Chapter 9: Elementary Fever

They walked together for a while neither saying a word, and Nancy was surprised how comfortable the silence was, there was no awkwardness, no fumbling just calmness. The silence was broken by a small boy running up to them excitedly, she realised he was staring at Holmes in awe,

' You're Sherlock Holmes, I read all about you solving the Lord Blackwood case, my mum thinks you're a hero and she said she bets your good looking' the boy was pulled away seconds later by an embarrassed looking woman, Nancy stared at Holmes, he was smiling at the boy and the mothers reaction,

' What's the Lord Blackwood case?' Nancy asked him, intrigued.

Holmes continued to tell her the story of his latest case, he left out the part about Moriarty, when he finished Nancy was stunned,

' How did you figure all that out? The fake hanging, the deaths all of it?'

' Elementary, Miss Jones' he said smiling

' Are you going to do the same in my case' Nancy uttered quietly, he stopped and looked at her his expression was deadly serious;

' Yes' he said quietly, his hardened expression softened as he looked at her,

' I should get you home, the day has flown by and I'd rather you were safe at home before dark' Nancy didn't say a word as they walked his arm still protectively linked through hers.

They arrived back at Mrs Hudson's and Watson was in the doorway on his way out, he gave Holmes a look and Holmes understood instantly

' I'll be with you in a moment Watson, I'm going to see Miss Jones to her room' Holmes led Nancy upstairs and once again inspected her room and made sure the windows were secure,

' Well Miss Jones I thank you for your company today'

' Thank you too, I'd like to apologise again for my behaviour earlier' he smiled at her,

' Sleep well Miss Jones' he said exiting the room, she sat on the bed and listened as she heard the muffled voices of Holmes and Watson a floor below her.

She lay back on the bed reliving the day and her mind wandered back to Alice, she thought of the poor girl, alone and facing the workhouse again, she was interrupted by a knock at her door, she hauled herself off the bed feeling exhausted, Mrs Hudson was at the door she looked upset,

' I'm so sorry to interrupt you Nancy, I know it's late but this letter arrived from your uncle and I thought I should give it to you immediately, from the look on Mrs Hudson's face Nancy knew it wasn't good news, she opened the letter and began reading;

Dear sweet pea,

I'm sorry to write to you and interrupt your fun with Lenore in London but your aunt is very ill and I'm not sure I can cope with this without you sparrow, please come home, the doctors said it could be typhoid fever, but they're not sure and they're not telling me anything please Nancy I need you home,

Love always

Uncle Harry

' I have to leave' Nancy said her voice shaking in shock,

' I've managed to get a carriage for you tomorrow, do you want me to go with you Nancy'

' I understand if you want to Mrs Hudson, but please don't let your house or tenants suffer, I can handle this'

' Well please send Maggie my love and tell her I'm thinking of her, I'll make you some food for the journey, Nancy watched Mrs Hudson leave, she knew Mrs Hudson was as upset as her at the prospect of loosing her friend, Nancy knew she wouldn't sleep tonight, and knew she had to do something that night.

Nancy pulled her coat on and walked downstairs, she was at the door when Dr Watson walked down the stairs behind her,

'Nancy you can't go out at this time, it's not safe' he exclaimed

' I have to, it's very important' her voice still shook from the letter

' Well at least let me accompany you wherever you're going?'

' Thank you Dr Watson, hopefully it won't take long'

During the walk Nancy explained the letter to Watson, who was very sympathetic,

' Nancy, please allow me to accompany you and see if I can help your aunt?'

' That's very kind of you Dr but I couldn't afford your services'

' Nancy I didn't offer for payment, I'm offering as a friend' Nancy smiled truly touched by Watson's comment,

' Thank you Dr Watson, you have no idea what that means to me' they continued walking until they reached the same hotel she had visited with Holmes earlier that day.

Nancy walked confidently up to the front desk and asked for the young maid called Alice,

' I'm afraid due to the management cutting staff, Alice was taken back to the workhouse an hour ago'

Nancy was furious as she stormed out of the hotel,

' One more stop please Dr Watson' they walked to the workhouse, they were greeted by an elderly, stony faced woman,

' I'd like to take one of the children away from here please?' Nancy said determinedly to the woman,

' Oh aye and which one would you be after?'

' A young girl was brought back here over an hour ago, she worked in a hotel as a maid, her names Alice'

' Oh I know which one you mean, wait here I'll go get her' Nancy and Watson waited in the cold corridor,

' Why are you so interested in this girl Nancy?'

' I met her earlier today, she was terrified at the prospect of coming back here, I can't leave her here' Watson smiled warmly at her.

Ten minutes later Alice walked ahead of the old woman, being back here for less than two hours seemed to have broken her, she looked up and stared wide eyed at Nancy, who smiled warmly at her.