Prompt: St. Paul's Cathedral

From: Domina Temporis

…

"It's quite an impressive collection of artworks this cathedral holds, Mr. Holmes." The Woman mused, her eyes turning from the William Blake to meet my own.

"Indeed," I rumbled, amused. "I am quite glad that I got to see such a treasure of London before I died."

"Quite sardonic, aren't we?" She asked.

"Oh, Watson could tell you about it," I replied. Indeed, he would be quite horrified at recounting the tales of my near death.

The Woman laughed. "I've read the stories… including the one of our first meeting." She winked at me, clearly enjoying this a tad too much.

I winced. "Must you, my good lady?"

"Do you see me as a good lady, Mr. Holmes?" She asked me, amused, her eyes twinkling with what I could only describe as mirth. "Or are you just being polite?"

I grunted in the affirmative, and she laughed again. "Oh, my dear, you do amuse me! As fond as I am of Godfrey, I feel a relationship with you would be most exciting."

I reminded her we were merely catalysts; both of the other's intellect, and, potentially, of the other's destruction, and that, if we ever saw anything more in each other than mutual respect, we would both run each other to the ground, and eventually burn out. All that remained was who would burn out first.

"I'm certain you would, Mr. Holmes." She winked coyly at me.

"I doubt it," I replied. "I'm certain you'd wither before I caved to any of your advances, so there." I retorted, and I immediately felt my face warm when I realized how childish and petulant that sounded. Hardly an image I wanted to strike for The Woman!

"You speak as though you triumph some childish argument." She informed me, lips twitching with curiosity. "Do you have any siblings perchance, Mr. Holmes?"

I glared at her, unwilling to say anything more.

"I wish them no harm; I merely see you are very competitive. For a man with siblings, this would be normal, if mundane." She informed me, and I bristled, not wanting her to know about Brother Mycroft. And yet, lying to The Woman would be as pointless to me as a world without Watson, so, I admitted a margin of the truth:

"I hardly see why this would be mundane… especially if I was to let slip that my brother is smarter than even I. And I only trust you as you have no reason to use that against me. But be warned, the moment you do, you will either be dead, or in some other incapacitated position."

"Hm, must be important. But important to whom? You, most certainly, so he must be an older brother, judging by your remarks on his intelligence being greater than your own. And whilst it would not surprise me if he held some important, secret role in society, I have a question to ask: are you letting your heart get the better of you, Mr. Holmes?" she questioned.

"I suppose," I relented. "My brother and I may not always get along, but he means a lot to me, Mrs. Norton, almost as much as Watson does."

"Do not worry, I have as much wish to hurt your brother as I do my husband." She replied dismissively. "I know better than to cross you, Mr. Holmes."

"And I likewise." I replied, matter-of-factly.

…

Any word on when your good doctor in shining armour will rescue us?" The Woman asked.

"No." I replied. "I could make calculations, though I hardly see why it matters."

"We could perceive it as the moment we get away from each other," She winked at me, and I started stammering, which she proceeded to chuckle at.

"You do infuriate me!" I fumed, sitting down on the floor with a scowl. She joined me, a sympathetic look on her face.

"Look, I had no idea the police would chase us here."

"Nor I. I'll need to give Lestrade a piece of my mind when I see him, if Watson hasn't beaten me to it already."

"Shall we play a game, while we wait?" She asked, and I stiffen.

"Relax, I merely mean a game of wits." The Woman said, a teasing smile on her face. "Or did you think I was going to scandalize you?"

"One never knows with you!" I retorted, and she laughed again.

"No, no, I merely wish to attempt a few rounds of Deductions, see how many secrets we can uncover about the other before your friend comes." The Woman replied, reaching into her pocket to pull out a sovereign, and placed it to the side. An unspoken bet, a challenge proclaimed in silence.

I did the same, before we settled down to begin.