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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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."
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.