Author's note: I'm so sorry it's been so long. College has kept me busy and I have not had too much time to write. I've had issues with some of my roommates as well that has ruined my mood. I can't promise when I will be next updating, it might be over Thanksgiving, or it might not. As always I only own Cassandra, everyone else is not mine. Reviews cheer me up, and flames will be used to heat Baker Street.
"We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves."
Goethe
Chapter 12
The next morning, Grand-mere took Jess and I out dress shopping. She took us out early to the most expensive dress shop. We would be buying a few dresses and then more would be made for us during the week.
"I will have Albert mail what I owe you." Jess said walking out in a soft pale blue morning dress.
"Nonsense. Think of the dresses as gifts."
"I couldn't. Not when they are this costly. Besides you are letting me stay with you and all. It's the least I can do."
I walked out as well in a light brown walking dress. "You may as well as give in, Jess. Grand-mere will not stop until you do. Believe me, I have tried."
"Now, we know where, Mister Holmes learned his stubbornness from." Jess said. She looked over at me and nodded her head satisfied. "I like that dress on you."
"I don't care for the blouse." I said straightening the skirt more. "It's too fancy for my test."
"It is what a woman of your standing would wear." Grand-mere said.
"Is that what they call dressing down?" Jess asked. "Doesn't seem like it is."
I laughed. "Remember, she never has done work in a day of her life." I sighed. "I suppose this is as dressed down as I will be."
"Already miss trousers."
"And hate the corset Alice made it tighter this morning."
"I'm glad Albert never makes me wear such things."
"That is because he is very practical."
"Try this green ball gown, Cassandra." Grand-mere ordered handing me the dress.
I went back into the changing room. "So what does this broke look like again?" Jess called out.
"Tall, about the same height as Holmes. His eyes are a light bright blue. He usually has a mustache and a monocle. He speaks English well enough." I said.
"Handsome?" She asked.
I peered over the door. "What are you getting at?"
"Nothing."
I snorted as I turned away to let the shop girl to lace the gown. "Coming from your lips, it is something. He is handsome enough I suppose. Then again how would I know such a thing?"
"What you don't find him attractive?" Jess asked.
"Why would you ask me that? Others will find him satisfying I suppose."
"I am sure you will have to fight flocks of girls to have his attention. Being handsome would make any girl foolish."
"I doubt his looks will move me to feel something that foolish."
"Not alone they won't." She agreed. "But from what you told me, he sounds smart. That would catch your attention."
"In case you have forgotten, Arsene Lupin is a wanted man." I said stepping out. "What could we possibly have in common?"
Jess smiled and folded her arms across her chest. "Well I can think of one thing I will have in common with him. His reaction when he sees you in that gown. You look stunning, Cassie."
I turned around and stared into the mirror. The gown was a deep forest green and was over the shoulder. The top was a little too much revealing, but not low enough to cause a scandal. The gown flowed out. It was made with the finest silk that rustled when I walked.
"Cassandra, you look beautiful." Grand-mere said walking up behind me. "I believe we have found the gown for tomorrow night when you make your first appearance."
"Holmes will never let me out in this dress, Grand-mere." I said.
"Then he will not know of it until it is too late for him to do anything about it."
I laughed. "You are the very devil."
"I like her." Jess said with a smile.
"I believe we shall get along perfectly, Jess." Grand-mere told Jess.
"God help us all." I said.
When we returned, Holmes was in the library sitting at the desk reading something. I walked over and peered over his shoulder and saw Lupin's file.
"Are you looking for something we might have missed?"
He shook his head. "No. I am trying to decide on the approach you should take when you see him tomorrow night."
"Should that not be my decision?" I asked.
Holmes turned and looked at me. "Cass, I don't want you to lose your head in this role. I will there to see that you do not fall in this. You will be playing with someone's emotions, it will be difficult not only on them, but yourself as well."
"Are you speaking of the last case you were on alone? The one with the woman whom you were engaged?" I asked.
He sighed. "Are you still angry about that?"
"I am when I never was invited to the engagement party. But, no I'm not angry. I know that I should not let my role get too far, Holmes. I only hope to never have to do what you did, I do not think I can."
He reached out his hand and touched my shoulder. "I hope you don't either, Cassandra. I really don't."
The next evening, Jess was putting my hair up in a bun when Holmes knocked on the door. "We need to leave."
"We'll met you there." I called.
"You're not ready?"
"Almost. Just go on without us. Jess and I will be right behind you."
"Do not be late, Cassandra. We need to make certain that Lupin notices you, and in a good way."
Jess was silent until Holmes' footsteps faded away. "Once we arrive he most certainly will." She said giggling.
I sighed. "I'm not trying to seduce him, Jess. I have to make him love me. Holmes is right, maybe the dress is not a good idea."
"Trust me, you need the dress so that he notices you." She snorted. "Cassandra, you know a lot of things, but loving someone?"
"I know, but what other choice do I have? At least we know where some of his interests lays so I can go on from there."
"Cassie, sometimes men like different."
"Maybe." I said.
"Why are you so against being in love?" Jess asked.
"People change." I said. "They become foolish and lose what is important. Once that happens...I have seen it happen far too many times, Jess. Women come to me once they are tricked, when they are hurt. All of what? Nothing, they suffered for nothing. I will not allow that to happen to me. I refuse."
She shook her head with a smile. "Cassandra, that is not what love is about."
"Jess, I can't fall in love. It is not possible for me."
"I thought I never could." Jess admitted.
"You would have. I could see that you will, you only needed the right person and you have. It will never happen to me. What man would want me and I him?"
We did not arrive too late. A few people noticed when Jess and I arrived, Holmes, thankfully not one of them. I walked down the stairs and Grand-mere met us there.
"There has been no sign of him here yet." She told me.
"Are you certain he is here tonight?"
"Madame Ricco, has confirmed that he will be. Unless he has arrived without Sherlock's notice." Grand-mere said.
"Better for us to separate." Jess said.
"If you met him, try to bring him to me." I said.
I was chatting with Monsieur Delouse when there was a small tap on my shoulder. I turned around and was met with the lightest of blue eyes. The man was tall, the same height of Holmes. He had raven colored hair and it looked as if a mustache had just been shaved.
"I do not mean to interrupt, but I do not believe that this young lady and I have met yet." The man said.
I smiled. "Cassandra Valjean, and you are?"
"Jacque Beaumont." He said taking my hand and kissing it. So this was Arsene Lupin. Good, maybe this would be easier than I thought. "I am surprised that I have not met you before."
"My friends and I have only just arrived from Kent. My-forgive me it is still a little difficult to say, but my parents had died a few months ago. I thought it would be best to start somewhere new and my great-aunt Cassandra Leroux agreed to take me in."
"I am sorry for your loss."
"Thank you." I said.
"You and your friends are from Kent?" He asked.
I nodded my head. "Yes. My friend Jessica Lipton and friends of my family, Dr. Hamish Mortson, and Captain Basil. In-fact, there is Captain Basil now."
Holmes made his way over and smiled. "There you are Miss Valjean, Dr. Mortson and I were searching for you."
"I am sorry, I hope I did not worry both of you too much. I was talking with Monsieur Beaumont."
"Yes, I am afraid I kept Miss Valjean waiting." Lupin admitted. "I am Jacque Beaumont."
Homes held out his hand and shook Lupin's. "Captain Sigerson Basil. And you young lady," he raised his brow at me, "since you caused so much worry, the least you can do is share a dance with this old fool."
I smiled. "Of course, Captain."
Holmes led me out to the dance floor and I took his hand. He placed his other hand on my waist and we danced to a waltz. "I see you did not take our plan to heart. The gown is a little to much-
"Before you say anything, he come up to me and I simply went along with it. I can hardly refuse him with being so new to all of this. Any relationship is welcome at this point in time. As for the gown, Grand-mere was the one behind it."
He shook his head. "She plots against me."
I laughed. "Hardly."
"And she has you and Jess on her side. That alone should strike fear into anyone."
"I was set against the dress."
"Of course you were."
"Do you think it is going well?" I asked as he spun me.
He nodded his head. "Yes, you did well for a start. Try to start a conversation with him. Remember to make it light and happy as you can, but also remember that you parents have died. You can do this, child."
"Yes, sir." I said softly.
The dance ended and Holmes moved a stray hair from my face. "You are beautiful tonight, Cassandra. Use it to your advantage."
I walked away from him and started to make some idle talk. Madame Ricco and her niece Juliet came over to Jess and I.
"What do you think about France, Miss Valjean?" Madame Ricco asked.
"Well, I have only been here for a couple of days, but I do love it already." I admitted.
"Has something caught your attention here?" Arsene Lupin asked as he walked over and handed a glass of wine to Madame Ricco.
"There are several things that have caught my attention. I am uncertain though which one will be the one to help me decide which one to stay."
"Well if I know my friend, I think the opera house has to do with it." Jess said with a smile.
"You like the arts?" Juliet asked.
I nodded my head. "Yes, my parents had always donated money to the theatre. We went to many plays and listened to different concerts."
"What is your favorite work?" Madame Ricco asked.
"There are so many to choose from, but I think Faust is my favorite."
"That is a very dark choice." Lupin commented.
"But the message it brings, the want it warns of. People surely can learn from this opera." I explained. "Besides, it was the first opera that I saw. It holds a sentimental value."
"Perhaps I need to look into this opera in a different light."
"Juliet has made a theater her little project." Madame Ricco said.
"Has she now?" Lupin asked.
"Yes, it's not well-known and is having some problems, but it does have potential." Juliet said. "I am hoping to help boast the ticket sales."
I smiled. "Then as soon as you know when the next show is, you can put my name down for a ticket."
"There is one next week, a Winter's Night."
"Wonderful, I will see if that night is open for Jess and I to attend."
Juliet's face lit up. "Thank you, both of you. This will mean a lot."
For the next week, I received calls and invitations from people whom we had met at the ball and many that I have not met. I was looking forward the day of the play. Things were going well, and I knew seeing the play that evening would help. I was however uncertain if Lupin would attend or not. When the last person had finally left paying a visit, I found both Grand-mere and Holmes in the library.
"Are you hiding away already?" Grand-mere asked pouring me a cup of tea.
I made a face. "If I have to hear what Mrs. Goethe thinks about Mrs. Remington one more day I shall slip something in her tea."
Holmes chuckled. "Ah, the life of a young heiress."
I laughed. "If you can even call it that."
"You don't like it?"
"It is far too much excitement over idle gossip for me to handle all at once. Has Lupin sent anything?"
He sighed and shook his head. "No, not a thing. You did well that night."
"But not enough to impress him it seems." I said tucking my hand under my chin. "I was certain that I would have heard at least something by now."
"These things do take time." Grand-mere said.
"After all we want him to love you, not lust after you." Holmes said.
"But he could strake at any moment. And if he does then Ganimard will get involved in it."
"You are thinking far too much like a detective. You need to think more of a lady." Grand-mere advised.
"Grand-mere, I cannot sit here and make calls or going to tea houses or-
"It is exactly what you will do." Holmes interrupted. "Lupin needs a woman who will stick well to the background. Do try harder, Cassandra."
"But, you have seen him at some of the dinners. That look he always has, though he tries to hide it, Holmes he is bored with all of this."
"You barely know the man, child."
"It does not mean that I cannot see what is in front of me. You out of all people should know that."
"Cassandra, you are to do what you came here to do, no more and no less." He said.
I sighed. "Yes, Holmes. Jess and I should get ready for the play this evening."
"Are you certain you still want to go? Watson and I will be unable to attend. Ganimard needs to be talked with about sending messages. He could at least sign them in a different name."
"Holmes, we will be fine. It's only the theatre and Madame Ricco and Juliet will be there along with a few others. Jess and I will hardly need Dr. Mortson and Captain Basil to protect us."
He stood up and walked over. "Stay on your guard."
"Holmes." He only squeezed my shoulder lightly before he left the room. "I wish he would not worry so much." I said to Grand-mere.
"Cassandra, no matter how old you become, he will always worry about you. I know I still worry about Mycroft and Sherlock, and even you."
I was finishing my hair when I heard Jess heave. I walked to into washroom and held her hair back.
"I'm sorry, I thought I was fine." She said after a few minutes.
"You should have told me you were pregnant."
"You needed my help."
"Jess…"
"I should be fine. It must have been the lunch we had." Jess sighed. "Mum always said some foods upset the baby."
"It's all right." I said. "I may as well go alone."
"You sure about that?"
"It's not the Paris Opera House. It's only a small little theatre that Juliet is trying to help save. I will be sitting there watching it, talking to them afterwards about it, and then I will come home."
"I wanted to tell you. I did not mean to keep it a secret from you."
I sighed. "We tell each other everything remember? What changed that?"
She leaned her head against the wall and looked at me. "I don't know. I...I didn't believe it at first."
"Have you told Albert?"
"No. I'm not far along. When we finish the case I will tell him. 'olmes and Watson cannot know about this."
The small clock struck reminding me of the hour. "I have to go. We can talk more about this tonight when I return."
I walked out of the room and met Alice at the door as she handed me my cloak. "Alice, have the cook make some tea for Mrs. Lipton. She needs something to settle her stomach."
"Yes, Ma'am." She said.
The theatre was not that far away from Grand-mere's home and I arrived there with plenty of time. I went to the ticket office and got my ticket where I met Juliet.
"I'm glad you came." She said.
"My father would not be pleased if I did not come to the theatre."
"I am sorry about your loss. My father died some years ago, my mother died when I was young. That is why I came to live with Aunt Grace. It does get better, there will times where you wish they are there, but then it passes."
"Yes, I am slowly starting to learn that."
"I hope you enjoy the play tonight." Juliet said.
A Winters Night was well done. At the same time I could see the reason that the theater was closing. The main lead was not putting much into his role. While the lines were memorized there was no character, something that Sherlock Holmes made certain I knew quite well. During the intermission, I was reading over the program when someone sat down beside me.
"Not one of the best productions of this Shakespearean play."
I looked up and saw Lupin next to me. "Monsieur Beaumont, I was not aware that you would be here tonight."
"I am a fan of the fine arts, mademoiselle. Though this performance as I am finding is lacking several aspects of fine."
"But is not the worst I have seen."
"Richard the third." He said. "The man missed a third of the lines."
"It was the Scottish play. Lady Macbeth was shouting the entire time. Even during the out damn spot scene. She was throwing out all of her good lines." I admitted.
"You have a certain expectation for the character."
I nodded my head. "I do. Looking at the text...I'm sorry I would only bore you."
Lupin merely smiled. "Not at all. I am interested in what you think."
Here I decided to take a big risk. "It is rather...a feminist point of value I am afraid. I am very advanced in my thinking. My father would find such thoughts amusing while my mother would be shocked. Father would only give me more books to read."
"It seems your father really loved you. He wanted the best for you."
"Yes, I suppose he did, I miss him him. Some days I wish I could talk to him about my foolish ideas."
"Well, I will always lend an ear to listen."
I looked at him. "Oh, you really do not have to listen to me go on. It is very idealist of me. Sometimes I think I am from a Gilbert and Sullivan drama."
"Sometimes change is good and maybe you can even change my mind about a few things."
"I will enjoy having that conversation." The lights flickered signaling five minutes before the start of the second act.
"Would you care to join me for coffee afterwards so that we may talk about our dear Lady Macbeth? There is a shop that is around the corner I will take you home afterwards."
"All right." I agreed.
He smiled again and returned to his own seat. I sighed and sat back. Holmes would be anything but pleased when I returned later then I said I would. When the play finally ended I walked out into the main hall, where Juliet rushed over to me.
"Thank you for coming, Cassandra. It really helped tonight's sales."
"I doubt my two tickets did anything." I said.
"You came here. That is more then anyone else can really say."
"I was not the only person who came. Monsieur Beaumont was here tonight as well."
Juliet let out a look of surprise. "Oh did he? I spoke to him yesterday and he mentioned that he may not attend. I'm afraid that I may have frightened the poor man into it. Others had decided to not come as well. The only ones who did not change their minds was you and your friend. I am happy he did come, thought it is strange with the way he said that he would be unable to attend."
Strange indeed. I thought. What did change Lupin's mind about attending this play? And why did he want to decline in the first place? Was it because one he learned that others would not be in attendance whose fortunes were larger?
"You must have persuaded him well." Was all I told Juliet. "The fact that the arts in this theatre are in danger must have made him want to jump into action."
She laughed. "You make it sound as if I am worthy of such work here, Miss Valjean. You are far too kind with your praise.
"And what are you lovely ladies laughing over?" Arsene Lupin asked as we stood in between us.
"Only mere chatter, Monsieur Beaumont." I said. "In fact, Miss Morrison, we were about to go to the little cafe just across the street. We were about to discus some more of Shakespeare's work if you would care to join us?"
"Come now, Miss Morrison, we would love for you to join us." He said in agreement.
Juliet smiled. "I would love to join you both, if you do not mind that is."
"Not at all." I said with a gentle smile.
It would be a lie if I did not admit I enjoyed myself that evening out. I would also be lying to say that as we talked that I kept in mind the whole purpose of this. While the evening in the cafe did start out that way, I found that I slowly lost the image that I had built for myself in the short weeks I had, and let my true colors show.
The person who I was with both Arsene Lupin and Juliet Morison was not the young heiress I was to be. Nor was she the detective or the person who wanted to seek pride from doing what she was trained to do. Inside the person was a young woman who only wanted their acceptation, their friendship, and maybe even the love from the man who seemed to understand her. It was the letter that sent warning bells off.
