Clue from the Painted

Clue From The Painted

5th July 1786, Eliza Parkson walked down the stone stairs to the front door of her family’s little cottage to greet her father, Andrew Parkson at the door. He walked in, taking off his coat only to throw it in Liz’s face. She hung it on the rack as her father took a seat so she could take off his shoes. Her father had been treating her like this since her mother died.

“Sit down,” Liz’s head shot up at the words, her father hasn’t allowed her to sit with him for years now.

“Eliza sit, now!” Liz uneasily took a seat. “I have arranged a marriage between you and John Morrey, you’re lucky to marry such a successful man.”

“BUT HE’S 42!” Liz cried, tears in her eyes.

“Don’t complain you’re 14, soon you will be too old to marry. The wedding’s in 1 month, you are to be a good wife. Keep quiet, clean the house and bear John children.”

Liz was horrified, her father was already talking about having children. She was only 14, “Mother married you when she was 19, you were 22. She loved you, I haven’t even met John.”

Her father ignored her, “John’s coming over at 5pm. Make sure the house is spotless by that time tonight.”

“But the house is already clean, what else could I possibly do?”

Her father scoffed, “You call this clean, I can see dirt on the wall over there.”

She hesitated before objecting, “That’s a stain, it’s been there for years.”

“Just go get dressed.”

~

“Hello little lady, I suppose that your father has mentioned to you that our marriage will proceed in 3 weeks.” John spoke in a voice that made Liz shiver.

She silently put his tea on the table and took her place opposite him.

“I will not marry you.” Liz said in a quiet, hoarse voice.

He looked outraged, as he stood up quickly and suddenly, he grabbed his mug and to Liz’s devastation he threw it at the only painting in the cottage, it had been painted by one of her ancestors. Bethany. Bethany Parkson was an early painter. She had been Liz’s great grandmother and the painting was the only thing they had of hers. The painting was beautiful. It depicted a young girl in a purple dress walking through a meadow full of flowers of all different colours. As Liz looked at the painting, now destroyed on the floor, she remembered Bethany was also put in an arranged marriage.

John stomped out of the house and demanded that Andrew sort her out before he returns. Liz ran to the painting to clean it up before Andrew came in, only to find a strange looking book. She grabbed it and shoved it into her apron pocket wanting a closer look at it later.

“IF IT WASN'T FOR YOUR WEDDING IN THREE WEEKS, I DARE SAY TO WHICH YOU WILL BE ATTENDING, YOU WOULD BE GETTING THE BIGGEST BELTING OF YOUR LIFE! RUINING SUCH A PRIZED FAMILY POSSESSION. CONTROL YOURSELF YOUNG LADY, OR NEXT TIME YOU MIGHT BE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE IN A DRESS OF YOUR OWN BLOOD!” Andrew screamed at the top of his lungs. “HAVE THIS MESS CLEANED UP BEFORE I COME BACK DOWN HERE! NO MEALS FOR A WEEK.”

Liz’s thoughts were a blur the next morning. She wanted food so badly, but she knew that if she even tried to eat she would get belted. She also knew that her father was being serious about her walking down the aisle in a red dress. As Liz was sitting on the end of her bed her head shot up, she remembered that little book she had found. The one she found behind Bethany’s painting. She scrambled around her room throwing her possessions everywhere, not remembering where she had put it. Liz was about to start throwing her clothes out of her wardrobe when she remembered that she had slid it into the pocket of her apron.

“No, no, no,” Liz groaned. Her apron had gone into the washing hamper. Had she done the washing already?! She couldn't remember. Liz dashed out her room, up the stairs and into the hall. It couldn't be gone. She couldn’t have forgotten it was there! “ELIZA. Where are you going?” her father said. “Oh, last night I forgot to do the clothes washing, so I'm going to do that now. Why do you ask father?” Liz said in a calm and collective voice. “No reason,” he said in return, as if that was an answer.

Liz sprints towards the laundry room to go get her apron. Where is it? Where is it? Liz throws everything out of the basket and looks around for it. “Where are you? Where are you?” Liz mumbles underneath her breath. “YES! HERE YOU ARE” Liz screams with excitement. “ELIZA?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, EVERYONE IS GOING TO HEAR YOU,” Liz’s father shouts aggressively from the other room. “NOTHING FATHER. I WAS JUST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.”

Liz gathered up all the clothes again and put them back into the basket getting ready to take them into town. She grabbed the apron, putting her hand into the pocket. The book was small, black and dusty as she grabbed it out and put it into her apron she was wearing now. She would look at it more closely on the way to town.

Walking to town she took out the book and started reading. The book belonged to Bethany Parkson, Liz’s ancestor. It looked like some sort of journal. Dated back to 1724. Liz flicked to a random page and started to read.

17th October 1724

We’ve been married 3 days and I’m already carrying his child. I’m only 15! I’m too young to have a child. I have decided that after my child is born I will give it to my dear friend, Annabelle as she is much older than me and more equipped to look after a child. I am in no state to look after a child, Peter is cruel and mean I do not wish my child to grow up with a father like that. I have bruises all over my body from where he has hurt me. Before I die I will hide this book in one of my paintings that is to be brought down for generations. If you happen to find this book you must find my money before Peter does. His full name is Peter Morrey. I am hiding the money in Peter’s house, there is a small black box under the stone bench next to the willow tree in the backyard that contains $20000.

Peter Morrey had to be John’s father or grandfather, Liz realized. She hoped Bethany hadn’t had another child that she didn’t mention, that would just be disgusting, she would have to marry her great uncle or some other relation. No she decided, Peter Morrey would have remarried, this is his second wife's child or grandchild.

Putting the book back in her apron Liz quickly did the washing and went back home.

~

3 Weeks Later 26th July 1786

Liz walked down the aisle, her father behind her. Before the wedding started Andrew threatened that if she didn’t say ‘I do’ he would beat her until she was red, black and blue all over. So Liz walked down the aisle silently, putting on that fake smile all girls wore, dragging her feet along the floor as she went. Liz thought about Bethany’s painting and the little girl in it. She looked so free and loving of life. She looked like she was happy, HAPPY for goodness sake! Liz wondered if that was what Bethany was trying to portray, that they could one day create a happy free life for themselves?

What felt like hours later Liz said I do, feeling the invisible weight of the shackles clasp themselves around her hands, she would never be free again.

After the marriage Liz went to her new home with her new husband. The only thing keeping her from running away was the thought of all the money that lay under her new home.

“I want a child now. If it is a girl we will kill her if it is a boy his name will be Peter after my father.” It was then that Liz realized who she was married to.

Her grandfather’s brother.

“No,” Liz whispered in a quite shaking voice.

“Excuse me,” John said as he turned to face her. “What did you say?”.

“Oh, um. I was just saying to myself how wonderful your house is?” Liz replied and incessantly rejected how she said it as a question. “ Yes it is wonderful, isn’t it, now go and do the washing there is a spot outside allocated for it.” Liz was shocked that John didn’t realise it was a lie, causing her to hesitate for a few seconds. John gave her a dirty glance telling her she better get going.

She washed John’s clothes for 10 minutes before realising that right now she should be trying to find the tree in Bethany's description.

Liz didn’t know how much money was hidden there, but if it was important enough to write about, it would certainly be enough to try and escape. At this moment anything would help.

So Liz ran into the house calling to John that she forgot the soap so he wouldn’t ask her questions. She scrambled through her small amount of stuff, grabbed the little black book and some soap and made her way back down the stairs to grab the washing and head to the tree matching Bethany's description.

Liz walked round the tree multiple times and found nothing. “Where is the entrance?” Liz questioned, looking more puzzled than before. If she had to dig it out she would be in trouble.

“What are you doing?” John's voice called from the door. “ I’m just looking for a place to hang the washing,” Liz replied sweet and innocent. “Is there a line I could use somewhere.”

“There's one near the shed,” John replied, turning around. “Now hurry up.”

Liz went back to her washing, thinking to continue her investigation once he left. It was a few minutes later when Liz went to check to see if John was gone and luckily he had.

Walking back to the bench and taking a seat on it, Liz opened the little black book to read the description again. It was at this moment Liz realized she was looking in the wrong spot, the money was hidden under the bench where she sat. Liz got on her knees, pulled her long golden hair out of her face and looked under the bench. There, a small gap between the floor and the bench, leaning on the fence right up the back was the box.

10 Months Later

Liz stared at the child in her arms, he was beautiful. She decided right then that she could not allow her child to grow up in the hands of someone as awful as John. She had proof of that from the bruises she had all over her with new ones forming seemingly every minute. She had to go, to find a better life for her son. Lucas. That was his name, light-bringer. He was the spitting image of her with his golden hair, pale skin and hazel eyes.

She recalled finding Bethany's money all those months ago. It was still hidden under the bench covered in leaves. She would go back to John's house, grab it, she would find someone else to look after Lucas. Just as Bethany did for her father. The only thing Liz had in mind these past few weeks since his birth is that he needs to get out of this horror house now and even if she dies in the process all that matters to her right now is that Lucas lives a life far away from his father.