Author: Lucinda
Rating: pg/pg13
Fifth in Bohemian Scandals
Main characters: Irene Adler-Norton, William (Spike), Drusilla, Sherlock Holmes
Disclaimer: William & Dru belong to Joss Whedon as do the Watcher's Council; Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes are the creation of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. Some original characters, based on the worlds of these authors will be present.
Distribution: Twisting the Hellmouth, Paula, Cat anyone else please ask.
Note: This is set in the 1910s, with Irene Adler-Norton (of Sherlock Holmes) as a relative of the Vampire then known as William the Bloody (although not to his niece).
The little house was barely large enough to comfortably hold all of them, but it was the best that they could do on such short notice. Honestly, it was mainly through William throwing a large sum of money at the owner that they had managed to rent it at all. More money combined with a murmur that his 'cousin' had recently lost her husband to a tragic accident and needed a change of scenery for her health had ensured that they didn't have too many questions or visitors.
Irene had made a solid start on the journal, jotting down all of the feelings and concerns that had plagued her since James Travers had engaged poor Godfrey's firm, about the demon, and William and Drusilla's arrival. She was also noting down any particularly vivid dreams, uncertain what was the fanciful production of her mind, and what might be a true premonition. Dru had promised that she'd eventually learn to tell the dreams from the visions, but that didn't quite help her now.
"Where is your admirer now, pretty?" Dru's voice was soft.
"He doesn't live in this neighborhood. His office is on Baker Street, which is to the north and west of here." Irene turned, looking at Dru. The dark haired vampire was dressed in a gown of deep green, a similar one on her prized Miss Edith, holding the porcelain doll in one arm. All in all, Dru looked gently raised, a bit soft in the head, and utterly harmless.
"Does he stay there, or might he be out wandering?" Dru settled in a chair, and started to comb Miss Edith's hair.
"Dru... He's a detective. He goes out wandering a great deal, and not always in London. He might not even be in the city tonight." Despite her words, she had the feeling that they were wrong. Irene was oddly certain that Sherlock Holmes was in London, and that she'd be seeing him again in the near future.
Giggling, Dru glanced up at Irene, her eyes peeking through thick lashes. "Will he be wandering into your room one night? You shouldn't be alone forever."
"Oh!" Irene gave the vampire a shocked look, suddenly reminded of the so much more casual approach taken to life and passion. "I.... I don't know. He's not without his own appeal, but... Things are already complicated. And what about... if I'm expecting, could that... would it even be safe for the baby?"
"Play gently and all should be just wonderful." Dru waved her hand, and then frowned, lifting her doll and assuming a look of concentration.
Irene moved closer, reaching to gently remove the comb from Drusilla's hand. "What does Miss Edith have to say?"
"You'll have a pretty little girl. And those nasty men mustn't find her." Dru looked up, and then smiled. "I shall have to start embroidering little flowers on the dressing gowns. Flowers and ribbons and butterflies... But no stars. Babies are too little to listen to the stars, they should be asleep."
"A daughter." Irene smiled, lifting Miss Edith from Dru's arms and holding the doll as if she were an infant. "My very own sweet little girl..."
"Maybe you should find her a daddy?" Dru giggled before rising to leave the room.
Irene really should have known better than to expect things to be quiet. London wasn't particularly peaceful at the best of times - oh, nothing drastic, it wasn't as if there were fires and riots on a regular basis. But there were congested streets, spreads of the influenza or the cough, occasional labor disputes, shortages of goods at the markets... All the sorts of things that were only to be expected in a growing city.
The quiet managed to last three days after they'd managed to get settled into the house. She wasn't quite certain what had caused it, but she could hear... It was like hearing muffled shouting, and stomping feet, as if she could hear angry people chasing someone. But there was no such sound, nothing disturbing Nettie as she plucked weeds from the narrow flowerbeds around the house. Was she hearing the future while awake instead of simply dreaming in her sleep? Sighing, she went inside, feeling the urge to check how many linens she had that could be turned into bandages, and what sort of medicines there might be. Unfortunately, there really wasn't much besides a nearly forgotten bottle of laudanum that Dru had wandered home with the night that they'd moved in. It would have to do.
The sun was just sinking when the sounds came back. This time, she wasn't the only one to hear them. Nettie dropped the tray that had the almost empty teapot, squeaking as the still warm drink splashed over her feet. Dru and William came to the parlor, frowning in confusion. Irene just sighed, and looked over at Nettie. "I think you should go get the bandages ready. And send in Bert."
"Reenie, why did you send for the footman?" William asked, his shirt cuffs still unbuttoned.
"Because it's still to early for you to fish someone out of the little hayloft..." She answered before she even had time to think about her words. "And how did I even...?"
There was a clattering sound outside, and then a loud creaking. The footman, partly chosen for his large size and partly for his lack of any questions beyond 'where should I put this, then?' appeared at the doorway. "You sent for me?"
Irene sighed, trying not to watch as Dru giggled into William's shoulder. "Yes. It appears that some... There was a crashing sound from the stable. Could you please find out what happened? And if there is an individual in the hayloft as a result, please bring them in for a few questions."
Bert's response was a simple nod and a noise that was probably 'yes'm' as he left the doorway.
"I told you that the roof wasn't quite sound anymore." William muttered.
"I know that you did. But we've had so many other things to take care of in the few days that we've been here…" Irene sighed. "I was truly hoping to avoid any further complications."
Nettie came back with the linen bandages, a kettle of hot water, and a needle and thread. She also placed Dru's mostly full bottle of laudanum on the table. "Here you are, ma'am. Will there be anything else?"
"Thank you. Could you prepare the spare room is ready? I have a feeling that Bert will be bringing someone inside, and we'll have to have somewhere to put them." Irene gripped her skirt in and effort to keep her hands from shaking.
"Right away." Nettie bobbed in a half curtsey and left the room again.
"What… Right, put him on the couch then." William gestured to the footman, scowling at the limp figure in the footman's arms. One arm was bleeding, his exposed wrist looked raw, with a few deeper scratches, and dark hair fell from a bruised face. "Try to avoid the complications, and the biggest complication… well, not quite the biggest."
"He doesn't look very well cared for." Dru observed, peeking around William to look at the injured and unconscious man on the couch. "I think he was tied up, and ran away."
"He does look like he was being held prisoner. Not very well held though." William felt along the arm, checking for broken bones. "Which leaves the question of was he held by people who didn't know how to keep prisoners, or was he supposed to get away eventually?"
"Remind me to be disturbed later by the implications of that." Irene murmured, already getting the cloths ready to wash away the blood, dirt and hay chaff from the injuries. "Granted that the circumstances are less than ideal, Drusilla, this is Sherlock Holmes, the detective."
"Can we keep him?" She smiled, glancing down at the man on the couch.
"We aren't staying in London forever." Irene replied, not even wanting to consider Dru's request. The detective was a man, not a stray kitten or dog to keep as a pet. "But we shall have to discover what happened, not all of these injuries came from falling through the stable roof."
"The question becomes what sort of trouble is he caught up in this time." William chuckled, and walked over to the table. "I don't think he's quite awake enough for the laudanum, 'Reenie. What are you doing with this stuff anyhow?"
"Dru brought it home with her. The pair of you went out for dinner when we moved in, and she brought it back. You brought back a volume of poetry, which is in the library, if you recall. I didn't ask where she found it." Irene sighed, and started wrapping linen strips around his wrist. "He'll probably need some later."
"I shall put Miss Julianna in the spare room to keep watch over him." Dru announced as she walked towards the door. Leaning close to William, she whispered, "Maybe we should keep him for 'Reenie?"
"Worry about that later, luv. First we need to find out why he was running." William leaned over, kissing her temple. "I'll help get him all fixed up."
Moving to assist Irene, he sighed. "So much for keeping out of his notice."
"I know. But we tried, and this wasn't our fault. Perhaps a measure of complication was simply inevitable." Irene sighed, wiping at a trickle of blood that came from the detective's scalp.
End Scandal 5: Scandalous Entrance.
Rating: pg/pg13
Fifth in Bohemian Scandals
Main characters: Irene Adler-Norton, William (Spike), Drusilla, Sherlock Holmes
Disclaimer: William & Dru belong to Joss Whedon as do the Watcher's Council; Irene Adler and Sherlock Holmes are the creation of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. Some original characters, based on the worlds of these authors will be present.
Distribution: Twisting the Hellmouth, Paula, Cat anyone else please ask.
Note: This is set in the 1910s, with Irene Adler-Norton (of Sherlock Holmes) as a relative of the Vampire then known as William the Bloody (although not to his niece).
The little house was barely large enough to comfortably hold all of them, but it was the best that they could do on such short notice. Honestly, it was mainly through William throwing a large sum of money at the owner that they had managed to rent it at all. More money combined with a murmur that his 'cousin' had recently lost her husband to a tragic accident and needed a change of scenery for her health had ensured that they didn't have too many questions or visitors.
Irene had made a solid start on the journal, jotting down all of the feelings and concerns that had plagued her since James Travers had engaged poor Godfrey's firm, about the demon, and William and Drusilla's arrival. She was also noting down any particularly vivid dreams, uncertain what was the fanciful production of her mind, and what might be a true premonition. Dru had promised that she'd eventually learn to tell the dreams from the visions, but that didn't quite help her now.
"Where is your admirer now, pretty?" Dru's voice was soft.
"He doesn't live in this neighborhood. His office is on Baker Street, which is to the north and west of here." Irene turned, looking at Dru. The dark haired vampire was dressed in a gown of deep green, a similar one on her prized Miss Edith, holding the porcelain doll in one arm. All in all, Dru looked gently raised, a bit soft in the head, and utterly harmless.
"Does he stay there, or might he be out wandering?" Dru settled in a chair, and started to comb Miss Edith's hair.
"Dru... He's a detective. He goes out wandering a great deal, and not always in London. He might not even be in the city tonight." Despite her words, she had the feeling that they were wrong. Irene was oddly certain that Sherlock Holmes was in London, and that she'd be seeing him again in the near future.
Giggling, Dru glanced up at Irene, her eyes peeking through thick lashes. "Will he be wandering into your room one night? You shouldn't be alone forever."
"Oh!" Irene gave the vampire a shocked look, suddenly reminded of the so much more casual approach taken to life and passion. "I.... I don't know. He's not without his own appeal, but... Things are already complicated. And what about... if I'm expecting, could that... would it even be safe for the baby?"
"Play gently and all should be just wonderful." Dru waved her hand, and then frowned, lifting her doll and assuming a look of concentration.
Irene moved closer, reaching to gently remove the comb from Drusilla's hand. "What does Miss Edith have to say?"
"You'll have a pretty little girl. And those nasty men mustn't find her." Dru looked up, and then smiled. "I shall have to start embroidering little flowers on the dressing gowns. Flowers and ribbons and butterflies... But no stars. Babies are too little to listen to the stars, they should be asleep."
"A daughter." Irene smiled, lifting Miss Edith from Dru's arms and holding the doll as if she were an infant. "My very own sweet little girl..."
"Maybe you should find her a daddy?" Dru giggled before rising to leave the room.
Irene really should have known better than to expect things to be quiet. London wasn't particularly peaceful at the best of times - oh, nothing drastic, it wasn't as if there were fires and riots on a regular basis. But there were congested streets, spreads of the influenza or the cough, occasional labor disputes, shortages of goods at the markets... All the sorts of things that were only to be expected in a growing city.
The quiet managed to last three days after they'd managed to get settled into the house. She wasn't quite certain what had caused it, but she could hear... It was like hearing muffled shouting, and stomping feet, as if she could hear angry people chasing someone. But there was no such sound, nothing disturbing Nettie as she plucked weeds from the narrow flowerbeds around the house. Was she hearing the future while awake instead of simply dreaming in her sleep? Sighing, she went inside, feeling the urge to check how many linens she had that could be turned into bandages, and what sort of medicines there might be. Unfortunately, there really wasn't much besides a nearly forgotten bottle of laudanum that Dru had wandered home with the night that they'd moved in. It would have to do.
The sun was just sinking when the sounds came back. This time, she wasn't the only one to hear them. Nettie dropped the tray that had the almost empty teapot, squeaking as the still warm drink splashed over her feet. Dru and William came to the parlor, frowning in confusion. Irene just sighed, and looked over at Nettie. "I think you should go get the bandages ready. And send in Bert."
"Reenie, why did you send for the footman?" William asked, his shirt cuffs still unbuttoned.
"Because it's still to early for you to fish someone out of the little hayloft..." She answered before she even had time to think about her words. "And how did I even...?"
There was a clattering sound outside, and then a loud creaking. The footman, partly chosen for his large size and partly for his lack of any questions beyond 'where should I put this, then?' appeared at the doorway. "You sent for me?"
Irene sighed, trying not to watch as Dru giggled into William's shoulder. "Yes. It appears that some... There was a crashing sound from the stable. Could you please find out what happened? And if there is an individual in the hayloft as a result, please bring them in for a few questions."
Bert's response was a simple nod and a noise that was probably 'yes'm' as he left the doorway.
"I told you that the roof wasn't quite sound anymore." William muttered.
"I know that you did. But we've had so many other things to take care of in the few days that we've been here…" Irene sighed. "I was truly hoping to avoid any further complications."
Nettie came back with the linen bandages, a kettle of hot water, and a needle and thread. She also placed Dru's mostly full bottle of laudanum on the table. "Here you are, ma'am. Will there be anything else?"
"Thank you. Could you prepare the spare room is ready? I have a feeling that Bert will be bringing someone inside, and we'll have to have somewhere to put them." Irene gripped her skirt in and effort to keep her hands from shaking.
"Right away." Nettie bobbed in a half curtsey and left the room again.
"What… Right, put him on the couch then." William gestured to the footman, scowling at the limp figure in the footman's arms. One arm was bleeding, his exposed wrist looked raw, with a few deeper scratches, and dark hair fell from a bruised face. "Try to avoid the complications, and the biggest complication… well, not quite the biggest."
"He doesn't look very well cared for." Dru observed, peeking around William to look at the injured and unconscious man on the couch. "I think he was tied up, and ran away."
"He does look like he was being held prisoner. Not very well held though." William felt along the arm, checking for broken bones. "Which leaves the question of was he held by people who didn't know how to keep prisoners, or was he supposed to get away eventually?"
"Remind me to be disturbed later by the implications of that." Irene murmured, already getting the cloths ready to wash away the blood, dirt and hay chaff from the injuries. "Granted that the circumstances are less than ideal, Drusilla, this is Sherlock Holmes, the detective."
"Can we keep him?" She smiled, glancing down at the man on the couch.
"We aren't staying in London forever." Irene replied, not even wanting to consider Dru's request. The detective was a man, not a stray kitten or dog to keep as a pet. "But we shall have to discover what happened, not all of these injuries came from falling through the stable roof."
"The question becomes what sort of trouble is he caught up in this time." William chuckled, and walked over to the table. "I don't think he's quite awake enough for the laudanum, 'Reenie. What are you doing with this stuff anyhow?"
"Dru brought it home with her. The pair of you went out for dinner when we moved in, and she brought it back. You brought back a volume of poetry, which is in the library, if you recall. I didn't ask where she found it." Irene sighed, and started wrapping linen strips around his wrist. "He'll probably need some later."
"I shall put Miss Julianna in the spare room to keep watch over him." Dru announced as she walked towards the door. Leaning close to William, she whispered, "Maybe we should keep him for 'Reenie?"
"Worry about that later, luv. First we need to find out why he was running." William leaned over, kissing her temple. "I'll help get him all fixed up."
Moving to assist Irene, he sighed. "So much for keeping out of his notice."
"I know. But we tried, and this wasn't our fault. Perhaps a measure of complication was simply inevitable." Irene sighed, wiping at a trickle of blood that came from the detective's scalp.
End Scandal 5: Scandalous Entrance.
