Hello all my lovely readers! I come bearing chapter 13! sorry it took so long i was on holiday. I really hope you enjoy it, and as I've left it on a cliffhanger (was the only place to stop it as the next chapter will have a lot of action and an intricate story part!) I'd like to thank all my readers, everyone who subscribed to this story and I'd like to put a special shout out there for Laurafxox, poisedrose, TinkerbellxO and SPEEDIE22 for reviewing the last chapter! really means a lot to me to know what you think! please enjoy! and let me know your thoughts!
Bonnie raised one of her eyebrows curiously as she stood outside the living room, her ear pressed against the wooden panel, the deep rumble of masculine voices emanated through the wood. "Ah, Miss Watson, would you care for tea? It's only Mr Holmes up yet I'm afraid." Mrs Hudson asked bustling past her, the usual silver tray of tea things balanced in the crook of one arm, and pushing the door open. With a small chuckle, she followed the land lady, and sat at one of the ornate dining chairs beside the big bay window, it took a few seconds for her to notice the other occupants of the room, her eyes widening even further in surprise as her gaze settled on the small group of street urchins who were all openly staring at her as if they'd never seen a woman before in their lives. "Uh, Good Morning." She breathed, a rosy pink blush flooding up her neck and cheeks under their critical stares. Holmes smirked over at her from behind the line of nervous boys, and languidly rose from his seat, joining her beside the window. "Miss Watson, may I introduce you to the Baker Street Irregulars. The most efficient police force in the whole of London." A small red haired boy with large dimples stepped forward out of the line, taking her dainty hand in his grubby one, and placing a kiss on the elegant extremity. "Wiggins, milady." Bonnie giggled and pulled her hand back to her body, "Hello, its lovely to meet you." Holmes exhaled sharply, lighting his pipe and throwing the burnt out match through an open window panel and into the busy streets below. "Did you deliver those letters?" the great detective asked, nonchalantly examining his fingernails in the light streaming in through the window. "Of course Mr 'Olmes. Jus as you arsked ..." Holmes nodded and fumbled in his pockets, retrieving a handful of shillings, which he placed carefully into the hands of the eager boys who quickly stuffed the money into their raggedy pockets and hurriedly left winking cheekily at Bonnie as they scurried out of the door. "Well, that was … unusual." She giggled, thinking of a suitable word to describe the unusual events of the morning, "Yes, well … the irregulars are on the rough side, but they get far more impressive results than the pathetic excuse for police that are Lestrade's boys." Bonnie nodded and sipped her tea, "I'd imagine children are far better at finding out things through the city as they are easily ignored and can go unnoticed in London's ever bustling throng." Holmes raised his eyebrows appreciatively, sipping at his own tea cup, "Indeed, it is refreshing to have someone in my company that sees things as logically as I do. Incidentally Miss Watson, I happen to know, your brother, my dear friend, will be spending the night at a function with his charming fiancé this evening, meaning I have a spare ticket to the opera tonight, would you care to join me?" Bonnie smiled softly and tilted her head watching as Holmes' big dark eyes searched her own, expectantly waiting for an answer. "Of course Mr Holmes, I'd like that much. It is certainly tedious to be in the same room day after day." Holmes smiled, making his dark irises glow, "Very well, tonight we shall go to the Opera. Now if you'll excuse me" He said, standing and brushing his clothing off and heading towards the door, "I must get ready, I have a few appointments this morning, that you will also need to attend." And with a curt nod of his dark head, he left Bonnie alone and confused in the living room.
"Who are we expecting Holmes?" Watson huffed as he shifted uncomfortably in his arm chair. Holmes just cleared his throat absent-mindedly before answering, "Just a few old friends, don't worry mother hen, you wont be restless for long." and just as he had finished his sentence a loud knock resounded at the door. "Ah, here is our first guest now, I believe. Come in."
Bonnie sat up straight against the back of the chez lounge, eager as the heavy wooden door swung open, and a tall dark haired man, nervously walked into the room, his eyes flitting quickly over the inhabitants of the room, a bright, brilliant smile found its way onto his lips as he caught Bonnie and John's eyes. "John! My, I haven't seen you in a long time, you look well. And Bonnie, you look as radiant as ever." The man bent in a low bow in front of the petite brunette, and brought her hand to his lips in a sultry kiss, before pulling away and looking directly at a stony faced Sherlock Holmes, who had been eyeing the man with feigned emotions. "And you must be the great detective Sherlock Holmes, that summoned me on this dreary afternoon, I am William Thompson." Holmes rose to his feet and crossed to the window, his usual pacing spot, "Indeed Mr Thompson, please take a seat and I will explain the reason I have asked you here." He gestured to the seat he had just vacated, offering William the chair. "Your presence here today is integral to an investigation to do with our mutual friend Miss Watson here. Could you tell me about your friendship with Miss Watson?" William's eyebrows rose and cleared his throat, "I'm not sure what you need this information for Mr Holmes, but, I met Miss Bonnie here when I was young, around ten as my brother and I attended school with John, beginning our friendship, We grew up together as a group and when John left for medical school at the age of eighteen, my brother Christopher and I took on the role of being Bonnie's unofficial protectors, until we moved here to London in order to pursue our careers." Holmes perched against his desk, legs stretched out and crossed in front of him, nodding for the man before him to continue, "You are a lawyer are you not?" William's mouth dropped in surprise, making John and Bonnie laugh at the familiar reaction to Sherlock's deductions. "Uh, That is correct Mr Holmes … how did you know?" The detective sighed and busied himself with his pipe, "It is simply a matter of observation. Your fingertips are slightly stained with a blue black ink that is regulation in our law offices and rarely found anywhere else except in the desks of our judges and lawyers. You have some strands of white weave on the shoulders of your waistcoat from a lawyer's white wig and the base of your boots hold a layer of yellow mud which is found in the surrounding areas of the courthouses." The lawyer slumped back in Holmes' chair, flabbergasted, a bemused smile on his lips, "very good Mr Holmes, I'm impressed." Holmes shrugged a little, sucking gently on the stem of his pipe, "It is second nature to me Mr Thompson. I just have one final question. Do you admit you ever felt romantically attached to Miss Watson?"
William's smile was wiped off of his handsome face, and his gaze flicked to Bonnie , her big brown eyes open wide and alarmed with the harsh question. "You can't expect me to answer that in front of Miss Watson, surely." he asked, his tone somewhat taken aback. Holmes smirked, and fixed the man before him with a smouldering stare, "Oh, but I do, sir." The consulting detective's face remained calm and emotion free, a sharp contrast to the reddening embarrassment shown on the young lawyer's face. He closed his eyes and sighed, avoiding any eye contact with the woman curled up on the chez lounge across the room. His voice left his mouth in a hoarse whisper, his eyes glued to the dark irises of Sherlock Holmes, "Who doesn't, Bonnie was the love of many lives in our village, she's an earthbound angel." Bonnie felt her cheeks redden and her ears tingled at the untoward compliment. A white hot burn seeped into her chest as she felt Holmes' intense stare boring into her, making her look up into his handsome face, the corner of his mouth turned up into a half smile as he murmured "Indeed" his gaze never leaving her face.
The trio's day had continued to repeat in much the same manner, conducting interviews with the men from Bonnie's list, they has successfully talked to Christopher Thompson and Tobias who had come urgently all the way from the country, just leaving Tarrent Walsh and David Leyton who were apparently unreachable for a few more days at least.
"Well, I think we have done all we can today, I shall retire and see Mary. Have a good evening Bonnie dear, and you Holmes, behave yourself. It is my baby sister you're escorting this evening, I'd appreciate it if you could kindly remember so." Homes rolled his eyes at Watson's retreating back and settled himself heavily into his arm chair. Bonnie smiled a little as she watched the genius tent his fingers in front of his face, pondering over the data he has received from their meetings that day. "If you do not mind Mr Holmes I share retire also and prepare myself for the opera this evening." She said, getting to her feet and brushing down any creases in her long skirt. As she was about to walk through the door, Holmes' familiar drawl caught her ears, "Very good Miss Watson, I shall receive you from your room at seven this evening." Bonnie smiled and bent her knees in a slight curtsey to him, closing the door on her way out and climbing the stairs to her temporary bedroom.
"You do look ever so beautiful Miss Bonnie dear, it's not often I say it, but black and white suits you. They are so very wishy washy shades, very hard to make look presentable, but you have done very well." Bonnie chuckled at Mrs Hudson's ramblings and continued to apply a thin layer of silver-grey eye shadow. "And your hair! Anyone would think you were trying to impress someone." before Bonnie could answer, the bedroom door creaked open. "Don't be absurd Nanny." Bonnie blushed a deep red, the shade almost matching the red lace in her high collar. "Oh Mr Holmes, Do not dampen the dear girl's spirits … the opera is one of the most eligible places to meet a prospective new groom." Bonnie's eyes flew open so wide she almost smudged faint the line of black Kohl around them. "Indeed, Nanny. Miss Watson." The detective turned his body towards her and she hid a gasp, taking in his appearance in the glass of her mirror. His normally unruly dark hair was combed back in a fashionable style, and his normally rugged cheeks clean shaven. He had donned a matching black trouser and jacket set, a white shirt topped with an elegant black and silver waistcoat, a dark silver cravat embraced his throat and in his hand was resting a sleek black walking cane with a silver and diamond knob. "Are you ready to depart, there is a hansom cab waiting for us outside." Bonnie nodded, unable to get her vocal cords to work as she stood and took his outstretched hand in her own black gloved ones.