Passing as Elias - By Kate Bloomfield Page 0,24

home, we will move in there before he sets sail on Thursday.

Love, Elizabeth

Elizabeth hoped the letter would suffice. She knew her mother would be upset that she had not attended her only daughters wedding, but would easily forgive for she had wanted Elizabeth to take kindly to the Captains courtship.

Elizabeth heard the horses outside snort impatiently as she made her way to the front door, holding her suitcase with both hands. Silently, she pulled the door open as to not make a sound, and found the Captain stepping down from the carriage. He smiled upon seeing her, and quickly looked up and down the street for signs of spies. He beckoned her to him, and she complied, shutting the door noiselessly behind her. Captain Greenwood took her suitcase and helped her into the carriage, where she sat shivering slightly due to cold and nerves. After a moment he entered with a smile upon his face as he seated himself next to her. When he closed the carriage door, it began to move immediately, trundling down the uneven street. They did not speak for a long while, but Captain Greenwood held her in his arms and stroked her hair like she was an overgrown baby. The journey seemed extremely short, though mayhap this was because Elizabeth was so apprehensive as to what lay ahead.

They arrived at the chapel on time and the Captain asked the coachman to remain out the front for when they emerged, to which he replied with a tip of his hat. Elizabeth’s knees felt extremely weak as she stepped out of the coach. The night was cold, and mist rose in front of her mouth. The parish of the church was waiting at the doors, from which a warm glow emitted so they could only see his silhouette. They walked up the path towards him, and he greeted them merrily.

‘Good evening Captain.’ The parish said cheerfully, ‘and you must be Miss Searson?’

Elizabeth gave a small curtsey and nodded.

‘The Parish is, uh,’ Captain Greenwood thought for a moment, ‘compassionate towards couples who wish to elope.’

‘Understanding when it comes to matters of love.’ He smiled warmly at Elizabeth, and she forced herself to smile back.

‘So, why the hurry?’ He asked as he steered them inside of the church.

‘I am leaving in a few days time and shall be gone several months. I found it wise to snatch up Miss Searson before some other fellow stole her away from me while I was away at sea.’ The Captain smiled warmly, winking at Elizabeth.

The ceremony did not take long. The parish stood before them and asked them to repeat his words, each in turn.

‘Elizabeth Mary Searson, I take you to be my wife and my spouse and I pledge to you the faith of my body, that I will be faithful to you and loyal with my body and my goods and that I will keep you in sickness and in health and in whatever condition it will please the Lord to place you, and that I shall not exchange you for better or worse until the end.’

Elizabeth too repeated the words of the Parish.

‘George William Greenwood, I pledge to you that I will take you to be my husband and … master,’ She faltered and the Captain winced with an expression that clearly said do not worry about it. She continued, ‘-I pledge to you the faith of my body, that I will be faithful to you and loyal with my body and my goods and that I will keep you in sickness and in health and in whatever condition it will please the Lord to place you, and that I shall not exchange you for better or worse until the end.’

The parish then supervised the exchanging of the rings, and ordered Captain Greenwood to say the following; ‘With this ring I wed you, with my body I honor you.’

And so it was done. Captain Greenwood … George, slipped the simple gold band onto Elizabeth’s finger. She stared at it for several seconds, before George cupped her chin and kissed her lightly on the lips. Elizabeth Searson was now Elizabeth Greenwood in the eyes of the law, and would now be able to re-open the apothecary.

~

The carriage took them further north after the ceremony, towards a small village surrounded by trees. It was quite adorable, and Elizabeth thought she might enjoy the stay. The Inn had a sign dangling over the door, which read ‘The Kings Arms’ with two crossed