Chapter 8

"And how is Toby?" Mrs. Lovett asked Sweeney when he paid her a visit the next day.

"I hardly see him," the barber answered, "but he looks very tired. He works all day in the shop and in the evening he cleans all the furniture. He's extremely worried about you, but I think he doesn't want to visit you because he doesn't know how to behave around you. But I could send him to you tomorrow, if you'd like that?"

"Thanks for the offer," she muttered, "but I don't want him to see me like this. I want to be like I was until a week ago, but…"

"I'll help you," he said, nodding reassuringly. "Or at least, I'll do my very best."

She nodded too, once again feeling grateful for his support.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course," he replied.

"Why are you so friendly to me since Peter…"

"Well, it wouldn't really be good for your recovery process if I snarled and yelled at you the whole time, wouldn't it?"

"So you only act like this… it isn't real?"

"Everyone acts, Mrs. Lovett," he said sarcastically, but still, friendlier than usual. "But it isn't as hard for me as you might think. I…"

He stared at her, as if he wasn't sure of what he should say next.

"It's easier for me to be friendlier when you…"

He abruptly stopped speaking and his face returned to its familiar blank expression after of shock had flashed over it for a brief moment.

Mrs. Lovett experienced a sudden feeling of happiness in her belly, for she understood what the barber had almost said. Although he hadn't finished his sentence, it really looked that he had wanted to say that he felt better when she was around.

This news would've made her very happy a while ago and until very recently it might've scared her, but now she didn't know what to think of it anymore.

"Time to dress," Sweeney said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Dress?" she asked.

Maybe it was because of all the emotions that run through her, but she didn't see how dressing fitted into the process of getting back to her old life.

"You can't wear that nightgown forever," he replied, handing her the dress that he was still holding.

Mrs. Lovett looked at the dress and corset, as if she had last worn them in another lifetime, but then she took it from him and, nodding silently, she waited until he had left the room. She locked the door behind him, only then taking off her nightgown reluctantly.

She tried to put on the corset, but her arms were weak, her entire body was, after lying in bed for such a long time and she wasn't able of pulling the strings of her corset tight enough.

She sighed, panicking, for she realized there was only one person who could help her with this. This certain person was the demon barber, who was waiting for her just outside her room.

She didn't wear the dress yet, so most of her body was still exposed and she didn't dare to face Sweeney like this; she hadn't forgotten the look in his eyes the day before. So she wrapped a blanket around her body and then she opened the door, just enough for him to enter.

He eyed her briefly, causing her cheeks to redden in embarrassment.

"What's the problem?" he asked her.

"My corset… could you please?"

He nodded and she sat down next to her bedside, so he could tie the laces. However, that wasn't as easy as he had originally thought.

"Nellie," the barber said. "I can't tie it when that blanket is in front of it."

"But…I'm not wearing anything bene…"

"I just have to shove the blanket down a little bit, I'm not going to…"

"But…"

"I'm not him," he said, impatiently and a bit angrily.

Before she could stop him, he stripped down the blanket, exposing her entire lower back.

"Mr. Todd," she cried, "I…"

"Don't worry," he grunted, a little bit annoyed now. "I won't do anything except for tying this thing!"

She felt extremely uncomfortable, but to her surprise, he kept his word without even touching her skin once.

When the corset was tied, Sweeney left the room and only returned when she was fully dressed and gave him permission to enter the room again.

"See?" he said, "Two steps at once. Getting dressed again and trusting me."

She didn't really hear him, for she was too focused on the dress that she was wearing now. She had never noticed before that the clothes she always wore, hardly covered her body at all.

"It's normal," Sweeney said, sensing her discomfort. "All women are dressed like this, and no man will think differently of you unless you do behave like you're wearing nothing at all."

"I'm just thinking… if I would've worn something decent then perhaps he wouldn't have…"

"Nellie… knowing the Turpins, Peter had planned this all long ago and it didn't matter what you were wearing that night. Now, I think it's time you help me baking those pies. It's quite hard to do that all by myself."

She nodded and followed him to the bake house. The stench hit her at first now that she wasn't used to all those corpses anymore, but by the time they had descended the stairs, it was like she had never been away.

She walked towards the counter and started kneading the dough, as if she had done so all week. She didn't notice the approving gaze of the barber and she even forget the entire situation when she hit the dough with the rolling-pin.

Sweeny chopped the meat and she did the rest. To her surprise, their cooperation was very enjoyable. The work kept her mind away from the depressing thoughts that had been going through her for a week and she almost regretted it when all the bodies were baked into pies a few hours later.

"So, that was it," Sweeney said. "Not that bad, right?"

"No, not at all," she answered truthfully. "I'm very glad that you persuaded me, Mr. Todd."

"No problem," he said, a bit confused, for he had almost said it was 'a pleasure'. It would have been very improper, both because of her situation and because he actually meant it.

"Just try to sleep today and I'll come back tomorrow evening."

"I'll do so, and I'll be ready tomorrow."

He nodded and walked back to the stairs.

"Mr. Todd!" Nellie said before he was gone. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome. I'm glad I can help you."

It was to both a surprise to hear the sincerity in his voice.

She lingered a few moments longer in the basement, enjoying the fact both she and Sweeney seemed to have enjoyed the evening.

She didn't know exactly why he supported her the way he did, but she couldn't really care about it. She went back to her bedroom and changed the dress she was wearing for the nightgown again.

The moment her head hit the pillow, she fell in a comfortable sleep which wasn't interrupted by nightmares this time.