Work Text:
"Your friends are not the established authority, Sir Danvers, merely the established prejudice!”
The room stilled, and everyone in the room turned towards the source of the outburst. Jekyll blushed slightly. He hadn’t intended that comment to be so loud, but – as usual – he had lost control of his temper.
"I– I need a drink,” Jekyll quickly excused himself, cursing himself all the while. Why couldn’t he just keep his mouth shut? First with the Board members, and now here. Whenever he tried to defend his theories, he always ended up yelling at someone. No wonder I’m having such a hard time getting support, he thought wryly.
At least he still had a few supporters. Lisa had assured him again this evening that she was still by his side, Utterson had been there after the disastrous meeting to calm him down, and Danvers... he had abstained. It wasn’t much, but Jekyll appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. It would of course be even more disastrous to the older man’s reputation to outright support Jekyll’s admittedly unorthodox experiments. The Carew reputation was already on shaky enough ground with the engagement.
Feeling significantly calmer, Jekyll decided to rejoin the rest of the party. After all, it was his engagement they were celebrating! He made his way back to Danvers, relieved to see that the crowd had lessened significantly. At least he wouldn’t have an audience if he managed to lose his temper yet again that evening. Was that Stride talking to Danvers? Yes, it looked like Stride. How... pleasant.
“ –Can’t honestly believe Dr. Jekyll’s insane theories, can you?” Jekyll overheard Stride say, stopping him dead in his tracks.
He should just go over, interrupt their conversation, stop the gossip. Besides, Jekyll already knew what Danvers’s answer would be. His soon-to-be father-in-law was one of his few supporters!
Naturally, Jekyll hid himself behind a particularly large decorative plant to listen in.
Danvers looked around, presumably to ensure none of the other Board members were within earshot so that he could demonstrate his full support without fear of beginning another argument. “I’ll be honest with you, Mr. Stride,” he said after he determined that the two of them were alone (obviously, Jekyll’s hiding place was effective), “you know I care deeply for Henry. Already, I love him like a son!” Jekyll cracked a small grin at the affectionate words. “But I cannot pretend to agree with his mad theories.”
Jekyll started, nearly giving away his hiding place. What? No, he must have misheard; Danvers was on his side!
“If I am completely honest,” Danvers continued, blissfully unaware of Jekyll’s presence, “the only reason I abstained this afternoon is because he is engaged to Lisa.”
Though Danvers continued speaking, Jekyll did not comprehend a single word after that. Traitor! One of his few would-be-allies, gossiping behind his back and declaring his theories mad! Jekyll turned to leave, sick to his stomach. He had had enough with “respectable” society, pretending to be good people, to care about those less fortunate than themselves, until it was no longer convenient to keep up the charade.
He crossed paths with Lisa on his way out. “Henry, there you are!” she said, relieved. “I was beginning to worry.”
Jekyll kept walking, too angry to formulate any sort of response. He donned his overcoat, grabbed his cane, and strode out into the night.
“Henry? Is everything all right? Where are you going? Henry!”
He would apologize to her tomorrow, when he was more composed. Right now, he was too fed up with society’s games.