Love Makes Us Monsters

A Place I Know Will Be Safe

“Charlotte,” an urgent voice called, “Charlotte, wake up.”

My eyes struggled to open to see who was calling my name.

A frazzled Inspector stood before me, his hands on my shoulders. Panic rose in me. I looked immediately to the desk. Did the old man take the boy while I was sleeping? What a fool I was to leave us vulnerable. My panic left me as I found the boy still curled up on the desktop, fast asleep. My eyes moved to Daniels.

“What is the matter, Inspector?” I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

“The Gurneyman is here. He is asking if anyone has seen his grandson. I had my men detain him, but we must get the boy and you out of here. I will take you somewhere safe. We must leave post haste.” As he spoke, he picked the boy up in his arms, making sure he was still covered with the carriage blanket. “Take my frock and put it on, Miss Webster. Hopefully, he will not recognize you while we head through the station.” I did as he instructed, popping the collar of the coat up to better conceal my face. “Keep your gaze straight ahead, on me. I will walk us through the building and to the carriage that I have waiting out front for our departure. Are you ready, ma’am?” His silver eyes were gazing intently at me. That intensity caused a stir in me, which, in turn, caused my cheeks to heat.

Poppycock.

Now was not the time to dote on such things.

“I am ready,” I said quickly.

With that, Daniels attempted to open the office door. To help him, I reached for it myself and twisted the metal knob. He muttered a thank you and proceeded to walk out of the office. I followed closely, inches from walking on his heels, and kept facing forward. Where were they keeping the physician? I held the collar of the frock up more in hopes of stopping my curiosity; stopping myself from looking for the old man. In moments, we were out the door. I opened the carriage door and stood waiting for him to get in. The Inspector, however, nodded for me to go in first.

The boy and his safety were top priority, not mine.

I was about to comment when the man gave me a glare. I swallowed my comment and climbed into the carriage. Daniels made his way onto the first step and placed the sleeping boy on my lap. He sat on the opposite bench seat. With a firm fist, he pounded twice to the front of the carriage. We were in motion.

“Where is it you are taking us?” I inquired.

“A place I know will be safe.”

“You said that. Where is this safe place, though, Inspector?”

“That is of no importance. We will be there momentarily. I had men dispatched to watch the house as well. You and the boy will be safe. Once the two of you are settled, I must return to the station.” He fretted with the cuff of his shirtsleeve, unbuttoning it then folding it up, revealing his bare forearm.

“Why must you head back?” I tried my best to hide the disappointment I felt. The boy wriggled in my arms. “Hush, love, hush,” I cooed to him. His eyes opened partially, found my face, then proceeded to close. He nuzzled into me as he had before. I could not help but smile.

The boy was starting to grow on me.

“I must head back and interrogate the Gurneyman.” Daniels did the same with his other cuff, unbuttoning it and folding it up his forearm, as he spoke. “The man used this boy. I intend to find out why.” He inhaled deeply then released a sigh. Had he gotten any rest yet? I could see dark circles beneath his eyes.

The carriage came to a halt.

“We've arrived,” the Inspector said as he got up and out of the carriage. He held out his hands for the boy. Quickly, I placed the boy in his arms, then proceeded to amble out of the carriage myself. “This way,” he instructed as he turned and headed toward a building.

It was a typical London house. Small but a few stories high. In the dark it was difficult to tell the details of it. Two men stood outside the front door. The Inspector nodded to them. One opened the door for him, letting us inside, then closed it firmly behind us. From what I could see, the first floor was a joint den and kitchen. Smaller than expected, but enough space for necessities. We meandered up the stairs to the second floor. It brought us to a short hallway with three doors. Silently, I was handed the boy, whom I gladly took. Daniels opened the first door on the right and walked in. After a moment, he popped his head into the hallway where I stood and waved me in.

“In here, ma’am,” Daniels said as I walked past him.

It was a small room. Not much furniture was placed inside. A large bed with simple covers and pillows. A desk with one chair in the corner. One window on the far side of the room, facing out to the London street. Next to the bed, was a nightstand with an oil lamp. The Inspector had lit the lamp as I walked in. He then pulled the covers of the bed down.

“You and the boy can lay here. The owner will not be using it. They have other business to attend to. I will send one of my men up to guard the bedroom door and hallway. If you must relieve yourself, there is a privy room to do so across the hall. Please, come and make yourself comfortable.” He patted the bed.

“Are you sure it will be alright that we stay here?”

“I would not have brought you here if I wasn't sure.”

“Can you…can you have someone inform my father as to where I am?”

“I am afraid I cannot have this location or your being here disclosed to anyone other than the officers outside and myself.” My face fell and his steel eyes, I was sure, saw that. “I can, however, have an officer head over and inform him that you are safe and in police custody for protection purposes. Would that suffice?”

I smiled at his effort.

“That would be most helpful. Thank you, Inspector.”

He walked over to where I stood holding the boy. He took the frail child from me and carried him over to the bed. After laying him down, he brought up the covers tucking the boy in. The scene warmed me. As infuriating and stubborn as the Inspector was, he had a soft side. I could see that now. He turned to the nightstand and pulled open its small drawer. From it, he pulled out clothing.

“These unfortunately are the only kinds of clothes I have. They are not what you are used to, I am sure, but they should be more comfortable to sleep in than what you have on.” His gray eyes looked me over from head to toe. I pulled the frock closer, knowing my cheeks were heated by his gaze. “I will need the coat, if you wouldn't mind, though.” A smirk grew on his face as he came closer. My cheeks grew warmer.

“Inspector, I-“

“My name is William, ma’am.” His voice was soft then.

“W-William, I…” I had lost my train of thought. He was inches away from me. His smirk still blatant on his face. I looked to the walls, the floor, the window; anywhere but at him. I took the frock off reluctantly. Suppressing the urge to throw it at him was difficult. “Here you are, sir,” I managed, still not looking at him as I placed the coat in his hand and took the clothing he had offered. The tension was like tightly wound strings.

“Do you need help dressing?” he asked plainly.

“I can dress myself, thank you,” I spat. The tension was gone as if the strings had been severed. I was thankful for his vulgar question. He reminded me of his true arrogant nature before I had done something idiotic like care in the slightest where he was concerned. Frustrated, I turned and marched out of the room, headed for the one across the hall to change my clothing. Thank goodness I did not wear proper corsets despite Father’s insistence on it or I never would have gotten the outfit off. My dress lay in a heap on the floor as I pulled on the trousers. They fit my hips just enough to not fall off. I pulled the cotton white shirt over my head feeling how surprisingly soft it was as it draped over my torso. As I adjusted it, I noticed something rather unsettling. The shirt was practically see-through. My breasts were plainly visible through the fabric. I groaned with annoyance.

A knock at the door.

“Is everything alright?” the Inspector asked, his voice muffled by the thick wooden door.

Snide bastard. Surely, he had picked this on purpose.

“Go away!” I snapped. I needed a solution to the problem but nothing from my dress would have been useful. Footsteps sounded walking away from the door. Deep breath in and out. It was now or never. I opened the door of the privacy room. I held my arms locked over my chest to hide as much as possible. It may not have worked but I had a ball of dress at my disposal that I clung to.

In the small bedroom, the Inspector was checking on the boy. His hand on the boy’s wrist as he had done in his office. His gaze was focused on the silver pocket watch in hand. An audible click sounded as he shut it.

“The boy should be good for the rest of the night. He needs to sleep off the effects of the d**g. In the morning, if I am not back, I will have one of the officers downstairs get you both clothi…“ He stopped as his eyes turned to me. He bit back a laugh as he looked at the mess of fabric I held. "You're welcome to put that down. I can have it cleaned for you." Reluctantly, I placed the dress in a pile next to the door, my back to Daniels as I thought of a quick plan to cover my visible features. I held my arms tightly across my breasts to ensure they were as non visible as possible. Turning back to the Inspector, I could have sworn he paused for a moment.

“Do you mind, sir?!” I spat as my cheeks heated from the embarassment.

His face paled as I said it.

“My apologies. I did not realize that the shirt would be…inadequate,” he said as he turned the other way. With this opportunity, I rushed over to the bed and threw myself beneath the covers. “Are you covered, miss?”

“Y-yes,” I said with a shaky voice.

“Alright then. As I was saying,” he turned as he spoke, “if I am not back before morning, I will have one of the officers get you and the boy clothing.” He cleared his throat. “Should you need anything to drink or eat, ask the officer outside the bedroom door.”

“There are no officers outside the door,” I said blatantly, avoiding looking in his direction.

“There will be before I leave. I asked for privacy.” I felt his glare but did not dare look at the man. “I will be back as soon as I am able. I will have someone go to your home and inform your father as we discussed. In the morning, when I get back, I will get a bath for the boy- “

“I can help,” I interjected.

The man rolled his eyes and sighed with frustration.

“You can assist him if needed, then we will need to find a place for him to go.”

“As much as my father may object, I would like to take responsibility of the boy, Inspector.” I gazed at him then. He blinked at my proposal.

“You do realize this is a live boy. Not some pet that your money can get rid of when you are bored.” His tone was harsh yet matter of fact. It infuriated me. He still believes I'm just a spoiled little rich girl.

“Pardon me, Inspector, but I took care of my father for years on and off when he was sick. I made sure he ate even when he would shrug off the help at the house. It is because of me that my own father did not die yet of starvation and lack of care. Not to mention I took care of my family friend, Nathaniel, whom is older than me, when he would come over with his father. Which, for your information, they have been coming over to my father’s estate since I was five. I have the means to provide for the boy as well as the time to give the care he may need. And lastly, I've never owned a pet as Father is terribly allergic. though i do know the difference between a human being and an animal.”

The man was silent as he mulled over my words.

“Fine, the boy may go with you. Your father and you can discuss the lodging and details together.” He sighed. “Now, I must get going. Is there anything presently that you need?” I shook my head in response. I could see the tiredness sinking into his feautres as it softened his hard esterior. “Then rest well. I will be back in due time.” Daniels donned the frock and headed for the door. When he took a step into the hall, he stopped, looking back to where the boy and I lay. “Should you need anything, do not be afraid to call out. The officer will be here as I promised.” He attempted a smile. With that, the door behind him. I listened as I heard his footfalls echo down the hall, down the stairs, until I couldn't hear them at all.

A part of me wanted to rise out of the bed and head for the window. I had read one too many romance novels of the scene where the reluctant hopeless romantic woman would stand at the window, looking out at the man she admired. She would wait, watching, hoping he would turn and notice her figure in the window illuminated by the shining moon. Then, just as she had hoped, he would turn. They would share an intimate gaze for a moment that felt timeless.

It surprised me that my mind had gone to that train of thought. Is that what I wanted to happen? Was the Inspector someone that I admired or cared for? Even in the slightest? More and more, he was growing on me, that was certain. Though he was quite arrogant, rude, and downright infuriating. Though he was more real than most of the people I had known in my life. He was unapologetically himself.

Finally allowing myself to relax, I laid my head back on the pillow.

It smelled freshly cleaned. Maybe an extra hint of soap. I was attempting to place where I had encountered the scent before, when I drifted to sleep. The warm covers were so inviting. Sleep had been inevitable. Yet, with everything going on, I slept surprisingly well. It was unexpected.