formal gown, she might have needed assistance unlacing her stays, which would have been a task for the maid. But tonight, the simplicity of her attire allowed her to manage alone.
She slipped into a linen bedgown—a simple garment, soft and flowing, that fell just past her knees. Its design was modest but comfortable, with long sleeves to ward off the night’s chill. She pulled her shawl around her shoulders and padded to the small fireplace in the corner of the room. The faint glow of embers remained, and she added a piece of kindling to ensure the room stayed warm through the night.
Finally, Elizabeth knelt by the low bed, clasping her hands in her lap. Her nightly prayers were a private ritual, a moment to reflect on the day and seek guidance for the next. She murmured softly, the words of gratitude and hope rising in the quiet.
Rising, she slipped under the heavy coverlet, sinking into the feather-stuffed mattress with a sigh of contentment. The fire’s soft crackling and the distant sounds of the city lulled her into a state of calm, and the last conscious thought she had before drifting off was a simple one.
How wonderful it will be to return to Hertfordshire with all of my family settled near one another. Things truly could not be any better than this.
∞∞∞
Several hours later, Elizabeth awoke with a start. She sat up in bed, and as she blearily rubbed her eyes, she became aware of a faint, acrid scent that was tickling her nose. She blinked around in the darkness, disoriented and still foggy-headed from slumber.
The moonlight streaming through the window told her that morning was still quite some time away. She laid down again and rolled to her side, pulling the counterpane closer.
But sleep would not come. Instead of drifting off again, Elizabeth’s nose wrinkled as the odd smell grew sharper, tugging at her attention.
Her brow furrowed.Smoke? At this hour of the night?
Perhaps one of the maids had risen early to stoke the fire in the hearth. It would be a bit unusual, but not unheard of. She listened closely, but the house was as silent as a tomb— no scurrying footsteps, no faint clatter of pots or the hiss of water being warmed.
Elizabeth sat up again, her heart beginning to beat more quickly as all drowsiness vanished entirely.It could be a candle, she reasoned, her mind reaching for an explanation.Perhaps someone lit a candle on the stairs and snuffed it out, leaving behind a tuft of smoke… The nurse fetching something for one of the children?
She pressed her lips together, her unease growing. There was no reason for anyone to be awake at this hour, and the smell…It just does not fit.
Rising from her bed, she reached for her dressing gown and wrapped it tightly around her shoulders. The cool air of the room sent a shiver down her spine as her bare feet touched the wooden floorboards.
