Chapter Text
“Duke… DUKE!” Honeychurch’s voice hissed at William from the door.
“WHAT?” William snarled, annoyed at being distracted from examining the body on the bed.
“Miss Scarlet is here!” Honeychurch told him urgently.
“Shit!” William exclaimed as he headed over, just in time to hear Eliza’s steady footsteps approach the bedroom.
She arrived to find William’s large body blocking the door frame, “NO, not under any circumstances… You are NOT entering this room Eliza!” William said as forcefully as possible. None of the officers in the room spared them a glance, they had grown accustomed to the two of them frequently arguing at crime scenes or in William’s office.“William!” Eliza groaned, “I was hired by the man’s wife to look into his death, it is apparently highly suspicious. You cannot stop me from entering! This is my profession.” She said with finality.
William changed tactics, “Eliza, please…” He cajoled, “it is truly horrible in there, not something a lady should see…” As soon as the words had left his mouth he realized that that had been the worst thing he could have said.
“I have seen a lot in my line of work William, regardless of my being a woman or not.” Eliza told him haughtily and pushed him aside. William looked up at the ceiling and sighed, he heard her gasp, and he wanted to kick himself for not having done a better job of keeping her out.
When William turned back around, he noticed that Eliza’s face had gone pale as she stood stock still at the side of the bed, staring at the corpse wide-eyed. Her purse had slid from her hand and landed on the thick rug with a soft thunk. William had understated the crime scene, horrible didn’t even begin to describe it.
Eliza took a moment to look around the bedroom to compose herself before examining the body on the bed. She noticed that the room was opulent and palatial, matching what she had seen of the rest of the house as she had made her way upstairs. Still ignoring the body, she glanced at the walls, The man was partial to red and gold, almosteverything in this room is those two colors. The wallpaper was a deep red patterned with gold flowers, the same red shade was mirrored in the heavy velvet drapes, which had been pulled closed over the windows. All the furniture made of wood was of a deep mahogany color, with vines of gold leaf adorning the legs and drawers.
Taking a deep breath, Eliza finally turned her attention back to the bed, ignoring William, who was more interested in examining her reaction, as opposed to finding more clues on the body.
From what she could tell from a preliminary glance, the dead man was short and heavyset. In Eliza’s eyes, he had also been rather unattractive, even if he had been alive and clothed she doubted it would have done much to make him appealing. He was portly, his belly distended and bulging upwards as though he had swallowed a massive balloon, or more likely, he had not known how to turn down rich foods.
I did not think it was possible for a man to be that hairy… Eliza thought, allowing herself the momentary relief of a massive shudder. It seemed to do the trick and relieve her of her stupor, giving her the ability to regain her composure and walk around the bed to examine the body in more detail.
The man’s thick wrists and ankles had been bound tightly with silky black ribbons anchored to each post of the four-poster bed. His mouth was gagged and his eyes were open, staring blankly at the canopy above him. Eliza was just about to examine the ribbon that had been used to tie him down, when she noticed his flaccid manhood. It too had been wrapped at the base, with the same ribbon, tied with a neat bow, making it seem as though it was being presented as a gift. Perhaps a gift no one would want to open… Eliza scowled then swallowed the bile that had risen up into her mouth. She took yet another step closer to the bed, fighting the urge to run away.
William meanwhile was watching Eliza carefully, I must admit, she is taking this all rather well. I admire her gumption. He had nearly vomited when he had seen the scene, and Honeychurch actually had, which is why he had been stationed at the door. She also seems unfazed by a naked man… William narrowed his eyes, does she have more experience with men that I had thought? William, angered at the thought, wanted to confront Eliza then and there, but he saw her face and came to a realization, She’s only pretending not to be affected by this. I have to get her out of here.
For all her bluster, Eliza was feeling squeamish, I cannot admit to William that I am quite unsettled by this, he will most definitely use that against me as to why I shouldn’t be here. Am I private detective or not? Surely I will come up against crimes scenes like this again in the future. Although… I do wish William would insist I leave, I’ll simply pretend to listen to him for once. That should confuse him! Eliza was doing the best she could to distract herself, even if only for a moment to take a respite from her scrutiny of the body.
William lightly touched her elbow, causing her to jump. “Eliza…” William began to say. To both their surprise, rather than Eliza taking the opportunity to leave, she began to run through all of the questions that had accumulated in her mind.
“This is such an intimate and personal way to kill someone… I take it the blanket was pushed aside to put him on display… but how was he actually killed? Simply from being tied up? The gag does not look tight enough to have stopped his breathing. His nose isn’t clogged. Heart attack? He is not a young man and most definitely not in the best of health… perhaps his lover ran off… yet that wouldn’t explain the bow… Or does it? I must do some research…” Eliza mumbled to herself, suddenly feeling a headache approaching.
Oh my… those marks… Eliza had a sudden surge of wooziness overcome her as the possible cause of death became apparent. She had just noticed the blood that had seeped into the sheets and mattress from underneath the man. The darker red of the blood only visible against the red sheets depending on the angle of the light from the oil lamps reflecting on it. From what she could get a glimpse of, his back must have been full of flagellation wounds.
“Eliza, let me take you home.” William said softly, changing tactics, as shouting never seemed to work. Eliza simply nodded and bent down to retrieve her purse. What is that? Eliza caught a glimpse of something at the foot of the bed, it was another piece of ribbon, it had blended in rather well with the rug, the officers hadn’t spotted it yet. Deftly she leaned forward, as though she had lost her balance, and quickly grabbed it and hid it up the cuff of her coat sleeve.
William, thinking she was about to pass out, had just bent over to catch her, wrapping his arm around her waist. “I’m alright William, the dizziness has passed.” Eliza told him, pulling away from him.
Cautiously he let her go, but still eyed her with concern, then he nodded, “Come along.” He coaxed her slightly. Eliza, against her nature, demurely followed William out of the house to his waiting carriage. They were silent for most of the ride until William spoke up as they approached Eliza’s house, “Is Ivy home?”
“No, she is at her mother’s for tonight. Why do you ask?” Eliza asked curiously.
William sighed and blew his breath up at the top of the carriage. “I’m coming in with you.” William said with finality. Eliza simply nodded, preparing herself to be reprimanded by William for disobeying him and studying the crime scene.
Upon entering her home William spoke once more, “I’ll make us some tea and bring it to the drawing room.”
“I can boil water.” Eliza responded wryly.
He shook his head, “I’ll do it.” He headed down to the kitchen, leaving her standing confused in her hallway. Perturbed at William’s odd behavior she decided to do as he asked. For now.
She headed into the drawing room, and though she was desperate to examine the ribbon, instead she quickly hid it in her purse, not wanting to risk William seeing it, and taking it away from her. She didn’t want to push her luck, especially not after what she had to do for her last case.
Several moments later William arrived upstairs carrying a tray. He placed it down carefully on the table, Eliza watching his every move warily from her spot on the settee.
“William, I know you’re going to shout at me, and tell me… wait… why aren’t you already angry?” Eliza asked confused. William tended to shout right away, it was out of character for him to display such a massive amount of self control. William calmly poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her.
He sat down next to her and shook his head, “I’m not going to yell at you.”
Eliza blinked in confusion, “Oh? You’re not?” She was still on edge, expecting him to throw a teacup at any moment, instead, he poured himself some tea and absently stirred in some sugar.
William shook his head again, Eliza wasn’t sure if it was to reiterate that he wouldn’t shout, or to clear his mind of the gristly scene they had just seen. “I am going to sit here and be your friend.” He said simply, then took a sip of tea and sat back on the settee, crossing his long legs in front of him.
Eliza was stunned speechless, William never not shouted at her, especially when he was in the right. She turned slightly to face him, “William, I… I don’t understand.”
“Eliza, what we have just witnessed, was ghastly, most likely one of the most gruesome murders I have ever seen. Granted I am a man, something like that…” William shuddered but went on, “Regardless, I know it must have disturbed you too. So, I will sit here with you, if you wish to talk, I will listen, if there is anything you want to ask me, I’ll answer. Otherwise, we will sit in companionable silence, have our tea, and then I will head home.”
Eliza smiled slightly, surprising William, “You are being very reasonable William.” She told him.
He smiled back at her wryly, “I’m too tired, and if I’m being honest, unnerved by this evening, to argue with you.”
Eliza mulled what he said over in her mind, perhaps it is William who needs the comforting, more so than I do… True, it had been a horrible crime scene to witness, but for a man to see another man treated that way…
Unthinkingly, Eliza reached out a hand to squeeze William’s. He looked down at their clasped hands, then up at her face. “Do you wish to talk to me William?” She asked.
William hesitated, Does she truly care? Or is she hoping to soften me up and have me release details of the case to help with her investigation…? A part of William was sad that he thought negatively of Eliza’s offer to comfort him, but deep down, he knew he couldn’t always trust her. Especially in the aftermath of her last case.
After all, she just lied about the man’s wife hiring her for this case. The wife’s not even in town, I doubt the poor woman even knows yet of her husband’s demise. ‘Twas the maid who contacted us. She had returned early from her evening out, and thought the house had seemed eerily quiet. Eliza most likely had seen the commotion, spoke to the officer out front, and decided to barge in, coming up with that ludicrous story about being retained. William tried his best to hold back a retort, I cannae get mad at her, not tonight.
A flash of sorrow crossed Eliza’s face as she realized with dismay that William didn’t trust her anymore. She hung her head, she hadn’t expected her ambitions to have so blatantly hurt their tenuous friendship. Any other time William might have been right in his assumption, but tonight, Eliza had been genuine in her offer to listen to him.
William suddenly felt bad, he realized she had guessed what he had been thinking. “I’m sorry.” He said. The phrase came out rather loudly in the silent room. They looked at each other.
“So am I William. I’m sorry you feel as though you can’t come to me because I might have an ulterior motive.” Eliza said.
They both went silent again. Eliza having assumed that William would finish his tea then leave. Instead he agitatedly turned the teacup in his hands and spoke softly, “I can’t even begin to imagine the agony he must have been in.” A shudder went through his body.
Eliza reached out and lightly touched his forearm. “Do you have any theories?” She asked.
William shook his head, “There are places for people whose preferences lean towards those types of er... diversions. I dinnae know much about them.” He said, staring into his teacup, as though the remnants of the tea held the answers he sought.
William was no innocent in the matters of physical intimacy, but his predilections were very tame compared to what he knew was out there. Eliza gently took his empty teacup from his hands and placed it on the table. Then, acting on impulse, wrapped her arms around William’s neck and held him.
He stiffened at her touch, not at all having expected to be embraced. Then he quickly relaxed as he realized that she had been genuine in offering her comfort. He turned his body slightly to face hers and wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her slightly closer to him. Then they quickly broke apart. Their hug hardly lasted more than a few seconds, yet each of them felt flushed and off kilter.
William coughed and cleared his throat, “I’d best be going. Good night Eliza.” He rose from the settee.
Eliza stood too, “Yes, of course. I am quite certain we will run into each other on the morrow. Good night William.” She said as she walked him to the front door. William headed down her stoop, then with one last glance at her, strode down the street, having decided to walk home to clear his head.
How is it I can trust her with my life but… Lord knows I’d rather have her by my side than any of my officers, William couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought, Eliza had saved his life twice already, … but I can’t trust her when it comes to her cases? She’ll lie straight to my face without a second thought just to get what she needs… or wear that blasted red dress that makes her look so… Anyway, solving mysteries is always her priority, even above our friendship. She’s made that perfectly clear… William shook his head, I cannae think about that now, I must try to let that go or I’ll go mad. I still don’t think I’ve truly forgiven her yet.
Exhausted, William reached the stoop of the old house he lived in. It had seen better days, pieces of the brick facade had broken off, the paint around the windows was peeling, and the pathetic attempt to add beauty from landscaping had the complete opposite effect, the cloying scent of dead roses reached William’s nostrils as he hurriedly dug in his pocket for his key.
He entered the hallway and headed up the rickety stairs to the small space he rented from an elderly widow. Despite the state of the house, it was clean, and his living there was a convenient arrangement for both parties. William’s rent was cheap, his presence made his landlady feel safe in the slightly rough area of town they lived in, and she in turn would clean his room once a week and occasionally leave him dinner.
With a sigh, he tossed his coat over the back of one of the two armchairs in the area he had designated as a sitting room. Then, taking just two steps to his left, found himself at the kitchen, which consisted of a small sink basin, and a shelf holding a lone plate and set of utensils for one.
Ignoring the icebox, he knew it was empty as he hadn’t had a chance to go to the market, he reached for a half full bottle of whisky that he habitually kept atop it. Then he took a seat in the other armchair, staring unseeingly at the cold fireplace and his unmade bed just off to the side.
I cannae believe I’ve been living here for almost five years. A definite improvement from the single room I had to share before this, but I think a part of me assumed I’d be wed by now. William had a rare surge of self-pity, It would be nice to have a wife to come home to, a warm meal, or even better, a warm bed… His eyes focused now on his bed, he saw himself laying on it, then slowly in his mind’s eye it began to transform from the twin bed that barely fit his tall frame, to a larger bed covered in a floral duvet. A woman joined him with a bright smile, pressing her body to his as he ran his hand through her golden blonde hair…
Bloody hell, that woman will be the death of me…