I do not own Miss Scarlet & The Duke.

Well you guys, when I tried to focus on my novels, I just kept picturing these lovely characters from MSATD. So, I suppose I am not done with this piece after all.

I have got to say, I feel just as nervous as Eliza treading into this uncharted territory. That is, writing her and William together. It is a bit intimidating. I will be very interested to see what Rachael New works out because man she is carrying this fanbase on her shoulders and that would be way too much pressure for me. Ha! So it is a good thing this is purely fanfiction. I am trying to stay true-ish to their characters while also needing to change them a bit! So, if you are going to come along for the ride, give me grace as I try to figure this out. My hope is to give you a story worthy of reading!

Chapter 14

"Hello!" Eliza says as she walks through her front door into the hallway.

Ivy springs out from the drawing room, as Eliza heads back to the kitchen.

"No, no, no, Lizzie! You cannot just arrive back from New York and say hello!" She smiles, stepping over to Eliza.

Eliza pauses and turns to Ivy, giving her a hug.

"What must I say then?" Eliza smirks at her, in her normal sassy demeanor.

"Well," Ivy glances at her and then grabs ahold of Eliza's hands, her thumb brushes across her ring finger causing Eliza's jaw to drop.

"Ivy, I was only gone a week. What exactly are you implying with this?" She nods to Ivy's hands holding hers.

"Well," Ivy repeats, "you were gone for a bit, Lizzie. I assume Inspector Wellington did find you? Did he not?"

A rose color rushes to Eliza's cheeks. She feels a spark of electricity at the sheer mention of his name. It takes her thoughts straight back to her trip. His one hand resting against the wall, the other snaking its way around her waist, pulling her closer and closer to him. Their intoxicating kisses that left her weak in the knees and finally his words that first night and again at the dock, Mrs. Wellington.

She shivers at the memories.

"He did indeed." Ivy answers her own question, watching Eliza intently.

"He did find me, and we," she clears her throat, Ivy hanging on every word, "we caught up."

She glances to the side, "You know Ivy, I really need to get back to work. I have been gone far too long." She squeezes Ivy's hands and releases them, slipping by her and heading for the front door.

So much happened in New York so now she is finding herself at a crossroads. William fills her mind, that much is for sure. But? Does she need to fight it? Does she need to push him out? Or should she wear the pink dress, and think of the way he held her in New York... Dwelling in the memory, rather than avoiding it?

She wasn't sure yet. Though, dwelling was nice. Nice, indeed.

"Lizzie, I had hoped you may come back married." Ivy admits, shrugging her shoulders.

"Already? Ivy! What? That is utterly ridiculous." Eliza scoffs, cheeks ablaze, she reaches for the doorknob and as she steps out, she pauses and turns back to Ivy, reaching to touch her ring finger, "At least, not yet." She winks, pursing her lips together in a teasing smile.

Ivy's smile reaches her eyes, and her hands clasp together in front of her, "My dear girl!"

"I will see you for dinner, Ivy." Eliza turns, walking down the stairs and rounding the corner.

Not yet.

xxxx

Twiddling her thumbs, that is what Eliza is doing in her office. Her absence was a crucial mistake on her part. Well, professionally. Personally, maybe not so much. Her eyes catch on the frame on the wall, the picture of her and her father.

She blinks and just like that he is sitting in front of her.

"Lizzie, I see business is booming."

"Oh, don't you tease me too, I could not bear it. I have worked hard to get here, and have my name above the door now. You did not think I could do it." She folds her arms across her chest.

"No my dear girl, you have it wrong. With your ambitious passion? I never doubted you for a moment. However, I did not foresee society taking it well." He gestures his hands out toward his old desk.

"Well, to be truthful, society is not taking it so well. I have plowed down the doors to take what I want and what I need. And here I am. With this to show for it." She tosses her hands up, feeling a bit frustrated after leaving her original post to work for Nash & Sons, and now back, starting all over again. What was the point? She ponders silently.

"You seem conflicted, my dear girl, what is on your mind?" Henry Scarlet treads lightly with his daughter.

"I had a discussion with William a few months ago. Sitting by the fire, wondering if this is all worth it. While the ambitious fighter in me says absolutely…" she trails off, eyes falling to her ring finger.

"Have you met someone?" He inquires.

She glances back up at him and lightly smiles.

"You have, oh Lizzie, that is wonderful. You and your mother were everything to me. I loved my job. But you two were everything." He says grinning, eyes glinting with unshed tears.

"So the ambitious fighter in me says absolutely, fight to keep it all. Do not change a thing, you have worked too hard, Eliza. But," She sighs, "The… the… lover in me, says try."

"Try?" Henry Scarlet wonders aloud.

"Try to embrace change. The future. The unknown. I still absolutely want my work. It is very very important to me. But there is someone, and well, he has meant quite a deal to me for quite a long time." She looks down, rosiness returning to her cheeks in front of her ghost of a father.

"Ah," he says understandingly, "William." He nods, "Sounds like he has taken my order to protect you rather seriously if he now is the one to hold your heart."

She nods, eyes tearing up at her father's statement.

"He has, for quite a while, I was just too stubborn to admit it. I have been in love with William for… well," her memory flickers back to their first kiss, her initiating it. Her fumbling with his hand, only for him to drop hers, and place his hand on her waist. His willing touch, set fire to her.

There's always been something there. But William was always Detective and then Inspector Wellington with Scotland Yard, and Eliza rose into her role as Private Detective. Those were their identities. But now… well now… since everything…

"You will always be an ambitious fighter, Lizzie. You will not be able to turn off that part of your brain. Trust me. Nor should you, it is who you are. But, you said it yourself, you plowed down the doors to get what you wanted, what you needed. So my clever girl, what is it you want? What is it you need?" Henry encourages her, Eliza swears he always had the best advice.

"I want more cases, but… I need William in my life." She nods, her resolve set.

"I am so proud of you, Miss Scarlet. Your priorities, your ambition, you honor me just by living your life with intention." She hears him say and as she looks up to smile at him, he's gone.

Oh how she wishes he wasn't gone. My oh my, is she ever thankful for the family she has still living. And my oh my, how blessed she is to know that her father loved and approved of the man who holds her heart.

"Okay… so what does this look like now…" she spreads her hands over her desk, letting out a hopeful sigh. The unknown has never been her strong suit, in fact her curiosity and passion nearly forbids her to wait for it all to play out. Yet, here she is.

What's next?