The Hoax

Chapter One

"Never mind the wedding, let's speak of something else equally as important," Mrs. Parker began dramatically.

"Yes?" Elizabeth replied tensely. She had an idea of what was coming.

"Frederich Griffin is back," Mrs. Parker said breathlessly. "And he's still a bachelor."

"I do not see how this effects me," Elizabeth sourly spoke.

"Elizabeth, don't be daft. You know how a marriage to Frederich will ensure your future."

"Ruth," Mr. Parker sounded tired; as if he had this conversation with his wife many times. "You don't even know if he will court her yet."

"Why wouldn't he?" Mrs. Parker retorted. "Elizabeth's beautiful, she comes from an upperclass family and marriage to her would be beneficial to his overall image. Lord knows he needs it if the rumors about his time at Penn are true."

"Mama, must I explain this to you again? I wish to marry for love, not for image."

"Don't you-"

"It's getting late. We should be going to bed. Another day Ruth, we'll have this conversation another day. But for now, let's retire." Mr. Parker stood up. "McKenna!"

A young serving maid walked in quickly. "Yes Sir?"

"Take Willie upstairs to his room."

"Yes Sir. Come with me Mr. Willie." McKenna quickly ushered the young Parker away.

"I believe it is time for bed," Mr. Parker hinted.

Elizabeth quickly stood up. "Yes it is. Goodnight Mama, good night Papa." She kissed them on their cheeks and left the room.

"We have to discuss it eventually..." Elizabeth heard her mother say as Elizabeth exited the room. "She's getting to that age..."

"Leave her be Ruth..." The rest of Mr. Parker's voice faded into a murmur.

Elizabeth walked slowly up the stairs of her family brownstone to her room. Although it was in the vicinity of Fifth Avenue, it was obvious that the Parker home did not compare to the opulent limestone mansions of Millionaire Row. The Parkers were considered a member of the old money elite, but they were a lesser class than the other families. Unlike the Griffins who had multigenerational wealth, Mr. Parker's father was a simple man who struck rich in the California Gold Rush.

"Your grandfather, he was a crafty fellow," Mr. Parker would tell Elizabeth and Willie during their post-dinner times in the family library. "He heard about the Gold Rush before there was talk of gold in California. He set out with nothing but the clothes on his back, a ticket, and three dollars in his pocket. After he mined his gold-" Mr. Parker paused to take a drag of his pipe "he realized that there was nothing there. The real money came from the merchants selling the gold seekers supplies. And that's what he did. He opened up shops and advertised about the amounts of gold you could get in the newspapers. Soon more and more people arrived and his business flourished. He took the money he earned and invested it in the railroads. Helped finance the first leg of the Transcontinental Railroad. Remarkable man, truly knew how to do business."

"A shame he never could join the echelons of society," Mrs. Parker would say nastily.

To Mrs. Parker, status meant everything. Ruth loved telling everyone she was the descendent of the Dutch royal family despite having no evidence to support her claim. "My great-great-great-great grandmother was a princess," she'd say haughtily. "They were one of the first settlers of New York City. My family founded this country. " Of course Ruth would fail to mention that by the time her grandfather inherited the family money, there was barely a nickel left. And they stayed broke until Ruth married George.

The Parker marriage was a troubled one. On the outside, they appeared to be a loving couple, but Elizabeth knew there was no affection between them. Ruth looked down upon George's family for not having titles and George hated Ruth's never-ending machinations to acquire wealth and status. However, divorce was not an option as it would ruin the family reputation and exile them from society. That was why Elizabeth had no interest in Frederich Griffin. She wanted a marriage based on love and trust, not money. But most importantly, Elizabeth was already in love with someone.

Dear sweet Lizzie,

Meet me by the back gate at midnight.

Yours truly,

Jacob

Elizabeth smiled as she reread the note. She had gotten it earlier today. She didn't know how Jacob managed to sneak it past Mrs. Parker, but she didn't care. She was finally going to see Jacob again. It had been six months since she last saw him and she missed him greatly. Her secret meetings with Jacob was the one thing that brought some excitement in her life. Plus she knew her mother would disapprove greatly and that appealed to Elizabeth's rebellious side.

Grabbing her cloak, Elizabeth crept down the stairs, out the back door and past the gate. Her parents slept on the third floor with a window facing the front door. This made it extremely easy for her to sneak out the back. Their back gate was also broken so there would be no evidence of leaving and entering through there.

"Hello my lovely Lizzie," Jacob said as soon as he saw Elizabeth. He cradled her face in his hands. "I've missed you so."

"Likewise Jacob," Elizabeth said breathlessly. She stared lovingly at his face, burning it into her memory. He had changed quite a bit. His normal clean-shaven face was prickly with hair. The thick brown hair had lightened to a soft caramel with blond streaks. There were dark circles underneath his eyes; no doubt from the exhaustion of the month at sea. "How was your time in Europe?"

"Quite splendid Lizzie. Come walk with me. I have much to discuss with you." Jacob grabbed Elizabeth's hand and strolled out onto the road.

The two chatted away as they walked down the smooth paved street. Jacob told her about his time in France, Spain and England. He beguiled her with stories about his dinners with his stuffy French relatives and the pranks he played on his Spanish cousins. "And the British, they really do love their tea," Jacob said heartily. "They always had to have scones at their teatime. And they had to have teatime too, no exceptions. Pricks, all of them!" Elizabeth would guffaw and respond back smartly and the two would tease each other. This is what I want Elizabeth thought to herself. A husband I can communicate with easily.

An hour and five laps around the block later, Jacob walked Elizabeth back to her home. He kissed her softly on the mouth. "Goodbye dear Lizzie. I hope I will see you soon."

"Me too Jacob. Are you going to Alice and Henry's wedding?"

Jacob looked surprised. "They are still carrying on with their wedding? Despite the tragedy?"

Elizabeth nodded.

"Mother will definitely force me to attend. I assume you are going as well?"

"I believe so. All of the city's elite will be there so you know my mother will want to make an appearance."

Jacob grinned. "Ms. Ruth does love her high society events."

Elizabeth grimaced in disgust. "I'll never understand it. Money and status means everything to her."

Jacob grabbed Elizabeth's hands. "Listen to me Lizzie. It is hard for us to understand since we grew up in wealth, but I've seen what it means to be poor. I've seen people who don't have money to afford clothes, starving children and disease. We are protected from all that but the majority of the population live like that. Sometimes I wonder if capitalism is worth it."

Elizabeth stared at Jacob quizzically. "What do you mean Jacob?"

Jacob flashed a smile. "Never mind Lizzie, do not worry about it. Goodnight and I will see you at the wedding. Goodbye."

Elizabeth watched as Jacob got into his Peugeot. With a wave, he drove off towards his home in Washington Square Park. After she could see him no more, Elizabeth hastened back into her home, making sure to be as discreet as possible.

See you soon Jacob Elizabeth thought to herself as she changed into her nightgown. I love you.