Chapter 20: Shopping
1191 Words
Jonathan got out of the carriage three streets away from his apartment. It wasn't to save on the fare—with three hundred pounds in cash, he had no need to pinch pennies, and with a seven-day death countdown, he had no need to save at all. He got out to buy some groceries for a lavish celebratory feast to commemorate surviving yet again.
As he was strolling happily down the street, two girls caught his attention. They were both wearing black-and-white dresses that looked like school uniforms, likely from a nearby church school—one of the few institutions that allowed female students in this era.
"Penelope, I can't believe you would betray me! I just asked you to deliver a love letter for me, and you ended up with my beloved!" The girl speaking was clearly very emotional, her eyes red and tears welling up.
"No, Daya, it's not what you think! I'm not with him! He confessed to me, but I didn't accept, really! Please believe me, I don't know why he did that." An interesting love triangle, but one look at the two girls' faces was enough to understand how things had come to this.
The girl named Daya was plain-looking at best, while Penelope, the one trying to explain, had lustrous brown hair and wheat-colored skin. Though not tall, her features were exquisite, and she was quite developed for her age.
"No, Penelope, I won't believe you anymore! I'm breaking off our friendship! We're not friends anymore!" Daya turned and stormed off, leaving Penelope standing there at a loss.
"Miss Penelope, I hope you learn a lesson from this. Not every favor can be granted. Sometimes, good intentions can lead to bad outcomes." Jonathan had walked up behind her at some point. This young girl was none other than the daughter of his landlady.
The sudden voice startled Penelope. She turned and saw that it was her family's tenant, Mr. Jonathan. She was clearly annoyed. "Mr. Jonathan, the great detective! I didn't realize a professional like you now spent his time eavesdropping on ladies' conversations on the street. Why is one side of your face swollen? Was it slapped by a lady? Do you need my help to make the other side match?".
Penelope Arias had the same fiery temper as her mother, Shani Arias, and didn't take kindly to being teased. But Jonathan simply raised his hands in surrender. "Please forgive my intrusion, Miss Penelope. I actually have a small favor to ask of you. In exchange, I'll tell you why things turned out the way they did. How about it?".
Penelope hesitated for a moment, looking at his swollen right cheek and tattered clothes, and her heart softened. "Alright, Mr. Jonathan. I can help you. But first, you have to tell me what you need, and why you're in such a mess. Did something bad happen?".
Jonathan bowed. "No, not at all. In fact, it's good news. I just finished a case and received my final payment. So, I want to go on a shopping spree to vent my joy. After all, my current attire is hardly gentlemanly. But I lack sufficient common sense for these things and need your help to take me to a ready-made clothing store and help me pick something out".
"Mr. Jonathan, I must say, you've made a wise choice in trusting my taste. Follow me." His compliment clearly pleased her. The two of them boarded a public carriage and headed for her favorite clothing store.
They got off on an old street and stopped in front of a tailor's shop called "Old Mama's." Though the storefront was unremarkable and there weren't many customers, the staff inside were bustling.
The layout was similar to clothing stores from Jonathan's past life. On the left were rows of formal wear; on the right were shirts, vests, and ties. In the middle were bolts of unprocessed fabric. A middle-aged tailor in a suit with a measuring tape around his neck came to greet them.
"Oh, the beautiful Miss Penelope! Your return is like a ray of sunshine that illuminates my shop. But let me guess, my customer today is this handsome gentleman beside you, am I right?" The tailor was well-versed in the art of business, managing to compliment both of them in one sentence.
Penelope blushed at the direct praise and changed the subject to hide her shyness. "Mr. Jonathan, this is the store I was telling you about. Don't judge the quality of the clothes by the shop's size or decor. The owner here is the most honest tailor in all of London. My mother said so".
Jonathan spread his hands. "Then please, work your fashion magic, Miss Penelope. I trust you completely".
With the help of Penelope and the owner, Jonathan bought two suits, two sets of work clothes, two sets of casual wear, four hats, and four pairs of shoes. To his pleasant surprise, the shop also sold canes.
He tried every cane they had but couldn't find one he liked more than his own snake-wood cane. Fortunately, when the owner saw his broken cane, he said he knew a craftsman who could repair it.
Jonathan entrusted the cane to the owner, agreeing to pick it up in three days. The owner then recommended that such a valued customer should have a suit custom-made, praising how much better a tailored suit would fit and how it would perfectly showcase Jonathan's handsome features.
An idea came to Jonathan. "I am only here today thanks to the beautiful and kind Miss Penelope. Miss Penelope, please allow me to express my gratitude. Let the owner make you a custom outfit, on my account".
Penelope was taken aback and quickly refused. "No, Mr. Jonathan! It was no trouble at all. I can't accept such a gift".
Her reaction was exactly what he'd expected. He didn't have much experience with girls and knew he couldn't convince her on his own, but someone here could. "Owner, if you can persuade Miss Penelope to accept my gift, then in addition to what I've already bought, I will order two custom-made suits from you".
The owner's eyes lit up. With a flurry of sweet talk, he soon had Penelope being measured for a fitting.
As Penelope was looking at herself in the mirror, choosing a style, Jonathan came up beside her. Looking at their reflections, he said, "Miss Penelope, do you see now why your friend's beloved confessed to you?".
His subtle compliment made her blush. She whispered in his ear, "Since you're buying me clothes, I won't tell Mother when we get back that you have money but still haven't paid her the rent".
Her innocent expression made him laugh. He took an envelope from his pocket, showing her the cash inside, and said breezily, "Rest assured, Mrs. Shani's rent is all here".
Watching her cover her mouth in surprise, her eyes wide, Jonathan felt a deep sense of satisfaction. This was why he had struck up a conversation with her today. What could be more beautiful than the sight of a young lady's blush?
- Writer
