Holmes and Watson End Peace: A Novel of Sherlock Holmes Read Free Page A

way through the humblest of clients then I was happy to take their case on at the expense of more exalted clients.”
    â€œI agree completely, my friend.”
    â€œYet, I seem to recall that when I mentioned to this to you, you instead labelled me capricious. Capricious! Me? I could accept the epithet ‘unworldly’ but not capricious. I believe it to more of a female trait, more suited to that species.”
    â€œI stand by my usage of the word. And, Holmes you often displayed female traits to my mind. After all, I know you better than anyone and as you did a few minutes ago, I include your brother in that statement. How is Mycroft by the way?”
    â€œFinally retired, although he recently assured me he is still called upon from time to time by this present government when they have a knotty, diplomatic problem they wish to be solved with the minimum of fuss.”
    â€œHe still makes London his home then?”
    â€œYes. Neither old age nor retirement will in any way impede or obstruct my brother’s lifestyle. His life runs on rails which trundle remorselessly between their three ports of call; Whitehall, the Diogenes Club and his Pall Mall lodgings. Mycroft is impervious to change.”
    â€œWas he like that as a child?”
    â€œTo some extent, yes. He is of course, seven years older than me, so we did not exactly grow up or share a great deal of time together until I was in my mid-teens and he in his early twenties, when we shared some interests, or rather some interests were forced upon us by circumstances. He was extremely close to my father who was himself a man of narrow fields and interests. They spent their time in ganging up on me as if they resented my presence within the family. As if I was an intrusion.”
    â€œHow did your mother react to this?”
    â€œWe had a special bond and that helped to distance us from the antics of the other males in the household. My mother was a beautiful woman, Watson, tied to a domineering man. If Mycroft had been able to ally energy to his cerebral powers then he would have turned out to be a copy of my father in the smallest detail. I clung to my mother for dear life and she to me.”
    â€œDid she ever consider leaving your father?”
    â€œIt was not an option or course of action she felt able to take. She was loyal to the concept of an ideal family and the fact that we were far from that did not sway her from what she saw as her duty, her matriarchal duty. My father, on the other hand, showed no such attention to duty.”
    â€œIt must have been an intolerable time for you, Holmes.”
    â€œI feared what was to come when the time came for Mycroft to go up to Oxford. Would it bring about a change in my father’s attitude towards me? I thought it unlikely and I was to be proved right. Watson, do you need to rest once more?”
    â€œFive minutes, maybe, just five minutes if you don’t mind.”
    â€œOf course, I understand only too well.”

Interlude
    â€œWhere’s the old battle-axe now, Lucy?”
    â€œOut back with her cauldron, the old witch!”
    â€œLet’s have a breather then. How’s your Mr Travers? Behaving himself now is he?”
    â€œHe’s quite sweet really and you can’t blame him for trying it on when you look as good as I do.”
    â€œLucy Pollett! Don’t you dare be so conceited! He would make a play for me you know, but he noticed my wedding ring.”
    â€œNo, Polly. He noticed me! You know it’s the truth . Men just gravitate towards me.”
    â€œThey must know lax morals when they see them.”
    â€œJealousy, Polly, it’s pure jealousy. Just because you’re tied up and bound to your old man doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t enjoy ourselves.”
    â€œYes, and we all know about you enjoying yourself, Lucy!”
    â€œI have just looked in on Dr Watson again. Such a sad state of affairs, to think he’s