Hey Folks! I was not sure if anyone was following this story on this site, but it seems there may be some. This posting is the first of 3 Chapters 10, 11 & 12 that I recently posted on A03. Anyhow, please feel free to continue reading on here. Well, William and Eliza are going to be married...at last! However, there is a wrinkle as William's son Thomas has been missing according to the cable from his daughter in NY. The Choice is do they marry in England which does take time or do they travel as engaged partners and marry in NY because the waiting period is essentially zilch. Please read to find out. Thank you to all who read and comment and are moved by my writing. It is truly a compliment. Love Carebearmaxi

Honorable Mention

Chapter 10

The Choice

William read the cable for at least the sixth time as he stood in front of Eliza's office. The door was locked for safety but he knocked and knew that Eliza could hear from the upper floor. At the sound of his knock, she had opened the window and looked down.

"Be right there," she called down seeing his worried look as he looked back up at her.

After only a few seconds, the door opened to Eliza dressed in her usual blue "work uniform" as he liked to think of it. Blue was definitely her color; it brought out her eyes.

"What's the matter, William?"

He handed her the cable.

"Dad, Thomas been missing for two days. Looked everywhere.

Happy for you and Eliza, though. Come home soon

Love

Cami

"I don't understand. Why does Camille think he is missing?"

"I am not sure, but it is expensive to keep sending telegrams back and forth over the ocean, so I will have to move up my departure date."

"Follow me," Eliza said as she climbed the familiar staircase to the upstairs office.

"Is Alex here?" William asked before she unlocked the door and went in.

"No. He should be at Scotland Yard with his contact. We had a meeting with a contact on an embezzlement/murder case we are working.

"William please sit down before you fall down," she said as she guided him to a familiar chair. It was the leather winged chair that had been in the same place since the days Henry Scarlet inhabited this office. It looked well worn but when William sat in it, he began to feel at home. Eliza apparently had improved some of the furnishings in the office over the years, but her father's chair still had pride of place.

He watched as she removed his coat and hung it up. She bent down and kissed him which very much surprised William. When they worked together their affection and touching one another had been at a minimum. Since his return and their promise to one another to marry, William's affection for Eliza was unguarded. It seemed hers for him was the same way. After she had kissed him her hand left his shoulder slowly as she took another comfortable chair across from him. His eyes never left her as he watched her every move. The fireplace was warm between them on this cold March day.

"You've made many improvements in all the years I have not been here," he mused.

Eliza smiled and William could not help but respond to that high wattage smile.

"Somehow through the years I have made this little business of mine profitable."

"You really never worked with Scotland Yard when Blake was there?"

"Very little. After we married it had been more of a cooperative/incidental type arrangement. It was never a blatant work arrangement."

They sat there looking at one another as Eliza still held the yellow paper in her hand. She looked at William and noticed how worried he looked. She knew that feeling. Sophia and Alex both worked cases with her and Alex had been a detective for a few years before coming to work for her.

"William," Eliza said breaking the silence between them.

His eyes silently flickered to her face at the sound of her voice.

"We'll find him," she said quietly.

"I know. You always were a very determined and very good detective."

Eliza lowered her eyes and blushed. She still, after all these years, became thrilled when William complimented her.

"Then let me repeat my question: Why would Camille think Thomas is missing?"

"My son is a police officer. He is a detective much like Alex was for Scotland Yard. Last year he uncovered a crime ring of murderers and corruption. He was paramount to bringing them to justice. He was wounded and received an award for meritorious duty. However, the crime lord vowed revenge and we have been living in fear that the other gangs would get revenge on him. Before I left, I know that Thomas was going undercover again on another suspicious case. When I received that today, I could only assume that Camille has not heard from her brother and that the worst is happening."

"Well, you must return to New York, William as soon as possible. I shall go with you, of course," Eliza said.

"Eliza, no," William said as he quickly rose from his seat. " I promised you we would be wed before we left England. Although I don't really want to leave without you. I am very afraid that something will prevent us from being together."

Eliza smiled and took his hands as he crouched down in front of her hair. She stroked his beard. I don't want to be without you again either Eliza thought silently.

"We can get married before we leave. We don't need a huge ceremony to be wed before we go to New York," Eliza said.

Eliza rose then and maintained her grip on his hands.

"Besides, I am not letting you go unless you do take me with you this time."

He smiled and kissed her a long tender kiss. He held her close to him running his hands down her back and over her hips. He felt her breathe in and hold him close, too.

"My God, Eliza, I can't leave without you this time. But…"

Eliza looked up at him. "But you need to get home to help find your son."

He perched on her desk and she went into his arms and looked him in the eye.

"I want to marry you here or in New York. If we get married here we will have to get our license as soon as possible and I will have to wrap up things here quickly and inform my children of what's happening."

She kissed him again. When their lips parted, she leaned her forehead against his and sighed.

"It seems every time we want to be together there is a roadblock."

William made a noise in agreement but then he kissed her back and said, "We could have overcome the last ones and we will overcome this one. You will be Mrs. William Wellington if it is the last thing I do."

Eliza smiled and said, "I think we should meet with Sophia and Alex, Jr. and see what their opinion is."

William leaned his head back to look at her and he asked, "Are you sure, Eliza? Won't Alex, Jr. find this as an excuse for you to remain here and me to go home to New York?"

Eliza pursed her lips and then said, "You leave him to me."

Alex, Jr. returned home after spending much of the day chasing leads and obtaining some information from Scotland Yard on the present embezzlement case. There was a murder also involved but Detective Inspector Blackman had to take charge of the murder portion as that was required by the police. The embezzlement portion of the case had been rightfully acquired by Miss Eliza Scarlet Private Investigator Agency and her son was the formal representative of the agency.

Pleased that he had come to some understanding with his mother and that he had a few days to weed out any untoward details of retired Chief William Wellington of New York City former Detective Inspector of Scotland Yard, Alex entered his house in a relatively good mood.

Upon his entrance, he stopped as he heard his mother's voice call him into the drawing room.

"Alex, dear, we're in here. Could you please join us?"

Alex rolled his eyes and wondered who his mother was entertaining now. She was never a social butterfly but she still maintained some of the acquaintances dating back to when Chief Wellington had been Detective Inspector and then Alex's father.

"Yes, mama, coming."

He took the two steps into the drawing room from the foyer and stopped short. There sitting in the cushioned loveseat was Chief Wellington and his mother side by side. Then on the bigger couch there was his sister, Sophia, and her husband, Bernard. He felt ambushed.

"Mama, I thought we weren't seeing Chief Wellington tonight?"

Sophia rolled her eyes and interjected. "Just take a seat, Alex, please?"

Alex looked at his dark haired sister and then did as she asked and took the last chair available which was a winged easy chair that used to be his father's.

"All right, so what is happening?" Alex asked looking at the inhabitants of the room.

Eliza started.

"Chief Wellington has received a cable from his daughter wherein she says her brother, Thomas, who is a police detective has been missing for two days."

"So?" Alex asked trying not to make a conclusion that he knew he was going to hear.

"I need to return to New York sooner than expected to help in the investigation and be with my daughter. Your mother and I still want to be married…"

Alex interrupted acting immaturely again.

"Oh no, that's not happening. You return to New York and then as soon as we're wrapped up with the current cases than mother can meet you in New York," Alex strongly suggested.

"Excuse me, Alexander, you are not my father. You will not tell me what I will or will not do. Yes, I must tie up some loose ends but then you can carry on with the investigations and I can contact Clarence. He will know who we can employ to help."

"While you get married and go off to New York to help find HIS son?"

William made some grunting noises because he had had just about enough of this sniveling youth's hostile attitude toward his mother and her wants. If anyone protected Eliza from anyone it had always been William and Alex, Jr. had been made aware as Eliza had told William of their emotional conversation earlier in the day.

Eliza looked up at her son who had jumped to his feet when he surmised the situation. This time she stood up physically to him.

"Sit down, Alex!" Eliza commanded. "I am doing you and your sister a courtesy by making you aware of the situation. I could have shed my responsibilities to you both and run off to New York with William tonight and get married when we got to New York, but because I am a responsible adult and I love you all very much I wanted to let you know in person what was happening and come to an agreement of action."

"Do you understand what Mama is saying Alex or is your back so ramrod straight that you cannot bend?" Sophia added when Eliza was finished speaking.

"Now, Alex, I would ask you to come with us because your detective skills are just as good as mine. You have also been a police officer and you are the same age as Thomas which I think is an advantage in this case."

Alex gave his mother a half interested look. "I can't leave. You know that."

"Yes, I was just getting to that. So, I need you to stay here and keep the agency going. It will belong to you and Sophia one day."

Sophia smiled in surprise. She really did not think that her stepmother thought of her that much. Sophia smiled at her husband who smiled back and stroked her shoulder.

"You are not going back into being a detective until after you've had that baby," Bernie said.

"We'll see," Sophia joked as Bernie affectionately rolled his eyes.

William who had been silent wanted to say something.

"Alex and Sophia. I would never hurt your mother. We want to be married when I return to New York. However, the least time that we can wait after getting a license is seven days. It is faster to get married in New York. We can get married the day after we get our license.

However, I need to get home. My daughter, Camille, is a few years younger than you, Alex. Her fiancé is in the Army and he is stationed away for another couple of years, so she is basically alone. She's a tough young woman but I would feel better to return home as soon as possible."

William reached in his pocket and found some pictures taken last year when Thomas received one of his medals last year at a fancy state ceremony in upstate New York.

"I am thinking that maybe if you see pictures of my children the situation which will be more inclined to believe that I am telling the truth."

He first handed them to Eliza who took both pictures and examined them.

"Thomas must look like his mother except I can tell he is tall and broad like you," Eliza said as she passed the picture to her son.

"Camille favors you William. She is a beautiful young woman," Eliza handed Camille's picture to Alexander.

Alex scrutinized the pictures for any aspect which may have been false, but he could not find anything like that in just the short glimpse of them. His mother was correct, though, Camille was a beautiful young woman.

The picture of Camille's older brother was one taken with him in his police uniform. Thomas had the bearing of a policemen and Alex asked if the badge on his chest was the meritorious valor honor.

"Yes. The photograph was taken the day of the ceremony," William answered.

He passed the photographs onto Sophia and Bernie who smiled and gave William a sympathetic look as they handed the photos back to him.

Bernie said after the photos were put back in William's pocket, "So if I am understanding this correctly. You want to marry before you go to New York but due to the stupid marriage laws the quickest you can marry here is seven days after the licensed is issued."

"So if you wait an additional time to get married and then it's what an additional two weeks by ship to get back to NY?" Sophia interjected.

"Perhaps, it would be better if we married in NY, William?" Eliza asked.

William played with the brim of his bowler which hung in his hands and then looked at Eliza. He spoke softly to her only, reiterating, "I don't want to leave without you…this time, Eliza."

Eliza gave William a hopeful little smile and put her arms around his.

"I want everyone to be at our wedding. Even if it's in New York," Eliza said placing her head temporarily on William's shoulder.

"All right. We'll go to the ticketing office in the morning and I will trade my one ticket for the same berth as yours. We can travel together and then get married when we find Thomas."

Alex interjected, "I did not mean to eavesdrop but do you really think that you going home to New York without marrying Mama here will be helpful? Do you think that your interference will help?"

William was not sure what Alex, Jr. was aiming for but William was relatively sure that he was trying to insult him in some way or another.

"Yes, because I know where to look as I am familiar with those who might one to get revenge on Thomas for doing his duty. I don't look at it as interference."

"So just go back to New York and let mother here wrap up her things naturally and have her join you in New York when she's ready."

Eliza gave her son a sad angry look. She rose silently and found William walking back and forth in the foyer of her home.

"William, don't let Alexander bother you. I think he's just overwhelmed with his responsibility when I leave."

William's face wore a thundercloud.

"I know I should not lose my temper with a young man such as he. I have lost it with my own children on occasion and I know it does not help. I just don't want him to think that I am trying to do something illicit with his mother."

"William," Eliza smiled as she turned him to look at her. "I came home early yesterday morning still in the gown I was in the night before. I think it's a little late to think that Alexander is naïve as to his mother's relationships whether illicit or not. He is still not used to being without his father especially where I am concerned. Now, come back in the drawing room and sit. Please?"

Eliza went into his arms and he held her. "I will not let anything separate us again." He whispered.

William allowed Eliza to lean back in his embrace and she said softly but firmly.

"Nothing will separate us this time."

William reluctantly stayed for dinner with Eliza and her family. William declined taking the head of the table as he felt that it should belong to Alex, Jr. He took the seat closest to Eliza who sat at the other end of the table.

Eliza and Sophia had tagged team cooking the meal as their housekeeper/cook was off for the week. They made a simple roast chicken with vegetables and potatoes and as the women served the meal Bernie and Alex had set the table. William had volunteered to help which surprised Sophia, but he had assured her that the men in his family participated in making and serving meals were common as his wife, Ellen, had had an outside job as well.

During dinner Sophia and Bernie were both very interested in William's childhood in the workhouse in Glasgow and how he had first met Eliza. Alex, Jr. seemed to brighten up through the course of their dinner which pleased his mother. She hoped that her son would emerge from that cloud of resentment and anger. She knew it might take a while, but Eliza hoped that when she did leave for New York her son would be happy for her.

Sophia smiled when William told the story of how Henry Scarlet had found him and how he had just trusted him without knowing what type of person William was.

"Henry accepted that he did not know and told me so. I was not a thief and I had worked honestly all my life. I could read and write unlike some of the children who had grown up in the workhouse. I had good parents but very poor and sickly before I went to the workhouse at age 10. I was awakened every morning by a boot in my behind and smack if I talked back or claimed I could not work. The food served us in the workhouse was sufficient but not nourishing. When I grew out of the workhouse, I was 19 and thought my best chance to find a life was in England. So I rode the train with the little bit of money I had saved from my wages and found myself in London. I slept in doorways and alleys until I could find work. I had witnessed a murder and I contacted Scotland Yard to report it. Luckily it was your grandfather who found me. He was my friend and my mentor."

Alex looked at his mother and at William as William regaled them of his history. Mama is smiling that electric smile. She never really smiled that way when she was with father. It is certain Wellington and she have a connection from long ago. Will it last, though? William has to be sixty and mama is almost that. I suppose I should not resent her having happiness in the last stage of her life. She's always trusted me because she knows she can count on me. Sophia was right.

"Mama, was it long after that William met you?"

"Oh, that's a long complicated story but it was not long. I was told to get this young man some food. Ivy, whom you remember like a grandmother to you, had told me to take care of him while she smoothed things over with my father. You see I was expelled from my current school at the time."

All of the families' collective expressions shown surprise. William just smiled because he knew what was coming.

"Suspension from school?" Sophia asked.

"Never would have thought that of you, mama," Bernie echoed.

Alex just sat there waiting in anticipation of his mother's ending.

"It was a school to learn to be a nanny which also included cooking and housekeeping. The three most hated professions or chores a scientific woman should have to suffer," Eliza said laughing at herself and her teenage thoughts.

There was a huge holler and hoop when they learned that. William laughed out loud.

The last thing they all knew about Eliza Scarlet Blake was that she had not started out as the mushy maternal type.

Sophia, who knew firsthand about the almost nonexistent maternal extinct in her stepmother, said, "That explains a lot about our awkward beginnings, Mama. You are very different than what I remember of my mother, but I came to love you just the same."

"As did I, my darling. So by the time you came along, my dear son, I was fully immersed in that maternal stuff that in my earlier years I could not understand or did not want to understand."

"Well, get back to meeting William, mama," Alex said sounding rather enthusiastic.

"In any event, I went downstairs to our kitchen and I find this somewhat unkempt though nice looking young man sitting at the kitchen table. I falsely pretended that I had cooked a smoked ham…I remembered this time, William…and that I would get it for him. Ivy told me what was available."

"So, she fed me and I knew she was in trouble because of the way she acted around me. I was right."

"Yes, you were. Then I sat there with him and watched this poor young man eat like he had never had a meal before."

"I had not eaten I think for twelve hours before that. I stole a meat biscuit because that and then vomited it in the alley because it was inedible," William had volunteered.

"Then I was investigating the murder case," Eliza continued.

"One, of course, she had no business doing investigation. Your father was very upset, but proud of you because you had solved it before he and Scotland Yard had," William interrupted.

Eliza smiled at him.

"I did trick William into accompanying me to this birthday party for this socialite that I did not really like…remember Rupert Parker, William?...(William nodded). Rupert was supposed to accompany me because Mrs. Parker who owned the house where I lived wanted us to be together. Rupert turned out to be a good friend but he was not husband material as he admitted to me many years later."

"So she invited me to be her escort," William paused. "I still remember you in that dress. I couldn't take my eyes off you. You are still the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

"William.."Eliza blushed and lowered her eyes. Then she said, "You did not clean up too badly yourself in my uncle's suit."

William smiled and he reached for her hand on the table. Eliza put her hand easily into his.

Alex watched the exchange and he observed William's behavior and manner during their play. He really was trying so hard not to fall under William's spell, but he found that William Wellington was a good man and may deserve that second chance with his mother. However, Alex was still not wholly convinced, but he would outwardly give the appearance of acceptance but quietly reserve the right to make a final decision when and if his mother left with William for New York.

After the dishes were soaking in the sink, Sophia and her husband departed for next door at their house and Alex said his goodnights to William and his mother, he departed upstairs to work, Eliza and William sat before the fire drinking a whiskey together much like they did before William left for New York all those years ago.

William took a sip of his whiskey and sat back. He eyed Eliza who sat closer to the fire but still beside him.

"You're sure you don't want to attack that heaping pile of dishes in there. I can help, you know."

"In a bit," Eliza responded. "I think Alex is warming up to you. I caught him smiling when he heard the story of our first meeting."

"I'm surprised you never told your children about your aspirations of being a nanny," William teased.

"What can I say? It never came up. Our dinners with Alexander when the children were small were filled with funny stories and such but when they got to be teenagers the whole atmosphere changed. Alexander always liked to live by the book and our children were not angels by any means. They were always in trouble. Alex called it their adventurous spirit and blame me, jokingly of course, for it."

"Can you imagine if we had children together, Eliza? We would have never known peace."

They both smiled at that thought and then Eliza took another sip of her drink and sat back against the cushions next to William. He placed his drink on the end table then took Eliza's drink from her hand and placed it next to his and pulled her into the circle of his arms. Eliza put her head on his chest and held his other hand in hers. Once in a while she would release her hand from his and rub his thigh or smooth down the buttons of his shirt.

They sat there quietly and watched the crackling of the fire. It had begun to rain and it was cold. There actually had not been much difference between this night and the night almost thirty years before when William kissed her and said it was "Goodbye for now."

William's thoughts went back to that night and then swiftly paced through the ensuing years that had led back where he had started.

"William?" Eliza asked softly looking up at his face. She noted that his eyes were fixed on the fire. "What are you thinking of?"

He swiped a hand over his face and looked down at his love. The last two days for him had been wonderful. He placed his head on top of hers and said, "Nothing really. Just the disbelief that I am sitting here with you in my arms and wondering, of course, where Thomas may be. You know that we need to leave as soon as possible. I am glad you are coming with me. Married or not."

"I am, too, William. I should never have let you go that first time. We could have been together and we would have worked something out. I know that now."

"Yes, but maybe it's better this way. We won't have all that strife between us trying to be successful in our careers and having children…"

"Growing together, William. That's what we missed."

"Mmm.."William mused. He then moved and rolled Eliza underneath him on the sofa. She put her arms around him and they kissed deeply.

"William….stay the night. In my bed, you won't need the guest room," Eliza whispered her invitation.

He smiled. "Will I suffer humiliation when I proceed downstairs for breakfast dressed in the same clothes that I wear now?"

Eliza smiled at how fast he understood her. It had always been so.

William's eyes drank in the beauty of her smile shining in the firelight.

"Definitely," she whispered stealing a quick lingering kiss.

William deepened the kiss. When their lips so close were separated he remarked.

"Then…yes…"