Wheels of Whispers - Chapter 7.

The following day all three of Mr. Palmer’s attempts to get the boys back to work were crushed.

Firstly, the stolen jewelry was recovered from the garden. Secondly, the new corpse from the river was fished out and it was established that it was a pile of clothes stuffed out with hay. Lastly, the ransom letter turned out to be fake. Florence just didn’t let herself be tricked, therefore, the butler gave up.

However, the housemaid discovered that it was him, although decided not to proclaim whose sins were the unnecessary scares, and instead use it for blackmail. She went to the butler’s room and knocked on the door.

“Do come in!”

“Good afternoon, mister!”

“Florence, may I inquire the reason of your visit?”

“I’ve been meaning to tell… to inform you… Oh, dump this fancy language! I know it’s been you this whole time, Palmer, organizing all these fake crimes! I haven’t found out yet the reason, however, the others, especially the Lady, haven’t found out about your little secret and I’m convinced you’d wish for that to stay so, wouldn’t you?”

“I am afraid I cannot quite comprehend whither this disgraceful accusation of yours is going, but you are advised to cease now.”

“Stop playing the innocent!”

“You consider yourself such an advanced detective who sees everything, nonetheless, hear me out, you vile slave, you do not observe! Louis and Elias are the sinners, who laze around instead of working!”

“Working, working, always the stupid work! And anyways, where exactly is the Lord?”

“How would I know?”

“I beg your pardon for foolishly believing that you not only see but observe!”

“Get out!”

“Not without the agreement I came for.”

“What do you require?”

“Dismissal. I don’t wish to stay at the manor anymore, I want to pursue a career in London as private detective and prove that the rights in our society need to be balanced thus women could work as doctors, policemen, teachers….”

“I understood, no need to mention further impossibilities. I would be more than delighted to acquiesce. Your departure shall happen before tomorrow morning, and nobody shall be informed about this conversation. Is that settled?”

“It is. And now that I’m no longer in your employment… Be damned, Palmer!”

***

“Louis! Louis, wake up!”

“Ouch, was that really necessary?”

“Yes! There is an issue! Lord Ellsworth arrived back, and every servant is angry with us! We cannot stay here.”

“Aren’t you dramatizing a bit?”

“WHERE ARE THOSE BRATS, I’LL GUT THEM!” snapped the voice of the Lord, who apparently wasn’t overwhelmed after being thrown a cross at (Spanish method of expelling the ghosts).“Alright, maybe you’re right. Elias?”

“Yes?”“London seems nice this time of the year, plus I heard Florence was starting to work there as a servant. I guess Londoners didn’t approve of a lady cop.”

“Do you think the employer would want a houseboy and a stableboy?”

“I heard he has some network all across the city and he pays well for pieces of information.”

“Sounds good. Before we run away from an enraged household… What’s his name?”“The network is called Baker Street Boys, I think, and the name is Sherlock Holmes.”

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