Sitting in Sara's office, Elizabeth held the cup of tea that she had poured her. She had left the saucer on her desk, folding one leg over the other and leaning back. The weather outside was particularly miserable, looking like it would rain at any given moment. Elizabeth had rushed from the carriage, thanking Stevie for taking her there with Charlotte and Lucy. Charlotte was sat in the main office with Bitsy, talking about a case that Bitsy was working on. Elizabeth had checked that it wasn't anything too harrowing, but Bitsy had winked, promising her that it was just harrowing enough to sate Charlotte's interest.
Sara had taken Lucy, holding her in her arms and rocking her gently, the motion slow and soft. Elizabeth placed the cup down in the saucer before she saw Sara looking at her with a sly grin on her face. Elizabeth's forehead wrinkled as she frowned.
"What is it?" she asked from him.
"I take it that you and Laszlo are enjoying yourselves," she said and Elizabeth wondered what she was talking about before she reached a hand up to her own neck and Elizabeth instantly knew. She groaned and tugged at the collar of the shirt she wore, pulling it higher and covering the purple mark on her pale skin. Sara laughed as Elizabeth felt her cheeks turn red from embarrassment.
"I had thought that I had used enough makeup to cover that," Elizabeth said to her with a shake of her head. "And I even wore a high collar to make sure it was hidden."
"Well, you can't trick a detective," Sara said. "And how are you faring?"
"Well enough," Elizabeth said and reached for the tea once more, taking another sip of it and resting the cup on her kneecap. "Things have been quite busy. Laszlo is interviewing for someone to take over the Institute today…this will be the fourth time he has interviewed this woman. She's a doctor and has experience working in the child's ward of hospitals, but has extensive training and a background in psychology too."
"She sounds perfect."
"I liked her," Elizabeth said, remembering how she had met her while she had been at the Institute one day, Cyrus having taken Charlotte and Lucy for a walk with Joanna. "She was nice and pleasant, plus the children seemed comfortable around her which is the most important thing."
"And Laszlo?"
"He thinks she will be a good fit, but his vetting process is quite something, which is understandable. This is his legacy. He doesn't want to ruin his reputation or, more importantly, leave children with people he cannot trust."
"I can appreciate that," Sara said, knowing that her detective agency was growing with quite the reputation that she wanted to protect more than anything. She brushed the dark hair from Lucy's head, feeling how soft it was as their eyes met and she wondered if the baby knew who she was. Did she remember her? "And you?"
"I'm fine," Elizabeth promised Sara. "I've been to visit Marcus a few more times, but he's getting better and should be returning home soon."
"That is excellent news."
"It is," Elizabeth said. "And he's told me that he'll be around whenever I need help or if I feel unsafe, but I should be fine. Besides, Stevie is staying with us still and Laszlo has allowed me to hire a maid…a young girl called Diana. She's quite charming and sweet with ambition of becoming a doctor one day, but she doesn't have enough to attend college. Laszlo…well…he told me to see how she gets on and then has mentioned a potential rise in salary to help her with the entrance fee."
Sara's lips quirked at hearing at that. She watched Elizabeth for a few moments, trying to work out if she was, indeed, happy, or if there was something else going on with her. Every time they had met, she had put on a brave face, continuously smiling and telling everyone how happy she was for Laszlo and that she would be fine. That was what she always said. She always said that she would be fine, but Sara had begun to question if that was the case. What was it Laszlo continuously said? Not to feel that she had to conform to the expectations that society bestowed on women? It seemed that was a harder thing to stop doing than either of them had thought.
"He's a generous man."
"He is," Elizabeth agreed with her on that.
"And you?" Sara asked.
"What about me?"
"Tell me how you are and not just what you've been doing," Sara encouraged from her, Lucy reaching up and pulling at one of the button's on the waistcoat that Sara wore over her green, checked dress. "Because I know that you cannot be finding this easy."
"It's…I'm fine," Elizabeth said and Sara shot her a look, almost as if she was telling her that she didn't believe anything that she was saying. Nor should she, not really. Elizabeth took a final sip of tea and left the cup in the saucer on Sara's desk before sitting back, folding her hands onto her kneecap.
"Tell me the truth, Elizabeth," Sara encouraged her.
"You know when you say that you don't wish to talk about John?" Elizabeth asked from her friend. "And I never push you?"
"Yes."
"Please…just don't ask me how I really feel," Elizabeth begged from her. "Because I really don't want to cry in front of Charlotte or Lucy over this. I don't want them to see me upset because I have to be strong for them, but Charlotte was…extremely upset when Laszlo told her. He almost changed his mind when she started crying, but she's almost come round to the idea."
"You don't want him to go, do you?" Sara asked from her.
Elizabeth smiled sadly and blinked numerous times, trying not to cry. She shook her head. "Of course not," she said to Sara. "And I know that makes me sound needy and pathetic…unable to be by myself for a few months, but being without him when I thought that I could never have him at one stage is terrifying to me."
Sara sighed at hearing her, a sorrowful look forming on her face as she watched Elizabeth shrug her shoulders, trying to act brave. She didn't want Sara to see her upset. She didn't want anyone to see her upset because she knew that if Laszlo knew then he would immediately cancel his plans and stay. And Elizabeth truly did want him to go and be happy. She wanted him to do everything that he intended to do.
"Have you told him?"
"No," Elizabeth said, "well…yes…he knows. We both know. He knows that I would rather he be here. I don't want to him to go and leave us, but this is too good of an opportunity to pass up. And I know that in a few months time, when we have adjusted to this long distance, it will only be a few short weeks before he returns."
"Indeed it will be," Sara assured her. "In the meantime, is there anything that I can do, Elizabeth? Is there anything that you want me to help with?"
"No, I'm fine," Elizabeth assured her with a shake of her head. "I have Lucy and Charlotte. I have enough to keep me occupied and I have amazing friends, like you and John. I will be fine. I'm just being emotional. I've been feeling all over the place in recent weeks."
"That's completely understandable," Sara said to her. "And you know that I am here if you ever need me."
"I know," Elizabeth said and laughed to herself for a moment. "Isn't it ironic? We started out meeting each other and not understanding each other…I was horrendously jealous…you didn't know me."
"And look at us now," Sara said. "I am godmother to your daughter."
"Yes, you are," Elizabeth said with a nod of her head. "And speaking of my daughter, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to take her back home. I was intending on cooking a roast dinner tonight for when Laszlo returns."
"Well, if you must," Sara said with a sigh.
"And you will be there on Sunday, yes? For the christening?"
"I wouldn't be kept away," she said and handed Elizabeth her daughter, watching her hold her delicately in her arms. "And then on Wednesday, are we still meeting at Delmonico's?"
"I believe Laszlo would like that," Elizabeth confirmed with a nod. She had intended on surprising him for a final dinner with John and Sara, the four of them having grown quite close. Well, close enough for John and Sara to be Lucy's godmother. Marcus was still in hospital and on orders to rest while Lucius spent as much time as he could with his brother and Bitsy, their relationship flourishing considerably.
And then on Thursday, it was Laszlo's final night and he had insisted on spending it with Charlotte, Lucy and Elizabeth. He wanted a day just walking the park, promising Charlotte ice cream and club soda. He had laughed as she agreed and Elizabeth said that they couldn't walk far considering Charlotte was still recovering. And on Friday morning, Laszlo would travel to the ship that was to take him to Europe with Karen Stratton. He had to leave first thing in the morning and so Elizabeth doubted she would get much sleep that night.
It was only less than a week until he went. But Elizabeth intended to make the most of that week.
…
"You are looking far too nice for a hospital visit."
Elizabeth almost laughed loudly as she sat by Marcus's bedside, dressed in a dark navy evening dress. She had a long coat over it to try and cover it up so that she didn't look entirely out of place in the hospital, but as soon as she took it off upon entering Marcus's room, she heard him whistle lowly. She rolled her eyes over to him as she sat down on the vacant chair. He was sat up and sipping a glass of water, a bandage wrapped around his midriff and his chest bare.
"And I dressed up especially for you," she teased him and he chuckled at her.
"Well, I appreciate the effort," he confirmed for her. "So, where are you actually heading off to dressed like that?"
"Delmonico's," Elizabeth informed him. "I am going for dinner with Laszlo, John and Sara. I'm sorry that you can't come, but I did bring you some of Charlotte's favourite cake and homemade soup."
She motioned to the paper bag she had placed on the bedside table and sat back, folding one leg over the other and letting her hands sit in the floral patterned skirts.
"Much appreciated," he said to her. "Do you know the food here is so dull?"
"I can imagine," she promised him with a nod of her head. "Hence why I keep bringing you better tasting food. Anyway, you should be out of here soon, right?"
"Another week and then I have to go and rest and recover at home," he said to her. "And you? How are things with you?"
"I'm fine," Elizabeth said to him.
"Really?"
"I wish people would stop doubting me," Elizabeth said and the smile remained on her face as she spoke to him and rolled her eyes. "I am capable of being fine, you know? I know that Laszlo is leaving in two days and he is going to be gone for six months, but honestly, I am fine."
"You're not," Marcus responded, deadpanning with her. "You're a terrible liar, do you know that? Besides, I know liars. I'm a detective, remember?"
Elizabeth groaned audibly at that, shaking her head back and forth, hair swaying along her back as she completed the motion. "Why is it my husband is an alienist and my two closest friends are detectives who insist on analysing my every move?"
Marcus smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "You have a type," he said to her with a firm nod of his head. She laughed at that, nodding her head and agreeing with him. "But you know that you don't need to do this alone, don't you? It's fine to admit that you're going to miss him and maybe for the first few weeks you won't be fine, but you're both strong enough to make it six months."
Elizabeth nodded, smiling sadly at that. "I think that might be the most illuminating thing you've said to me," she said and they both laughed before she moved to her feet. "But I promise you that I'll be fine. You just focus on getting better and I'll come back and see you soon. Your brother also warned me to tell you not to pester the night nurse who looks after you."
"The cute redhead?"
"That exact same one," Elizabeth said, remembering Lucius's pleas to her before she had left him and Bitsy alone in the house to look after Lucy and Charlotte for the evening.
"Well, I've got to find someone considering you're taken," he said and Elizabeth nudged him gently in the shoulder, not hurting him in the slightest as he laughed at the movement and she buttoned her coat up.
"You're lucky that Laszlo isn't here to hear that."
"Do you think I would even say that in front of Laszlo?"
"Wise idea," Elizabeth confirmed for him and pecked him on the cheek. "Enjoy the soup and stop frightening nurses away."
Marcus chuckled as he watched her leave, shaking his head and knowing that she was most definitely a friend for life.
…
Standing in Cyrus's saloon, Laszlo knew that he looked slightly out of place. He had changed into his formal suit for dinner and he taken a cab to see Cyrus to bid his goodbye to his old friend. Cyrus had handed him a book that he had been meaning to give him, the two of them drinking the wine that Cyrus had saved for him for a special occasion. Elizabeth had told Laszlo that she would come by at six to pick him up so that they could head to Delmonico's, claiming that she needed to go and see Marcus and deliver him some food before then.
"She's a sweet girl, that daughter of yours," Cyrus said, taking a sip of his wine.
"Indeed she is," Laszlo agreed, holding his own drink. "You know, Cyrus, I never thought that I would be where I am today, and I don't mean in my profession, I mean in my personal life."
Cyrus's lips quirked at hearing him say that. "I've been with you for many years, Doctor," he said to him. "And I've seen you work to build the Institute and I know how much you care for it, but I never felt I was able to be myself when I was there."
"And you feel you are yourself here?"
"I love it," Cyrus said with a nod of his head. "I love running my own business and being in charge of my own actions. I am grateful for everything that you have done for me and I know that I would not be here if it were not for you."
Laszlo continued to smile at that, allowing Cyrus to continue with his speech.
"And during all of that time, I wondered if there was ever anything else for you. I wondered if you would ever want anything beyond the Institute. I would question if you were truly happy just locked away with your work. I had Joanna, of course, but you didn't seem to have any family…not until Elizabeth moved in."
"You used to wonder that?"
Cyrus chuckled, moving the towel he had over his shoulder to the bar and wiping away a wet spot before flipping it back over his shoulder again and nodding his head slowly. "We all did," he said. "Me, Stevie and Mary. And then when Elizabeth moved in, we knew she was different to us. She was different because, while she was one of us you took in, you felt differently for her than any of us."
"You knew that?"
"Well, you never used to come and hold my hand when I had nightmares," Cyrus joked with him and he earned a chuckle from the good doctor. "We just wondered how long it would take before either of you admitted how you felt for each other."
"Perhaps too long," Laszlo said, knowing that to be the case. "But we got there in the end."
"And she's good for you," Cyrus said. "Just as you're good for her. I'm happy for you, Doctor."
"And I you, Cyrus," Laszlo said and he clinked his glass against Cyrus's, the two of them toasting.
It was as Laszlo took a sip of his wine when his wife walked into the saloon. She had a long coat on her body, buttoned up to her chest. Her blue skirt was protruding out of the bottom of it and her hair hung in soft waves around her head. She had a smile on her face as she approached.
"Elizabeth," Cyrus greeted her. "You are looking lovely this evening."
"Why thank you, Cyrus," she said and wrapped her arm into Laszlo's as he glanced down at her, his own smile forming on his face as he noted it was the navy blue dress she had chosen the first time he had taken her to Delmonico's. The floral design weaved all the way along the bodice and down the swatches of skirt material. The top of the dress was low, sitting just right on her chest with sheer material ruffled along it. "And how is business?"
"Better than I could have anticipated," Cyrus said. "And I would ask if you want to stay for a drink, but I believe you are here to steal your husband away?"
"You would be correct," she said to him. "But another time, most definitely."
"I will hold you to that."
Laszlo finished the glass of wine and set it down on the bar, reaching his hand out towards Cyrus. The tall man took hold of it, shaking it slowly and clasping it with his other hand as Elizabeth kept her arm around Laszlo's bad arm, not bothered by it in the slightest and keeping the pressure light so as not to agitate it or put him in any pain.
"Cyrus," Laszlo said his name in a low drawl, "it has been an honour, my friend."
"The honour is all mine, Doctor Kreizler," Cyrus said and let go of his hand. "I will see you when you return."
"That you shall," Laszlo promised him and picked up the book he had given him, placing it in his inside pocket before looking back to Elizabeth who continued to smile up at him. "Shall we go?"
"I think we best," she agreed and he nodded.
She waved goodbye to Cyrus as Laszlo moved his arm from hers, placing his hand against the small of her back and letting her step forwards. There was a gentle breeze in the air, moving her hair around her shoulders as she tucked it behind her ear with one hand, picking her skirts up with her other hand so she didn't dirty the ends of them. Coming to the carriage, Laszlo held his hand out for her and she took hold of it, letting him help her up. He said a good evening to Stevie and then climbed in, settling himself down next to Elizabeth.
"How was Marcus?" he asked his wife.
"He was well," she said to him with a nod of her head. "The doctors are thinking of discharging him next week so he should be returning home very soon."
"I imagine that is a relief," Laszlo said.
"Well, I think he is bored of sitting in that hospital bed," Elizabeth agreed with Laszlo on that point. "Not that I can blame him, I think I would also be quite bored."
"You complained constantly when you had to rest after Lucy was born," Laszlo reminded her. "I couldn't get you to stay in bed in the end. You always have been annoyingly stubborn."
"Because being on bed rest is boring," she said to her husband and she picked his hand up inside of hers, Laszlo letting her toy with his fingertips before entwining their limbs together and resting her head on his shoulder, not caring about potentially messing her hair up. Laszlo looked down at her and kissed the top of her head softly, letting his lips stay there for a few moments before he turned so that his chin could sit there instead.
"I know," was all that he offered her as he felt her squeeze his fingers and take a deep breath, acutely aware of the unspoken thing between them. They knew it was his penultimate night. They were well aware of it and in a way they didn't bring it up. They hadn't really brought up the time and how little of it they had left together before he left for the ship on Friday morning.
"Elizabeth, I just want you to know that-"
"-Is this about you going?" she interrupted him.
"I can always change my mind, that is all I was going to say," Laszlo defended himself and she picked her head up, forcing his chin from her head so that she could look him in the eye and he studied her, looking for any hidden sign of regret. Did she regret telling him that he should go?
"No, I do want you to go," she said to him with a firm shake of her head. "I want you to go and we're not going to discuss this tonight, okay? There isn't anything to discuss anyway. You're going and that is final."
Laszlo nodded his head, knowing that this was the end of the conversation. She kissed him to cement that and then began to tell him about how Lucy had taken to start crawling and she was finding it even harder than usual to get her to sit still. Laszlo had found that out the previous night after putting her down for one moment. She had crawled off and by the time he had turned around she was halfway across the nursery floor.
They pulled up to Delmonico's after a short while, climbing out the carriage. Laszlo offered her his arm and she took hold of it, both of them removing their coats and handing them to Joseph who took them away. Moving up the stairs to the restaurant, John and Sara were already seated at a round table next to each other. They had a glass of wine and lemonade in front of them and were talking, stopping their conversation when they saw Laszlo and Elizabeth approaching.
"We were both early," Sara said to them, embracing Elizabeth as Laszlo shook John's hand before Elizabeth went to embrace him and Laszlo pecked Sara on the cheek. "But we said that we would wait to order."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said.
"But we did order a bottle of wine…well…I have lemonade," John commented and held his glass up, sitting back in his seat as Laszlo pulled out Elizabeth's chair and she settled down. He took the chair next to her and reached for his glass, taking a drink of the wine.
He lapsed into conversation with the table, the four of them reminiscing over the time they had spent together and Lucy's christening too, Sara and John still honoured to be godparents for Lucy and John insisting that he would look after her with Violet whenever he was needed. Laszlo chuckled and warned him that he would have his hands full soon enough, the three of them around the table the only ones who knew Violet was in a delicate condition. They were due to marry in a few week's time to try and cover that, but John didn't know if people would work it out. He suspected they would.
It was only halfway through the meal when Elizabeth stood up, stating that she needed to go and use the bathroom. Laszlo checked that she was fine and she promised him that it was nothing, just a need to freshen up. He moved his hand on top of hers, squeezing her fingers before she let go and left, head held high and hand going to push her hair over her shoulder. Laszlo watched the back of her, the smile remaining on his face as John watched him, beginning to wonder if that was how he would feel about Violet one day. Would he be able to give her the love and devotion that she deserved? He wanted to, but he was scared that he wouldn't be able to because the woman he adored was sat next to him.
"I have been thinking," Sara confessed to Laszlo, making her intentions known now that Elizabeth had left the room. "Perhaps it might be an idea if I were to be present on Friday morning when you left?"
"I leave rather early, Sara, I doubt that the children will be awake."
"Perhaps not, but it would stop Elizabeth from being alone for those first few hours," Sara said and John nodded his head.
"I think that is an excellent idea," John agreed.
Laszlo's brows knitted together on his forehead and he looked between the two of them. "What do you know?" he asked from them.
They exchanged brief glances of confusion and Sara shook her head, looking to Laszlo and cocking her head to the side, her fingers tugging on the silk, purple dress she wore. The material ruffled at the top, gathering along her chest and a simple gold pendant hung around her neck.
"Nothing," she said to him. "We know nothing, but I do know that she might need someone, Laszlo…just to distract her and be there."
Laszlo nodded. He didn't disagree with Sara. In fact, he thought that it was a particularly good idea, but he didn't want Sara to think that he was taking advantage. He leant forwards, leaning over Elizabeth's vacant seat so that he could talk to them more intimately.
"I need you to promise me something," Laszlo said. "Promise me that you will write to me if she is not coping. I know she is strong and I know she is putting on a façade for me, but if you genuinely think that there is something wrong…that she needs me…then tell me and I will come home instantly. I know what she has suffered in the past and I know her mind can be fragile at times."
They nodded. They had both witnessed that. John picked up his lemonade and took a long gulp of it before Sara spoke once more, her tone light and kind.
"We'll look after her," Sara promised Laszlo. "Her and the girls."
"Without a doubt," John said and Laszlo nodded, giving them a grateful glance as he tried not to think too much and let his fear take hold of him of leaving his wife. He confessed that he was apprehensive, but excited. It was a mixture of emotions taking hold of him.
They continued talking, Laszlo telling them of what he knew about the job he was taking while they listened intently, John occasionally asking questions of Laszlo and his friend answering them without any hesitance. He didn't know how long had passed, but he soon pulled the watch out of his pocket and opened it up, looking at the time and frowning.
"Where has Elizabeth gotten to?" he questioned. "I should go and find her."
"And storm into the ladies' bathroom?" Sara questioned. "I think not, Laszlo. Permit me to go and find her. I am sure she is just queuing. The women in those bathroom do enjoy spending a long time powdering their faces in the mirror."
Sara stood up and walked out towards the bathroom. But there was no queue. She pushed the door open and looked around the grand bathroom, rows of sinks on one side and stools sat in the middle of the room. Full-length mirrors were perched against the walls as well and only two of the bathroom stalls were closed. Elizabeth was nowhere to be seen in the main room and so Sara suspected that she was in the stall.
She waited patiently, seeing one woman leave as she sat on the bench and waited. But Elizabeth didn't come out. Standing up, Sara went and knocked on the door. "Elizabeth, are you in there?"
It took a moment before she heard the lock turn on the wooden door and Elizabeth pulled the door open, peeking around it and looking at Sara. The young detective's eyes grew as she saw her and she instantly began fretting, unable to stop herself from worrying. Elizabeth's cheeks were stained red and her eyes were wet, hair sticking to her cheeks. She had been crying.
"Whatever is the matter?" Sara asked and Elizabeth shook her head, gathering her breath as she stepped back from the door and allowed Sara into the stall, closing the door and locking them into the room, much to the gossip of the people in the bathroom. Elizabeth sat down on the closed toilet lid and picked at the toilet paper, dabbing her eyes.
"Is this to do with Laszlo leaving?" she asked from her. "Because I can go and get him. If it is going to effect you this much, Elizabeth, then he should know."
"No," Elizabeth said forcefully, stopping Sara in her tracks from reaching for the lock. "I don't want you to fetch Laszlo. I didn't realise I had been in here for so long. I thought that I just needed a minute."
"Talk to me," Sara urged from her, crouching down in front of Elizabeth and taking hold of her hands, looking up to her face. "You can tell me what is wrong, Elizabeth. I will not judge you."
"I know," Elizabeth smiled sadly, grateful for that. But she didn't know if she could tell her. She didn't know if it was right to tell her. She had kept it a secret for the past week or so and she didn't even know if it was true. She hadn't been to see a doctor and Laszlo hadn't commented on anything either.
"Then tell me what is wrong and has you crying in here," Sara urged from her. "And I am certain that we can solve it together."
"I…" Elizabeth trailed off, struggling to form the words. Sara gave her fingers an encouraging squeeze, trying to get her to talk to them. That was all that she wanted her to do. "I think I'm pregnant."
Sara's grip slackened at that, her mouth gaping. She shook her head and Elizabeth nodded, knowing that it was ridiculous. It was the worst timing possible. Lucy was only seven months old and now Elizabeth suspected that she was pregnant again. She had her suspicions, but she had kept them quiet. She didn't want Laszlo to know, not at that moment in time. She knew what he would do. She knew that he would cancel his plans to leave. He would stay by her side. And she didn't want him to do that.
"Pregnant?" Sara repeated.
"I think so," Elizabeth nodded.
"How do you know?"
Elizabeth gulped and took a shaky breath. "I haven't bled in over a month and a half," she admitted to Sara. "And that was the first time Laszlo and I were intimate after those…well…you know that things between us were not good."
"We don't like to bring it up," Sara admitted.
"It's fine," Elizabeth promised her. "But I've been feeling even more emotional than usual and I had heard that stress can push a woman's period back, but then…the other morning I felt sick. I hid it from Laszlo and was ill in the bathroom while he was having breakfast with Charlotte."
"Why?" Sara asked.
"Sara, please," Elizabeth begged from her. "If I told him that I thought I was pregnant then we both know he would never leave for Vienna. He would stay here with me and…and there would be nothing that he could do here. I can cope with being pregnant on my own for six months and he would return before the baby is born…but if I told him now then he would just stay."
"Elizabeth," Sara sighed her name. "I don't know if I can keep this from him. If you are pregnant then this changes things."
"No, it doesn't," Elizabeth said to her with a firm shake of her head. "It changes nothing because he will still be home before I give birth. There is nothing that he can do for me while I am pregnant, not really."
"He can be here," Sara offered her.
"He can be here, yes," Elizabeth agreed, "but that is all he can do."
"I don't know about this. I know your pregnancy with Lucy went smoothly, Elizabeth, but what if there are complications? What if something goes wrong? He deserves to know."
"And I will tell him, but again, Sara, he would not be able to do anything except for send me to a doctor and be by my side. There are plenty of husbands who leave their wives alone when they are pregnant to travel for work. I remember it happened to Jacob's brother's wife. She gave birth while he was still overseas."
"But Laszlo is not like other husbands, nor do I think that he ever wishes to be," Sara said to her.
"Sara, please, I need you to keep this quiet," Elizabeth said and she reached out to take hold of her by the shoulders as she remained knelt in front of her. Her grip was tight, almost desperate. Closing her eyes, Sara shook her head. She wasn't comfortable with this. She didn't want to keep it from Laszlo. But it was not her place to tell him.
"Will you reconsider?" Sara asked her. "Just promise me that you might consider reconsidering."
"I will consider it," Elizabeth said and Sara knew that she wouldn't change her mind. There was no chance that she was going to do that.
"I suspect you've already done that in seconds," Sara said and Elizabeth couldn't stop herself from smiling for a moment at that. "We need to clean you up and make an excuse as to why you have been in here so long."
"A glass of wine," Elizabeth said to her.
"Pardon?"
"Women often bring their wine in here and leave them on the trolley by the door. They forget to take them back out with them…grab one of those and drop it on my skirt. You can say you came in here to help me clean up."
"How did you think of that so quickly?"
"When I used to go out with Jacob…I would spill wine to excuse myself to go to the bathroom and hide there. He soon clocked onto what I was doing," she said to her.
Sara nodded, leaving the stall and finding a glass of red wine. She felt particularly bad about pouring the liquid onto Elizabeth's skirt. She helped her clean it, dabbing at it with water as women came in and offered their opinions on the best way to deal with red wine stains. But Elizabeth knew. She knew and she could get it out the following morning. Sara watched Elizabeth dab her eyes, letting her cheeks calm down as she wondered if Laszlo would see through the façade.
"Are you ready?" Sara asked after a few more moments.
"Do I look like I've been crying?"
"Not at all," Sara said. And that was the truth. Elizabeth had managed to powder her cheeks, borrowing some from a woman who had come in and kindly told her that she spilled her drink on herself at the opera the other night much to her embarrassment.
Leaving the restroom, Elizabeth walked alongside Sara, talking to her about nothing of importance before they returned to the table, the starters already sitting there, but neither men eating out of politeness.
"What happened?" Laszlo fretted, standing up as John did the same.
"Someone spilled wine all of my dress," Elizabeth said to him, picking the skirt up and looking at the stain as Laszlo's gaze fell down onto her. "I had to dry off and then try to get rid of this. People already gossip about us, I don't want to give them cause to gossip even more."
"I found her with her skirt hanging under the sink. It was quite the sight," Sara concurred, sitting down as John resumed his spot.
Laszlo eyed her curiously as he took hold of her bare arm, his grip gentle and his gaze soft. "Is that all?" he asked from her and she nodded, meeting his stare and moving a hand to his cheek.
"It is," she promised him, leaning in to kiss him on the other cheek before settling down next to him at the table and he eyed her suspiciously, wondering if there was something else. He didn't push it, however, knowing that it was not the time or the place.
…
"I think today exhausted Charlotte."
It was Thursday night and Elizabeth was stood in their bedroom, Laszlo stood next to his wardrobe and tugging out shirts that had been hung up. He handed them to Elizabeth and she folded them up and laid them in the trunk that was open on the bed. It was one of five trunks that had been packed over the course of the week, the other four downstairs in the entranceway, ready to be loaded onto the carriage in the morning before Laszlo picked Karen up.
"It was the most exercise she has done in a while," Laszlo admitted. "But she seemed to enjoy it."
"They both did," Elizabeth said, peering over to Lucy who was also sleeping soundly in her crib.
Laszlo's gaze also fell onto his daughter and he looked down at her, lips parting as he tried not to let emotion get the better of him. But it was becoming increasingly difficult not to let it. As time went on, he became acutely aware of what he might be missing. Lucy might say her first word. She might begin to walk considering she was crawling so much. Would she remember him or would he be a stranger to her?
"It was the perfect day," Laszlo agreed, pulling out another shirt and Elizabeth took it, folding it again.
They had woken up early and ate breakfast as a family, dining on eggs and toast before leaving for the park. They had walked slowly through it, Elizabeth pushing Lucy in her pram and Laszlo holding Charlotte's hand, walking steadily next to her and ensuring that she didn't fall over. They had sat at a table and ate ice cream, talking about everything and nothing before Laszlo suggested cake.
Eating cake and drinking tea, they had laughed and joked even more before returning home and Laszlo had taught Charlotte how to play chess while Elizabeth fed Lucy and changed her. She put her to bed before going back down and finding the two of them hunched over the chessboard. Elizabeth had watched them in the doorway for a few moments as Laszlo told Charlotte where she was going wrong, but promised her she would get better.
She had gone to bed relatively late, hugging Laszlo tightly and telling him that she insisted on seeing him go. He warned her that it would be early, but she said she didn't care. Laszlo had kissed her on the forehead before letting her head off to bed. It was then when Elizabeth had suggested they finish his packing.
And that was where they found themselves, stood in their bedroom and placing shirts in Laszlo's trunk.
"It was," Elizabeth agreed with him on that point. "And there will be many more of them when you return."
"I should like to hope so," Laszlo said. "And I-"
"-Have you stolen the photograph from downstairs?" she asked him, seeing it tucked into the corner of the trunk. "I wondered where that had gotten to."
Laszlo chuckled as she picked it up and looked at the image of them on their wedding day. Laszlo dropped the shirt he had pulled out over the side of the trunk and stood behind Elizabeth, an arm wrapping around her waist as her back leant against his front.
"I have another one in the other trunk…from the bookshelf."
"Is it bad that I didn't notice that one had gone missing?" she asked, knowing that he was talking about the image of them when Lucy had been born and Laszlo had insisted on having the photographs done. He chuckled against her and her lips arched as she placed the photo back down into the trunk, her hands going to rest on his on her stomach.
"I hope we're never burgled in that instance," Laszlo said to her as a joke and she rolled her eyes, but still smiled at it. He kissed her neck softly and she sighed as he pressed his bearded cheek against her skin. Laszlo's own smile fell for a moment before he felt her squeeze his hand firmly.
"Don't," Elizabeth pleaded from him.
"Don't what?" Laszlo wondered.
"Don't go all melancholy on me now because I'll only start crying," she warned him. "And I don't want to spend tonight crying, Laszlo. I'd rather just finish packing and then just focus on something else."
"You can cry if you want to," Laszlo said to her. "I imagine I might shed quite a few tears before the morning comes."
Elizabeth turned around in his grip and kissed him chastely before taking hold of his cheeks, her grip gentle, tickling his skin. She pulled back after a few seconds and spoke in a shaky voice.
"We need to finish this off," she said and he nodded.
He knew that. The sooner they finished packing then the sooner they could forget about having to pack. They finished off with the trunk and Elizabeth carried it down the stairs and out placed it on top of the other trunks. She climbed the stairs back up to the room after checking the doors and windows were locked. Laszlo was carrying Lucy to the nursery, laying her down in her crib and leaving a lamp on for her before returning to their bedroom.
He closed the door, Elizabeth already stood there by the foot of the bed, her hands playing with the material of the blue skirt she wore. He looked at her for a moment before he began to move towards her, but she closed the distance quicker. She was wrapping her arms around his neck instantly, her lips pressing to his and her fingers tangling into his hair as he took hold of her waist. He closed his eyes forcefully, knowing that the night was going to go far too quick for his liking.
…
Laszlo's fingers trailed over Elizabeth's back as she rested on her front, her arms folded beneath her head, cheek pressed to her forearm as she watched Laszlo. He was resting on his back, his hand going to her back and tracing the patterns from where her corset had been sat against her skin. It was gone three in the morning and Laszlo knew that he should try to get some sleep, but he didn't want to. He had napped fitfully in between moments where he had been talking to Elizabeth or kissing her, entwined with her body.
She was sleepy and he could see that, but she was fighting against it. She wanted to stay awake for as long as possible. When the clock struck five, Laszlo knew that he had to get up and begin dressing. Elizabeth looked to him and nodded in understanding before she propped herself up and helped him. He helped her into her corset too, taking his time at tugging at the laces and laying kisses along her neck, knowing that he should not waste time, but he wanted to.
"You should have some breakfast before you go," Elizabeth said to him once she had tucked her blouse into her skirt. "Do you want me to make you something?"
"I am not particularly hungry and no doubt I can have something on the ship," Laszlo said to her and he took hold of her by once more, wrapping his arms around her and resting his head by her shoulder as she ran her fingers through his hair, slicking it back and inhaling his familiar cologne that he had dabbed against his neck.
"I should wake Charlotte up," Elizabeth said to him.
"I should also make sure that Stevie is awake too," Laszlo said. "And that I have all the necessary documents on the sideboard downstairs."
"Alright," Elizabeth agreed with him and he lifted his head up to kiss her once more before they left.
He saw her move into Charlotte's room and he headed downstairs, moving towards Stevie's room. But the young man was already awake and Laszlo found him outside, waving to him as he prepared the carriage. Laszlo thanked him and returned back through the house, looking at the rooms as he passed by, drinking in everything in them. He looked at the pictures and paintings on the walls. He looked at the chessboard that still contained the game he had been playing with Charlotte. He smiled at the sight of it before he heard the doorbell ring.
Moving to answer it, he saw Sara stood there, but even more surprisingly, he saw John stood there with Violet Hayward. Laszlo arched his brows, wondering why John and Violet were with Sara, but he didn't make any comment.
"This is quite the leaving party," Laszlo said.
"I thought that it might be…well…that two friendly faces wouldn't hurt," John said.
"And I told him that he couldn't come on his own without me," Violet said and Laszlo nodded his head at her.
"Of course," he said. "Do come in, all of you."
They all stepped into the hallway as Violet looked around, clearly feeling slightly uncomfortable. But she was John's fiancée and she wanted to know his friends. She didn't want to feel like an outsider. She had been invited to Lucy's christening, of course, but she had seen the way John had stood with the baby, Sara Howard next to him, and she confessed she still felt a pang of jealousy that she didn't know how to quash just yet.
"Stevie, there are just these five trunks to be taken to the carriage," Laszlo informed his ward as he saw him move in the front door after clearly having brought the carriage round.
"I'll give you a hand," John said as Laszlo looked at the papers on the sideboard, checking that he had the required documents to travel.
John and Stevie loaded the carriage up as Elizabeth came downstairs, Charlotte in front of her by one step and taking her time as she carried Lucy. She saw Sara stood, dressed in a black dress with a simple hat on her head. Her gaze widened as she noted Violet, dressed in a white blouse with pink skirt, her hair neatly coiffed and her hat sat proudly on her head. Elizabeth felt quite underdressed. She had only thrown on an outfit and hadn't bothered to do anything with her hair or face.
"Violet, I didn't think to see you here," Elizabeth commented.
"I came with John," she said. "He was struggling to sleep this morning and wanted to be here."
"That's kind of him," Elizabeth said. "And you…for accompanying him here so early."
"It is no bother at all," Violet assured her.
Elizabeth managed to force a smile onto her face when the last thing she wanted to do was smile. She saw Laszlo shrug into his coat, placing the papers into the inside pocket, ensuring that they were secure. He looked to his wife for a moment and gave her a nod. He was ready. He had to go.
"Right," Laszlo said. "I should be going."
"We'll give you a minute," Sara said once John came back inside. Sara pecked Laszlo on the cheek, moving into the house and towards the parlour. Violet only smiled to him as John clasped him on the back, leaving him with his family.
"Come along now," Laszlo said, looking to Charlotte as she remained stood in front of Elizabeth, clearly trying not to cry but failing. She sniffed as Laszlo knelt down in front of her, reaching his hand out to tuck her hair over her shoulder and kiss her on the forehead. "I will be home before you know it and I need you to do me a favour while I'm gone."
"What?" Charlotte asked, sniffing again and Laszlo brushed the tears from her cheeks.
"Keep practicing chess because I expect you'll be able to beat me when I return," he said and she nodded her head. "And no more ruining my magic tricks."
She laughed at that and nodded again. She could do that for him. He wrapped his arms around her and she moved hers around his neck, burrowing her face against his neck, shoulders shaking as Laszlo ran a hand up and down her back. "I'll be home soon," he promised her. "And it will be like I was never gone."
She nodded against him and pulled back as she pecked him on the cheek. "I'll miss you, Laszlo."
"I'll miss you too, Charlotte," he said. "I love you."
"I love you too," Charlotte said and he gave her a warm smile and kissed her once more before standing up tall and looking to Lucy in his wife's arms. He reached his hand up towards his daughter, stroking her soft hair and looking at her with a loving expression. She was still sleeping soundly, her breaths light and her body rising and falling gently.
"Don't change too much while I'm gone, Lucy," he whispered to her and bent down to kiss the top of her head.
"I don't think we have any control over that," Elizabeth said in a whisper, scared that if she spoke any louder then her voice would break. "But I'll try and tell her."
Laszlo chuckled and nodded as Elizabeth turned to see Sara in the distance in the room next door. She nodded to her and motioned silently to ask if she would mind taking Lucy. She nodded and stepped forwards, reaching for Lucy and taking hold of her, stepping back for a moment and looking to Charlotte.
"Charlotte, do you want to come and help me with Lucy for a moment?" Sara asked, giving both Elizabeth and Laszlo a moment of privacy.
Stepping towards the door and away from the sight of the other room, Laszlo tugged Elizabeth with him. He wrapped his arms securely around her waist as she placed hers to his neck, pulling him downwards until his lips met hers and she was stood on her toes. Closing his eyes, Laszlo forcefully moved his lips over hers, feeling her front press tightly against his, her hands clinging onto him and her mouth fighting for dominance against his. He didn't want to pull away, but he knew that he had to. He did so, feeling her hands slip to his shoulders and he saw that her eyes were watering, but she wasn't openly crying.
"God, I'm going to miss you," she said forcefully, squeezing his shoulders under her fingertips.
"Not as much as I'm going to miss you," Laszlo responded. "Just say the word, Elizabeth. Say the word and I will be home when you need me."
"I know," she told him and she almost considered telling him then and there what she suspected. But she didn't. She kept quiet, closing her eyes again and bowing her head, forehead pressed to his neck and he kept her embraced against him, swearing that he didn't know if he could move. He didn't know if he could walk out of the house and climb into the carriage. But he had to. He had to go.
"I'll count down each day until I can come home," Laszlo promised her, kissing the top of her head as she toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck.
"You'll enjoy your time there and won't have to," she promised him.
"I doubt it," he grunted. "But I'll come back, Elizabeth. I'll always come back to you."
She nodded against him, knowing that he was telling the truth. She didn't doubt that.
"Doctor Kreizler, we need to go," Stevie called up to the open door, not wanting to rush the doctor, but knowing that they had to make it to the ship on time and they still had to pick Karen up.
"One more moment, Stevie," Laszlo said, moving his hand to his wife's chin, his finger curling around it and tilting her gaze up to meet his. He looked over her features, drinking in her glimmering eyes and her plump lips, her strong cheekbones and the gentle curve of her nose. He bent down once more and kissed her again, knowing that he would stay there for longer, but she was the one who pressed gently against his chest.
"You have to go," she said and he nodded. He knew that.
Elizabeth managed to slip from his grip and move back to the parlour, Charlotte rushing out and taking hold of Elizabeth's hand as Laszlo picked up his cane from the coat rack. Sara carried Lucy out John and Violet lingered behind. Laszlo stood on the top step of the house and bent down to kiss Charlotte once more on the cheek along with his daughter on the forehead. Taking hold of Elizabeth by the waist, he whispered to her before he leaned in for one final kiss.
"I love you."
"I love you too," she said, giving him one more final chaste kiss, hand gripping his shoulder as her other hand kept hold of Charlotte's. He nodded and pulled back, his grip leaving hers and he swore he felt her reach out for him, almost as though she couldn't let him go. But he was moving down the steps towards the carriage. He climbed into it and shut the door, Stevie sat and waiting to go. Laszlo looked out of the window once more, seeing Sara holding Lucy in her arms, Elizabeth next to her with her hands holding Charlotte's shoulders, the girl still in her nightgown and no doubt chilly stood outside.
Nodding his head once, Laszlo banged on the roof of the carriage with his cane and Stevie pulled on the reins of the horses and they trotted off. Laszlo peered out the window, not wanting to miss a second as his gaze met Elizabeth's and she smiled sadly and he saw that the tears were now falling down onto her cheeks. She gave him an encouraging nod and mouthed her love for him before he was out of sight, the carriage rounding the corner.
Elizabeth sighed loudly and nodded once he was gone. She looked down to Charlotte and squeezed her shoulders, gaining her attention and causing her to look up to her. "Come on," she said. "Let's get back inside before you catch a cold."
Moving back into the entrance, Elizabeth closed the door behind her and looked around the hall. It was quiet. It was almost too quiet despite the number of people in the space. Sara caught Elizabeth's look on her face, seeing how her shoulders were rising and falling jarringly and she knew that she was trying not to cry in front of Charlotte. Looking to John, Sara wordlessly communicated with him and he knew what she was saying. But so did Violet too.
"Charlotte, sweetheart, why don't we go in the parlour and sit by the fire for a moment? Get you warmed up?" Violet asked from the little girl and she nodded, wiping her eyes as Charlotte bent down and kissed the top of her head encouragingly.
"Let me take this one," John said and he took Lucy from Sara's arms.
Violet urged Charlotte forwards, her hands holding her shoulders and guiding her into the parlour as John followed her, his fiancée talking to Charlotte in a sweet tone. Sara looked to Elizabeth who had turned her gaze onto the coat rack, seeing Laszlo's thin jacket there. He had left it behind, claiming he didn't need it. Sara moved closer towards Elizabeth, heels clicking on the wooden floor.
"You didn't tell him, did you?" Sara asked.
Elizabeth shook her head. "I couldn't," she said. "He has to do this."
Sara could only nod, wondering if she should have just told Laszlo herself. But she remained silent for a moment, seeing Elizabeth begin to cry freely, tears falling from her cheek and to the floor. Closing her eyes, she tried to blink them back, but she couldn't. Moving to her, Sara wrapped her arms around her and Elizabeth embraced her back, laying her head on her shoulder.
"I'm being ridiculous," Elizabeth complained through sobs. "He's only just left."
"You're not being ridiculous," Sara promised her. "You're being anything but ridiculous. This is a big thing that has happened…and Laszlo…you can cry, Elizabeth. You're allowed to cry and miss him."
Sara continued holding her, stroking her back softly and letting her cry against her, knowing that she was going to have a damp blouse, but she didn't care about that. She didn't know how long it was before Elizabeth's tears stopped and she stood up, promising Sara that she was fine. Sara didn't want to leave her alone for the day, but Elizabeth insisted she would be fine. She went back to Charlotte and the little girl claimed she was tired. Elizabeth told her to go back to bed and get a few more hour's sleep, claiming that she might do the same.
Violet and John left then, but Sara said that she would stay, stating that she had work that needed doing and she could do it while Elizabeth slept. Elizabeth knew she wasn't getting rid of Sara anytime soon, the young detective being insistent. She kept hold of Lucy in her arms as Elizabeth went upstairs to the bedroom.
She closed the wardrobe door, not wanting to look in the empty space before she crawled into bed, not bothering to change. She looked to Laszlo's robe on the back of the door and pushed herself from the mattress. She reached for the robe and shrugged into it, pulling it tight around her body and inhaling his familiar scent before climbing back into bed and letting sleep take hold of her for a few hours, already wondering just how quickly six months could go.
…
A/N: So there is just the epilogue to go now and that is the story completed. I hope you'll be satisfied by it and would love to know what you think! If we ever do get more of The Alienist then I might come back to this/continue it if I have any inspiration if anyone would be interested!