Elizabeth Drake

Chapter Three 2

“Here you are, Miss. We were wondering if you would be hungry today,” Lewis said with a smile.

The Innkeeper was slightly shorter than Elizabeth. He had an olive complexion that was framed by his dark slicked hair and a thick mustache.

Elizabeth was quite upset when she arrived at the Inn the night before. The Innkeeper seemed genuinely concerned about her state. After introducing himself, he had his wife situate Elizabeth in one of his nicest rooms that they had. It was in the back of the Inn. So, she did not have to worry about the noise from the street below.

The Inn was in a retail area of the city. Elizabeth was right across the street from the lady’s shop’s and the post. The baker and a mercantile were just down the road. Everything that she needed was within walking distance including the florist and the shoemaker. Until she could deliver her letter and get out of the city, Elizabeth would be fine where she was.

“Anna thinks you need to eat more. I think she is right.” Lewis placed a large plate of eggs and bacon in front of her when Elizabeth sat down in the small parlor. His accent was something that she had never heard before, but he was kind and friendly. The man had worn a smile since she walked in the door of the Inn and had not removed it yet. “My wife does not normally like to cook so much, but for you, she has been in the kitchen a long time.”

“Please, tell her I said thank you.” Elizabeth smiled up at the man as she placed a napkin on her lap.

“No, you must tell her yourself. My Anna would like that very much,” he continued, “But I will go and let you eat. You need that, yes?” Lewis held his hands on his little round belly. “You need a little meat on your bones.” His smile was contagious, and Elizabeth felt wonderfully comfortable. “Go on now… eat,” he added before leaving the small room.

The food smelled delicious. Elizabeth consumed nearly all the meal before she looked around the room. The small round table was situated near a window that looked onto the street. There were two other tables in the room. All them had a decorative lace cloth in the center of the table, with a small vase of flowers. The walls were mostly a dark wood, but the top of the walls and the ceiling were painted white. The couple that ran the Inn had kept the decoration simple and elegant.

“You are up late this morning, Miss?” Anna asked as she came into the parlor. “We were beginning to worry about you.”

Lifting her cup of tea, Elizabeth raised her eyes to the woman. Her raven black hair was coiled on top of her head with a beautiful jeweled comb holding it in place. Her eyes were soft and kind.

“Thank you for the food. It was unbelievably delicious,” Elizabeth offered.

“I am not a particularly good cook. So, I try to avoid it as much as possible,” Anna shyly admitted. “Lewis usually prepares the meal.”

“I think you did just fine.”

Elizabeth had met the woman when she checked in, and was not expecting to like her so quickly, but Anna showed her to her room and was kind and considerate. However, what Elizabeth did not know was that the walls were very thin. When Anna walked by her room that morning, there was little to hide the quiet sobbing inside.

“You will be staying with us for a while.” She spoke the words between a comment and a question.

“I’m not sure. I have a few things to see to before I return to Caterwood.” Emptying her cup, Elizabeth watched Anna stand up and take a warm pot off the table by the fireplace. The woman smiled and filled her cup once more before sitting down next to her.

“Do you mind if I join you?”

“Not at all,” Elizabeth smiled. “I would like that.”

“We do not seem to have that many guests this week. I can afford to take a small break.” Pouring herself a cup of tea, Anna set out to learn more about the young woman. “What brings you to the city?” Keeping her focus on the small white cup, Elizabeth sighed as she thought of her answer.

“I have some things to take care of for my father.”

Anna could see her eyes soften for a moment and the sadness showed on her face. Though the young woman in the beautiful green dress seemed troubled, Anna did not want to pry too much.

“It is a beautiful city. You should take time to see some of it before you leave,” she offered. “There is a lovely park over by the river, but I would not venture that way after dark.”

“I don’t plan on venturing very far at all after dark, but I am sure that I will see some of the city while I am here.” Elizabeth remembered the tall buildings that she had past, as she rode through the town with Mr. Hawke. “Have you lived here all your life?”

“No,” Anna replied as she smoothed out a wrinkle in her violate colored dress. “My husband and I came here about three years ago from Italy. He had friends here and I was ready for a change in scenery.”

“Italy, that must have been wonderful,” she replied.

“It is. We go back every year in the summer to visit, but we have made our home here in Burdery.” Lifting the cup to her lightly painted lips, Anna looked up at Elizabeth’s stunning blue eyes. “What about you, do you have family here?” Elizabeth shook her head as she remembered her brother in a rather unkind way.

“Yes, though we are not close.”

“I am sorry to hear that.” The silence was brief before the woman patted her hand. Anna recovered the conversation easily. “You will just have to stay with us while you are here then.” Her smile was contagious as Elizabeth welcomed the friendship. “I am rather looking forward to having a guest of the female kind. It gives me a break from all the stuffy businessmen that come here during the week.” Admiring the gown that the beautiful woman wore, Elizabeth decided that Anna could be helpful to her.

“Actually, I am in need of a little help.”

“Good,” Anna said as she rested her elbow on the table and placed her chin against her palm, “Because I need something to do.” Elizabeth liked her smile and the easiness about her.

“I need some clothes, but I do not want to spend a lot of money.”

 “You have asked the right woman,” she admitted. Anna reached over and patted her arm as she sat up straight. “I know just the place. If you want, I could go with you.” Nodding her head quickly, Elizabeth seemed relieved.

“That would be perfect.”

Money was not an issue. The amount that her father had given her was quite substantial. However, Elizabeth had no idea how long it would have to last.

“I have to find a man named Roshire. I don’t know how long it will take to find him, but I only have this one dress with me.”

“Oswald Roshire,” Anna looked confused. “You can’t mean ‘The’ Oswald Roshire.”

“Do you know him?”

“Everyone knows him. He is the richest man in the city, possibly the richest man in the country.” Anna began to whisper as she poured a little more tea in Elizabeth’s glass. “You have never heard of him?” Shaking her head slowly, Elizabeth wondered why someone so famous would be difficult for her brother to find.

“No, I haven’t.”

“He is quite the man. He is the owner of several coal mines and an incredibly wise investor.” Anna looked over her shoulder as Lewis walked past the parlor. “He is also very charitable from what I hear. He is holding a fundraiser this evening to establish a school for the blind.”

“A fundraiser,” Elizabeth perked up with interest. “Do you know where?”

“Of course, it is only going to be the most impressive event this season.” The steam rose from her tea as Anna stirred in a drop of honey. “It is at his estate near the river. However, it is by invitation only.” The hope vanished quickly for Elizabeth.

“Well, I only need to see him for a couple of minutes. Does he have an office, or someplace I could make an appointment to see him?” Anna tilted her head and considered the thought.

“You would never get to see him. The man is horribly busy. He even makes his grandson schedule appointments.”

“Anna, I need to give him something that could be important. How can I get to him?” Elizabeth was not about to give up. She had one small thing to do for her father and she was bound to do it. After a moment of contemplation, Anna smiled deviously at Elizabeth.

“There is a way, if you are willing to take a risk.”