Watson sighed as he once again stood outside 221b Baker Street. It seemed that Holmes had once again decided to lock himself in his rooms for an extended period of time and terrorize the landlady. Sighing he raised his hand knocking softly and wondering once again how he'd become such good friends with an odd man.
"Oh thank god," Ms. Hutson said opening the door, "I was..." she began only to be interrupted by an ear shattering bang causing both of them to flinch, "I'm afraid he's finally lost it Doctor," she said stepping aside so he could step in as another bang echoed threw the house.
"Damnit! Bloody idiot's playing with gun powder again. I swear I'll kill that man," came a clipped voice with an accent that wasnt quiet English as a blur of green skirts brushed by the doctor and landlady and up the stairs. Blinking with curiosity he glanced down at Ms. Hutson who just shook her head as she closed the door before he trailing after the woman. He couldnt see her face as he followed her down the hallway, but he could see thick burgundy hair pulled messily into a bun and a rather stout frame for a woman that was hourglass at the same time. Reaching Holmes' room he watched as she carelessly threw the doors open ducking whatever Holmes launched at the intruder letting it sail into the wall with a loud crash.
"Holmes I really must protest," she said ignoring the fact that the man in question had just thrown something at her head, "I just cleaned all the scorch marks off the walls in here."
"Isabella my darling! I thought you where going to the market," came the familiar voice of Watson's favorite madman. Stopping behind the woman Watson found Holmes pulling himself up from the floor trying to clean the soot from his face at the same time. "You look ravishing dear. New dress?" the detective asked in an obvious effort to distract the woman from the smoldering paper he was trying to stomp out.
"You havent slept off last night's drink have you?" she sighed advancing into the madman's darken chamber slightly, "Good god! What have you done to this room? Tell me this isnt blood everywhere."
"Of course not! It's ink. I was studying the significances of...Watson how good to see you," he said noticing the doctor lurking in the doorway, Brushing past the woman Holmes moved so that he stood directly in front of Watson.
"Hello Holmes," Watson sighed, "Still terro.." he began but the woman cut him off.
"Excellent! Why dont you and you're friend go out to dinner and perhaps a boxing match," the woman said suddenly as she too seemed to finally notice the doctor, "Yes, that sounds lovely doesnt it Mr. Holmes," she continued turning and giving the men a radiant smile. A from a moment Watson forgot he was a married man. She was lovely with delicate features that any royal would kill for, supple pink lips, and flawless alabaster skin with a slight copper hue that reminded Watson of the desert sun at sunset. But what really fascinated him where her eyes, a rare amethyst that he'd only read about in medical journals.
"No, no. I'm..." Holmes protested but the woman merely shook her head her smile suddenly sly.
"Nonsense sir," she said advancing on them and beganing to herd both men down the hall, "It's been nearly a month since you left. An outing will do you good. Lift your spirits as it where. Dont worry Mr. Holmes I'll make sure that your things are put in their proper places. Go on have some fun. I'll see you when you get back," she said and the front door closed Watson's coattails barely clearing it. Both men shook their heads baffled to find themselves outside staring at the closed front door.
"Well...and who's she?" Watson asked looking at the detective who was staring at the door like it had appeared out of nowhere.
"Isabella Greeves," Holmes replied shaking himself and patting where his pockets should be, "It seems that I've forgotten my..." he began only to be interrupted by the front door opening and his jacket, cane, and hat flying into his face followed by the sound of the door closing and the lock being thrown. "...jacket. So since it seems I've been banished for the time being where to Watson?" he asked picking up his jacket and dusting it off.
"The Royal?" Watson suggested with an amused look at the front door before turning to the street.
"Ah, my favorite," Holmes said pausing on the curb and looking for a cab to hail.
"Quiet a piece of work that one. Where'd you find her?" Watson asked looking at his friend who shook his head smiling slightly.
"She's Nanny's niece actually. She needed a job and for some unfathomable reason Nanny decided that she needed a break from her responsibilities. So in exchange for acting as her replacement Isabella gets a place to live. Fascinating creature that one. Grew up in India with her father who was English and her Mother who was an American Indian. And she has a marvelous mind. She invented a motorized spoon she uses for cooking," he said.
"Sounds like you're quiet taken with her," Watson said as his eyebrows lifted slightly. In truth he hoped that his friend was taken with the purple eyed hellion if only to distract him from the ever increasing state of depression his friend seemed to have been sinking into since Watson's marriage a year and a half ago.
"No no. Just...intrigued," the shorter man replied, "I find her most engaging. It's not often I meet someone with such a viral and intriguing mind."
"And the fact that she's quiet lovely has nothing to do with your...fascination I'm sure," Watson said with a sly grin.
"Is she? I hadnt noticed," Holmes said finally managing to catch a cab driver's attention.
"Ahhh, such a shame. That black hair and..."
"Red. She has red hair, more of a burgundy actually," Holmes said a tad too quickly.
"Of course. How could I be so foolish," Watson chuckled as they got into the cab.
