The suitcase hit me square in the chest, knocking me back. I grabbed it just as it fell open, littering the cobblestone with its contents.
"And stay out!" the hotel manager growled, slamming the door to finalize his point.
Several noticed the outburst but I paid them no mind, simply kneeling to gather all the clothing up.
That could've gone smoother. I should've followed my instincts and left yesterday but I'd been too busy trying to make it through all the confusion in order to mail Nora's letter; which, because of my lack of education, I'd felt totally inadequate in writing. My spelling was good, but my handwriting wasn't especially fine and I wrote how I spoke. There was nothing formal about it and it made me feel terribly self-concious, but at least, after a chaotic day, it had been sent. I had actually been glad that the rumors hadn't reached the hotel manager until this morning, allowing me a bed for one more night.
"I own the best quality hotel for miles around!" he'd hollered this morning, my things already packed and on the front desk. It bothered me that he'd gone through my belongings while I was busy, but my opinnion had no place for the moment.
"And I'll not have anyone soiling my reputation. I will not be taken advantage of!" he slowly began to back me towards the door, "So I want you to leave, Mr. Snyder, and Heaven help if I ever discover you even within a block of my hotel!"
I shook my head with a smirk and stood up again, headed for Charles' house. On the bright side, I'd would no longer have to the pay the full amount for five months; only three.
Charles' maid let me in, which was unusual. At this point though, I simply accepted the fact that I'd been welcomed and waited for her to fetch my cousin. When he entered the parlor I noticed a tired look behind his usual smile.
"Have a seat, Elliot."
I shook my head, "I shouldn't be long. I only came to return this." I handed over the suitcase and he accepted it, trying to gauge the full meaning behind my actions.
"I put the rest of the money you lent me inside. I'm really sorry Charles. I really am. I've ruined everything."
"Not everything," he retorted.
I sneered, "You're a saintly soul, dear cousin, but please. List one thing that I haven't completely destroyed."
"Well...actually I believe I may be one of those," he muttered, "People have stopped by offering their sympathies to Mrs. Lettington and I that we were so misused by our very own blood relative. Now I know I didn't spread such news."
I shrugged, "You're a good citizen. People would generally assume you had nothing to do with such falsehoods. "
"Why did you do it?" he rode over me me, "After all, the scheme had originally been mine. It was I that convinced you to come here in the first place. You didn't need to go out of your way to protect us."
"Honestly, Charles," I sneered, "I owe you far too much not to. And I will repay it in full as soon as I can."
He studied me for a moment and then smiled.
"You've changed Elliot. For the better. I hope you're family realizes that as well."
Finally, he stepped towards me and offered a handshake. I took it and was surprised when he yanked me into an embrace instead, suitcase and all.
"I wish you luck upon you're return home."
That wasn't yet my decision but I only smiled and pulled away, "Thank you."
Everyone's eyes trailed me as walked down the familiar streets. Their smiles and greetings were gone now, replaced with glares and whispers. I simply kept my hands in my trouser pockets and moved on, offering a half-smile to the few who accidentally met my gaze although they would only turn away.
My abilities were limited as to what I could about the situation. All my costumes were with Charles now so I couldn't hide behind them. I was left with the clothes I had worn upon my arrival: a white shirt with a brown vest, trousers, a pair of scuffed boots with a hole in the heel of one and in the toe of the other, and a small cap that I kept crumpled in my hand as there was no use for it now.
"Go back to where you belong, Snyder," a passerby angrily muttered. I chose to ignore him and moved on.
"Poor Miss Ainsworth," I heard another moan, "The dear must be shamefully embarressed."
Someone next to them laughed, "And to think the Grantsville Estate could've gone to him. What a good scheme that would have been!"
I just kept walking, no apparent destination in mind only a desire for some peace and quiet. And I eventually found it atop a hill with an invigorating view and a shady tree. A little winded from the climb and exhausted from everything else, I sunk down into the grass beneath it and rested my head back on the trunk.
Three words. Three words had triggered this downward spiral my life had taken. The one's I'd spoken in Mr. Ainsworth's office: Yes. Of. Course.
I suddenly grew weary of the headache and leaned foward with a sigh, looking out across the sprawling town below. My eyes fell on the steeple of the church and I gave a mirthless chuckle.
"And stay out!" the hotel manager growled, slamming the door to finalize his point.
Several noticed the outburst but I paid them no mind, simply kneeling to gather all the clothing up.
That could've gone smoother. I should've followed my instincts and left yesterday but I'd been too busy trying to make it through all the confusion in order to mail Nora's letter; which, because of my lack of education, I'd felt totally inadequate in writing. My spelling was good, but my handwriting wasn't especially fine and I wrote how I spoke. There was nothing formal about it and it made me feel terribly self-concious, but at least, after a chaotic day, it had been sent. I had actually been glad that the rumors hadn't reached the hotel manager until this morning, allowing me a bed for one more night.
"I own the best quality hotel for miles around!" he'd hollered this morning, my things already packed and on the front desk. It bothered me that he'd gone through my belongings while I was busy, but my opinnion had no place for the moment.
"And I'll not have anyone soiling my reputation. I will not be taken advantage of!" he slowly began to back me towards the door, "So I want you to leave, Mr. Snyder, and Heaven help if I ever discover you even within a block of my hotel!"
I shook my head with a smirk and stood up again, headed for Charles' house. On the bright side, I'd would no longer have to the pay the full amount for five months; only three.
Charles' maid let me in, which was unusual. At this point though, I simply accepted the fact that I'd been welcomed and waited for her to fetch my cousin. When he entered the parlor I noticed a tired look behind his usual smile.
"Have a seat, Elliot."
I shook my head, "I shouldn't be long. I only came to return this." I handed over the suitcase and he accepted it, trying to gauge the full meaning behind my actions.
"I put the rest of the money you lent me inside. I'm really sorry Charles. I really am. I've ruined everything."
"Not everything," he retorted.
I sneered, "You're a saintly soul, dear cousin, but please. List one thing that I haven't completely destroyed."
"Well...actually I believe I may be one of those," he muttered, "People have stopped by offering their sympathies to Mrs. Lettington and I that we were so misused by our very own blood relative. Now I know I didn't spread such news."
I shrugged, "You're a good citizen. People would generally assume you had nothing to do with such falsehoods. "
"Why did you do it?" he rode over me me, "After all, the scheme had originally been mine. It was I that convinced you to come here in the first place. You didn't need to go out of your way to protect us."
"Honestly, Charles," I sneered, "I owe you far too much not to. And I will repay it in full as soon as I can."
He studied me for a moment and then smiled.
"You've changed Elliot. For the better. I hope you're family realizes that as well."
Finally, he stepped towards me and offered a handshake. I took it and was surprised when he yanked me into an embrace instead, suitcase and all.
"I wish you luck upon you're return home."
That wasn't yet my decision but I only smiled and pulled away, "Thank you."
***
Everyone's eyes trailed me as walked down the familiar streets. Their smiles and greetings were gone now, replaced with glares and whispers. I simply kept my hands in my trouser pockets and moved on, offering a half-smile to the few who accidentally met my gaze although they would only turn away.
My abilities were limited as to what I could about the situation. All my costumes were with Charles now so I couldn't hide behind them. I was left with the clothes I had worn upon my arrival: a white shirt with a brown vest, trousers, a pair of scuffed boots with a hole in the heel of one and in the toe of the other, and a small cap that I kept crumpled in my hand as there was no use for it now.
"Go back to where you belong, Snyder," a passerby angrily muttered. I chose to ignore him and moved on.
"Poor Miss Ainsworth," I heard another moan, "The dear must be shamefully embarressed."
Someone next to them laughed, "And to think the Grantsville Estate could've gone to him. What a good scheme that would have been!"
I just kept walking, no apparent destination in mind only a desire for some peace and quiet. And I eventually found it atop a hill with an invigorating view and a shady tree. A little winded from the climb and exhausted from everything else, I sunk down into the grass beneath it and rested my head back on the trunk.
Three words. Three words had triggered this downward spiral my life had taken. The one's I'd spoken in Mr. Ainsworth's office: Yes. Of. Course.
Absolutely Ridiculous. You'd think with all the planning and scheming and detail work that went into it, my downfall would consist of something much more intricate. Especially with how confident I had started out.
Either way, I needed to decide what I was going to do now. My family had, for the most part, given up on me and left. Though I wasn't officially disowned, I certainly wasn't welcomed. Not unless I had something to offer, which I didn't. Other than an extra pair of hands to pay off the debt and a pair of knees to beg upon of course, but I wanted something more before I returned. Something that could really assist them. And I refused to stay here with Charles until then; it would undo all my efforts in protecting him.
So what, then? Elliot Samuelson had left and robbed Elliot Snyder of any place in the world. Not with his family, not here, and certainly not with Nora Ainsworth. Nathaniel Scotts would again snatch up another victory from me with the estate. Not that I cared anymore. Of course the fortune was exactly what I was in the greatest need of at the moment, but I had no honorable reason to be taking it. I had little incentive on the matter anyways as my family wouldn't be impressed with stolen money. And even if there was a reason, I lacked the ambition. Or perhaps not the ambition, but the purpose. There was nothing about the Gransville Estate that I cared enough about to march back into town past all the naysayers.
I suddenly grew weary of the headache and leaned foward with a sigh, looking out across the sprawling town below. My eyes fell on the steeple of the church and I gave a mirthless chuckle.
Bertram Hodges was a regular genius. Just as he had said, this whole masquerade had caused me to lose myself. Maybe not my "soul" persay, but something close to it. My body seemed to have only one occupant now: emptiness. I was a slave to my own misdoings. And just as he'd prophesied, I had been taken in the devices I had imagined.
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