A\N: Hello Darlings! I am alive and well you see. Here is a story I have written. I started it for Nanowrimo. I didn’t make it by the end of the month, but did finish it before Christmas. So all is well. The lead in this story is actually on of my best friends Eliza (on fictionpress as Alexandria Biddle). I will have more gossip for you later. You know, background on the characters real life inspirations and whatnot. MHAW. Hannah

8:30am, Wednesday, April 16, 1814

Dear Diary,

This morning Mother mentioned that awful word again. Yes indeed she spoke of marriage again. I do not yet need to be getting married! I am only 19-years-old and in my second season. I am at the perfect age to appreciate what the ton has to offer! I think I shall just act as if I had not heard what she said...

On a brighter note, I saw new wanted poster for me yesterday. Still no definite picture; however the price for my arrest has gone up again. I stole the poster and have it hid with the other in my hiding place. That hiding place is in fact where I will be keeping you dear diary. Since I will write down all the details of my double life, I have to make sure you are hidden. Because, unfortunately, if you were found, then you would incriminate me. And the courts are just waiting for a little more evidence on me before they make a case against me. Well, and of course, they would have to find me before they could try me. And I have no intention being caught. I do, in fact, value my life. Unfortunately, do to my profession if I was found out then I would be hung... I think that if I were to die I would prefer not to be hung... Of course if I had my druthers I would die of old age while I sleep. However due to the life I lead I am more likely to have my throat slashed or a skiv thrust between my ribs. Still, I would rather have the latter then be hung. It lacks humiliation, also won’t be too traumatized once she sees my body.

I am sure you are quite confused. Well, dear diary, you were a gift from my Mother, Lady Lucy Weeks. She wishes for me to use you. I do try to obey my mother whenever I can, I always feel to guilty about my other life when it comes to her... You see, it would be quite safer for me to not record the most intimate secrets of my life in here, however I like to belief that some day one my descendents shall read of my escapades. I do so wish to be remembered. Women are never remembered in family histories unless they do something scandalous.

Well, what I do is certainly scandalous. I suppose I should just be out with it. I am a thief. I am also a fine lady... Contradictory notions I know. Perhaps I should explain more. The upper classes of London Society know me as Miss Eliza Weeks. Countess Weeks' quiet, pretty daughter. The lower classes of London society know me as the Velvet Lioness. I did not come up with the name myself. People just began calling me that... Though I believe I do know where it originates. I conduct business from the Lion’s Den, a tavern down in London’s depths. It truly the place to go if you want something illegal done. That is where the best of each trade conduct business. I am the best thief in London currently. Let’s see, who else conducts business from the Den? Oh well of course there is Father George... he many brothels. Hmm, oh yes! Shadow, the head of the assassin’s guild... There are others as well. However I do not feel the need to give those dirty men much thought.

I have a partner; his name is Jamison. I call him Jamie. We have been together from the beginning. He was really the one who taught me the trade, and got me started as his apprentice. Now, as an older gentleman, he helps with the details. You know, making sure payments arrive, pawning the goods, getting my supplies... That sort of thing. I am somewhat of a thief for hire. Of course I was not hired in the beginning... So I stole a few well-guarded items and gained myself a reputation. And now I get all kinds of jobs. However for all my thieving, I do have morals. I will not steal for other countries. I will not steal from families down on their luck. I do not steal humans or horses. I once stole a cat... that was exciting.

I am afraid I have lost my chain of thought. I do tend to go off on tangents, it is very silly of me. Oh yes! I was explaining my double life... I suppose I should just start from the beginning. My name is Eliza Alexandria Weeks. I have been alive these past 19 years. I have been a thief these past three. My father was Edward Weeks. When I was sixteen, he was murdered. It was before my first season. In my grief I grew angry and wished to find his murderer. I dove into London’s Underworld.

Looking back I was lucky not to have been raped or worse… At least I had been intelligent enough to dress as a boy. My small chest and height cause my never-ending distress in the ballroom, however they are invaluable assets when I have to be in disguise. Well I did some snooping and found my way to the Lion’s Den. There I met Earnest for the first time. He owns the Den is makes a good living. All business occupants must pay a fee to use a room. It is not too extravagant. Where Earnest really makes his fortune are bribes. Those who wish to hire one the Lions are we are all called needs to pay Earnest a pretty penny to know which room to go to. He has a devised a clever random rotation so no one will know where we will be the next night. I am digressing. Anyway Earnest took pity on me and took me up to see Jamie who was in need of a replacement.

Thus I was trained to be a master thief. I did not even tell dear ole Jamie that was a female until six months into my training. I was very much surprised to find that he was delighted. He said that being female would work to my advantage. More people will trust me and come to me because of it. Jamie does know his clientele. I have been running a brisk business.

There are only three people, other then myself, who know of my double life. They are my dearest friends in the whole world. First is Miss Katherine (we call her Katie) Frost. Next is Miss Alexandria (Ali) Callum. And finally is Miss Hannah Silverwood. We are somewhat notorious on the ton and called the Company of Four. It is just we are all intelligent, beautiful girls with large dowries. Well. Ali has the largest dowry. Mine is very large, however it has been mostly funded by my own business ventures. Hannah and Katie both have dowries of average size, although perhaps on the large side of average…. Both girls have wealthy grandparents who have helped bolster their dowries.

We have been friends since we were young girls, and we have no secrets from each other. They are good enough not to judge me. In fact when they found out what happened they were upset that I did not take them along. Well. I just could not have done that. It is not they would have been too naïve; there is more to their lives then meets the eye as well. However those is not my stories to tell…

Writing about the Four has reminded me of my social engagements for today. I am going to a ball tonight, it shall be a dreadful bore, and then after that I shall have to sneak out for my other engagements. I do not conduct my business every night, in fact I will only see clients three nights a week. If I had planned it otherwise I would be receiving no sleep and an exhausted thief is one that will be caught.

It is as yet still early in the morning. I have already ridden in the park, though I love riding in the country, it is always a pleasure to be atop the back of a horse, even in the city. What else do I have to do this morning? Oh yes, I was going to finish up some of my business. That is, of course, business of a more tame nature. When Papa died, my and mother's finances were handed over to our steward. Once I had met Jamie though, I asked if I may handle them. My request was granted and I have been taking care of the finances since. This mainly allows me to slip some of the money I make into the family accounts. I do not wish Mother to be want for anything. Being a widow is a hard status.

Officially my only connection to Jamie is through my finances. He shall be coming by this morning to assist me. He is truly helpful, it is not only a title. He is teaching me how to run an estate. Although I have no idea where he learned of such things... Perhaps his father was a steward or he is a bastard son of some noble man. When I think about it, I realize that I do not actually know much about Jamie's past. I believe he has orchestrated our relationship so I do not. Hm. What a manipulative little man. I am sure he is aware that I shall realize his silence one day. However I shall not question him on his past. It is his business, and if he does not wish for me to know of it, then I need not know of it. Besides if either of us were to be caught by the police, then the less I know about him the better. How likely is it that a young noble woman would know the past of her financial advisor? Highly unlikely. My ability is lie is fairly high, unlike Hannah who cannot lie to save her life, however I would not like to have it tested in an interrogation. I believe that--

Oh! Jamie was just announced.

5:30pm

Dear Diary,

Afternoons are such a bore. I dislike receiving or making calls. Even if the lady we are calling on is interesting, her daughter is more then likely is not very intelligent and extremely silly. I know I am known in society to be fairly quiet and shy. I have trouble approaching people, and while I am not timid mouse, I am considerably quieter then Ali or Hannah. Among my friends I am quite chatty and even at a ball I can hold my own in a conversation.

What had I been writing about when I left off? Ah, I see! Jamie had just arrived. He is odd fellow, however I quite adore him and he is an invaluable help. Have I described him to you yet? You would never guess he was best thief in London by his looks. He is not a tall man, I am almost a head taller then him. He is also rather rotund. He claims he used to be svelte, however I doubt it. Jamie has pale skin, it always has an almost unhealthy pallor to it. I am always telling him to take better care of himself, however he waves me off and says to me, "I have kept myself alive for more years then you have been alive and the situations I have survived were dire! You should be grateful I am here at all!" The only thing that seems healthy about Jamie is is hair, though very grey now it is still thick. I have seen the way he preens in a mirror, I know he is proud of it.

I suppose I must start getting ready for dinner. Mother and I are just having dinner at home this evening. It is rather against fashion, but then again we have never followed fashion directly. This evening we are going to Almack's for the weekly ball. It would be a serious faux pas to miss a ball. And as I am in my second season, I cannot dare miss a single ball. I only have one more season to go until I am considered a failure. The truth is that I really must marry well. Mother is a widow and I am a daughter. The only reason we are still able to live in society as we do is the estate is entailed upon a distant cousin who is as yet a baby and his parents do not wish to visit London. Mother is too sweet to put pressure on me, however I know my duty. I only wish I was not so shy! I know my opportunities would be greatly improved if I was able to talk more!

Oh dear! Time for dinner! I shall write more after the ball.