Passing as Elias - By Kate Bloomfield Page 0,41

positive.

Elizabeth wanted to spend time with Merrill outside of the apothecary, yet she did not know how to approach the subject for she feared it might be inappropriate, especially since everyone believed Elizabeth to be a man.

She did not need to fret about this for long, however, for it was Merrill who suggested it first.

‘Sir,’ She said hesitantly one night, ‘What do you do on Sundays?’

It was eight o’clock at night, and Merrill had volunteered to stay back late and help Elizabeth with some research regarding a vaccination she was working on.

‘Sundays?’ Elizabeth frowned without looking up from her work. Usually Elizabeth would go to church, dressed as her usual feminine self, but what Elias might do was a completely different story.

‘Yes.’ Merrill hesitated, ‘only, your sister mentioned weeks back that you left town regularly on the weekend.’

‘Oh.’ Was all Elizabeth managed to say.

‘Do you have a sweetheart out of town, Sir?’ Merrill said in a casual tone, though Elizabeth saw her give a sideways glance. She was propped upon a stool next to Elizabeth’s workbench, while she measured ingredients, and took notes.

Elizabeth smirked, ‘No, I do not.’ She replied after a moment’s silence.

‘Then why do you leave every weekend?’

Elizabeth did not know the answer to this, because she did not leave the town every weekend. It had been the only way to explain Elias’ absence every Sunday.

‘I … like to go to the countryside and relax.’ She invented, ‘Fresh air, and perhaps a packed lunch in a grassy park somewhere.’

‘That sounds lovely.’ Merrill sighed, ‘It must be nice getting away from the centre of town for a while.’

‘Pass that vial, will you?’ Elizabeth pointed to the shelf behind Merrill, and kept her eyes upon her work.

Merrill did as she was asked, and continued, ‘Might I join you one Sunday, Sir? Mayhap you could take me to your favorite spot. I could bring a packed lunch.’

Elizabeth dropped the vial and it shattered upon the floor. Merrill bustled about, sweeping up the shards of glass while Elizabeth thought up a suitable response.

‘Might that seem a bit … odd?’ Elizabeth chose her words carefully.

‘Well if you do not wish to.’ Merrill said hurriedly, ‘I did not mean to impose, Sir. Forget I said anything. I thought it might be nice to get away and relax with someone I could trust.’ She had turned quite pink.

Elizabeth’s heart was racing, ‘I would like you to come.’ She said.

Merrill grinned.

~

Elizabeth was not sure as to what her plan was. She did not have a ‘special spot’ she liked to visit on weekends, nor did she have a way of getting to such a place. Nevertheless, Elizabeth promised Merrill an excursion into the countryside that Sunday after church. Merrill insisted that they meet at Elizabeth’s residence, and journey onwards from there. Elizabeth did not object.

The remainder of the week Elizabeth tried to think of somewhere suitable to take Merrill for their first outing as friends. Some might disapprove of a young ‘man’ and woman spending time alone together, without a chaperone, but Elizabeth thought this quite ridiculous. If they only knew, she thought amusedly. However innocent Elizabeth’s intentions were, what if Merrill did not see it the same way? This had not occurred to her just yet, and a prickle of worry formed in Elizabeth’s stomach. She decided to ignore it, and thought it would be absurd for Merrill to be remotely interested in Elias.

A small valley called Coachers hill, half hour out of town seemed the ideal place. Her mother had told Elizabeth about it when she had enquired about an ideal place to have a picnic. Her mother said it was covered in flowers, and huge oak trees that would be a splendid source of shade. Apparently nobody ventured there, for upon the land was an abandoned house. Rumors flew that it was haunted, and sometimes children would dare each other to get as close as possible to the building. Elizabeth had never been there, but decided that this was her best hope for a ‘tranquil’ spot. Elizabeth hoped that Merrill was not opposed to walking.

The day of the picnic arrived, and Elizabeth spent an excruciating amount of time in front of the mirror, ensuring her disguise would be weather proof incase the clouds above decided to release the rain within them. She donned a hat, boots, and carried an umbrella with her to the door when she heard the sound of gentle knocking.

‘Good morn, Merrill.’ Elizabeth gave a small bow.

Merrill seemed slightly flustered