Sherlock Holmes and The Affair of The Contentious Contralto by Fiona-Jane Brown

Author:Fiona-Jane Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sherlock Holmes, mystery, crime, british crime, sherlock holmes novels, sherlock holmes fiction, sherlock holmes short fiction
ISBN: 9781780926131
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2014
Published: 2014-03-10T00:00:00+00:00

4

It seemed hours had passed since Joseph Harrison had made the announcement that Miss Adler had taken ill and the performance would have to be postponed. Sophie shook uncontrollably, burying her head in James’ shoulder. He could only hold her close and whisper platitudes to calm her down, his lips brushing her forehead every so often to assure her of his presence. His father had turned his wheelchair to face the auditorium, mainly to prevent himself being an obstacle to the other members of the audience as they filed out. James wondered at his father’s expression; it was one of puzzlement, punctuated with strange and grotesque grimaces. James realised that just as he had been starkly reminded of his mother’s death, so his father was suffering at the memories of losing his young wife. Helena Doyle, née Reinshagen, was only forty-five years old, but had caught enteric fever from one of the patients at the hospital where she worked. James hoped against hope that Irene’s collapse had merely been a nervous fit, nothing more, but Sophie’s raking sobs made him wonder if some supernatural agency had given his fiancée certainty about her mother’s fate.

They had heard voices behind the curtain, detected movement, likely the ambulance driver and the porter, come to collect Mrs Norton. A moment later Sherlock Holmes slipped from behind the curtains and walked slowly down the steps. Sophie looked up and wiped her eyes, “Oh! Mr Holmes, is my mother going to be alright?” she asked, attempting to sound cheerful.

James saw the detective’s face, it was pale, the skin drawn around reddened eyes which had evidently shed tears. He knew from what Sophie told him that Mrs Norton and Mr Holmes had a great mutual admiration, thus it was no surprise that he too should be overcome with emotion.

Holmes strode across to them and crouched beside Sophie. He put his hand upon hers and looked intently into her face, “My dear child, I... I have to tell you the truth. Your mother is dead. Watson believes she has had a heart attack, he and your father have gone in the ambulance to hospital, but it’s too late, I’m afraid.”

Sophie howled, “No! Not mother, no! It can’t be true, I am the one who has a weak heart, not mother, she was as lively as a bird!” Fresh tears drenched her cheeks. She turned to her fiancé and seized his arms, “Oh James, James, I wished her dead yesterday! I didn’t mean it, I didn’t!”

The young Irishman replied in as soothing a tone as he could muster, “Mo chroí, I know you didn’t! These things just happen, no-one knows why! I’m so sorry, I’m sure Dr Watson did his best!”

Holmes got to his feet. His jacket and coat were missing somewhere. He pulled the cravat from about his collar. “Indeed, Master Doyle, my old friend tried to revive her, but it was very sudden. I just wish... I wish it had not been like this.” Holmes glanced upwards as if he could not bear to meet their gazes.

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