Catching Mr Ripper

Part Three

Elizabeth pushed open the door to the book shop, the all too familiar bell ringing out loudly.
"Miss Vance. How lovely it is to see you again" Peter smiled widely at her.
"Hello Peter. I was wondering if you had by any chance seen Edmund lately?" She asked shyly.
"Well yes I have. He purchased a few books and he also left you a note" Peter smiled as he handed it to her. Knowing all too well what young love felt like.
"Thank you, Peter" Elizabeth took the note and moved to one of the nooks to read it.
'Dear Elizabeth, thank you sincerely for the books. I have enjoyed them all thoroughly, especially the water babies. I was hoping that we could meet again to discuss other works of literature. If the answer is yes, please leave a note with Peter and I shall return. Your friend, Edmund'
Elizabeth grew excited about the thought of seeing Edmund again. A young man with ideas about bettering himself who doesn't mind a strong woman who knows what she wants. It seemed perfect to Elizabeth. He seemed perfect.

The two of them had agreed to meet a few days later. It was a blisteringly sunny day. Elizabeth's governess carried the basket of food as Elizabeth shielded herself from the sun with her parasol.
"Elizabeth!" Edmund called out to her.
"Edmund how wonderful it is to see you again" Elizabeth smiled at him as he jogged over to her.
"It is more wonderful to see you" he smiled, kissing her hand lightly "Let's walk" he held out his arm for Elizabeth to take and she did so instantly. After much persuasion he had finally got Elizabeth's governess to let him carry the heavy picnic basket.
The three of them climbed a large grassy hill slowly.
"I assure you, it's not much further and it's worth it when you get to the top" Edmund smiled as Elizabeth took his hand to help her climb the hill in the sweltering heat.
As they reached the top, overlooking most of London, Elizabeth knew that it was, most certainly, worth it.
"It's beautiful Edmund" Elizabeth sighed contentedly.
"Told you" he smirked, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. Edmund laid out the blanket for them to sit on, and they both sat down with a deep sigh of content.
"This was definitely worth it" she repeated.
"So what did you bring to read?" Edmund asked, slipping off his suit jacket.
"Winston Graham's Cordelia" she told him with a smile, as she took the book out of the basket and handed it to him. Elizabeth laid out the food and began eating as Edmund begun reading.
"What do you think so far?" Elizabeth asked as he reached half way of the book.
"Cordelia seems to be a force of nature herself" Edmund said.
"Precisely why I like her" Elizabeth smiled mischievously.
"The growing rebellion, against the stifling nature of society is the most present theme. As well as the-" Edmund dropped his voice to a whisper so that Madeline wouldn't hear "-the longing for sexual love and romance outside marriage by a chaste heroine, which draws audiences to her" Edmund explained.
"That's why I'm in love with Cordelia. She challenges everything, we're taught to adore about society" Elizabeth fell back onto the blanket with a sigh of delight.
"Are all the books you read about the failing nature of society?" He asked as he lay down next to her.
"Mostly" she giggled "Society just always appears to be failing or at least failing someone"
"Like Cordelia and Tom" Elizabeth nodded "Well think of it this way. If society wasn't the way that it was, no one would want to do the hard stuff like shovelling coal or cooking for others" he explained "Society always needs someone to be lower than the other in order for it to work"
"But does it have to be that way? If someone does the hard stuff as you said, what's to stop them from doing the easy stuff too?" She questioned "That's what I hate about society. The fact that ours stops those that do the hard stuff from becoming those that can do the easy stuff" she told him.
"I love how your mind works" Edmund smiled widely.
"So do I" she smiled widely "Now let's eat" she smiled proudly and handed him a plate.