HI Folks! Here we are the day after Eliza and William consummate their love. Although their desire wouldn't mind them staying in bed all day, Eliza needs to do right by Patrick. I hope you are enjoying his. Please leave a little message or comment if you have read it and like it so far or whatever. I do appreciate any comments. Thank you - Carebearmaxi
Funny Meeting You Here
Book 2/Chapter 18
Eliza woke up the next morning with the sunlight pouring through the sheer drapes of William's bedroom. She was wearing nothing but a sheet which she had clutched close to her naked breasts. She remembered holding William's hand captive there and she could feel his body surround her warmly when they finally fell asleep after two more rounds of making love, talking about their future, and dozing until desire hit them once more. Eliza could not have thought a better way to wake up unless it was to still be encompassed in William's arms.
She popped her head up and looked around. It was very quiet, so she was not sure what the time was or where William had been. Just as she realized she would have to get home and start working on Patrick's case, the bedroom door popped open and there was William clad in nothing but his dressing gown which did little to hide his physique carrying a tray. Eliza's blood began to bubble when she realized that this wonderful, gorgeous man was hers-all hers. For the rest of their lives since she pledged herself to him, which was not as daunting to her as it once might have been.
I never felt anything for any other man but him. The one boy I was with was more for scientific experimentation in what all the frenzy was about sex. I did not realize what it was then. It was fine for a first time. A tad painful because both of us were virgins. So much better after the first time and when there is love for the other person and he has love for you. As an afterthought: A man with a great body and experience isn't bad either. ELIZA! She chastised herself gently.
Eliza had jumped at the site of the bedroom door opening. Her eyes from her perspective sitting on the bed went first to William and his loosely closed dressing gown and then her nose detected the delicious scent of eggs and sausage. The last thing she noticed was the red rose tucked in the crystal glass bud vase in the center of the heavy tray he carried.
"Good morning, Eliza, my love! I thought I would make us some breakfast because I'm sure you're hungry after last night. I know I am!"
Eliza remained in bed and smiled widely at her fiancé. It's been five minutes, and he didn't tease me this time about my lack of cooking skills. She continued to smile and in bed with the sheets under her armpits covering her breasts.
"If you think I'm rising out of this bed dressed in nothing but my birthday suit with my hair covering my assets like Lady Godiva you have been sadly mistaken. It's not that easy now that you've had me. Otherwise, I would gladly help you in your travails in bringing breakfast. By the way, I thank you since we both know I couldn't cook an egg properly."
William said good humoredly, "Will you shut up, woman and take this tray so I can sit down! I got a draft up my ass in this skimpy dressin' gown!"
He smiled broadly and Eliza did forego the sheet revealing her whole naked body to William's eyes. She noticed his smile and wanted to blush but then she realized maybe that this whole thing was a ruse so he could see her in broad daylight.
She took the tray from him, and William summarily got back into bed beside her.
A little later as they were chomping down some bacon between kissing and feeding each other, William removed the tray and food. He lay back against the plumped propped pillows. He was bare chested and swung one arm out to Eliza. His hair contained no pomade, so his curls were uninhibited and took their natural place falling around his head. Eliza loved burying her hands in his hair when they made love. His hair was deceptively soft and thick. Again, she hoped if they had a child, it would have his hair dark and curly. Again, he would argue he that he would want a daughter like her small and blonde.
William sighed deeply and yawned loudly! He spread his arm out on Eliza's pillow inviting her to cuddle with him. She wiped her hands and face on the napkin she had retained when William decided that breakfast was over. She accepted his invitation and laid her head on his chest and ran her finger down one line of hair that began just under his pectorals and ran in one manicured line down to his navel and past to where it joined the other mass of dark curls. Eliza lazily stroked that part and laid a kiss on his chest. She loved the moment his arms surrounded her, and she could feel him kiss her forehead.
"You know, William, if the minister at the church could see us now he'd say we were already married in the site of God."
William made a noise and asked, "Would that bother you?"
"Not at all," Eliza sighed and closed her eyes. She turned her head and eyes to look up at William. She kissed him. She could taste the eggs they had eaten and the coffee they had drank on his lips. The kiss aroused William and he deepened the kiss. He guided Eliza down to her side of the bed pressing her to the sheets with his body. She deepened the kiss even further breathing in all of him again reminiscent of their first time on the floor in front of the fire downstairs in his living room. She would never look at that place again in the same way.
They may not be technically husband and wife, but in their bodies and souls they had been married the previous night when they had consummated their love.
Even later in the morning after Eliza awoke for the second time that day. She happened to roll over away from William's warmth. She could not help watching him as he slept. She had thought she had witnessed William in many situations now except that of him being a father to his children. By the same token, Eliza could not picture herself a mother without paralyzing fear. She raise a little human! As much as she now recognized that she would be remiss in not giving William a son she was still scared.
After rolling over she finally spotted the clock on the night table next to her side. Funny how they gravitated to one side of the bed already Eliza thought. She assumed she was incorrect in reading the hands on the clock as it indicated that it was no longer morning but early afternoon!
"William! William!" She said shaking him.
"What?" he said sleepily as he turned over to look at her.
"It's 12:30!"
"So? Are we missing an appointment?"
"I thought we were going to help Patrick?"
William's facial expression took a dive. He huffed.
"What's the matter?" We can't stay in bed all day. You also said we need to obtain a marriage license so we can get married by the date we chose."
William huffed again and with a great swoosh of the bed sheets he reluctantly hauled his butt (beautiful and naked) from the bed. William was disgruntled at the fact that Eliza had do her duty by Patrick Nash. He went to his bureau and closet and began to dress.
"William?" Eliza asked at his grumpiness.
"Eliza," he said as he stomped over to his fiancée "I love you. There's nothing in the world that can change that but sometimes you have the worse timing for work!"
He kissed her roughly and then smiled to show he was not all that angry with her. He placed his hand on her sheet-covered thigh.
"Well, get up, my love so we can finish the day the way we started it."
"In bed!" They both said together and laughed.
Eliza and William decided to walk back to Eliza's house. After the loving, warm newfound intimacy of the previous night, the chill of the January air seemed an intrusion. However, much as William said everything was good and fine, all he wanted was to sweep Eliza up in his arms and carry her to the nearest Justice of the Peace and get married today. Afterward they could shuck all outside responsibilities and interferences and just remain together until the next available train carried them to the nearest port and steamer to America where they could start their life together.
"William?" Eliza asked suddenly. "I have the feeling you're not very interested in keeping your word to Patrick?"
William harrumphed.
"You're correct, Eliza. I'm not. I am only helping you because you need Scotland Yard's resources and to keep you under my protection so we can get married in April."
Eliza put her arm through William's and looked up at him.
"Nothing will stop me from becoming your wife William or partner."
"Partner?" he repeated.
"Yes, partner. Like the vow until death we do part," Eliza said teasingly.
William saw her half joke and smiled. He put his arm around her as they continued their walk.
They arrived in time to see Ivy flying out the door.
"Where are you going, Ivy? Has Mr. Nash taken a turn for the worse?" Eliza asked pointedly.
"Yes, the doctor is up there with him now. I need to go the market."
"Ivy, go back inside for just a moment, please," William urged.
All three went back into the house. Eliza hurried up the stairs leaving a perplexed William and a worried Ivy below.
When Eliza made it to the sickroom, she opened the door quietly and saw Dr. Rodell who was she and Ivy's doctor and had known Eliza since she was a baby.
"Dr. Rodell, is Mr. Nash worse than yesterday?"
Dr. Rodell was a tall man with a mane of gray hair, gangling, and wore wired spectacles which hooked behind his ears. He was just removing his stethoscope from around his neck when he acknowledged Eliza's presence.
"I am afraid he is, Eliza. His fever has increased and I'm afraid if it doesn't abate soon we shall lose him."
He paused for a moment as he heard a horrid noise come from his patient.
"Ivy had been amazing in her ministrations to him, but she needs rest now."
A moment of silence passed between them.
"I understand felicitations are in order. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding with Inspector Wellington. At the moment, though, it is all hands on deck to help Mr. Nash through this. Send a message if he takes a turn for the worse. Otherwise, I will be back this evening."
"Doctor?" Eliza asked.
Dr. Rodell was halfway through the door but decided to step back into the room when Eliza had addressed him.
"I know these are symptoms of pneumonia, but can those symptoms be brought on by poison?"
Dr. Rodell looked aghast at that question. He said, "It's hard to say since I don't have any type of test. Could be. I do know of some herbs that can bring on symptoms of pneumonia."
"Do you think it likely? Could this just be pneumonia?" Eliza probed.
"Well, I would hope I saw other symptoms if poison was involved so we could give him an antidote."
"Thank you, doctor," Eliza said watching the doctor leave the room. She closed the door behind her and slowly walked near the head of the bed and took a seat on the chair that was placed next to it. The last time Eliza sat next to a sick person was when she sat next to William's bed in the hospital for three days praying that he would come back to her. Eliza had much compassion in her soul although she kept it hidden most times because of getting hurt if things went awry, so she did not like to see anyone sick or in pain. Looking at Patrick in his horrid condition struggling to breathe or even to open his eyes, Eliza felt badly. Eliza prayed for Patrick's recovery and, simultaneously, prayed that she would never see William again in this condition. She never wanted to see him unconscious in an induced coma. His body laying inert and wrapped in bandages monitoring the seepage of blood stemming from a gunshot wound.
Eliza was so distraught seeing Patrick in that condition and hearing Dr. Rodell's diagnosis that she did not hear the door open, and William enter. She jumped when he placed his arms around her from behind as she had arisen from her seat.
"Oh William," she said as she placed a hand behind her head and felt the prickly comfort of his bearded cheek as she stroked it and the warmth of his body behind hers.
"Where were you, Eliza. You were very far away it seems. Nash that poorly?"
Eliza patted his hand. She turned around and put her arm around his waist finding comfort in his embrace.
"Did you speak with Dr. Rodell?" Eliza asked William. "Is Ivy still here?"
"Yes, to both questions. I'm sorry that Patrick is in such a state that he can't give us more information, so I am going to the prison where he was incarcerated. Before you say you want to accompany me, don't. Let me handle this. You can be of better service to Nash if you…"
"Stay here by his bedside, correct because I will be your wife, right, William?" Eliza asked indignantly.
William shook his head in disbelief.
"Do you ever let me finish a statement or a thought where you're concerned or consider how I only support you?" William stated raising his voice a little overriding Eliza's angry chatter.
"Eliza!"
"What!" She responded gesturing for them to move a little further away from Patrick so as not to disturb him with their discussion.
William stood in front of her looking into her eyes so she would understand the truth in his words.
"I would never insult you like that. The investigation is yours. What I was going to say was before you interrupted me was that your time would be better spent if you go to the mortuary and see if Mr. Potts will give you a copy of the report of the autopsy completed on Nash's cell mate."
Eliza lowered her eyes ashamed of her kneejerk reaction. This was William, her fiancé, who had done nothing but always support her in the profession.
"I'm sorry, William. You're right, of course."
William bent his head and kissed her.
"Well, we have been distracted," He said and was pleased to see Eliza's smile.
"The mortuary was the first place I should have looked when Patrick told me that poison was involved. I think since I set the date our wedding has undermined my ability to solve crimes."
"Eliza, nothing can deter you from that, I am sure."
"I did inquire of Dr. Rodell. However, I know his answer was just to placate me as most professionals have. I have tried on other cases."
"I know, Eliza. It can't be as bad as it once was."
He took a moment to give her a hug and said in her ear that he was leaving now, and he would be back in a few hours.
"When I return we can discuss our findings," William said. He kissed her forehead and began to walk out the door when Eliza grabbed his hand. She stood on tiptoe and placed a long kiss on William's lips.
She said softly only for his ears, "Please be careful."
He smiled at that and said, "You, too."
Eliza went back and sat on the chair after William left.
"Patrick, tell me what happened the day you were released and how you arrived on my doorstep. I need to construct a timeline," Eliza explained to Patrick when he showed a bit of consciousness.
He spoke in a raspy low tone.
"I was roused at a little before dawn and told I had been released. I gathered my sparse inventory of possessions together and left. The door and gate was summarily locked behind me." Patrick stopped to cough as he had a hard time with even keeping his eyes open.
"What happened then? I know that being in and then being released from prison could not have been a pleasant experience, but I am surprised they did not give you more warning. You're sure that this has to do with your cell mate being poisoned?'
Patrick nodded his head. Then he continued having to stop every few minutes for a breath as it was difficult for him to speak.
Eliza saw him struggling and said, "Patrick I can come back later after you have had a chance to rest. Inspector Wellington has gone to the prison where you were incarcerated to learn what he can.
Patrick had fallen back to sleep.