Passing as Elias (6 page)

As they walked through the church doors, Elizabeth was vaguely aware that Captain Greenwood’s plans of courting her seemed to be working. She felt quite safe as she walked with him, and enjoyed very much the way his hand hovered on the small of her back in a reassuring manner.

The funeral passed in a haze of meaningless words. Men spoke of the Professor and his achievements, yet no one really seemed to know the man personally. This made Elizabeth sad, and she wondered if the Professor had ever been lonely. To her knowledge he had never even been married.

After the funeral, Elizabeth congregated outside with other attendants as they talked about the ceremony and various other events of the day. Elizabeth did not feel like conversing with people who would pretend to have known him as well as she did. Captain Greenwood remained by her side like a loyal dog, up until the moment when a
 
tall, thin man, in a very expensive suit, came up to her.

“Are you Miss Elizabeth Searson?” the stranger enquired.

“Yes,” Elizabeth said, rather startled by the man’s sudden appearance.

“My name is Charles Smith.” He handed her a card with his name written on it, along with some other personal details, “I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time?”

At her side, Captain Greenwood became suddenly stiff, and eyed Charles Smith suspiciously.

“It is regarding Professor de Bard, Miss Searson, so a private word would be appreciated. If you might find the time to come by my office–it is only a five minute carriage ride away.”

“As Miss Searson’s chaperone…” Captain Greenwood began loudly.

“It is quite all right, Captain Greenwood,” Elizabeth said in an undertone. “What time do you propose we meet?” she said, turning back to the stranger.

“I am free now, Miss Searson, and my carriage awaits.” He pointed down the road where a carriage was waiting for him.

Elizabeth was thoroughly confused as to why this man would want to talk to her about the Professor, but she did not see the harm in visiting his office.

Looking down at Charles Smith’s card, she found that he was a lawyer, and the office in which they would be conversing was an attorney’s study. The card stated that Charles Smith specialised in Estate Planning and the writing of Wills.

Captain Greenwood seemed thoroughly annoyed that his time with Elizabeth was being cut short.

“Is this a good idea, Miss Elizabeth?” he muttered to her in a voice too low for Charles Smith to hear, “I think I should come with you.”

“I think it will be quite all right, Captain,” Elizabeth assured him testily.

Elizabeth allowed herself to be steered in the direction of the carriage by Charles Smith, and before she knew it, she was trundling down the road towards the centre of the town. The journey lasted no longer than a few minutes before they stopped outside of a rather magnificent building. Elizabeth shielded her eyes against the bright sunlight as she looked up at the tall courthouse.

She felt extremely nervous, and under dressed as Charles led her inside the building. The entrance hall was large, with enormous marble columns leading to a high ceiling. Charles Smith led her through the courthouse, passing several doors and people who bustled about importantly. Finally, he stopped at a door which had his name engraved on a gold plate on it. Opening it, Elizabeth stepped inside and found herself in a handsome room lined with packed bookshelves, and a deep mahogany desk.

“Please sit down,” Charles Smith said, offering Elizabeth a seat, which she took.

“What is this all about, Mister Smith?” Elizabeth asked as Charles took a seat opposite her.

Folding his hands on the desk and clearing his throat loudly, Charles looked at Elizabeth closely.

“Let us get straight down to business. Miss Searson, I am a lawyer. Two weeks before Professor de Bard’s death he sought me out in order to make a few unusual changes to his will. Were you aware that Bernard de Bard had recently changed his will?”

“Of course not. I do not think he would have shared such personal matters with me.”

“Are you saying that you and Professor de Bard were not close then?” Charles enquired.

“We were close,” Elizabeth frowned, “he was my employer, my teacher, and my friend.”

“You were his assistant, were you not?” Charles pulled out a folded sheet of parchment from a drawer in his desk.

Elizabeth cleared her throat nervously, “Apprentice,” she corrected.

“Professor de Bard has had many apprentices over the years,” the lawyer noted. “Were you aware of that?”

“Yes, sir, of course.”

“Forgive me for the questions, Miss Searson, but I am having some difficulty in understanding the changes Professor de Bard made to his will.”

Elizabeth did not speak, but waited for Charles Smith to continue.

“Professor de Bard does not mention any former apprentices in his will. You are the only person he names specifically.”

“He … he named me in his will?” Elizabeth said, wide eyed.

“You were unaware of this?”

“Of course.”

Charles Smith cleared his throat and shook open the piece of parchment in his hand. He began to read aloud; “‘In the name of God, I Bernard Fredrik de Bard do acknowledge and establish that this is my Last Will and Testament.’” His eyes scanned down the page as he searched for Elizabeth’s name, “Aha, here we go. ‘To my dearest friend, and brightest apprentice, Elizabeth Mary Searson, I do bequeath my home in its entirety, including all possessions within, in addition to the apothecary located at 7 Eastmoreland Place, in the hope that she finds the independence she so desires.’”

Elizabeth gaped at Charles Smith, “He … he left me everything?”

“Almost.” Charles held up a finger to silence her, “Professor de Bard owned a small plot of land to the north, which he has donated to the church. He has also donated his monetary savings in their entirety to medical research. However, Miss Searson, there is one small problem we face in regards to your inheritance.”

Elizabeth knew exactly what Charles Smith would say before the words had even left his mouth.

“You are under the age of twenty-one, are you not?”

“Yes, sir, I am.” Elizabeth clenched her teeth together.

“You are not married, are you Miss Searson?” Charles said.

“No.”

“Your father is deceased, am I correct?”

“Yes.”

“You do not have any brothers, do you Miss Searson?”

“Well, … a half brother from my father’s first marriage, but I have never met him, and we do not know where he is. I do not even know his name.”

“Well then, this makes things quite simple,” Charles said, folding the parchment in his hands, and pocketing it, “as a woman you have no rights to land ownership. The two properties that Professor de Bard has mentioned in his will shall not become yours until you have married, and your husband can sign for them.”

Elizabeth stood quickly, the chair falling to the floor with a clatter, “That is … that is …” She could not find the words to describe her outrage.

“That is the law, Miss Searson. Your husband must be the one to sign the deeds.”

Elizabeth was breathing hard through her nostrils, anger coursing through her veins like fire.

“Good day, Mister Smith,” Elizabeth said in a shaky voice, before turning on her heel and sweeping from the room.

Elizabeth marched angrily through the marble building. The people in the corridor stared at her as she passed. Her mind reeled with horrible thoughts as she stepped through the courthouse doors and into the sunlight. She did not even notice as she passed Captain Greenwood at the doors.

“Miss Searson!” He did a double take, “Elizabeth!” He jogged up to her and caught her in only a few strides.

“Leave me be, Captain,” Elizabeth said through gritted teeth, “I am going home.”

She did not care that George Greenwood had followed her all the way into the middle of the town, or that he had waited for her to emerge from her meeting with Charles Smith. She was filled with a rage that she had never known before. The Captain followed Elizabeth as she marched up the street, cursing at anyone who got in her way.

“Please, Miss Searson. Let me help. What happened?”

“What happened, Captain Greenwood, is injustice to women.”

“What did he say?” he said sharply.

Elizabeth thrust Charles Smith’s card into Captain Greenwood’s hand. He read it and frowned, “Is it about Bernard de Bards will?”

“Apparently they want to spit on the memory of Professor de Bard by refusing to comply with the wishes stated in his will,”  Elizabeth said.

Captain Greenwood seemed thoroughly confused, “What conditions?”

Elizabeth slowed down and eventually stopped walking. Panting, she turned to Captain Greenwood, anger blazing in her green eyes. He looked positively frightened at the expression on her face.

“Professor de Bard left me his house, and the apothecary,” Elizabeth breathed, “however, according to law I can not possibly take ownership of his properties, as he so wished. …”

“Until you are married,” Captain Greenwood finished for her.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and breathed heavily through flared nostrils, “So you understand.”

“More than you can imagine.” The Captain took her gloved hand and squeezed gently.

Captain Greenwood took Elizabeth home in his carriage, looking furtively at her out of the corner of his eye every few minutes, to ensure that she would not have another fit of rage. She did not speak at all during the ride , though she thanked the Captain for his generosity in seeing her home. As she stepped from the carriage, he looked as though he wanted to say something to her, but had decided against it.

Once on her doorstep, he took her hand once again and looked deeply into her face, “Miss Searson,” he said, screwing up his eyes in what appeared to be painful concentration, “I realise that my advances have been quite clumsy. Things always tend to go wrong when we try to spend time together, mostly because I have a habit of saying the wrong things, but I do want you to understand how deeply I care for you. I have thought of no one else since the time I met you over one year ago.”

Elizabeth did not care to respond. She was still upset and angry about her encounter with Charles Smith.

Captain Greenwood continued, “I was away at sea for months at a time, and not prepared to put my career on hold for a woman,” he admitted, “but I feel differently now.”

Elizabeth avoided his gaze. A sudden thought occurred to her. If Captain Greenwood wished to become her husband, then she would be able to fulfil Professor de Bard’s last wishes, and continue running the apothecary on his behalf. However, since Elizabeth had already confessed her dilemma to him, he was sure to be suspicious if her attitude towards marriage suddenly changed. Never mind the fact that she would not be very comfortable with deceiving Captain Greenwood, for he was a good and honest man. Though, might she allow herself to fall for him? Could affection be forced in desperate situations? Elizabeth was not sure, but all of a sudden she found herself desperately wishing for Captain Greenwood’s courtship to be successful.
She did not know if it was the right thing to do, but she would do whatever it took to take possession of the Professor’s properties, for it was what he had wished.

“Would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?” Elizabeth said suddenly, hardly believing her own ears.

Captain Greenwood looked as though he would like nothing more than to spend more time alone together, however, “Would you not find it inappropriate to be together within your dwellings without a parent?” 

Elizabeth considered this for a moment, frowning, “Captain … you are a gentleman. I am just a common girl. You may find my ways and habits different to yours. I see no problem with you entering my home.”

“Do you not worry what the neighbours might say?”

“I do not care what
anyone
says.”

With a nod, Captain Greenwood allowed himself to be steered inside Elizabeth’s home. She knew her mother would not be home for several hours on this Thursday afternoon, for it was the time she spent with her oldest friends every week.

Elizabeth was slightly embarrassed by her shabby living quarters, though the Captain made no comment about its general state of disrepair. She sat him down in a chair, and brought him a cup of tea. Her mother had always said that you should offer guests tea, not that they ever had many guests. They sat in awkward silence for many minutes, sipping their cups of tea through pursed lips, and making glances at one another every now and then. Elizabeth wondered vaguely how he had ever found her interesting.

“I find myself utterly intimidated by your presence,” he said suddenly.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I am worried I might say, or do something wrong.”

“Are you worried you might anger me again?” Elizabeth could not help but smile.

“I have so many thoughts running through my head.” He gave a nervous laugh, “Things I want to say, want to do….” he trailed off.

Elizabeth felt a knot form in her stomach. She did not think she would ever fall in love with the Captain, however, she did find him quite attractive. A long repressed, rebellious voice in her brain suggested that she take advantage of the time they had alone. Would he kiss her if she asked? Would he hold her waist? She pushed these thoughts aside, and scolded herself mentally for being so inappropriate. Yes, she had known the Captain for over a year, but these encounters had been preceded by long gaps while he was at sea, and most of their conversations had taken place in the apothecary. Was she really willing to seduce and trick a man into marrying her so she could fulfil the Professor’s wishes?