Hello All! Thank you for coming back and reading yet another chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Happy Reading! - Sevy14
-Emmylyn's Thoughts-
Once I had enjoyed a piping hot bath in my new bathtub and dressed for the day, I picked up my coat and house key. I was intent on going back to the shops and acquiring myself some journals, pencils, pen and ink. I had a mind to use different journals to help me keep track of what I was doing now and if I was going to be allowed to continue looking at old cold case files I had better have something to write my thoughts in. I opened the door and looked about. I did not see Jude and thought it was odd but did not see how I could help that situation at this point in time. I locked the door once more and did another look, not seeing anything out of the ordinary, it was habit from growing up in a whore house. As I made my way down the street a carriage turned the corner, I waved it down, relieved to learn that it was currently unoccupied. I thought better of going to the shop right away and instead asked the driver to take me to the Lime House Coppers Shop. I scoffed internally, knowing that Shine would probably be irritated, at the very least, that I called his place of business such a demeaning thing, but really, I did not think highly of Coppers based on my observations and interactions with them throughout my life. It kind of made my arranged married to him, thanks to my Father, comical. I looked out the window, getting acquainted with my new surroundings, the people who inhabited it and the animals. After a few minutes of twisting and turning through the city's cobbled streets we arrived at the Coppers house.
Stepping down from the carriage I turned and inquired how much to pay my driver, thankful that I had just enough(I thought) to cover the trip here, "Thank you, how much?"
Watching, as he shook his head. "No charge, Miss."
I gave him a look, "I-I have money, Sir. Please." I insist. Feeling uncomfortable with the idea of not paying someone for their services.
Again, shaking his head and he hopped back up on his drivers seat. "I cannot accept payment from you, you are married to Detective Inspector Shine, yes?"
I nod, not understanding why that had anything to do with me paying him for the ride here. "Yes, I am. Why does that matter, Sir?"
"Please let Detective Inspector Shine know that Jimmy did not charge you for the ride? It would be much appreciated." He said and then made a clicking noise and he was off.
I watched him as he made his way through the crowd and then shook my head. Turning, I took a deep breath before entering the building. My nose felt like it recoiling from the stench of stale and quite frankly, awful body odor, alcohol, and perhaps the body functions of those incapable of controlling them. Place smelled disgusting. My eyes took a second to adjust and I made eye contact with the Constable at the front desk and approached him. "Uh, excuse me, Sir?" I said, my voice softer than intended. I suddenly felt insecure in this place but I was sure in my reasoning and need for coming here.
He looked up, "Yes, how may I help you, Miss?" His voice washed over me.
I offered him a small smile, "Is Detective Inspector Shine here?" I inquired.
With a nod, "Yes. Do you have an apartment?"
I shake my head, "No. I do not." Shine takes appointments? That is odd. Surely Coppers don't really take appointments, what is the reasoning with that? I wondered.
"Miss, if you do not have an appointment, I do not think I can get you in to see the Detective Inspector Shine. I apologize. Would you like to make one?" The Constable says, looking at a notebook recently flipped open. I watch as he ran a finger down a page and tapped a spot, empty of appointment I supposed. "Perhaps, tomorrow morning at ten-thirty?" He looked up, pleased to be of help, that he assumed I required.
Shaking my head once more I clear my throat, "No. Thank you. Could you please see if he can me?" I ask. I continue on before he can utter a word, "Perhaps he can spare a few minutes for his wife." I say.
"I-Oh..." The Constable says and looks at me, clearly taken aback by what I said. "His... Wife?" He asks.
I nod at him, "Yes. Emmylyn Shine, it is nice to meet you, Constable?"
"Jones, Miss. Edward Jones." He responds.
I smile at him, "Well, it is nice to meet you, Sir."
He nods and then shuts the Constable's log before him. "I will go see if He(Shine) is available to meet with you, one moment please." He says.
I nod, "Thank you." And wait, looking about.
-Detective Inspector Shine-
A knock at the door stirs me from my thoughts. "What?" I look up to see Constable Jones pop his head inside my office, a nervous or unsure look worn upon his face. When he does not speak right away I again ask grounding out, "What is it Jones?"
Swallowing nervously, eyes wide, "Uh, there is someone here to see you Sir, do you have a moment?"
Shaking my head, "No. Tell them to make an appointment." I turn my head back down to the report I was working on and pick up my ink and pen. When I do not hear the door shut I look up at him. "Jones, must I repeat myself?" All of the men who worked beneath me knew that I detested repeating myself.
"Sir, it is your wife." The spits out. Clearly nervous to tell me this.
I sit back. Well that was not who I expected to be waiting to make an appointment. "I see." I reply and he looks at me. "Send her in." I say, sighing I putting the report I was working on in its folder. The door clicks shut and I sit back, and wait for her, my (new) Wife, to enter.
-Emmylyn's Thoughts-
"Miss?" The man says, his face seemingly displaying relief. "He says that he can see you."
I nod, smiling at him in gratitude. "Thank you Constable Jones." I say and move across the open space to the office door and knock.
"Knock." "Knock."
"Come in, Emmylyn." His deep voice said, seemingly rough and yet almost warm in the same ilk.
I opened the door and offered a small, nervous smile upon our eyes making contact. Shutting the door behind me I moved across the room and drop down into one of the chairs across from him. "I-"
He interrupted me, "Good Morning, Mrs. Shine."
I felt my eye twitch, not accustomed still to the title and somewhere still displeased with being forced into this marriage. Clearing my throat, "I did not see Jude this morning." He nods, eyes emotionless and face like a still lake. I continue, "Right well, do you know a carriage driver by the name of Jimmy?" I inquire.
He nods, "Yes. Why do you ask?" His face unreadable.
That's good at least. "Well he wanted me to let you know that he did not charge me for a ride." I say. Making a face, "Although I am not sure why... Perhaps you could elaborate upon that request?" My tone was light, with the intent of not sounding demanding, but hopeful. Men did not like to be forced by women in their lives. The thought crossed my mind that it was odd that men thought women had no qualm with it.
"I do not pay for my carriage rides." He says and I nod, my mouth forming a silent 'Oh.' "I assume," Shine continued, "That he believes it would please me to not charge my wife, for her carriage rides as well." Well that makes sense I suppose. I nodded at him. "What do you need Emmylyn?" He asks.
"Oh! Um, I want to go to a shop to buy some journals." I say. He nods. "And, well, I do not know where Jude is or how to get a hold of him so... I came here." I finished rather lamely.
"You do not have a reason to contact Jude, Mrs. Shine." He says, his tone harsh. I was sure it was with the intent to create an impression within me.
Nodding, "Right... Well, if you want me to have a babysitter, which you do." I say, rather snarky, at this or maybe my tone, he expels air and I hurry along. "Then I do need to be able to reach him. If not, I am just going to go about my day as I would normally." I say, holding his hardening gaze, even as my stomach danced.
"I will ensure that Jude shows up at the house each day at a certain time to inquire if you need to leave." He says. I nod, well that was something. "He will not be sitting outside of the home all day long, he does have other responsibilities to take care of, so you must go with him if you need to then, if not, it will have to wait." He looks at me as he finishes, sitting back. "Do you agree with this, Mrs. Shine?" He asks.
"I suppose it is the best offer I will receive." I say, instead of outright agreeing with him. He nods at me and I look down at my heads. "Alright, well..." I say, feeling uncomfortable and unsure where to really take this conversation. "I-I would like to get on with my day." I say. He looks at me for a moment and then rises, clearing his throat as he does so. I look at him startled slightly by his sudden movement but then follow his lead, watching him, push in his chair and cross the room.
"Did you eat this morning?" He asked, as he put on his coat.
I nod, still eyes taking in his movements. "Yes, thank you." I said. "You made it?" I inquired.
He offered me a look. "Who else would have made it?" His tone was just short of questioning.
I shrug, "I do not know, seems there are quite a few people who might have access to your home." I say, recalling my observation and our conversation from the other day.
This time he rolled his eyes and I did not make a face at it, even though I was tempted to. He responded, giving me a once over. "Mrs. Shine, it would be inappropriate to have someone make breakfast for my wife, don't you think?"
Again I shrug at him, "I suppose you are right." I say.
With a crisp nod he crosses his office and opens his door. "Right. This way."
I offer him a look. "Where are we going?" I ask.
He gestures with his arm. "Come along Mrs. Shine."
I exited the the office and he followed. I almost jumped out of my skin when he placed his hand upon my back but I was able to keep it to a feeling and not a literal action. I was sure that Shine had noticed but did not acknowledge it.
"I will return shortly, Jones." He said.
The man nodded, and replied. "Yes Sir. Good day Mrs. Shine." Constable Jones said.
I dipped my head, "Good day Constable Jones."
We stepped out into the light of day and Shine instantly dropped his hand from my back. I looked over at him but he was looking about, most likely due to habit. I was instantly aware that there were eyes upon us and my stomach felt uneasy. Surely this was due to his status professionally and the rumors that were always going about the gossip circles.
"Mrs. Shine." He said, his voice drew me from my thoughts.
"Hm?" I looked over at him and saw that he was stepping down onto the road to greet a carriage.
"Detective Inspector Shine, good morning Sir!" A loud and familiar voice called out. Seeing me stepping down beside Shine he greeted me as well. "Mrs. Shine, hello again."
I smile, greeting him, "Jimmy." Shine brushes my shoulder with his hand and I look over at him. I was not comfortable with physical contact but did not move away or react as I typically would. Also, I noted, we were in public and I did not think it wise to react negatively to Shine, lest I inspire his ire. He gestures for me to get into the carriage and I do so. Shine said something to Jimmy but I could not hear it. Shine enters the carriage and we are off, the carriage lurching forward. "Where are we going?" I ask.
He looks at me, and out the window once more. "Tea." He says. I look at him but do not respond right away.
"Tea?" I say finally. He nods. No verbal response given. "Where we met before, or... Elsewhere?" I inquire.
He offered me a look, "Would you like to go back there?" He asks.
Shrugging, "So we are going elsewhere, then." He eyes me and I hold his gaze. This game was one that Father used to play with Mother and I. I sigh, "It is alright, I just... Do not lie about the reason. That is what Father does." Shine does not respond to my statement and we rode on. I continue on, "We are going to have tea in a place in which you have some business to attend to...?"
He gives me a weary look before replying. "It is just tea, Emmylyn."
I shake my head and my face morphs into wearing a small smile. "Just do not lie about things, from here on out." I say, looking away. I offer a quieter, "Please." He does not respond and I do not look back at him.
We arrived and stepped out of the carriage, I wave goodbye to Jimmy and Shine escorts me inside. It was here that for the first time I got a sense of what it was like to be married to the famed Detective Inspector Shine. All eyes were on us as we moved through the Tea House. All talk was silenced as we walked, it was unnerving. With Shine, there was no invisibility. We were shone to a table in the back of the tea house. I noticed that from where we were sat every seat in the room was visible to us as was the entrance and the window. I looked over at Shine but he was not paying me any heed. So I was right, this was a business related outing.
"Miss?" The waiter said.
I looked up at them, "Oh! Um." Before I could respond, Shine speaks for me.
"The usual for myself and Mrs. Shine." His interjection earns himself a glare, not that he cared or even acknowledged. I noticed also, that he used my new title. Irritated by that, I acknowledged that surely he was working on spreading the news that he was newly wed and that he was in the process of changing the perspective of him. For what cause, I was not sure. The waiter returns with tea, sandwiches, and some fruit.
"Thank you." I say to the waiter, who nods his head at me and then once again to Shine.
"Detective Inspector Shine, is there anything else that I can get for you?" He asks. I noted that he had a warm, pleasant voice.
"No, that will be all." Shine responds. Not bothering to use any pleasantries.
"So how long will we be here for?" I inquire.
His eyes sweep about the room once more and land upon me, "Drink your tea, eat your sandwiches and fruit."
His tone was gruff but I let it wash off my shoulders with a shrug, muttering, "Just seems a little boring is all." Shine offers me a slight glare and then looks away, sipping his tea.
We sat for much of the morning, I nibbled upon the fruit and sandwiches provided and sipped my tea. Shine ate too, polishing off several sandwiches and fruit. We did not speak and I took this opportunity to observe the man and those about us. Having grown up in a whorehouse, I had spent a lot of time watching men and women interact. This setting, while not seedy, was equally interesting with its difference. I was sure that he was aware of my eyes watching him, but he did not speak on that observation. Finally though, to my relief, I noticed Shine give a look across the room and the waiter came, clearing our table.
"Will that be all, Sir?" He inquires.
Nodding and not bothering to make eye contact with the man, Shine responds. "Yes."
I look at the waiter, "Thank you, the food was lovely." I say. At least one of us will have manners. My words to the now departing waiter give Shine cause to look at me but I do not give any sign of bother.
"Come along, we have places to go." He says, rising.
I follow suite, "We do?" I ask.
We exit the Tea House and instead of taking a carriage, Shine turned us to make our way down the street. We walked on, not speaking. I looked in the shop windows and at the carts of street vendors as we passed by. For his part, Shine was patient enough with my window shopping and momentary stopping. I did not notice him looking at anything in the windows or the vendors though. After walking through two or three blocks I stop, with a sigh.
"Where are we going?" I inquire.
Turning he looks over my head and then down at me, his intense. I wanted to shrink back underneath their gaze. "Just up there a ways." He says, not bothering to be specific.
I nod, "Why did we walk? Surely a carriage would have been quicker." I respond.
He nods, "Surely it would be. But a walk never hurt anybody, Mrs. Shine." He says. As he does so he turns and clearly expected me to follow suit.
I did. But rolled my eyes as I did so. Another block ahead we stopped finally and I looked at Shine.
He spoke, "What do you require, then?" He asks.
Slightly shocked, I had assumed he had forgotten my initial reason for leaving his home this morning. "Oh, I uh would like to purchase some writing supplies and journals." I say. He nods, does not verbally speak but rather, gestures that we enter the shop across from us. We enter the shop and I was instantly hit with the smell of bound books and smile with a sigh.
"What?" Shine asks.
I look over at him. "Nothing." I say with a shrug. "I love the smell of books, don't you?" I say, moving forward to walk down the first row before us. He did not respond and I did not pay him any mind, now happy to be among the redesigned trees. Shine did not stay with me follow me about the rows of books and once I had found four journals that I liked and wanted to purchase, as well as two books made up of short stories about the most famous of detectives, Sherlock Holmes. I found Shine at the front of the store, beside him stood Jude. I offered him a polite smile, "Good Morning, Jude." I say.
He nods curtly, "Mrs. Shine." His response was polite and crisp.
I turned to Shine, nodding to the books and journals in my arms. "Um, I would like to purchase these..." I ask, my question fading. I was able to pull out my coin purse and continued talking to him, "I have some money left over from yesterday for it, but I would appreciate it if you could help me with the rest, please?" I look up at him, hopeful to be allowed to purchase the items.
"Save your money, my Dear." He says. His voice was like Fathers business voice. Snaking about. It made me feel like goosebumps were covering my body. I look at him, unclear as to why that would be but do not ask. "I am sure that Mr. Kline and I can come to an agreement on payment."
I turn to see a man behind the counter. I had not noticed him before. "Oh hello!" I say. "I love your bookstore."
"Good morning, Miss." The man says. "Thank you for your interest. I do hope you come visit us again."
I nod, "I hope to." I turn my attention to Shine. "So...?"
"I have other business to attend too-" He states.
I interject, not intending to be rude, so to speak but I suppose it could be construed as rude. "You haven't done any business..." I cease speaking once my eyes catch his and he continues.
"Jude, will take you home, unless you have somewhere else you need to go?" He ends with a question.
I furrow my brow in thought, "Do we have fresh bread?" I inquire.
Shrugging, not bothered by something like that Shine indicates he does not know. "I will have some fresh bread and groceries sent to the house. Anything else?"
I shake my head, reading his tone and body language that his patience with husbandry is wearing thin. "No, I suppose it would be good to return to your home and start my projects." I say in response.
He offers me a look, "Our home." He corrects. I look at him but do not speak. He sniffs, "Jude. Emmylyn." He says with a nod of his head.
"Come along Miss." Jude says, his gruff voice soft in the quiet space.
I look at Shine for a moment before speaking. "See you later." I turn and dip my head at the observing shop owner before leaving the shop.
Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Have a good night my friends. Happy Reading! - Sevy14
