Catching Mr Ripper

September 14th Afternoon

Elizabeth marched into the police station and headed straight into Edmund's office, not caring that he was mid conversation with constable Neil. Edmund looked up and saw the anger in her eyes and her arms firmly crossed over her chest.
"Please give us a moment Constable" Edmund offered him a smile. John Neil stood up hesitantly and carefully, leaving the room, making sure to close the door behind him.
"What was the meaning of earlier?" She said as calmly she could.
"I was proving a point" he smirked, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards.
"You released me remember!" She yelled, not caring who heard her shouts of anger "All those years ago, you walked away, you left me" she said more calmly this time.
"I had to!" Edmund rose his voice slightly, the anger evident in his eyes.
"You're a self-righteous coward! I didn't need protecting or releasing, it's a lie you told yourself so that you wouldn't feel like a coward for releasing me! You ran when things got hard. You got scared of falling in love with a woman with class so you ran!"
"A woman who's class happens to be higher than my own!" Elizabeth could see the vein in his neck bulging but she wasn't willing to end the fight there.
"I didn't care!" Elizabeth's anger had reached its boiling point. In fact she was overflowing with anger "I would've married you if you were destitute! Because when you love someone nothing else matters!"
"You're as naive as you have always been" he grumbled.
"You're as naive as you've always been. I would've given up everything at the drop of a hat. I still would because that is what you do for love. You don't just give up when things get hard or when someone says no, especially if that someone who said no, knows nothing of what transpired between those two people. My father already lost one child he is naïvely trying to protect another when she's clearly in no need of it!"
"You will always need protecting and I will always endeavour to do the protecting as long as you walk this earth!" Edmund took in a deep breath calming himself "Now I will not talk to you about such things in a public space" Edmund turned and began walking away from her but Elizabeth didn't let him get far.
"Well then, the next time you decide to scold me like a school girl for trying to move on then I hope you endeavour to do so in a more private setting. Good day detective" Elizabeth spoke harshly through gritted teeth before marching off out of the police station.

Elizabeth sat in her parlour at home with her father sitting across from her.
"You'll see this is for the best. When you're married to a well off man with a daughter of your own. You'll thank me" her father said between sips of scotch. Elizabeth hadn't been paying attention to his monologue, she was to focused on what had happened between her and Edmund earlier that day. He was right. She hated when he was right. She desired him. She wanted to be with him. He was everything she ever dreamed off and more.
"Elizabeth are you listening?" Her father questioned.
"Sorry father. I'm just tired. I should retire for the evening" Elizabeth managed to offer him a weak smile, before kissing his cheek and heading upstairs. Mary stepped into the room, in front of Zebulon.
"You cannot keep them apart. Sir" Mary said bravely "I've tucked her into bed as she has called his name drunkenly. I have wiped away tears that she has cried over him when their engagement was broken off. She never let anyone see but me, but the ache in her heart for him never stopped. She suffered in silence, her pain hidden within these four walls. She spends her time protecting others so that she doesn't have to confront the fact that she can't have him. Your daughter is stronger than you know. I apologize for overstepping sir" Mary said before heading off upstairs, leaving Zebulon alone in the parlour, her words still hanging in the air.

Mary helped Elizabeth change before she sat at her vanity.
"You didn't have to challenge him like that" Elizabeth met her eyes in the mirror as Mary brushed her hair.
"I'm sorry, Miss" Elizabeth covered Mary's hand with hers.
"You've known me for almost all my life, call me Elizabeth" she nodded down at the young woman "You've also known Edmund and I for a long time"
"I have. That's why I told him. He shouldn't have kept the two of you apart, creating unnecessary heartbreak for the sake of finding you a husband with money"
"Believe me Mary, I wish for the same. I have for years"
"I know Elizabeth. I just hope that the two of you can be together one day" Mary smiled hopefully at her in the reflection of the mirror "Good night Elizabeth"
"Good night Mary"