Advent Challenge, Chapter One.
This adventure started off as many others did, a client on the edge of hysteria, alternately weeping and choking out her pitious plea for aid. As my biographer was out upon his rounds, I was taking notes for him.
Mrs. Hudson came in with a tray of tea and biscuits, and offered some tea to our client, who was shivering violently, both from agitation and the cold. She accepted the hot liquid somewhat shyly, swallowed, and began again.
" I am sorry. I was sort of a mess when I came in . I shall endeavor to relate to you the situation that I find myself in. My name is Dianna Sherman-Wentworth. I live at Creedance Hall.(I gasped inwardly, for Creedence Hall was quite a toney address. This case clearly dealt with high society, and that could mean a dangerous case. Those of high status have more to lose than the common criminal.)
"What brings you here at such a late hour, my dear lady?"
"I just could not stand it for another moment! Mr. Holmes, I am being slowly driven mad! I just do not know what to do! My brain tells my that I cannot possibly be hearing and seeing these things, and yet my eyes and ears tell me that they are manifest before me!"
She put her head in her hands and began to cry. Thank the gods, Watson came in just then. He would know what to do.
Watson sat down next to the sobbing woman and put his arm around her shoulder. Speaking softly, he reassured her, and told her that all would be well if she put her trust in us. Then he asked her to tell us what exactly was troubling her. I swear that I do not know how he does what he did, but he calmed her down.
Smiling, Watson came over to me and retrieved his notebook and paper.
"Please allow me to introduce my friend and associate Dr. John Watson. Now tell us, just what sort of impossible things are you seeing and hearing?"
"Well, there's the unearthly moaning and shreaks in the middle of the night. And there is a dragging sound that comes up the stairs, but I was never brave enough to go and see what it was. And then there are the things that I see. These things happen in the evening. There is a robed figure on the stairs and in the hall. And there is a menacing black figure that you encounter anywhere in the house. Then there are things that move by themselves—so far, a teakettle, a poker, an old rocking chair, a spinning wheel,and my duvet."
"Are there other occupants of Creedence Hall, or do you live alone," asked Holmes.
"Oh, I live with my stepfather, Mr. Simeon Green, a housekeeper, Mrs. Vivian Willowby, and her husband, Mr. James Willowby, who is our butler. Even though some of these things have happened while they were present, they never saw or heard them. I just do not know what to make of this."
The clock in the hall chimed the half-hour. Our client started at the sound. "I had no idea of the time. I had better get back to the Hall. Father does not like me out unescorted in the evenings. Please help me, Mr. Holmes. I do not know what else to do, and a friend of mine said that you were extremely clever and helped out an aunt of hers once.
"Of course I will help you. Would it be all right if Watson and I were to visit you tomorrow? I think it would be prudent to acquaint ourselves with the lay of the land, so to speak."
"Yes, yes, of course. It would be a pleasure. Perhaps you could come by at teatime?" The clock in the hallway chimed the half-hour, and its sound startled her. "Oh, my. I'd best be going. I did not realise the time, and Father does not like me out in the evening unescorted. With a slight nod of the head to both of us, and a colorful swish of her skirts, she was gone. Holmes closed the door behind her and leaned on it.
"Well, Watson, what do you think of that?"
"Holmes, a wise man once told me that he could not make bricks without clay, and I must hold to that. Hark! I hear the delightful tread of Mrs. Hudson upon the stair, and, taking into account the time, and the fact that I can smell it, she is bearing a tray laden with a very good supper!"
==============================================================================================A/N—This is in answer to Hades,lord of the dead's advent challenge. I know that it is late, but the computer ate most of it and I am typing it from a memory which is not very good to begin with. Since this is not being beta'd, any errors you find are mine. That's just about all I own. Please read and review.