Passing as Elias - By Kate Bloomfield Page 0,57
with my return from sea. Do you not remember I visited you in the apothecary that day?’
Elizabeth remembered. George had visited the apothecary on the day that Professor de Bard had said that he needed to go home early to attend other business.
‘While we chatted you failed to notice that I thieved a number of vials containing Lyied.’
Lyied was a poison they stocked at the apothecary, primarily used to kill rats.
Elizabeth did not wish to hear this. It could not be true. Good, warm-hearted George Greenwood had always been so kind and gentle. She could not believe this of him.
‘No.’ Elizabeth said.
‘Yes. After our chat I visited Professor de Bard’s home.’ He looked around, ‘this home. I laced every liquid in the house with the Lyied.’
Elizabeth stared, ‘Why?’
‘Because, I knew that if Professor de Bard died, his property would belong to Elizabeth Searson’s husband.’
‘You … you courted me for this?’ Elizabeth said disbelievingly, ‘You killed a great man to get this home?’
‘Not just his home. Do you know how much that apothecary is worth? On such a large plot in the middle of town, it will sell for a very excellent price.’
Elizabeth needed to get up and run to the nearest authority. She needed to tell someone that Professor de Bard’s death had not been an accident. She shifted her weight upon the lounge into a position where it would be easy to lunge for the door.
‘Do not think of going anywhere.’ George said casually, leaning on the mantelpiece.
Elizabeth took a deep steadying breath, ‘What are you going to do with me?’ She said through gritted teeth, ‘Kill me too?’
‘Do not be ridiculous, my dear. Why would I kill you? I already own the house, and the shop. Both properties are in my name. After all, it was you who asked me to sign for them. I suppose you thought you were tricking me, did you?’
Elizabeth did not respond. She felt foolish. Never had she considered that George might be using her to get access to the house and apothecary. She had been so obsessed with running the shop in the name of the Professor that she did not stop to consider why George Greenwood wanted to marry her so badly. Now that she thought of it though, everything did fall into place rather nicely for him.
‘Indeed, I was well aware that you had no feelings for me.’ George continued, ‘However, I think I did a rather good job playing the part of a love-struck man. Did you never wonder why I was so keen to get married? Did you never wonder why I chose to hide the marriage from my parents?’
‘I suppose I wanted to believe you cared.’ Elizabeth glared, ‘I thought you a good man.’
‘I thought you a decent girl, too.’ George said with a shrug, ‘But you changed your views on marriage so swiftly, of course I knew you were trying to use me. How sweet, I thought. I got exactly what I wanted to little to no effort.’
‘You killed a man for your own selfish gain.’
‘How do you think anyone makes it in the world?’ George rolled his eyes, ‘People die every day. No one will miss some old man.’
‘I would miss him!’ Elizabeth said fiercely, ‘He was everything, and you shall rot in a cell for what you have done to the Professor.’
George laughed, ‘I have already gotten away with it, my dear.’
‘I will tell everyone.’ Elizabeth hissed.
‘Who would believe someone like you? A woman that dresses as a man, and courts young girls? They will think you are mad. You will be in the nut house this time next week.’
Elizabeth did not respond. She stared angrily at George, her hands itching to clamp around his throat.
‘Regardless,’ George stood straight, ‘I shall be gone this time tomorrow. I will sell the properties and take the next carriage away from this shit hole.’
‘And what about me?’ Elizabeth said angrily, ‘Will you just leave me here, with no home, and no job?’
‘Why not put on your little boys outfit and walk the streets like the filthy whore you are?’ George snapped.
‘I wish you had drowned at sea!’ Elizabeth stood angrily. The pain in her ribs was nothing compared to her anger, ‘You will not get away with what you have done.’
‘My father will take care of the divorce paperwork, and I shall be gone in the morning. No one will believe you, and even they did, there would be nothing they could do about it.’ George said