Funny Meeting You Here
Book 2/Chapter 17
William and Eliza went upstairs to talk to Patrick about the poison that his cellmate ingested. William was doing this as a favor to his future wife and not because he had wanted to be particularly friendly to Nash. William had strong feelings against Nash for more than one reason. The most basic reason he was not on friendly terms with Nash was because his cases, in particular, always put Eliza in more grave danger than she could find on her own. Also, because he felt she had been set up for failure when she accepted his position at his London firm and then totally bawled her out when he returned from London to find that she had run the business into the ground with no cases and only one original employee left who remained. That was out of duty to Nash and not for Eliza herself.
Anyhow, here he was at Eliza's behest. She had better keep her promise to him of a wedding date tonight!
"Well, Mr. Nash, it looks like we've gotten ourselves a bit ill. Can you tell me how this might have happened?" William asked standing above the bed next to where Patrick lay coughing every so often. He was sweating profusely as any ill person might. Eliza was helping Patrick drink water from a glass as William stood behind her.
Eventually Patrick signaled he wanted no more and Eliza took the chair sitting next to the bed. It looked for a minute as if Eliza was going to take his hand. William walked away. He was irrationally gratified to see that Eliza had not taken Patrick Nash's hand in comfort.
"I told Eliza not to involve Scotland Yard," Patrick wheezed.
"Patrick, Eliza cannot do this alone. She needs the resources from Scotland Yard. I will join her in this case."
"Ah, I know you have a vested interest in seeing this through. Congratulations to you Inspector Wellington," Patrick said.
"I assume you're speaking of our intention to marry," William clarified.
Patrick nodded. His eyes were glassy, and he choked every so often when he wanted to take a deep breath.
"Patrick. Don't distress yourself. Just let us know the basics right now. We can talk later if you need to," Eliza rejoined.
From across the room, William hung his head for a moment. He then moved the brocade drape to see the view from the window. He remembered when he convalesced here after his gunshot wound. Ivy hovering over him, encouraging him to get up and walk, to eat, and then when Eliza arrived home she would take over. She was a little too eager to help him and, in those early days, he toppled over on her as she was so much shorter than he. He smiled at the memory.
William took another seat in a chair on the other side of the bed. Between the two of them, William and Eliza understood the particulars of the case and what exactly they needed to find.
Eliza shut the door behind her.
"Now we can have that celebration!"
"What celebration? We didn't set a date yet unless I missed something."
Eliza smiled up at William and took his arm leading him downstairs and then downstairs to the kitchen where Ivy and, now, Mr. Potts, had laid the special cake on a large tray and made the table decorative for a party.
"Your birthday!"
William smiled. "I've never had anyone make such a fuss for getting a year older."
"Nonsense, William, what happened a couple of years ago."
"Oh, let's not go down that path, my love. You still haven't forgiven me for taking Ruth Johns home instead of you."
"Yes, well, I knew why you took her home, William," Eliza said giving him a side eye.
William quickly put his arm around Eliza's waist and pulled her close to him. In her ear, he whispered, "I could take you home tonight after we set the date."
Eliza knew what he meant and did not respond to his invitation. Then when he sat down she put her hands on his shoulders and whispered in his ear. "Maybe"
William's eyebrows went up and he watched her face as she held the plates out for cake as Ivy sliced into it.
The cake was a large sheet cake which could feed a lot more than five people or six if you count Patrick being able to partake. The icing was chocolate the inside was yellow, and it contained a layer of chocolate icing in the middle. Before Ivy sliced it the cake read 'Happy Birthday William'
Everyone sat down around the table slicing, dicing, and devouring the cake. Mr. Potts belched aloud by accident receiving a dirty look from Ivy. Then she tittered with Eliza as William laughed his booming laugh along with it.
When things had calmed, Ivy asked. "How's Mr. Nash? Any better?"
"He was able to give us some additional details about his cell mate and how he may have been poisoned."
"I will take care of him tonight. I want you to set that date and go back to William's house to spend some time with him. You hardly have seen each other for the last two days," Ivy observed.
"I didn't know you were keeping track of our time," remarked Eliza.
"I'm not! It's just obvious how much he wants to be alone with you." Ivy said as she gestured in William's direction. William it seemed oblivious to their conversation. Eliza looked at him sharing a joke with Barnabas.
"I hope that after we're married Mr. Potts makes an honest woman of you and then you can both come to America to visit us and we can have many more evenings like this," Eliza suddenly said. She felt tears brewing in the back of her throat and tried to stem them by suddenly reaching out and hugging Ivy.
Ivy's response was shock as Eliza had hugged her frequently but not seemed on the verge of tears when doing it. Eliza hardly ever cried unless it was of great importance. Many times, Eliza showed sadness through stubbornness to give in. Since she and William were reunited, Eliza had been correct. She had grown up. She had grown a woman's heart. Ivy patted Eliza's back and said that she would love nothing better.
"All right, Eliza, I have the calendar here on the table so let's set the date!"
Ivy cleared the table and put the remainder of the cake away and then she and Barnabas took a hike out of the kitchen.
"They are only setting a date, maybe, we should set one too?"
Ivy rolled her eyes and took Barnabas' hand and led him upstairs.
Hearing this exchange William and Eliza laughed.
"I shall have to see how Patrick is before I leave with you."
William sat back in his chair and smiled. "You mean you're coming home with me?"
"Don't act so surprised William. I want to be with you. I have missed you these last couple of nights." Eliza stood behind William's chair and put her arms around him and squeezed him and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"By the way if I come home with you, none of this sleeping in the guest room."
"Eliza, you know what I said. It's not that I don't want to make love with you it is just that I think we ought to be married before we do that."
"Well, I think differently."
Eliza had walked around his chair and took a seat on the other side of him.
"William."
"What?"
"Look at the calendar. I say we get married here," Eliza pointed to a date. Her engagement ring caught the light and twinkled at William.
"Saturday, April 24th. Sounds good to me. That still gives us enough time to tie up loose ends here and get us back to America, married, before my leave is up in May."
"Most of my ends are tied up. I just need to close my office and sell the space."
"What are you doing with the house?"
"Well, Ivy is permitted to live here as long as I pay the rent. Mrs. Parker still owns it," Eliza smiled as she looked away for a minute."I'm hoping that Mr. Potts will marry her shortly after we are."
"I hope so, too, for your sake. I know you would worry about Ivy no matter what she wanted."
Eliza picked a piece of errant cake out of William's full beard. She went in for a kiss.
"Let's go back to your place," she whispered.
Eliza and William walked in the chilly January night. They decided to take the walk to William's house, which was not a long distance, because they wanted a few moments to be alone in the quiet of the night. They had set their wedding date for April 21st over the loud conversation bantering between Ivy and Barnabas who all of a sudden became envious and was attempting to get Ivy to set a date as well.
"Wasn't it comical that Barnabas could not get a date out of Ivy unless he produced a ring?" Eliza asked chuckling.
William laughed loudly. "Yes, I've never seen Mr. Potts so adamant about a woman except when he's trying to keep you out of the morgue."
"Which I am always able to get around and find my way in?"
"Even when I was gone?"
"Took a little more maneuvering, but I was successful."
"Not meaning to change the subject, but it's amazin' to me how Ivy was pushing us out the door and handed me your overnight valise. What do you think she was thinking?"
"Maybe Ivy wants us to procreate before we're married," Eliza said unthinkingly. She just wanted William right now and was not sure when she would be ready to be a mother.
William stopped in his tracks.
Eliza stopped as well and turned so she could look into William's face. The night was cold and chilly with a few clouds, and it did feel like snow. Eliza could not see all of William's expression as his face was not directly in the moonlight.
"William?" She asked.
He took a deep breath, sniffed, and then tucked Eliza's hand deeper into the crook of his arm.
"Willam…you sniffed. Are you planning to say something dishonest to me? Like you now have cold feet after you pushed me into a wedding date?"
They stopped again, and William turned this time and looked at Eliza. He found she was teasing him because she smiled so wide that even in not direct moonlight it was dazzling.
"You know I could never force to do anything, Eliza. Even when I am your husband," William laughed back.
"Don't forget it, my love," she said and in the middle of the dark street she hugged him squeezing him tight.
"You won't let me. I'm sure," William said in a quiet voice.
They resumed their walk after another hug and kiss.
When they arrived at William's house, there was light coming from the living room window. As they entered the foyer, the house was warm and cozy. Just as William was helping Eliza off with her outer coat and placing it on the hook in the foyer, his housekeeper, Mrs. Rowe, was exiting from the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron.
"Oh, sir, and ma'am, I was just making the 'house nice and cozy for you. There's some cheese and fruit in the kitchen if you want something later and I'll be back in the morning to cook your breakfast,"
"Mrs. Rowe, thank you. Take tomorrow off. We'll be fine," William said.
"Aw, thank you, sir. Are you sure?"
"Don't worry. I'll pay you for tomorrow. No problem. Goodnight."
Mrs. Rowe who was a thin little woman whose hair always began in a bun but by the time she left at night half of it was loose and around her face as it was tonight, William noted.
"Ok. Thank you, sir. I'll see you the day after tomorrow then."
"Goodnight, Mrs. Rowe. Thank you," Eliza said as she accompanied the older woman to the door. Turning to William she asked, "Did you arrange transportation for Mrs. Rowe?"
"Yes, that is why the carriage is out there." He responded.
Eliza smiled. William was a good kind man. The best and she was very lucky to have him as her future husband.
"Inspector Wellington and I have set our wedding date," Eliza felt free to tell Mrs. Rowe.
"Oh! 'Ow wonderful! I am happy for you both. I was telling Inspector he'd better marry that Miss Scarlet. I know she loves you.""
Eliza turned around to look at William with an amused look.
"We'll be sure to send you an invitation, Mrs. Rowe. It will be on April 24th," Eliza volunteered.
"Oh, I'll be looking forward to it. I'm sure Ivy is jumping for joy, Miss Scarlet."
"Yes, she is," Eliza responded.
"Well, goodnight again, sir, and thank you for the carriage ride. Goodnight, ma'am."
Eliza shut the door as she ensured that Mrs. Rowe was able to get into the carriage without issue. She walked back into the living room followed by William. She stopped with William as they hovered over the small bar while William poured a couple of glasses of brandy. William handed Eliza her drink and they silently saluted each other. William stole a kiss before they laughingly made it to William's couch.
There was no light in the room except for the fire and it was warm and cozy. William sat down and unbuttoned his vest for the second time that night and discarded it. He began to loosen his shirt.
"Here let me do that," Eliza almost whispered. She undid the first button of his shirt. She absorbed his scent. William always smelled good. Eliza kissed William's throat and then as she undid his buttons she kissed the part that she uncovered.
William stopped her hand and then kissed her. "You don't have to do that."
"I want to, William," she breathed back to him.
"I want you, Eliza. I don't want to wait until our wedding night," William breathed deeply cupping her face.
"I don't want to wait either. I'm sure that's why you sent your housekeeper home in your carriage," she teased, and William momentarily stopped in his ministrations and looking into Eliza's eyes could not help laughing.
Eliza closed her eyes and kissed William and took his face in her hands and loved the feel of his beard in her hands and the brush of his beard on her lips. It was a wonderful sting. She could taste the brandy on his mouth, and she deepened the kiss.
"Eliza…" William murmured between kisses. They continued and William held her tightly. He loved her so much and was so glad that he could finally be with her like this. He continued to hold her and kiss her. He trailed kisses down her neck and started to swiftly undo the buttons on the front of her blouse. She told him she would do it, but he gently brushed her hands away and continued.
Once her blouse was off he kissed the gentle swell of her breasts that were locked in by the corset she wore underneath. "I hate these things," William said between kisses and caresses.
"You ought to try to wear one. They are most uncomfortable," she said as her hands undressed William. His dress shirt was completely removed and discarded. In the meantime, William had let her finish before he was going to take his liberties.
Before William was attempting anything else, he wanted to get comfortable. So, he took the blankets draped over the couch and their large pillows and threw them on the floor in front of the fire. Eliza was still on her knees and watched at what he was quickly doing. He walked back in nothing but his loosened trousers and reach down for her hand.
She put her hand trustingly into his and saw his intense gaze at her. She lowered eyes for just a moment and then with a deep sigh she jumped into his arms and wrapped her deceptively long legs around him. His large hands supported her small frame under her small tight buttocks. He practically danced with her to the blankets and then kissing lowered both he and her gently to the floor.
Eliza lay beneath him, and they were lost in touching. Eliza's hands were lost in his mass of dark curls of which she did remarked, "You know, William, I had quite forgotten until the last time I was here at how dark and beautiful your hair is."
"Ouch," William said. To which Eliza began to giggle.
"I thought you forgot something, my dear. Here let me…"
"No, I want to undo each lace and kiss that part, so you be patient."
Then he stopped again. This time he straightened kneeling before her.
She's so beautiful. I think I love her best with those soft kiss-swollen lips. Her tresses of golden hair are tumbling down her shoulders. Forgive me, Lord, but I want this woman like I have never wanted any woman. Ever since she was 16 years old.
Eliza knelt before William and kissed him putting her arms around him.
"Eliza, I need to ask you something."
"You can ask me anything, William," Eliza said stroking his shoulder and nuzzling against his beard and loving the vibration of his voice against her cheek.
"Have you been with a man?"
Eliza leaned back and cupped his cheek with her hand. She smiled as she looked at him. She really wanted to laugh from joy that she could answer in the positive, but she expected her fiancé had a different concern in mind.
"You're worried you'll hurt me?"
William looked at his fingers and then he looked at her face as she pulled on his beard to bring his eyes to meet hers.
"Don't worry, William. I haven't been a virgin for a long time."
When William heard that he was not sure whether he was happy or not. He had not wanted to hurt Eliza if she had been and now, he wondered who would take advantage of his beautiful bride.
"Before you get indignant or overly concerned, as I kneel here with my corset half off and my other garments elsewhere, just know that I am glad I am not a virgin because I know how to love you much better than if I were."
Relieved and feeling as if a great weight had been removed from him, William kissed Eliza deeply and lay her back on the floor. As she had mentioned her corset was half undone. William unlaced each lace a little at a time. He massaged her still covered breasts and his hands went lovingly around her small waist. Finally, when he had removed it, he continued on in the same vein and pulled down her pantalettes and noticed her legs were a lovely rosy, pink color and the soft bush of surprising dark hair awaited his mouth between her thighs.
Her scent drove him to the brink. He was hard and he wanted to plunge himself into her and feel her grip him inside and out. Instead, he gently spread her knees, and he heard Eliza's intake of breath and felt her whole-body shiver as he licked her at the knub between her folds.
"Oh William", Eliza sighed. She shivered with pleasure throughout her body as when William's mouth was on her sensitive spot.
Her legs shook in William's hands, and he stroked her thighs to comfort her. Willam managed to remove his trousers in the interim bearing a beautiful masculine body that Eliza glimpsed as he swiftly went back to work between her thighs.
She writhed on the floor, uttering her pleasure in deep throated sighs. William finished between her thighs and then he worked his way back up to her breasts. He had his mouth and hands everywhere. He murmured how much he had long wanted to make love to her, and Eliza responded in kind.
At one point, Eliza wanted him inside her so badly that she turned William over on his back using her deceptively strong legs. No one was more surprised than William.
"Lord, woman, been taking judo classes, have ya?"
"Yes and I couldn't wait to put the moves on you," Eliza joked straddling his hips with her spread thighs.
William laughed up at her and pulled her down for a kiss.
In a purring cat voice, Eliza announced in William's ear as she bent over him. Her body was so close to his that one move could no longer make them separate entities.
"Now, William, I want you inside me. I told you I'm not a virgin, so you are not going to hurt me… I want you."
With a hooded serious passionate intense blue/green eyes which were richer in color than usual, he exerted gentle pressure and with a deep breathless kiss just breathing in one another he turned her over and slowly, deftly, slid inside her.
Eliza 's eyes were wet with tears because she had never felt such intense pleasure and happiness before. She was barely breathing as William pushed harder and deeper into her folds.
"Ah…my love," Eliza said as she looked into his eyes. He had taken a hand and brushed back the damp, blonde hair from her head. The fire had lent warmth to their passion. The fire between them was as hot as the flames that crackled in the fireplace in front of them.
Eliza looked into William's eyes.
"I have always loved you, William. I don't think I always let you know, but I am now. Don't ever leave me again," she pleaded.
William kissed her with an open mouth and taking in all of her above as he was below. He then stopped and deeply sighed looking into Eliza's beautiful blue eyes. A tear escaped them and trailed down her long neck where William's lips chased the tear sweetly. He kissed her between neck and shoulder. A valley of white alabaster skin which he had remembered one time that was warm to his lips and sweet to the taste.
He thrust into her from that position and Eliza welcomed his weight on her and his girth inside her.
Eliza's hands found his very round buttocks and lay her hands there and like a jackhammer she tried to control his thrusts. Just the feel of her breasts pressed against his chest, his breath at her neck and his wide member inside her, the intensity coerced her to get loud with her orgasm which allowed William to regain control and gain his own intense orgasm emptying himself inside her.