We find our dear Martha Hudson in her beloved kitchen. It is pristine and perfect in every way, and gives a feeling of welcome to all who are invited into it. This is where she takes care of her business, which, at this time in her life, is taking care of her lodgers - in every way possible she can. Right now she is busily putting away the breakfast dishes while seeing to the soup on the stove cooking for lunch and checking the large roast that's in the oven for supper. Chocolate biscuits are cooling in the pie window for tea. She pretends she doesn't notice when a couple of small dirty hands sneak 2 or 3 from the porch, she just smiles as she hears the back gate slam shut behind them. Although the word "multi-task" hasn't be coined yet, she is already a master at it.
As she's checking the bread rising on the counter she hears a small noise above her and stops for a moment. The noises get a little louder, a moaning and scuffle of feet in the sitting room above her. She checks the bread and hums some more until a crash is heard and she stops and frowns. "That will be the new vase." she says and sighs, thinking that at least she had learned to buy cheap replicas for the room and kept the fine china down here. The crash was followed by silence....then muffled giggles...then the moaning again. As she got out a tea tray and began to set things on it a thump like bodies hitting the floor was heard and the moans got louder. She looked at the teas and decided on Earl Gray. It was a bit early for it, but it sounded like her boys were working up an appetite and warm biscuits were always welcome. She could make more for this afternoon she thought and smiled again.
She stopped and listened for a minute, and then decided it was time to put the pot on to boil. Just as she did there was a banging at the front door. She turned in the direction and glared at whoever it was disturbing her happy domestic peace before noon. She made her way to the the door and unlocked it, having made a habit long ago of keeping it locked, it just seemed safer considering the kind of business her lodgers got up to. Inspector Lestrade was on the other side, looking harried as usual and already trying to push his way in. "Mrs. Hudson." he said and took off his hat. He managed to get in the door but she still blocked the stairs. "Mr. Lestrade!" she said, louder than necessary, "I have told you before that I keep a strict schedule in my household and mornings between breakfast and luncheon are reserved for the Doctor and Mr. Holmes' scientific experiments and research. They are NOT to be disturbed." For such a small woman, even her commanding tone was enough to make the Inspector take a step back. "I'm sorry, Mum, but it is a bit of an emergency." Lestrade said, almost mumbling while he fingered his hat. He looked like a chastised school boy who'd been caught looking up the girls' skirts on the playground. She stared him down a few moments longer until she heard the door open at the top of the stairs.
"It's alright, Mrs. Hudson, I think he's learned his lesson - you can let him up." Dr. Watson called down the stairs. She turned up to him with a beaming smile, "If you're sure, Doctor?" He nodded and she stepped to the side, letting Lestrade pass by. "Thank you, mum" he mumbled and pressed to the wall to keep away from her.
She went back to the kitchen to finish preparing the tea and just as it was finished she heard the front door shut as Lestrade left. "Hmpf! Such manners. If it were Clarky he would at least poked his head in to say goodbye and snatch a biscuit." she said and removed one of the cups from the tray.
She took the loaded tray up the stairs and knocked, bring it in and setting it out on the table by the window only after she heard it was alright to enter. "Tea so early, Nanny? What have you hidden in it this time?" Holmes asked and didn't look up from the papers Lestrade had brought him. She set a cup next to him and said, "Just some glue, Mr. Holmes. I thought you could use it to repair my vase." She made no mention of the deep red his face had begun to turn. She turned and handed Doctor Watson his cup as well and he cast his eyes down from hers. "Tsk..tsk.., boys will be boys. Just make sure the larger pieces are scooped up and I'll sweep the rest up later." she said and patted his cheek. She reached in her pocket and pulled out an envelope and turned back to Holmes. "Your Opera tickets arrived for this evening, Mr. Holmes." He held out his hand, she gave them to Watson who grinned and put them in his inner coat pocket. Then she turned back to Holmes and leaned over him, pulling his ear forward a bit to look behind it. "Ahh!!" he cried, dropping the papers and looked up at her like she'd gone mad. "It's opening night, I'll draw you a bath - I'll not have you disgracing the good Doctor or my household going out with dirt behind your ears." He rubbed his ear and for a moment, it looked like he was about to pout, but instead he picked the papers back up and hid behind them.
"If you'll make sure your evening clothes are laid out, Doctor, I'll see that their pressed." she said as she made her way to the door. Just before she closed it behind her she turned back in and said, "And Doctor?" "Yes, my dear Mrs. Hudson?" Watson smiled at her. "Make sure he wears something with a high collar. You're not being nearly as careful with those little love bites as you used to." she said and smiled at them warmly. Watson just stared at the door in shock, his teacup half way to his lips. The papers Holmes was holding all fell out of his hands to the floor. "Luncheon will be ready soon, my boys." she said and shut the door quietly.