The Making of a Gentleman by Ruth Axtell Morren

Author:Ruth Axtell Morren
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2008-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Bill “The Bull” Elliston Challenges Any and All Comers to the Ring.

Purse of Twenty Guineas to the Winner!

Saturday, 25th of March, behind the Reservoir, Paddington

Jonah’s resolve strengthened as he read the announcement. He’d not only step up to the challenge, but he’d beat every man there and win the purse!

He pictured himself throwing down the money at Miss Hathaway’s feet. Even she couldn’t scoff at the sum of twenty guineas. He’d never been beholden to any man. He would certainly not be to a woman. He kicked at the dirt at his feet, and in doing so, noticed the dust covering the toe of his new leather boots. They were softer and more comfortable than any shoes he’d ever possessed. Warmer, too, against the cold March wind.

He’d be able to pay for them and more with the prize money.

He’d have to ask Albert to be his second. He knew of no one else he could trust. A man usually needed two assistants, a knee man and a bottle man. Maybe Albert knew of someone who’d come with them. Would Albert even agree? They’d have to keep it secret from Miss Hathaway. He remembered her disapproval the day Albert had first mentioned the fight.

There was also the risk of appearing at a public fight. Would he be recognized? The kind of people attracted to a fight were the same as would have been at Newgate that day.

Jonah looked around him now. It was one of the few times he’d stirred from the parsonage. It didn’t escape him that where he stood was the old site of Tyburn Tree where many a man had been hanged.

He’d only crossed the street to Hyde Park, and already he felt exposed. But no one seemed to pay any attention to him. A few people strolled far away on the grounds of the park. Occasional carriage traffic passed through the tollgate on their way out of the city. But for the most part, he was alone at the outskirts of the city, the vast park to the south of him and mostly fields to the north. He could almost fool himself into thinking he was living in the country again. The air even smelled fresh here, unlike the neighborhood he’d known during his sojourn in London.

Would his appearance in the ring be sufficiently different from the man who’d stood on the gallows almost two months ago?

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