Part 5 - Acceptance

It hadn't taken long for William to catch up with Billy Watkins, arrest him and haul him back to Scotland Yard to spend some time in one of the many cells. Billy was arrogant, insisting he'd done nothing wrong and claiming William had nothing on him, even though he had a number of pocket watches, wallets, necklaces, rings and broaches hidden inside his oversized coat that were almost certainly stolen. All that was left was to leave him and Tim Brewing to sweat it out till one of them broke and gave away the bigger game for the robberies.

William had half expected Eliza to head home as soon as they returned to Scotland Yard, especially after their moment in the shadows. He was getting used to the fact that she seemed to need a little space to process those new moments between them. He was enjoying the fact previously she'd quickly look away from him, whereas now, she seemed to almost be challenging and perhaps even encouraging his advances.

Only, Eliza surprised him by not running off, instead she offered to help him catalogue all the items they had collected hidden inside Billy's coat and check them against the lists of stolen goods from the robberies. It was an innocent enough offer, shrouded in a smile and her beautiful eyes that suggested she wasn't quite ready to leave his company. The insinuation was enough to make William's heart beat almost as fast as it had in the ally.

He quickly sent off two Constables to check the address they believed Billy was residing for more stolen items. Then, they found themselves once again alone in William's office, standing either side of his desk that was covered with the various items of recovered jewellery, looking through even more files, whilst making even more notes.

Yet, despite everything that had happened, this time felt normal and without the earlier awkwardness or irritation between them. For a while, they worked silently opposite each other focused and undistracted since it wasn't a simple task ahead of them. They would choose an item from the desk, identify if it was on their list of stolen goods and who owned it, then attached a label to it, wrap it and place it in an open box designated for the family it should be returned to.

It was a job William nearly always handed over to a couple of junior officers since it was a rather time consuming and mundane task, but once again, he wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to spend time with Eliza. He knew he shouldn't make this a habit, doing these more menial tasks, as someone would be sure to question why he himself was doing them, but as a one off, he could get away with it.

He took a moment to glance over and admire Eliza at work. Her lips were turned up in a pout as a look of concentration occupied her face, but her eyes were sparkling as she put a line through the item on the list and attached a string label to a beautiful ring. It looked expensive, with its polished thin gold band, large red ruby in the center surrounded by tiny crystal clear white diamonds. It was presumably an engagement ring or in the very least a gifted ring, and it had been stolen in a house robbery in Kensington, so the owner would be grateful to have it returned.

William watched as Eliza delicately wrapped the ring in some paper and then placed it in a box with other items to be returned to its owner before she moved onto the next item to be logged.

He delighted in how she took such care with each item, her fingers moving softly, folding the oil paper around it. It was so gentle and delicate that he couldn't help but wonder what her fingers would feel like sliding slowly against his skin. The tentative movements of her fingertips against his own earlier had given his imagination a taste, and he couldn't help but want more.

"Why are you staring?" Eliza asked, curiously.

She didn't look up or stop what she was doing to question him. It was only that she had noticed he had stopped writing and she could feel his eyes boring into her while she wrapped her item that she knew he was watching her instead of working.

"No reason." William lied, feeling only a little sheepish at being caught. He smiled, as she continued her actions whilst slowly raising her eyes to look up at him through her eyelashes, indicating that she in no way believed him. Could she read that his thoughts, he wondered.

"Eyes on your paperwork, not me, William," Eliza teased with a smile. She suddenly felt like she could read him like a book. The murky hazel coloured eyes that stared back were full of mischief, and whatever his reason for staring, she was almost certain that his thoughts were not innocent.

"The sooner we get these things catalogued then sooner we can leave." Eliza, half blushed, as she realised her implication would probably fuel those thoughts.

William broke into a wide grin, because if she hadn't offered to stay and help, they would have been out of there already. He cleared his throat and attempted to return his attention to his paperwork briefly, before working up the courage to question what she meant.

"And what happens when we leave?" William asked suggestively, in a low tone so as not to be overheard, even though his office door was shut.

Eliza tried her best to fight the smile that was threatening her unphased persona, because she was trying to keep her mind on their work, and not think about what could possibly happen when they left.

"Well, I guess at this late hour, it would be only right that you escort me home," she offered plainly.

Eliza noted the time on the clock behind William's desk, it was nearly seven thirty, so not late at all, and she was in no way worried about getting home by herself after dark, but after their moment earlier, she was curious for him to escort her home.

"Well, a gentleman shouldn't let you travel home alone," he returned quickly.

William's mind was wandering at record speed. Would she invite him in when they got to her house? Would there be more kissing if she did? Was she thinking like he was? Or did she simply mean that he should take her home?

Despite Eliza's words to keep his eyes on his paperwork, William couldn't resist looking up again to take in her small smile as she worked. His eyes stared hard, while he smirked, as if it would make it easier to read whatever was going on inside her mind. It amused him that she seemed determined to avoid his gaze, as she worked diligently. Was she just teasing him like she always did? He honestly hoped not.

He watched as she finished her wrapping her next item, a beautiful ornate necklace, but then she stilled her hands and loudly cleared her throat before raising her eyes once more whilst giving him a firm look to get back to the job in hand. William could only chuckle as he returned to logging his item, a sliver pocket watch, and Eliza briefly broke her resolve to grin and shake her head a little.

They remained quietly working, William with a renewed gusto to get it over and done with so they could leave, and he could find out exactly what Eliza's suggestion meant.

They were almost down to the last few items when there was firm knock at the door, and it was bustled open by PC Honeychurch, who was desperately trying push it open, walk, balance the large box in his arms and not drop its contents over the floor.

William rolled his eyes and gave a loud sigh with his nostrils, as he watched Honeychurch try to right himself.

"Sorry Duke."

Honeychurch awkwardly moved closer to William's desk and placed the heavy box down. He straightened himself, happy to be free of the cumbersome item. He noted Eliza's presence next to him with a half nod before he continued to explain the reason for his interruption.

"Davies just dropped this box of items that they recovered from Billy Watkins room. Apparently, he's been hiding stolen items in the walls and under the floorboards. There's another box as well. What should I do with them?" Honeychurch asked innocently.

William held back a groan, as he glanced over the number of items in the box. If he and Eliza were to catalogue all of them plus another box to boot, they'd be there till Midnight! No, he thought with a huff, that would not do. He'd been patient, and he'd let Eliza feel she had a mediocre of control, but he was done now.

"Well, I suggest you gather yourself a couple more men, and get them in here to organise them," William said firmly.

"Erm…" Honeychurch stuttered as he went to speak, because he in no way wanted the job, he'd only been tasked to carry the damn box and find out where Duke wanted it put!

William cheerfully flipped over his paperwork to the front page and practically thrusted it into Honeychuch's open hands before he could say anything further.

"I'm going to escort Miss Scarlet home now. The paperwork's all here and the boxes are labelled. You need to check each item, cross them off the list, label them and wrap them for safe keeping." William ordered with relief that he was getting out of there.

Eliza was doing her best to not look at Honeychurch for fear of breaking into a fit of laughter at both the look of dismay on his face, and the fact that William had used his authority because he clearly had other plans on his mind. Plans that were probably more than a little her fault.

William walked towards the door and picked up his jacket from the coat stand and put in on before, he placed his hat on his head, threw his coat over his arm and then picked-up Eliza's hat for her and held it out.

Eliza very briefly flicked her eyes half apologetically with a small smile to Honeychurch as she to flipped her list to the front page and held it out to him. He reluctantly took her paperwork from her before she picked up her bag from the floor and turned on her heel to move towards William waiting in the doorway for her. She folded her lips into her teeth and gently biting down to stop from cracking, as she politely took her hat from William's waiting hand and continued walking past him.

"Oh and Honeychurch, don't mess up the system!" William warned firmly, while poor Honeychurch's shoulders sank as he watched them leave.

As soon as they were out the door, Eliza caught William's eye and could help but let out the chuckle that had been bubbling, while they walked almost shoulder to shoulder down the corridor and out of Scotland Yard.

The carriage ride to Eliza's home, was quiet, but so full of thick heavy tension that it felt like the longest twenty minutes of William's life. He was also certain that this was the longest he had even seen Eliza sit still and calm in the whole time he'd known her. He could of course have cleared the air by offering some small talk, however, sitting opposite her with his eyes drawing over every detail of her face and neck in the faded light of the passing streetlamps seemed far more interesting.

Eliza had initially caught William's eye with a smile when they first got in, but after that, she remained firmly staring out the carriage window into the dark night. She knew looking at him and the gleeful mischievous twinkle in his eye, would undo all the resolve she had in her mind.

She'd been waging a battle with her thoughts ever since their moment in the alleyway. Could they truly do this? Make whatever it was they were doing work? Could she make this change with him and keep her independence? There was certainly only one way to find out.

The truth was, there was no going backwards now. She couldn't deny what she felt for him like she used to, William surely wouldn't believe her now even if she tried. The apprehension inside her was all too real, yet she was always proudest of herself when she faced her fears, and this was no different. Truly, the decision had already been made for her.

As they pulled up outside her house, William moved quickly, opening the carriage door and placing his hat on before he held out his hand to her to assist her with getting down, not that she needed any help. However, it allowed him a few precious seconds to hold her hand, and he let his thumb lingering over the soft skin on the back.

Eliza knew she should have put her leather gloves on, but she'd felt too warm in the close proximity of the carriage, and now William was taking full advantage of her error in judgement. For a moment, she raised her eyes at him in an attempt to chastise him, before slowly slipping her hand out of his so she could gather her skirt whilst she moved up the steps to her front door with the poise and grace of a true lady.

William held back a moment, as a gentleman should, and once she opened the front door he carefully followed up the front steps and into her house. Even though she hadn't a given him any indication she wanted him to follow, yet she also hadn't sent him away.

It was an awkward moment in the hallway as Eliza stopped to put down her bag, hang her hat and check a stray hair in the mirror, after all, William wasn't sure if he was meant to be staying. He wondered, should he purposely remove his hat and coat to decisively indicate his intention to stay or wait for Eliza to give him an offer? Then, as if on cue, Ivy appeared up the few stairs from the drawing room, cheerful as always, and giving William a moment to hesitate.

"Ah, you've finally made it," Ivy said, cheerfully addressing Eliza directly, and offering William a nod of a greeting.

"Sorry we're a little late, Inspector Wellington and I had a rather large haul of jewellery to record at Scotland Yard." Eliza spoke proudly about the work they'd been doing, hoping Ivy would share her feelings of pride and the importance of her work with William.

Ivy smiled politely and raised an eyebrow. She was still unsure about encouraging Eliza's intention to be a private detective, it was dangerous for anyone but more so for a lady like Eliza. Yet, she also knew that it was pointless to object. Ivy was, and always would be proud, regardless of what she thought of it.

"Well, I've already set the table in the dinning room for you both, so I'll just go and warm the stew, it shouldn't take too long."

"Thank you, Ivy," Eliza offered sincerely, with a smile.

William watched the two women with curiosity, because it seemed rather like Ivy had been expecting him to join Eliza for dinner, which was news to him. He hid his surprise at the suggestion well, as he finally removed his hat and over coat, and with a nod to Ivy, followed Eliza down the few steps towards the drawing room.

He wished he could see her face to gauge her reaction, but Eliza seemed intent to keep her back to him as she walked into the middle of her drawing room, and he closed the door behind them. For a second, he wondered how Ivy knew he would be staying for dinner, and could only assume that Eliza had told her in the note she had sent advising she would be late, which meant she had made this decision before their moment in the alleyway.

"You assumed I would stay for dinner?" William finally asked confidently as he stopped near the first settee. The thought thrilled him, that she had done this without any prompt from him.

Eliza sniggered at his familiar choice of words. Neither of them had eaten, so it was a reasonably safe assumption that he too would be hungry, so when she sent her note to Ivy advising she would be late for dinner, she also included that William would be returning for dinner with her.

"Perhaps your eternal optimism is rubbing off on me," Eliza replied with a smile, whilst keeping her back to him. She heard him laugh and she rolled her eyes.

Ivy had already lit the fire, though Eliza felt more than warm enough without it. She stared at the dancing flames, while she could feel William's eyes on her back. Without a word, she heard him remove his jacket, and out of the corner of her eye she saw him placed it over the arm of the settee before he started to move.

Goosebumps covered her arms underneath her jacket and shirt as she felt him edge slowly towards her. She closed her eyes and let out a slow breath as he finally reached her. She waited with bated breath as he stopped behind her, leaving a small gap between them. Willing him to touch her was a new feeling, and she felt herself balancing on the edge of falling backwards against him.

William took a moment since he was still trying to gauge her and what she wanted. Whilst he was gaining confidence in being able to persuade her round to his way of thinking, he wanted, needed even, to see her choose him. After all her back and forth during the day, what he needed most in this moment was to know that this was really what she wanted rather than him pushing it.

So, he reached his hands out and gradually felt for her waist, resting them momentarily against her hips, but kept a gap between their bodies. He was sorely tempted to step forward and wrap his arms around her completely and place a kiss against her neck, but he kept his restraint and waited for Eliza to make the next move. If she wanted it, she'd have to come to him.

Eliza opened her eyes when she realised William wasn't moving, and she took a deep breath in. Steadily she turned around to face him, closing the small gap he'd left between them as she gently pressed herself against his chest. She took in his soft eyes and his gentle but serious smile half hidden by his beard. He was waiting for something, she could tell. Was he waiting for her?

She held his gaze while she gradually raised her hands and gingerly ran them up his arms, feeling for the first time, the toned firm muscles hidden underneath his crisp white shirt that she'd admired earlier in the day. It was clear that William always took care of his body, but she'd almost always purposely turned away from those thoughts. It would take a little time for her to feel comfortable in this situation of letting herself feel it. Hesitantly, she kept moving her hand slowly up round his broad shoulders until she rested them against his neck, while she ran a finger along that short tuft of hair.

William's eyes deepened in colour as he fixed on her gingerly letting her hands explore a little. It was slightly inappropriate, but it felt so right to him, so he said nothing. Instead, he finally moved his hands from her hips firmly around her body to rest against her lower back, but he made no move to kiss her or draw her in like he'd done before. He just stared and sighed and waited, trying to read her thoughts. Why was she so hard to understand, he wondered.

Eliza was lost in the feeling of being pulled in two directions. She didn't need a man in this way. She didn't want a man to look after her, she could look after herself. She had never had a reason to require anyone to wrap his arms around her, to protect her or hold her in this way. She certainly wasn't some floozy inviting any man into her house either.

But…. Here she was. Standing in the middle of her drawing room, wrapped gently in William's embrace, and it felt both safe and immensely scary… Because she wanted it. She wanted him.

She could feel that warm spark of excitement in her stomach jump, and now, she was learning to not be afraid of it. She wanted to follow where it was leading instead of her normal reaction to quash it or run away. Here they were their eyes locked, swaying ever so slightly, because they just couldn't stop moving or stand completely still, with the only sound being a gentle crack of the fire and their shallow breath. It was possibly the first time they wanted the other to make the final move.

Finally, with an unspoken mutual agreement, they both moved to close the gap between their lips, as their eyes fluttered closed, and their mouths joined in what was becoming a familiar leisurely push and pull, between kissing and being kissed.

All the tension of the day dispersed as they relaxed into each other as they enjoyed finally being able to be close. Eliza didn't even offer any resistance as William stroked his tongue against her lips then rhythmically over her tongue. While they swayed gently as if in a dance, they pulled themselves tightly against the other.

Eliza moved a hand from his neck to lightly tangle with the soft hair on the back of his neck, as she grew into their deeper kisses. A gentle contented hum escaped her throat, and William smiled into their kisses, because it was music to his ears.

William shuffled his feet, while he pressed his hands into her back firmly, knowing he could certainly get used to this feeling with Eliza. Relief flooded his body that for once he didn't have to talk her into this, so much so that had she offered him a drink, he might have wondered if she'd managed to slip him some laudanum in it. He wasn't in a hurry to move things along further, in fact he felt rather content with the simple feeling of just been able to kiss her.

Any nervousness Eliza had slipped away as they reacquainted themselves with each other's mouths, and she began to relish the feeling in her stomach, allowing it to grow a little, like waves crashing against a shoreline. She was learning how to breath whilst William covered her mouth with his, and just appreciate being in the moment with him.

Far too soon they slowed their kisses, and William gently pulled backed. He wanted to see her, look at her, take in the sparkle in her eyes that he knew was being reflected in his own, and the pink flush in her cheeks. He knew confident, take no prisoners Eliza, but here before him, there was a shyness about her that he wasn't used to seeing. He almost wanted to ask her to pinch him, just so he knew he hadn't fallen asleep at his desk.

William continued to sway them as Eliza regained her breath and finally made peace with her choice. She moved her hand out of his hair and building in confidence she flattened the palms of her hands over his shoulders, as she rubbed slowly up and down.

"So…" Eliza started seriously, but she wasn't sure how to say what she wanted to say.

"So…" William repeated, with a smile but also surprised by her tone.

"Here's the deal… I'm not your tart, or your mistress, or your … lady friend… I'm Eliza Scarlet… I'm a private detective… That's who I am, and it's not going to change…"

William said nothing, as Eliza seemed to hold herself seriously whilst dropping her hand and stroking his chest, as he tried to keep up with her thought process.

"I don't… do this… I'm not even sure I know how to do this. So, I'm not suddenly going to become the little woman who's waiting around for you to call or falling at your feet… And don't even think about coming here just because… you're in some mood to get something from me…" She continued a little uncomfortably trying to find the right words to convey her thoughts.

William wanted to laugh because he couldn't imagine Eliza suddenly turning into a quiet demur lady. He'd met a few of those, and whilst they held his attention for a moment, it was Eliza and who she was that truly captured his interest. He also hoped that she knew he was interested in more from her then just to be someone to have as a bit on the side.

"And if you think I'm going to stop disagreeing with you on everything then you're mistaken…"

She was babbling now, she knew it, could hear it in her voice, but for some reason she couldn't stop the rush of words from tumbling nervously out of her mouth. She wouldn't change who she was, not for anyone, so could he accept that?

"I have my own thoughts and opinions and things I want to achieve, and they won't always align with yours… and I won't apologise for that."

William was just holding her, staring at her, waiting for her to stop, and his expression was giving her no idea if her words were even registering to him, but equally she needed him to hear her words, and perhaps even read between them.

She was scared. Scared that they would get this wrong, that this change could ruin things, that she would never measure up to what he wanted, what she believed he deserved, and equally that he would possibly never accept that she what she really wanted from her life.

"I don't listen, and I'm going to frustrate you just as much as you frustrate me, and we will fight and we will argue, but… I… I…" Eliza stumbled, trying desperately to find the right words, but for once failing miserably.

"I know who you are," William finally offered. He was trying his best to reassure her despite having little idea of her fear.

"I need you," Eliza finally admitted, sounding more unsure than she'd even been in her life. "And I think you need me too…"

William quietly nodded his agreement. It was the first time he'd heard her say out loud she needed anything and it sounded almost close to a certain other three worded sentence. His smile widened, because hearing those words from her, he hadn't realised just how much he wanted and needed her to say it, even if he himself couldn't quite say the same out loud, he was a man after all.

"I'm not planning on going anywhere," William finally offered sincerely.

He moved an arm from around her waist and touched her cheek, rubbing it with his thumb rhythmically, and soothingly. Eliza closed her eyes as she leaned into his touch in a way she'd never let herself do before.

"We can do this right?" Eliza asked hesitantly after a moment. She opened her eyes, hoping to hear his agreement.

"Yes, we can," William replied firmly.

It was for his benefit as well as hers and he truly believed it deep down. It would be work, and they wouldn't always get it right, but if they were willing to try, then it was going to be possible. Perhaps, they could start to fight for each other, rather than against each other.

Without any hesitation, William leaned in and kissed her confidently once more, even though it was likely that Ivy would be nearly done with dinner and they couldn't be caught like this. Yet, after waiting all day to get near her he wasn't ready to let her go and fortunately, Eliza didn't seem in a hurry to move away either. So, there they remained, slowly gently just being them, locked in the moment.

Finally, whilst still kissing, William edged them closer to the settee so they could sit down. He chose the one nearest the door, so should Ivy quickly walk in they would have a few extra seconds to make things look more innocent than they really were.

He reluctantly released her lips but intertwined their fingers as they made themselves comfortable on the settee before they resumed their slow light kisses and lingering touches against their faces and the little soft skin they could find.

It was funny, William realised, how quickly Eliza seemed to accept his touch, when before she'd always freeze or recoil whenever he attempted to rest a hand against her. He could certainly get used to this newfound acceptance from her.

Eliza slowed their kisses and happily sat back, having come to terms with the inevitable as she stared at William. He had that happy mischievous smirk on his face, and she wasn't sure she'd ever seen him looking so pleased with himself. She wondered briefly if her resistance over the years was futile and maybe this was always destined to happen. Perhaps her father had planned it all along.

She didn't have much time to ponder though, as after a moment there was a firm knock on the drawing room door and a few seconds later Ivy opened it to she enter and announce dinner was ready in the dinning room.

William was rather happy his back was to Ivy because he was fairly sure their previous interactions were written all over his body. Yet, he watched Eliza calm and poised as always while she offered Ivy her thanks before she stood up. She was certainly an amazing woman, and just maybe she was finally his.

"Come along William," Eliza teased with a smile. "It's been a while since you had a decent meal in this house."

For once, William wasn't about to disagree.