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Chapter Seventeen
Unbeknown to Edward, Ariadne had her own plan. The morning after Edward had visited her in the studio for the first time, she started working on her disguise. They wouldn’t employ a woman, but they wouldn’t turn away a man in need of work. She just had to be convincing.
Emma handed her the protective cover that she had just finished sewing. “Here you go, dear.” She had made the first one when she started coming to the house with her hair covered in grease.
Leda flicked off a stray strand of hair that was covered with grease. “There, that’s better,” she said piling Ariadne’s long hair and tucking it in a severe bun. Ariadne only hoped that Edward hadn’t seen the grease. She could imagine him being utterly disgusted with her. But he hadn’t been any of those things. He had kissed her.
Instinctively Ariadne touched her lips.
“Is everything all right?” Leda asked, giving her a strange look.
“Yes, yes,” she said. “Thank you, Leda. It’s always a pain to wash it off my hair, especially now that we can’t afford to waste more soap than we already have.”
“I love your hair. I wish I could grow it out like you but alas.” She pointed to her own her that barely passed her shoulders.
Emma then held up a pair of breeches for her to wear. Ariadne had stitched it herself to fit her slim hips. She pulled them over her legs. She appreciated both of them helping her dress up even though she knew that Emma didn’t really approve of her going out dressed like this. But at least she had their support.
Then she took a long piece of cloth and Leda helped her wrap it tightly around her chest, tighter than a corset and she almost couldn’t breathe. Ariadne hissed under her breath.
“Too tight?” Leda asked, giggling.
“A little,” Ariadne said throwing her a look over her shoulder. Emma handed her an old shirt that belonged to her father and then both of them stepped back to check the result.
“You look like a proper boy,” Leda said. Ariadne looked down. Her feminine features were hidden—her hips covered in the loose pants and her chest flattened. The transformation was complete.
Satisfied with her appearance, she said goodbye to Leda and Emma and set out for the day. The address Jack had given her felt heavy in her pocket, but she knew it was too much of a gamble heading there.
When she passed by a poodle of water, she observed her reflection. Leda was right. She did look like a man. And Edward had seen her like that even though her appearance didn’t seem to matter to him. They had been meeting for about a week now and spent the afternoon together. Edward left only when dusk fell and she felt his absence almost immediately after he walked out of the door. It was a strange feeling.
She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t notice when she collided with someone. When she looked up, she realized it was Mrs. Tula. Before she could address her, however, the other woman said, “Watch your step, you buffoon!” She hadn’t recognized her. Ariadne nodded as she let her step through. Mrs. Tula huffed away.
Ariadne grinned. Her disguise was working. She whistled softly as she walked down the streets. She noticed that dressed like this, she garnered no negative attention on the streets and was glad to be relieved of the unnecessary attention of men who tried to be friendly.
She walked in the direction of the workshops. She had sought jobs there before but now she was well-prepared. They turned away a woman, not a man.
“Excuse me, Sir,” Ariadne said to one of the men who worked in the repair shop. This seemed like her best bet to land employment. “Do you have a need for an employee?”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” the older man said, assessing Ariadne thoroughly. She turned her head away, expecting to be recognized any second, but the man seemed satisfied with his examination. “You’re a bit thin for the job, I suppose. But you’ll do for now. Come now.”
Ariadne didn’t know what he meant but followed him inside. The old man pointed to the stack of old wood and other misshapen bits of furniture. “Throw them into the incinerator and see that it burns properly, all of it.”
Ariadne was aghast. She wasn’t here for manual work. “Kind sir, I was looking for a stable job. I’m good with machines. I can help you fix up anything.”
The man shook his head. “We don’t have a need for that. It’s a job for not more than two men and we have enough. So will you do this or not?”
Ariadne eyed the pile of garbage. She had never hauled such heavy things in her life but she could always try. But it was a mistake. She realized it as soon as she bent down to pick up the first pile. It was heavier than she expected. The shop owner had stayed behind and was watching her. Finally, he shook his head. “This job isn’t for you, Son. Get some meat in those arms of yours and then come back.”
“Wait, I can do this,” Ariadne insisted. She tried again but her arms gave in to the weight of the wood. It was too heavy for her. She looked up at him, her ears smarting at her inability. She had managed to disguise herself as a man but she didn’t have the strength of one.
The shop owner shook his head. “Good luck looking for a job around here with those chicken hands.” Saying so, he left.
A blush bloomed on Ariadne’s cheeks that spread down her neck. This day was turning out to be a disaster and she thought that her plan was all in naught until she remembered something. She still carried the card that Jack had left her at the market. Ironic that a thief was her last hope. She set out for her destination, dreading the notorious alley.
Half an hour later and almost getting lost twice, she finally made it to her destination. The alleys were narrower, stippled with filth on the walls, and choking garbage that overflowed the open drain. This was the worst of the slums. A few children came up to her begging but she had nothing to offer them. She was careful not to bring money with her in case she was robbed, or worse, discovered as a woman.
Ariadne was almost regretting her decision to come there until she reached her destination. It was a small pub that was squeezed in between two other establishments. The building itself was rickety and crooked and looked it would topple over any moment.
Ariadne braced herself before heading inside. The room was filled with a thick cloud of smoke and was—to no surprise—overcrowded with men. They smoked through their pipes and had a steady flow of drinks in hand. The raucous crowd didn’t notice her as she stepped through. She looked around, almost certain that Jack tricked her when she noticed him standing to the side, talking to two men.
