Here's the next one for you. We're reaching the end of this fic now :( I can't believe it! Although there will be a sequal if you all want one. Thanks as always to my amazing beta Bellatrix Nellie Le-Lovett. And thanks to all who reviewed, dionne dance, RubyRosette5, Elekat, LovettHelenaist, Helen Young, Noodlemantra and Lily, your reviews keep me writing so keep going!
Hope you enjoy this one and don't forget to review! :)
Chapter 12 – Fathers and Daughters
Carefully, Caroline pushed the shop door open, the tray of breakfast balanced on her hip. As soon as she glanced up into the room, she froze at what she saw. Feeling awkward, she turned as quietly as she could and went to leave. His voice stopped her.
"Come in." The barber said, his voice flat and quiet. Caroline span round slowly, an apologetic smile appearing on her face as she realised his eyes were now on her and not the photo frame in his hands.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realise yer was... busy. I'll leave yer to it." Caroline said, making her way quickly over to the vanity where she placed the tray.
"Don't rush off." Sweeney's voice said as she was about to leave. Caroline looked across at him before slowly wandering further into the room, her eyes flicking between the barber stood in the corner of the room and the photo frame now hanging down by his side.
Silence hung over the pair for a while, neither knowing quite how to break it. After a few moments, Caroline took a deep breath and reached out for the picture frame. His grasp was weak and he put up no resistance as the girl pulled it from his hand.
Caroline smiled as she examined the picture; it was one she hadn't seen before. She looked deep into the smiling young man's bright eyes, how could she ever have been in any doubt that this man and the one stood in front of her were the same person. Without thinking, Caroline reached up with her other hand and ran her thumb slowly over the man's face, before running lower and over the little's girl's face, her laughing features becoming brighter free from the layer of dust that had settled on them.
"Have yer seen 'er since yer left London?" Caroline asked distractedly, her voice quiet and her eyes fixed on the picture.
"No. She's grown up without a father. Just that bastard of a judge looking after her." The barber replied sadly, wandering up behind her to glance over the girl's shoulder.
Caroline looked round so she could see the barber's face, a pang of pity shooting through her when she saw a lone tear sliding down his cheek. "I've grow up without a father as well. Just a bastard that never was my father and a mother who doesn't know who the real man is." She said quietly, beginning to feel tears building in her own eyes.
Sweeney's eyes flicked down to Caroline's, her brown eyes holding his once again. "You've got me now though. If you ever need someone to be a father to you, just remember you've got me now." The barber said, his honesty surprising himself.
A grateful smile crept across Caroline's face as she turned to face him, the tears now escaping from her eyes and running down her cheeks.
Without thinking what he was doing, the barber reached out one arm and wrapped it round the girl's waist, pulling her against his chest into a comforting hug. Each as stunned as the other, they froze momentarily until Caroline reached up and wrapped her arms round his neck, burying her face in his shoulder in the process.
Breathing a deep sigh of relief, Sweeney brought his other arm up and wrapped it round her shoulders, shushing the girl gently as she began to sob quietly into his chest.
Closing his eyes he smiled slightly; he was glad he had a daughter again.
-x-
"Evenin' Sir." Caroline said as an elderly man entered the shop door.
"Good Evenin' Miss Lovett." He replied cheerily as he made his way over to the counter, "Yer got a pie somewhere fer me?" he asked with a cheery smile.
"O'course fer you sir." She said, plating the man up a pie and handing it to him with a smile. She watched as he turned and made his way over to one of the tables where he sat heavily and tucked into his pie.
Still smiling she turned back to the pie cases she was filling with meat and gravy from a large bowl. She'd been in a good mood all the time since her conversation with the barber. Finally she felt like she had a father, a proper family. Beginning to hum, she caught sight of her mother leaving the corridor from the kitchen and smiled at her, a proper smile, the first she'd given her since she'd found out about Albert not being her father.
Nellie, wide eyed and slightly shocked looking, smiled back before continuing in the direction she'd been going. Caroline giggled quietly at the look on her mother's face and watched as she cleared the plates away from empty tables, that same look still on her face. As soon as she couldn't carry any more, she staggered back to the kitchen, attempting a smile back at her daughter from under the strain of the heavy pile in her arms.
Shaking her head, Caroline turned back to the pie cases, only to be interrupted again by the sound of the door being opened. Glancing up, her humming stopped, the last note drifting into the cool air of the shop.
Harry Ramsgate smiled at her, however it wasn't his usual smile, his eyes were pained and distant. Caroline frowned at him as he walked into the shop and straight over to the counter, one of their tumblers in his hand.
"Master Ramsgate?" Caroline asked, straightening up and placing one hand on her hip.
Harry placed the tumbler on the counter before burying his hands in his trouser pockets, "Can you fill that up please?" he asked quietly.
Caroline raised an eyebrow at him, "An' what are yer doin' wi' one of our tumblers?" She asked.
"Mr. Todd gave it to me a couple of nights ago and I haven't got round to bringing it back." He replied.
Caroline frowned, what would the barber be doing giving their tumblers out to Harry Ramsgate? "Really? And why were Mr. Todd givin' our tumbler to yer?" She asked.
Harry's gaze fell to the tumbler in question before he continued, "I was mugged the other night while on my way to get my father a tumbler of ale. Mr. Todd saw it and offered me one from here." He said, his gaze still not meeting Caroline's.
"And why couldn't yer father go an' get the ale 'imself?" she asked, eyebrow still raised.
"My father is very ill at the moment Miss Lovett. He says a glass of ale makes him feel better." Harry replied, straightening up to look at her.
"Oh." Was all the girl could say. Without another word, she picked up the tumbler, turned away from the counter and filled it from the barrel. Carefully, she span back around and handed it to Harry.
"Thank you." He said quietly, reaching into his pocket for the coins to pay.
Caroline shook her head and held up her hand, "Have it on us." She said kindly. Harry smiled slightly at her before picking up the tumbler carefully and turning from the counter.
Caroline watched as he left the shop slowly, one hand holding the tumbler and the other in front of it, guarding it from being bashed into. As he reached the door, someone from outside opened it and held it open for him. The girl squinted and stood up on tiptoes to try and see who it was.
As soon as Harry was clear of the door, an old woman staggered into the shop, her grey hair matted across her shoulders. Caroline recognised her from the streets; she hung around these parts begging for alms from anyone that walked too close. Stepping out from behind the counter, Caroline made her way over to the woman, intending on kicking her out.
"S'cuse me Ma'am." The girl said as she strode over to the woman who was spinning round in circles murmuring something Caroline couldn't quite make out. Cautiously, she reached out and placed her hand o the woman's shoulder, making her jump and turn to face her.
The woman's eyes were wide and confused as they landed on Caroline's. Slowly, she reached up her hands on put one on each of the girl's cheeks. Wide eyed Caroline looked down at the woman, slightly panicked.
"It's you." She breathed, her voice hoarse, "Your eyes. I know you. It is you."
Caroline swallowed, frozen to the spot, "I don't know yer." She whispered in reply, "I think yer mus' be mistaken."
The woman shook her head wildly, "No, no no no no!" She shrieked, "I know you!" She added, her grip on Caroline's face getting tighter and her nails beginning to dig into her cheeks.
Caroline reached up and tried to pry the woman's hands from her face but she was too strong. Hurried footsteps from behind them drew a sigh of relief from the girl; she'd recognise them as her mother's any day.
"What the bloody 'ell der yer think yer doin'?!" Nellie exclaimed, as she dashed over and pulled the woman from her daughter. A scream form Caroline made Nellie jump as she looked up and saw four scratches down each of the girl's cheeks from the woman's nails. Blood boiling, Nellie dragged the woman outside and down an alley away from the shop.
"What der yer think yer doin' Lucy?! Comin' 'ere an' attackin' me daughter!" Nellie yelled, letting go off Lucy's dress with such force she almost stumbled over, "Things are goin' well enough now. The last thing we need is you puttin' in an appearance again."
Lucy straightened up and glanced at Nellie before staggering towards her with her hand outstretched. "Spare some alms Ma'am?" She asked, her eyes flicking wildly over Nellie's face.
Sighing, the baker reached into the pocket in her apron and pulled out a handful of coins. Rummaging through them, she picked out a shilling and handed it over to Lucy. The woman took it, eyes wide form shock and smiled toothily at Nellie.
"Thank yer Ma'am." She said before brushing past the baker and dashing down the alley.
Nellie sighed and made her way slowly back towards the shop, hoping that the shilling would keep Lucy Barker away from the shop for good.
-x-
"Ouch." Caroline hissed as Nellie dabbed the warm damp cloth over her cheek.
"Keep still. I'm almost done." The baker replied as she submerged the cloth back in the bowl of warm water, "I 'ave ter make sure it's clean though. Who knows what could be under that woman's nails." She added as she wrung the cloth out and placed it back on the girl's cheek.
"Is it bad?" Caroline asked quietly.
Nellie shook her head, "No love. It'll heal up in a couple o' days." She said, reaching across and pulling the candle on the table closer so she could see better, "There's only one or two open bits on this side an' none on the other side." Slowly, Nellie wiped the cloth along one of the deeper scratches, causing Caroline to hiss in pain again. "Sorry love."
"Don't worry." Caroline said quietly, her mind on the woman who did this to her. After a few moments of silence, she decided to ask the question that had been on her mind all evening.
"Who was that woman? Do you know her?" The way Nellie momentarily paused with the cloth gave Caroline her answer. But it wasn't the one that her mother spoke.
"No love. Course not. Jus' some man woman that's all." She said.
Caroline sighed, "Then what did she mean about knowin' me? She said somethin' about me eyes as well." She added, jumping when Nellie pressed a little too hard with the cloth.
"Sorry dear." Nellie said sounding slightly shaken.
Caroline turned so she could look at her mother. "Yer would tell me wouldn't yer. If yer knew somethin' I mean." She asked, disappointed when Nellie simply nodded her head and looked away to rinse out the cloth again. Caroline sighed and closed her eyes, swivelling back round on the couch so Nellie could get to her cheek again.
Carefully, Nellie placed the cloth back on her daughter's cheek, wondering whether she suspected anything. She felt awful for the string of lies she'd told her since Sweeney had arrived but what could she do? And now she'd started how could she stop? How could she start telling the truth again? Sighing, she dabbed the cloth along the deepest of the four scratched on that cheek. She would have to find out at some point she realised. Nellie wanted her to find out at some point. The only difficulty was finding that point and the way of telling her.
And then a thought struck her. When all of this was over, there would be no need to lie anymore. When the judge and the Beadle were dead they couldn't stay in London anyway, so the five of them would leave, her and Sweeney, Caddie, Toby and Joanna. Nellie would convince Sweeney to marry her and then she could tell him about Caroline, maybe even before hand. Maybe on the way to their new life. They would live by the seaside of course. She could tell the two of them at the same time. A smile spread across her face as she imagined their reactions. She knew Caroline would be happy; she got on with Sweeney really well. And what about the barber himself? She was sure he would be happy as well, he seemed to like Caroline and she was sure he'd love to have his two daughters in his life.
And Caroline would finally be able to get to know her half sister. She'd love that, Nellie was sure of it, she always used to say how she would have loved a sister. Nellie's smile broadened at the thought of the five of them as one happy family. Sighing, she turned her attention back to her daughter's cheek. Now she just hoped the judge came to Sweeney's shop soon.
-x-
Sweeney wiped a cloth slowly along the length of the silver blade, relieving it of the smears of red from the latest victim. He'd got it down to a fine art now; he could kill someone with a single sweep of the blade and almost no mess at all. Striding across the room, he opened the trunk and dropped the cloth in to join the other bloodied items, shirts, cloths, towels. Nellie would come and collect them when it grew dark.
Making his way back to the vanity, he flicked his razor shut and replaced it carefully in the box, closing the lid on them. It was closing time and he was looking forward to a quiet evening.
Just as he was about to lock up the door, it was pushed open with such a force it bounced off the wall behind with a crash and swung back again into the person the other side. Immediately reaching for the razor he always kept in his holster, he sighed in relief Anthony stepped into the room from the dim light outside.
"Mr. Todd." The sailor breathed as he pushed the door closed behind him.
Sweeney grunted in reply and wondered why the lad always seemed to run into his shop as if something was chasing him.
"Tomorrow, Mr. Todd. Tomorrow afternoon Joanna will finally be mine." He said with a boyish smile.
Sweeney looked up at him quickly; he'd forgotten it was tomorrow. Frowning, he turned and strode up to the window before beginning to pace up and down, "Yes, tomorrow." He said quietly, "Bring her here won't you. I mean, if you need to take her somewhere for a bit, we'll look after her for you." He said a little louder.
Anthony's smile broadened, "Thank you Sir. Thank you. For that's what I came here to ask you really. You see I will need to fetch us a couch after I have her and wondered whether it would still be alright to leave her in your keeping while I did so."
Sweeney nodded tightly, still pacing up and down by the window, "Of course son. We'd be happy to."
Anthony nodded and dashed to the door before turning back to the barber, "I can't thank you enough Sir." He said before pushing the door open and disappearing back out into the fading evening light.
-x-
Nervously, Anthony lifted his wrist so he could check his watch. 3:05 pm, the judge should have gone by now. Slowly, he crept forward so he could see out of the alley and down towards the judges house. He frowned; that was not what he expected to see.
A coach was pulled up outside of his house and the judge was speaking to the coachman. Deciding he needed to hear what was being said but realising that being seen could cost him Joanna, he slipped out of the alley and walked as quickly as didn't look suspicious down the opposite street to the judge's house.
As soon as he was within earshot, he stopped and pulled out the folded up piece of map from his pocket and began to pretend examining it. Discreetly, he turned so he could hear the judge speaking.
"...been a delay." Came the judge's voice.
"So what time are you wanting me back here for then?" The coachman asked, beginning to sound annoyed.
"About an hour and a half should be fine." The judge replied. The coachman made an irritated noise before the sound of the reins coming down on the horses' backs signalled the coach leaving. Anthony folded up his map and slipped it back in his pocket before turning his head slightly to glance behind him.
Just as he did so, the judge looked in his direction and caught his eye for a moment. He squinted and took a step forward, obviously recognising Anthony. Panicking, the boy turned back the way he came from and almost jogged away from the house, cursing his stupidity at getting seen.
-x-
Nellie huffed in frustration and slammed the rolling pin down on the counter. Looking up at the ceiling, she wished this day would hurry up and end.
They'd decided not to open the shops today, Sweeney couldn't concentrate and Nellie was running short of meat anyway. It was 4pm and Sweeney hadn't stopped pacing for hours. Nellie could tell he was beginning to get nervous about Joanna arriving and frankly, she didn't blame him. His little girl wasn't so little anymore, she was a proper lady now, and had been brought up to be one too.
And it was this pacing that was not beginning to annoy the baker. The wooden floors seemed to be making every step the barber took louder and louder until now, Nellie couldn't concentrate.
Slipping out from behind the counter, she swept out of the shop and up the stairs straight into the barber's shop. Pausing in the doorway, she watched as Sweeney paced from one end of the window to the other ad back again, only pausing to turn at each end. Nellie stepped into the shop and closed the door behind her, the noise making the barber stop and bring his gaze up from the floor to rest on her.
"Yer know, wearin' an' 'ole in me floor ain't goin' ter bring 'er 'ere any quicker." She said, making her way further into the shop so she was stood behind the chair.
Sweeney sighed and looked away, striding over to the window where he stood and fixed his eyes on the street below, examining every person that walked past the shop in case they were Joanna and Anthony.
"They should be here by now. Something must have happened." Sweeney said, his eyes never leaving the street below.
Nellie sighed, resting her elbows on the back of the chair and her chin in her hands, "I'm sure everythin' is fine love. But worryin' ain't goin' ter get 'em 'ere sooner is it?"
Sweeney sighed heavily, "If this goes wrong Anthony will be on a ship to Australia and Joanna will be punished. Of course I'm going to worry Mrs. Lovett."
Nellie rolled her head to one side, "Well then at least try and remember that fer the moment, there's nothin' yer can do." She said softly, "An' jus' think, soon this'll all be over. The judge will be dead, an' so will the Beadle, an' then we can leave London. All five of us can go an' live somewhere nice, somewhere away from 'ere." She said dreamily, "By the sea maybe. I always did want ter live there Mr. T. We could 'ave a nice little 'ouse. It'd be proper cosy." She added with a smile.
Sweeney glanced across at her and rolled his eyes; he knew this come at some point. "Whatever you say." He replied quietly.
Nellie's smile broadened, Sweeney's response sounding more enthusiastic in her dreamy state than it had in real life. "Well that's settled then love." She replied, straightening herself up and wandering slowly over to where Sweeney was stood so she could look out the window as well.
Glancing up at the barber, she saw genuine concern on his face. Deciding to brave it, she reached out a hand and placed it on his arm, breathing a quiet sigh of relief when she didn't find herself pressed up against a wall by a razor. "They will be alrigh' love. They'll get 'ere soon. I know it."
-x-
The sound of horses' hooves on the cobbles woke Anthony from his doze. His eyes snapping open, he glanced down at his watch; 4:35pm. It was time. Slowly he stood up, his neck and back aching from sleeping sat up against a wall in an alleyway. Hand on his lower back, he crept to the end of the alley once again and watched as this time the judge, joined by the Beadle, descended the stairs and climbed straight into the coach, the horses moving from the gateway before the door was even closed.
Anthony watched carefully and waited until the coach was round the corner and out of sight before dashing from the alley and across the road, straight down the alley on the other side of the road that led to the back of the judge's house. Once at the back door, he turned the handle slowly, almost whooping for joy when he found it unlocked. Peering his head inside, he slipped in when he realised it was deserted. Closing the door behind him, he turned and started to make his way towards the main entrance were the stairs were; he remembered roughly where he was going from his last visit here.
When he reached the staircase, he ran up them as quickly and as quietly as he could, taking two at a time until he reached the next floor. Looking down the corridor in both directions, he tried to get his bearings so he could work out which direction to go in. Deciding he needed to go right, he rushed down the corridor, trying to make as little noise as he could. After passing a couple of doors, he reached one with a picture outside. Crouching down, he peered though the key hole and smiled when he saw his Joanna sat at the window on the opposite side of the room looking down onto the street below. Slowly, he reached up to turn the handle, only to find the door locked. For a moment he panicked, until he realised the key she must have thrown him was for her door and not the back door. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the key and turned it in the lock slowly, smiling triumphantly as he heard a quiet click.
Standing up, he pulled out the key and turned the handle slowly. The door made a slight squeak as he pushed it open, the noise making the young girl jump and shoot up from her seat, only to smile prettily when she realised it was Anthony and not the judge.
"Joanna." Anthony breathed as she made her way across the room to him.
"Hello." She said softly, stopping a few feet from him.
"I'm Anthony." The sailor said, finding it hard to draw his yes away from the girl stood in front of him.
"Have you really come to rescue me Anthony?" She asked, the smile momentarily dropping from her delicate face.
"Of course I have Joanna. Of course I have." He reassured, pleased when her smile returned. He watched as she swept across the room and reached under her bed, pulling out a large bag she had obviously packed in anticipation of Anthony's arrival.
The thought made the sailor giddy with happiness as he stepped forward and took the bag in one hand and Joanna's own hand in his other.
"Are you ready?" He asked, turning to face her. She simply nodded and pulled him towards the door. That was enough for Anthony.
-x-
"I have news for you Beadle." Judge Turpin said after the court case had closed and they were making their way down the large flight of stairs to the coach at the bottom.
"Oh?" The Beadle asked curiously.
"I plan to ask my dear Joanna to marry me. This evening I shall ask her and we shall be wed with haste." He said with a slimy smile.
The Beadle looked up at the judge and grinned creepily, "I feel a congratulations is in order." He replied flicking his stick out as he walked.
"Thank you." The judge replied, running his hand along his chin, "I think I might have a shave before I return home. I want to look my best for the girl. What do you think? Do you know of anyone respectable?" He asked, slowing as he glanced down at the Beadle.
"As a matter of fact yes, I do. A Mr. Todd of Fleet Street. There you will receive the closest shave you ever have had. In fact, I might pop along myself, we could go together?" The Beadle suggested.
The judge paused for a moment, considering, before nodding and striding on again, "Lead the way." He said as he climbed into the waiting coach, the Beadle giving directions to the coachman before climbing in himself.
-x-
"We're almost there!" Anthony said between heavy breaths, "Just round this corner and we'll be on Fleet Street."
"What are we doing at Fleet Street?" Joanna asked, gripping tighter onto Anthony's hand as a tall, burley man passed them in the alley they were almost running down.
"I have friends there. You can wait with them while I find a coach. It is getting dark now so I think we might wait until it is dark to leave. That way there is less chance of us being seen." He replied, pausing so he could switch the heavy bag into his other hand.
"And then we will be gone." Joanna said dreamily, "Away from London all together."
Anthony turned his head to face her and flashed her a cheery smile, "Forever my dear." He replied, squeezing her hand slightly.
As they reached the end of the alley, Anthony stepped out into the street before stopping dead and scurrying back into the alley as quickly as he could, Joanna almost tripping over him as he pushed her quickly away from the entrance.
"What is it?" She whispered as he peered round the edge of the building and down the street.
Anthony turned to face her, a worried expression on his face, "The judge and the Beadle are at the place where I was taking you." He whispered, watching as Joanna's face grew alarmed.
"These people have told the judge about our plan?" She asked.
Anthony shook his head quickly, "No no, they are dear friends, they wouldn't. He is a barber my dear, the judge might have gone for a shave is all." He said, watching relief flood over her face.
"So we are safe?" she asked.
"Not until we are far away from London. But for now we will go the long way around. We can sneak in the back entrance of the shop below then and by the time we get there they should have left. The lady that owns the pie shop downstairs is very lovely and will hide you if the judge is still upstairs." Anthony said, pulling Joanna back around in the direction they'd just come from.
-x-
The two men stepped out the coach, the Beadle shutting the door after the judge. "Well here it is." He said, gesturing to the shop above the pie shop.
"Well doesn't this bring back memories." The judge mumbled, sweeping past the Beadle and straight up the stairs.
"Return in about half an hour man." The Beadle said to the coachman before turning to follow the judge up the stairs, only to pause when his eye was caught by the pie shop door. "Well, the barber can't do two at a time can he?" The Beadle reasoned before turning and striding into the pie shop.
-x-
Sweeney Todd was not pacing the window. He'd given up with that after Nellie had left his shop. Now he was stood at the vanity sharpening his razor; he felt bad for Anthony and wanted to make his death as quick as possible. It had to be done, he kept telling himself; if he wanted his daughter back then it had to be done.
A knocking on the door made him jump, so much so that he almost dropped his razor. Spinning round, he was shocked to see the judge peering through his shop door.
Panic began to wash through him; what if Anthony and Joanna came now? He'd have to make this one quick, he decided. Raising his hand, he waved the judge in, a slight nervousness beginning to pool in his stomach as the he let himself in and glanced round slowly, taking in the surroundings.
"This place once was an attractive room barber. You know it wouldn't take much to get it back to that state." Turpin said, shrugging off his cape and handing it to Sweeney.
Sweeney took the item, feeling annoyance building that this man should treat him like a slave. "Take a seat Sir." He said as he laid his cloak down on the stool in the corner of the room.
"Thank you." The judge said, sweeping over to the front of the chair where he sat down slowly.
Sweeney took the sheet off the vanity and wrapped it round the judge's shoulders, his eyes fixed on his neck."Relax Sir. Relax. You shall have the closest shave you ever have received." He reassured, creeping over to the door and locking it before returning to the chair and beginning to lather his cheeks and neck.
"That is good. I need to look my best you see barber." The judge replied, closing his eyes.
Sweeney raised an eyebrow, "Oh? For an occasion?" he asked, replacing the cream and picking a razor out of the box. Slowly, he sharpened it on the strop, wanting this over and done with quickly.
"Yes as a matter of fact it is. I intend to ask my dear ward Joanna to marry me. Poor girl, had such a difficult start to life, I intend to ensure that she will have a settled life from now on."
Sweeney gripped his razor tighter. This had to end quickly. Taking a deep calming breath, the barber stepped towards the chair, the razor hovering over the man's neck. "How lovely." He said, tilting the judge's chin back so he could sweep the razor up his neck, "I'm sure she's bound to say yes."
The judge chuckled slightly, "Yes, I'm sure she is."
Slowly, Sweeney lowered his face so it was almost level with the judge's, "Ah, but I see a flaw in your plan Sir. Is it not traditional to ask the father's permission before proposing to a young lady?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
The judge frowned and cocked his head to the side slightly, "She has no father barber. The foolish man got himself arrested when she was young. He's still in prison."
"Ah, but that's where you're wrong." Sweeney said, a manic smile on his face when the judge jumped up from his chair and span round to face the barber.
"It's not possible." Turpin said, his voice breathy and his eyes wide.
"Isn't it?" Sweeney mocked, stalking towards him with his razor poised like a cat stalks his prey, "I think you'll find it's very possible."
"Benjamin Barker!" the judge breathed, dashing towards the door where he attempted to turn the locked handle.
Sweeney laughed, a demonic sound that echoed off the walls. The judge turn to face him only to find him stood with the key hanging from one of his fingers. "Looking for this?" Sweeney taunted, replacing it back in his pocket before slowly making his way to the judge.
"I order you to unlock this door." The judge said, his voice shaking.
"Or what?" Sweeney asked, cornering him, "You'll send me to prison? Australia maybe? A life time of hard service? Hmm, that sounds a familiar charge. Now where have I heard that before? He asked, placing the blade to his neck, "Not again your honour. Never again." He said, before sweeping the blade cleanly across his neck.
-x-
Nellie's eyes flicked up to the ceiling, a sly smile crossing her lips as she rolled her chin from side to side in the palm of her hands, her elbows resting on the counter top. That was it, she was sure of it. That creak from above and the dull thud below could mean nothing else other than the judge was finally dead.
With a sigh, her eyes flicked over to the Beadle who was sat at one of the tables scoffing a second pie. "Why don't yer go up now Sir? The judge must be almost done."
The Beadle paused and looked up at her, "Yes, I think I will. Thank you madam for your hospitality."
"My pleasure Sir." Nellie said with a wink.
A slimy smile crossed the Beadle's lips as he stuffed the remaining pie into his mouth. Quickly he scrambled up, wiping his lips on his sleeve as he dashed out the front door.
Sighing happily, Nellie left the counter and made her way quickly into her bedroom. If all went to plan they would be leaving London as quickly as possible and she wanted to make sure she was prepared.
Once in her room, she reached under the bed and pulled out an old carpet bag. Opening it, she placed it on her bed. There were some things she couldn't leave behind and this was where she'd put them, she decided.
Opening the bottom draw of her dressing table she pulled out the corsets and bloomers, revealing a pile of small books at the very back of the draw. Reaching in, she took out a couple in each hand before stacking them carefully in her bag. In these books was her young life. Before things had started to go wrong for her, she had been very keen on writing diaries; everything from her marriage to Albert to Caroline's real father was in these books.
When the last one was safely in the bag, she piled the undergarments back into the draw before pulling herself up off the floor and dashing into the parlour where she took the photograph of herself, Lucy and Benjamin off the mantelpiece and returned to her room to add it to the bag.
Apart from these things, Nellie had very few things of any real meaning that she wished to hold on to. After packing a few pieces of jewellery including her mother's wedding and engagement ring, Nellie closed the bag and stuffed it under the bed ready to be collected later. With a smile on her face, she left her bedroom and strolled out into the parlour, her mood sinking when she saw Toby hovering in the parlour with a worried expression on his face.
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