Passing as Elias: A Novel by Kate Bloomfield

Author:Kate Bloomfield [Bloomfield, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub, mobi
Published: 2012-03-11T05:00:00+00:00

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With her newfound freedom, Elizabeth felt liberated. She could go where she liked, and do as she pleased. No one could tell her what to do anymore, and she'd be damned if anyone would question her intelligence.

She felt rebellious, and daring. Elizabeth wanted to test her new disguise on the public to see its effect. But where to go? She could go to the market and strut about the stalls. No, that would not do. No one would notice her there.

She needed to go somewhere where she would be judged; somewhere that she had never been before. Where had she avoided as a woman?

And then it came to her. Elizabeth had never been to the Upper Baggot Street Inn around the corner from the apothecary. It was full of drunken men, and loose women. Who better to test her get-up on? Elizabeth would visit the Inn that very night.

She had her reservations, of course. What if her disguise fooled no one, and she was thrown from the Inn? Would the men beat her, and the women spit upon her? Perhaps they would run for the mad house, raving about a lunatic woman who dressed as a man! Oh, the shame if she were discovered. But the apothecary was worth the risk.

When work was finished, and the sun had set, Elizabeth locked the apothecary doors and made her way up the lane towards the Inn. Her legs shook as she approached the corner, and once she rounded it she instantly heard the chatter. Music emanated loudly from the open door, and a warm yellow glow saturated the pavement.

When she walked inside, she noticed the floor was rather sticky, and it was quite crowded. Men edged around each other, talking loudly over the music and laughing, while busty women hung from their arms.

There was a small band consisting of an accordion, tuba, and flute player, which drowned out most of the chatter. No one looked at Elizabeth as she walked through the crowd, except an older woman who leered, showing several yellowing teeth. Elizabeth made it to the bar and sat herself down on one of the seats nervously. She knew she must seem quite odd, sitting straight backed, and looking around nervously. Everyone else within the premises slouched, yelled, and sat with their legs open. Elizabeth tried to imitate them. She leant one arm on the bar, hunched her shoulders, and sat open-legged. She saw a burly man scratch his crotch unashamedly. Elizabeth imitated him.

“Wotcher, Darlin’,” the barmaid said.

“Uh, Hello,” Elizabeth said in a rather high voice. A man at an adjacent stool looked up from his pint and stared.

Elizabeth cleared her throat, “Um, a … quart please?”

The barmaid raised an eyebrow, “Mind your P’s and Q’s dear. A little thing like you would not be able to handle much!” She gave a laugh and bustled off.

Elizabeth worried, and looked around. Well, everyone else was drinking beer by the looks of it. She listened to the conversations that were being held in the bar.

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