Disclaimer: Still not sayyyyyyyyingggggg it! Oh just a warning there will
be a new character added, and he plays a major role, you lucky ladies will
meet him in the next few chapters I hope (one of you already knows so no
telling who it is aright?!) So....it begins.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Abberline was speechless by the time I had explained the whole "everything............thing"
"Jesus, Mary, an' Joseph............" He murmured running a hand through his disheveled curly locks.
I had had five cups of tea now and was staring straight through the empty one in my hand.
"An' this plan of yours..........."He asked and I looked up, "..........do yeh think it'll work?"
I shrugged my shoulders, "Well it must be pretty good considering the crazy assed forces of this world just decided to fling me back in time to see the plan carried out."
I had gotten used to using my regular voice with Abberline now, and didn't hold back any of my profanity.
"We'll have ta smooth this over............."
"That is the biggest understatement of the century." I snorted.
"........an' ta do that we need to make some compromises."
"Such as?" I asked suspiciously.
"We let Godley know all of this.........."
"It never crossed my mind that we wouldn't."
"Good. We should also keep your speakin' the hoity toity crap of the society ta continue up with the pretenses tha' you are one of them." He sneered, "And one final thing..............you do not interrupt my work again."
"Meaning...........?" I prodded.
"Meaning you let me take the Opium."
"Over my dead and maggot eaten body." I replied.
"Well," he snapped losing his patience, "tha's not as difficult to
arrange as ya might think."
"Are you threatening me?" I asked angrily.
"Well I'm certainly not payin' ya a compliment." He shot back.
I narrowed my gaze, "Might I remind you, that the only way this plan will work is if I am apart of it. I am the final say in all things and if I say, 'Sing me a song.' You say, 'In what key?' If I say 'Get me something to eat.' You say , 'Diet or natural?' and if I say, 'You will not chase the Dragon again, so help me god!' you say, 'Yes mam.' Got that?"
I could practically see the rage tighten his jaw, "Might I remind YOU, madam, that you are in a different time than your own and in a world you know little about. You survive this only if I help you to. I have the power."
"Wrong. You have nothing."
"I have the truth. If you do not allow me to work I shall inform everyone that you are a fraud."
"Answer me this. Who's gonna believe you, huh?" I mocked, "What person, in THIS society where only fame and fortune matter, will take your word for such a thing? Imagine it if you will, 'Yes only a little while ago I accused a fine upstanding aristocrat of being the man behind the Ripper murders, but I'm telling you she's from another WORLD!' That's a one way ticket to the nut house. No one," I articulated slowly, "will believe you. You have absolutely BOLLOCKS. As of now I am your god, I paint the path to your life or death, so word of advise: Don't piss me off."
"You are a fake." He growled back.
"I'm Cassandra Harlington, and in the words of Princess Leah, 'I am your only freaking hope.'" I had pretty much used up all my pep trying to break down Abberline's door, explaining my story, and giving the women- power-kick-ass-speech and I suddenly felt crumpled like a tissue tossed aside (not the greatest of feelings believe you me) I dropped my head in my hands and sighed, "Somehow we've forgotten I'm trying, I'm honest to god, trying to help you."
His voice was rough but gentle, "I know." And then he chuckled softly, "You just have a way of helping tha' doesn't include tact."
"Blame the women's lib movement." I muttered smiling as I raised my head, "Our times just don't mesh well together. I don't suppose we will either." I frowned and looked down at my hands, "Shame really."
Of course I heard the swish of garments as he rose but I found myself shocked as he kneeled in front of me and took my hands in his. Whoah! Not that I didn't like this picture, I mean it brought to mind wedding bells , a white dress, and good lord in heaven I was imagining the Wedding Night! Stop film, stop film!
He sighed as I had, "Look, I'm not sayin' it isn't goin' ta be hard cause it is, but I think for this ta work it can't just be you helpin' me or me helpin' yeh. So no shame, we have ta mesh to pull this off." He paused trying to get me to look at him, which I did, oh with jerky puppet stiffness, but I did.
"Do you understand, Sarah?"
I nodded my head slowly.
He didn't release my hands but continued to hold them. The touch before had been comforting and innocent but suddenly it felt horribly intimate and my breath caught in my throat.
The door opened, our heads snapped to look at it.
"Miss?" Ellie ventured brightly, stepping in, her eyes widening in shock as she caught sight of our position before hastily dropping her gaze to the floor to curtsey politely.
I snatched my hands out of Abberline's as if they were made of hot melting wax. I clenched my hands together in the folds of my dress.
"Yes, Ellie, what is it?" I asked stiffly, voice slightly quavering.
"Yes, miss, forgive me miss," she stumbled still gazing raptly at the ground. Abberline rose slowly to his feet, looking oddly uncomfortable, "but there's someone a callin' for yeh."
I stood myself, clutching the robe closer, "Who, Ellie?"
"Mr. Ferral, miss. Dr. Ferral."
Abberline's face pulled taunt in a grimace of fury. I thanked everything that can be praised that Ellie still had her eyes glued to the floor. I looked at him quizzically as he stretched his jaw out to loosen the rage in his face.
"Uh," I put a hand to my hair, which had not been released from hit's bun the night before, and I'm sure looked like a dust bunny or one of Christina's hairstyles, "well show him into the parlor then." Did we even have a parlor? Damned if I knew. Abberline sent me a glance of pure disbelief.
"Very good, miss." Ellie voiced, curtseying again and made to depart quickly.
"Oh, Ellie!" I called to her, "I will need your assistance in dressing."
"Yes, miss, yes, yes, of course." and with that she scurried out.
"Another point for my sense of tact." I smirked.
"Wha' is in yeh head, woman!?" Abberline asked flabbergasted.
"What?! What could I have possibly have done NOW!?" I asked.
His finger flew to point at the door through which Ellie had disappeared, "Why the fuck did you let tha' man in this house?!"
I shrugged my shoulders, "Why the fuck not? He bang Mary Kelly or something? Is that why you're having a cow?"
"You're telling me yeh don't know?!"
"Am I supposed to?" I asked genuinely perplexed.
"You tell me. You're the one who has come from the future."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I pay attention to things there. What did he do to get you all in a tantrum?"
"He, at the moment, is one of the Heads of the Society of the FreeMasons, Sarah!"
"What?!" I choked out.
"You better hope to god you have a plan that won't have their whole damn clan upon our heads."
"Ok, ok, just calm down," I said this hyperventilating, "We continue with THE plan and we'll just wing it."
"We'll wha'?"
"Oh for the love of mike............we'll make it up as we go along!"
"You plan to meet with that man, with only a hazy idea of wha' ta do, and make the............rest...........up?!"
"Do you have any better ideas?! Is a light going on in your head screaming, 'Eureka!' cause if so I'd love to hear some suggestions right about now!" I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for his answer.
Abberline strode over, grabbing me by the arm, steering me out the door, "I don't like this."
"Hell and you think I DO ?!"
"We do this my way, understand?" He said severly, walking me down the hall to my room, "No cursing or any of your nonsense, alrigh'?"
"Alright!" I snapped, jesus I wasn't frickin stupid.
We stopped at my door.
"Just on the off chance tha' the bloke tries ta kill me before I explain my presence in the home of a wealthy, unmarried, aristocratic lady's house, why am I here?" Abberline asked.
I rolled my eyes, "Because you're a recovering drug addict, you moron."
He nodded his head briskly, "Though't so. An' one more thing...........don't be too snobby like when I firs' met ya."
"Fine, button your coat, idiot, or he'll think you tried to compromise me."
"Fine."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
Abberline strode down the hall muttering rapidly under his breath. I turned into my room, slamming the door behind me loud enough to be sure to reach his ears.
I pressed my back to the door and sighed deeply. Our first lover's quarrel, I felt elated! Whoohoo, Victory Dance!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Let me say Ellie is a life saver. She practically flew about, while I ran about like a headless chicken, helping me with all the articles of clothing needed to make me look presentable. I think it was Lina Lamont who said when told everyone back then always wore these dresses, "Well, everyone was dumb." I agree. Pretty but then pretty dumb. On top of that I was getting tired of wearing black and it was only my second day.
Twenty minuets later I walked out of my room, cool, calm, and collected, ready for absolutely anything.
Anything is what I found when I reached the parlor, which took about another ten minuets. Why couldn't they just have had road signs in these houses, it would have made everyone's lives back then a whole lot easier.
Anyway, when I got there I was just in time to see a man slam Abberline against a wall. Abberline looked thoroughly bored by this as he raised his arms in surrender. The man had him tightly by the colloar.
"What are YOU doing here?" He hissed.
"I was invited." Abberline replied steadily, all this got him was another slam against the wall.
I remembered who the man was now. Black hair, with a moustache, pale, sickly pale, corpse pale. I was disgusted. He had always reminded me of a rat. He had been the one who had brushed Abberline off at the party and had been initiated into the Order just that year.
"Dr. Ferral," I exclaimed mildly surprised. Score another for life lived on the stage, "whatever are you doing?"
Glancing at me, he turned back to Abberline scowling, "I caught this vermin creeping about your house, Miss Harlington. Shall I call for the police?"
"He is the police, Doctor." I replied calmly, smiling amused.
Silence.
"By all means let him down and take a seat. I shall ring for some tea, standing like that must be quite uncomfortable."
His eyes darted between me, with a look of doubt, and Abberline with a look that all but said, "If she were not here you would be a bloody smear on this pretty wall." He slowly let go of Abberline's neck, then straightened his suit.
Turning to me he bowed, "Pardon me, madam, but I was worried for your safety."
"You are forgiven then." I granted him with a kind smile, which he returned. Oh, GROSS! "I must say this visit is welcomed," Gag me with a spoon! "but somewhat sudden." I sat after indicating him to do the same.
"Forgive me for not warning you at the Cardan's dinner last week that I would be paying you a call but I had to tell you the news in person as soon as I heard word."
"Indeed," I raised a brow, "and that being what, my dear Doctor." I nearly choked on the sweetness I poured into the title.
"Everyone is deeply saddened by the news of your father's passing, and the sickness that destroyed him."
Way to put it gently, asshole.
"We are holding a Charity Ball in three weeks time for him and to raise money to further the study of medicine which might prevent the illness from taking another man's life."
In other words, you need cash to continue your little lab rat experiments. Yeah, I'll put a hundred down for six more carved and mutilated bodies to be found in White Chapel. Jesus.
"I am honored, as would my father, god keep him, if he were still with us." I said softly, reminding myself to look tearful instead of nervous. This guy practically oozed oil.
"I'm sorry, I have pained you." He said in a decaying sweet voice, putting a sweaty hand on mine.
Ew. Ew. Ew.
A cough sounded irritable on the other side of the room. The hand was removed in annoyance. My eyes found Abblerine , thanking him silently.
"And just what exactly are you doing here?" The Doctor snapped at him.
"Ask the lady. She's the one who brought me here." Abberline said smirking widely.
The Doctor turned to gaze at me shocked and repulsed, "Is this so?"
I sighed, "Well, I'm afraid it is true, Dr. Ferral. I found him unconscious in an allwy, and just had to bring him home. He is in desperate need of care, can you not see it. Why just look at the poor little thing............." Let him think me simple minded in this case.
He did and his lip curled, "Yes, but why is he still here?"
"I plan to reform him. He looks as if he is in dire need of it, wouldn't you say, Doctor? He is a despicable example of everything that is wrong with this city, an addict close to becoming an insane man about the streets. It must be stopped. I'm going to make an example of him." I smirked. Abberline sent me a look that said, 'Watch it.' I continued, "I am taking on the task of saving him from a life of sin, it is the least I can do."
Doctor Ferral smiled as if it pained him to do so, "You always were too kind to those who least deserved it."
"I know," I murmured, "it is so very tiring, but it is my curse to be charitable, I fear." Oh man I had to bite my lip to hold back my laughter. I was feeding him bullshit and he was just scarfing it all down like a gourmet meal.
He made another glance between Abberline and I and suddenly his smile grew easy and more distorted in it's cunning, "Well why don't you bring him along, my dear. It is a Charity Ball, and what better guest to a charity benefit but a charity cause?"
I broke into a wide smile, "Why Doctor Ferral what a wonderful show of genius! You are perfectly brilliant!" Inside I was cringing. Putting Abberline in a room full of men who had tried to kill his lover would be like putting a beautiful Siberian Tiger amongst a hunting camp looking for game.
Abberline stiffened in the corner. Maybe I could stop this before it began. I let my face fall in disappointment.
"But I cannot possibly go, my dear Doctor. I am still in mourning." I lowered my eyes then raised them, "It would not be right of me to celebrate so soon after my father's death."
Ferral took in my garb of woe and his attentions slid over other aspects as well. My fingers dug into my palm to still my desire to either cover myself or to smack him. I heard a soft growl from Abberline's corner, but I believed I imagined it.
"My dear, society has missed your............vibrant company," Ferral smiled in a purposefully lecherous way, and he a supposed gentleman! "I'm sure you would be forgiven simply by making an appearance."
"Oh, I do not know..............."
Suddenly he had grabbed my hands again, and I nearly jumped in fright, "Trust my word, madam. Everyone will be glad of you having been there. Do please try to remember the event is in your father's memory. You would not cease to honor it would you by not gracing us with your presence, I fear?"
He had me trapped elegantly. Backed and boxed into a damn corner. That son of a whorish bitch!
"I suppose I could drop by just for a bit.................."
I could feel Abberline's displeasure with me from across the room.
"Good, then, it's all settled. I'll send for you on Saturday eve in three weeks." He rose, "Now that my task is finished, I must take my leave."
Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.
"I'll see you to the door, Doctor Ferral." I rose politely. And I'll hit you myself.
As soon as we were in the hall alone he whispered to me, "Do you fear for yourself?"
"My whatever do you mean?"
"Having that godless man under this roof, and you alone?" He made clear.
"I am hardly alone, Dr. Ferral, I have a loyal staff of thirty." Or was it fifty?
"If you should ever need aid................" He began.
I shall have it with me, "You shall be the first I look to." I assured him. Christ did everyone lie this much back then?
He raised my hand then and kissed it. His lips were wet and sickening, "I shall see you in three weeks, Cassandra."
We were on a first name basis? That was stopping NOW.
"I can hardly contain my excitement." Oh yes I can, I said sweetly. Man, I was lying through my teeth, shouldn't my nose have been sixty feet long by now?
Ellie brought him his top hat and cane. Bowing again he tipped his hat and walked down the steps. I closed the door and moved to put a hand to my head but stopped. No, wash your hands first. You don't want the feel of that man on you a second longer, do you? My face screwed up in a grimace of revulsion. Turning to flee to the bathroom I found Abberline behind me, arms crossed looking quite peeved.
"Wha' the fuck was all tha' about?" He asked darkly.
With a sigh I pushed passed him to the direction of the bathing room.
"Did I act the part correctly?" I sneered, not understanding why he was so upset, as I strode down the hall, "A whore to power, isn't that how you described it?"
"You practically offered yourself to him." He spat, then began to imitate me with cruel precision, "Oh my dear sweet Doctor, let me bat my eyelashes and bite my lip enticingly and pray to god tha' yeh take me now."
That stopped me dead. I whirled on him, "Go screw an alley cat, Abberline, you're out of your mind!"
"Well at least it's better," he whispered coldly, "then begging for a murderer to top me off."
My hand flashed out catching him on the left cheek, his head snapped to the side and my palm stung something awful, but I didn't care, I was enraged. I couldn't think of words strong enough to hurl at him only one sentence quivered menacingly in my throat.
"How............Dare.............You!" I hissed venomously.
He turned his head and eyed me hardly. I felt tempted to make his other cheek smart too but turned instead and continued to the bathroom. Reaching the door a hand pulled me back at the crook of my elbow, roughly tugging me back.
"You expect me ta think you wouldn't betray me now tha' I know how fond you are of the young Doctor?" He sneered hatefully.
"Leave me the hell alone!" I roared, "Don't you get it?! I don't want to talk to you now! I mean I actually thought.........I mean what was all that shit you said about helping?! About helping eachother?! I don't think calling me a fucking prostitute for a second time qualifies as helping! So until you get a Webster's and find out what that word means I want you to piss off!"
I yanked my out of his grasp and bolted into the bathroom and locked the door behind me.
~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~
I cried for a time, muttered curses for another. Finally I began to wash my hands. I could not put enough soap on, as I scrubbed so hard my flesh turned red.
I didn't know he was in until he said my name. How he got in I don't know. Probably picked the lock, hey sometimes it payed to be an Inspector in the slums.
"Just go away." I croaked my voice hoarse. Like I wanted him to see me when I looked like a sniveling damsel in distress. I scrubbed harder, wincing as my skin began to burn. I saw his hands turn off the water.
"Fuckin' Christ, Sarah, wha' did ya do?" He murmured taking my hands, "They're raw."
"I didn't want HIM on me. Abberline get away from the faucet. I have to, have.........have," My mouth caught on that one word, couldn't work around it, "HAVE to keep washing..............I feel like I'll never be clean if I don't. Just move!" I tried to push him out of the way , but he somehow managed to make me sit on the edge of the tub.
"Yeh know tha' helpin' thing, tha's what I'm doin' now, so just sit down, an' don't argue with me." Taking a small towel he ran it under the cold water and coming back wrapped my hand in it. I jerked as it touched my sensitive skin.
We didn't talk as he kept wetting the cloth and then applying it to my near bloody hand. Little by little my head cleared of the frantic anger and my head pounded from my tears.
"I'm sorry." I murmured and it took me a moment to realize it wasn't that the bathroom was so large and there was an echo, but that Abberline has whispered the same thing.
We had both been looking down at my hands, but the strange coincidence made us raise our heads.
"What for?"
There we go again. We chuckled slightly, there was a pause.
"For suspecting you and for insinuating you were a...........a............"
"Common whore." I finished, "For advising you to screw a cat?" I added.
"Tha' was disturbingly descriptive." He said pulling a face, "Did that just tumble out because of the anger?" He chuckled but I had sobered as I looked at his cheek. It was as red as my hands, practically had my hand print branded on it's surface.
I reached out a tentative hand to hit, "That too. I'm sorry for that too." I apologized touching it gently. He flinched slightly tuning his head.
"Don't worry abou' it. It was called for. Any aristocratic woman these days would have done the same in your position." He murmured, eyes glancing around at everything but me. I let my hand drop.
"But I'm not them. I'm usually very passive-aggressive." I informed him.
He snorted clearly not believing me, "I find that very hard to believe."
I punched him on the arm.
"See!" He exclaimed, "See that there is violence!"
We both laughed.
"You look a fright." He smirked, pulling some tendrils of hair away from my blotchy face.
"Oh ho!" I laughed, "Well you look like you've been bitch slapped by twenty ex-lovers all on the same cheek!"
The look on his face was priceless, and seeing it made me laugh so hard I fell backwards into the tub. It was empty, thank god, but all the mounds of skirts left me flailing around, stuck.
Tears sprang to Abberline's eyes as he clutched his side and howled with laughter.
"Well, help me up why don't you and do something useful!" I exclaimed struggling to hoist myself up.
He was laughing so hard that no sound came out save for the sound of wheezing air as he tired vainly to catch his breath.
"For crying out loud, it wasn't that funny!"
"Oh yes.........." He gasped, "it was."
"Just get me out of here." I ordered.
Nodding, his laugh softened to a chuckle as he grasped my elbow and pulled me to my feet. He pulled me up too swiftly because I more or less found myself pressed against him. The air was suddenly thick, tightening my throat, heating my cheeks, and my heart did a Tower of Terror thing and rose thirteen stories to drop then rise up again, like one of those damned rubber balls that can ping pong off walls. I gulped. Abberline's breathing had slowed, deep and deliberate, hot on my neck. My eyes were near to closing and I was found myself swaying, almost as if I would black out.
"A Charity Ball, then?" He murmured in my ear.
"Huh.........what?" I asked feeling almost high this close to him. OH man, oh MAN I could write fifty one hundred bad songs about how he was like a drug, my own personal opium. Don't worry, I snapped out of it fast. "Oh yes, yesyesyesyes............." I slurred all the yes's together quickly as I shook my head all but jumping back from him. Then realizing what a Ball entitled I changed it to , "no, no, god no! What in the name of all things holy have I agreed to?!"
"Wha'?" Abberline asked concerned.
"I can not dance to save my life!"
That did it, Abberline was in hysterics again.
"Stop it!" I complained, "This is really bad."
"It doesn't have ta be," he smothered another laugh, "We have three weeks, tha' should be plenty of time to get you caught up on the basics."
"No no no," I warned him away, as he reached out a smug smile on his face, "I don't' even want to tell you the horror stories of dances I've been to. The only dance I'm somewhat good at is the Funky Chicken, don't even get me started on the dangers of me attempting the Electric Slide."
"Under my guidance you'll be a natural." He boasted as he pulled me out of the bathroom and I dragged my feet whining, "Shush now, we'll have ya doin' tha' new racy waltz in no time."
I groaned.
"An' another thing," he added, "try not ta cripple me when yeh step on my toes."
I punched him again.
Ah, the joys of bonding.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Abberline was speechless by the time I had explained the whole "everything............thing"
"Jesus, Mary, an' Joseph............" He murmured running a hand through his disheveled curly locks.
I had had five cups of tea now and was staring straight through the empty one in my hand.
"An' this plan of yours..........."He asked and I looked up, "..........do yeh think it'll work?"
I shrugged my shoulders, "Well it must be pretty good considering the crazy assed forces of this world just decided to fling me back in time to see the plan carried out."
I had gotten used to using my regular voice with Abberline now, and didn't hold back any of my profanity.
"We'll have ta smooth this over............."
"That is the biggest understatement of the century." I snorted.
"........an' ta do that we need to make some compromises."
"Such as?" I asked suspiciously.
"We let Godley know all of this.........."
"It never crossed my mind that we wouldn't."
"Good. We should also keep your speakin' the hoity toity crap of the society ta continue up with the pretenses tha' you are one of them." He sneered, "And one final thing..............you do not interrupt my work again."
"Meaning...........?" I prodded.
"Meaning you let me take the Opium."
"Over my dead and maggot eaten body." I replied.
"Well," he snapped losing his patience, "tha's not as difficult to
arrange as ya might think."
"Are you threatening me?" I asked angrily.
"Well I'm certainly not payin' ya a compliment." He shot back.
I narrowed my gaze, "Might I remind you, that the only way this plan will work is if I am apart of it. I am the final say in all things and if I say, 'Sing me a song.' You say, 'In what key?' If I say 'Get me something to eat.' You say , 'Diet or natural?' and if I say, 'You will not chase the Dragon again, so help me god!' you say, 'Yes mam.' Got that?"
I could practically see the rage tighten his jaw, "Might I remind YOU, madam, that you are in a different time than your own and in a world you know little about. You survive this only if I help you to. I have the power."
"Wrong. You have nothing."
"I have the truth. If you do not allow me to work I shall inform everyone that you are a fraud."
"Answer me this. Who's gonna believe you, huh?" I mocked, "What person, in THIS society where only fame and fortune matter, will take your word for such a thing? Imagine it if you will, 'Yes only a little while ago I accused a fine upstanding aristocrat of being the man behind the Ripper murders, but I'm telling you she's from another WORLD!' That's a one way ticket to the nut house. No one," I articulated slowly, "will believe you. You have absolutely BOLLOCKS. As of now I am your god, I paint the path to your life or death, so word of advise: Don't piss me off."
"You are a fake." He growled back.
"I'm Cassandra Harlington, and in the words of Princess Leah, 'I am your only freaking hope.'" I had pretty much used up all my pep trying to break down Abberline's door, explaining my story, and giving the women- power-kick-ass-speech and I suddenly felt crumpled like a tissue tossed aside (not the greatest of feelings believe you me) I dropped my head in my hands and sighed, "Somehow we've forgotten I'm trying, I'm honest to god, trying to help you."
His voice was rough but gentle, "I know." And then he chuckled softly, "You just have a way of helping tha' doesn't include tact."
"Blame the women's lib movement." I muttered smiling as I raised my head, "Our times just don't mesh well together. I don't suppose we will either." I frowned and looked down at my hands, "Shame really."
Of course I heard the swish of garments as he rose but I found myself shocked as he kneeled in front of me and took my hands in his. Whoah! Not that I didn't like this picture, I mean it brought to mind wedding bells , a white dress, and good lord in heaven I was imagining the Wedding Night! Stop film, stop film!
He sighed as I had, "Look, I'm not sayin' it isn't goin' ta be hard cause it is, but I think for this ta work it can't just be you helpin' me or me helpin' yeh. So no shame, we have ta mesh to pull this off." He paused trying to get me to look at him, which I did, oh with jerky puppet stiffness, but I did.
"Do you understand, Sarah?"
I nodded my head slowly.
He didn't release my hands but continued to hold them. The touch before had been comforting and innocent but suddenly it felt horribly intimate and my breath caught in my throat.
The door opened, our heads snapped to look at it.
"Miss?" Ellie ventured brightly, stepping in, her eyes widening in shock as she caught sight of our position before hastily dropping her gaze to the floor to curtsey politely.
I snatched my hands out of Abberline's as if they were made of hot melting wax. I clenched my hands together in the folds of my dress.
"Yes, Ellie, what is it?" I asked stiffly, voice slightly quavering.
"Yes, miss, forgive me miss," she stumbled still gazing raptly at the ground. Abberline rose slowly to his feet, looking oddly uncomfortable, "but there's someone a callin' for yeh."
I stood myself, clutching the robe closer, "Who, Ellie?"
"Mr. Ferral, miss. Dr. Ferral."
Abberline's face pulled taunt in a grimace of fury. I thanked everything that can be praised that Ellie still had her eyes glued to the floor. I looked at him quizzically as he stretched his jaw out to loosen the rage in his face.
"Uh," I put a hand to my hair, which had not been released from hit's bun the night before, and I'm sure looked like a dust bunny or one of Christina's hairstyles, "well show him into the parlor then." Did we even have a parlor? Damned if I knew. Abberline sent me a glance of pure disbelief.
"Very good, miss." Ellie voiced, curtseying again and made to depart quickly.
"Oh, Ellie!" I called to her, "I will need your assistance in dressing."
"Yes, miss, yes, yes, of course." and with that she scurried out.
"Another point for my sense of tact." I smirked.
"Wha' is in yeh head, woman!?" Abberline asked flabbergasted.
"What?! What could I have possibly have done NOW!?" I asked.
His finger flew to point at the door through which Ellie had disappeared, "Why the fuck did you let tha' man in this house?!"
I shrugged my shoulders, "Why the fuck not? He bang Mary Kelly or something? Is that why you're having a cow?"
"You're telling me yeh don't know?!"
"Am I supposed to?" I asked genuinely perplexed.
"You tell me. You're the one who has come from the future."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I pay attention to things there. What did he do to get you all in a tantrum?"
"He, at the moment, is one of the Heads of the Society of the FreeMasons, Sarah!"
"What?!" I choked out.
"You better hope to god you have a plan that won't have their whole damn clan upon our heads."
"Ok, ok, just calm down," I said this hyperventilating, "We continue with THE plan and we'll just wing it."
"We'll wha'?"
"Oh for the love of mike............we'll make it up as we go along!"
"You plan to meet with that man, with only a hazy idea of wha' ta do, and make the............rest...........up?!"
"Do you have any better ideas?! Is a light going on in your head screaming, 'Eureka!' cause if so I'd love to hear some suggestions right about now!" I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for his answer.
Abberline strode over, grabbing me by the arm, steering me out the door, "I don't like this."
"Hell and you think I DO ?!"
"We do this my way, understand?" He said severly, walking me down the hall to my room, "No cursing or any of your nonsense, alrigh'?"
"Alright!" I snapped, jesus I wasn't frickin stupid.
We stopped at my door.
"Just on the off chance tha' the bloke tries ta kill me before I explain my presence in the home of a wealthy, unmarried, aristocratic lady's house, why am I here?" Abberline asked.
I rolled my eyes, "Because you're a recovering drug addict, you moron."
He nodded his head briskly, "Though't so. An' one more thing...........don't be too snobby like when I firs' met ya."
"Fine, button your coat, idiot, or he'll think you tried to compromise me."
"Fine."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
Abberline strode down the hall muttering rapidly under his breath. I turned into my room, slamming the door behind me loud enough to be sure to reach his ears.
I pressed my back to the door and sighed deeply. Our first lover's quarrel, I felt elated! Whoohoo, Victory Dance!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Let me say Ellie is a life saver. She practically flew about, while I ran about like a headless chicken, helping me with all the articles of clothing needed to make me look presentable. I think it was Lina Lamont who said when told everyone back then always wore these dresses, "Well, everyone was dumb." I agree. Pretty but then pretty dumb. On top of that I was getting tired of wearing black and it was only my second day.
Twenty minuets later I walked out of my room, cool, calm, and collected, ready for absolutely anything.
Anything is what I found when I reached the parlor, which took about another ten minuets. Why couldn't they just have had road signs in these houses, it would have made everyone's lives back then a whole lot easier.
Anyway, when I got there I was just in time to see a man slam Abberline against a wall. Abberline looked thoroughly bored by this as he raised his arms in surrender. The man had him tightly by the colloar.
"What are YOU doing here?" He hissed.
"I was invited." Abberline replied steadily, all this got him was another slam against the wall.
I remembered who the man was now. Black hair, with a moustache, pale, sickly pale, corpse pale. I was disgusted. He had always reminded me of a rat. He had been the one who had brushed Abberline off at the party and had been initiated into the Order just that year.
"Dr. Ferral," I exclaimed mildly surprised. Score another for life lived on the stage, "whatever are you doing?"
Glancing at me, he turned back to Abberline scowling, "I caught this vermin creeping about your house, Miss Harlington. Shall I call for the police?"
"He is the police, Doctor." I replied calmly, smiling amused.
Silence.
"By all means let him down and take a seat. I shall ring for some tea, standing like that must be quite uncomfortable."
His eyes darted between me, with a look of doubt, and Abberline with a look that all but said, "If she were not here you would be a bloody smear on this pretty wall." He slowly let go of Abberline's neck, then straightened his suit.
Turning to me he bowed, "Pardon me, madam, but I was worried for your safety."
"You are forgiven then." I granted him with a kind smile, which he returned. Oh, GROSS! "I must say this visit is welcomed," Gag me with a spoon! "but somewhat sudden." I sat after indicating him to do the same.
"Forgive me for not warning you at the Cardan's dinner last week that I would be paying you a call but I had to tell you the news in person as soon as I heard word."
"Indeed," I raised a brow, "and that being what, my dear Doctor." I nearly choked on the sweetness I poured into the title.
"Everyone is deeply saddened by the news of your father's passing, and the sickness that destroyed him."
Way to put it gently, asshole.
"We are holding a Charity Ball in three weeks time for him and to raise money to further the study of medicine which might prevent the illness from taking another man's life."
In other words, you need cash to continue your little lab rat experiments. Yeah, I'll put a hundred down for six more carved and mutilated bodies to be found in White Chapel. Jesus.
"I am honored, as would my father, god keep him, if he were still with us." I said softly, reminding myself to look tearful instead of nervous. This guy practically oozed oil.
"I'm sorry, I have pained you." He said in a decaying sweet voice, putting a sweaty hand on mine.
Ew. Ew. Ew.
A cough sounded irritable on the other side of the room. The hand was removed in annoyance. My eyes found Abblerine , thanking him silently.
"And just what exactly are you doing here?" The Doctor snapped at him.
"Ask the lady. She's the one who brought me here." Abberline said smirking widely.
The Doctor turned to gaze at me shocked and repulsed, "Is this so?"
I sighed, "Well, I'm afraid it is true, Dr. Ferral. I found him unconscious in an allwy, and just had to bring him home. He is in desperate need of care, can you not see it. Why just look at the poor little thing............." Let him think me simple minded in this case.
He did and his lip curled, "Yes, but why is he still here?"
"I plan to reform him. He looks as if he is in dire need of it, wouldn't you say, Doctor? He is a despicable example of everything that is wrong with this city, an addict close to becoming an insane man about the streets. It must be stopped. I'm going to make an example of him." I smirked. Abberline sent me a look that said, 'Watch it.' I continued, "I am taking on the task of saving him from a life of sin, it is the least I can do."
Doctor Ferral smiled as if it pained him to do so, "You always were too kind to those who least deserved it."
"I know," I murmured, "it is so very tiring, but it is my curse to be charitable, I fear." Oh man I had to bite my lip to hold back my laughter. I was feeding him bullshit and he was just scarfing it all down like a gourmet meal.
He made another glance between Abberline and I and suddenly his smile grew easy and more distorted in it's cunning, "Well why don't you bring him along, my dear. It is a Charity Ball, and what better guest to a charity benefit but a charity cause?"
I broke into a wide smile, "Why Doctor Ferral what a wonderful show of genius! You are perfectly brilliant!" Inside I was cringing. Putting Abberline in a room full of men who had tried to kill his lover would be like putting a beautiful Siberian Tiger amongst a hunting camp looking for game.
Abberline stiffened in the corner. Maybe I could stop this before it began. I let my face fall in disappointment.
"But I cannot possibly go, my dear Doctor. I am still in mourning." I lowered my eyes then raised them, "It would not be right of me to celebrate so soon after my father's death."
Ferral took in my garb of woe and his attentions slid over other aspects as well. My fingers dug into my palm to still my desire to either cover myself or to smack him. I heard a soft growl from Abberline's corner, but I believed I imagined it.
"My dear, society has missed your............vibrant company," Ferral smiled in a purposefully lecherous way, and he a supposed gentleman! "I'm sure you would be forgiven simply by making an appearance."
"Oh, I do not know..............."
Suddenly he had grabbed my hands again, and I nearly jumped in fright, "Trust my word, madam. Everyone will be glad of you having been there. Do please try to remember the event is in your father's memory. You would not cease to honor it would you by not gracing us with your presence, I fear?"
He had me trapped elegantly. Backed and boxed into a damn corner. That son of a whorish bitch!
"I suppose I could drop by just for a bit.................."
I could feel Abberline's displeasure with me from across the room.
"Good, then, it's all settled. I'll send for you on Saturday eve in three weeks." He rose, "Now that my task is finished, I must take my leave."
Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.
"I'll see you to the door, Doctor Ferral." I rose politely. And I'll hit you myself.
As soon as we were in the hall alone he whispered to me, "Do you fear for yourself?"
"My whatever do you mean?"
"Having that godless man under this roof, and you alone?" He made clear.
"I am hardly alone, Dr. Ferral, I have a loyal staff of thirty." Or was it fifty?
"If you should ever need aid................" He began.
I shall have it with me, "You shall be the first I look to." I assured him. Christ did everyone lie this much back then?
He raised my hand then and kissed it. His lips were wet and sickening, "I shall see you in three weeks, Cassandra."
We were on a first name basis? That was stopping NOW.
"I can hardly contain my excitement." Oh yes I can, I said sweetly. Man, I was lying through my teeth, shouldn't my nose have been sixty feet long by now?
Ellie brought him his top hat and cane. Bowing again he tipped his hat and walked down the steps. I closed the door and moved to put a hand to my head but stopped. No, wash your hands first. You don't want the feel of that man on you a second longer, do you? My face screwed up in a grimace of revulsion. Turning to flee to the bathroom I found Abberline behind me, arms crossed looking quite peeved.
"Wha' the fuck was all tha' about?" He asked darkly.
With a sigh I pushed passed him to the direction of the bathing room.
"Did I act the part correctly?" I sneered, not understanding why he was so upset, as I strode down the hall, "A whore to power, isn't that how you described it?"
"You practically offered yourself to him." He spat, then began to imitate me with cruel precision, "Oh my dear sweet Doctor, let me bat my eyelashes and bite my lip enticingly and pray to god tha' yeh take me now."
That stopped me dead. I whirled on him, "Go screw an alley cat, Abberline, you're out of your mind!"
"Well at least it's better," he whispered coldly, "then begging for a murderer to top me off."
My hand flashed out catching him on the left cheek, his head snapped to the side and my palm stung something awful, but I didn't care, I was enraged. I couldn't think of words strong enough to hurl at him only one sentence quivered menacingly in my throat.
"How............Dare.............You!" I hissed venomously.
He turned his head and eyed me hardly. I felt tempted to make his other cheek smart too but turned instead and continued to the bathroom. Reaching the door a hand pulled me back at the crook of my elbow, roughly tugging me back.
"You expect me ta think you wouldn't betray me now tha' I know how fond you are of the young Doctor?" He sneered hatefully.
"Leave me the hell alone!" I roared, "Don't you get it?! I don't want to talk to you now! I mean I actually thought.........I mean what was all that shit you said about helping?! About helping eachother?! I don't think calling me a fucking prostitute for a second time qualifies as helping! So until you get a Webster's and find out what that word means I want you to piss off!"
I yanked my out of his grasp and bolted into the bathroom and locked the door behind me.
~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~
I cried for a time, muttered curses for another. Finally I began to wash my hands. I could not put enough soap on, as I scrubbed so hard my flesh turned red.
I didn't know he was in until he said my name. How he got in I don't know. Probably picked the lock, hey sometimes it payed to be an Inspector in the slums.
"Just go away." I croaked my voice hoarse. Like I wanted him to see me when I looked like a sniveling damsel in distress. I scrubbed harder, wincing as my skin began to burn. I saw his hands turn off the water.
"Fuckin' Christ, Sarah, wha' did ya do?" He murmured taking my hands, "They're raw."
"I didn't want HIM on me. Abberline get away from the faucet. I have to, have.........have," My mouth caught on that one word, couldn't work around it, "HAVE to keep washing..............I feel like I'll never be clean if I don't. Just move!" I tried to push him out of the way , but he somehow managed to make me sit on the edge of the tub.
"Yeh know tha' helpin' thing, tha's what I'm doin' now, so just sit down, an' don't argue with me." Taking a small towel he ran it under the cold water and coming back wrapped my hand in it. I jerked as it touched my sensitive skin.
We didn't talk as he kept wetting the cloth and then applying it to my near bloody hand. Little by little my head cleared of the frantic anger and my head pounded from my tears.
"I'm sorry." I murmured and it took me a moment to realize it wasn't that the bathroom was so large and there was an echo, but that Abberline has whispered the same thing.
We had both been looking down at my hands, but the strange coincidence made us raise our heads.
"What for?"
There we go again. We chuckled slightly, there was a pause.
"For suspecting you and for insinuating you were a...........a............"
"Common whore." I finished, "For advising you to screw a cat?" I added.
"Tha' was disturbingly descriptive." He said pulling a face, "Did that just tumble out because of the anger?" He chuckled but I had sobered as I looked at his cheek. It was as red as my hands, practically had my hand print branded on it's surface.
I reached out a tentative hand to hit, "That too. I'm sorry for that too." I apologized touching it gently. He flinched slightly tuning his head.
"Don't worry abou' it. It was called for. Any aristocratic woman these days would have done the same in your position." He murmured, eyes glancing around at everything but me. I let my hand drop.
"But I'm not them. I'm usually very passive-aggressive." I informed him.
He snorted clearly not believing me, "I find that very hard to believe."
I punched him on the arm.
"See!" He exclaimed, "See that there is violence!"
We both laughed.
"You look a fright." He smirked, pulling some tendrils of hair away from my blotchy face.
"Oh ho!" I laughed, "Well you look like you've been bitch slapped by twenty ex-lovers all on the same cheek!"
The look on his face was priceless, and seeing it made me laugh so hard I fell backwards into the tub. It was empty, thank god, but all the mounds of skirts left me flailing around, stuck.
Tears sprang to Abberline's eyes as he clutched his side and howled with laughter.
"Well, help me up why don't you and do something useful!" I exclaimed struggling to hoist myself up.
He was laughing so hard that no sound came out save for the sound of wheezing air as he tired vainly to catch his breath.
"For crying out loud, it wasn't that funny!"
"Oh yes.........." He gasped, "it was."
"Just get me out of here." I ordered.
Nodding, his laugh softened to a chuckle as he grasped my elbow and pulled me to my feet. He pulled me up too swiftly because I more or less found myself pressed against him. The air was suddenly thick, tightening my throat, heating my cheeks, and my heart did a Tower of Terror thing and rose thirteen stories to drop then rise up again, like one of those damned rubber balls that can ping pong off walls. I gulped. Abberline's breathing had slowed, deep and deliberate, hot on my neck. My eyes were near to closing and I was found myself swaying, almost as if I would black out.
"A Charity Ball, then?" He murmured in my ear.
"Huh.........what?" I asked feeling almost high this close to him. OH man, oh MAN I could write fifty one hundred bad songs about how he was like a drug, my own personal opium. Don't worry, I snapped out of it fast. "Oh yes, yesyesyesyes............." I slurred all the yes's together quickly as I shook my head all but jumping back from him. Then realizing what a Ball entitled I changed it to , "no, no, god no! What in the name of all things holy have I agreed to?!"
"Wha'?" Abberline asked concerned.
"I can not dance to save my life!"
That did it, Abberline was in hysterics again.
"Stop it!" I complained, "This is really bad."
"It doesn't have ta be," he smothered another laugh, "We have three weeks, tha' should be plenty of time to get you caught up on the basics."
"No no no," I warned him away, as he reached out a smug smile on his face, "I don't' even want to tell you the horror stories of dances I've been to. The only dance I'm somewhat good at is the Funky Chicken, don't even get me started on the dangers of me attempting the Electric Slide."
"Under my guidance you'll be a natural." He boasted as he pulled me out of the bathroom and I dragged my feet whining, "Shush now, we'll have ya doin' tha' new racy waltz in no time."
I groaned.
"An' another thing," he added, "try not ta cripple me when yeh step on my toes."
I punched him again.
Ah, the joys of bonding.