Chapter Two
by Faith/Little Lucy
46 Harley Street, 12:00 A.M.
"Emma!" Jekyll yelled, chasing her down the stairs and into the cold night. Never slowing her step, Emma Carew ran on steadily and called over her shoulder, "Henry, when you've come to your senses you can come talk with me, but until then, our engagement is off! I've put up with enough."
Henry had never seen Emma angry before, only slightly annoyed, and that, only when Stride followed her around like a lost puppy dog. Her anger stunned him and he stopped in his tracks, then realized that he was standing outside, it was November, he was wet and had nothing on but a robe... And he was freezing.
Sighing in exasperation, he walked back into the house, slamming the door behind him. "What have I gotten myself into?" He mumbled to himself as he wandered upstairs to make sure that Lucy wasn't permanently damaged by the experience.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What have I gotten myself into?" Lucy sighed, stepping out of the tub to dry off. Once again, the scene from only minutes earlier played through her head, and she felt her cheeks warm in mortification. She had wondered who Emma was when Jekyll had given her the nightgown, but never thought that she could be his fiance! Shaking her head to herself, she put the extravagant nightclothes aside and instead, pulled her dirty dress back over her head. Don't be a fool, Lucy, it was foolish to think that you could have a chance with such a nice gent in the first place, she thought to herself, and tears welled in her eyes. Well, it was of no consequence. She would return to the Red Rat, accumulate a few more bruises and cuts, and resume the life she'd known before. She would forget about Henry Jekyll altogether.
The door squeaked on it's hinges as it opened, and Lucy looked up, startled. "Oh, Henry..." She mumbled, keeping her head down, hoping that he would keep his distance, send her away. She had no chance with him now, and couldn't bear to have him touch her.
Seeing the look in her eyes, Henry kept a safe distance from her, speaking quietly. "Lucy, I'm sorry about that, I was out of line, and I'd no idea Emma would drop by at such an unearthly hour... I'm the one at fault here. I'm sorry."
At his words, Lucy looked up at him, and found that tears welled in his eyes as well, and his voice shook with every word he spoke. "No, Dr. Jekyll, I kissed you..." She let her words trail off into silence as her face turned red yet again.
"But you're not at fault, it's what you d-..." His sentence broke off abruptly as he realized what he was saying, and with a glance at Lucy's battered face, his heart sunk.
"Right, Dr. Jekyll, I'm just a lady of the night, no one can blame me for acting improperly!" Her voice rose as she spoke, and her cheeks flushed, but with anger rather than embarrassment. Disregarding the fact that it was below freezing outside, she left her cloak lying there and stormed down the stairs, out of the house, leaving Henry alone. Utterly alone.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Alone, Henry Jekyll slowly made his way to his study, picked up his quill pen and a fresh piece of parchment, and began composing a long letter to his friend and lawyer, John Utterson.
Dear John,
Only in the direst circumstances would I be writing
a letter such as this one. For the first time, I have
truly found myself alone. Completely, utterly alone.
Do you remember the lady who entertained us at
The Red Rat a few weeks ago?
It seems I have come to a very difficult situation
regarding her. She came to me this very night,
battered from a recent encounter with a violent
customer. A frequent customer. A man whom I know
well. I offered her a warm bath and a safe place to stay
the night, but soon, a casual visit became something
more, and Emma found us... she was angry, to say the
very least, and I find myself without a fiance, without
a family, without the slightest hope for anything good.
Even Lucy herself has left me, for my tongue slipped and
I said something rash without thinking.
My work has consumed me, and now ruined me,
but it must continue somehow. I must find some
way to help my father.. although I know I cannot,
by any natural force, carry on one day more in this
life. Please forgive me,
Your devoted friend,
Dr. Henry Jekyll
