Passing as Elias - By Kate Bloomfield Page 0,56

realized the truth. Elizabeth stared at Merrill, trying to communicate an explanation through her eyes.

‘I am sorry.’ Elizabeth whispered through trembling lips. She was ashamed of herself, and disgusted that she had done these things to Merrill.

‘No.’ Merrill said, her eyes as round as saucers, ‘no.’

Elizabeth tried to stifle the heart-wrenching sob that escaped her, ‘Merrill, I never meant this to happen.’ Elizabeth said shakily.

Never before had Elizabeth felt so dependant on another person’s love. She could not bare it if Merrill hated her.

‘Tell me it is not true.’ Merrill said, her voice cracking.

‘It is true.’ Elizabeth wiped away the tears that slid down her cheeks, ‘I never planned this. I never meant to fall in love. And you must believe me when I say it. I do love you more than anything. God knows I mean it.’

‘God knows you are going to hell for your filthy perversion.’ George hissed.

Elizabeth ignored him and took Merrill’s hands between her own, ‘Please, Merrill. It was real for me. It was real. I never knew it was possible, for a girl to love another girl. I never knew, but now it is all that I know.’

Merrill stood, wrenching her hands from Elizabeth’s grip.

‘I believe you have killed me.’ She said.

Merrill took a step backward, glanced at George Greenwood, turned on her heel, and ran. Elizabeth watched as she disappeared around a corner.

Elizabeth could not help it. Sobs tore from her and she yelled at George, ‘You have ruined everything!’

George picked her up from the ground roughly, and threw her over his wide shoulder. He carried her inside of their house and dropped her carelessly onto the sitting room lounge. Elizabeth had forgotten all about the pain of her face, and ribs. The only pain she knew now was the loss of Merrill. Elizabeth knew that she would not come back.

‘Well, this makes things quite simple.’ George said as he paced the room.

Elizabeth sobbed into a cushion, smearing the spotless furniture with blood and tears.

‘I knew you never loved me, but I never thought … with another girl.’

He did not seem too upset, Elizabeth thought. On the contrary, he seemed giddy, as though awaiting something glorious.

Looking through her tear-clogged eyelashes, Elizabeth saw that George was grinning. ‘W-what?’ Elizabeth said, hiccupping slightly.

‘Honestly, though. Five months? It did not take you long, did it?’

Elizabeth frowned. She did not understand what he was talking about.

‘George, I am sorry I have deceived you.’ Elizabeth said miserably.

‘On the contrary, my dear, you have done very well indeed.’

‘I do not follow.’

‘Well, this is exactly what I wanted. You see, after your disgusting perversion I am free to divorce you.’

That was fair enough, Elizabeth thought. She deserved that. In fact, she was glad of it. But why was George happy? Did he not love her anymore after five short months apart? He was taking this revelation of Elizabeth’s unfaithfulness extremely well.

‘I had expected to wait several years, of course. You would, indeed, be a long project.’

‘Project?’ Elizabeth repeated, ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Have you not realized yet?’ George said with raised eyebrows, ‘In the beginning I did worry that you would guess my plan.’

‘Plan?’ Elizabeth said, becoming quite agitated, ‘What are you talking about, George?’

‘Professor de Bard, of course.’ George said. He stopped pacing to look at Elizabeth, ‘Did you not think the timing perfect?’

‘What does this have to do with the Professor?’ Elizabeth said slowly.

‘Did I not tell you that my father was a lawyer? I think I mentioned it, foolishly, after we had been courting for a week.’

‘I remember.’ Elizabeth said. She swallowed and felt blood ooze down the back of her throat, sickeningly.

‘Well. Two weeks before Professor de Bard’s death, he approached my father’s colleague in order to change his Will. It was a peculiar thing to do, leaving everything to a girl that is not a blood relative.’

‘What of it?’ Elizabeth said through narrowed eyes.

‘Well, when I returned from sea, my father informed me of the strange situation regarding Professor de Bard’s Will. He told me that, of course, Miss Searson would not be able to take ownership of the properties listed in the Will for there was no men in the family.’

Realization was dawning upon Elizabeth, but she hoped that she was just jumping to conclusions.

‘Did you not think it strange, that he should die only two weeks after re-writing his Will?’

‘Why should I think it strange?’ Elizabeth said, ‘He was always testing vaccines on himself.’

‘Well then, you may have noticed that his death coincided nicely