Hades Lord of the Dead's December Calendar Challenge of Awesomeness 2014-2015 - 4th of December
[Prompt from SheWhoScrawls]Prompt for the 4th of December From SheWhoScrawls -Mrs. Hudson returns from church one Sunday to find a disaster in Baker Street. What happened?
I do wish Doctor Watson had not been called away on that urgent matter. I am sure I don't know what comes over Mr. Holmes in his absence. Perhaps he simply misses his fellow lodger, but I doubt very much that that man is capable of missing anyone. Would he even miss the sun were it to cease to shine?
Before I left the house for Church this morning, Mr. Holmes had been looking a bit peaky. I asked him whether he wanted some soup when I returned and he had shouted at me, telling me in no uncertain terms that he was not hungry and causing me to worry still more that he might be ailing. At least I had more sense than to ask him whether he was well - nobody would ever do that more than once, with the way in which he tends to react. Instead, I just casually suggested that it might be a good idea for him to have a short, mid-morning sleep. I was careful to see that I appealed to his brain by saying that it always helps me to think more clearly afterwards and he seemed to quite like the idea.
Mr. Holmes does not usually take naps and I was very concerned for him when I left the house. I even prayed for him at Church - or at least prayed that the doctor would hurry up and return before he came to mischief - and I decided that I would have to keep a close eye on him until the doctor did come home.
When I returned to the house, any concern that I had for the man quickly went out of the window. He had had a row with my best maid and she was threatening to leave. That was the first thing that I had to somehow deal with. I still know not what exactly took place between them, but she insists that she will never set foot in the rooms on the first floor again.
When I entered the sitting room, there were papers all over it - even fixed to the wall with the first sharp objects that had come to hand, by the looks of things. He had also taken down a picture to draw on the wallpaper that it hides. He had overturned the table (in the dispute with Esme?) and there was tea, coffee, milk and sugar spreading over the floor (he had spared his books and papers but not mopped up the mess) and soaking the carpet amongst broken fine china and cutlery.
"Mr. Holmes!" I felt a good amount of satisfaction when he jumped and looked up at me.
"Thank you for the recommendation of a siesta Mrs. Hudson," said he pleasantly, as if he had done nothing to make me so very angry. "You are quite right - I do feel very much brighter."
I wagged my finger at him. "What is the meaning of all this mess?"
"Mess? Oh. I have been somewhat lost in thought and activity. Did I do this?"
I could hardly believe my ears! "Yes! You did - all by yourself."
"Well, I am sure that the doctor..."
"He is away on urgent business Mr. Holmes, as I am sure you remember."
"Oh. Yes. Yes, so he is. A pity. I would have valued his company during this case."
That has to be the first time that I have ever heard anything resembling affection alluded to by the odd man. His tone might have been unattached, but something in his eyes spoke of a longing for company. Despite my irritation, I felt my heart soften somewhat. Never the less, I was dealing with a difficult lodger and I was not about to let him off simply because he looked a bit sad.
"You have broken my best tea set."
"And what business did Esme have to come in here with it and to wake me?" he snapped. "I was at peace - I was... Oh! It is of little importance now. Wretched girl!"
"I am sure that she meant well."
"I do not doubt it Mrs. Hudson - they always do."
"You are going to have to buy me a new tea set or I shall have no good china to hand for when your clients come here."
He grunted. "Very well."
"And I want this room tidy before nightfall or... or... or else I shall report you and see that you spend the Christmas season looking for somewhere else to stay."
I meant not a word of it, but he seemed to think that I did. In his shock, his pipe fell from his mouth. Fortunately, it had already gone out. I have little doubt that the doctor will be hearing stories of wicked housekeepers that wish to see consulting detectives starve or freeze to death on the street when he returns.
I am still more than a little put out - I should not have to make such threats to get through to him! - but he has tidied up the sitting room, replaced my fine china and also given me a bouquet of Christmas roses. Perhaps this means that he is feeling some remorse.
I do wish Doctor Watson had not been called away on that urgent matter. I am sure I don't know what comes over Mr. Holmes in his absence. Perhaps he simply misses his fellow lodger, but I doubt very much that that man is capable of missing anyone. Would he even miss the sun were it to cease to shine?
Before I left the house for Church this morning, Mr. Holmes had been looking a bit peaky. I asked him whether he wanted some soup when I returned and he had shouted at me, telling me in no uncertain terms that he was not hungry and causing me to worry still more that he might be ailing. At least I had more sense than to ask him whether he was well - nobody would ever do that more than once, with the way in which he tends to react. Instead, I just casually suggested that it might be a good idea for him to have a short, mid-morning sleep. I was careful to see that I appealed to his brain by saying that it always helps me to think more clearly afterwards and he seemed to quite like the idea.
Mr. Holmes does not usually take naps and I was very concerned for him when I left the house. I even prayed for him at Church - or at least prayed that the doctor would hurry up and return before he came to mischief - and I decided that I would have to keep a close eye on him until the doctor did come home.
When I returned to the house, any concern that I had for the man quickly went out of the window. He had had a row with my best maid and she was threatening to leave. That was the first thing that I had to somehow deal with. I still know not what exactly took place between them, but she insists that she will never set foot in the rooms on the first floor again.
When I entered the sitting room, there were papers all over it - even fixed to the wall with the first sharp objects that had come to hand, by the looks of things. He had also taken down a picture to draw on the wallpaper that it hides. He had overturned the table (in the dispute with Esme?) and there was tea, coffee, milk and sugar spreading over the floor (he had spared his books and papers but not mopped up the mess) and soaking the carpet amongst broken fine china and cutlery.
"Mr. Holmes!" I felt a good amount of satisfaction when he jumped and looked up at me.
"Thank you for the recommendation of a siesta Mrs. Hudson," said he pleasantly, as if he had done nothing to make me so very angry. "You are quite right - I do feel very much brighter."
I wagged my finger at him. "What is the meaning of all this mess?"
"Mess? Oh. I have been somewhat lost in thought and activity. Did I do this?"
I could hardly believe my ears! "Yes! You did - all by yourself."
"Well, I am sure that the doctor..."
"He is away on urgent business Mr. Holmes, as I am sure you remember."
"Oh. Yes. Yes, so he is. A pity. I would have valued his company during this case."
That has to be the first time that I have ever heard anything resembling affection alluded to by the odd man. His tone might have been unattached, but something in his eyes spoke of a longing for company. Despite my irritation, I felt my heart soften somewhat. Never the less, I was dealing with a difficult lodger and I was not about to let him off simply because he looked a bit sad.
"You have broken my best tea set."
"And what business did Esme have to come in here with it and to wake me?" he snapped. "I was at peace - I was... Oh! It is of little importance now. Wretched girl!"
"I am sure that she meant well."
"I do not doubt it Mrs. Hudson - they always do."
"You are going to have to buy me a new tea set or I shall have no good china to hand for when your clients come here."
He grunted. "Very well."
"And I want this room tidy before nightfall or... or... or else I shall report you and see that you spend the Christmas season looking for somewhere else to stay."
I meant not a word of it, but he seemed to think that I did. In his shock, his pipe fell from his mouth. Fortunately, it had already gone out. I have little doubt that the doctor will be hearing stories of wicked housekeepers that wish to see consulting detectives starve or freeze to death on the street when he returns.
I am still more than a little put out - I should not have to make such threats to get through to him! - but he has tidied up the sitting room, replaced my fine china and also given me a bouquet of Christmas roses. Perhaps this means that he is feeling some remorse.