you could have my heart (and i would break it for you)
-or-
be gay do crime
By: Aviantei
[Shibuya Operation – Story Storm]
The Disappearance of Lord Cecil Carfax, Act Two:
"we can still go on (a world where we shine awaits us)"
As one might expect, Jameson looked far more at ease in sleep than he did while awake. It was not always so—memories such as his often manifested in nightmares—but that was what made the peaceful moments all the more precious. That morning, there was no furrow in his brow, no purse to his lips that indicated his mind was elsewhere. No, Jameson had found himself in a peaceful slumber, one that allowed him the rest he so deserved.
It was a shame that William couldn't allow him to sleep longer.
He could, however, make waking up an enjoyable process. Pulling himself up, William brushed Jameson's bangs out of his eyes before leaning in to capture a kiss. It took a few seconds for Jameson to register what was happening, his eyes fluttering the slightest bit open as he kissed back, both of them remaining chaste before William pulled back just enough to have the space to murmur, "Good morning."
"…'Morning." Without the slightest bit of hesitation, he pulled William and the blankets closer, unwilling to move. "It's too cold out, darling. Let's stay in bed."
"As incredible as that sounds, we do have an appointment we are required at." Jameson pouted, but William couldn't afford to succumb to such things. "I will make it up to you by staying in bed with you as long as you like another morning, my dear."
"As long as I like, hm?"
The implication was not missed on him, and William couldn't deny the anticipation that came from the prospect of a nice, slow session of lovemaking tucked underneath their warm blankets while the rest of the world settled into a chilly day outside. "As long as you like," he repeated to make his point, kissing Jameson's forehead before untangling their limbs and slipping out of the covers. The snip of autumn air ran down to his bones, but William told himself it would be fine with layers of clothes and morning tea inside him. That didn't make washing his face in the cold basin any easier, though. "Besides, you worked hard to prepare the tarts for today's teatime, yes? I confess I've been looking forward to having one since you mentioned it."
"Flatterer." Jameson had yet to move from his spot, though at least his eyes were alert and watching William as he moved about the room. "Always tempting me with your pretty words."
"As you are the one always tempting me with your very presence, I would say it's a fair trade. Now come on, dear, up. It will just be all the worse the longer you put it off."
"So you claim, but I would argue—William!"
The last shriek had been expected—William had gone so far as to pull the blankets away without a single ounce of warning. Looking betrayed, Jameson curled up in an attempt to hold onto his body heat, but there was a limit to that strategy's effectiveness whenever the rest of the room held such a contrasting chill. William let out a playful sigh. "I had hoped not to use this option, but you left me no choice. Come now; you'll feel much warmer once you've changed from your pyjamas."
Jameson had twisted his face into a scowl, though William could tell the expression was in jest. "Rude. Barbarian."
"Goodness, such displeasure. It seems I will have my work cut out making it up to you." The promise of those words caught Jameson's interest, his expression softening as he pulled himself up to a reluctant sit. "It seems that at the next available opportunity, I shall have to spend my every waking moment lavishing you until I've restored my reputation."
"I believe you'll need to do much more than that, darling," Jameson said, at last pulling himself to his feet. Satisfied with the results, William dropped the blankets to the bed, encouraging Jameson to follow him to the dressing room. "You've committed a grave offense today. I will require an extensive amount of pampering to get you back into my good graces." William couldn't help but chuckle, and Jameson noticed. "Whatever might you be smiling for?"
"It's nice to see you in a much better mood than before, is all." As long as they shared a part of their lives together, William knew Jameson would no doubt encounter the darkness inside his mind again, but that didn't mean they couldn't appreciate the moments they had without it. William would even take Jameson's manufactured displeasure over the prior despondency that had seemed to last for an eternity. "I will always appreciate seeing your smile, even if it's at my expense." A little bit of harmless ribbing was plenty worth the results.
"If you think so, I suggest not dragging me out of bed in such a manner." Jameson's expression had softened, though, and his tone was light, so William wasn't bothered much. Together, they both got dressed, William helping to comb out some of the curls in Jameson's hair so that the two of them were presentable.
And if Jameson demanded an extra kiss to get back in his good graces before they headed out? Well then, who was William to argue?
"I'd like to introduce to you Officer Zack Paterson. Paterson, this is Jameson Liam Verity."
William's brief introduction complete, Jameson inclined his head in acknowledgement. "It's nice to meet you, Officer."
"Likewise," Paterson said, looking unruffled by the whole situation. He was a tall man with sharp, handsome features, his dark hair kept short and slicked to the side. His eyes were a rich green running close to but not quite hazel, the colour not in the least bit distorted by the square frames of his glasses. The suit he wore was in a traditional black, though there was something about the shade that paired well with his skin tone, making him seem far less pale than it could have otherwise. While looking serious, there was (unlike with Louis upon first meeting him) an underlying friendliness to his demeanour, which eased away any sense of intimidation Jameson might have felt.
No, instead, his emotions were focused on the undeniable surrealness of having a police officer inside Moriarty Manor—and one they were about to ask for help from regarding a crime, at that.
As if sensing Jameson's unease, Paterson flashed a smile. "I'm sure this is a strange situation for you, eh?" he asked as they all settled into the parlour, Paterson taking one of the single seats while William and Jameson settled into the spots that were becoming their usual positions upon the sofa, side by side. "Still, I've been working with Lord William for a while, so you don't have to worry about me pulling anything funny."
"If William trusts you, then that's plenty for me to do the same," Jameson said, though he would not hesitate to make anyone that betrayed William's trust regret it. "Will you allow me to explain the situation, then?"
"By all means."
"A dear friend of mine wishes to disappear from their family. Further, she intends to start a new life under a new identity once she's done so." While it would in time be necessary to mention Evangeline by her birth name to make the plan work out, Jameson would not do so until he could be certain he would be able to trust Paterson with that information—and Colonel Moran had been plenty of proof that he could not expect such outright support from everyone in William's inner circle. "However, we believe her family won't accept outright that she's run away."
Paterson nodded. "So you want me to help steer the eventual police investigation in a direction that will mean they can't find her, hm?"
"That is our intention, yes," William said. "We will at first stage a kidnapping, but one that will not ask for any ransom. Of course, it does mean that they will be looking for her previous identity—which, after her disappearance, will no longer exist." There would just be Evangeline, and then she'd be free to do as she pleased. Jameson couldn't help but look forward to it for her. "It's not as elaborate as some other cases, but it's still an important one. We would appreciate your help."
"Well, with my current position, I cannot promise much, but I'll do the best I can for you, Lord William." Paterson pushed up his glasses, his eyes sharp and observant. "Apologies that we haven't been able to meet under better circumstances, though. I'd hoped to stop by sooner, but duty calls."
"No, no, I'm sure your job is demanding." He didn't know all that much about policework, were he to be honest, but even he was certain there was plenty to keep an officer busy, even without accounting for all the cases that didn't get attention due to money and influence. "You were working on the case with Harris, right? That's why William helped you out with it?" And had come across evidence of Harris's other issues in the process, but that wasn't something Jameson wished to unload upon a complete stranger.
Paterson tipped his cigarette towards Jameson in a parody of a toast. "You've got it about right. Lord William here helps us find evidence for cases that are close but not quite obtainable by legal means, while whenever needed, I help out with covering up some things we'd rather let slide…such as the plot you've all gotten yourselves involved with now, yeah?"
"Yes, that's right." It might have taken upwards of four operations and the same number of murders under his belt, but Jameson was starting to feel somewhat confident in his role. "Though when it comes down to it, I'm afraid the crime won't be anywhere near as drastic as other matters I'm certain you've been involved with."
"I'd say a young noble going missing is drastic enough, but I do take your point." Pulling a fine cloth from his pocket, Paterson took off his glasses and began to wipe them clean as he spoke, "This isn't anywhere as difficult to cover up, for starters. Kidnappings often leave far less evidence, after all. The trick is going to make it appear to be a kidnapping and not a runaway case, since those will have different requests attached to them, but that shouldn't be too much issue with Lord William on our side."
William's smile was, as usual, adorable, and Jameson allowed himself to enjoy it. Just because the situation itself was serious didn't mean he couldn't find some joy in the little things. "Well, in comparison to other types of cases, it is much simpler, yes. We also have the advantage in that our client will be abandoning her previous identity, so hiding her in plain sight will be simple."
As someone who had gone through a similar change in public appearance, Jameson could testify to the effectiveness of the approach. There was, however, the caveat that Evangeline's family would still be alive in the aftermath, but that their primary residence was out of London would make it easier to keep out of their radius of effect. She should be fine, Jameson told himself. I'll make sure of it.
And part of that would involve making sure she had a place to stay when all was said and done.
"William, could I ask your opinion of something?" Jameson asked, to which William nodded. Paterson watched, observant without making it outright obvious, a skill he no doubt had honed while amongst the police force. "I know sorting out the details of the kidnapping is important, and we'll have Officer Paterson to ensure that goes well. But I was thinking about bequeathing Evangeline with some of my fortune so that she can take care of herself. Something like that could be complicated when it comes to the legal side of things—" For example, giving her such traceable resources under her name at birth before she went missing would look suspicious "—so I was hoping you could help set things up like whenever you changed my name on the records…"
Jameson could admit that he didn't know all the particulars of who such a system operated, but he knew doing such a thing was no small feat; it was for that reason that there were still traces of the name he'd held while being under Stratford's care, just to simplify inheritance matters. But for Evangeline, who wanted nothing from her family, they would just need to create her proper identity from scratch so that she could own the property Jameson was going to bequeath for her.
"Of course we could do such a thing. I'm glad you brought it up; if we prepare matters in advance, there will be far less of a delay in getting Miss Evangeline access to her resources as well," William said, and that show of support brough Jameson a sense of relief for one of his worries. In fact, William already looked thoughtful, so it seemed it would be taken care of. "In terms of delegation, I think Louis will be able to manage such things, so be sure to let him know what all you intend to pass over, alright?"
"I'll be sure to make a list, then."
"Alright, glad we've got a lot of that settled," Paterson said, leaning forward in his seat. "I'll be sure to lead the investigation in the way you need it, Master William, so be sure to let me know the details whenever you get things settled."
William smiled. "Thank you again for your help, Paterson."
"It's not a problem. Stuff like this is why I decided to join your cause, after all." Those green eyes landed on Jameson next, and the almost lazy smile was enough to catch him off guard. "As for you, I'd like to get to know you a little better since we're going to be working together. What say you to getting a drink? I have the evening off for once, so let's go tonight."
"Tonight?" Jameson echoed as his mind attempted to comprehend just what had been asked of him all of a sudden.
"Yes, tonight. Do you know what kind of hours we work over at the Yard? The chance to have time to yourself doesn't come often, you know."
"Then are you certain you want to spend that rare time with me?"
Paterson raised a brow. "Can you tell me there's a better use of my time than getting to know someone whom Master William wants me to work with?" he asked, and Jameson supposed he didn't see much flaw in that logic. It wasn't that he was opposed, either, just the thought of transitioning from please help me get away with kidnapping my friend to let's go enjoy a pint together was a hard one to parse. "Besides, I know a good place that's out of the way and quiet during the week. I'll be going with or without you, but I won't say no to the company."
Jameson glanced to William, who offered him a nod. "Yes, I know of where he speaks. I think you'll enjoy it, Jameson." Well, that made him feel the slightest bit better, but Jameson wouldn't be lying if he said he'd feel much better if William were present, too. "I think you'll find that you and Paterson have plenty in common. Why not go out and enjoy yourself a bit? I'll continue working on the details of what to do with Miss Evangeline's case, so you needn't worry about that."
It was because of his worry for Evangeline that Jameson considered protesting further, but he realised it would do no good. At the current moment, they couldn't proceed without a plan or other logistics, and it was too late to handle anything Jameson might be capable of doing on his own, so it was best to leave things to William. Besides, his curiosity was niggling at him for how a police officer of all people had become involved with the Moriartys' schemes, so a drink wouldn't be so bad, so long as he didn't overdo it and have a hangover to contend with while helping Louis with the chores.
"Very well," Jameson said, earning two smiles: one of encouragement from William and one of satisfaction from Paterson. "So long as you don't expect me to hold too much alcohol, I shall come along for the night."
"Do be sure to get him home safe," William said, and the concern made Jameson's chest feel warm in the most pleasant of ways. "Jameson is an important part of our family and our operation now, alright?"
Paterson nodded. "Not a problem, Master William. I'll get him home before the carriage turns back into a pumpkin, okay?"
Zack Paterson may have taken an unconventional path for a member of law enforcement, but he couldn't bring himself to regret too much of it. Yes, he'd made some mistakes, and yes, he'd gotten involved with some unfortunate people, but he'd been able to escape that situation and start reinforcing the law as he'd always wished to do.
Besides, it was those mistakes that had allowed him to meet Master William and his brothers, so it had worked out in the end. Without his errors, he wouldn't have been able to pursue the justice he'd imagined when he was younger, so Zack was rather content with his life—even if he was always busy and had almost no time for personal pleasures. More often than not, the most he got was sneaking in a smoke while at the Yard between tasks or heading out for a drink whenever he had the next day off.
That night he was determined to indulge in both, entering his favourite bar, Eleventh Hour. Lucky for him, his favourite spot at the counter was open, and, even luckier, they were early enough that the seat beside it was free as well. The latter matter was necessary since Zack hadn't come alone, instead bringing along the newest edition to Lord William's group along with him.
It had been hard to know what to expect of Jameson Liam Verity, even with William's explanations given in advance. He was a young man whom—much like Zack—had been helped out of an unfortunate position by the Moriartys, and was both in the middle of continuing his own crime consultancy whilst assisting the brothers with their plans. He also had a friend he cared enough about to stage a kidnapping for, which was where Zack's involvement came into play. But working off that along with one brief meeting to discuss business? That was nowhere near enough to get a good grasp on the man himself.
"Come on; don't be shy," Zack said, urging his companion for the night to follow him. Whenever Zack settled into his spot, Jameson Liam Verity took the one closer to the wall, his motions smooth enough to give the impression of elegance. "This is one of my favourite spots, I'll have you know. I don't think you'll find many places that are more relaxing than this."
"Is that so?" Jameson asked, his eyes flicking over the rest of the bar to observe the surroundings. It was a gesture Zack was more than used to seeing from each of the Moriarty brothers, and it seemed Jameson had picked up the habit as well. Overall, aside from some simple decoration in the form of a few landscape paintings on the wall, the bar wasn't beyond plush or elaborate, the simple wooden furnishings plenty to keep everyone comfortable while they consumed their preferred drinks. It was the low lighting that added to the atmosphere, the smallest of fires burning in the hearth to ease away any sense of autumn evening chill. "You must have a busy schedule in your line of work. I do apologise for dragging you out of your routine to help us."
Zack shook his head. "Nonsense. I do find value in my work, but helping Master William is by and far the most important thing to me." Something in Jameson's expression softened at those words, as though the sentiment resonated with him in some way. Zack found that Master William tended to have that sort of effect on people. "In the end, I became a police officer because I wished to pursue justice. And while it's an unconventional interpretation, isn't that what you're hoping to do, too?"
Rescuing someone from circumstances they didn't wish to be in suited Zack's interpretation of justice just fine.
"I suppose that's not an incorrect way to look at things," Jameson said, his eyes flicking away from Zack as the bartender approached. "Ah, champagne for me, please. Whatever you would recommend."
"And the usual for me." The bartender, Jason, was a rather stocky man with an impressive beer and moustache, but he took his job seriously, so he nodded and headed off to fulfil their orders. Zack folded his arms upon the bar, leaning forward to get a better look at his drinking buddy for the night. "Still, we're going to have plenty of time to talk about work while we're on the job together. I'll be the first to admit that I'm much more interested in getting to learn more about you right now."
"And what might you want to know?"
"What sort of relationship you have with Master William."
Jameson was unable to hide the surprise that had appeared upon his face, though at least he didn't jump from the shock. It was a reasonable reaction, all things considered, but Zack could confess to throwing a curveball on purpose, just for the opportunity to tease his new colleague just a bit.
And then, just as quick as it had appeared, that shock was gone, replaced with a look of blank indifference. "I'm afraid I haven't the slightest idea of what you're implying," he said, cool as a cucumber. "Much like with you, William helped me through a difficult situation, and I've chosen to help him in return."
It was, overall, a convincing delivery, one that might have even passed police interrogation under the right circumstances. The moment of hesitation beforehand would have given it away, though—but even without that brief moment of vulnerability, Zack felt confident he would've noticed anyways.
Of course, that's cheating to say, since I know Master William well, but still.
"Come now. I told you that you didn't need to be shy, didn't I?" Zack asked, and Jameson didn't look the slightest bit swayed. "Look, I get that this isn't the sort of thing you'd go and talk about to someone you just met, but I think we're rather in the same boat here. Besides, part of why this place is my favourite is because it's a sort of safe haven for mollies like us. You don't have to worry about any sort of prejudice here."
The look on his face still unconvinced, Jameson gave Zack one more sceptical look before glancing around the bar to see it with new eyes. It didn't take long for his expression to become somewhat stunned, and Zack didn't blame him: the patrons of the bar were nothing but men, and plenty were sitting in close capacity to each other in ways that couldn't be mistaken for anything but flirting. Zack's reaction had been similar the first time he'd been to such a place, too.
It was a strange feeling, whenever you'd lived most of your life knowing you were different enough to hide from society, to find a semi-public place where you could be open with who you were.
"I see," Jameson said, the edge melting out of his voice the first time since they'd been alone. There was something gentle and vulnerable in it, and Zack believed the faint smile slipping onto his lips in that moment was nothing but genuine. "In that case, I suppose I can tell you that William and I have an understanding between ourselves."
Just an understanding and nothing else? Zack thought he could be forgiven for having doubts about that, even with what little he'd seen of the two of them: they'd come into the room together, walking close; they'd sat down next to each other without hesitation; they'd shared regular glances that indicated a level of trust beyond the surface level.
No, one did not end up that way out of a level of understanding.
"I assumed as much, yes," Zack said, wanting it to be clear that anyone with a pair of eyes would have been able to guess that far—and they didn't need to be a police officer at that. "Though you'll have to forgive me if I think you can spare more details than just that since we're in a safe space and all."
One of those thin eyebrows raised up into Jameson's ginger hairline. "And why are you so invested in the first place?"
"Master William tends to be a very private individual, as I'm sure you're aware." Jameson didn't voice any objections, so they were at least on the same page when it came to that regard. "That's why I can't help but be curious. About someone he's interested enough to come to an understanding with."
He emphasised the word, just to make his scepticism clear, but Jameson didn't take the bait. Instead, he looked down to his hands upon his lap, something in his smile already slipping away. "I don't believe myself to be anyone special. It just so happens that the two of us share similar tastes in bed." Paterson squinted, as if that would be enough for him to find some sort of lie into those words, but no—Jameson believed what he was saying. "But if you're going to insist I share what those similarities are, I'm afraid I'll have to—"
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Some of these guys like to talk and talk and talk," said Jason on his return with two different glasses. While a bit on the more rugged looking side, his sense for mixing drinks to the perfect flavour was unparalleled. "Oho, what's this, Zack? You managed to find someone willing to go out with you?"
"I'm afraid not," Zack said, beyond used to the familiar teasing. "This one's already taken. I just thought he could use some more friends with similar interests."
Jason nodded. "That makes sense. It'd be harder to believe that someone hadn't already decided to court him." Jameson's earlier look was gone, instead replaced by one of embarrassment. "Well, whether you're taken or not, if you're one of us, you're welcome here. Anything else for you?"
Just seeming to remember that he was, in fact, at a bar, Jameson took a moment to shake his head. "Some sort of snack, please? I'd like for my awful tolerance to not catch up with me."
Jason laughed. "Simple enough. You wanna add to that?" Zack shook his head. "Coming right up."
And with that, he was off, Jameson's eyes following after him, as if he were trying to get a gauge on the man. "He's easy to talk to once you get used to how loud he can be," Zack said.
"He does seem nice enough." Jameson swirled his drink before taking a sip. "Oh, lovely." Satisfied, he turned that jade green gaze onto Zack, one ginger eyebrow raised. "You come to a place like this but you don't have a partner?"
"No one serious. My work schedule doesn't make me the most attractive option to settle down with. Not to mention not everyone wants that kind of relationship in the first place, even without the larger social risks." Shrugging, Zack pulled out a cigarette and lit it, taking a nice long drag. "I wouldn't mind one, though, if they could put up with me. But for now there's some people who are willing to indulge when we need it, so I get by alright." Zack had known what he was getting into whenever he'd chosen his profession, though, not to mention he hadn't had high expectations for ever being able to settle down in the first place.
It was still nice to imagine, though.
Judging by the thoughtful look on his face, Jameson thought the same.
Oh, Master William. We might need to have a talk at some point.
Putting the prospect of any potential lectures aside (that Zack would no doubt end up not giving), he focused on the man he'd brought out for company. "And you?" Zack asked, wiping a bead of condensation from his glass. "We might not be able to have the same things that everyone else does, but we can still enjoy what we're able. You may have nothing more than an 'understanding' at the moment, but do you have any grand ambitions for your future?"
"No."
The answer was swift, leaving no room for doubt in the slightest, and Jameson's tone had been definitive enough that there was no point in arguing. His gaze was directed at the opposite wall, but he didn't seem to be seeing anything in that moment. Almost everyone who joined Master William in his cause tended to have something in their pasts that stuck with them, an event or two that had convinced them walking the path of shadows would be the best approach for bettering the world—and Jameson was no doubt the same. It just so happened that whatever it was seemed to have impacted his outlook on the world in…other ways.
"Right now, what I want most is to help people and—and finish what I started." Zack didn't need to be told to understand that Jameson was not talking about the kidnapping request for his friend with that statement. "Other than that, I plan to use the time I have to do good, such as with Evangeline. So long as I can count on you for that much, I believe we'll be able to get along."
Zack finished a sip of his whiskey. "Is that so? Then I suppose we can be chums, then." Jameson eyed him with a faint bit of suspicion, but he didn't protest. Zack counted that as enough of a victory to smile before he stood from his seat. "In that case, no sense in sitting around while we're here. You enjoy a round of cards or two? We've got plenty of people who love to play without bets or anything, so it's far more relaxed than most other pubs."
That prospect seemed to ignite a spark of interest in Jameson's gaze, and he pushed himself off his barstool to join Zack, who thanked William for mentioning the titbit while Jameson had gotten ready. "I don't mind a game or two. William always wins whatever we play, so it'll be nice to have a chance at winning first place for once."
Crossing the bar to some other men he recognised, Zack chuckled. "Yes, he is like that, isn't he? Though by the way…" Zack eyed the glass held in Jameson's fingers. "You're happy with just that to drink, though? Even if you don't have that high of a tolerance, there's plenty of less sweet things out there." Not that champagne was too sweet, but it was something Paterson still had low on his list of things to enjoy at any rate. Jameson gave him a scandalised look. "What? Don't tell me you enjoy that stuff?"
"…Maybe we can't get along, after all."
The night at the bar had managed to pass without any major incidents, and Jameson could admit he felt a great deal more relaxed whenever he woke up at home the next morning. Perhaps it was the aftermath of how things had ended with Westmeath, the lingering exhaustion that tended to follow a bout of sickness, or something else, but understanding the full extent of Evangeline's living conditions and what she'd been enduring had left Jameson in a state of high stress. Paterson couldn't have known all that, but an evening spent with a good drink and company with which Jameson didn't have to hide a critical part of himself with had been the perfect way to blow off steam. Jameson hadn't managed to cinch a decisive victory over the others in cards, but it had been close.
He could give it another shot the next time he went.
Back at the matter at hand, though, with Paterson's help secured and a rough timeline settled upon, things were well under way to get Evangeline away from her family by the end of the month, which was plenty to make Jameson feel relieved. And if he was that relaxed by the prospect, he doubted he could imagine the feeling Evangeline herself must be having by knowing she was on her way to getting out of a hostile environment.
However, though the framework was near settled, there were still numerous details to manage, the foremost of which was getting Evangeline into a wardrobe that she liked.
It wasn't that she had no dresses whatsoever—she'd managed to keep a couple, still in their boxes and stuffed into the depths of her wardrobe. But with those, she'd had no opportunity to try them on beforehand, and so they didn't fit well, and that just would not do, not whenever it was clear she much preferred feminine dress to the three-piece suits she was tucked into by her family's expectations. So they'd arranged a day trip for her to visit London, and William had been more than willing to leave his and Jameson's shared dressing room for the occasion.
"I look silly, don't I?" Evangeline asked, clothed in one of said dresses. As she'd purchased them under the guise of acting like they were for a female acquaintance, it didn't fit well. For one, she'd overestimated the length, allowing it to expose her ankles in a move that might've made Jameson blush were he anything close to a prude. For the second, it was tight around the shoulders, a side effect of being tailored under the assumption of a different body type tucked inside of it.
"Anyone would look silly if they were wearing something that didn't fit them. I'm sure you can imagine just how ridiculous I'd look if I attempted to wear one of William or Albert's suits." Hell, even trying to dress in some of Louis's clothes, who shared much more in common with Jameson, would have unflattering results due to their difference in heights and muscle mass. "What matters most right now is if you're comfortable in it. How do you feel, Evangeline?"
The sound of her name seemed to remind Evangeline where she was as she blinked back to awareness. "I…like how it feels. The skirts are nice." Jameson knew if he were dressed in such a thing, he would disagree, but he and Evangeline had differing preferences for their wardrobes, and there was nothing wrong with that—not whenever Jameson could understand the concept. "It feels…freeing, even if it's a bit tight around the shoulders and other places."
Jameson nodded. "It'll feel even better once we get you into something made to fit you." He spoke from experience, after all. Stepping forward, he pinched a bit of the sleeve between his fingers. "Do you like this style, though? The colour? I assume so since you bought it, but it will be useful to give us an idea of what other types of dresses we should be procuring for you."
"I do. It's just like the sort of things I wished to wear when I was young." Evangeline took an experimental twirl, her skirt billowing out around her while she giggled. "I always wanted to do that, too."
Seeing her joy, Jameson couldn't help but smile. "I always used to pretend I had a tall top hat whenever I was younger. Not that we could afford such a thing." Jameson had already explained the rough details of his origins to Evangeline the other month, so there was no need to elaborate further. "Jim—that is, my best friend at the time—once found me a box that we used as a substitute. Some days we'd fight over who'd get to wear it, though, and it got messy once." They'd even had to explain themselves to Miss Penny, which was never an ideal prospect, no matter one's age.
Evangeline's laughter just grew. "That's adorable. Have you gotten around to trying on the hat of your childhood dreams, yet?"
"Yes, and it just so happens I cannot pull them off. I'll have to settle for a hat of regular size." If Jim had been able to see him try and fail…well, Jameson was certain he would've laughed in the same way as Evangeline was in the present. "You, on the other hand, seem to have a much better sense of style for yourself. I'm sure we'll be able to set you up with an excellent wardrobe in no time at all."
"If you say so…"
"Good afternoon, Lord Verity!"
The voice from the doorway spoke with such genuine cheer that Jameson almost didn't recognise it as Alice's. But sure enough, it was the dark-haired young woman, though she looked miles away from where Jameson had last seen her. The most obvious change was that all her bandages were gone, revealing the full charming effect of her face, though Jameson couldn't help but notice her collar went all the way up her neck, kept secure by tight button work. Her manner of clothing had changed as well, the dress she was wearing of a moderate quality fabric in a wonderful pale lilac that complemented the somewhat tan shade of her skin and the deep, deep blue of her eyes.
"It's good to see you again, Miss Alice," Jameson said, holding a hand to his chest and inclining his head. "I'm grateful that you decided to come out all this way. Miss Carol, I extend the same greeting to you as well." While Carol herself had not gone under any dramatic transformations herself, it was notable how much more at ease she was with Alice by her side.
Carol nodded by way of greeting. "I told you that I wanted to help, so that's what I'm doing. Though I'll admit this isn't the sort of job I thought I'd have at first." She let out a heavy sigh, but Jameson could tell it was, for the most part, for show.
"Not every case we have is like the one you asked us to take on," Jameson said, though he did have to admit most of the cases he'd seen had been like that. Part of that was his own influence, though, so he wasn't sure if that was the norm for the Moriartys or not—if you could consider anything about committing crimes to be a norm. "Still, this is a case that's important to me as well, so I do appreciate your help. Now, before we get any further, allow me to introduce you to Miss Evangeline."
Evangeline, who'd remained close to Jameson while the other women had entered the room, offered a curtsy, though her movements were stiff. "How do you do? Based on what Jameson has told me, you must be Miss Carol, yes? And that makes you Miss Alice." Alice gave a wave, while Carol kept a steady gaze. "Whatever help you can give me, I'd appreciate it very much…"
"I'm glad to lend a hand," Alice said, closing the distance between them. Her eyes were sharp and calculating, though she was trying not to make her observation too obvious; so on edge, Evangeline squirmed anyways. "We have plenty of taller women who come into our shop who say that finding anything that fits them is a nightmare, but you needn't worry. I'm starting to get some ideas in mind that would suit you well…"
"Hm, your skin tone would do well with some cooler colours for your makeup, too," Carol said, having fallen right into work mode. "Oi, Lord Verity, you said you'd fund whatever we need, right?"
"But of course." While Evangeline did have some resources to her name, she held a similar belief to Jameson that using any money from that family almost felt like a loss—plus her expenditures were rather monitored. It was much easier for their purposes that Jameson (along with Albert's assistance) paid for the lot of it—and he would spare no expense for his friend's sake. "We also want her to be able to fit in with noble society from here on out, so you may get whatever quality of supplies you need to make that happen." Not to mention Jameson had every intention of giving the women a bonus for their assistance once it was all said and done, but that was a matter to settle later; there was no point in leaving Evangeline at her family's home any longer than necessary. "I trust you can handle the job?"
"If we couldn't, the two of us would've been in a lot more trouble a lot sooner than we were before," Carol said. Jameson understood, but Evangeline was missing plenty of context, and her confusion showed on her face. Carol's mouth widened into a grin. "We're women of the night, my lady—or at least I still am. If we couldn't make ourselves drop-dead stunning, then we wouldn't be able to keep ourselves alive."
It was more than just an explanation, but a challenge as well, and Carol stared Evangeline head-on, as if expecting her to blink first. Evangeline, however, didn't falter, aside from a faint blush upon her cheeks. She cleared her throat. "I'm sure there's a lot you can teach me going forward."
"Oho?" Carol's lips slipped into an almost smug curl. "If the sheltered young lady wants some help, I suppose we can offer it."
"Carol, you're awful," Alice said in the most affectionate way. Poor Evangeline had started to blush ever darker, though it didn't seem as if she minded the prospect of such lessons. Jameson decided that would be yet another topic of discussion for whenever they'd gotten Evangeline into much safer conditions. "Lady Evangeline, I'm certain you must've heard from Lord Verity, but, thanks to his patronage, I'm working as an apprentice seamstress." That had been her wish, after all, and it had taken but a bit of investigation by William to find someone who would take Alice in. "I cannot do much more than take measurements and make adjustments, but we can get started today, if you like."
"Yes, please!" Evangeline had lit up in utter anticipation, and Jameson settled into a seat at the edge of the dressing room. His role didn't go much beyond making the connections and providing moral support, but he was happy to do it, nonetheless. Alice focused on taking measurements while Carol wrote them down, taking her time with each digit. Jameson himself stayed occupied by reading, having at last gotten to the collection of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin Shelley short stories that William had recommended a while ago. He was so absorbed in "The Mortal Immortal" that he almost didn't notice Alice heading over his way until she was almost on top of him.
"Lord Verity, is there a sewing kit I could use?" she asked, a bundle of lilac fabric in her arms that Jameson recognised as Evangeline's dress. "A machine would be nice, too, but I understand if you don't have one around. I just thought it would be nice to adjust this dress for Lady Evangeline since we have some time. It will also give us a better sense of how to put together her new dresses, so we have to make less adjustments later on."
Jameson searched his memory and recalled that the Moriartys did, in fact, keep a sewing machine on hand, and that Louis had once used it to repair the tear in Jameson's overcoat from hunting down the human traffickers the last winter. "You're welcome to use whatever you need. I'm sure that Evangeline would appreciate that very much." Slipping his bookmark between the pages, Jameson left the book behind on his chair and stood. "Evangeline, would you like a robe? I'm sure that it'll be quicker than getting into full dress and back out again." After all, she deserved to try the dress on to see just how much a difference a little customisation could make.
Evangeline, who was down to nothing but a set of bloomers, offered a grateful smile. "I'd appreciate that." Jameson knew his own robe wouldn't be big enough, so William's would have to do as a substitute, and he procured one from the wardrobe before bringing it over. "Thank you," Evangeline said, though it didn't take more than a matter of moments to tell that size wasn't quite right, either.
"…I'll take Miss Alice to the sewing machine, then I'll bring you back one of Albert's, alright?"
"I'd appreciate it."
In the end, the hustle and the bustle of the day ended in success. While it wasn't as precise of a fit as Alice would have seemed to like, Evangeline was still over the moon with the adjustments to her dress, which seemed to boost her overall confidence. Carol had also seemed satisfied, leaving Jameson with a long list of cosmetics and colours to purchase before the next visit, so that joined everything else on Jameson's task list. All he'd need to do was go to a department store, mention that he was making purchases for a lady he was interested in courting, and the rest would be a simple enough affair.
For Evangeline's part, she couldn't stay long, as she'd just gotten permission to come into London for the day, and she would be returning home that evening. Her reluctance was palpable as she changed back into her suit, but Jameson hoped the exhilaration of having a new wardrobe would be enough to get her through the last few handful of days until she came to the Carfax London townhouse for the masquerade, where she'd then be swept away from that life forever.
The anticipation of the case was almost enough for time to pass at a seeming crawl, despite how busy Jameson was in the meantime. There were the obvious matters of ensuring the kidnapping went off without a hitch, but there was also the preparation for the masquerade itself, which Jameson would be attending alongside Evangeline and Albert. Such an event, Albert insisted, required a new suit along with an appropriate mask, so there was another trip to Eden's, along with a costume shop. And, even beyond that, Evangeline would need a place to stay, so there were regular meetings with William to complete the finances part of the plan, which involved matters such as setting up Evangeline's new legal identity and giving her the funds Jameson had mentioned before. Such concerns also involved the purchase of a small house for her to stay in, the hiring of a housekeeper to stop by when appropriate, and then the furnishing of the place, which Albert took a great interest in coordinating the rooms together. There was enough going on each and every day that Jameson felt exhausted each night, dozing off not long after his head hit the pillow.
It was to be another busy day, though, as Evangeline at last had arrived in town for her longer stay, which meant that it was time for Alice and Carol to come over once again, bearing several suitcases of Evangeline's new wardrobe. Jameson had managed to procure everything on Carol's list the afternoon before, and the woman was in awe of the collection, it no doubt being the first she had access to such things in her life.
Once the initial greetings were over with, Carol and Alice set to work. First was getting Evangeline into one of her new dresses, along with the help of a corset. Jameson, for one, had never been able to stand the things, but Evangeline took to it with gusto as it gave her a bit more of a curve at the waist. For his part, Jameson had been asked to stick to the sidelines, which he wasn't opposed to, though he did keep an eye out for any particular tips or tricks he could use for his own disguises.
That being said, clothes weren't all there were to it. One of William's suggestions had been a wig for until Evangeline could grow her own hair out, so Jameson had picked one out based on Evangeline's requests. It was a deep brown, not unlike her own hair colour, but he'd gone one shade off just to make the connection less obvious at first glance. Further, it already had some faint waves styled into it, which made it much simpler to turn into the more elegant styles often found in women's formal dress. Once she'd been fit into both, Alice paused, stepped back to survey her work, and nodded for Carol to take over the proceedings.
With Evangeline settled into a chair, Carol directed the makeup brushes as if she were handling a piece of artwork. Even when working with products she could doubtless not afford, Carol had a good sense for how to use things—though she did wipe something away once or twice whenever it didn't apply to her expectations. Those mistakes were few and far between, and, after she got the hang of it, Carol was able to finish up. Like Alice, she stepped back to doublecheck her work (after everything, Evangeline was on the edge of her seat in anticipation and nervousness), and then Carol exchanged a short nod with Alice before the two women shared a nod and helped Evangeline up before directing her to stand in front of the mirror.
"Is this…me?"
Jameson could not fault Evangeline for the awe in her voice as she stared at her reflection. Alice had pulled through on her part of the job, making a dress that suited Evangeline almost down to a T. It was of a soft blue, with double-breasted buttons to create a sharp but elegant look. The use of a fluffy cravat kept the attention away from where many would expect a breast line. White accent fabric added variety in texture, and each of the cuffs and seams had delicate floral embroidery along the edges in pink thread that emphasised the softer look of the ensemble. Even without any further accessory or ornamentation, it was in such a contrast to the way suits had made her look that anyone who wasn't familiar with her might have a hard time recognising her—which was, of course, the point.
"Is it to your tastes?" Alice asked, attempting to stretch onto her tiptoes to get a better look at her handiwork in the mirror. "I think I'll need to adjust some of the lacework to make a better fit, but there's no point in doing that if you don't like it."
"No, no, I love it! I just…" She just can't believe it's happening, Jameson thought, understanding in full. He put a hand upon her shoulder in support, just as Evangeline began to sniffle. "Thank you so much, Miss Alice. I mean it."
Alice shook her head. "You'll have to thank my teacher. I'm still getting used to the seaming work."
"Don't be ridiculous," Carol said. "You contributed to some of the design, too. You need to at least take some credit for that."
"Yes, I suppose so…"
"No 'supposin',' yes you do!"
The scolding between friends was enough to make Evangeline giggle, her smile starting to bloom again. Good, Jameson thought, that's the look that suits her best. "I have plenty of thanks for you as well, Miss Carol. Your skill with makeup is rather impressive." Carol didn't outright say as much, but Jameson caught that she tilted her chin up just a bit more in pride. "I've wanted for so long to appear the same way I felt, and, thanks to all of you, I've been able to do so."
Jameson couldn't keep his own grin off his face. "You're just getting to express yourself the way you want, Evangeline. That's what makes you look so incredible." Whereas she'd been in awe at herself before, Jameson's words struck home to make her flush a deep red—but he didn't stop there. "Perhaps we should go show you off to everyone else? I'm sure that Albert would have no trouble helping me showering you with the compliments that you very much deserve."
"That's quite alright!" Jameson chuckled, but he didn't press the issue. Forcing Evangeline to go through too many overwhelming things at once could be too much to handle, and he didn't want to leave her exhausted while she still had to go and return to her family's manor for a bit longer. "That said, I know it's going out of your way after everything else, but there is someone I'd like to see while I'm like this…"
Jameson shook his head. "It's not a trouble at all. Where do you want to go?"
"…I want to see my sister."
Jameson had had no idea that Evangeline had a sister. In fact, as far as public knowledge was concerned, the Carfax family had no daughters, what with Evangeline being considered a son. Albert had been the one to inform Jameson of the Carfax family's affairs, as he'd done with all the other noble houses Jameson had become acquainted with over the social season, so Jameson had assumed the situation was as he'd been told. That Evangeline had never mentioned any other siblings beside her brothers had left him even less reason to doubt.
"When you say sister…" Jameson half-asked, his mind already spinning with possibilities but having no way whatsoever to tell what was most probable.
"My sister…isn't well liked by our parents," Evangeline said with a grimace. "In fact, she angered our father so much that he disowned her." Jameson couldn't help but wince himself; with women so much more restricted in society than men, it could be a slippery slope for a noble lady without the backing of her or her husband's family in some way. "She's alright, though!" Evangeline rushed to add. "She never liked our family much anyways. Whenever she went to school, Father threatened her to stop, but she refused. On top of that, she was always supportive of me, and whenever he caught her in bed with one of the maids…" When up against someone who was conservative and pig-headed, it was all but inevitable she'd been cast aside. "She was happy to have it happen, though she did apologise to me whenever she left, saying that she hadn't wanted to leave me there by myself. But if I'd run away with her then, I would've just caused more trouble, so I stayed." Stayed in a place where she'd hated every second of it. Evangeline had pressed her fingers together, the look in her eyes thoughtful. "I've seen her once or twice, but it was hard to get away with, and being able to exchange letters would be impossible. So I at least wanted to see her to show her that I'm alright, to let her know not to worry about me whenever she hears that I'm gone…"
Jameson could understand the feeling; such emotions had been why he'd gone to visit Miss Penny, after all. "I don't think it should be any issue at all. As you are now, I doubt anyone would be able to recognise you. Do you know where she is?"
"Yes. She works at a clinic, since she studied medicine." No doubt a subject most would consider inappropriate for a lady of noble standing, yes, but Jameson couldn't help but find it impressive; his own knowledge of the subject didn't go past the basics for triage of combat wounds. "Last I checked, she was still there, but…"
"If she's not there, then all we'll need to do is ask where she transferred to." And failing that avenue, they could use Fred and the Moriarty's intelligence network to find her, but that was a whole separate issue. "I don't mind taking you to see her at all, aside from the fact that it changes my plans to take you out to afternoon tea, but we shall have plenty of time to share that treat together." After all, once they were done setting Evangeline free, she'd be able to do whatever she wanted whenever she wanted, without any fear of her family's interference.
Evangeline nodded, the locks of her wig slipping over her shoulders. "Then if we could…!"
"You can go once we take care of your hair," Carol said, pulling Jameson and Evangeline from their own world. "I'm sure you rich types know better than anyone, but there's all sorts of rules for how women put their hair up." Carol's own loose style was something she could get away with as part of her "immodest" profession, while Alice had taken to pulling her dark locks back into a simple plait so it would stay out of the way while she worked. "If you're going to still be out and about in higher-class circle, then you're going to have to know this stuff. Alice, do you remember how to make that French braid crown? I think we can pull this off since the wig's so high quality…"
"Yes, I think so, too. Do sit down, Miss Evangeline, and we'll have you ready to go in no time."
Carol and Alice made quick work of Evangeline's hair, and with that their job was done for the time being—though they did linger a bit to see Evangeline admire herself in the mirror all over again. With promises to call on them again soon for their help, Jameson saw the two women off, and then escorted Evangeline into the cab Fred had called for them in the meantime, as Louis was too occupied with other matters to handle the drive himself. Sitting across from each other, Jameson had a front row seat to Evangeline smoothing out her skirt and admiring the autumn coat she'd also been fitted with.
There was something special about the sort of joy she was feeling, that Jameson had also experienced, enough so that they didn't need to say anything to enjoy the moment as it was.
Soon enough, though, their ride came to an end, Jameson getting out first to help Evangeline out, then turning to pay the cabbie for his services before at last looking to see their destination.
The clinic was none other than the one that Dr Burnett ran, and Jameson couldn't help but mutter, "What a coincidence." Evangeline gave him a curious look, but he shook his head. "It's not much to worry about. I've just received treatment here before, is all." And, based on everything Evangeline had mentioned about her sister's support, it made some sort of sense she'd end up at a practise that had helped Jameson with similar issues. "If I see anyone I recognise, I'll be sure to say hello, but no need to hold back on my account. Let's go see your sister, shall we?"
"Right." Squaring her shoulders, Evangeline went on ahead, Jameson catching up in enough time to hold open the door to her. From the moment they'd stepped inside, it was clear the day was a quieter one, what with just one other gentleman in the lobby—and that he was passing the time reading a magazine indicated he wasn't there due to an emergency. Still clasping her gloved hands tight together, Evangeline went up to the counter, and Jameson followed, tucking his hat under his arm. "Excuse me," she said to the receptionist. "Apologies for arriving without making an appointment, but I'd like to see Alexis, please. If I need to wait, it's alright, but, if you could, tell her…" She took a deep breath, and Jameson cheered her on inside his mind. "Tell her that Evangeline is here to see you."
The receptionist offered a smile that was for the most part there to make customers feel at ease, but she didn't seem too bothered by the request. Perhaps it was because she recognised Jameson, who had been at the clinic several times from his own care and visiting Alice. "I can go let her know you're here, but it may take a bit since she's checking on patients right now."
"That's alright. I'd just like the opportunity to see her."
"Very well. If you and Lord Verity would like to take a seat while you wait, I'll be back in a moment."
With that, the receptionist was off, and Jameson couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt over not remembering her name whenever she'd recalled his with nothing more than a glance. I'll have to make sure to learn it, since she's no doubt going to put up with us more than the average. Dr Burnett didn't ask too many questions, after all, just provided treatment, so he had no doubt they'd continue to use her services even after Jameson went and had the procedure upon his chest. But before any of that…
Evangeline's grip upon her own hands had gotten tighter, but her trembles seemed to be less from fear and far more from excitement. Jameson smiled. "It feels good to introduce yourself that way, doesn't it?"
"Yes. Yes, it does."
"I know the feeling. Now, shall we go ahead and take our seats so we're not in the way?"
Since almost no one was in the room, it was a simple affair to find two seats together. Since the outing had been so sudden, Jameson had not brought along his book to pass the time, though he did have his journal tucked into his overcoat pocket. Instead, he focused on chatting with Evangeline to pass the time, taking notes on her plans for the eventual garden she'd have at her new town house. While Jameson associated such activities with either spring or the summer (or, at it were at Moriarty Manor, inside a greenhouse), Evangeline assured him there were plenty of plants to tend to in cooler conditions, as well as much prep work one could do to ensure the garden was ready for spring. She had no shortage of plans, and was telling Jameson about the tulip bulbs she'd been intending to get into the ground as soon as she had the chance whenever the sound of rapid footsteps approached.
"Evangeline?!"
"Oh, Sister!" Evangeline was on her feet in no time, while Jameson was too stunned to make a move. After all, it wasn't every day that one saw Dr Burnett's cool exterior crack into one of pure concern, and she was out of breath to boot. They didn't have the precise same features, but, whenever they were side by side, it was simpler to see the similarities: the shape of their brows, the crinkle in their noses, the colour of their complexions. No wonder Jameson had mistaken them for each other when he was still bleary from sickness. "I'm sorry to visit you out of nowhere like this, but I wanted to see you."
Dr Burnett sighed. "If this were any other time, I'd say you'd need to be careful, but that doesn't seem to be a concern right now." Her eyes landed upon Jameson. "I suppose you had something to do with this?"
Jameson schooled his expression back into something much more polite than abject gaping. "Yes, though I'll be the first to admit that I'm just as shocked to see you as I'm sure you are to see me." The world was a strange place, but he supposed the connection made things much easier.
"I have so much to tell you, Sister," Evangeline said, which was quite the understatement.
"Yes, I can see that." Dr Burnett rubbed her temple, as if she had a headache coming on, but her lips were quirked closer to a smile than Jameson had ever seen them before. "I'm on my last appointment for the day. You two can come back to my office, and we'll talk when I'm done. Stephanie," she said, addressing the receptionist who had settled back into her seat without Jameson so much as noticing, "unless it's an emergency, can you have everyone else handle any walk-ins today? This is important, and I'm certain it'll take up a lot of my time."
"Yes, Doctor."
"Alright, I'm getting back to work. Lord Verity, you know where to go. Do try to stay out of trouble while I'm gone."
Jameson wanted to quip that he wasn't sure what kind of trouble he could get himself into in such a short span of time, but then thought better of it. He'd already managed to wander right into one incredible coincidence; no need to tempt fate and call out another one.
Dr Burnett's current patient must've been doing well enough, as it wasn't more than twenty minutes before she strode into her office, her white coat fluttering behind her. Opting to stand, Jameson had let Evangeline take the consulting chair, and Dr Burnett turned the chair at her desk to face her sister. The check patient cot was also an option, but Jameson didn't mind being on his feet when so much of his day had been spent sitting anyways.
"Explain," Dr Burnett said, eschewing any sense of politeness.
And so they did, Jameson and Evangeline taking turns recapping matters, starting from their introduction at the tea party during the summer, their growing friendship, and the eventual trust established that had encouraged Evangeline to come out during her recent visit. Jameson further supplemented matters by elaborating on his own association with Dr Burnett, just so that everyone was well and settled on the same page.
"Jameson and the Moriartys have agreed to help me run away," Evangeline said, getting to the matter at hand. "This—" she gestured to her new manner of dress "—is just part of that. But the plan involves faking my own kidnapping, so I wanted to let you know what was going on so you wouldn't worry, Sister."
"You know I'd never object to you leaving that place," Dr Burnett said. "I just regret that I wasn't able to be the one to help you do it." For a moment, her gaze looked distant, but she pulled herself together before anyone else in the room could comment upon it. "You do know that they'll think I have something to do with it, right? It won't be safe for you to come here or for me to come visit you."
"I know," Evangeline whispered, and Jameson couldn't help but feel bad for them both. He hadn't even considered how things would be impacted beyond Evangeline's immediate happiness and freedom, but of course her parents would consider the sister they'd deemed a bad influence as a lead. "I'm sorry for the trouble I'm going to bring on you."
Dr Burnett scoffed. "Like I care what the old bastard thinks of me. Besides, it's not like he can disown me again." She ran a hand through her hair, and Jameson couldn't help but think she'd look right at home with a cigarette between her long fingers. "I don't mind taking some extra heat if it means you can be happy, Eva. Don't hold yourself back on my account."
Tears shimmered over Evangeline's eyes, and she hesitated for no longer than the space of a breath before she'd launched herself at Dr Burnett in a hug. "Thank you, Sister," she said, the tears thick in her voice. "Thank you for always looking out for me."
"What else are older sisters supposed to do?" She stroked Evangeline's hair, pure affection in her expression to the point that Jameson couldn't help but feel like he was intruding. "Go. Go and be happy, Eva. Get the hell away from them and never look back." Eyes flashing over to Jameson, Dr Burnett's gaze grew as sharp as a scalpel. "You better keep an eye out for her, Lord Verity. If anything happens to her, I'll tear that entire manor of yours down."
"Of course. That was the plan from the start." So long as he could, Jameson would do whatever it took to keep Evangeline safe and sound. "If it will be a problem for the two of you to be seen together after all is said and done, perhaps it would be best to go out and share dinner together, now? My treat." Evangeline was all dressed up, after all. Her makeup would no doubt need a touch-up after she was done crying, but that wasn't much of an issue at all.
Besides, one more happy memory was always something to be treasured. A little bit of coin didn't matter in comparison to that.
"What do you think, Eva? Shall we go put a dent in Lord Verity's finances for the night?"
Evangeline's answer was a giggle. "I'd love to."
[Author's Notes]
So many things in this chapter that are fun! It was so hard of me to hold off on introducing Paterson earlier, but he works best here for sure. Will his and Jameson's friendship survive their differing opinions on sweets (lol)?
Thanks to the couple of readers who left kudos since last time. I hope you continue to enjoy the story!
We also have a glimpse of what Carol and Alice are up to. Alice is doing her best to move forward, one step at a time. And we also have the reveal that Dr Burnett and Eva have been siblings all along! I also scattered hints toward that; did anyone pick up on them?
At this point, we are halfway through the [Shibuya Operation - Story Storm] season. It's looking like a solo run from me this year, but I hope you all stick around the rest of the time!
Chapter title is from BUMP OF CHICKEN's "Acacia."
Next time: The Disappearance of Lord Cecil Carfax, Act Three. Please look forward to it!
-Avi
[25 January 2025]