A Victorian Tale Part 8

Chapter 8 (WonderCat) The sudden discovery of Artemis and Hermes along with the omen they bore, gave Diana much to think about. Through much duress, Artemis and Hermes returned to their lodgings leaving Diana in the company of her trusty friend and the inspector. The carriage ride to Diana's London lodgings was quiet, for Diana was lost in thought and no words from Etta or Inspector Kent could draw her out. For many days now, Diana had questioned her love for the Earl of Gotham and in turn, his feelings for her. As well, it had been many months since she left her home and mother for this strange new land and this man who treated her as little more than an accessory. With furrowed brow, she wondered if her mother had been right all along, and for the first time she seriously contemplated breaking her engagement and returning to Themyscira. She sighed resolutely. Her pride and honor would not allow her to break her engagement, at least, not because of doubts. Arriving at their lodging, Inspector Kent helped Etta and Diana to alight from the carriage. After obtaining Diana's word that she would not leave her lodgings without the Earl or himself at her side, Inspector Kent excused himself, saying that he had a lead he needed to check out, but that he would return within a few hours. Upon entering the house, Diana and Etta found themselves attacked by a horde of orphans demanding to know if there had been another attack on their patroness' life. Etta, sensing that Diana perhaps did not wish to discuss the events of the morning, tried to shoo the children away. "How would all of you like crumpets and jam?" Diana asked. The children, ecstatic by the generous offer, whole heartedly agreed. A small girl, by the name of Thelma Thin, took Diana by the hand and led her among the crowd of children towards the salon. "M'lady, you can n't give `em crumpets-n-jam!" Etta exclaimed. "These hooligans needn't be spoilt so! Dry bed's all they need, Miss, an' send `em off to work." "Nonsense, Etta. The children deserve a treat every so often, and they have done a fine job at each of their assigned tasks. Let them have a little treat every now and then." "You spoil `em too much, M'lady, too much, indeed!" Etta continued her protest, but Diana would not listen. She ordered crumpets and jam to be sent to the salon, along with a pot of tea. As they entered the salon, a small commotion occurred that caused the children to laugh. "Sweet Mary! Patrick O'Brien! What d'you think you are doin' in those fine clothes and it not even a Sunday!" Diana turned to see the object of Etta's ire. Little Patrick O'Brien was dressed in the suit Etta had bought him to wear to mass on Sundays. Diana could not help but smile, for the suit Etta had bought him was just a tad too big and hung off of his eel-like frame in a most humorous manner. Patrick stood with downcast eyes at the entrance to the salon as he said, "I jus' figured if we's gonna eat such fine vittles as crumpets-n-jam, and to eat `em in the gran' salon, well, I figured I should wear fine clothes like a proper ol' gent." His explanation brought an even bigger smile to Diana's lips, and she refused to allow Etta to scold him anymore. She served each of the children crumpets and jam. When Patrick O'Brien received his crumpet, he took a seat and merrily began singing a child's tune, "Crumpets-n-jam, crumpets-n-jam, crumpets-n-jam…" Across town, a fuming Lady Lane arrived at the modiste's shop. The previous night she had entreated the Earl of Gotham to join her on an excursion today in which she had hoped to convince him to break off his engagement to that foreign twit. Could he truly not see the perfect woman for his fortune was from his own country? To her delight, he had picked her up in his carriage and ridden with her for a while, but only as far as the chancery court. As he alighted from the carriage, he informed Lady Lane that one of his personal guards would be accompanying her. She was angry he had not accompanied her, but was satisfied in that everyone would see her riding in his carriage. She alighted from the carriage and, with a wave of her hand, sent it away and entered the modiste's shop. An hour later, a plotting Lady Lane exited the modiste's shop as if she had purpose. Stopping cold, the Lady Lane looked up and down the street. "Where is my carriage?" she demanded. She turned on the guard that accompanied her. "Why is my carriage not here? It has begun to rain! Do you expect me to walk?" Her eyes flashed a most angry red, and the guard was taken aback by her unlady-like demeanor. "Do not just stand there, you dolt! Find my carriage!" At her barking command, the guard mumbled a near inaudible "yes, m'lady" and took off down the street in search of a carriage. "Insolent fool! Honestly! What is this world coming to?" The Lady Lane fumed as she waited under the cover of the modiste's shop. She stomped her foot, and mumbled under her breath. "Well, I shall not stand out here and catch my death! I shall send for someone competent to fetch my carriage." She turned to enter the modiste's shop when a large, dark figure approached her. "Excuse me, Miss Prince?" the figure asked. Lady Lane was about to turn around and inform that she was not Miss Prince, when suddenly she felt herself slammed against the wall. Dazed, she tried to move and discovered that she could not. The dark figure pulled a knife from within his long overcoat. Shouting came from within the modiste's shop and down the street. Lady Lane's assailant looked up to discover her guard running towards him. He pushed away from Lady Lane, and ran. Finally able to move, Lady Lane pushed herself away from the wall. Still dazed she looked down at her white gown and noticed a red stain. "Strawberry jam!" she exclaimed. "I have strawberry jam on my gown! Oh dear! Oh, no!" She fell to the ground, no longer able to hold herself up. Her guard was by her side now, lifting her head from the ground. "I've gotten jam all over my dress. I'll never be able to go to the party now." She said in a delusional state. Her eyes stared off past the guard and she began to sing "crumpets-n-jam, crumpets-n-jam…"