Two months later…
"Ah, Mrs Hudson, do you wish me to help you with that?"
Her weary face seemed to visibly brighten,"bless-ya lass, just hold fast to the door, it does scare me terrible that Mister Holmes will come a bursting out and flatten me to the wallpaper, like what occurred before." She allowed me a moment to indulge in guilt before she continued, "he asked for this only a wee time ago, an now he's a yelling like a banshee that it hasna arrived."
"You take no notice, it will be just one of his moods. Mind-you, if he is all energy I jolly-well hope it means another case. About time too, Holmes has been lying about the place for days." I gave her a sympathetic smile, "no doubt the sudden need to move has taken the blood straight to his head and he will soon calm down."
"Aye, a telegram went up there ten minutes or so ago. Delivered by a right smart bobby and askin after your health he was, a bit too interested if you ask me. Take heed, consorting with them types in uniform is worse than consorting with him upstairs…I hope your wise ta both-"
"Mrs Hudson, Mrs Hudson, my tea please, NOW"
She gave a long-suffering look upwards, "the devil it is when he's a shifting and noo a peep wen idle." She shook her head vigorously, "for certain lass, tha storm blows both ways with that one."
"Cease worrying and leave him to me. I will personally take the tea up, besides he must learn to stop shouting at you." I took a large slice of ginger cake from the plate on the tray, "mumm-yummy, that tastes delicious. Oh, I have some good news, I have found a decent room at last. I went to check on Mrs Nuggins' new baby; he's such a little dear one would never suspect all the fuss I had when he was born. Anyway, she told me that her eldest Ivy is going into service and that would leave a nice clean room free to rent. It even has a little cupboard that her husband will convert into a small seating area just for me. Of course, she lives right here on Baker Street, so even Mr Holmes need not object to that. What jolly good news eh?"
Her face went quite white, "lord-bless-us-noo, that'll nae do at all." She would have dropped the tray had I not just quickly taken it, she then collapsed onto the stairs and sat shaking her head vigorously, her hand grasping at mine. "Ya mustna go miss, you must stay, promise me, swear it!"
"MRS HUDSON!" We both looked upwards as the door was nearly removed from its hinges and a mop of black hair appeared over the banister. "Can a fellow not sit in his own lodgings without dying of dehydration? Ah Watson is that you? What luck, now be a dear and go get the evening papers, all the usual ones, oh and a pound of my tobacco too." He fished out a coin from his pocket and threw it downwards; it travelled with perhaps a little more momentum than he intended and probably would have taken my eye out had I not ducked in time. Mrs Hudson cowered and then cried out loudly as it hit the coloured glass picture above the hall door with a distinct crack. "Well quick to it both of you and I'll need your medical knowledge for this one Watson, so be swift back. Oh and clear your schedule for this evening, we are going out, the game is afoot old-girl, the game is afoot!" Then as he pulled the door again behind himself, a piece of the cracked glass fell, smashing on the hall tiling below. The sound of London outside became distinctly louder.
Mrs Hudson's small trembling hand tightened its grasp on mine, "deary-me, wot shall I doo" she cried imploringly, "with you all flown an bedlam in the nest?" She took a handkerchief from her apron pocket and whipped her brow, "please have some pity lass, ya kanna leave me with him alone, I'll noo survive!"
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…. About time I made an effort and updated 'The Escapades'… shame on me!