Part 10

Eliza had the two of them wandering all around the dark streets of Holborn where Moses had found Rupert just a few days earlier. At her request, William had entered several Taverns and bars in search of Rupert. For once, he never questioned anything she asked of him. She was concerned for Rupert's safety, and as much as he wanted to know more and ask why they were looking for such a high-class man in such a low-class area, he kept his thoughts to himself and dutifully followed her orders.

However, it was now well past 10, it was cold, dark, and there was a dampness in the air. He also knew they were running out of respectable establishments in the area to check. One of the taverns he'd gone into was an incredibly run-down bar, that looked more like somewhere he would raid for indecency rather than a place he'd expect to find Rupert.

Now they stood outside a rowdy-looking low-end tavern, where William felt sure that he most certainly would not be welcome, and Eliza was eyeing him with impatience.

"Aren't you going to go in?" Eliza questioned as she noticed William looking at it hesitantly.

"Somehow I feel like I'm a little overdressed for that Tavern," William said, as he looked through a murky window and then turned his hand to motion to his clean expensive suit and warm overcoat.

As if on cue, they watched from a slight distance as an incredibly drunk worker dressed in dirty trousers, and a thin grimy shirt was thrown out from the front doors and landed firmly in a dirty puddle of God only knows what, since it hadn't recently rained. A moment later a hat was thrown through the door followed by a jacket as well. Both landed in the puddle of dirt next to the man.

"Plus, I really don't think that would be a place Rupert would frequent…"

William trailed off, as another man stumbled out the doors and they watch him walk towards his friend who was still sitting on the floor. The two exchanged a few unpleasantries, and some curse words, ones that even William was shocked to hear, let alone Eliza.

As the second man stumbled to pick up his friend and almost fell in a heap on top of him, William grabbed Eliza by the arm and pulled her quietly to a darkened corner well away from both drunk men, who might get ideas about a woman wandering around late at night, even with a man like him by her side.

William held her close to his body and wrapped an arm around her waist and placed his overcoat around them so they blended into the darkness and would go unnoticed by the drunk men. Eliza wasn't used to William holding her in this way or being quite so close that she could feel his warmth radiating from his body. Despite that, she couldn't help but feel comforted as he held her, and she pressed her head against his shoulder.

Quietly they watched as the men stumbled their way past whilst drunkenly singing, oblivious to them hiding. William felt Eliza's tense body loosen as the men passed, and yet she didn't move backwards from him like he assumed she would. Instead, she just allowed him to hold her for a few more moments. Whilst he was enjoying the feeling of having her in his arms, he knew something wasn't right. Eliza would never in her right mind allow him to hold her like this.

"Eliza… talk to me…" William stepped back but kept an arm on her waist, once he knew the men were far enough away so as not to notice them. When she didn't look up at him, he gently placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head so he could see her face.

"About?" Eliza asked, purposely playing dumb, but given the way William was staring down at her, she knew it was pointless.

"You've had us aimlessly walking around these streets and bars, late at night in places of London even I don't want to be. I can't even fathom why you would think we would find Rupert out here. You are overly concerned about him. Which is why I've not questioned you even once when you've sent me into every bar and tavern, we've come across…. Even the less desirable ones…."

Eliza shifted uncomfortably under William's concerned gaze, even though she wouldn't look directly at him. She knew she owed him an explanation. Not only for why they were out looking for Rupert but also for why he spent the night at her house. Yet, how could she do that and keep his secrets?

Slowly she took a step backwards and out of William's warm embrace, and he didn't resist it. Finally, she looked at him.

"Rupert came to see me at my office yesterday, and I was too busy, I knew something was wrong with him… He was anxious, and I let him brush me off because I was focusing on the case. I should have taken a moment to make him talk to me… He told me he was fine and I accepted it, even though I knew it wasn't true."

William could instantly see that Eliza was somehow feeling responsible, even though he was sure she wasn't.

"That doesn't explain why we are out here right now…"

Eliza sighed and despite the cold, she leaned against the wall and gently banged her head against it.

"Rupert's not been having a good time of late, for many reasons, but mostly pressure from his mother. Moses found him drunk and passed out in an alley around here a few days ago. He sent someone to get me because he didn't know what else to do. I brought him back to my house and let him sleep in father's room till he sobered up."

Eliza purposely left out the part that it had happened the same evening as their night out to the Music Hall. She looked at William, expecting a response from him, but he kept quiet and didn't judge her for her kindness to a friend.

"I don't know what's going through Rupert's mind, but I'm worried that he's going to do something we'll all regret. When my father went missing, I didn't find him…. I was too late…. I can't let something happen to Rupert…." Eliza admitted.

William had sensed there was a bigger reason for what was going on. It didn't surprise him that being unable to help her father when he went missing before he died was playing on her mind.

He took a moment to think because back then, he'd tried to quickly dismiss her from his office without truly listening to her worries. He knew now that it was a mistake, even though by the time she had come to him it was likely Henry was already dead. He could admit to himself that he probably should have taken her concern more seriously. So, this time, he didn't brush off her worries, instead, he listened.

"Okay, let's think about this rationally. Walking around town aimlessly like we are, is not going to help us find him. What do you know of Rupert, where does he like to go?"

Eliza couldn't exactly tell William the truth about Rupert and his persuasion for men, which made telling him what she knew of Rupert a little difficult. The truth was, she didn't know much about Rupert or where he liked to go.

"I don't know, I don't know Rupert all that well. He's a very private man."

"What of any friends he has?" William wondered, surely, she must have known at least one other friend of Rupert's they could go and talk to.

"I've only met one friend of his, a doctor, but he hasn't mentioned him recently so I would assume they aren't…. friendly anymore."

William was trying his best to be helpful and think logically. He didn't know much about Rupert Parker himself, so had little information he could offer.

"What about we go back to his house? He may be already gone home by now, or if not, we can interview his staff, and see if they can help us locate him."

Eliza shook her head. She didn't want to waste time going back to his house now. She was certain if they were going to find him, it would be around here. She growled loudly in frustration.

William noticed her hesitation at his suggestion, so he went for a different tactic.

"Think about what you do know about Rupert. What hobbies does he like? Where does he like to go?"

"He likes the theatre and science, and….

William watched as an idea dawned on Eliza's face. She placed a hand on his arm as a smile formed.

"I know where he'd go!" she exclaimed. She pulled her hand down took hold of William's and tugged him along with her to find a carriage.

They were heading off towards the Greenwich Observatory. One of the things she knew Rupert enjoyed was the science of the stars, and he liked to go to the observatory. It made sense that it was where Rupert would go. Despite the late hour, they managed to find a carriage, that would take them the long journey from Holborn to Greenwich.

Eliza's eyes were fixed outside the carriage as she watched the darkness of the world go by. William's eyes were fixed on Eliza, he could sense her worry and concern as her fingers played nervously with her mother's wedding ring, but there was little he could offer her. Instead, he just watched her, and then eventually he gave her leg a nudge with his, and she looked at him with a little surprise when he offered her a small supportive smile. She returned it momentarily before returning her gaze out the window.

William wasn't sure how long they'd been travelling in silence before Eliza sat forward and grabbed his leg.

"William, stop the carriage." She told him suddenly.

William wasn't sure what surprised him more Eliza's hand against his thigh or the sound of her voice. He quickly knocked on the carriage roof to alert the driver, and Eliza barely waited for it to slow to a stop before she opened the door, jumped out and started running in the direction of the bridge as best she could.

They were at the last bridge that went over the Thames near Greenwich, it was just before the river curved and got too wide for a bridge to be built across it. William barely had enough time to tell the driver to wait before he took off after her.

As he sped after Eliza, William looked in the direction ahead and realized why Eliza had run. Sitting under a dim gas lamp on the concrete railing of the bridge looking East over the Thames was the unmistakable outline of Rupert Parker and his trilby hat. Fortunately for William, with his long legs and with Eliza's speed hindered by her heels and heavy skirt, he caught up with her just as she got to the edge of the bridge, and he managed to grab her arm to slow her.

"William…" Eliza started as she tried to pull her arm away, annoyed that he was slowing her from getting to Rupert.

"Approach him slowly! Be careful!" He warned sternly, yet quietly.

As a young PC, he'd had to talk to a number of those looking to jump off bridges in his career, and he knew Eliza steamrolling up to Rupert was not going to have the best effect.

"Take a breath," he encouraged. Eliza blinked as she looked at William and then sadly towards Rupert who hadn't yet noticed them, as he sat staring up at the night sky.

For once, she heeded his advice. She nodded her agreement, and William loosened his grip on her arm before he let her go while he watched she took a breath and slowly started to approach Rupert. William stayed a few steps behind her, letting her lead for once.

"Rupert," Eliza called gently, so as not to startle him.

It took a second for him to turn slightly after hearing his name because he wasn't expecting anyone to see him, let alone someone who knew who he was.

"Eliza," he stammered as he looked in her direction. "What are you doing here?" He asked, a little confused.

"I was looking for you. I thought you might be at the observatory…" Eliza watched as a puzzled look filled his face.

"Why?" he asked as if it was the craziest thing in the world for her to be doing.

"Tilly told me she ended your engagement," she admitted, and he seemed to understand as he nodded then looked away and back out at the murky Thames water below him.

"You need not have come to find me," he told her sadly. "It was not unexpected,"

"Rupert, please come down so we can talk about this properly," Eliza asked nervously, wishing she could read his thoughts, while her heart broke a little as his sadness.

"I'd rather not if it's all the same…"

"I brought Inspector Wellington with me…" Eliza said, with a glimmer of hope that William's presence alone might cheer her friend.

William could hear their conversation, even though he remained a few paces behind Eliza, and he wasn't sure what exactly Eliza meant or how bringing him along would change Rupert's situation. If she expected him to arrest Rupert for something, he had no idea what he could arrest him for. Sitting on a bridge was hardly an offence.

"I'm rather sure Inspector Wellington is here for you… Not me," he replied with a light chuckle, without looking backwards.

Eliza sighed, knowing that Rupert was correct, as she wondered what else she could do to convince him to come down and talk to her.

"Rupert please…." Eliza tried, but Rupert held his hand up to stop her, he didn't want to listen at that moment. He just wanted to sit and quietly stare out at the dark Thames water, and the clear night sky illuminated by the bright moon and glowing stars.

Eliza sighed and she turned to look at William, whose eyes grew wide as he instantly realized what she was thinking. He quickly shook his head in a vain attempt to tell her not to do what she was thinking, but it was fruitless. Eliza gathered up her skirt and moved to the cement-covered railing.

"Eliza!" William called out in a harsh whisper, as he took a few steps forward in frustration and reached out to grab hold of her. Only she was just far enough in front of him to escape his grasp.

"Very well. If you won't come down to me…" Eliza started to climb the railing and Rupert watched surprised as Eliza threw her leg over and moved to sit directly next to him on the edge.

In error, she slightly glanced down at the murky Thames water below them and gulped how high up they were. From here she knew if the fall didn't kill them, the cold dirty water most certainly would. It was also cold on the ledge and the wind blew lightly around her cheeks.

"Eliza." Rupert looked at her shocked, as she settled her skirt down over her legs.

"Well, if you jump … I jump," Eliza said firmly and supportively. "Right,"

Rupert was aghast as he looked at her for a moment, before realizing she was far more fearless than he ever truly gave her credit for. Silently he nodded his confirmation and then returned his gaze to the night sky.

"It's a beautifully clear night to see the stars, don't you think," he told her.

"I can think of better places to look at the stars Rupert," she griped, not quite agreeing with his love of the stars at that moment.

Rupert laughed momentarily but soon returned to his melancholy.

Quietly they sat together, and after a few minutes of silence, Eliza wondered how she should start their conversation because Rupert didn't seem to have much interest in talking.

"I'm sorry. I should have stopped yesterday. I should have listened to you. I didn't, and I apologise for that, but I'm here now Rupert. Talk to me. Please," Eliza begged.

Rupert noticed William moving slowly and carefully closer to them out of the corner of his eye, he assumed to be able to reach out and grab Eliza should he need to, and he cracked a sad smile. He was grateful that Eliza had someone to take care of her like that.

"There is little to say, that you don't already know."

"Well, I doubt we are going very far just yet, so why don't you tell me the rest now."

For a few more moments, they sat in thoughtful silence, Eliza patiently waiting as Rupert contemplated just how much he could or should say. With William's listening ears he could hardly speak freely about his life.

"I'm tired, Eliza. Tired of being something I'm not. Tired of pretending…. My mother and her demands… it… it's exhausting… A friend said to me today that I would never be out of her control, and I will never be able to stand up for myself. And I can't even be mad about his words because he is right. I won't. She will always be looking over my shoulder, controlling all my choices, and I will never want to disappoint her to tell her what I truly want."

Eliza had never felt more sadness for Rupert, watching as he sighed and shut his eyes tightly and shook his head. The thought of letting his mother down was weighing heavily on his mind and his heart.

"Then I shall talk to her…" Eliza tried softly.

"And say what?" He interrupted, somewhat angrily. He was being unfair because it wasn't Eliza's fault, and he knew she was only trying to help. Only at that moment, he felt helpless in his situation and wanted to remain in his melancholy.

"I don't know, I'll think of something… I always do."

At that moment she had no idea at all what she would say to Mrs Parker, and she honestly didn't care. She would do or say anything that would convince him to climb down and go home safely.

"She will be so disappointed when she finds out there is no wedding."

"Rupert," Eliza stammered. "Was there truly ever going to be a wedding?"

Rupert caught her eyes sadly, as he realised that she was right, he would have put it off for as long as he could. He shook his head, finally admitting the truth.

"I do not wish to be married." He said firmly and assuredly. He wasn't telling Eliza; in his mind, he was telling his mother. Saying out loud the words to Eliza and the night sky that he couldn't say to his mother. "I DON'T Want to marry…." He said again angrily.

"I know…" she told him gently.

"So, what can you possibly say to her? I…" Rupert paused and sighed. "I'm not like you."

Eliza blinked unsure if that was a compliment or not. He finally looked at her with total admiration and love for his friend.

"I wish I could be like you. You are courageous and spirited. You know what you want, consequences be damned, and who cares what other people think, you're going to get it. You have your own mind, and you make your own choices no matter what..."

"I'm sure some people think that is a flaw, not a quality," Eliza admitted with a slight chuckle, most notably for their present company.

"You… You are…Fearless…" He admitted before looking back at the stars.

"Now that is not true!" Eliza told him angrily. She shifted slightly, and pressed her hand on Rupert's arm, making him look at her once again and truly see her as she shook her head at him.

"It's not! I'm not fearless right now. At this very moment, I am terrified. Scared that my dear friend is sitting here on a bridge in the dead of the night thinking, and perhaps even believing that there is nothing else left for him in this world to do but jump. I'm here to tell you that that is not correct."

For the first time, Eliza let down her guard, and let Rupert see her fear, and he realized how worried she truly was for him.

"Rupert, I, I know I can't fix everything, I wish I could. I wish I could say that we will get down from here and everything will be fine, but we both know that I can't. I am your friend Rupert, and I will always be here, no matter what. You have supported me more than you know. You believed in me, my business, and my abilities when no one else would without any real proof other than my own blind hope that I could succeed. Without you and your investment in my business, I don't know where I would be right now, but almost certainly not living my life like I am."

Eliza's voice cracked just a little, as she took a breath while almost begging her friend to listen and hear her. Hoping she could say the words that maybe he needed to hear.

"I don't know what the future holds for you, or me or anyone. What I do know is that if you choose not to climb down off this bridge with me, then you will never know what your future could be."

Rupert didn't even attempt to move, and Eliza was for once at a loss for what more she could say to convince him.

"I just want to be quietly left alone to live my life as I choose, and I will never be able to do that," Rupert admitted.

"Maybe not in the way you want no…. But there will be someone, somewhere out there, that will love you for who you truly are, and not for who the world expects you to be. You must believe that. We all must because surely isn't that all anyone wants."

"Do you think you will find that?" Rupert asked.

"Maybe," Eliza shrugged unsure of her answer since she could feel William's presence just behind her and his grip tightening onto her back. "Maybe if I give it half a chance."

Rupert glanced at William subtly out of the corner of his eye, and then back at Eliza. She was right, of course, she was. He touched her hand and Eliza flinched as he felt as cold as ice.

"Please Rupert, you're freezing. Let's get down from here."

After a moment, he felt her shiver and he knew it was ungentlemanly to remain there with her while she was catching the cold. Finally, he nodded his sad agreement and he moved gingerly to turn himself around.

William stepped forward to hold an arm slightly around Eliza's waist, so she wasn't accidentally knocked off balance by Rupert's movements since she was determined that she wasn't moving down from the bridge until she knew Rupert was standing safely on the floor.

Without letting go of her, William held out a hand to Rupert, and carefully Rupert took it as he jumped down and then he turned to help as Eliza's swung herself around. She was rather grateful to William's strong arm around her waist making sure she didn't fall and then both men took a hand each to bring her down safely.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she launched herself into Rupert's arms holding him as tightly as she could in relief. He was shocked at first, but gradually moved his arms around her back and accepted her embrace and he felt his whole body relax against hers.

They stayed that way for the longest moment as William stood back watching them, still somewhat confused by their close friendship, but equally feeling like he understood a little better and felt rather less threatened by it. As they pulled apart Eliza smiled, and slowly Rupert returned it.

"Let us take you home Rupert." Eliza smiled, and Rupert nodded letting Eliza lead him back towards the waiting carriage.

It had been a quiet journey to drop Rupert at his home and then Eliza and William travelled back to Eliza's house together. William could see that Eliza was somewhat distracted by the events of the evening. She seemed sad and quiet as she stared out into the night, so he didn't push her to talk in the carriage.

As they pulled up outside, William asked the driver to wait while he followed her inside to collect the boxes of files and be sure she was okay. He assumed Ivy had taken herself to bed since the house was deathly quiet as they entered without making too much noise themselves.

Eliza said nothing as she quickly took off her hat and hung it up before moving straight to the drawing room. She barely glanced at William as she walked, and he slowly followed without taking off his overcoat or hat.

Eliza turned a lamp to light the drawing-room a little and walked straight over to the drinks table, while William ambled into the room, and stopped just by the corner of the settee. He watched her while trying to choose his next words carefully.

"Can I offer you a drink?" Eliza asked whilst she poured herself a small amount of Brandy into a glass and noticed her handshaking. "I don't know about you, but my nerves are shot to pieces," she admitted before downing the drink in one mouthful.

She chuckled to herself, because over her time as a detective, she'd been in enough life-threatening positions, and had guns pointed at her, yet it was this that shook her.

"No, I won't stay long," William spoke softly, slightly keeping his distance from her. "About what you said to Rupert…"

Eliza turned around because she'd said many things to Rupert, and there was a part of her that had started to worry that William might have started to connect some dots regarding why he wouldn't want to marry, and she didn't want William to think less of her friend for it.

"I just wanted to say… I think your abilities are a quality… Not a flaw." William carefully admitted his thoughts, while he stared at Eliza with a soft smile, despite seeing that she looked rather scared.

Eliza blinked, and slowly registered his words, and what they meant. In some ways, they meant more to her than any praise he'd given her for her work. She'd thought she was more of an irritation to William most of the time, even if things had started to change between them.

Quietly she put down her glass on the cabinet and slowly moved towards William, whilst she kept her eyes on him. Taking a deep breath, she stepped in close and without any further thought she placed a hand on his arm and the other on his cheek before she stepped forward and pressed her lips against his as her eyes closed, and she let herself freely kiss him.

Whilst her movement was unexpected, William was pleasantly surprised by her action, and he didn't back away or object. Instead, he smiled and wrapped his arms low around her waist, pulling her into him as he slowly enjoyed her soft innocent kisses. He let her control the speed, the timid pressure, and the tender way she pulled his lips into hers.

So far, he'd always been the one to initiate a kiss between them, so he revelled in the fact she had chosen to do so without any input from him. His hands spread wide and felt right, one resting on the curve of her spine, the other just above. He was almost certain that she'd never kissed a man like this before, so kept himself in check, not wanting to scare her by progressing the kisses deeper, letting her lead and test the waters of how she felt.

She didn't quickly pull away or end the kiss abruptly, instead, she seemed happy to just enjoy their soft gentle embrace, while she moved her hand from his arm to his neck so her fingers could gently stroke the short tuft of hair, she found when he kissed her in the tavern. She caressed his beard, allowing herself to fall into the feeling.

She felt William sway them slightly as their kisses slowed while they caught their breath, but neither wanted to be the one to break the spell. So as one pulled away the other moved forward to re-capture them. It was their familiar back and forth but in an altogether different way.

When they finally broke apart Eliza was smiling, but too embarrassed and unable to believe what she had just done to look at William, certain her cheeks were probably flushed with warmth. Instead, she stared at the white collar of his shirt while she dropped her hand from his neck and let her fingers dance near his heart while she collected her thoughts.

William brushed his lips against her forehead and rubbed his hand on her lower back, reassuring her that it was okay. The fact he could hardly believe that any kiss had even happened was irrelevant. He was happy to have her in his arms and resolved to believe that Eliza Scarlet was the most confusing woman in the world.

"Thank you," she finally offered sincerely, before looking up at him.

William was a little perplexed about how to respond because he wasn't sure what she was thanking him for. Perhaps for being her friend, for his help looking for Rupert, maybe for his compliment, or perhaps because he was yet to tease her about kissing him.

"I don't think I've ever told you that I appreciate you helping me. I know that you don't have to, and I'm sure I'm more of an annoyance at times because I don't always listen, but…."

"Eliza," he interrupted, "I wouldn't want you any other way," he replied quickly and firmly.

It was the truth. He wouldn't, because if she was different, he wouldn't love her as much as he did. If she was calm and quiet or listened and did as she was told, she wouldn't be able to challenge him or brighten his day as she did. He honestly couldn't imagine Eliza Scarlet as anything other than bold and bright, and storming into his office as if she owned it.

"Good," she smiled, relieved.

William slowly moved a hand from her and ran a finger over her cheek before gently stroking a stray piece of hair back behind her ear.

"I should go, I've kept the driver waiting," William offered sadly, despite wanting to stay and Eliza nodded her head. Any longer and this would certainly seem far more inappropriate than it was.

He slowly released her from his hold and took a step backwards with a gentle smile, and Eliza couldn't help but return with a soft smile. He let his hand linger a little on her back before dropping it away and turning to leave. Eliza watched his back leaving the drawing-room.

"I'll see you tomorrow," William offered from the doorway.

"Of course, William," she said with a smile. "We still have a case to solve…."

As he disappeared, Eliza touched her fingers to her lips, in awe and surprised by her actions.