A good start

You get dressed in the pre-tattered clothes Eliza's servants handed out to the suitors. All of the entourages have been confined to their quarters to prevent them from potentially aiding their man in the contest. You assemble at the gates and a cart brings you all out together to the edge of the nearby town, and you are told to meet back here by sundown with whatever money you made. They word is given to start, and everyone starts running into town. You note with satisfaction that a lot of your fellow contestants seem to be heading to the marketplace. An intuitive pick, but you know it's a bad one. As you were told by a mendicant friar, the crowds at the market are much too busy haggling and trying not to get robbed to give to the poor. It really brings out the worst in people. No, instead you go to the biggest church in town and wait near the steps for the service to end, hoping to earn a little cash off the the refreshed piety of the church-goers.

When you get there, you see a small handful of assorted beggars, some religious, some secular. You take a spot that's not too close to the others and wait. You feel a bit anxious as you wait, wondering how much the others are making as you stall here. Eventually, though, the service ends and the flock floods out the doors. You try not to be too aggressive, as you were advised. Instead, you try to play it humble and sincere. The strategy works, and a good number of people give you hand-outs. You notice some dirty looks from a few of the actual vagrants. The ladies have been favoring you especially, apparently drawn to your looks. In all fairness, the competition isn't too tough, just some scrawny monks and dirty old beggars. You guess that people like to help the attractive the most. By the time the last few stragglers are leaving, you have a good sum of coin.

You start walking away with your earnings, satisfied. Still, there's plenty of time until sunset and you can't be complacent. That's when you feel a tap on your shoulder.