The Forgotten Niece of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 9

We walked through the streets of London, all six of us, walking side by side, with Kate to my left and Jack on my right, I followed their leads, my head held high and let my arms swing slightly at my sides.

We kept on walking through the streets, I saw that they got more familiar as we passed through them, even though my curiosity was nagging at me, I decided to stay quiet, to stay a sheep and followed.

After a little while, I saw that we were on the outskirts of Regent’s park, after a few more turns I saw that we then entered Baker Street, my stomach felt wrenched as I looked up at number 221B.

I steered my gaze away from the house and looked down at the cobblestones that my feet walked quietly on. Noticing my actions Jack lightly swung his arm so that his hand nudged mine.

I looked up at him, my hair hiding my expressionless face, but I knew that my eyes held a sense of longing for family, for home.

He smiled gently, his eyes full of sympathy, with a tinge of worry, I couldn’t help but smile, those blue eyes, so intense, but so warm that it was no wonder why Jack was so loved by Emily and the rest of them.

I could feel myself loving him as a brother; he let me go with him, he welcomed me along with the others, well, apart from Emily, but he also stood up for me when she was being mean.

Jack soon stopped by the railings of the house that was directly opposite 221B. He stood with his back to the railings, I was grateful, my back to 221B, I gave Jack a knowing look and he nodded discretely at me, his eyes were understanding, but his gesture didn’t escape Emily’s knowledge and I got a death glare.

I looked away from her deep icy blue stare and uncomfortably looked down and wringed my hands together and rolled on the balls of my feet. I now wanted to be invisible to Emily; I wondered what I’d done to upset her so much. What grudge did she hold?

“Right!” Jack clapped his hands together and looked too eager; I wondered what he was actually planning for today.

“You lot, wait ‘ere while me and Skit go se what Mister ‘Olmes wants us to do for him.

“And make sure that ‘e’s pays better, this time!” said Finch.

I was always told by my mother that Sherlock was a just man and would use any way of getting information I guess he thought that using the Irregulars was a way of getting street-gossip; it must have been difficult for a man of his class to go out and ask what was happening out straight and get an answer, let alone a truthful one.

I watched as Skit and Jack walked across the road and jogged up the steps and I heard the rhythmic knock of Skit.

Skit looked back and gave me a cheeky grin and winked before scowling at Jack who had punched him in the arm, he then looked at the door as he rubbed his arm roughly, and I really couldn’t help but smile at this.

I plonked myself by the railings and stared blankly at the door which Jack and Skit had just entered which was opened by the kind landlady, I was glad that she didn’t see me.

Finch and Kate sat on either side of me while Emily just stood, her hand on her hip, tapping her foot, waiting impatiently.

I looked up at Finch whose eyes were soft and staring at me, he looked away abruptly and coughed clearing his throat, he looked back over to me and said, “You okay?”

I smiled reassuringly and looked down, my cheeks burning slightly. He was staring at me! I thought. I looked up at the sound of hooves and I watched a pretty white horse trot on by, her driver looking moody, he hit her with the whip, her pace quickened and she turned around the corner, out of sight.