The Visitor

A smile crept across her lips once more, she couldn't help but grin; remembering that day just a short time ago, when the unnamed Romeo gave her that kiss on the cheek, just a small peck, but it felt like so much more. Baking pies seemed to have a new light, and was becoming enjoyable now that she had something on more of a cheerful level to reminisce upon. Normally she would be obsessing over Mr. Todd, wondering if she could ever even get him to look at her like that man did.

"Having an enjoyable morning as always?" A stiff voice infiltrated the silent air.

Mrs. Lovett jumped a little as she was shoved back into reality by the voice, and she then pushed an auburn curl out of her eyes.

"Oh, Mr. Todd it's only you" She said quite blissfully and continued on rolling dough. "You gave me such a fright!" She paused for a moment then picked up a large ladle and started to walk over to him; hand on hip "Is there something you needed, love?" She said, pointing the ladle at his shirt collar. "Or are you just down here to see me?" She chuckled, of course he wasn't.

"Actually no" He said bluntly, looking slightly appalled. "I just felt obliged to remind you that the Beadle, or someone from there, was planning a visit today, so just look..." He paused for a moment. "…J…just look like yourself" and with that he turned on his heel and walked back upstairs without waiting for her reply.

Mrs. Lovett, not quite comprehending his comment, called after him: "What exactly do you mean by that, love?" But he didn't respond. "Ho, hum…" She shrugged her shoulders and sighed. The shop would definitely need some tidying up if the law enforcement was to visit, just more chores added to her workload. She hummed the minutes by, only pausing to look up when Toby entered the room with an empty food tray and some dishes.

"Here are Mr. Todd's dishes, mum" He said absentmindedly and seated himself at one of the booths near the window.

"Thank-ye dearie" She said, taking the tray from his little hands. "I'm quite surprised he ate his food I gave him" She muttered quietly to herself. "He never eats…"

Just then the bell atop of the door dinged and a man walked gracefully into the shop, carefully closing the door behind him.

He bowed as he took off the bowler hat from his curly, blonde locks and kindly placed it on the coat rack near the doorway, along with his fine mantle.

As he looked up with that charming smile on his lips, Mrs. Lovett instantly knew who he was.

"Good morning Miss, you're looking as beautiful as always" He walked over to her, grasped her hand from her side and gently kissed it with his velvet lips. Mrs. Lovett felt her face grow hot, as she turned away from him to hide her embarrassment. "Ah, and who might this fine young lad be?" He nodded in Toby's direction. "I saw you the other night, helping your good mother with the shop, what I fine help you are" Mrs. Lovett took the opportunity to brush all the flour off her dress, quickly pull her hair up nicer, and to straighten out her apron before he looked back at her.

Toby's face simply beamed at the man's compliment. "My name's Tobias, but you can call me Toby, sir" He said while extending his hand towards his, and shaking it eagerly. "I'm not really her son though, you see, but she says I can call her mum, and I believe the good Lord sent her to me, because she is like a mum, and I do love her so"

Mrs. Lovett felt her face grow hot once more, but she brushed it off "There, there Toby, you've been a blessing to me as well, you know" He grinned again.

"Well" said the man smiling casually. "I've brought you something, Mrs. Lovett" he took out a bouquet of daisies and gillyflowers from inside his vest and handed them to her.

"Oh, thank you so much sir" She replied, astonishingly. "But, how did you know these are my favourite flowers?" She asked with a quizzical expression on her face.

"Oh, let's just say…we must have the same tastes" He chuckled. "But you do like them, don't you"

"Oh, yes, I do" She quickly added. "They'll really brighten up the room" She frowned for a moment then decided she better ask him why he was here in the first place, because nobody just came for a visit. "Sir…" she started then she was cut off by the kindly man who added "oh… Call me William, William Huntley's my name, and you can most definitely call me by that as you like"

She paused and looked at him more intently. He didn't seem like a William to her, but she couldn't figure out why not. William must have noticed her gawking because he then asked "So what was it you were saying earlier?"

"Oh, n…nothing William, nothing at all, now would you like one of Mrs. Lovett's famous meat pies?" She motioned him over to one of the booths and sat him down in the cushioned seat.

"You already know my weakness" He nervously chuckled "How could I refuse such a delicacy?"

While she was grabbing a freshly made pie from the counter top, she heard some hurried footsteps from above, and sensing danger, she called Toby to her. She whispered in the boy's ear "Go upstairs to Mr. T, and see wot he's up to if ye can" She pushed him gently on his way, then turned her attention back to William, who she noticed was starting intently at the stairwell to which Toby had just trotted up seconds ago. "Now, what kind of pie would you like, William?" she asked him

"Oh, just beef will do" He said, almost sounding exasperated, then quickly adding "But I'm sure anything you make will taste wonderful"

"Oh, you are too kind" She said placing a meat pie onto the plate, pouring some ale into a glass, and bringing it over to him.

As she watched him consume the pie, she suddenly noticed the way his lips curved when he chewed the meat, the way his hand was nervously twitching on his left knee, and the way not a single hair on his head was out of place. He was so perfect, so charming, and just being near him made her feel like she was loved, noticed, and appreciated.

'You know, Mrs. Lovett, these pies are simply astounding!" His eyes sparkled like the sea. "What is your secret?" He stopped chewing and looked upon her. "Is it a family secret?" He got up and started walking over to her "Or does it have to do with… herbs?" He stopped directly in front of her face.

Mrs. Lovett didn't answer him instantly. She was drawn to him, his beautiful, swimming eyes, curly, yellow hair, dazzling cheeky smile, and his unconditional charm was pulling her helplessly in towards him.

"You know, if I can call you William, then you can call me Nellie if you'd like" She said softly, right into his ear.

"Is that so, well then Nellie, since you appear to be at ease around me already, I was going to save this till later, but I might as well ask you now" He paused, took a step back from her, licked his luscious lips, then continued "would you like to join me for dinner tonight?" he looked at her hopefully, his blue eyes swimming with passion and love.

How could she say no to that! "Yes, of course, William" she chuckled as she said his name

"Excellent! So it's all set then I'll pick you up at the seventh hour, with my coach." He was still gazing at her expectantly "And I do hope you will be ready and waiting for me" His lips curved into a smile as he backed towards the door, grabbed his hat and cloak, gripped the doorknob and turned it.