For anyone who reads reviews: Please ignore the one in Spanish. It's from Kiki and, if you read any of her stories, you know she's on some mad crack.

Enjoy! I hope…

Chapter 2: The Beginning

Days passed into a week, which slipped into several. I passed almost invisible through the house. Until, three and a half weeks following the day of my employment, I found another occasion to demonstrate my mental powers to Mr. Holmes.

I was bringing the tea up to Dr. Watson. I had just set it down on the table when a disreputable dockworker burst through the door. Watson leap to his feet. "My good sir, how dare you…"

While he raved, I poured a cup of tea and brought it to the man. "Kessie, what on earth are you doing?" Dr. Watson asked, aghast.

I just smiled at him and offered the man the cup of tea. "Would you care for a cup of tea, Mr. Holmes?"

Surprise flittered across his face, quickly, but disappeared in an instant. Dr. Watson just stared at me as though I had taken leave of my sense. Finally, after along moment, Holmes started to laugh, and continued to laugh until Watson cleared his throat. I hand Holmes the clean rag I always wore tucked into my apron and he wiped his face clean of makeup and grime. Watson gasped and I suppressed a grin.

"Excellent observation, Kessandra. How did you know?" Holmes asked, ruefully.

"Well, sir, you might want to check your belt and socks next time you use that particular disguise. The belt is slightly out date for a dockworker and a little bit too well made. I know an excellent place to get a replacement if you would like me to. And your socks are pure white." I smiled.

He looked down at his socks. "Yes," he said slowly. "A dockworker would not have white socks any more then a white shirt. Excellent. And yes, I would love for you to get a replacement for this belt." He dug into his pocket and handed me some old-looking bills. "You may keep whatever is left over, as thank you."

"Thank you, sir."

"Is it early enough for you to go today? I will be needing it for tomorrow."

I glanced at the clock on the mantle. "Yes, sir. It won't take more then an hour."

He looked at me for a moment, thoughtfully. "Do you think your accent is quite appropreaite for the district you will no doubt be entering?"

"Wah'ca be talkin' 'bout, governa?" I said in my thickest Cockney accent.

Holmes raised an eyebrow. "That's quite good, but not perfect. The v if more of an f."

I dipped a curtsey and said. "T'weren't be mor'en 'our" I left the room, Holmes looking thoughtfully after me and Watson looking bewildered.

When I returned, the two gentlemen had gone. I left the belt on Holmes' favorite armchair with a note saying how much it cost and the name of the shop and the man who sold it to me. The thought of the incident made me smile for the next few days.

Then, about four days following the little episode, early in the morning, I went into the study to dust only to find Holmes alone, sitting in his armchair, working on what appeared to be a math problem. I went about my work, but kept an eye on him. I noticed he seemed to be having some difficulty with it. I came up behind his chair and, looking over his shoulder, smiled and said, "82"

His head snapped up and he whipped around. "What did you say?" he asked sharply.

I made my face looked shy and uncertain. "The problem, sir. You looked like you were having a bit of trouble with it; I thought I might help. The answer is 82."

He turned and glared at the piece of paper in his hand, no doubt to the problem backward, furiously in his mind. "By God, It is 82. I've been working on this all day and you didn't look at it for more then a minute…" He trailed off, then looked up and me. "Sit." He commanded.

I sat across from him, on the edge of my chair, my entire body radiating nervousness.

He snorted. "Oh, come now, Kessandra. You may dispense with the act. You are no more frightened of me then I am of you."

I smiled and sat back in my chair. "I am glad you said that, because if you had believed it, I should be very disappointed in you, Mr. Holmes."

He raised his eyebrow and smiled slightly. "Now, down to business. Kessandra, you have already proven that you are very intelligent, far to intelligent, in fact, for your current station. What else are you capable of?"

"Education wise? I can read and write in English, French, Spanish, and Latin. I am fluent in all four of those and I am passable in Polish, Portuguese, and Italian. I know a little bit of Chinese. I used to own a chemistry set quite similar to you own, varying slightly in the chemicals it carried; they tended to lean more toward the poisonous. I have base-work knowledge of physics and I have a talent for Biology. In mathematics, Algebra is my specialty, but I am passable in geometry. I have never had a chance to study calculus. I have a workable knowledge of the classics of literature. In history, I specialize in the Tutor period, especially Henry VIII and Elizabeth. Is there anything I left out? Oh, I also have quite a talent for disguise."

"Well, well, that is impressive. How are your accents though?"

"I can do Indian, Chinese, Arabian, Spanish, French, Belgian, Southern America, New York America, and New England America, as well as Cockney, Irish, Welsh, Scottish (but not very well), and several other British dialects."

"Amazing." He then requested that I do each of the accents for him. He approved of most but thought a few needed work and the Scottish accent was hopeless, which I totally agree.

Finally, he stood and motioned me to do the same. "Let us test your knowledge of chemistry, shall we?" I followed him over to his table in the corner and waited while he chose several substances. He handed on to me wordlessly and I wafted it. "Sulfur." He handed me a new one. "Ammonia." A third. "Hydrochloric acid."

"Good." He smiled. "Now, I have one last question. Why did the Duchess disown you?"

I suppose I should have been surprised, but I wasn't. I smiled bitterly. "A misunderstanding. It was in the papers of course and it's on everyone's tongue that I am an awful slut, and a harlot. Of course, the rubbish that is in the paper is why my mother disown me, but that doesn't make it true."

His eyes narrowed. "If I recalled correctly, the daughter of the Duchess of Berwick spent an unchaperoned week at the country manor of Earl Theodore…I don't remember the rest of his title."

"That's alright. No one does. I don't' even remember the rest of his title and he was a good friend of mine at one time. Teddy was always a bit of an ass, but he showed his true colors that day. I had spent the week with my friend Emily at her manor. When mother wouldn't listen, she disowned me and threw me out of the house, I sent a telegraph to Teddy asking for help, and telling him what happened. He never responded, although I have it from a good source that he received the telegram."

"I see." He thought for a moment. "Who knows you're here?"

"No one, actually, no one but you. Including Mrs. Hudson. I told her my last name was Smelting, rather then the more recognizable Masterson."

"Good." He sat as if torn by indecision. "Do you like deduction?"

"Yes, very much. It used to be a dream of mine to become a great detective like you, but…well."

"Would you still?"

"What? Like to be a detective? Of course, but it's not likely to happen."

"Would you care to become my apprentice, as it were? Of course, you'd have to be apprenticed to Watson, too. And I think you should probably say you're related to one of us."

I sat completely still. This is what I'd been hoping for since…well, since I started reading Watson's stories in the Strand. "Uncle John sounds better then Uncle Sherlock, don't you think? Do you think he'd mind?"

"No. I don't and yes, that is more appropriate. You have similar coloring." Holmes cocked his head. "And speak of the devil, here he is now. Explain it to him and have him get you some more appropriate clothing. I have some business I must attend to." He stood and swept out of the room.

He must have swept past Watson on the stairs, because that man walked in looking bewildered. "Dr. Watson, Please have some tea and come sit down. Mr. Holmes wished me to explain something to you." I gave him a cup of tea and explained what was to happen. "So I will be apprenticed to the both of you. Also, he told me to have you get me some more appropriate clothing but I have a better idea. Oh, and I am supposed to call you Uncle John, now."

I stood and laying my apron and cap on my chair left the room, Watson trailing dazedly after me. The carriage was called and we climbed in. On the way, I explained to him what I had in mind. He agreed that it might work.

We arrived at my house in a very few minutes. I led the way. When the door was opened, I beamed, "Jerkins! How good to see you again. Tell Mary to meet me up in my room in a half-an-hour, All right? Thanks!"

I pushed passed him and, as I did, he informed me that my mother was in the sitting room. I burst into said room, saying, "All right, Mother, now this…" I stuttered to a stop to find Teddy sitting across from her. I froze. "How dare you!" I shrieked at him. He looked quite frightened. "Out, Teddy! Now. I want you out of this house and I never want to see you here again. If I ever find you here again, I shall throw you bodily out of the house myself."

He stood. "But, Kessie, I wanted…"

"I don't care what you bloody want. I wanted you to help me almost a month ago when my mother wrongly believed that I had been staying with you, but did I get it? No. We don't always get what we want!"

"But, Kessie, you were staying with me, that's why I…"

I could feel my whole body go rigid. He stopped talking. My eyes, I noted, were narrowed and my nostrils were flaring. He saw the danger signs, but failed, I think, to comprehend what they foreshadowed. I doubt he'd ever heard such language from a Lady of Quality before. "You lying, two-faced, Bastard! If I ever hear you spew such horse shit again, I will personally fucking kill you! How dare you slander me like that! You whoreson! You…You, Lying Bastard!" I walked slowly toward him as I spoke. When I had finished, I slapped him very hard across the face. I turned him around, picked him up by the collar and waistband, and walked him to the front door. Jerkins opened it for me, smiling. I threw him out onto the front step, saying, "If you ever so much as step on foot in this house again, or come with 20 yards of me, I won't be responsible for the injuries I inflict upon you." I promptly slammed the door in his face.

Going back into the sitting room, I was met by two astonished faces. My mother sat looking horrified and Watson, still, just looked confused. I introduced them to each other, and explained what was going on. My mother sat in stunned silence. Finally, a long moment after I had finished, she said, "Kessandra, Is it…proper that you should be living with these two men?"

"Mother, I have been living there as a maid for the last three and a half weeks. Why should be improper now? I am to be apprenticed to both doctor and detective. I will have my own room and I thought maybe I could bring Mary with me? She could fill the place I'd be leaving open."

"That seems proper enough…I can see nothing wrong with it, except of course that you are learning a trade, but I learned a long time ago that you weren't going to conform to society and just sit around. I give you my full permission. You may go up and have Mary pack whatever you think you need and you are always welcome here. I-"

"Mother?"

"Yes?"

"If you were going to say what I think you were going to say, please don't. If you are going to…re-own? Un-disown? Whatever…me, don't tell anyone. It might work to my advantage, if I weren't seen as the daughter of a Duchess."

She looked taken aback. "All right, dear. Whatever you wish."

I knew I was dismissed, so I excused myself to go and pack my things, with Mary's help. I walked quietly upstairs, my face a mask, but inside I was ecstatic.