26: The Palace Ball – Part One

The evening of the ball at the Palace of Westminster, Elizabeth realized she was in no way shape or form prepared to attend. This was no ordinary event where Elizabeth could enter acting and looking as her usual self. Instead she had to arrive as a completely different woman.

Replacing an unattractive and stubborn Assassin would have to be a posh and polite upper-class young woman.

When Jacob was at the flat yesterday, he took her weapons of choice with him. Evie's fiancée, Mr. Henry Green was smuggling her kukri and pistol into the Palace tonight along with the twin's gear as well. Jacob still advised her to strap a dagger to her thigh anyways. He had said, exactly word for word, "Just in case, Liz. You never know when that hidden dagger may be the difference between life or death," a mischievous smirk lifted onto his face before he suggested, "and I think it would look quite appealing. It adds a bit of mystery."

Elizabeth glared literal daggers at him for that however that still didn't stop the small chuckle that escaped her lips shortly after.

Jacob also informed Elizabeth of the plan last night which seemed simple enough. Evie's target was Nicholas Till who she was going to dance with and drink with during the ball. Technically, only Till would be doing the drinking of alcohol since Evie would actually be drinking juice. While staying sober, Evie would continue to get the man drunk and when drunk enough, she would lead him upstairs. The guests wouldn't question Till's intentions – they already know what kind of man he is. Deaf Till may not have the hearing he needs but he is capable of getting his other needs fulfilled.

Elizabeth could vouch for that honestly, after all, that night she saw Till and Vanessa fucking still replayed in her nightmares.

In reality, Evie would rather die than touch Till in that regard. By luring him into the bedroom, Evie would strangle him with a rope until he was unconscious, not dead. Mr. Green would help kidnap his sleeping body from the window and locate Till elsewhere from the palace. Though Elizabeth would have taken the first chance to kill him, Evie didn't wish to kill Till just yet. Jacob had it would too suspicious for the two highest ranked Templars to be murdered the same night. They were already walking on thin ice to ensure that this truce would not turn into a bloody war.

Which meant Till was not going to greet death today – only Timothy Forge was.

As for killing the main target, that was all of their responsibilities. While Henry was transporting Till's body elsewhere, Evie would join the ball with them. Since Forge was less familiar with her, it was Elizabeth and Jacob posed as a couple who would distract him and his wife. In the meanwhile, Evie would put a lethal poison in Forge's wine glass that would cause him to suffocate an hour after consumed.

Easy enough, right? Well, there was a bit more difficultly to it than Elizabeth first saw.

The Assassin's were already aware Forge would never accept a drink from them. The drink must be given to him by his wife. Octavia/Rose - Mum, was the only person he would deem safe enough to take a glass from but Evie ensuring that the poison was put in the right glass and given to the right man could fall down to luck. If that poisoned wine was drunk by anyone else, that would cause many problems to the plan. They were not there to kill innocent people, Jacob had said. Elizabeth wondered how innocent Templars and rich snobs could be but didn't argue with him.

It was a small vial of poison that was strong enough to only kill one person. There was no place for mistakes or mishaps, the poison was a one chance opportunity. Elizabeth, Jacob and Evie all had to do their part to ensure it was drunk by Timothy Forge only.

The plan wasn't bad, in fact, Elizabeth liked it. It was discreet enough to not cause enough commotion and it pleased everyone. Jacob was able to kill the Grand Master Templar after so long, Evie was able to claim herself as co-Master Assassin and Elizabeth was able to seek questions and revenge. It was a death she wished to witness – the death that would avenge her Papa. It was also answers she wished to receive – answers that would explain why her mother left Assassin Frank Whittock and her children to marry a Templar and start a new family with him.

It was a great plan, but Elizabeth would never admit it to Evie. They didn't get off on the right foot when they first met and no way in hell was Elizabeth going to apologize first. She didn't understand why the female Frye didn't like her, but Elizabeth decided that was an issue for another time. Especially another day.

Even though Elizabeth was mentally prepared for the ball, she was definitely not physically prepared. Wardrobe and hair-wise, Elizabeth was utterly lost. She didn't know what to wearto the ball. She didn't even own a dress or heels or jewelry. Her hair was too short and tied in low pony and her clothes were Assassin robes.

Elizabeth didn't think any of this was suitable for a ball.

In all honesty, Elizabeth couldn't care less what she looked like at the ball. However, she was afraid if she didn't present herself pleasantly, they would kick her out which was not according to plan which meant she needed a complete makeover.

There was only one person Elizabeth trusted enough to do this and fix her hair and dress dilemma. Lucky for her, Vanessa wasn't busy when Elizabeth knocked at her brothel door at six o'clock. After a few short knocks, Vanessa swung open the door with a quirked thin eyebrow.

She asked, "Elizabeth? What are you doing here?"

"I need a favour to ask of you, an important one," Elizabeth said, "It's quite urgent."

Vanessa welcomed Elizabeth in with a waved hand. She replied, "You are lucky my next appointment is in an hour. Come on in, darling."

While Elizabeth entered her room, Vanessa asked her, "Did you end up finding what you were looking for in Till's office the other night?" Elizabeth was reminded Vanessa was there to help her when she snuck in Till's home and found the incriminating contract. The proof that Octavia Forge was formerly Rose Whittock and Elizabeth's shitty biological mother.

"Indeed, I did," Elizabeth said, "I found everything I was looking for."

Realizing Elizabeth didn't want to talk about it, Vanessa knew to change the subject. She asked, "So what is the favour you ask for?"

Elizabeth explained, "I'm going to the ball tonight with Jacob and I literally have nothing to wear. I don't know how to act like these people, the least I can do is look like them…"

Elizabeth stopped talking because Vanessa looked as if she was going to fall into a fit of giggles. She asked after a moment, "Is there something wrong?"

Vanessa held her hands to her mouth and laughed, "No! It's just funny. And cute. You're going with the handsome, rugged, charming Jacob Frye? Does that mean you lovebirds have made up?"

"Please never call him that again to me, it is rather disturbing," Elizabeth said, sitting down on the vanity chair, "and we are not going as a date, we're going as partners. It's a mission – strictly professional."

"He'll still enjoy your company," Vanessa said, "and I can bet a pound you will enjoy his."

"Vanessa," Elizabeth hissed, "there will no enjoying of company!"

Vanessa said with a smile, "Sorry, Elizabeth. This sexual tension between you two is killing me. Will they? Won't they? Who even knows at this point? You both are stubborn people but it's getting ridiculous. Why can't you just admit you're in love with each other?"

Vanessa was right. I am in love with Jacob, Elizabeth thought.

She loved Jacob as she would her family and friends, partner but it was more than just deeply caring for him, which she still did. Elizabeth realized she was in love with Jacob while she was parted from him. The connection between them was intimate and passionate. She didn't just love Jacob, she was in love with Jacob. Elizabeth didn't know how to clearly explain the difference, but she knew in her heart he was the only man for her.

When he was gone, she missed him dearly. Jacob was in her every thought, her every dream. With him not by her side, Elizabeth felt as if she was missing a piece to a puzzle and she couldn't function. She was not herself without him.

Elizabeth knew she made a mistake by leaving him and telling him those harsh things. But it seemed there was a God since Jacob forgave her, like always. He didn't deserve to be treated that way, yet he saw past her utter bullshit and still forgave her. Because he loved her as well. The only thing Elizabeth wanted was to run to him, tell him she was sorry and hold him. And she would never let go. She did that once and realized it wasn't what she desired.

Jacob belonged to her and Elizabeth belonged to him. Elizabeth would muster up the courage to tell him everything after this was all over…

"I'll discuss Jacob later as I am already running out of time," Elizabeth said, pointing to her black coat, pants and leather boots, "I need to leave at seven. Which means if you don't do my hair all frilly and dress me in a huge dress, I will be going to the ball looking like this."

"That's less than an hour! Why didn't you tell me before?" Vanessa said frantically, rushing towards her closet. Vanessa opened her closet which revealed a flurry of tinsel, frill and white. She really liked white. They didn't call her the White Doe for nothing, it seemed.

Elizabeth said, "I can't wear white. It's not my wedding, I can't look like a bride. Do you have anything else?"

"Yes, I have this blue one. It will look fantastic but I also have this pink dress that will look great on your figure-"

"Great. Let's try it on," Elizabeth interrupted.

"But which one?" Vanessa asked, holding both with an indecisive face.

Elizabeth waved her hand impatiently, "I don't care. A dress is a dress. As long as it gets the job done, it doesn't matter to me what colour I wear."

"Blue it is then," said Vanessa as she took it out. It was a big blue dress with a corset in the back. It looked pretty but very tight. Elizabeth didn't know how she could fight in it as she felt restricted just by looking at it.

Vanessa said, "You like it? Good. Now strip."

Elizabeth did as told, taking off her garments, leaving her in only her undergarments. Vanessa helped her into the blue dress and after some struggling, Elizabeth strangely felt free and lose.

She said, "This doesn't feel as tight as I thought it would."

Vanessa laughed as she said behind her shoulder, "I haven't even tied the corset yet, darling, then, it's going to be tight."

Oh.

Elizabeth waited for the corset and when she did, she heaved a sharp breath of air. God, that was so fucking tight.

"Too much, Vanessa!" Elizabeth heaved, while sucking in her ribs as much as she possibly could.

She simply replied, "Beauty is pain."

Elizabeth said, "Good thing I don't care for it then. Loosen it." Vanessa sighed and loosened it a bit, allowing it to be still be tight but gave more room for air to reach Elizabeth's lungs. Elizabeth looked in the mirror. The blue dress hugged Elizabeth's slim waist and pushed up her breasts while flowing around her hips. Elizabeth never thought that she would say this, but the dress was beautiful.

Elizabeth said, "I cannot promise to return this dress to you in one piece." If things tonight were fine, the dress would be fine. Elizabeth was opting to return it one piece, as that would mean everything would go as planned.

Vanessa shrugged, "It's all right. Not one of my favourites anyways and it looks better on your figure."

Elizabeth smiled as Vanessa began to fuss with her hair now. "I can't believe you're actually helping me."

"Why," she said, "I always help those in need."

She replied, "Likely, but I haven't encountered those type of people in my life often. I didn't even offer you money."

Vanessa dropped her hair for a second and looked at Elizabeth in the mirror. "Is that what you think of me? A gold-digger only?"

Elizabeth shook her head and turned around abruptly.

She said, "No! It's just, I haven't had a lot of…female friends. I don't think I've had many friends to begin with, being completely honest with you. I suppose I don't understand what it means to do things for others without expecting anything in return. To be able to talk about things without feeling as if you gave too much of yourself away. To be able to spend time with someone without fearing they are going to betray or harm you. These things are all things I have feared while growing up in a poor household where I had to take care of my family. I was a child but forced to be a cynical woman. Perhaps all I want is for others to understand that is not who I am, that I am more than a thief. I am Elizabeth Whittock, proud daughter of Frank Whittock."

"Elizabeth!" Vanessa squealed as she hugged Elizabeth from the back. She could feel tears on her skin. Her hug was almost as tight as the corset she was wearing. "Thank you for telling me that. I'm glad to call you a friend."

Elizabeth didn't care what Vanessa's occupation was. She didn't care if her friend was a prostitute, she was still her friend. Her first girl friend and Elizabeth liked having her friendship.

"Now let's finish that pretty face and hair of yours."

Vanessa worked hard and was gentle but made Elizabeth look the best she could possibly look. And bloody hell, she looked different.

"There," Vanessa said as she fixed a tiny hair out of place, "you're all done. Jacob is going to die when he sees you."

"I'm not doing this for Jacob," Elizabeth said with a small smirk. It was true, all of this was for the ball and presenting the appearance she needed to be, but she couldn't help but think of what Jacob would think. He would like it, that was for sure.

Vanessa grinned, "Of course, but still, tell me if he does or not."

"I will." Elizabeth rolled her eyes and looked at the clock, it was half past seven. She was late and Jacob was already probably waiting for her at the flat.

Elizabeth awkwardly stood up, still not used to the uncomfortable feeling of wearing a conscripting dress. She turned to Vanessa.

"Thank you so much, for everything. I couldn't do any of this without you."

But instead of Vanessa saying you're welcome or smiling, she did the opposite. Vanessa frowned.

"Elizabeth, what type of mission are you doing at the ball?"

Elizabeth gulped. She didn't want to tell Vanessa that she would be killing her highest paying customer. She would find out soon enough. No, it wasn't the time. It was better to ask for forgiveness than permission at the moment.

"If you're worrying about me, I'll be fine. I promise everything will be fine."

She started, "However-"

"Vanessa! Don't worry about anything," Elizabeth said as she hugged her friend once again. "Thank you dearly, I must go now. Jacob is already waiting for me likely."

"Okay," Vanessa softly said, "See you soon?"

Elizabeth nodded, "See you soon." And with that, she left the brothel.