Chapter one: Strings of a violin.
"Mr. Holmes, don't mind me saying but if you are just going to pluck randomly on your dear violin then why don't you play right notes?" His outspoken maid said smartly as she bustled around trying to make do with the messy study room.
"Martha do please shut your mouth." He shot back as he plucked away on flat notes loving how his maid would cringe.
"I'm just saying! And if you could let me clean your study room, then maybe your dear friend Dr. Watson wouldn't have to be here for hours looking for something." She stood in front of him with a feather duster in her hand. "Are you listening to me Holmes?" He merely nodded as he closed his eyes listening to music that played softly in his head. "Dr. Watson?" She turned around to face him who sat across from Holmes drinking some tea and reading a book.
"Martha my dear Martha you are fighting a losing battle." He chuckled lightly as she left the room muttering to herself about getting another person to live in her home. "You will be the death of her Sherlock." he commented.
"That is if she doesn't kill me first with her insufferable nagging." Both men laughed and went back to what they were doing. Watson to his book and Holmes to his violin. Many events have passed through England, the coranation of a new Queen and King. Countless murders that Holmes cracked and the never ending stories of scandels. Holmes stopped playing his violin aruptdly, and looked around for a moment.
"Is something the matter?" Watson asked mildly from his book.
"Do you hear that?" Holmes asked quietly both of them looked toward the kicthen.
"I don't hear anything...." He asked back.
"That's what scares me... Martha usually sings doesn't she? Martha?" She didn't answer back. Both men got up taking the few steps to the kicthen door banging it open to see Martha white face staring at a very dirty man standing oppsite of her.
"Don't 'urt me!" He squeaked, then cough insanely. After he wiped his tearful eyes the man handed Holmes a letter. It smelled of roses and jasmine. "I'm a private messager of one of them nobles in the richer side of the city. Loyal i am, said to give this to you and only you." Sherlock read it to himself and narrowed his eyes as the letter was signed with an X.
" And does this.. Noble have a name?"
"I can't be telling you sir, just to say that if you want to know in detail why mi master calls for ye. You are to meet master at the Oriental gradens at 12 o' clock tomorrow." Watson pondered what was in that letter, but he could not just go up and yank that paper from Sherlock's hands. It was in fact only for his eyes. It was quiet for a moment as Holmes thought carefully and nodded.
"Then I'll meet this mystery noble. For your good deed sir. Martha give him a warm dinner and 5 pence." At that he strolled out to his room, closing himself with his violin. Watson found the earge to look at the letter, but should he? He is in fact Holmes second man he has the right too! He picked up the letter only to find dismay.
To Sherlock Holmes,
I seek your help.
-x
Chapter Two: Oriental Gardens
The bells from the Queen's private church across the busy dirt road chimed, sounding that it was afternoon. Holmes smiled to himself for he was always on time, never late. It was a lovely day outside for the sun was shining and it was fair. Not a single cloud was in the light blue sky that seem to smile upon them with intention of not breaking it's promise for a beautiful day. He wore only a light white button shirt and black pants, leaving his cloak, hat and jacket at home. Though his pipe was in a comfy spot in his shirt pocket.
"Holmes!" A young woman cried out from the garden appearing from a maze to the cobble path he was on.
"Oh! Miss Wendy, how grand to see you on such a fine day." She nodded and gave him her hand to lightly kiss. A few minutes later a young man jogged up to them smiling.
"Holmes this is my fiance Robert Doyle. The son of Lord Gregory Doyle of York, his father is in the parliment." Both of the young lovers smiled at each other with real devotion.
"Congratulations Miss Wendy and Mr. Doyle." They shook hands, and the young man turned to his future wife.
"Come my dear, the game is afoot! Steven and his wife are ahead of us!" Both of them laugh and Wendy casted one more loving look at Holmes.
"I hope to talk to you soon! And i won't forget to invite you or Dr. Watson to my wedding!" The romantic couple ran off into the maze shierking with laughter. Sherlock not forgetting what he was there for walked off, deeper into the garden still unsure of what he was looking for. A male? A female? He highly doubt for a woman to meet him for they are usually into dramatics. Always making a scene to bustle into his Baker Street home and cry. Always crying and sometimes if it's a real good actress she would faint. His views on woman were quite known, he thought of them as the lesser sex. He never bothered to enage himself in stupid antics to find a lover. Who would? Many of them were whores anyway, only want to get in a man's pant and get paid. It's an outcry of how they are again the lesser sex. He was deep in thought, but still very aware of his surroundings which contained giggles and shierks of laughter. As he stepped into a clearing he stopped, it was like a painting. There was a fountain in the middle of the clearing, sitting on a white blanket that was spread over the green grass sat a young woman.
"Aha..." He muttered, taking her in. She sat so that her legs folded to the side her head tilted as she read a book unaware of Sherlock's presence. She was of course from China no doubt, an exotic beauty. Her raven colored hair was put up into a bun held by a gold headdress. Her dressed matched her headress, it was silk gold, a traditional dress from Asia. The dress was bottoned high to her neck and curved to her body quite nicely, it stopped halfway at her calf showing her heels that were painted gold. He looked at her face, and smirked. A doll, her lips were shiny and full. Her eyes were outlined with black to make her eyes even more slanted, he wasn't close enough to see her eye color, which must be brown which is a common trait among her people. The gold let her skin give off a faint golden look. She was quite the beauty he won't deny that, but were all the other girls that asked for help. He walked over blocking her sun that was bathing her so nicely, she closed her book and looked up.
"Sherlock Holmes i presume?" Her accent was of a british one, she picked herself up with such grace and stood her full height. She was pretty tall compared to her kind, the top of her head stopped at his chin, and he was 6 feet tall.
"Yes, and if i may be so bold into asking what your name is?" She finally looked at him in the eyes, he was shocked to see her eyes were brown and gold.
"Cassandra Ming Chang, daughter to the dipolmat of China. But you also know me as X." He brought her small hand to his lips.
"Enchanted." He held out his arm. "Maybe a walk could do both of us some good. It's a beautiful day to just sit and i have not seen all of the gardens beauty." She held on to his hand as they walked around the maze not to bother the young lovers in there and not to be heard.
"Wondering why i called upon don't you?" She said softly, he just kept walking.
"Yes."
"I fear for my life Mr. Holmes... My father has remarried to Lady of Wales... Twice already she has tried to pision me with my food..."
"Why have you not told the police, they would do something about it Miss Chang." They made a right turn so that they were even more deeper into the garden the voices of young lovers now a small humming.
"She is a woman with power and who would believe a young woman in her early 20's? My own father does not believe me, i am greatful for my handmidens.. They are my family."
"Miss Chang... You have called upon me to protect you?"
"Yes... For the time being until my brithday of 25... When at last my marriage is announce she can not do naught... For that announcement will be her downfall."
"Her downfall?"
"When my father gives me away, he also gives away half of his sharings to me and my.... future.. fiance." She said the last words with regret and sadness.
"You don't seem happy with this arrangement?"
"Well Mr. Holmes.. The man i will be marrying is Duke Charles Booth of Wellington. He has the heart of stone and he consorts with... women of poor society.. He goes to Paris to mingle with the girls of the Moulin Rouge."
"Ah. like every man in your class Miss Chang." She glanced up at him with a faint smile.
"Aye... But Mr.Holmes.. I feel as if I am being played into a con..."He frown down at her.
"Aren't you getting a little over your head? She must love you and is trying to make your life better... You are a lovly girl i don't see a reason to hate you." She blushed and smiled some more showing her dimples.
"I have read so many great times about you Mr. Holmes... How you solve things, it's beautiful." He nodded and agreed, he wasn't one to deny his greatness. After a few moments of walking she slowed down and looked at him in the eyes. "Mr Holmes... Please.. Could you protect me... For these two months and.... See if... What i believe.. The con... To see that it is true? I can't do it myself for they already have people around to watch me..." As she talked she moved her small hands into his big ones.
"I will see what I can do." She sighed that wasn't the answer she was looking for, but that would have to do. They were now back to where they first met, the book and blanket still there but now sat a pair of lovers at the fountain. They stop a few steps away so that they won't be heard.
"I am being watched right now...." Both of them glanced at the couple who were looking at them with calulating looks. They weren't noticable but, Sherlock can tell when one is being watched.
"Friends of your step mother?"
"Yes... You must leave me now so that i can talk them out of what they saw today," She paused and slipped a note into his pant pocket that faced away from the couple. "Read only to yourself, then write back to me. My servant will be around your house in the afternoon to pick it up. Till Then." She stepped back and curtised, as he bowed.
"Good day Miss Chang." He smiled at her as she winked at him and smiled, the sun hitting her just right making her look like a goddess.
"Good day to you Mr. Holmes." Both parted, Sherlock thinking thoughtful in the carriage as he fingered the note. While Cassandra to her guest as she talked to them inventing another story of why Mr. Holmes paid a visit.
"Mr. Holmes, don't mind me saying but if you are just going to pluck randomly on your dear violin then why don't you play right notes?" His outspoken maid said smartly as she bustled around trying to make do with the messy study room.
"Martha do please shut your mouth." He shot back as he plucked away on flat notes loving how his maid would cringe.
"I'm just saying! And if you could let me clean your study room, then maybe your dear friend Dr. Watson wouldn't have to be here for hours looking for something." She stood in front of him with a feather duster in her hand. "Are you listening to me Holmes?" He merely nodded as he closed his eyes listening to music that played softly in his head. "Dr. Watson?" She turned around to face him who sat across from Holmes drinking some tea and reading a book.
"Martha my dear Martha you are fighting a losing battle." He chuckled lightly as she left the room muttering to herself about getting another person to live in her home. "You will be the death of her Sherlock." he commented.
"That is if she doesn't kill me first with her insufferable nagging." Both men laughed and went back to what they were doing. Watson to his book and Holmes to his violin. Many events have passed through England, the coranation of a new Queen and King. Countless murders that Holmes cracked and the never ending stories of scandels. Holmes stopped playing his violin aruptdly, and looked around for a moment.
"Is something the matter?" Watson asked mildly from his book.
"Do you hear that?" Holmes asked quietly both of them looked toward the kicthen.
"I don't hear anything...." He asked back.
"That's what scares me... Martha usually sings doesn't she? Martha?" She didn't answer back. Both men got up taking the few steps to the kicthen door banging it open to see Martha white face staring at a very dirty man standing oppsite of her.
"Don't 'urt me!" He squeaked, then cough insanely. After he wiped his tearful eyes the man handed Holmes a letter. It smelled of roses and jasmine. "I'm a private messager of one of them nobles in the richer side of the city. Loyal i am, said to give this to you and only you." Sherlock read it to himself and narrowed his eyes as the letter was signed with an X.
" And does this.. Noble have a name?"
"I can't be telling you sir, just to say that if you want to know in detail why mi master calls for ye. You are to meet master at the Oriental gradens at 12 o' clock tomorrow." Watson pondered what was in that letter, but he could not just go up and yank that paper from Sherlock's hands. It was in fact only for his eyes. It was quiet for a moment as Holmes thought carefully and nodded.
"Then I'll meet this mystery noble. For your good deed sir. Martha give him a warm dinner and 5 pence." At that he strolled out to his room, closing himself with his violin. Watson found the earge to look at the letter, but should he? He is in fact Holmes second man he has the right too! He picked up the letter only to find dismay.
To Sherlock Holmes,
I seek your help.
-x
Chapter Two: Oriental Gardens
The bells from the Queen's private church across the busy dirt road chimed, sounding that it was afternoon. Holmes smiled to himself for he was always on time, never late. It was a lovely day outside for the sun was shining and it was fair. Not a single cloud was in the light blue sky that seem to smile upon them with intention of not breaking it's promise for a beautiful day. He wore only a light white button shirt and black pants, leaving his cloak, hat and jacket at home. Though his pipe was in a comfy spot in his shirt pocket.
"Holmes!" A young woman cried out from the garden appearing from a maze to the cobble path he was on.
"Oh! Miss Wendy, how grand to see you on such a fine day." She nodded and gave him her hand to lightly kiss. A few minutes later a young man jogged up to them smiling.
"Holmes this is my fiance Robert Doyle. The son of Lord Gregory Doyle of York, his father is in the parliment." Both of the young lovers smiled at each other with real devotion.
"Congratulations Miss Wendy and Mr. Doyle." They shook hands, and the young man turned to his future wife.
"Come my dear, the game is afoot! Steven and his wife are ahead of us!" Both of them laugh and Wendy casted one more loving look at Holmes.
"I hope to talk to you soon! And i won't forget to invite you or Dr. Watson to my wedding!" The romantic couple ran off into the maze shierking with laughter. Sherlock not forgetting what he was there for walked off, deeper into the garden still unsure of what he was looking for. A male? A female? He highly doubt for a woman to meet him for they are usually into dramatics. Always making a scene to bustle into his Baker Street home and cry. Always crying and sometimes if it's a real good actress she would faint. His views on woman were quite known, he thought of them as the lesser sex. He never bothered to enage himself in stupid antics to find a lover. Who would? Many of them were whores anyway, only want to get in a man's pant and get paid. It's an outcry of how they are again the lesser sex. He was deep in thought, but still very aware of his surroundings which contained giggles and shierks of laughter. As he stepped into a clearing he stopped, it was like a painting. There was a fountain in the middle of the clearing, sitting on a white blanket that was spread over the green grass sat a young woman.
"Aha..." He muttered, taking her in. She sat so that her legs folded to the side her head tilted as she read a book unaware of Sherlock's presence. She was of course from China no doubt, an exotic beauty. Her raven colored hair was put up into a bun held by a gold headdress. Her dressed matched her headress, it was silk gold, a traditional dress from Asia. The dress was bottoned high to her neck and curved to her body quite nicely, it stopped halfway at her calf showing her heels that were painted gold. He looked at her face, and smirked. A doll, her lips were shiny and full. Her eyes were outlined with black to make her eyes even more slanted, he wasn't close enough to see her eye color, which must be brown which is a common trait among her people. The gold let her skin give off a faint golden look. She was quite the beauty he won't deny that, but were all the other girls that asked for help. He walked over blocking her sun that was bathing her so nicely, she closed her book and looked up.
"Sherlock Holmes i presume?" Her accent was of a british one, she picked herself up with such grace and stood her full height. She was pretty tall compared to her kind, the top of her head stopped at his chin, and he was 6 feet tall.
"Yes, and if i may be so bold into asking what your name is?" She finally looked at him in the eyes, he was shocked to see her eyes were brown and gold.
"Cassandra Ming Chang, daughter to the dipolmat of China. But you also know me as X." He brought her small hand to his lips.
"Enchanted." He held out his arm. "Maybe a walk could do both of us some good. It's a beautiful day to just sit and i have not seen all of the gardens beauty." She held on to his hand as they walked around the maze not to bother the young lovers in there and not to be heard.
"Wondering why i called upon don't you?" She said softly, he just kept walking.
"Yes."
"I fear for my life Mr. Holmes... My father has remarried to Lady of Wales... Twice already she has tried to pision me with my food..."
"Why have you not told the police, they would do something about it Miss Chang." They made a right turn so that they were even more deeper into the garden the voices of young lovers now a small humming.
"She is a woman with power and who would believe a young woman in her early 20's? My own father does not believe me, i am greatful for my handmidens.. They are my family."
"Miss Chang... You have called upon me to protect you?"
"Yes... For the time being until my brithday of 25... When at last my marriage is announce she can not do naught... For that announcement will be her downfall."
"Her downfall?"
"When my father gives me away, he also gives away half of his sharings to me and my.... future.. fiance." She said the last words with regret and sadness.
"You don't seem happy with this arrangement?"
"Well Mr. Holmes.. The man i will be marrying is Duke Charles Booth of Wellington. He has the heart of stone and he consorts with... women of poor society.. He goes to Paris to mingle with the girls of the Moulin Rouge."
"Ah. like every man in your class Miss Chang." She glanced up at him with a faint smile.
"Aye... But Mr.Holmes.. I feel as if I am being played into a con..."He frown down at her.
"Aren't you getting a little over your head? She must love you and is trying to make your life better... You are a lovly girl i don't see a reason to hate you." She blushed and smiled some more showing her dimples.
"I have read so many great times about you Mr. Holmes... How you solve things, it's beautiful." He nodded and agreed, he wasn't one to deny his greatness. After a few moments of walking she slowed down and looked at him in the eyes. "Mr Holmes... Please.. Could you protect me... For these two months and.... See if... What i believe.. The con... To see that it is true? I can't do it myself for they already have people around to watch me..." As she talked she moved her small hands into his big ones.
"I will see what I can do." She sighed that wasn't the answer she was looking for, but that would have to do. They were now back to where they first met, the book and blanket still there but now sat a pair of lovers at the fountain. They stop a few steps away so that they won't be heard.
"I am being watched right now...." Both of them glanced at the couple who were looking at them with calulating looks. They weren't noticable but, Sherlock can tell when one is being watched.
"Friends of your step mother?"
"Yes... You must leave me now so that i can talk them out of what they saw today," She paused and slipped a note into his pant pocket that faced away from the couple. "Read only to yourself, then write back to me. My servant will be around your house in the afternoon to pick it up. Till Then." She stepped back and curtised, as he bowed.
"Good day Miss Chang." He smiled at her as she winked at him and smiled, the sun hitting her just right making her look like a goddess.
"Good day to you Mr. Holmes." Both parted, Sherlock thinking thoughtful in the carriage as he fingered the note. While Cassandra to her guest as she talked to them inventing another story of why Mr. Holmes paid a visit.
