Part 8
The snow begins to fall and slowly but surely covers the houses and the roofs as if was a gentle painting. So far, the snowing is not aggravated enough to make impossible one person leaves the house and a Bavarian Courtesan seems to think so.
Amanda Sefton is her name. A fake name and Ariel can notice but refrain to speak the obvious. The blonde woman hired Ariel to solve a case for her and well, to everyone surprised she did in record time and Amanda must pay her dues now.
“A wonderful job, indeed, and I may as well pay a bonus for how quick you solve the situation” Amanda states calmly and once the payment is made it should warrant the courtesan to leave the office, but, she refuses as she seems in a chatting mood.
“It was an easy job and one I dealt everyday most noblewomen like to cheat their husbands and fathers in some way or another” and Ariel shrugs as really is not uncommon women want more freedom and if they have to toss someone out of the proverbial bus to achieve this.
Amanda was sure to not be a victim and has enough blackmail material to make sure the countess of Yorkshire won´t try to get rid of her so easily. Ariel is trying to be subtle about wanting Amanda to leave, but, the courtesan seems to ignore subtlety naturally.
“Well, I suppose. You ought to be extraordinary if that Dr Darkholme is so fond of you” she begins amused and Ariel arch one eyebrow at this.
“Me and Dr Darkholme are acquainted if nothing more”
“And yet...did you know the only person outside his family who was ever invited to a party on Dr Darkholme´s house was his deceased wife? Poor thing...it was a sad ending for her and to be fair a sad beginning too” Amanda begins as if revealing a big secret and Ariel is a bit uncomfortable. Even with her suspicious on the man...she has yet to have any desire to pry on his personal life. “he never invite me to any of his houses. Ever. And I´m a Bavarian woman”
“Then he must have seen something in me worth to be in the party” Ariel confessed trying to be professional “and I think...you two had an arrangement that does not require you going to his house”
Amanda waves off “he was grieving and is very attractive, however, still surprised he pick you to the party and is even talking to you, no offences, dearie, but, that man is as social as a wall and sees him engaging in a conversation with anyone is odd...” then she ponders for a moment “you know, see him talking with you is the second oddest thing I´ve saw...in Bavaria, dear and proud, I saw him cutting fingers of a man who wanted to convert him to a new religion...what´s the name?” she stops theatrical and snaps her fingers “oh right, the Acolytes, Tom Cassidy”
Ariel does not speak at this point and Amanda continues.
“And...you must have noticed that he´s a doctor very dextrous with his hands, haven´t you see him work? the way he holds a scalpel is like a person holds a pencil ready to do a primadonna or...how a killer would too”
“Oh Dr Darkholme is a man of many secrets and few words” Ariel respond “as you really should be too if you want to still be ...such esteemed courtesan here...you know, I also investigate you and I´m sure the countess of Yorkshire will like to know what you did in Bavaria....you are not here on a vacation...you flee to escape prison...” she now offers a smile and speaks calmly “it would be a damn shame if the Scotland Yard or even the countess herself were to know your crime...you made many enemies here with your mouth”
And now Amanda is dropping niceties and speaking about threats, however, it does little to change anything and Amanda leaves promising she´ll strike back and Ariel replies by closing the door on her face.
A few weeks passed and the snow is still going. Not on the dangerous season yet as Ariel can walk among the streets to buy a few supplies and return to her home. She´s using a carriage for that and as she arrives in the shop...she sees Dr Darkholme in a foul mood.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Ariel asked nicely as the man is being grumpy, well more than usual, but he replies to Ariel without being rude (which is more than the salesman can say here)
“Hello, Ariel...I meet with an old, uhm,” he struggles with words and Ariel is almost laughing here.
“Amanda? Yeah, she talked about you...You seem to be the gossip on your country”
“Something like that” he replies amused.
“Then Amanda is gossiping about us”
“She is...and she knows how, uhm,” again he struggles with words and Ariel is laughing here.
“Anti-social?”
“Something like that”
“So, let´s assert this right, Dr Darkholme, we´re acquentices. Would you like to be regular friends?”
“And you aren´t afraid of me?”
“Oh Dr Darkholme....no” she replies kindly and Dr Darkholme blinks a few times and offers tiny ghost of a smile.
“Ok, then we´re regular friends now”