Changes

Miss Scarlet and the Duke

Been a very long time since I wrote a fanfiction piece. MSatD completely brought me back to it. Love these characters and this story.

This is a one shot piece – super duper spoilers for Season 2 ending. I totally spoiled myself, because I have no willpower. So if you don't want to be spoiled for somethings, pass this one by until you see season 2s finale – although this is how I wished the finale went, not how it actually went….Enjoy! As always – I own nothing and gain nothing but enjoyment😊

Eliza glanced wistfully around the crowded room at Mrs. Parkers home. An engagement. While she wished that Hattie could marry for love, after meeting her gentleman, Eliza thought with a smile that love may not lag far behind the wedding. She glanced to Mr. Potts and Ivy, Hattie and her fiancé, and the countless other couples across the room. Such a happy occasion, so why then did she feel this enormous, almost suffocating sadness that seemed to permeate everything.

She was alone. By her own choice? She wasn't completely sure. Her entire life she had marched to the beat of a different drummer. Eliza's father had always encouraged her in her studies and curiosity, allowing her to become the woman she was – intelligent, informed, independent and stubborn. But with a sigh she added alone to her mental list of attributes. She was alone. She had no partner in life.

Until recently she had never much thought of being coupled or married. She allowed her head to push away those thoughts when they infiltrated her thoughts. Due to those afore mentioned attributes Eliza had assumed that in all likelihood she would end up alone. What man would want a wife who literally knew nothing about running a house or a raising children, but could solve a murder case better than most men. Therefore, she needed to be able to make her own way in the world. She couldn't rely on anyone else, because in her reality everyone left. Oh not purposely, as death typically is not planned, but save for Ivy, she was utterly alone with no one to lean on, except she was coming to realize, William.

William. And now he was leaving too. One of her last pillars. Only recently had she allowed herself think about what he truly meant to her. In truth Eliza knows that she had always been in love with him, probably from the tender age of 16. But it had scared her and she pushed him away. The same as she had done recently, and now he was well and truly leaving. She didn't want to need someone, but she did need him.

She needed him to be her better half, her sparing partner, and well just her partner. It was ironic that all this time, when she hadn't even recognized it, he was always there for her. Never asking for anything in return. Whether it was her father's funeral, getting her out of countless scrapes, or saving her life more times than she cared to admit. Risking his life for hers. How had she not allowed herself to acknowledge her feelings?

Fear. She was afraid of what it would mean. She was afraid of what admitting those feelings would change. She was terrified that he did not hold the same tendre for her. He was Inspector Detective Wellington of Scotland Yard. Tall, intelligent, brave, handsome and most importantly patient. Patient with her to a degree that was truly unbelievable. Most men would have walked away long ago. But then William had loved her father. She had just been a part of the deal, and now she was sure that he watched over her out of some kind of duty to her father. She didn't want to be his duty.

A few times over the last months her heart had hoped. A touch, a glance, a tease. He made it very easy to fall in love with him. But she was stubborn (as previously mentioned) and always pushed him away, never believing that someone like William, a most sought after bachelor, could feel anything close to romantic love for her. But he had never volunteered any feelings, she had never asked and well now did it truly matter since he would be leaving on the train to Scotland.

Eliza cringed at the thoughts of their last few meetings, and their final goodbye. Cold was the only word that came to mind. There was so much she should have said to him, confessed to him. After all he was leaving, and the sad likelihood was that she would never seen him again. While Scotland was not so far, lives, especially one like his, get busy, and old friends can be forgotten, relegated to the far reaches of memory, brought out a dusted off when reminiscing about the old days. He would marry of course. No doubt a beautiful woman who could boil eggs, keep a house and sew she thought mirthlessly. He may remember fondly in stories to his children his mentor's troublesome daughter and all the scrapes he got her out of humorously told for amusement. But she would hold those same stories close to her heart, they would warm her on those late nights working in the office or the cold winter nights as she lies alone in bed.

She wished she'd told him what was in her heart, if only to unburden herself to avoid the what ifs for the next 40 years. She should have told…

The clock behind her on the mantle chimed. Turning her head she noted it was 9 pm. It was as though a vice gripped her heart. He would be gone in one hour, the train whisking him away.

Impetuousness was always her strong suit. Mind made up, she determined to find him before he left. Tell him what she needed him to know even if nothing would change. She walked, no ran, to fetch her cloak from the butler. Without a word to anyone, Eliza ran out the door and down the front steps and out into the night.

The first stop had been his house. As the cab pulled up she jumped out and ran up the steps. It was completely inappropriate for her to show up on his doorstep in the day light, let alone at night. But she was beyond caring about her reputation. The only thing that drove her were the words bubbling inside her, building pressure, looking for release. Frantically she knocked on his door. There was no answer. A glance at the windows showed no light beyond. He was not here.

There was only one other place he could be – his office at Scotland Yard. Sprinting back to the cab as quickly as the dress would allow she yelled the direction to the driver with instruction to spare no speed.

Once again, the cab had barely stopped when she vaulted out, skirts swirling around her as she ran up the steps. Eliza cared not about the glances and murmurs form the officers she ran past in her haste to get to his office.

Reaching his door, Eliza grasped the knob and steadied herself, trying desperately to gain her breath. Squaring her shoulders her pushed the door open.

"William?" she asked as she stepped into the room.

Darkness was all that greeted her. As her eyes adjusted Eliza could see that the desk and shelves were bare. He was already gone. There would be no time to make the train station. She had missed him.

Stepping further into the room, she laid a hand gently, reverently on his desk, running her fingers along the wood surface. She said her goodbye to him here, in her heart, wishing health, happiness and love in the future. Then with a heavy sigh she turned and with one last look over her shoulder closed the door.

Eliza's walk back to the cab was much more sedate this time. If the officers around her noticed her slumped shoulders and bowed head no one mentioned it. Heaving herself into the cab she landed with a thud on the bench, not caring that portions of her dress where caught in the door.

"Where to now?" the cabbie asked.

That was a very good question. Where would she go now. Home was not an option, to lay in bed not sleeping or sit in the lonely parlor wallowing in her heartache. Neither of those options appealed to her. The only place that might bring her solace is the office. Work was always able to divert her mind. Although it was a tall order she was asking for to divert the attention from her heart.

Giving the direction she sat back into the seat, pulling her cape about her. And that is when the tears began to fall, followed by the sobs that she desperately tried to muffle with her gloved hands. Covering her face she let her emotions overtake her. She was alone again. Not that what she wanted to do would have changed that in the long run. But it would have made her heart feel better, even if it would have still been broken.

Slamming her fist into the seat, she signaled to her mind and heart that she had had enough. What is will be now. She must move past this silly episode and continue on with her life. Frantically she swiped at the tears, willing them to stop. Angry at herself for becoming this person. She had lasted this long fending for herself, she could continue to do so without him.

The cab came to a stop, she paid her fee, and stepped out onto the sidewalk. She fished for her key in her reticule, finally lifting her head when it was found. Out of the shadows stepped William.

Eliza was momentarily stunned, speechless, motionless. There he was, almost as an apparition materializing before her, her mind willing him into existence in London.

"William", she asked incredulously, "Where have you been? I went to Scotland Yard, I went to your house."

"Well, in my search for you I've been to Mrs. Parkers party. It's curious how even a happy occasion can't put a smile on that women's face." William said.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked, not quite meeting his eyes.

"You're always here." He answered.

It was going to be now or never. Faced with him in the flesh, the prospect of baring her soul to him felt like a daunting task. She was made of stern stuff, this should not be a monumentally hard task. Just tell him her heart screamed.

"William, there is something I want say, something I should've said much sooner than this," she stared into his face, for once not looking away when she became uncomfortable.

"oh," he murmured expectantly.

"Wait what are you doing here? What about your train?"

"There's been a change of plan, the Commissioner has decided I can remain at my current position, well persuaded might be a better term."

"You're staying in London?" she asked expectantly her smile showing.

"It's a long story, but I'm more interested in what you were going to say." He said raising his eyes to hers.

"What I was going to say?"

"Yes" he answers looking at her intently.

"Well, you're staying now so what does it matter?" Eliza says, losing her courage now that he would be staying in London.

"It matters to me," he says softly.

She stares into his eyes as he removes his hand from his pocket and reaches for hers, running his fingers along her wrist and down to her fingers, taking a hold of her hand, gently stroking her fingers.

Eliza knows this is her moment. She momentarily lowers her eyes, gathering courage to continue. She owes this much to him after all he had done for her.

Raising her eye again, she takes a breath and dives in.

"I, well, I," she stutters, "I wanted to tell you, for you to know, oh dear this is much more difficult than I had imagined, "she said lowering her eyes.

"Eliza.." he whispered, trying to pull her closer.

"No William, please don't interrupt. I need to say this. You once asked me if you meant anything to me. Well, I was only half truthful when I answered. Of course you mean something to me," she said lifting her eyes to his, "you mean everything to me."

She could see him stiffen, unsure of what that reaction meant she went on.

"My life has been unconventional, and because of my choices I have always assumed that I would be alone. While maybe I might be an interesting diversion for someone, no man would want a woman such as myself when it comes down to it. I can't cook, sew or clean properly, much to Ivy's chagrin, which is why I needed to cultivate my independence, for I was going to have to depend on myself to provide my roof and food for my table. And when my father died, I was terrified. Terrified of what might become of me. So I threw myself into my work."

"What you saw as blind ambition was actually desperate fear of being able to live. I felt alone, completely and utterly alone. But what I then slowly began to realize as time passed was that every time I stumbled, you were there to catch me. And you never tried to change me, just attempted to try and slow my impetuous ways."

William grunted his agreement but never moved his eyes from hers.

"I know that you loved my father, and I assure you that he loved you just as if you were his own son, never doubt that. And I know that I was just part of that package, the odd daughter that was more at home solving mysteries than learning to cook or sew. I am afraid that you saw me as more of a duty to his memory to make sure I was well and happy. I am grateful for everything you have done for me and on my behalf. There is no way I could ever repay you for your patience and kindness."

"But when you told me you were leaving, my head finally listened to what my heart had been saying since I was 16, only I had been too afraid to listen. "

Eliza wasn't sure she could look him in the eye for this next portion. She was too afraid she would see his truth, or worse pity. But she knew that she needed to be direct and face him.

Raising her eyes once more to his, she said simply, "I love you William, I always have."

She searched his eyes for anything, any hint of emotion. Instead she felt his grip on her hand tighten.

"Eliza, I," he breathed as he grabbed her other hand and brought both to his lips, kissing their backs.

Dropping her hands he continued, "Eliza, I" he faltered again, but now she could read his eyes, the tears gathering there were more than she could bear to see. She was amazed by this man.

Raising his hand to her cheek, he tried for a third time to speak, "You have never been a burden to me, never a duty. Everything I've done was born of my love for you. I've loved you since I was 19 Eliza. There have been no others, nor will there ever be. Even those times when you tried my nerves, tested my patience, and scared me out of my mind with some of your antics, my love for you never faltered."

"Can this be true William?" Eliza asked with tears streaming down her face.

In answer he cupped her face with both hands and said, " Eliza Scarlet you are my love and always will be."

He then bent his head to hers and kissed her gently on the lips. This kiss was a promise. A promise, of friendship, of passion, but most importantly of love.

William made to kiss her again, but the arrival of a cab interrupted his actions, causing him to step back from Eliza. She saw his annoyance and the eye roll at the inopportune arrival of the carriage.

"There she is," Mr. Potts called from the cab as he exited, turning to help Ivy down.

"Oh here you are! I was so worried when we couldn't find you." Ivy rushed out.

"You really should be more respectful to Ms. Ivy Miss Scarlet," Mr. Potts admonished.

"Well since we're all here why don't we head in for a bit of sherry. I know where she hides the good stuff," Ivy offered with a conspiratorial wink.

"I think you've had enough sherry this evening," Eliza said.

Completely ignoring Eliza, Ivy silently gestured for the key, which was then handed over.

"That sounds like a fine idea and perhaps some parlor games. I am quite partial to charades myself" Mr. Potts offered.

"Oh Barnabus you are so clever! I love charades! Come along," Ivy said while leading Mr. Potts toward the door, separating Eliza and William to get there.

Eliza turned to watch them enter the building, grabbing on to William's hand and leading him towards the door she asked, "Please tell me you are coming in. Don't leave me alone with them."

"Well now I don't know, it may cost you," William pondered as she climbed the steps to the door. She was now looking at him eye to eye.

"And what might that price be," she asked.

"Well now, I'm thinking that a kiss might do it," William replied scratching his beard.

"Well, while that is quite a high price, I think it can be arranged," Eliza returned, leaning forward.

Their lips met for a passionate kiss, one much different than their first (or rather second) a few moments earlier.

Coming up for air, William stated with resignation, "I hate charades."

"Well that is because you aren't very good at it," Eliza offered.

"I'm better at it than you," he returned.

"It's not a competition William."

"it's always a competition with you my love."

The End

I hope you enjoyed it!