The Dark Side

[Elizabeth Davenport]

Elizabeth had wasted no time in agreeing to help her Lady's Maid. The woman had been with them since before her mother had died and now that she hated her step-mother, the woman was the closest thing she had to a mother figure. Joanna had told Elizabeth about her sister and how she was in trouble. She worked for a lower establishment but had been trying to get out of there. Elizabeth didn't know much about how that side of the city worked and she didn't pretend to, but she knew she wanted to do whatever she could to help. Joanna had told her there were rumors of an establishment run by a man who took these types of women in. He helped them and gave them a good place to stay and that's where Joanna wanted her sister to try to go. But she would need help and Elizabeth had volunteered to go and try to talk to the man to facilitate the assistance. Elizabeth prepared for the worst but wasn't naive enough to believe she was completely prepared. She'd be over her head on this one.

With a cloak over her head and clothes that didn't announce she was the daughter of a Marquess, Elizabeth made her way through the streets of London. She had her carriage drop her off a bit away so it wouldn't announce her status either. Elizabeth made her way into the establishment and looked around. She'd never been in a place like this before but she bet her brothers had. Elizabeth kept her wits about her but waited until someone passed her. "Excuse me, do you know where I might find an Elijah Hamilton?" She asked. Her nodded and led her through a few rooms before he knocked on a door, waited and then opened it. Elizabeth walked in and spotted the man she was looking for. 

"Hello," she greeted. She'd never done something like this before. But Elizabeth Davenport did not back down easily and she reminded herself why she was doing this. "I've heard you help women who are looking for a safe place. I'm looking for some assistance for a mutual friend." 

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Tag: Elijah Hamilton

credit to Laura of Adox

[Elijah Hamilton]

I WILL BURN ALL MY BRIDGES
to keep myself warm
TAGGED Elizabeth Davenport	The knock on Elijah’s door meant someone was dying or at least there was something severe enough to take him from his work. Managing a club was difficult enough, but handling the house debts and transactions was a time-consuming endeavor. When the door opened he glowered at the sight. A clean cloak, a fresh scent and dangling curls immediately indicated a high born girl in his club. It was something he forbade under all circumstances. The fact that she knew he was where she should turn for her… companion, was alarming. ”I don’t know who told you that, but they were wrong. I don’t just take in any woman that darkened my doorstep, and I especially don’t entertain ladies unaccompanied by an escort.” He stood up and eyed her for a long moment before moving onto the girl she had brought. It was true he didn’t accept random women, but he would sooner provide shelter over a nunnery or a workhouse. His reputation for charity was not something he wanted to build. ”Who is our mutual friend?” As he spoke, he pulled the hood from the silent one’s head to examine her. Her beauty meant nothing to him, but he needed to make sure she was healthy. They were pretty, healthy in appearance without lumps in their throat. He was quick; checking simply for anything that may spread to the others. ”Why have you brought her here?” What on earth could a highborn woman find here, in a club meant for gentlemen of the court. They did not have the right to touch the women, true, but it was still a strange choice for most women of high birth.

pyxis ★

[Elizabeth Davenport]

He was very handsome, she would give him that much. There was something about his eyes that she couldn't quite place. But Elizabeth knew that this was not someone she should take her eyes off for a moment. This was a serious place she was in and she needed to keep that at the top of her mind. She supposed she should not have been surprised by his immediate denial. Elizabeth realized that her complete naive nature when it came to these dealings would put her in a vulnerable position but she had no other choice. This was what she needed to do in order to help Joana's sister. "And you would have preferred if I show up here with an escort?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. An escort meant another high class person in his establishment that knew Elizabeth was even there. She couldn't exactly blame Mr. Hamilton for wanting to be careful. He didn't know Elizabeth and she was certain he didn't get to where he was by trusting strangers off the streets.

Elizabeth looked over at Maryanne, Joana's sister, and gave her an encouraging nod. They were here to protect her and give her a better future. Elizabeth could only do so much with getting her here and giving her support in Joana's absence. She saw the way Maryanne flinched when Mr. Hamilton removed her hood. From what Joana had told her, Maryanne had experienced a high level of abuse from her current employer. She mumbled her name to his question and then Elizabeth turned her attention back to Elijah. "As I said, we're looking for someplace safe for her." 

She waited a moment and realized that her being here was not something he was going to be able to overlook. "I can offer coin for taking her in," Elizabeth offered. Maryanne went wide-eyed and looked at her. "My Lady that is too much. You don't need to!" Elizabeth shook her head and looked back at Elijah. "And a future favor within reason." It was all she could offer to make sure Maryanne was safe and that Joana's worries were quelled. "I just want her safe." Her eyes were sincere and she just hoped one of the things she offered was enough for him.

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Tag: Elijah Hamilton

credit to Laura of Adox

[Elijah Hamilton]

I WILL BURN ALL MY BRIDGES
to keep myself warm
TAGGED Elizabeth Davenport	Elijah wasn’t about to refuse money for something he did for free. He took it with his eyes still on the girl. He took note of how she flinched and mumbled. Some of the girls here were like that… She’d do better cleaning rather than entertaining. ”What I need to know is, will anyone come looking for her?” he did not intend on getting involved in anything too dramatic if he could help it. The club was a renowned establishment. Violence was carried out miles away. Here, it was an escape. ”Why does she need somewhere safe?” He walked back to his desk to be sure there was room for her downstairs. It was doable, which meant she could stay so long as her presence didn’t bring with it any violence. ”As for the escort… You’re someone; I won’t pretend to know who, but if the wrong person were to see you leaving this place your honor and reputation would suffer greatly. You are taking a very big, stupid risk coming here during the social season,” He saw no ring, which meant that she should not have come without a hand to hold. The maid, or her companion could have made the trip alone without endangering a young woman’s future.

pyxis ★

[Elizabeth Davenport]

It should have come as no surprise that the question of whether or not someone would come after her would arise. It wasn't a question Elizabeth had asked, only furthering the thought that she was ill prepared for the situation she had placed herself in. She felt like her naive nature with the situation only made her seem like the privileged lady Elijah believed her to be, and she hated it. For this question, Elizabeth turned to Maryanne. "They will sometimes search the streets but will not put in effort beyond that," Maryanne explained. They would have likely already noticed that Maryanne was missing by now but she'd insisted it would be another day or two before they wanted to know where she'd run off to. 

Elijah made another good point and Elizabeth merely nodded. She understood the repercussions of if someone were to see her entering or leaving this establishment but she cared not. How this all affected her was the least of her concerns but she found she would be worried if it were to come back on her family. Family was the most important thing to Elizabeth and since she considered Joanna family, Maryanne was just as important. "Some things are more important than marriage proposals, at least to me," Elizabeth found herself explaining. "Look, I've taken care to make sure I have not been seen. My carriage is not sitting out front of your establishment and I was sure to take the one without my family's crest on the side." She wasn't a total idiot all of the time. "I just wanted to make sure she would be safe." Elizabeth's absence could easily be explained but Joanna's would have been noticed, which was why Elizabeth had taken it upon herself to make sure Maryanne arrived safely. 

As if she felt he was not yet convinced, Elizabeth decided to do the stupid thing and reveal who she was. Of course, it would do no harm for him to know she was there and likely spreading a rumor that she'd been seen there could easily be squashed if she got to it on time. But Elizabeth wanted to ensure Maryanne's place here. "My name is Elizabeth Davenport and that favor I have promised could prove to be quite fruitful for you," she pointed out.

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Tag: Elijah Hamilton

credit to Laura of Adox

[Elijah Hamilton]

I WILL BURN ALL MY BRIDGES
to keep myself warm
TAGGED Elizabeth Davenport	Elijah was still irritated by the lack of detail. No amount of gold would ever make him feel right about these circumstances. He nodded, though. There was no hesitation there. They had the room and it seemed as if she was enough in need that she’d be willing to work. He had other women who could help her get settled. ”She can stay. Go back to the lobby and collect whatever things you have; tell the host to take you to the staff quarters.” he quirked a brow and gestured for her to move when she didn’t immediately take flight. Fortunately, she seemed to respond to non-verbal commands. “You shouldn’t be offering favors to men like me, or be seen in a place like this Lady Davenport,” he said when the woman scurried away. His dark gaze fixated on her for a moment. He wanted to know if she was lying, or trying to deceive him into taking on a dangerous charge. He did not want to deal with that right now. “If you really cared for her you would have taken her to a nunnery.” His tone was bored at the thought. He found women safer there than in a club filled with drunk men. “Your discretion makes me wonder if you’ve done this before. Your cloak looks barely used. Is this your first stealthy promenade through the streets of London?” He imagined that a life of nobility grew dull with the way men let loose away from their wives.

pyxis ★

[Elizabeth Davenport]

Relief washed over her as he finally agreed to let her stay. Elizabeth wasn't sure what she would have done had he turned them both away. No amount of coin or enticing favors could guarantee any outcome, and she'd been aware of that. She felt Maryanne breathe a sigh of relief as well, the woman physically relaxing as she nodded and turned to do as he asked, but not before embracing Elizabeth in a hug and thanking her for all her help. 

It was perhaps not the wisest of choices to offer a favor to someone like him but Elizabeth had been quite desperate to get him to take Maryanne in but she'd come prepared to pay the price. "Am I to believe you turning this favor down?" She asked, raising an eyebrow in question. Elizabeth had to admit, it was a little amusing to think of someone like Elijah Hamilton turning down a favor that most men would jump at the bit to get. It was amusing even more when he mentioned the nunnery, as Elizabeth had suggested exactly that. A small chuckle escaped her lips and she shook her head. "She appeared to have quite the distaste towards the idea when I proposed it," Elizabeth explained. "I do not wish to bring any trouble to you or your establishment. I believe the man that previously employed her was named something like Higgins or Hickson, if that gives you any information." Elizabeth did not pretend to know everything about everyone when it came to this world. This was not the Ton and she was out of her depths. 

Elizabeth was unsure if she should find his comment offensive or not. He was practically accusing her of living a sheltered life, but he was not wrong. "Perhaps," she said. "But it was a risk I was willing to make and I shall face the repercussions on my own, should there be any. I might come from a privileged life but there's nothing I wouldn't do for those around me," she explained. It was as if Elizabeth felt the need to explain that she wasn't being a complete idiot. She had a reason for taking these risks. 

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Tag: Elijah Hamilton

credit to Laura of Adox

[Elijah Hamilton]

I WILL BURN ALL MY BRIDGES
to keep myself warm
TAGGED Elizabeth Davenport	“I did not know that I was addressing a saint,” he responded with a smirk. No saint would ever find herself here, or aware of this establishment. “Your friend can stay; nunneries are dull and harsh. Here, you just work for your bed. She will be able to make a small sum to support herself when she wishes to leave.” He told her this to ease her conscience, as he imagined that she wouldn’t be too fond of leaving a companion in the care of a corrupt club owner. He wanted to ease her mind. After Higgins, he had a feeling this would be a paradise, regardless of the dishonorable stares. “As for the favor, I should refuse that. Getting involved with highborn girls is dangerous. Do you have a brother, my Lady? Perhaps a protective father who would see me beaten for entertaining your company in a den of debauchery?” He chuckled at the thought. He would end up staying for a drink, a chat, and perhaps a spirited game or two. He was excellent with noblemen. Experience had aided him tremendously. “Although, I could possibly make some guidelines for this… vague favor,” He thought for a moment, honor meaning nothing. He just didn’t like having women do his bidding out of debt. Still, connections that were loyal were rare and difficult to find. “I will not ask you to do anything dangerous,” in this place offering favors was stupid. Some would want her to steal family jewels. Ten years ago, he would have been one of them. Things were different now. “I can walk you to your carriage, assuming you have it hidden in an inconspicuous alley. Did you need to bribe the chauffeur?”

pyxis ★

[Elizabeth Davenport]

She chuckled and shook her head. "Hardly," she replied. Elizabeth had never considered herself a saint or someone that did saintly things. Being nice to those around her was usually a given but putting up a wall for outside society was apart of her demeanor. But now, with Maryanne and Joanna, this was different. Joanna was considered apart of her family and while she had no personal attachments to Maryanne, she'd taken the task as if she were family.

Elizabeth was glad to hear that Maryanne was going to be able to stay and that she'd be able to earn a living. She could only hope that she would taken this opportunity to forge a better life for herself but at this point, it was completely out of Elizabeth's hands. She'd done her part and while she would continue to worry for Maryanne, she knew she could not continue to intervene. Elijah was right about one thing; Elizabeth being here would not bode well should it ever come to light.

"Speaking from experience, perhaps?" Elizabeth asked, a small, amused, expression on her face. She tried to subdue it but knew it likely failed. It was not completely unheard of for girls of her status to get involved with men that they shouldn't. There was an allure to the danger and darkness of the things they should not touch. "I have two elder brothers and a father that would likely not be pleased if they were to find me in a place like this. Although something tells me at least one of my brothers has visited establishments like this before, if not this very one." No doubt William had found entertainment here at one point or another.

"If you wish to refuse the favor then by all means, please do. But I made the offer and will uphold my end regardless. As I said, so long as it is within reason." He seemed smart enough to not ask for anything out of her reach or anything that would jeopardize her status. He'd seemed overly concerned for her reputation which isn't always the case with a man such as him. "I do," she said. Her carriage was waiting in an alley just as he'd guessed. She chuckled and pursed her lips to keep a smile from her lips. "Not at all. It was offered and I trust him to keep our adventure from the rest of my family," she said. Truth be told, she was sure he had a soft spot for Joanna and was doing this for her. 

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Tag: Elijah Hamilton

credit to Laura of Adox