Simon Hawke: The Merchant of Vengeance

“And what is that, do you suppose?”

“You want a man, but you want him only on your terms. What you want is a husband who is not a husband, one who is strong enough to tame you, but at the same time does not attempt to rein you in. You want a man with whom you can discourse as an equal, and to whom you do not owe obedience, unless it be your choice.

You want someone who can provide for you, but at the same time with whom you can feel passion.“ Antonia shook her head. ”Elizabeth, my dear, you do not want a husband. ‘What you want is a lover.“

“Antonia! That is a scandalous thing to say!”

Antonia merely shrugged. “Nevertheless, ‘tis true. ’Tis what you truly seem to want. And ‘twould seem that Tuck. Smythe could be all of those things for you, save one. He could not provide for you. But then, you have your father to do that, at least for the present. Then, when he finally tires of supporting you and puts his foot down once and for all and insists upon your taking a husband, why then, rake one who can provide for you and does not make too many demands. And then keep Tuck as your secret lover.”

“Antonia!” Elizabeth was shocked. “You cannot possibly be serious!”

“And why not, pray tell?”

“You mean that you would wish me to be unfaithful to my husband?” Elizabeth asked, astonished at the very suggestion.

“What I would wish is for you to be happy,” Antonia replied calmly. “If you could find your happiness in being faithful to a husband, then I would wish no more for you. But if not, then I would wish for you to find some means whereby you might find the happiness you seek. I was merely suggesting one path that you could take. The choice is yours.”

“Could…” Elizabeth hesitated and glanced at her friend askance. “Could you ever be unfaithful to Harry?”

Antonia laughed. “Oh, Elizabeth! Harry is my father’s age, and

I am but eighteen! What do you think?“

Elizabeth stared at her friend as if seeing her for the first rime.

“You mean to say that… that you have…”

“Had a lover?” Antonia said, raising her eyebrows. “Aye, several.”

“Several!”

“Well, two, to be exact,” Antonia said. “Does that amaze you? Do you think less of me now that you know? Does it make you think I am a strumpet?”

“Nay, Antonia, I would never think that of you!” Elizabeth replied. “But in truth, I.. I do not know what to think!”

“For all that you are older, Elizabeth, you know so little of the world,” Antonia said. “Do you truly believe that men are faithful to their wives? Who do you suppose patronises all the brothels in the Liberties?”

“Why. I have never even thought about it,” Elizabeth confessed. “I would have thought that… well.. men who had no wives, I suppose.”

“You mean men like Tuck?” Antonia asked mischievously.

“I cannot believe that Tuck would ever set foot within a brothel,” said Elizabeth with firm conviction.

“Yet he is employed within a playhouse,” Antonia replied. “And ‘tis well known that whores ply their trade in playhouses. Why, the men who own the playhouses often own the brothels that can be found close by.”

“I cannot believe that Tuck would ever even venture into such a place,” Elizabeth said.

“Well, perhaps Tuck is one of the rare men who would not,” Antonia replied. “Indeed, he is as upright as a maypole. And any fool can plainly see he is in love with you. Nevertheless, he is still a man, and sooner or later, a man will have his passion wane should it remain unrequited.”

Elizabeth glanced sharply at Antonia. “Are you suggesting that

I should requite his passion?“

Antonia chuckled. “I was thinking more that you should indulge your own, my dear.”

“And if I were to do that,” Elizabeth replied, “which is not to say I would, mind you, then what if one day I should marry another, a man who could provide for me, as you suggest? ‘What then would I say to my proud husband on his wedding night?”

Antonia raised her eyebrows innocently. “‘Why, you would lower your eyes demurely and inform him that you were afraid and meekly ask him to be gentle with you.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Indeed! And do you suppose that he would fail to perceive that I was not a virgin?”

“Men are not very perceptive, as a rule,” Antonia replied dryly.

“And there are ways to make a man perceive that which you would wish him to perceive.”

Elizabeth looked sceptical. “I should think that ‘twould take a very foolish man, indeed, to be so gulled.”

“Men are often quick to call us women foolish,” Antonia replied, “and yet ‘tis men who are often made to play the fools. On the morning of your wedding, all you need do is pay a visit to a cunning woman and procure from her a bladder cut from a small sheep and filled with blood. Then, as you prepare to receive your new husband in your wedding bed, conceal your counterfeit virginity within, and as your husband consummates the marriage, the resulting flow shall surely satisfy him of your purity.”

Elizabeth stared at her friend with open mouthed astonishment. “God’s mercy, Antonia! You take my breath away and nearly leave me speechless! However do you learn such things?”

Antonia shrugged. “The same way that you have learned them now. One woman passes on wisdom to another. ‘Tis the ancient way.”

“And the woman who passed this wisdom on to you,” Elizabeth replied, “would not be a woman by the name of Granny Meg, by any chance?”

It was Antonia’s turn to look surprised. “And how would you know of Granny Meg?”

“Mayhap I do not know so little of the world as you may think,” Elizabeth said with a touch of defensive smugness. “As it happens, I have had occasion to consult with Granny Meg myself.”

“You? Gone to see a witch?”

“Do you find that so surprising?” asked Elizabeth, a bit annoyed that she should be thought so innocent, especially by someone younger than herself.

“What did you go to see her for?” Antonia asked. “Was it to obtain a love potion?”

“I hardly think I should require a love potion,” said Elizabeth.

“From what I can see, love brings naught but trouble to its victims.”

“What then? What did she give you?” asked Antonia eagerly.

“Was it a charm of warding? A binding spell to hold off your father’s wishes for you? Or did she, perhaps, work a spell of divination to foretell your future?”

“Never you mind what Granny Meg did,” Elizabeth replied. “‘Twas between the two of us, and let that be an end to it. I would ›not have said as much save that you were so smug in thinking you knew more than I did about everything. In any event, some things are best left unspoken, and so I shall say no more.”

Antonia’s eyes grew wide. “Oooh, ‘twas something nasty, was it not?”

“Twas some black magic that she worked for you?”

Elizabeth said nothing. She merely looked away.

Antonia’s hand went to her mouth. “Oh! I knew it! ‘Twas something dark and terrible!”

It was, of course, nothing of the kind, but Elizabeth was not about to tell Antonia that. She merely gave her a sidelong glance and said, “I shall not speak of it.”

Antonia gasped and shrank away from her. “Elizabeth! What have you done? You have involved yourself with witchcraft! Oh, how could you?”

“Why, I have done no more than you,” Elizabeth replied. “Nay, I never!”

“You never what?”

“I never went to Granny Meg!” Antonia said.

“You said you did!”

“I never did!” Antonia protested. “I merely asked you how you knew of her!”

“Antonia! You told me that you had been to see a cunning woman, that ‘twas she who told you of the trick to counterfeit virginity!”