Whatever It Takes - Chapter 1

The beginning of our story finds us in a quiet little village, about a mile from the nearest town. The residents of this village live in squalor, they are a peaceful people and are loyal to God. It is a time when the church ruled the world. A time when people were hanged for witchery. And a time when men were dominant over everything.

Young William was off to visit the oldest people in the village so he could listen to Sarah who often played the piano in her home, which consisted of a single room. The night was cool and clear, so there was no fear of a spread of infections. William heard the cows' doeful moos as he trudged his way through the mud and approached the Goods' home.

John Good had just begun to settle down after a heavy days work. His wife, Sarah, had just struck up a tinkling melody on the piano, and it was soothing him into comfort. A loud knock echoed throughout the room and Sarah quickly looked up fearfully with a horrible clunk from the piano. John stood up and looked through the cheap, smeared glass and seeing young Williams face he let out a loud sigh of relief.

"It is young William, Sarah, nothing to worry about tonight." Sarah too breathed a sigh of relief and her light-hearted tune struck up again.

This village was a community, a Quaker community. They believe that God is inside every single one of us. All the elaborate church meetings are a falsehood. They also believe that everyone is equal and will not acknowledge those in authority as 'sir's' and such like. Regular church-goers... Most rich people are against the Quakers as it is only their money which allows them the best education and jobs. They fear the Quakers.

The Quakers fear these people against them, but they look to the light inside them to see them through tough times. You see, the Quakers are often arrested during meetings, authorities have taken it upon themselves to punish those who will not go to church.

Sarah looked up and smiled as young William entered. He was always a good audience, one who appreciated her playing. Her fingers eased lightly over the keys as she felt the music course through her veins.

"John, it is a bit chilly for William here. Light the fire." John was used to the continuous demands of his wife, they had been together for twenty years. Sarah and John Good were the oldest family in the village. It was strange that they had managed to live so long. They put it down to God, said He was the one who kept them going.

John groaned as he bent down and got the fire started. The light from the fire illuminated the room, creating shadows on the far wall and highlighting the overall shabbiness of the home. William enjoyed being in the old couples's company, he hoped he could find someone to spend the rest of his life with... but living in his state of poverty, he didn't exactly have girls queuing up for his affections.

"So William." Sarah said while trying to concentrate on the music. "How hast thou been? I know that thee hast been after Elizabeth for a while now. Is she willing?" William hung his head as John went and relaxed his muscles once more.

"I do not believe so. She does not seem to see me in such a way. I feel I will never receive her affections in return. She wants someone better than a peasant like me."

"William. How canst thou say such things? She is in the same state of poverty as thee. She will realise soon enough." William didn't reply.

"Mother wishes to see thee home now William." Susanna had burst into the Good home and chirped excitedly. She enjoyed nosing in other people's business and also enjoyed the old couples' banter.

"Very well Susanna. I will walk thee back too." He turned to Sarah. "Thank thee for playing for me once more. I will see thee tomorrow." He walked briskly to the door, his sister quietly at his heels. He gave John a quick nod of thanks before entering the sudden darkness of the countryside.

William had known Elizabeth his whole life. They grew up together, and he comforted and helped her recover from sickness when her father died. He had always been there for her, but after the letter had come from the army generals explaining that her father had been killed during the civil war, she had turned harder. She was stronger and less in touch with her feelings. William felt that he could change that, but he feared she would not return his affections and he would be left humiliated.

"Elizabeth. Where art thou going?" Elizabeth repressed a sigh of annoyance and rolled her eyes.

"I thought I would take a nice walk, get some fresh air. Dost thou protest?" Mary sensed the tone of definace in her daughters voice, and wished she would be less stout.

"I do not protest, I just hoped that thou woulds't fetch some fresh water from the well." Elizabeth relieved for the lightness of the task, smiled as she left the house. The cool air whipped her hair across her face and she inhaled deeply, enjoying the familiar sounds and smells: Fresh cow manure, the pine from the trees on the edge of the wood, the hens clucking through the village, the bubbling of the nearby stream.

One thing Elizabeth did not care much for was her looks. Her social standing left her undesireable anyway.She heaved the heavy bucket from the well and looked at her reflection in the water, her face was blackened with dirt, her hair tangled and mucky too. She saw her father looking back at her from the bucket and her eyes overflowed with tears.

"I miss thee father." She blinked and rubbed the wetness from her eyes, her father was gone. Elizabeth scolded herself and poured the water into a nearby bucket before carrying it back to the house.

"Here's thy water, as thou requested." Elizabeth stated cheerily as she entered the warm kitchen. When she received no reply, she looked around worriedly, her mother couldn't have been arrested could she? Elizabeth scolded herself for the second time that night.

"Do not be so ridiculous" she told herself. "We have not been to a meeting tonight." Her heart rate lowered when she spied her mother asleep on the wooden bench. Elizabeth kissed her mother goodnight and clambered up the rickety, wooden ladder into the attic. Once there, she pulled herself into the bed and let exhaustion smother her, and she fell asleep.

Early the next morning, Mary was out taking care of the animals when she heard the clip-clopping of heavy horses on the crumbling cobblestones, on the edge of the village. She feared the worst as she heard the quick shuffling of Sarah behind her.

"Mary, a Mr Heywood here to see thee. I know not what for, but he seeks to speak with thee urgently." Mary needlessly brushed herself off, nothing she did was going to make her look more appealing.

"Thank thee Sarah. Woulds't thou mind taking care of the animals while I am away." Sarah nodded quickly."Of course, of course." Mary hurried off to speak to her visitor and Sarah began to feed the horses.

Mary approached her well respected visitor with a silent vigil, she walked quickly and powerfully. But inside she was faltering, what did he want? The hot sun burned down on her neck, she suddenly realised how shabby looking she was and the stench of the village, which grew stronger with every minute that the sun shone on the pasture.

Mr Heywood's horse shook it's head and whinnied as it stood in the heat. As Mary got closer she saw the glistening beads of sweat on the back of its neck.

"Mary Parris." Mr Heywood climbed quickly down from the carriage as he caught sight of Marys' golden hair approaching him.

Mr Heywood was finely dressed. His linen was freshly laundered and he smelled sweetly, herbs in the bath water. He approached Mary with a turned up nose and a look mingled with disgust and hope.

"Mary Parris, it's nice to meet you." He didn't look like he meant it, or even sound like he was trying to. "I was curious, you have a daughter yes?" Mary looked in his dark brown eyes and nodded.

"Yes I do. Woulds't thou care for some refreshment? Water perhaps, thou woulds't be able to meet her when she comes back from market." Mr Heywood was slightly annoyed that he wasn't being addressed as someone better than this woman, but he brushed it off.

"No thank you." He did not want to risk drinking this foul smelling villages' water.

"Your daughter, she is not taken on by anybody, I assume." Mary looked at Mr Heywood, curious.

"No she has no employer. Mr Heywood. What is it that thee wishes to ask of me." Mr Heywood closed his eyes, frustrated again at her lack of respect for someone of a better social standing. When he opened his eyes again she was looking at him just as intently as before.

"I find myself in need of a maid. I recently purchased a house which I find to be larger than I first thought and one maid is just not enough. I have heard in the town that your daughter will be willing. I will pay a fair wage and..." Mary cut him off as she looked over his shoulder and waved.

"Why dost thou not ask her? She is back from market now." Mary strode over to Elizabeth who came trampling over the hard ground, laden with wares.

Mary beckoned William over to relieve Elizabeth of her wares, which he did immediately, receiving a gratifying smile from her. Mary approached Elizabeth with a small curl in her lips, trying to hide her excitement.

"Elizabeth, thou has a visitor." Elizabeth quickly looked over her shoulder and spied the extravagant man standing by his horse. "He wants thee to work for him. He requires a maid."

"Let me go and speak to him." Elizabeth knew that she would like to take the job, live in a clean place, earn her and her mother some money. But she didn't want to change her way of life, or her morals. She quickly turned and stepped widely around the horse in case it reared, and walked pointedly toward the man in rich dress.

Mr Heywood quickly spotted Elizabeth as she walked powerfully toward him. He smiled at her confidence. And, after realising what he'd done forced his face into a frown.

"Elizabeth Parris?" He asked when she had drawn near."Yes, and thou is?"

He closed his eyes once again in frustration and said, through gritted teeth.

"Mr Heywood to you." Elizabeth smiled at his ignorance.

"I think not. Thou knowest my name, why should I not know thee's?" Mr Heywood was stunned by this girls boldness and appalled at the way she had been brought up.

"Because you are a rude, insolent girl. And me and my name are far superior to your knowledge." Mr Heywood realised his mistake as the girl frowned angrily.

"I may not have had the best upbringing or been able to afford any type of education, but that does not make me any less of a person. I am not rude. It is thou who art rude."

Elizabeth turned quickly away and rushed over to her mother.

"I'm sorry mother, as much as I would like to help out with the money. I cannot allow myself to be put into the employ of such a rude and arrogant..." Mary saw Mr Heywood walking over and listening to every word Elizabeth said. She did not see him as a more respectable person than herself, but knew that if Elizabeth carried on, many people would support him in letting her rest in the stocks for a few hours.

"Mr Heywood. She will take the offer. She is extremely grateful for the oportunity and will serve thee well." Elizabeth gave her mother a contemptuous look.

"Mother I will..."

"Say no more Elizabeth. Mr Heywood knows of thy gratitude. Get thee home now." Mary cast her a worried look and Elizabeth refrained from arguing.

Instead, she threw her arm up in disgust and defeat. The hens around her clucked wildly in disapproval of her sudden outburst. She stormed back to the house as the hens, distressed by her fury, dodged out of her way, flapping their wings as they did so.

Mary looked at Mr Heywood apologetically.

"I hope thou will still employ my daughter. She will serve thee well, even if she does not seem to like the idea." Mr Heywood frowned in thoughtful silence as he watched Mary squirm. After what seemed like an eternity he said:

"I will indeed take her on. But I want you to scrub her up well, make sure she is suitably adorned for a home such as mine. I thank you and look forward to seeing your daughter tomorrow." Mary opened her eyes wide in shock.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes, is that a problem? I am sure there are plenty of other girls willing for this opportunity, I can find another."

"No it is no problem." Mary replied, though she looked extremely flustered.

"That's what I thought. Goodbye Mary Parris."

Mr Heywood climbed back into his carriage smiling to himself slightly. He admired Elizabeth's arrogance, though he feared the uprising her type can cause. He vowed to make sure that all the while she stayed in his household, she would not be allowed to run wild. The Quaker in her must be suffocated.

Mary quickly ran home as Mr Heywood left the village. Bursting in through the front door.

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"

"If thou art here to apologise, then I do not accept!" Mary sighed as she clambered up into the loft.

"Elizabeth. Stop being ridiculous!" Mary paused and took a deep breath. "Thou will appreciate it soon enough. This is an excellent opportunity for thee, thou will not have to stay there forever, but I promise thee, thou will enjoy it." Elizabeth scoffed.

"Yes I am sure I will enjoy being a slave. Mother how could thou do this to me? He is an arrogant, pompous... I will not serve him willingly." Mary stepped forward menacingly and shook Elizabeth by her shoulders.

"Elizabeth! Dost thou not see? Thou will have a better life there, thou will be free from disease, from hard labour... it is better for thee. Please just be willing and let me fix thy hair." Mary reached forward and began to rake her fingers through Elizabeths tangled mop. Elizabeth pulled away.

"Mother, I will wash and then thou canst fix my hair. I will accept the opportunity but if I do not enjoy it, I will come home, empty-handed or not." Mary nodded in accpetance. Relieved that Elizabeth did not further refuse to take on the job.

Early the next morning Elizabeth sat outside on the edge of the forest, staring into space. Her prayers could not have been answered better, and yet, for the first time in her life she resented the decisions of God.

But she knew deep down, that if she wanted to get anywhere in life, the right reference, for the perfect life she would need to do Whatever It Takes.

To Be Continued...

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Whatever It Takes. A lot more will be on the way including a terrific scandal! Please leave a nice comment if you liked it. Thanks for reading.