Chapter Twenty-Four: Celebration

*So sorry for not uploading! My update schedule has gone out the window lmao*

October 4th, 1879

London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A knocking caught Marie's attention early that morning. She had just finished lacing up her corset when whoever it was knocked.

"One moment!" She called out and hurried in putting on her dress. It was a lovely light pink, almost a blush color, with a matching collar and buttons down its front. The dress had no bustle and no crinoline. It was simple yet beautiful. The arms of the dress were three-quarter sleeve length, and her gloves were a creamy white and covered the scars wrapped around her wrists and her broken and disfigured fingers.

With the dress on, she hurried to the door, brushing all of her hair over one shoulder as she went. It was waist length now and only getting longer. She would have to cut it soon to keep it under control. She could tie it up in a moment.

She opened the door.

James Bond stood on the other side, adjusting the vest of his suit. He beamed when he saw Marie.

"Oh, Marie, you look lovely! That color really brings out your eyes!" He exclaimed, and Marie smiled. He always knew what to say to make her smile.

"Thank you, James. I presume you're here to take me to breakfast?" She asked, and James' grin widened.

"Nessie and I are taking you out for your birthday for breakfast if that's alright?" He said, and Marie stopped, blinking once, then twice, then a third time. That's right. It was her birthday today. She was twenty-eight now.

James noticed her shocked expression and laughed,

"Surely you haven't forgotten your own birthday!" He exclaimed, and Marie ducked her head in embarrassment. William's plans had been so time-consuming that she had indeed forgotten the date. She told James as much, and he merely grinned,

"Well, now is no time for dilly-dallying. Come downstairs, and I'll pull the carriage around! William has agreed to lend it to me for the morning." He said excitedly, and Marie nodded with a good-natured laugh. It was nice to see him so happy.

Marie followed James down the stairs and waited by the front door while he fetched the carriage, tying her hair behind her in a bun as she did so. Nessie was supposedly going to meet them at the place, though James refused to tell her where they were meeting her friend.

The carriage ride was filled with chatter from James and the occasional reply from Marie. She smiled throughout the entire ride. It was nice to have someone fret over her birthday for once. The last time someone had, it had been Matthew before her fingers had been broken. She quickly banished him from her mind. She didn't need to dampen the day that James was so excited about with her depressed musings.

Soon the carriage rattled to a stop, and James jumped out enthusiastically and held out a hand to help her down. They were at a small breakfast building called "Ramsey's Breakfast." It was one Marie recognized from several travels throughout London. She had always wanted to try it but had never found the time or someone to go with her.

Inside was a quaint little place, with booths lining the walls and chairs and tables set out for guests to sit in. Nessie waved at the two from her spot in a corner booth, looking somewhat out of place in her mourning attire, but she didn't seem to mind.

"That dress looks lovely on you, Marie!" She said, standing to hug her friend. Marie gladly returned the hug and smiled. Today was already turning out to be a good day. She couldn't have asked for a better present than breakfast with two of her close friends.

The waiter came over and took their orders, offering Marie a happy birthday when James mentioned it. Breakfast was pleasant, filled with chatter from the three of them. A couple of hours passed before James said it was time to leave. Nessie had a sly look on her face as she waved goodbye and prepared to get into her own carriage, promising to be by later with Elliot and Jamie to have a birthday dinner.

"Oh Nessie, you don't have to—"

"But I want to. Plus, Jamie has been begging to see you for weeks, and he and Elliot have a present for you anyway! So think of it as your birthday gift from us to you." She said, laying her hands on Marie's shoulders. Eventually, Marie relented and said she would see Nessie later that night with her two children.

"What now, James?" She asked once they were in the carriage and heading back to the Moriarty Manor. Or at least they were before they turned down a road Marie didn't recognize.

"It's a surprise!" He said with a wink, holding a finger up to his lips and grinning. Marie frowned. Surprises weren't her favorite, but she supposed she was going to have to go with it for today. James seemed to have a plan, and he seemed intent on sticking with that plan.

Soon, they made it to their destination.

An equestrian stable?

Marie frowned and looked at James, but his grin only widened as he helped her down from the carriage. However, he didn't follow her towards the front of the equestrian stable. Instead, he stepped back up into the carriage. His grin turned mischievous, and he leaned out the window to wave at her, tossing her a small suitcase which she fumbled with but ultimately managed to catch.

"Have fun!" He called as the carriage pulled away, leaving Marie stunned and alone.

Had she just been ditched?

"Marie?" Came a familiar voice, and she turned, spotting Albert, who had just exited the equestrian stables. He was dressed in his riding attire and looked rather handsome in it. Marie couldn't help but smile at him, happy to see a familiar face. He returned the smile with one of his own.

"I'm glad to see James dropped you off safely." He said, and she blinked,

"You planned this?" She asked, and he nodded, gesturing towards the stables.

"I did. I thought it might be a nice present to go horseback riding for your birthday." He said, and she flushed, feeling the blush creep up her neck and towards her ears.

Someone else had remembered her birthday?

Had everyone?

Was she the only one to have forgotten?

It seemed to be so. She couldn't believe she had forgotten. Regardless, she accepted Albert's arm, and he led her inside.

She was able to change into a riding dress in the changing room that was settled in the corner. Her dress (lovingly supplied by James) was made of a lovely tweed and had buttons running down the front. She folded her other dress neatly and set it in her small suitcase. Then, exiting the changing room, she accepted Albert's arm and followed his lead into the stables.

The stables smelled of manure, straw, and animals. It was a comforting smell, something she missed. After all, the last time she had gone horseback riding was with Matthew when she was much younger. Hopefully, she would remember everything.

The stable boy led the duo to a pair of horses. One was a handsome chestnut gelding, and the other was a dappled gray mare. The stable boy handed the reins to Albert, who passed the reins of the mare to Marie before offering a hand.

"Need a hand?" He asked, and she shook her head,

"No, thank you, I believe I remember how to ride." She said, and he raised an eyebrow as he mounted his horse.

"You've ridden before?"

"Yes, once. Back when—back when I was under the Christie's employment." She said, adjusting how she sat side-saddle on the mare. Part of her was nervous about sitting so precariously, but she didn't exactly have trousers to change into. So, with a shake of her head and a smile to Albert, they were off.

The countryside was beautiful, with the leaves changing colors to gorgeous reds, browns, yellows, and oranges and fluttering down around them as the two horses galloped past. Marie tilted her head back and closed her eyes briefly, letting the wind caress her face, and she shook out her hair, using one hand to hold the reins and the other to comb through her hair. It whipped in the wind, and she saw Albert smile as she fussed with her hair.

Forty-five minutes into their ride, Albert suddenly led her off the trail and towards the trees. The horses slowed to a trot, and Marie ducked underneath a low-hanging branch.

"Where are we going?" She called up to Albert, who turned back and winked, holding a finger up to his lips,

"It's a surprise." He said mysteriously before turning back to guide his horse through the shrubbery.

The trees abruptly cleared, and they were in a meadow filled with wildflowers. In the center was what looked like—was that a blanket and basket? She frowned, but it lightened when Albert swung down from his horse as it came to a stop. He tied the horse to a tree branch and held a hand up to help Marie down. She accepted his hand and slid off the saddle, landing on her feet and stumbling slightly. His hand caught her elbow to steady her, and she smiled up at him.

"Thank you." She said gratefully, and he shook his head,

"It's no problem. Why don't you take a seat, and I'll tie your horse?"

The blanket was a soft quilt of shades of green that almost blended in with the wildflowers. A wicker basket sat in the center, and as Marie knelt to take a look inside, she could hear Albert approaching from behind. Inside the basket was containers of food and even a bottle of wine. Had he planned a picnic for her birthday? That was sweet of him. She felt her cheeks flush at the thought.

"Albert, this picnic is lovely! Did you plan this?" She asked, and he took a seat at a respectful distance away from her as he nodded.

"I admittedly had some help from Nessie, but it was originally my idea." He said, and Marie felt her cheeks flush an even deeper pink as he smiled at her.

Without any more delay, Marie and Albert set up their little picnic. Sandwiches, desserts, slices of bread, and cheeses, it seemed Albert went all out for their little date.

Date?

Was that what this was?

They were nearing the end of the picnic, the air filled with chatter from both Albert and Marie. She found herself genuinely laughing at things Albert said and overall had a great time.

Which made it all the more jarring when Albert suddenly turned serious.

His smile dropped slightly, and he glanced off to the side towards where the horses were grazing.

"I—" he cut himself off with a sigh and turned his gaze back to Marie, his green eyes looking into her hazel ones. Was he nervous? What could he possibly be worried about?

Albert seemed to gather his courage and offered a small reassuring smile to Marie.

"I wanted to ask you something important, Marie." He said softly, and she nodded, her smile turning into a frown.

"Yes?" She inquired, and he reached over to take one of her hands in his, cradling her broken fingers as gentle as falling snow.

"Would you let me court you?" He asked, and she froze, mind going back to a similar situation years prior.

"Will you give me the honor of courting you? I know you're in mourning, but I had to ask." Matthew said again, this time slower so she could actually understand him. Her brain malfunctioned, and she stopped moving altogether. She blinked once, then twice, then a third time before her face exploded in a blush that crept down her neck.

"M—Me?! Why would you want to court me when you have the entire world at your fingertips?" She sputtered, and Matthew glared at the flowers around them.

"I don't want the world. I want you; you are the one I care about." He stated firmly, and she squeaked as he grasped her hands in his, turning to face her fully so she could see him fighting the blush on his cheeks, but his eyes glittered with determination.

The last person she had courted was Matthew, and she remembered very well how that ended.

Whether she answered him truthfully, lied, or didn't answer at all, each answer brought the peacock bust down in precise movements and broke another finger joint.

She had twenty-eight joints in total.

Including the five he had broken initially, Lord Christie had gone through twelve of them.

Even through the waves of agony, Marie couldn't help but count every time he broke another. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.

All because he wanted her to call off the engagement with Matthew.

Abruptly, Marie was brought back to the present by Albert's soft call of her name. She blinked several times before swallowing, taking in Albert's hopeful face.

Did she want this?

Could she have this?

A smile crossed her face as she rotated her hand so she could hold Albert's.

"I'd love that." She said and watched as a brilliant smile lit up Albert's face.

Albert helped Marie up into the carriage after returning the mare and gelding to the stableboy, and Marie grabbed her suitcase. She didn't bother changing; she was too giddy to focus.

Courting Albert.

It was something she didn't know would make her feel so happy.

The carriage ride was filled with companionable silence. However, Marie's small smile never faded the entire ride back to the Moriarty Estate. Albert sat next to her, fingers intertwined with her own.

How scandalous it would be if anyone saw, but Marie got the feeling that Albert simply didn't care about proper courting rules. Not that she cared either. Her time with Matthew gave her little regard for what was considered appropriate unless there was a reason to do so.

Once the carriage rumbled to a stop, Marie disembarked, hand still in Albert's. He leaned down to whisper in her ear just as they reached the door,

"Happy birthday Marie." He said, and she suppressed a shiver that ran down her spine. She turned to look up at him as the door opened,

"Well, thank you, Albert. But what do you—"

"SURPRISE!" Came a chorus of voices, and she jumped, a surprised yelp escaping her throat as she turned to see where the noise had come from. Everyone was gathered in the entrance area of the mansion—the Moriarty brothers, James, Fred, Sebastian, Jack, Nessie, and her two boys.

A nervous smile crossed Marie's face as she stepped inside. Albert stepped in with her, hand still holding hers. She saw that Nessie noticed, and Nessie's excited smile grew warm. She knew everyone else would notice as well. They wouldn't be a part of the Lord of Crime group if they weren't observant.

William led the way to the dining room, where Marie was surprised again with a neat stack of presents wrapped in decorated paper and lace and ribbons. She stopped and stared, feeling tears well up in her eyes at the sweet gesture.

"Marie? Are you alright?" Came Albert's voice in her ear, and she nodded, wiping her eyes with her free hand.

"I'm just so happy. They're happy tears, I promise."

After the day's festivities, Marie sat in her bedroom, worn out but happy nonetheless. Her gifts were settled on her desk, and she found herself running her fingers over each of them.

William had purchased a new leather-bound notebook to replace her current nearly full one. Jack Renfield had gotten her a rather fancy fountain pen to go with the notebook. Louis had found a vintage tea set from an antique store to gift her. Fred had given her a vase of yellow roses. James and Nessie had each gifted her a dress of varying shades of green, each with a cheeky wink. Finally, Nessie's two boys gave her a card from each of them.

Albert was the only one not to give her a physical gift. Not that she minded. His courtship was plenty enough for her.

Then there was a knock on her door.

With a frown—it was getting late at night after all—Marie stood and opened the door.

It was Albert, holding a box wrapped in lace in his hands.

"Albert?" He offered her a warm smile,

"May I come in?" She stepped aside and allowed him into her chambers.

He made it to the wingback chairs in front of her fireplace and took a seat. She took a seat next to him and shed her gloves, taking the offered gift from the man. She ran her fingers over the lace, the texture making her fingers tingle. The gift itself was long and rectangular, and she wasted only a moment admiring the wrapping before gently pulling apart the paper. The box was nondescript with a symbol of a crown embossed on the front. She recognized the symbol as a famous jewelry store in the city.

Opening the box, she gasped.

Inside was an exquisite necklace. A single emerald raindrop surrounded by a small ring of diamonds, held up by a delicate golden chain, sat on a pillow of cotton. It must have been extremely expensive.

"Albert, I—I can't accept this! It's much too expensive!" She whispered harshly, looking at her suitor, who was watching her expectantly.

"Why not?" He asked, and she set the box in her lap, clasping her hands together.

"Because it's too expensive!" She reiterated, and he let out a quiet chuckle,

"I purchased it because I care about you and want something to show that I am courting you." He said, and she looked into the flickering fireplace, hoping the golden glow of the flames hid the blush that no doubt covered her face.

Albert reached over and took her hand,

"May I put it on?" He asked, and she hesitated before nodding. She gathered her hair, which still hung down her back, held it to one side, and turned so her back faced Albert as he gently picked up the dainty necklace and stood. His fingers brushed the back of her neck, and she shivered. The necklace was a cool weight against her throat as Albert stepped back.

She let go of her hair, touched the chain, and looked back to smile at Albert.

"Thank you, truly. It's lovely." She whispered, and he returned the smile with one of his own.

"The pleasure is all mine. Happy birthday Marie."