A/N: A HUGE thank you to Illiminata11 for all her encouragement to me and to the second part of this story...
Part 2
Eliza sat in her drawing room, curled up on the settee with her boots off and her feet tucked under her and a large dark grey woollen blanket resting over her legs. The fire was lit warming and lighting the room a little, and she had a book resting on her lap. Though if she was honest, she'd not read a word of the page she was on. Her mind easily drifted away from the subject of the book called "Anatomy and the human body."
She'd chosen that one for its methodical facts about the body, since she wasn't in the mood for a Jane Austin or Charlotte Bronte, early century romance. The reason being she was trying to take her mind off the fact that just a few days ago she'd kissed William. First, in his office, then, he'd returned the favour by kissing her in her own office too. Since then, she'd not ventured near Scotland Yard or William.
She knew it was fruitless to avoid him, because sooner or later their paths would cross, or she'd need his help with a case, and then she'd have to face him. However, until that point occurred, she'd was choosing to keep a rather low profile.
It wasn't that she didn't want to see him, the truth being that she really did, but seeing him meant facing up to what had happened, and she wasn't sure she was ready to address it. Seeing William would mean having to discuss their friendship, and perhaps acknowledge and articulate out loud what she truly thought about him. That truth was rather more complicated than it seemed.
William could be a wonderfully close friend and allie at times, but he could also be the most infuriating man she'd ever come across, and she'd known a few of those in her time as a Private Detective.
Yes, quietly she could admit he was handsome, after all she wasn't completely blind. And yes, maybe there was, dare she say, an attraction there. Well, he was a man, and she was a woman, it was natural that there could be something between them. Even still, for years she'd avoided anything, and everything related to William and any potential feelings she might have for him, and the reason for that…
FEAR … in capital letters.
Deep down she was absolutely frightened of feeling anything other than contempt for him, because admitting she felt something different, meant she was becoming the one thing she didn't want to be. A woman who could be swayed by a handsome man. A woman who could be talked into doing womanly things… Things that led down the path to becoming a wife and staying at home and having… Eliza stopped herself, because that final thought plain and outright terrified her.
Yet, when they kissed, she felt something new and different and intriguing. She felt that confusing spark inside the pit of her stomach and she couldn't deny that it made her curious. Curious to know why she felt it, and even, what that spark could lead to. She shook her head trying not to think about those things further.
Once again Eliza attempted to take her mind off William, and she returned her attention to her book. Only as she flipped the page, she saw the hand drawn diagram of the male species and that was not helping her at all.
She slammed the book shut, just as there was a knock on the drawing room door. Eliza sighed feeling slightly red cheeked and looked up trying to act as natural as possible as Ivy opened the door and stepped into the room.
"Inspector Wellington is here to see you," Ivy offered politely. Eliza eyes went wide, as her mind wondered if his ears had been burning while she thought about him.
She opened her mouth to speak, but she seemed incapable of words as she tried to think of a reason for Ivy to send him away. She didn't want to see him. What on earth was he doing turning up at her house? Of course, she knew why he was there. It was because she'd been avoiding seeing him.
She looked at the clock above the fireplace, to see if it was too late for William to be seeing her and she noted it was just before eight o'clock, so hardly a disrespectful hour for a visitor.
She realised she had no reason at all to say no to Ivy letting him in without her questioning her motives, which would have meant telling Ivy what had happened between them in their offices, and she had no interest in doing that. So reluctantly Eliza nodded her confirmation to let him in and Ivy just smiled unaware of Eliza's unease.
William sauntered in the room with a hand tucked into his trouser pocket and without a glance at Eliza. He gave Ivy a polite smile, thanked her and stood near the door watching while Ivy backed out the room and shut the door behind her. Once they were alone, William turned on the ball of his foot to finally look at Eliza, curled on the settee, her eyes fixed slightly worriedly on him. He instantly sensed a tension in the room between them that had never been there before.
He took a slow stride across the drawing room, hesitating slightly as to whether to sit on the opposite settee since Eliza looked rather relaxed and nestled up with her blanket and closed book. She made no effort to move herself or sit more formally on his account. Taking his opportunity, he motioned to the seat next to her as if to ask her permission, but barely waited long enough for her to shrug her acceptance before he sat down. He sat near the arm of the settee to keep a little distance between them.
Eliza wasn't sure if he was expecting her to speak, but she said nothing as he made himself comfortable next to her, and she noted the smirk on his face while they sat in momentary silence.
"What are you reading?" William finally asked.
Eliza looked at him confused, because surely, he had no interest what-so-ever in what she was reading, and that clearly wasn't why he was there.
"Does it matter?" She asked, pointedly.
"Not really." He replied making no effort to feign interest.
"What do you want?"
William frowned his face at her accusatory tone. He was used to her hot and cold moments these days, but for once he wasn't letting her get away with it.
"I'm sorry, are you mad me?" He teased.
"No," Eliza scoffed, "Why would I be mad at you?"
"I don't know. Perhaps the same reason you're avoiding me."
He smiled teasing her, because he knew she'd try and deny the fact she was avoiding him, even though he knew she was. He knew it because he'd stopped by her office earlier, and Herr Hildegard had mentioned that she'd not left her office nor had any clients visit for the last two days. This suggested she currently had no paying clients, which was usually when she harassed him for a paying job.
"I'm not avoiding you…. I'm busy…" Eliza stuttered.
"Oh really, with which client?" William faked innocence, but he was a terrible liar and the smug look on his face suggested he clearly knew she had none. It took everything in Eliza not to slap him for that comment, because once again it seemed like he was mocking that he didn't have to scrounge around for work like she did.
"Why are you here? To tease me about my lack of work?" She asked making it obvious that she wasn't in the mood for his teasing.
"No, I'm here because I have a job for you?"
It was a slight truth, he did have a job, but that was only a back-up plan if she tried to avoid talking about the kisses between them.
"What sort of job?" She asked cautiously.
"Well, if you want to know you'll have to come to my office tomorrow to find out…"
Well now she really wanted to slap him! He must have known that she needed a job that would pay her, and now he was holding that job like a carrot over her after that kiss. He knew going back to his office would mean she'd have to re-live it her own impulse.
"Are you seriously trying to torture me!"
"Now why would visiting my office be torture?" His eyes were gleaming bright with mischief, as he grinned. He clearly felt like he had the upper hand here and Eliza turned away from looking at him while she collected her thoughts.
"As I seem to recall you didn't seem to mind accosting me in my office the other day," he continued.
Eliza shook her head as she dropped her book on the floor and stood up to move towards the drink cabinet leaving her blanket on the seat, because if she was going to have to deal with William in this mood, she needed a drink. She didn't even bother to offer him one.
"And you wonder why I've not come by your office…" she said quietly, but loud enough that William heard it.
"You don't need to avoid me you know…" he told her as he watched her pour a small amount of brandy from Henry's old crystal decanter into a glass and swallow it like a shot.
"Oh really, because you're currently being such a gentleman about it!"
William laughed, because if she hadn't stopped coming to his office, he might well have let her off the hook a little, but since she was clearly avoiding him, he felt he was within his rights to give her a little grief for her indiscretion. After all, she'd given him almost ten years of grief for the chaise impulsive kiss he'd given her when they were younger.
William stood up when he noticed she was pouring herself another drink and moved towards her. Eliza took a large step sideways as he reached her, but he'd deal with that in a moment, and he picked up a glass and held it out for her to pour some for him too.
She poured a larger measure of brandy into his glass, before placing the decanter down and replacing the glass stopper.
Without her boots on William seemed even taller and more daunting then ever, not to mention he currently seemed to feel like he had the moral high ground.
"So why are you avoiding me? What exactly do you think I'm going to do?"
Eliza rolled her eyes before walking back to the settee. She moved the blanket over the arm of the settee and sat back down, still tucking her knees up as she sat sideways, while William sat back down next to her slightly turned, so there was no way they could avoid looking at each other.
"Do what you always do, laud it over me like everything else!"
"I believe it is you who lauded over me the fact that I kissed you! For many years I might add. I'm at least willing to admit that I liked it. Are you?"
Eliza gave a soft chuckle, because he could hardly deny it since he'd almost instantly followed her to her office and then kissed her back far more intentionally than she'd kissed him. She looked around the room a little before back at William who was clearly waiting for her to admit she did, even though it was probably more than a little obvious that she had.
"Fine. I liked it. Is that what you want to hear?" It harsh and rather like she was placating him, but William just laughed as she almost scowled at him.
"You know it's okay to admit you like kissing me."
"Oh really. Well, don't expect it to become a regular occurrence," she warned.
Williams' smile faltered slightly, as he took in her words, but he covered it with a gulp of brandy.
"Why is that?" he asked, somewhat despondently.
Eliza instantly noted that he seemed sad at her words, and was a little surprised because she wasn't sure what he was expecting from her. Just because she'd kissed him didn't mean that they were suddenly going to change and get along and start planning a life together.
"William, think of my reputation. I'm trying to make a name for myself as a detective, what would people think if they knew we were acting like that? That you're only letting me work with you because you were getting something from me…"
"You know that's not why I let you work with me." William interrupted firmly.
He knew what those around them would think. More people than she knew had already accused him of it, but he knew that wasn't why he let her work his cases, and he needed her to know that wasn't why he did it.
"I know that, but even still… I… I can't be what you want…" she trailed off, because part of her believed she couldn't be what anyone wanted.
"And how do you know what I want?" He asked, wondering when she because such an expert.
"Because I know I'm nothing like what any man wants."
"And what is that exactly?" He challenged her with narrow eyes, wondering what she assumed any man might want.
"You know, a woman who will behave, listen and do as she told. Who'll stay at home, and I don't know cook and clean…" She shivered at the very thought of being trapped like that. "I think we both can agree that none of that is me. You deserve… better."
Eliza looked at William as he seemed to be contemplating his next move and she contemplated her own.
Could he really let her get away so easily? Were they going to take that step forward only to make a giant leap backwards? How did she know that was what he wanted? She'd never even asked him. Whilst that sounded lovely on paper, and truth be told if that really was what he wanted he could well have had it already, it also sounded rather boring to him.
Slowly Eliza reached out to place her hand over his, and William eyed the contact suspiciously. She watched his expression change, and almost lighten, as he wrapped his fingers around hers.
"Since when did you get to decided what I want? I can choose for myself you know," William said firmly.
Her argument was sound, he couldn't deny that, but there was something here, something between them. Surely that had to count for something. Neither of them was perfect, he knew that, but if they were both willing to try. Then something crossed his mind.
"Who needs to know?" He asked eventually.
"I don't understand?" She told him, confused by what he meant.
"You said, people would think that I was only letting you work with me because I was getting something from you, but who would know if we were together? I'm certainly not going to tell anyone, and other then maybe Ivy, who would you tell?"
Eliza eyed him unsure of where exactly he was going with this, since she could practically see the cogs of his mind working a plan. She sat up a little straighter as he turned his head to gaze straight at her. The mischievous smile was back as he seemed to stumble onto a flaw in her argument.
"Well… No one…" she confirmed, a little uncomfortably.
"So then… What's wrong with a little kissing…." He asked pointedly.
"If someone found out that would be…"
That would be a nightmare, and both their reputations would be called into question.
"Then we be extra careful that no one find out." He made it sound so simple.
She might have thought she knew what he wanted, but perhaps he truly needed to show her what he wanted, he wondered. He'd taken charge in her office, why not now?
There was plenty wrong with kissing and several reasons why they shouldn't. It was just at that, at that moment, with the way William was looking at like he could pounce at any moment, Eliza couldn't think of any of them.
"Erm…"
The sparkle was back in William's eyes as he took the last swig of his drink without taking his eyes off hers. Then he took Eliza's glass out of her hand and turned to put both glasses on the tea table that was stored next to the arm of the settee behind him.
Eliza stiffened slightly, wondering what William was planning, though it was fairly obvious what was going through his mind. He turned back around and shifted himself slightly, leaning closer towards her. Eliza eyed him dubiously, with wide eyes and pursed lips, but remained resolutely still.
He picked up her left hand and interlaced her fingers with his and gently stroked the soft skin on her back of her hand with his thumb sending shivers down her spine.
William's grin seemed to get wider as she made no movement to back away from him. Casually he moved his arm along the back of the settee, and Eliza momentarily shifted her focus to watch him move his hand to rest near her shoulder. She looked back at him and bit back her need to warn him to watch what he was doing because that spark was back in the pit of her stomach.
Casually, he shifted himself a little closer, leaving just millimetres between their knees, and slowly he leaned his head closer, till their noses were almost in touching distance. Though Eliza had yet to move towards him, he took pleasure in the fact she hadn't back away, even slightly.
Together they sat there just quietly breathing, waiting for the other to close the gap, but neither seemed in a hurry to move. Eliza felt every hair on her stand on end as she anticipated William's next action and felt his breath mixing with hers. Subconsciously she licked her lips and felt him release a heavy sigh.
"You shouldn't do that…" William whispered.
"Do wha…"
She never got to finish her words, because William impatiently leaned in and captured her open mouth with a throaty groan. His hand that rested on the back of the settee quickly moved to her neck as his thumb pressed her cheek and brought her even closer to him, turning her head slightly into a more fitting position.
He wasted no time being slow or gentle with her, instead choosing to be firm and persistent, just as she had once told him he needed to be. She didn't fight, or pull away, and he revelled in the feeling that he could kiss her without fear of repercussion.
With her eyes shut, Eliza slowly let herself become accustomed to William's steady determined kisses. For once her mind stilled and she forgot about everything but the rhythmic movements his lips were making against hers. His beard brushed her skin, and she was surprised how much she liked the feeling.
She moved her free hand to press on his chest just above his heart where the V of his waistcoat opened, and she timidly traced a finger up and down the seam against his shirt. This innocent movement on her part seemed to elicit a rumble from William as he smiled into their kisses.
Surprised she wasn't even slightly stopping him, he pushed them a little further, and licked at her lips till she opened them enough to brush his tongue against her teeth and then dipped a little more until she finally gave in and opened her mouth for him to flick against the tip of her tongue until she returned the action.
It was easy and instinctive for them to kiss, almost like they had been doing it their whole lives. They seemed to just know and accept the short gaps to breathe, the nips and dips before crashing back together in sync.
As William pulled away and kissed her jawline up towards her ear and he could almost hear her purring as she sighed and attempted to catch her breath.
"Now tell me you don't like this." He whispered into her ear as he caught her earlobe in between his lips as she hummed.
"God, I hate you," she half groaned breathlessly, and he chuckled. Pulling back, he stared at her darkened eyes and half swollen lips.
"No, you don't." He smiled proudly and dived back into kissing her lips as if to prove his point. For once he was in control of Eliza Scarlet, and he was going to enjoy every single second of it.
Time seemed to stand still as they familiarised themselves with this new side to their relationship. William was still careful with her, they remained sitting slightly distanced on the sofa. They had to remember they weren't entirely alone, and Ivy could knock on the door of the drawing room and walk in at any moment.
When they finally slowed their actions, the world seemed to have shifted, but also stayed the same.
Whilst William sat back, he curled his arm around Eliza's shoulders, shifting her so she sat against his side. She rested her head against his shoulder, while her hand remained against his chest and played innocently with the top button on his waistcoat.
"So, you'll come by my office tomorrow?" William asked, hoping that any awkwardness there might have been between them was now dissipated.
"Why, have you missed me?" Eliza teased.
Truth be told, he had missed her because she did have the ability to brighten his mundane day, but he was certain he'd never get rid of her from his office if he told her that.
"I told you not to run away, which is exactly what you did!"
"I didn't run, I just, didn't come and see you."
"Same thing."
He rubbed a hand over her arm not wanting to fight and looked at the time on the clock above the fireplace. It was gone nine, and almost certainly past a respectable hour to still be visiting.
"I should go," he told her reluctantly as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Yes, you should. I've let you take far too much of an advantage of me."
She was joking with him, and she felt him chuckle at the suggestion. Slowly, she sat up and moved herself out of his arm giving him space to stand up and shake out his slightly rumpled suit.
He held and hand out and Eliza sighed as she placed her hand in his, allowing him to pull her to her feet so she could see him out.
It was strange to walk next to him without her shoes on, as she padded quietly out the room with him and down the hall to the front door.
"Thank you for stopping by," she told him politely, and somewhat loudly just in case Ivy was in listening distance.
"You're welcome," William said confused by Eliza's tone. He collected his coat and hat from the stand as Eliza continued.
"I hope my help on your case is valuable."
William eyed her a little suspiciously as he put on his coat but followed her lead any way.
"I'm sure it will be, as it always is."
"And I'll see you tomorrow," she confirmed quietly and a little awkwardly.
William opened the front door and looked carefully in the direction of the drawing room. Noticing that Ivy was not in sight, he quickly leaned in and placed an innocent kiss on Eliza's cheek. She wasn't expecting it, and was a little shocked, as he pulled back and smiled discreetly at her.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he added with a nod before disappearing into the night. Eliza closed the front door behind him and lean back against it.
Well, they'd clearly come to some sort of arrangement, even if she wasn't entirely sure what that arrangement was. Now all she had to do was convince Ivy that nothing had changed between them.