Elizabeth

Chapter 2- A Fortnight and Three Days Earlier Old West

“Who are these people, father?” The doorknob twisted in my grip as soon as I stepped in. With only a glance, I scanned the room. I could tell from the full dresses of the ladies that they were not from around. They had their hair neatly knotted in a bun with their dress made from a rather expensive fabric, the same fabric the foreigners sold for an extra bag of coins in the market.

“Hello, just the lady we’ve been looking for,” the only lady seated echoed, her voice was soft and groomed with a foreign accent. She spoke with a raised shoulder, her hands placed on top of another. She was the most adorned, pretty shiny hair color which was in between a blonde and grayish- white. It took just a few more seconds to notice that she was a noble, perhaps a duchess, which explained the marked-out symbols on the carriages I had met outside. I nodded towards her, making a gesture to return her courtesy. Mrs Beatrice from the market had always thought it was a modest thing to do even if I had never taken her teachings to heart. But today, I could not help but bend slowly, bowing my head slightly in the process as I held the edges of my dress.

Words clogged down my throat as I urged to speak but just immediately, my eyes met with Collins who had been staring for a while. It was his usual signal, a fast blink, in between a wink and a tweak of his eyelids. I tightened my lips to hold the words back from seeping out. I felt their eyes on me as I walked into the inner room. It seemed the air was not enough to saturate my sinking lungs anymore as I paced around. Piqued with curiosity, I suddenly developed itchy ears. As soon as I turned in the daily profit into a leather bag at the bottom of my trunk I turned towards the door again. I wanted to know what Collins had said to these rich people about me. He had always complained about having no money to give me a formal education. The one which I sorely craved for, maybe he had decided to change his mind. I wanted to be able to speak with foreigners and tutor younger girls after my training. Being a teacher like my mother and having to travel the world to spread my knowledge and learn more was all I woke up to. But after the death of my mother, Collins never thought it was wise to let me have my mother's life, for him, it would only be another wasted effort.

The door hinges had grown frail so it was easy to open the door without the creaks. I saw the lady again, sitting in her glory, her poise and fearlessness spoke at a pitch which I only dreamed of attaining. Her approach to Collins was clear without mincing words. She said something about a debt to be paid within three moons in which she would return to take a bride for her son. I moved in more to catch his reply but stumbled into a metal ware which crashed to the ground with a loud clang on the concrete. The resonating sound resounded in my head as I jerked, I saw everyone turning their stern gaze towards the door before leaving it back to my room.

"What bride does she speak of?” I asked rhetorically pacing around but it was of no use. The room felt hotter and my lungs sank again, I knew just what I needed. The field beside the market had the widest space. It was the only place that had that much air to saturate me. I watched the sun setting but my mind did not leave those words, Collins might have a daughter elsewhere, I thought.

••

“Elizabeth! Elizabeth!” I heard the resounding voice of Collins in my pretend sleep as he walked into my room.

“Where have you been? I have been looking for you all around the farm.” I gradually opened my eyes, rubbing sleep off them.

“The room was stuffy again and so I had to take a walk through the field.” I sat beside him with both my palms in between my thighs. My heart thumped three times faster as words fell off his lips.

"Well, I have great news.”

“Great news?” I waited patiently for the words as they came.

“You would be going to England.”

"England? The Queen's land?”

“Yes, the Queen's land. Isn't that great?” He chuckled and watched me.

"But why?”

He moved closer, taking my hands in his, they were hard from working on the farm all year.

“Lady Alice’s son needs a bride and she has found you worthy.” He replied with a smile growing on his lips but it ended as a sardonic smile as I did not return it.

“You are giving me out for marriage? But I have lived here my whole life. The farm, the market, and my education. I can't just get up and leave my life behind.”

“You call this a life?!” Collins sprung up roaring like a beast.

“This is my life, my reality.”

“This is no life. This is poverty, wretchedness. A life in England as the Duke’s bride is a life you would enjoy. I am doing this for you because I care about you as my daughter.”

“You have never considered me your daughter, Collins, you always said I was just a product of the woman you loved.”

"Do this and I will take all my words back.”

"You do not know this man that you are sending me off to.”

“It is true that I do not know this man. But I know that he will take care of you and give you the life I could never give your mother.”

"My mother had a different faith.”

"Your mother died of poverty, she was ill and I could not take her for treatment. Do you want such a life?”

"That was her faith, she chose you out of all men. As I said before, I do not know this man, he might be a beast, a troubled soul, ugly with dark molds all over his face, with a strong stench of the wet boot, who knows? I am young and I do not know how to be a bride. I cannot satisfy this man, I cannot live the life of a noble, I am not modest and do not smell like the red roses. I cannot wear full dresses with corsets made of whalebone pressing down my chest and have maids do all my chores. Choose someone else but not me.”

“You speak rubbish! You will do as you have been told or you will have to leave my house and fend for yourself.”

"What?! That's just a mere bluff for you do not mean that.”

“Then try me. I have a lot at stake here if you do not accept this offer.”

“You would lose the farm. I heard what the lady said. No wonder you are so bent on having me marry a stranger from a faraway land. Very well then, I will leave your house and never return.” With those words, I took out my trunk from underneath the bed, sticking my hands in to meet with the emptiness of where the leather purse once was.

“Where is it?” I muttered underneath my breath but Collins might have been paying attention as he read my lips.

“Do you seek this?” He pulled out a brown purse from within. I rushed towards it, snatching it from his grip.

“Where is it? Where is all the money?” My voice quivered.

“I gave it to the seamstress to make you a new dress. You would not be going to England in any of those pig clothes.”

"But...”

"Quiet child, you should be grateful it was enough to get you a dress. You have a choice now Elizabeth, marry this duke or leave tonight with no money and nothing of yours and never return. You are a smart girl, I urge you to make the right choice.”