Chapter Text
“Ah, Miss Scarlet…”
Eliza was only a few steps into the building at Scotland Yard when she turned at the sound of Detective Phelps’s voice. “Detective.” She nodded in greeting, eyeing the man. They had never been on the best of terms, but the recent case she had worked with Detective Phelps had done their relationship no favors. In fact, that case had only succeeded to erode it further.
The detective broke away from the other men he had been standing with and approached her. Eliza experienced a strange urge to move along, but the man was now right in her path, and she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She squared her shoulders, unbeknownst to her that she even did so. She did not care for the look in the man’s eye.
He stopped a few feet from her. Eliza knew of the hard time the man had been giving young Detective Fitzroy, and she dared not break the bully’s gaze.
Phelps rocked forward on his feet, hands in his pockets. “I take it you’ve heard that Duke is back from Manchester.”
She wasn’t sure what she had expected the man to say, but the neutral statement did little to ease her feeling of foreboding. “Actually, no I have not,” she replied. The tone in her voice gave little encouragement to further their interaction, but the man did not seem to care.
“Must’ve slipped his mind to tell you, then,” Phelps continued, suspiciously buoyant. “He’s been a bit preoccupied with - everything.”
Eliza did not think that she had imagined the slight pause before that last word. Doubly on guard now, she looked the man over, trying to interpret that strange glint in his eye. What was he up to?
“Well, Detective, life as an inspector does fill up one’s time with important matters.”
The hardening of his jaw told her he didn’t miss her insinuation. William had once told her how Phelps had desired his position if he ever left. The dig was short-lived however when Phelps’s expression cleared and an amused smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He looked like the cat that had got the cream as his tone sharpened with a snide edge, “That ain’t the only thing taking up his time.”
Eliza’s eyebrow furrowed slightly at the new glint in his eye. But she knew better than to ask.
Seeming to sense it, Phelps’s tone shifted once again, and in that still deceptively friendly tone, he said, “It’s a good thing you’re here. Duke told me he wanted to see you, if you ‘appened to show up.”
“Indeed?” Eliza eyed him warily. She didn’t trust the man or his sudden shift in demeanor.
“Aye, he’s in his office. Has somethin’ he’d like you to see.”
Slightly unsettled, Eliza pursed her lips, but she was also eager to remove herself from Phelps’s unwelcome company. “Thank you, Detective.”
“My pleasure, Miss Scarlet.”
She moved past him with one last searching look. He looked entirely too smug. She also did not like the way his eyes followed her down the hall. Why did it feel like she was playing right into the detective’s hand?
She turned the corner, quelling the urge to glance back at the detective, still puzzling over the man’s strange mood as she reached William’s door.
If she hadn’t been so preoccupied, perhaps she would have noticed William’s door was closed.
Perhaps she wouldn’t have just barged in, but listened at the door first.
William’s door was usually only closed if he had someone in his office. Perhaps his superintendent had come to speak with him about a case. Phelps would relish the idea of getting her in trouble with both the superintendent and William.
But unfortunately, no. It was not the superintendent in William’s office.
No, it was someone much worse than that.
What she would have given for something, anything to clue her in as to what was happening on the other side of that closed door.
Eliza stopped short, hand still on the handle of the now open door.
Then again, this at least explained Phelps’ prodding her to visit William’s office.
The couple inside quickly sprang apart. There may have been a gasp, some spluttered words, but Eliza heard none of it. The only thing imprinted in her mind was the two people in front of her, their lips locked in an embrace.
William. And…her.
Her. Arabella.
Eliza’s lips parted slowly, but no words formed. It felt as if she forgot how to breathe at the sudden ache she felt deep inside of her. She looked between the couple, who looked as startled as she. So many thoughts were whirling through her head that she could not seem to focus on any particular one. There were only fragmented words and images.
William.
Arabella.
Them.
Together.
Together.
Simply stunned, it felt like it took an agonizingly long time for her to gather her wits, though in reality it was probably, hopefully, only mere moments. Thankfully no one else seemed able to speak either as they just stared at each other.
Struggling still to gain her composure, and wondering how she could possibly play this off as if she’s unaffected – laughable, as she felt like an eternity had passed since she opened that door – she pulled her lips into a tight smile. It was the best she could do to keep her lips from trembling. “Oh. I – I didn’t mean to…interrupt.” Her eyes locked with William’s, and she could tell her forced smile and deceptively breezy words were for naught as his body lurched into the empty space between them, suddenly spurred into action.
“Eliza-”
He extended his arm, hand out placatingly, and it was suddenly more than she could bear.
“Excuse me.” Eliza turned on her heel and it took all of her usual sense of composure not to run out that door. She hadn’t even dared to look at Arabella or what she imagined to be her triumphant smile – how her childhood rival must have been lapping this up. The thought hardened Eliza’s jaw at the thought.
She heard William call her name once more after walking out his door, but she had already turned down the next hallway, the only thought being to escape.
Eliza pulled her thick blue coat closer around her as she exited the gates of Scotland Yard. It was a brisk winter’s day, but if she were to be honest with herself, the warmth and comfort she sought had little to do with the weather itself.
How could he? These words continued to flit through her consciousness, as quick as her boot heels hitting the ground as she moved away from the building. She was coming to the street corner - just a few more strides and she’d be out of sight. She should have hailed a cab. But she wasn’t thinking clearly.
How could he?
A few more steps to go.
But salvation was not to be had.
“Eliza – Eliza, wait.”
God, what a fool she felt. The hurt on her face must have been all too obvious for him to have followed her outside. Stupid, stupid Eliza, she scolded herself.
He had followed her through the building and down the front steps of the constabulary, Eliza swiftly moving ahead of him along the sidewalk outside.
“Eliza, please - stop.” She could hear the frustration in his voice as he caught up alongside her. She stopped but did not turn to face him. She could feel him studying her face, and a quick glance up at him from the corner of her eye confirmed it. She looked away in the opposite direction. Noticing this, his hand reached for her elbow as she continued to ignore him. He huffed out a breath, “I’m sorry.” He paused. She didn’t respond. “I’m sorry,” he repeats, “I didn’t mean for-“
But she didn’t want to hear his excuses. Eliza jerked her arm away, knocking his hand at her elbow out of the way in the process as she faced him, “Didn’t mean for what? For me to see you?” She folded her arms across her chest, her jaw working as she looked straight through him, shaking her head. “It’s not as if discretion seemed to be foremost on your mind.”
William stepped back, hands folding into his pockets, a resigned look on his face at her harsh tone. He glanced out at the busy street, not seeing anything as he tried to gather his thoughts. He could tell she was upset. Hurt. By him. His actions. And he didn’t know what to say.
Eliza glanced at him again, but looked away just as quickly, with a quick roll of her eyes. After a few more silent moments, she said, her voice softer but no less dangerous, “How could you, William?” Their eyes met once more. “Of all the women out there, how could you choose her?”
He looked her over, his expression serious. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Ignoring him, Eliza pushed on. “You know how I feel about her, I told you she made my life miserable in school.”
He took a breath, unsure of what to say. The least said, probably the better. Neutrally, he replied, “People can change. You were only children then.”
Eliza scoffed harshly. “We weren’t that young. And you, of all people, should know some people never change.” She gave him a pointed – and rather unkind - look.
William could feel his frustration simmering within him. He knew he should tread lightly, but he was also a proud man. His jaw tightened as sarcasm inched into this voice, “Yes, Eliza, and I’m sure you were an angel in school yourself.”
Her eyes narrowed at his tone. “I never bullied others if that’s what you mean.” He didn’t miss her insinuation as she continued, “But I am also not one to be pushed around either.”
Their eyes remain locked until he looked away.
Eliza went on, “She recently told me she was jealous of me. Jealous of the closeness I had with my father. That’s how she justified her teasing.” The short laugh she emitted was void of any humor. “No wonder her father didn’t pay her any attention. She’s always been petty and spoiled.”
“How many times does she have to prove to you that she’s changed from that young girl?” Anger was starting to edge into his voice.
“She confessed to stealing that necklace I told you about, by the way. She even gave it back to me.” She dismissed the arched look he gave her at this revelation. “She doesn’t care about some silly necklace anymore. What’s a necklace when she can apparently move on to people in my life,” she waved her hand to take him in. “It’s all for her own amusement! Can’t you see it?”
His brows lowered as he studied her face once more. He didn’t care for the harshness in her words. He didn’t like this side of her that he was seeing. He knew he had hurt her, but things with Eliza were always just so…complicated.
She gave him a pointed glance at his silence. “I never thought you’d be fool enough to fall into her clutches, William.”
His jaw clenched, his anger finally getting the best of him. “She’s been acting damn well better than you have lately, accusing her of crimes she didn’t commit – and I’m not talking about your damned necklace, Eliza.”
He could see his own frustration now reflected in her face as she threw up her arms in annoyance, “I can’t believe you’re taking her side!”
William stepped closer to her in his anger. “You humiliated her from the start of our investigation.”
“Oh, I see, now she’s some helpless woman that you feel the need to protect.” Eliza put her hands on her hips, not backing down from his intimidating stance. “Believe me, she is anything but!”
He took a deep breath, but it did little to calm him. “She has shown herself to be nothing but kind, and generous- “
Eliza cut him off with another roll of her eyes, “Oh yes, a paragon of femininity. You forgot to mention beautiful,” she spat.
His face hardened, his tone biting, “Yes, well, at least she knows how to act like a proper woman.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, William instantly realized his mistake, his eyes closing in regret. Eliza’s lips parted, her eyes widening slightly.
They both stood in sudden silence, frozen on the sidewalk.
It was a few moments before he broke the charged silence, speaking softly, “Eliza…”
She gathered herself and cut him off, tone equally soft, but hard as steel, “Don’t. She may act sweet, and beguiling, and benevolent, but at least I am true to myself.” She shook her head absently. “I am tired, so tired, of forever being compared to women like her and found wanting. So I will not – cannot- stand here and hear it from you, too.”
She might as well have slapped him, for the blow those words delivered. His pained expression said it all, but she once again was not looking at him. Somewhat desperately, he started, “You know I did not mean-“
But she held up her hand, cutting him off. She didn’t want to listen to him. She couldn’t listen to him right now. “Please. Before you can possibly say anything more that you may regret. Which seems quite unlikely.”
Feeling helpless, he gave a sudden growl of frustration, his fists clenching in exasperation, “Are you not even going to let me apologize?” He didn’t wait for her to reply, as he already knew her answer. The woman was infuriating! “How do you do this to me, Eliza, how do you always frustrate me so?!”
She returned his outburst with a cold smile. “Don’t worry, I’m sure Arabella will be all too happy to console your wounded pride. Good day, Inspector.”
He breathed in again deeply, a sign Eliza knew that meant he was trying to hold back his anger- too late for that- but luckily he said no more. She turned on her heel, with one last heated look at him, and walked away, turning the corner with a self-righteous flick of her blue coat.
William remained there for what felt like hours, rubbing his hand down his face. Lord knew it wasn’t the first argument they had ever had. But somehow he knew that this was…different than all those previous times. And this time there was no whisky glass to smash, and yelling in frustration outside the Yard would certainly draw the wrong kind of attention. All he could do was curse himself – and rightfully so. He growled under his breath as he stared at the corner around which she had disappeared.
Maddening woman!
He stormed back down the sidewalk and in to Scotland Yard, ignoring the greeting from the young constable at the front gate.
Around the corner, Eliza had taken that same route away from Scotland Yard countless times, but she could feel that this time the distance she was placing between herself and the building was much more significant. She hailed a passing cab, and it was not until she was in the cab, on her way home with these thoughts and feelings coursing through her, that she finally allowed the first tear to fall.
How could he?