In Isn't Love Grand I was bothered by how out of character my Sweeney was, so I tried to make him more in character in this story (i.e. really angry).
She found him on the balcony. He was trying to push the fragmented mirror back into the shop. "Hold the door open for me," he demanded.
Mrs. Lovett nodded and did as she was told. She held open the door to the barbershop and moved so that he could push the mirror inside of it. When he was satisfied with its placement, he turned to look at her.
His eyes widened when he spotted the necklace.
He moved swiftly, his hand reaching out to snatch the bauble off of her chest. She could tell he was angry, but wasn't sure of why.
She quivered at the notion that his hand was so close to her breasts.
He held the bauble deftly, turning it over and over in his hands. Anger and sadness twisted his expression.
"This…where did you get this?" He asked, his voice controlled. But she knew that he was seething inside.
She swallowed. He saw her do it, and it only enraged him further. "Where did you get this?!" He snarled, anger warping his voice so that it was almost inhuman.
"I found it," she whispered. She was frightened, that had to be said. "I found it when I was cleaning the shop."
He stared at her, incredulity blooming in his eyes. He didn't believe her. She could tell.
"Found it where?" He whispered, his voice deadly. Mrs. Lovett pointed towards the corner of the room near where the desk usually was. He followed her fingers and, almost immediately, turned back to stare into her eyes. "You're lying," he hissed.
Mrs. Lovett shook her head. "No," she whispered. "No, no, I'm not lying."
His fist tightened around the bauble of the necklace and she squeaked in protest. He yanked her closer to him. "You're lying."
"I'm not!" She protested. "I was cleaning when I saw it in the corner. I washed I and polished it and put it on right before you came home."
She willed his eyes to look deeply into hers and see that she was telling the truth. As the thought crossed her mind he stared into her eyes.
"This…take it off right now." His voice was slightly calmer than it had been, but she could tell he was still angry. She slid the necklace off over her head and placed it into his outstretched hand.
He turned away from her and stroked the bauble absently.
"Er…Mr. T?" Mrs. Lovett knew that she was being stupid—he would either become upset with her again or he would ignore her. Neither option was a good one, but she couldn't help being curious.
"Yes?" He responded coldly.
Mrs. Lovett swallowed. "What is that?"