The Sherlock and Jack Chronicles by Liz Hedgecock

Author:Liz Hedgecock [Hedgecock, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Box Set, british detective, Crime, detective fiction, Humour, London, Mystery, Novella, Sherlock Holmes, thriller, Victorian
Publisher: White Rhino Books
Published: 2019-10-26T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

I couldn’t stop smiling all the way home. I kept my veil pulled down, so I might grin as much as I liked. The omnibus seemed now to crawl, now to fly, as I recalled the details of my strange encounter, and wished the journey away in my haste to tell Tom and Mr Holmes about it. We had agreed Tom would call at Baker Street to hear any news, and I could not wait to unveil my astonishing discovery.

At last we reached the city and I had to change ’buses, fretting at the wait. It was dark and chilly, and my clothes were still damp. I stamped my feet and hugged myself to get warm, and I must have cut an odd figure in my brackish Sunday best.

But even the longest journey has to end, and I disembarked at Baker Street with a song in my heart. I hurried along, seeing nothing of the streets around me, intent on reaching my destination.

‘Here she is!’ cried Billy. ‘What have you been doing, Miss Day? It isn’t the weather for swimming.’

‘I went fishing instead, Billy.’ I lifted my veil and removed my hat. ‘And you won’t believe what I caught.’

‘Try me, Miss,’ he whispered, his eyes round and bright as sovereigns.

‘Is Mr Holmes in?’ I asked, as casually as I could.

‘I’ll take you up.’ Billy half-ran upstairs, and I was close on his heels.

Mr Holmes was talking with Tom. They broke off as I came in, and Mr Holmes’s expression softened. ‘From your hasty progress, I gather you bring news.’ He waved a hand at the remaining chair.

‘I have a sister!’ I burst out. ‘An identical twin sister!’

‘How wonderful!’ Tom sprang up and took my hands in his. ‘How did you find out?’

‘She soaked me with her carriage…’ He led me to the armchair and bit by bit I told the story of my meeting with Amy, how she had smuggled me into the house, and my unexpected encounter with her guardian.

‘It is like a sensation novel,’ said Mr Holmes. He smiled, but there was a slight knit to his brow, and an edge to his voice. Tom, too, seemed puzzled.

‘What is it? Why do you look like that?’ My hands fell to the warm, firm, reassuring arms of the chair.

‘I’m not sure,’ said Tom. ‘There’s just — something.’

‘Something?’ My voice rose, and I struggled to hold myself back. ‘What kind of something?’

‘Something … fishy,’ said Billy, from the doorway.

I whipped round and glared at him. ‘How would you know?’

‘Miss Day,’ said Billy, drawing himself up to his full height. ‘I may only be a servant, but it smells a bit off. Why doesn’t your sister know anything about where she came from? Why doesn’t she want to? And what business is it of this Mr Davey’s?’

‘Quite,’ said Mr Holmes. ‘Instead of solving the mystery of your birth, you have brought us another one.’ He leaned forward, rubbing his hands.

‘I am glad to be a source of diversion,’ I said, bitterly.

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