Chapter 7: Early Morning Escape
Nancy woke early the nest morning, the sun was barely rising as she dressed and pinned her long honey coloured hair up, she placed her coat over her arm and crept down the first set of stairs, she reached the second floor to see Holmes standing outside his door looking at his pocket watch,
' Right on time Miss Jones, now lets go I give it 20 minutes before Lestrade sits outside waiting for a polite time to knock and start the next inquisition' he gave her a warm smile as he turned and started to walk. She pulled her coat on as she walked just behind him, she watched as he used his cane to knock a hat off the hat post onto his head, a hat she knew wasn't his, she couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her face, he was strange.
They walked side by side down the street in silence until he hailed a passing carriage, he took her hand as she stepped into the carriage and she felt him run his thumb across the top of her hand, she shivered as she sat down and listened to him direct the driver. The carriage ride was also quiet and she stared out of the window to avoid his intense gaze, she watched the people starting their day as the carriage rumbled over the cobbles, and was jerked from her daydreaming when the carriage came to a halt. Holmes exited the carriage first and once again offered his hand to help her out, she took it and when she was out he immediately started to walk again she watched him and saw him stretch his fingers on the hand she had held and then clench it into a fist. They walked for a few minutes and Holmes stopped outside a hotel, she looked at him quizzically,
'Don't get the wrong idea Miss Jones, it'll just be harder for Lestrade to track us down in a hotel where the staff refuse to give out guests names'
' I wasn't assuming anything' she said smirking at him; he smirked back giving her a small nod as they walked inside.
Minutes later they were in a large room, Holmes was talking to a member of staff who nodded and walked away;
'I'll be back shortly Miss Jones, just a small matter to attend to, I've ordered some food for you, I'll be back shortly'
' Oh… Thank you that's very kind of you'
' Don't worry Miss Jones you'll be perfectly safe here and I won't be long', with that he walked swiftly towards the door as a small knock sounded on the other side of the door, he opened it and a young girl in a very smart maids uniform walked in carrying a tray,
' The food you ordered sir' she said curtseying
' Ah thank you and if you'll stay and keep my friend here company this is all yours' he said producing a small bag of coins from his pocket, the maid looked nervously at the door and he understood her worry immediately,
'I'll clear it with your boss don't worry about it' she relaxed smiling at him; he nodded and gave a small bow to Nancy and the maid as he left.
The maid carried the tray over to the table and smiled at Nancy,
'Your husbands lovely if you don't mind me saying so miss' Nancy couldn't help laughing out loud when the girl said that,
'He's not my husband' she said smiling
'Begging your pardon miss I just assumed'
'He's a friend were catching up, what's your name?'
'Alice'
' I'm Nancy, so since you're staying to keep me company would you like some of this food I can't eat it all' Alice didn't need to be asked twice, she looked like she needed a few good meals.
Two hours went by and still no sign of Holmes, Nancy talked with Alice and listened as the small girl explained her life, it wasn't pleasant listening, Alice had been abandoned as a baby at the workhouse and grown up there, two years ago she had come to work at the hotel and lived with other maids in quarters provided, she explained how cruel the workplace could be, and Nancy became even more grateful to have aunt Maggie and uncle Harry in her life. Alice then went on to explain that the hotel was cutting the jobs of some of the maids and she knew she would end up back in the work house, just as she finished talking the door opened and Holmes walked in;
'I apologise ladies, took a little longer than I expected'
' No problem sir, I've enjoyed talking with Nan… I mean Miss Jones' Alice smiled sheepishly at Nancy, who couldn't help smiling back;
'Well I feel what I offered you before was not quite enough for the amount of time, so take this instead' Nancy watched as he handed Alice some folded up bank notes, there was more money there than Alice earned in a month;
'Thank you sir I'm very grateful' Alice looked torn for a second and Nancy was first to speak,
'Is everything alright Alice?'
'Well it's just I don't want anyone else pinching it Miss, would you look after it for me?'
' Of course I will, now you know where I'm staying if you need anything'
'Baker Street Miss I remember' Alice smiled sweetly at Nancy as she left, and stumbled a curtsey to Holmes, who was smiling at the exchange he'd just witnessed,
' Well it appears you have a new friend Miss Jones' he said still smiling;
' But now onto more important matters'.