Note : I thought I could update sooner than this, but having the time is a problem. I will try to update only every month or so. In writing a period piece, I feel compelled to do some research, so it is a little bit believable. I am from California and barely know any English history. So if you have any complaints, or know more than I do about this time period; put it in a review. You can also send me a personal message.
The Powder Monkey by Pentwirler
Chapter 2 Eastward to London
Elizabeth's travels to London had not been many and only in the more effluent Westminster parish of London. When she was a child of five years, she had visited her cousins at their parents' quarters in the Dorset House. Her Uncle David Somers had some official position, among the courtiers of the Royal Family. The Earl of Somerset had built the large square mansion with inner courtyard, about 100 years before at that time it was known as the Somerset House. Riley Who was eight at the time said that the Earl had been a relative of theirs, and so the house belong to them.
As a child she did not know this former residence of princes was now just housing for officials and officers. The family shared its many rooms with others. The Somers had the left wing to themselves. She could recall her pretending that the place was her palace and she was queen. Her knights were Alexander and Oz (they were six and seven years old at the time). they battled with Riley a rival king, to capture his kingdom in the large formal garden, that seemed almost larger then the building itself.
It was a happier time. Her father was not at sea so much and not arguing with her mother. Joyce and Aunt Charlotte had friends that owned fine mansions along the river Thames near the recently built, Westminster Bridge. She remembered Christmas parties and seeing the women in fine silk gowns and powdered wigs. Elizabeth with her cousins and brother would watch from a hiding place, the adults dance to a string quartet. Oh, how she loved the music.
The last memory Elizabeth had of that time, was when she was seven seeing Oxford College and Oz telling her that girls were not allowed to study there. In her mind, that is when life became less idyllic and more painful. Her Aunt Charlotte had taken ill after having a stillborn and within a week had passed on. Uncle David in his grief was drinking heavily. He was involved in some scandal over gambling debts and killing a lord in a duel. Elizabeth being a child was never sure what the truth was; only knew that her Uncle had hanged himself and her cousins were orphans. That is when Father had changed there family name from 'Somers' to 'Summers'. The family including her cousins moved to the country north of London.
She urgently wanted to find Oz, but knew that Oxford would be one of the places her father would check first. She could not jeopardize her brother's education and future, by the scandal that would erupt if she were discovered. Suddenly, the horrible tales her father had preached to her about women who dressed as men came to mind.
Captain Summers had shouted about how unnatural it was and that she could be put in the stocks for it. He said that the worst cases were whipped, tied behind a horse and dragged through the streets. She bit her lip telling her self not to lose heart. She could not let her thoughts dwell on what could happen. She must have faith and believe that her God was a loving God that would forgive her transgress in these circumstances, especially after Mary told her what she had seen.
When Joyce had spoken to the servant about needing her help in making a disguise for Elizabeth; Mary broke down crying and in frightened whispers had told them about seeing Lord Rayne worshiping in front of a two headed idol with horns. She said she had reported to Captain Summers. He had dismissed it as Lord Rayne merely practicing his lines for a bacchanal that he and his gentlemen friends would be attending. He stated that it was part of the entertainment of men and no business of women or servants. Mary in her opinion felt the Master was greatly misled. She was certain that Lord Rayne was in league with the devil and would do all she could to aid her mistress' escape from such an evil union.
Elizabeth shook off her reverie and said a prayer. She thanked God for the clear moonlit night that allowed her to see her way and that he strengthen her courage, because she was going east. She needed to go to the heart of London, the City. A place she had never been before and knew little about; where she would be least expected to go.
The old City of London was the heart of all England's finances, where the rich and the poor; the low and highborn; stole from each other and other nations. This city bustled with trade, but was rampant with the crime of being poor. During the day, open markets would be noisy with sound of tradesmen and sellers bartering over their wares with people from every walk-of-life and corner of the known world; horses, cattle and barn yard fowl; musicians , performers and beggars. There were smells that would assault and entice you from the offal in the streets to the perfume of fresh flowers and baked goods. There was crime in the day, but it seemed less dangerous than after dark. At night, the seamier side of commerce would emerge, with revelers, cutthroats, Molls and drunks. Nighttime was not a time to be out, not for the young and innocent and especially a young woman.
Joyce had advised that it was best she travel Euston byway cutting across the fields to avoid the village of Somers Town. She would take the byway to King's Crossing and then to Gray Inn Lane Road. She would ride into London to the Gray Inn. It had been arranged for her to leave her horse at the Gray Inn stables for the man that had bought Old Bonny Boy. Elizabeth believed she could get lodging there for the night. The next day she would pay for passage on a Dutch ship and set sail for Holland. In Amsterdam, she would seek help and refuge from Doctor Rupert Giles.
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Elizabeth, despite her fear, was enjoying this new adventure. It had been a year since she had felt the freedom of wearing boys' clothes. It was not just the absence of layers of long petticoats (that added almost a half stone to her weight), or the panniers that held her skirts out from her body. No, what she relished most of all, was the lovely physical exhilaration of not having a corset that was tied to the point of barely being able to breathe, and the ability of full movement that the cut of a lady's bodice prevented.
She let her horse, O' Bonny Boy, walk for a bit after their recent full gallop across a field, giving her legs a rest from posting (something she had not done, since her father had learned of her scandalous education and insisted she ride sidesaddle). She stretched one arm over her head and then the other liking the feeling of being able to move her arms above her shoulder level, something she could not do with one of her dresses without tearing the garment.
She filled her lungs with the crisp night air and seeing Euston Byway urged her mount on to the road. The light of the full moon lit the road as bright as day and not another soul could be seen. She patted her horse's neck, feeling sad that this would be the last time she would ride him. She gentle kicked him into another run, knowing the horse enjoyed the speed as much as she did. She only slowed when she had startled a farmer riding home late in his ox drawn cart. He seemed quite relieved when he saw that she was not some desperate highwayman coming to rob him.
Again doubts were assailing her, but she stubbornly distracted her self, as she wondered why Gray Inn Lane Road, was called a lane when it was evidently a road. Why was not the road called by a different name until you reached the city? Why Gray Inn Lane was not called a street? Before long, she had come to the Gray Inn. She dismounted and led O' bonny Boy to the stables, where she looked for a groom.
"Hello, is anyone here?" She yelled as she entered the stable yard.
"Here lad, what may I do for ya?" Said a blond-headed man in maybe his twenties.
Elizabeth followed the man into the stable leading her horse and noticed a small table with bread, cheese and an apple upon it. Her stomach growled with hunger and she rushed to tell her business.
"Yes, I am delivering this horse for Master Johnson and do you know the cost of lodging here?" She inquired.
The stable boy looked at her a bit shocked that not a man, but so young a youth had delivered the horse at this hour.
"Why did you come at this hour, lad? Do understand what folly that is? And look at 'im, the horse is in lather and 'is body is hot. I will have ta rub him down and hope he does not get a chill," The man replied hostilely.
Elizabeth was struck dumb by the man's response to her, which puzzled the man more.
"The cat got your tongue? Why did not ya wait 'til mornin', fool? Ya disturb me supper and ask me about gettin' lodgin' at The Gray Inn! Are ya daft? Only scholars of the law and barristers of the court lodge here. Ya are just a tradesman's son you canna stay 'ere, lad," He stated as he went over to O' Bonny Boy taking him to a stall.
Elizabeth realized her mother's lack of knowledge was changing her plans. She began to panic at the thought of not having a place for the night, plucked up her courage to speak as she followed the man.
"I…I had to deliver the horse t...today, it was already promised to Master Johnson. He has urgent business tomorrow and needs the horse. I…I…I c…couldn't come earlier because of errands at home and tomorrow would be too late. If I can not stay here, then where c…c…can I go?" She stuttered.
The groom looked at what he thought was a boy standing before him. Something was not right. The lad did not look like he had been working hard all day; in fact, he looked like he had not worked a day in his life. The youth's hands and face showed the softness of spoiled gentry. He noticed the pack and bundle the boy had removed from the horse. He sighed as he came to his conclusion of what this whelp was about to do.
"So lad, what be yer name? Pray tell me lad, or otherwise I speak to Master Johnson about the arrangement and yer predicament."
Elizabeth's eyes widen at the thought that she had been found out by the young man. The last thing she needed was for Master Johnston the family barrister to see her. She quickly decided on an amount to bribe him with and hoped the man had not guessed her gender.
"Please, sir my father does not know I am gone and Master Johnson does not know I delivered his horse. Please, do not give me away. I will pay two shillings for your trouble if you help me find lodging." She begged.
"My name is Jim Potter and yours be, sir?" The man inquired as he offered to shake the boy's hand.
Not thinking, she gave the name her cousins had called her, after a servant had heard them call her Buffy, while she was in disguised.
"Buford Mac Duffy," She cringed at the sound of that awful name.
"Oh lad, I can see now why ya want ta run away. The teasin' must be dreadful." He smiled in sympathy as he shook Elizabeth's hand, noticing how soft and small it was; thinking she was a boy, spoiled by his mother. Moreover, he did not believe this Buford was a trader's son.
"Master Mac Duffy, ya do na want to break yer mother's heart by runnin' off ta sea. Tis not as romantic as some tell. A lad of yer station is not suited fer such a hard life as a sailor. I will help if ya agree that I take you straight home first thing in the mornin'." Jim said.
"Thank you kindly, Master Potter," Elizabeth nodded, wondering how she was to avoid Jim in the morning and not be sent straight home.
She began to hand over the shillings, when Jim stopped her hand.
"I will not take your money, tis a small thing I do for ya. I would like ya to give sixpence to me mum who is the housekeeper at the Staples Inn across Holborn Hill. You tell her, that her son Jim sent ya and then pay her. She will see that ya are taken care of. And lad for safekeeping put yer purse in yer pack, there be pickpockets and cutthroats about. Don't tempt trouble with yer purse danglin' at yer waist. Cheer up lad tis not the end of the world."
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