When Ella woke there was no light in the room. No light even came through the small window that was covered by wispy grey cotton wool. Ella heard the sound of birds chirping and knew that the light would be coming soon. She yawned and stretched. The sheets rubbed against her skin.

I'm naked!

she quickly lit the lamp and had a soft glow shining in the room. Although she searched thoroughly she found not a trace of her clothing. Also found wear her boots. Even the cough she used to bite her breasts were nowhere to be found.

She sat wrapped in the sheet on the edge of the bed. There was nothing she could do. She couldn't exit the room, even in the sheet she would draw attention.

Light slowly started to filter in the room. She vaguely remembered Zara gathering her clothes. She couldn't remember if Zara had taken them with her.

She thought about wrapping the sheet with her head and face covered, then running to Captain Talbot or Harv's room.

However, she knew where she caught by someone other than them it would be humiliating. Worst her secret would be out. That would dangerous for her.

Time seemed to drive slowly forward. She even wished she had one of Anna's picture books to look at. It would at least be something to do.

She stood by the window and looked out at the alley. She counted the blocks on the quilt. She said on the bed and watched the sunlight play over the curtain.

She was again counting blocks of the quilt, blue this time, when I knock sounded on the door.

She made sure she was covered then called for them to come in.

Zara entered the room with a smile on her face. In her arms was folded clothes.

"Sorry. I expected to be here earlier." She closed the door behind her. "I found you some clothes. They used to belong to one of the kids down the street. I really am sorry it took me so long, Elle."

Ella had jumped up on the bed and was now reaching for the bundle. "Where are my clothes? I had stuff in my pockets." She put the stuff on the bed and was going through it. Almost at the bottom of the pile she found a bag. The bag was larger than the one she had but all of her things were inside it. She assumed it used to be black but it was now faded to a dark charcoal. There was even cloth that could be used to bind her chest.

She turned and gave Zara a tight hug. "Thank you, Zara."

She set about straightening the binding cloth and wrapped it around her chest.

"I really hate that, Elle." Zara said as she set on the bed and watched Elle. "You have a gorgeous body. It's a pity that you have to hide it."

Elle tied the cloth. "Z, I look almost like a boy even without the bindings."

"No you don't, Elle. And to prove it I would bet that if Captain Talbot or Harv saw you dressed as a woman then you would soon find yourself in his bed."

Elle couldn't help that her whole body blushed. Unfortunately she was mostly naked and Zara could see most of the heated skin. To cover the blush she said, "Harv has seen me dressed as a girl. Many times. He goes with me when I see my father." She belted the pants with a wool belt and started pulling the shirt from the bed.

The shirt was thick and red, she put it on and buttoned the buttons. There was even a jacket in the pile but it wasn't as thick as the one she owned.

"Zara, are the others in their rooms?" she asked when she had the jacket on.

"No. They went to breakfast in the kitchen. I sent them down before I came in here."

"What time is it?" Elle asked as they walked into the hall.

"Around 9." Zara said as she shut the door behind them.

Elle thought it was later then that. Elle stood in the hall facing Zara. "I need a favor."

"If I can." Zara said word wearily.

"I have to go meet someone. Could you take me out a back way  were they wont see me and tell them I'll be back around noon."

"Elle, I honestly don't think that's a good idea. Your captain seemed tense last night and even more this morning. I know you don't want to go to the French convent but if you talk to him-" she let the words trail off. She looked at Elle with a concerned expression.

"I'll be back by noon. I have to make plans in case he insist. I wont go to a convent, Z."

Zara bit her lip and nodded. Then they made their way to the ally.

"Please be safe, Elle."

"Always, Z." Elle said with a grin. She turned and started down the ally.

"Elle?"

Elle turned. Zara walked closer. "No matter what happens you'll still be around?"

Elle understood what Zara meant. She wanted to know if they were going to remain friends.  To Elle there was no question. She couldn't imagine her life with out Zara in it. "Somehow we'll make it happen, Zara." she said. She wanted to hug her but knew it would draw attention from anyone looking out windows.

Elle made her way through town to the home and shop of Brandon and Minerva Hillard. They had been friends of her parents before her mother's death. in the ensuing years the friendship have faded to an acquaintanceship.

According to Minerva her father had lost interest in all friendships. He had spent every waking moment on his business or his relationship with his daughter.

Minerva said that she believed that he was trying to make up for the loss of her mom.

She knew that if anyone could help her that it would be them. If for no other reason than the memory of her mother.

When Elle pushed open the door and the bell jingled it was Minerva who came into the room from the office behind the counter. Thankfully no other customers where there at the moment.

" Oh my goodness Elizabeth. We were so worried about you. We didn't know where you were staying and those two men who came looking for you were quite scary." She rushed from behind the counter and gold Elle in a big hug. "I wasn't sure if they were really your friends as they claimed."

Elle Soon learned that Harv and Captain Talbot had been at the Hilliards searching for her the previous night.

Minerva insisted on closing the shop so she could speak with Elle privately.

The shop closed, they went to the back rooms where they lived. Brandon sit at the kitchen table with ledgers and books spread over it.

He glanced up and his reaction was pretty much the same as Minervas but to a smaller more masculine scale.

Minerva made some tea and they set listening as Elle explained her situation. Elle was vague as she possibly could be. She did not mention Sir Travis by name. She didn't mention any names actually. She just said that she was in a situation that needed a delicate hands. She told them that her employer was concerned for her safety and thought that it'd be best if she went to France and join the convent. She explained although she understood that her safety was an issue she did not want to leave England and she definitely did not want to make it where she could not visit her father or the Hilliards or the Hardies.

Minerva sat besides Brandon their hands close together on the table among the papers and books.

They were both so quiet for so long that Elle started to become nervous.

"Elle, you know that we would do anything in our power to help you. but," Minerva paused, "maybe your employer is right."

"It truly isn't that we don't want to help you, child. Your mother was a dear friend. Although we hardly see your father we still consider him a friend as well." Brandon stated, "but we have noticed a few things. The way you're dressed for one. We've also have noticed that you rarely tell the true gravity of your situation."

"You have mentioned nothing of your previous engagement to Sir Travis." Minerva said. She glanced over at her husband and he nodded. "We get the feeling that your fear for your safety stems in a large part due to him. Are we correct?"

Elle was silent for a moment unsure whether or not she should divulge the truth. She did not want to put these wonderful people at risk. The more they knew the more dangerous it could be for them. She was however asking for their help, If they eventually chose to help her then they did deserve to know the truth and the danger that that would put them in. Slowly she nodded her head.

"You cannot tell anyone. It would be too dangerous. Your lives could be in danger and I do not want that." she cautioned to them. "I love you. You're like family to me." she added in a small almost childlike voice.

Minerva stood and walked around the table. She gathered Elle in a hug. "We love you too,  child." she pulled back and looked into Elles eyes. She sat down in the chair beside Elle. She didn't break eye contact. "We don't want anything to happen to you. The last few  weeks we have heard some rumors, rumors about Sir Travis. There's a rumor that he's looking for someone. It's never anything concrete and we can never find the source. So we don't know if its an actual truth and just a rumor that somebody has planted." She glanced over at her husband.

Elle turned her head and look at one then the other. "What? What's the rumor?" she asked her curiosity tinged with fear.

"From what we understand he's looking for a young woman. Its said that the woman stole something from him. No one seems to know what she's stoled." Minerva said.

Elle remained silent letting the information sink in. She bit her lip as her gaze shifted over the table and it's contents. "We can't be sure that it's me." she finally said.

"Elle. " Brandon said, his voice cautious.

"No. We can't know for sure. But can we take the chance?" Minerva stood. She started pacing a tight circle by the chair.

"If it is you he's searching for then you can't stay in England. You're boss can get you out of the country. Right?"

Elle found herself nodding her head.

"Elizabeth,  you should go." Brandon said as he stood. "You worry about being able to see us and your father but have you thought how dangerous these visits are?" he gathered the papers and books as he spoke. Occasionally his gaze would meet hers. "Sir Travis knows your feelings for your father. He could have him watched, if he isn't already. Someone could recognized you on one of your visits. If it got back to sir Travis that you visited your father they could be there next time," he placed the books and papers on a high shelf. He turned back to face her. His eyes looked directly into hers. "They could wait for you, or worse. They could hurt your father trying to get information about you." He moved back to the chair he had moments ago abandoned.

A silent tear trailed down her cheek. Her heart felt tight in her chest. Squeezing her eyes closed, in an attempt to block more tears, she nodded again.

He was right and she knew it. She had behaved selfishly visiting her father, not thinking about the danger that it could bring him.

She had been so careful but what if the unthinkable had happened? She had been so angry with her father because of the arranged marriage.  When she finally understand that he had truely thought he was doing a good thing, she had been overjoyed that she didn't have to give him up.

Visiting him as she had she had endangered them both. How stupid? How selfish?

Minerva was hugging her and someone was sobbing. Minerva was crooning softly. "Hush child. It will be okay."  Elle realized it was her that was sobbing. She was also clinging to Minerva.

She heard Brandon doweling to his wife, "I hadn't meant to make her cry. I felt she needed to know the truth." He must have moved because Elle felt him ackwardly pat her shoulder. She struggled to compose herself. When she pulled back she took a few shaky breaths.

"I'll go to the ... the convent. But I need you to renew your close tie with my father." she looked at them beseechingly. "I cannot bare the though of him being completely alone."

"Of course, dear."

They soon had devised a plan for her to see him one last time. She was to deliver a box of ledger sheets to him at the shop instead of at home. She would remain dressed as a boy. The ledgers weren't due for a week but that meant little.

She had tears in her eyes as she bid them goodbye, the box cradled in her arms. Minerva wiped a tear from her own cheek.

The box seemed to grow in weight the closer she got to her father's shop. She walked as quickly as she could.

She pushed her way in the door.  There was only one customer in the shop a middle aged woman. the woman wore a grey skirt and a white blouse. Ella couldn't help but overhear the conversation that the woman was having with her father.

"-but the price was half that last week. it's not my fault that your prices have increased. I can not feed my family all month if I pay what you expect." the woman's voice was filled with concern. Her eyes drifted over the provisions on the counter. There was everything from salt pork, a hard cheese wedge, to sacks of flour.

Look on her father's face showed that he felt compassion for the woman. He nodded. "I do understand. Really. But unfortunately I have no choice, I have to pay what my suppliers demand. Unfortunately when my costs rise the cost to my customers rises as well." He picked up on the cheese wedges. " Tell me Mrs. Connor, your daughter May, I was told she does laundry."

the womans back straightened but much of the tension had seemed to leave her body. "If you're looking for someone to do some chores I'm sure we can give it a call me that you."

Her father nodded. "Send her around at the end of the week. She can collect the linens then." He started placing the provisions into the coarse wool sack by the womans selections.

In just moments the woman had thanked him profusely and left the shop.

it was as the woman was passing her and exiting the door that he looked up and glanced at her face. the look of shock was written all over his. he mouthed her name but no sound escaped his lips.

she shook her head vigorously.  she crossed the room and placed the box on the counter. 

"Is anyone else here?" she whispered softly to him.

he shook his head and looked at the door, fearfully. he rushed from behind the counter , crossed the room and locked the door. He pulled the fabric to block prying eyes.

"Elle, What are you doing here? It's too dangerous. You have to leave, you have to leave now." He said facing her but glanced quickly over his shoulder at the door.

"You've heard the rumors." she said.

He nodded.

she took a deep breath and stealed herself to tell him that she was leaving, at least this way she believed that he would understand. She nodded. "I know someone that's going to get me out of the country, to somewhere in France.  I'm not safe here, Poppy, and you're not safe if I stay." her heart constricted at the look on her father's face. He looks so desolate. She forced herself to continue. " I want to say its just for a little while but the truth is I don't know." she felt her own tears flowing freely, unable to stop them. " I don't have much time. I shouldn't even be here now. I...I just couldn't leave wh... without saying goodbye." she forced the words out between vocal cords that seem to have shrunk.

Her father's arms were around her but that seemed to increase the pain not lessen it. She feared that this would be the last time that she ever saw him. She clung to him desperately. A small part of her heart felt like it was dying. in those moments she almost decided not to leave. She thought about going and confronting Sir Travis. She thought desperately for any course of action that would enable her to stay. She could think of nothing that would ensure her safety as well as those she loved.

Her father drew back his arms falling at his side. he reached up and under on the button on the top of his shirt. he reached inside and withdrew the locket the blonde your mother. running his fingers along the chain he found the clasp and undid it, pulled it away from the shirt.

With one hand he reached out and took one of her own. He pressed the locket it into her palm with the other hand, closing her fingers around it gently.

"Your mother wanted you to have this." His voice was thick with sadness. His eyes, looked at her, heavy with pain.

"I don't want to go Poppy. I don't want to go." she whispered desperately. She brought one hand over the other hand holding locket and pressed it to her chest.

"I know darling, I know." he said and hugged her again. His grip was so tight that her hands pressed into her chest. He gripped her shoulders and leaned her back a little bit looking into her eyes. " I know that you cannot tell me where you're going, but your mother had a great great aunt in Sillicas France. Her name was Virginia Kobee-Bryant. I'll send a letter there for you every month. Someday it will be safe for you to come home. This way you'll know as soon as that day comes."

Ten minutes later she made her way back to tavern. She knew that he was going to be angry with her absents but she didn't care. Her heart hurt too much for her to worry about whether or not the captain was angry at her. He always seem to be angry at her. Well, it wouldn't be much longer and he would be rid of her permanently.

They sat in the common room of the tavern. Harv,  Miles, and the Captain sat at the same table they had occupied the night before.

The captain was the first to see her. he jerked his head and both Miles and Harv looked up over at her. Strangely, both Miles and Harv looked relieved. The captain just look angry as usual.

She took a seat across from the captain.

"Where have you bloody been?" the captain hissed at her. He was careful to keep his voice down so that none of the other patrons heard.

She was grateful that her back was to the room. Unwilling tears spilled from her eyes. She hastily wiped them away.

"Saying goodbye." she tried to disguise the pain in her voice. "You get what you want. I'll go to the... that place." she remember that anyone could overhear if they happen to be walking by the wrong moment.

"Elle, what happen?" Harv asked from beside her.

She just shook her head and mumbled, "Not here."

"Are you okay?" Miles asked. Elle looked up from the table to the captains left. Miles did look concerned.  Odd what a difference a day makes, she though, just last night you wanted to kill me.

"I'm fine." she said, but there was no assurance in her tone. Her world had finally collapsed and she felt the devastation. "I'm fine." she repeated. Unfortunately, the words failed to reassure her as she had intended.

She raised her arm and signaled for a round of drinks. She didn't look or speak to anyone until the drinks arived. She payed the pretty brown eyed woman and threw in a few farthings.  "Keep them coming."

The woman gave her a flirtatious smile.

The captain sent her off with a snarled, "Leave us." The woman pouted but quickly turned and left.

"What's going on?" the Captain demanded as soon as the woman was out of ear shot.

Elle lifted the drink and downed half of it before putting it back on the table. "Told you. I'm going. You get what you want." She drank another third of the remaining liquid.

** If you have read this before I'm hope that you have some kind of interest in this novel. If so please vote and comment. I would love to hear from my wonderful, awesome readers. You are all the best.**