Whitechapel: The Final Stand of Sherlock Holmes Read Online Free
Author: Bernard J. Schaffer
“If it is the last thing we ever do together, I promise to take you there.”
~ * * * ~
Will cut his pudding into small sections, sopping up the gravy politely, then smiling and sighing over each bite. “I will tell you this much, it is a sheer delight to eat food that does not have curry in it.”
“I will thank you not to discuss that disgusting, foreign culture at my dinner table,” Ann said.
Monty lifted his pudding and took a bite, quickly dabbing the gravy from the corners of his mouth before anyone noticed. He did not find the meal nearly as delicious as his brother, and was trying to finish it as quickly as possible.
Will nodded at him, pointing to a bit of gravy he’d missed. “Actually, Mother, at the risk of speaking further about things that disturb your delicate sensibilities, I need to talk to Father about something.”
“William,” Ann said through gritted teeth, “Do you hear him ruining my Sunday dinner?”
“Now, now, darling,” William said, patting her hand. “Let the boy speak. It sounds important. Will, please use the utmost restraint.”
“As you wish, father. I wanted to tell you that I am going to finish my service with the Army and return to England.”
“Really? What are you planning on doing?” William asked.
“I would like to go to the University,” he said, adding quickly, “but not for medicine. I want to pursue legal studies.”
William’s face darkened at first, but he managed a nod. “Well, I am pleased that I will no longer have to worry about you dodging bullets in India. You have my blessing.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“I hope you do not intend to stay here,” Ann said. “I have my hands full taking care of these two, and will not suffer to be worked like a slave in my own home. Your father refuses to hire on anyone to assist me, as much as I beg him.”
William shook his head. “Let us not discuss this now. There is no need for things to become agitated.”
Monty recalled the last person who worked in the home, and how Ann had attacked the woman and chased her from the home at point-of-knife. It was one of the few times that he’d seen his father lose his temper and shout that he would never subject another living soul to his mother’s insanity. She’d ripped handfuls of hair out of her head and shrieked furiously as William locked her in her bedroom and told her through the door that he would let her out when she collected herself. It took two days.
“I will be leaving for Blackheath in a few weeks,” Will said. “There is nothing to fear, mother.”
Monty’s head whipped toward him, “You’re leaving?”
“Just for a little while, Monty,” Will patted him on the shoulder. “The time will fly until I return, you’ll see. Once I am home, I promise you and I will have grand adventures together. Does that sound all right?”
That night, the two brothers lie in Monty’s room. The young boy listened intently to everything his older brother said about the mysterious and faraway places he’d been to. Will talked about interesting foods he’d eaten and unusual instruments that made sounds stranger than anything Monty could imagine. He talked about wild animals that would stalk you in the darkness and slice you open if you did not kill them first.
~ * * * ~
Every day when Dr. William Druitt finally came home from Portsmouth, Monty would be standing by the front window listening for the sound of the cab’s wheels crunching along the country road. The boy smiled brightly when William emerged from the carriage carrying his worn leather medical bag. William always tipped his top hat at the cab’s driver as he passed, entering the house.
Sometimes Monty and his father played a game, where William would pretend not to remember where he’d hidden a treat for Monty, and the boy would have to guess which pocket held the taffy, or sometimes a small, wooden toy.
“When can I go with you to work, father? I want to be a
~ * * * ~
Will cut his pudding into small sections, sopping up the gravy politely, then smiling and sighing over each bite. “I will tell you this much, it is a sheer delight to eat food that does not have curry in it.”
“I will thank you not to discuss that disgusting, foreign culture at my dinner table,” Ann said.
Monty lifted his pudding and took a bite, quickly dabbing the gravy from the corners of his mouth before anyone noticed. He did not find the meal nearly as delicious as his brother, and was trying to finish it as quickly as possible.
Will nodded at him, pointing to a bit of gravy he’d missed. “Actually, Mother, at the risk of speaking further about things that disturb your delicate sensibilities, I need to talk to Father about something.”
“William,” Ann said through gritted teeth, “Do you hear him ruining my Sunday dinner?”
“Now, now, darling,” William said, patting her hand. “Let the boy speak. It sounds important. Will, please use the utmost restraint.”
“As you wish, father. I wanted to tell you that I am going to finish my service with the Army and return to England.”
“Really? What are you planning on doing?” William asked.
“I would like to go to the University,” he said, adding quickly, “but not for medicine. I want to pursue legal studies.”
William’s face darkened at first, but he managed a nod. “Well, I am pleased that I will no longer have to worry about you dodging bullets in India. You have my blessing.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“I hope you do not intend to stay here,” Ann said. “I have my hands full taking care of these two, and will not suffer to be worked like a slave in my own home. Your father refuses to hire on anyone to assist me, as much as I beg him.”
William shook his head. “Let us not discuss this now. There is no need for things to become agitated.”
Monty recalled the last person who worked in the home, and how Ann had attacked the woman and chased her from the home at point-of-knife. It was one of the few times that he’d seen his father lose his temper and shout that he would never subject another living soul to his mother’s insanity. She’d ripped handfuls of hair out of her head and shrieked furiously as William locked her in her bedroom and told her through the door that he would let her out when she collected herself. It took two days.
“I will be leaving for Blackheath in a few weeks,” Will said. “There is nothing to fear, mother.”
Monty’s head whipped toward him, “You’re leaving?”
“Just for a little while, Monty,” Will patted him on the shoulder. “The time will fly until I return, you’ll see. Once I am home, I promise you and I will have grand adventures together. Does that sound all right?”
That night, the two brothers lie in Monty’s room. The young boy listened intently to everything his older brother said about the mysterious and faraway places he’d been to. Will talked about interesting foods he’d eaten and unusual instruments that made sounds stranger than anything Monty could imagine. He talked about wild animals that would stalk you in the darkness and slice you open if you did not kill them first.
~ * * * ~
Every day when Dr. William Druitt finally came home from Portsmouth, Monty would be standing by the front window listening for the sound of the cab’s wheels crunching along the country road. The boy smiled brightly when William emerged from the carriage carrying his worn leather medical bag. William always tipped his top hat at the cab’s driver as he passed, entering the house.
Sometimes Monty and his father played a game, where William would pretend not to remember where he’d hidden a treat for Monty, and the boy would have to guess which pocket held the taffy, or sometimes a small, wooden toy.
“When can I go with you to work, father? I want to be a
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