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holmes_minorTitle: The Third Man
Author: gardnerhill
Fandom: ACD Sherlock Holmes
Pairing: Sherlock Holmes & John Watson
Word Count: 400
Rating: G
Warning: None
Summary: Seating arrangements at a dinner could make or break an event. And could reveal much.
Author's Notes: Written for the April 2024 Holmes Minor monthly prompt “Seat.”
***
Story on Dreamwidth
Story on AO3
Accompanied by the local inspector and police, Sherlock Holmes inspected the grounds outside the manor house. Inside, Watson spoke to the staff. The husband of the vanished Lady Whittaker had sequestered himself in his room.
The detectives – official and consulting – reconvened in Lord Whittaker’s den as their makeshift headquarters. Holmes did not blunt his words. “Inspector Jackins, His Lordship’s tale of abductors is a lie.”
“Agreed. But Whittaker is trying to preserve his dignity, not conceal his guilt.”
Everyone stared at Watson. It had been he who had spoken up, not Jackins.
The police frowned but a smile appeared on Holmes’ face.
Watson returned the smile. “Ridley the butler told me of the dinner the night before her disappearance. Lady Whittaker came down to the table on the arm of the Honourable George Whittaker, her husband’s younger brother. Lord Camber, her sister’s husband, followed behind. But Lord Camber sat to her right, and George was seated at her left.”
Inspector Jackins frowned. The police with him shrugged.
But Holmes leaned forward, his eyes on the quarry. “George Whittaker’s wife Catherine was escorted by Lord Whittaker to the other end of the table and took the seat at his right. Yes?”
“Yes.” Watson grinned. “And Judith, Lady Whittaker’s sister and the wife of Lord Camber, followed behind and sat at his left.”
“Left, right, what does it matter!” Inspector Jackins snapped. “It’s only a seat at a dinner party!”
“That information tells me everything!” Holmes faced the local constabulary. “If you wish to advance in this stratosphere, Inspector, I strongly suggest you learn the social minutiae of the aristocracy.”
“Correct seating etiquette would mean that her escort, the next man in rank to her husband, should sit at her right. Not the third man down.” Watson spread his hands. “Today, Lady Whittaker is missing.”
“And if we go to Lord Camber’s estate right now, we will undoubtedly find him gone as well!” Holmes turned to a policeman. “Send a telegram and confirm. We will most likely learn that wherever Lady Whittaker is, her paramour is also – the man who took pride of place at that dinner.”
Inspector Jackins gaped at Watson. “How? How did you—?”
Watson waved a hand. “Not my information, but Ridley’s. What the head servants do not know about correct deportment in such a house is not worth knowing. They are the true seat of power here.”
Author: gardnerhill
Fandom: ACD Sherlock Holmes
Pairing: Sherlock Holmes & John Watson
Word Count: 400
Rating: G
Warning: None
Summary: Seating arrangements at a dinner could make or break an event. And could reveal much.
Author's Notes: Written for the April 2024 Holmes Minor monthly prompt “Seat.”
***
Story on Dreamwidth
Story on AO3
Accompanied by the local inspector and police, Sherlock Holmes inspected the grounds outside the manor house. Inside, Watson spoke to the staff. The husband of the vanished Lady Whittaker had sequestered himself in his room.
The detectives – official and consulting – reconvened in Lord Whittaker’s den as their makeshift headquarters. Holmes did not blunt his words. “Inspector Jackins, His Lordship’s tale of abductors is a lie.”
“Agreed. But Whittaker is trying to preserve his dignity, not conceal his guilt.”
Everyone stared at Watson. It had been he who had spoken up, not Jackins.
The police frowned but a smile appeared on Holmes’ face.
Watson returned the smile. “Ridley the butler told me of the dinner the night before her disappearance. Lady Whittaker came down to the table on the arm of the Honourable George Whittaker, her husband’s younger brother. Lord Camber, her sister’s husband, followed behind. But Lord Camber sat to her right, and George was seated at her left.”
Inspector Jackins frowned. The police with him shrugged.
But Holmes leaned forward, his eyes on the quarry. “George Whittaker’s wife Catherine was escorted by Lord Whittaker to the other end of the table and took the seat at his right. Yes?”
“Yes.” Watson grinned. “And Judith, Lady Whittaker’s sister and the wife of Lord Camber, followed behind and sat at his left.”
“Left, right, what does it matter!” Inspector Jackins snapped. “It’s only a seat at a dinner party!”
“That information tells me everything!” Holmes faced the local constabulary. “If you wish to advance in this stratosphere, Inspector, I strongly suggest you learn the social minutiae of the aristocracy.”
“Correct seating etiquette would mean that her escort, the next man in rank to her husband, should sit at her right. Not the third man down.” Watson spread his hands. “Today, Lady Whittaker is missing.”
“And if we go to Lord Camber’s estate right now, we will undoubtedly find him gone as well!” Holmes turned to a policeman. “Send a telegram and confirm. We will most likely learn that wherever Lady Whittaker is, her paramour is also – the man who took pride of place at that dinner.”
Inspector Jackins gaped at Watson. “How? How did you—?”
Watson waved a hand. “Not my information, but Ridley’s. What the head servants do not know about correct deportment in such a house is not worth knowing. They are the true seat of power here.”
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