Chapter Two. Mrs. Hudson
Holmes looked around him a the spacious room with a frown, it wasn't quite as big as he had hoped. He heard footsteps and heavy breathing behind him, he turned to see a breathless Watson carrying a box,
"You should have called me." Holmes said taking the box from him and placing it on the ground. Dusting his hands off on his trousers he again cast a glance around the sunlit room.
"Its marvellous Holmes."
Holmes raised an eyebrow at him.
"Marvellous is hardly the word I would have used, still I suppose after spending so much time in Afghanistan this does seem rather marvellous." He smiled, to his surprise Watson smiled back.
"You are right, even so I already feel at home here." Watson placed himself on the edge of a box and looked up at Holmes who was still staring strangely at him.
"You are the most sentimental man I've ever known Watson."
Watson laughed.
"And you don't have an ounce of sentiment in you I suppose?"
"No."
"I'm afraid I don't believe you"
Holmes smiled,
"I'm a cold creature Watson but you'll get used to me."
"I can't believe you cold Holmes."
Holmes stood up and walked to the window, gently pushing the curtain aside, he viewed the street. Not a bad view, he thought.
"What is your profession if you don't mind me asking?" Watson's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Erm..I am a consultant."
"For what?"
Holmes cursed silently under his breath, this man and his damn questions, he knew he was going to regret this.
"For people who need help, and you? Are you in practice just now?" He asked, taking a seat opposite Watson, desperate to steer the conversation away from himself.
"Not just now, no."
"You should be, you are obviously a man who finds unemployment a bore."
Watson laughed,
"Yes, you're right. Maybe I will see about it tomorrow."
Holmes looked at this man with whom he was to share his rooms and wondered about his life, that he was sentimental was painfully obvious, a thought suddenly struck him.
"Watson?"
"Mmm," Watson mumbled from somewhere behind a box.
"Are you…courting at the moment?"
Watson's head appeared from behind a box and Holmes had to smile at the bewildered look on his face.
"No, what makes you say that?"
"Well, when we met, you did say you had another set of vices when you well and I wondered…"
"Holmes really!"
Holmes smiled again,
"I'm sorry old fellow but women are…well not welcome to me."
"Not welcome?"
"I am not a whole hearted admirer of woman kind Watson."
"Why ever not?"
"Experience."
"I wont ask." Watson smiled, turning back to his box.
"No I wouldn't." Holmes smiled back, abruptly silencing as he heard a woman's footsteps on the stair. A middle aged woman, slender and attractive opened the door, carrying a tray. Watson immediately went to relieve her of it.
"Thank you Mrs. Hudson." Holmes said, politely.
"How are you settling in?" She had a sweet voice, Watson thought it a shame she had been widowed so young.
"Very well thank you," She nodded to Holmes and turned to go, "Er..Mrs Hudson?"
She turned,
"Yes sir?"
"We'll have that talk later if you don't mind."
"Of course Sir, any time you like."
Holmes smiled gently and nodded, Mrs. Hudson nodded back then left. Holmes turned to find Watson staring at him, with a smirk on his face.
"What are you so pleased about?" Holmes asked, picking a book from the floor and flicked aimlessly through it.
"I thought you said you weren't sentimental?" Watson's voice had taken on an air of mockery. Holmes sighed.
"I'm not."
"Then why do you need to talk privately with Mrs. Hudson?"
"That is my business, it is not a love affair I assure you, even I would know better than to conduct an affair in my own household under the nose of my roommate."
"Yes, I truly believe you would, even if you did have the will to conduct an affair, which I am beginning to doubt."
"I suppose you have conducted many Watson?" Holmes said putting the book down and smiling.
"Oh, you'd be surprised Holmes."
"I doubt it Watson, I doubt it."
Watson laughed and proceeded to empty another box while Holmes again glanced down into the street Mrs. Hudson looked up at him and she nodded, a grave look darkening her pretty face. Holmes prayed for her safety and prayed she would know what to do. Still, he thought, Martha Hudson was a brave and reliable woman, she trusted him completely,. She had after all, known him since he was a child. Which was precisely the reason he had been so anxious to acquire this house, even with Watson. Watson; he again glanced over to the man who was emptying boxes and frowned. Watson was a problem, and Watson would have to be kept in the dark for as long as was possible - for all their sakes.
Ooooh, I wont keep you waiting long, promise. Please review, they are ever so ever so welcome : ) xx