Fic: Ruby: Gen
Sep. 27th, 2022 11:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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holmes_minorTitle: Ruby
Rating: Gen
Length: 500
Summary: In Sussex, Holmes and Watson get a visit from a former housemaid of 221B.
“Watson!”
The timbre of Holmes’ voice said it wasn’t the first time he’d called my name.
I looked up from the bed of tomatoes I’d been tending. “Yes?”
“Someone’s coming to call.”
I frowned. “I’m not expecting anyone.” But I, too, heard the tell-tale rumble of young Jacob’s dogcart approaching and then footfalls.
“They told me you were here, but I don’t think I believed it until now!”
Holmes and I turned our heads toward the side gate and exclaimed in unison and in joyful surprise,
“Ruby!”
---
It must be said that, at one time or another during the long years of the tenancy of Holmes and myself, many, many housemaids have called 221 Baker Street their place of employment, but Ruby was one of the most memorable.
Initially, I made the mistake of putting her among the timorous lot: shy, nervy, quiet, and easily startled, but a chance accident in the sitting room proved me wrong.
Holmes had been at his chemical bench, forswearing breakfast for science. One of his experiments got, literally, out of hand, flames shooting up and threatening the drapery.
I had been settling into a Clark Russell, and Ruby was clearing the breakfast things when the eruption occurred.
Without a squeak or a stammer, she leapt, sprang, somersaulted, and doused the fire soundly, landing firmly on two feet.
Even Holmes was surprised. I positively gawked.
Mrs. Hudson appeared in the doorway, a look of pride for Ruby and a look of disdain for Holmes.
“That was some impressive acrobatics,” I said, my voice registering no little awe.
“I met Ruby at the circus,” explained Mrs. Hudson. “Her troupe at the time was most unsuitable, so I offered her a position until she can find more agreeable working conditions.”
Ruby looked from Mrs. Hudson to Holmes to myself, and our approving glances made her smile and bow.
For her talents, Holmes had immediately tried to recruit Ruby as an associate to work on cases, and some strain had risen between landlady and tenant when Ruby’s detective work and her household duties clashed.
Finally, Ruby’s troupe came in, and she sailed out with it.
---
And now here she was, all grown up. And not alone.
A boy of about seven years of age appeared from behind her back.
“This is Doctor Watson and Mister Holmes. Say ‘hello’ Hudson.”
“Hello, Hudson,” chirruped the boy.
“Hello, Hudson,” Holmes and I returned.
“Are those bees?!” the boy asked, pointed to hives.
“They most certainly are,” said Holmes. “Would you like to be my assistant as I collect the honey for tea? I’ve an extra suit you can wear.”
“Mummy?!”
“Of course.”
I led Ruby round the garden.
Our conversation halted abruptly when I heard a young voice echoing words which I’d heard many times before in another time and another place and another voice.
“Now Mister Holmes, that really was very foolish of you.”
Ruby and I exchanged a knowing glance, then we laughed.
“His namesake would be very proud.”
Rating: Gen
Length: 500
Summary: In Sussex, Holmes and Watson get a visit from a former housemaid of 221B.
“Watson!”
The timbre of Holmes’ voice said it wasn’t the first time he’d called my name.
I looked up from the bed of tomatoes I’d been tending. “Yes?”
“Someone’s coming to call.”
I frowned. “I’m not expecting anyone.” But I, too, heard the tell-tale rumble of young Jacob’s dogcart approaching and then footfalls.
“They told me you were here, but I don’t think I believed it until now!”
Holmes and I turned our heads toward the side gate and exclaimed in unison and in joyful surprise,
“Ruby!”
---
It must be said that, at one time or another during the long years of the tenancy of Holmes and myself, many, many housemaids have called 221 Baker Street their place of employment, but Ruby was one of the most memorable.
Initially, I made the mistake of putting her among the timorous lot: shy, nervy, quiet, and easily startled, but a chance accident in the sitting room proved me wrong.
Holmes had been at his chemical bench, forswearing breakfast for science. One of his experiments got, literally, out of hand, flames shooting up and threatening the drapery.
I had been settling into a Clark Russell, and Ruby was clearing the breakfast things when the eruption occurred.
Without a squeak or a stammer, she leapt, sprang, somersaulted, and doused the fire soundly, landing firmly on two feet.
Even Holmes was surprised. I positively gawked.
Mrs. Hudson appeared in the doorway, a look of pride for Ruby and a look of disdain for Holmes.
“That was some impressive acrobatics,” I said, my voice registering no little awe.
“I met Ruby at the circus,” explained Mrs. Hudson. “Her troupe at the time was most unsuitable, so I offered her a position until she can find more agreeable working conditions.”
Ruby looked from Mrs. Hudson to Holmes to myself, and our approving glances made her smile and bow.
For her talents, Holmes had immediately tried to recruit Ruby as an associate to work on cases, and some strain had risen between landlady and tenant when Ruby’s detective work and her household duties clashed.
Finally, Ruby’s troupe came in, and she sailed out with it.
---
And now here she was, all grown up. And not alone.
A boy of about seven years of age appeared from behind her back.
“This is Doctor Watson and Mister Holmes. Say ‘hello’ Hudson.”
“Hello, Hudson,” chirruped the boy.
“Hello, Hudson,” Holmes and I returned.
“Are those bees?!” the boy asked, pointed to hives.
“They most certainly are,” said Holmes. “Would you like to be my assistant as I collect the honey for tea? I’ve an extra suit you can wear.”
“Mummy?!”
“Of course.”
I led Ruby round the garden.
Our conversation halted abruptly when I heard a young voice echoing words which I’d heard many times before in another time and another place and another voice.
“Now Mister Holmes, that really was very foolish of you.”
Ruby and I exchanged a knowing glance, then we laughed.
“His namesake would be very proud.”
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Date: 2022-09-28 07:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-28 06:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-28 01:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-28 06:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-28 07:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-28 08:23 pm (UTC)Ruby is an OC of mine. Not a recurring one, just someone I invented to go with the 'shades of red' prompt for the month.
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Date: 2022-09-29 06:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-29 06:49 pm (UTC)