Passing as Elias - By Kate Bloomfield Page 0,39

pockets, ‘That is for you to decide.’

‘With the coin you pay me sir, I think I might afford to live on my own.’ She smiled.

‘I should hope so.’

Merrill paused, ‘I was right in assuming you to be a modern thinker, Sir.’

‘It is only natural for me to think of women as equal to men, Merrill. I hope you shall look for that trait in the man you wish to marry.’

‘I think I shall.’

~

Elizabeth decided that she should frequent the Upper Baggot Street Inn at least once a week to observe the behavior of the men there. She watched carefully how the men stood, how they talked, and carried themselves. More than once, an older woman approached Elizabeth with sexual propositions, but Elizabeth kindly turned them down. The barmaid came to recognize Elizabeth after a few visits, and accepted the fact that ‘he’ was a little bit odd. The truth was though, Elizabeth was learning a lot from the men at the Inn. She learnt how to stand, and how to talk, and thought that she was becoming more convincing every day. She was also beginning to enjoy the mead quite a lot.

One afternoon, however, Elizabeth was taken by surprise when Merrill turned up one night after work. Merrill spotted Elizabeth at the bar and made her way over at once. Many men stared at Merrill as she walked through the pub, and this annoyed Elizabeth for some reason. She had already had a pint by this time, and her tongue felt quite loose.

‘Mister Searson!’ Merrill said, ‘What a place to find you, Sir.’

‘Did you follow me here, Merrill?’ Elizabeth said slyly.

‘Never, sir.’ She gave him a slap on the arm.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, giving Merrill a skeptical look.

‘Oh, all right.’ Merrill said sheepishly, ‘I wondered what you liked about this place so much.’

‘Would you care for a beverage?’ Elizabeth asked.

‘Oh, I should not.’ She said waving a hand dismissively.

‘Why not?’ Elizabeth said. She flagged down the barmaid and ordered Merrill a pint of mead.

‘No, really, Sir.’ She said, turning pink, ‘It does funny things to my head.’

Elizabeth shrugged, and claimed Merrill’s pint for herself after slapping a sovereign onto the bar. She did not like to admit it, but she was quite enjoying life as a man. She could do what she liked, and stay out as long as she pleased.

Merrill stood there awkwardly, looking around nervously. Elizabeth noticed that a few men were leering at Merrill, and talking behind their hands. Elizabeth was not sure what to say, so they sat there awkwardly for several minutes.

‘Well, I best be off, Sir.’ She said, clearing her throat nervously.

Elizabeth waved goodbye and Merrill left hurriedly. However, Elizabeth noticed that two burly men followed her out of the Inn.

With a sense of foreboding, Elizabeth got up from her stool and followed too. It was not long before Elizabeth caught up. Indeed, her suspicions were correct – the men were following Merrill. They swaggered down the pavement, leaning this way and that. Merrill walked at a fast pace, clearly trying to avoid them.

They called out to her.

‘Hallo darling!’ one of them slurred.

‘Where ya going lovely?’ The other called.

Merrill did not look over her shoulder, but these men had long legs and caught up with her quickly.

They grabbed her shoulder, and stood on either side of her.

‘Where you off to, my love?’ The taller of the two said, putting his hands to her waist.

‘Leave me alone.’ Merrill said, trying to wrench free.

‘I do not think she likes you, Tom.’ The shorter, stockier of the two laughed.

‘I bet she would like a real man!’ He retorted, trying to grind himself against Merrill.

Merrill wrenched free and slapped the taller man called Tom across the face before kicking him in the groin.

‘Little bitch.’ He grunted.

And then they lunged for her.

‘Stop that!’ Elizabeth found herself shouting. Her feet were moving of their own accord – running defensively towards Merrill. Elizabeth knew it was incredibly stupid; she was half the size of these men. Before she had even reached Merrill, an arm swung out and winded Elizabeth. She felt to the ground, hard. Elizabeth coughed, and tried to suck in air. The men laughed overhead.

‘Look at this little bloke.’ The fatter one said, ‘Reckons he is tough!’

Merrill had broken free from their grip, and fell to her knees beside Elizabeth.

‘Mister Searson, are you all right?’ She said helping Elizabeth to her feet.

‘I am fine.’ Elizabeth said breathlessly, ‘You keep your hands off of her.’

The men laughed loudly, throwing back