Today's prompt from Sparky Dorian: An unexpected journey.
"Well, my dear," Mrs Hudson called, being pulled along by a very hurried Mary, "this is not how I thought I would be spending my evening!"
"Quickly, Mrs Hudson!" Mary pulled the older woman around a corner and kept running, flinching as gunshots rang out behind them. "We need to get those keys back," she said, voice whipped away by the wind.
Mrs Hudson didn't need to hear her to know how important it was to retrieve the keys. That was their entire reason for being out here tonight, and how they ended up in this precarious situation.
Their race was brought to an abrupt halt by the river, and the long drop down to it, spanning across their road and leaving no place else to run. Mrs Hudson turned to look behind them, watching the light of the man chasing them draw closer and closer. "Mary," she whispered, transfixed by the sight. "I think you should know, I'm very glad you came to see Mr Holmes all those years ago." She turned to Mary, feelings of love overtaking her fear. "You've been like a daugh- what are you doing?!"
Mary, expression determined, had stepped up to the edge. "This will not be the end. We've still got a chance." With a wild leap, she jumped from the edge, skirts billowing out around her. Mrs Hudson took a moment to pray for their safety, then jumped after her.
Both of them landed in the river with a splash, struggling to stay afloat with their heavy skirts weighing them down. Their pursuer came to a halt at the edge, peering down at them, then laughed. He walked away, not noticing the boat that came up beside them.
"Help!" Mrs Hudson called, spitting out river water. "We need help!" Mary joined the cry, and together they caught the attention of a passenger on deck.
"There's two women down there!" he cried. Fortunately, he had the presence of mind to throw down a life buoy, and within a few minutes, both women were standing on deck, dripping water, shivering wildly, and surrounded by a crowd of wealthy party-goers.
"Mrs Hudson? Mrs Watson?" An unexpected voice came from the crowd, and a man stepped out of the crowd and toward them.
"Mr Holmes, do you know these two ladies?" Another man asked, also stepping forward from the crowd. From his dress, he appeared to be the host of the party.
"This is my brother's landlady, and his companion's wife," Mycroft said smoothly, taking in their condition at a glance. "They appear to have been chased by a gunman this evening, likely the same man that has been robbing houses around West London, and only escaped him by jumping into the river. Very forward thinking of you, ladies."
Mary, overcoming her surprise, murmured her thanks.
"Of course, after such a stressful evening, I should escort them home," Mycroft continued. "If you'll excuse me, your Grace?" He addressed this to the host, who waved his hand obligingly, still looking rather confused.
Mrs Hudson and Mary were similarly confused, but followed Mycroft off the boat once it had docked, and into a nearby wet dresses were quite uncomfortable by this time, and they were keen to return home and change into something else - once the essential keys had been retrieved.
"I thought you didn't like parties, Mr Holmes?" Mary ventured, in an attempt to break the awkwardness of the silent carriage.
"There are some invitation that, for the sake of diplomacy, are impossible to refuse, however unpleasant." Mycroft gave a delicate shudder, one almost unsuited to his great girth. "Now, ladies. What was the item that you were trying to retrieve when the thief began chasing you?"
The two women looked at each other, shocked. "A set of keys," Mrs Hudson finally replied.
"Of course. Then I shall send someone to retrieve it for you."
They just nodded. The rest of the drive to Baker Street was silent, as they worried about the keys, and tried to ignore how their dresses were clinging uncomfortably.
Next morning, the keys were sitting on the kitchen counter.
