Chapter Five.
The tick of the clock was pounding in John Watson's head as he sat in the foyer of a large London hotel. Every clip of every shoe resonated until he wanted to scream. It was his own fault of course but that didn't help. He tapped his foot in impatience but that only served to make him more irritable. He decided to pace. Again a bad idea, the room swirled and the people danced before his eyes until he felt dizzy. He took up his seat once more and closed his eyes. Perhaps he really was getting too old for this. He shook his ahead, the day he became too old for women was the day he died. He smiled at the thought, before his thoughts had chance to progress into more dangerous channels he was approached by the lady herself. She was beautiful, even after last nights…antics, she still looked as fresh as a daisy. He stood to greet her, she smiled and outstretched her hand which he took and kissed gallantly making her giggle.
"Oh John, you mustn't what if someone sees!" She exclaimed, looping her arm through his as they walked through the huge glass doors of the hotel and out into the open. Watson breathed in the air, suddenly feeling queasy. He leaned in closer and almost whispered in her ear.
"Let them see, I want them to see."
She giggled again.
"John we're in the street!"
"Yes, I can see that."
He must stop himself. Holmes was right, she was a married woman and he didn't fancy having to fight off another jealous husband. Another? Watson smiled at the thought and then inwardly cursed himself for actually enjoying the feeling of danger. He needed a distraction…
Sherlock Holmes eyed them from behind; he followed perhaps ten paces back but always kept one eye on the couple ahead of him. What was he doing whispering in her ear in broad daylight? Who did the man think he was? Casanova? The nerve. Holmes shuddered at his brazenness. He knew where Watson was headed when he left his morning, one hand on his aching brow when Mrs. Hudson's coffee had finally restored to something resembling a human being. Holmes had decided that this was not to be permitted, he was a respectable gentleman who had no time for such things, if he was to have a lodger, and at the present moment he must, then he would have a man of character, of nobility, not some cad who went around toying with the affections of other men's wives. He would teach this man a lesson and it would be one he would never forget…