The Musician's Maid

Chapter 2

I leaped out of bed and rushed over to the mirror that was above my new dresser. My light brown hair was a complete mess and my sideburns and mustache would be needing a shave very soon. I sighed, reaching my hands into the water basin to clean my face. I was surprised when my fingers scraped the inside of an empty bowl, and I looked helplessly at the ceiling. Wonderful. Why did I have to fall asleep so early yesterday?

I pulled my pocket watch out from my waistcoat and smiled, remembering when my father had given it to me. My initials were engraved on the back, and I lightly brushed them with my fingers before I flipped it open. My heart skipped a beat and my eyes grew wide. It was already 8:30am and I was supposed to meet with my future employer at 9! "Shit!" I swore, rushing over to my bed to search through my bags for the letter. I opened my small black bag and quickly pulled out the letter, having carefully placed it beside my sheet music, and shoved it into my waistcoat. I grabbed my grey top-hat off of the bed post, and straightened the jacket on my shoulders before rushing out of my room and down the staircase, feeling smelly and disheveled. As I rushed to the front door I saw Nancy standing in the doorway off to the side, holding a spoon in her hand.

 "Are you off already Mr. Collinwood? You'll miss breakfast!" She called out, but I ignored her and flew out the front door anyway, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. I made my way down the street, where merchants were already setting up their stalls for the day. I suddenly realized that I had absolutely no idea where I was going. I pulled the letter out of my waistcoat and opened it, reading the directions that Mr. Pickering had given to me.

He said to follow Floral Street 8 blocks and then turn right on Bow Street. The theatre will be on the right. It was only nine blocks away from my apartment building, but I was running very late, so I took off on a light jog, dodging ladies in large dresses and men with large mustaches. The streets were very busy with carriages, merchants, pedestrians, and the occasional horseback rider. Looking both ways, I quickly crossed the street, and felt my foot sink into something soft.

I glanced down at my shoe and my nose scrunched up at the horrifying smell. I had stepped in a head sized pile of horse crap.

Groaning, I made it to the sidewalk and wiped my boot on the side of the curb. "Perfect. Just perfect." I muttered. I heard an old man chuckle beside me, so I raised my head to see an old man wearing rags watching me scrape my shoe. He had a wrinkled face, and eyes that both looked off in different directions from each other. I straightened my coat and slowly stood up straight, trying to keep some dignity while he openly laughed to my face.

"Sonova bitch!" he laughed, "I've neva seen a crap so big in my bloody life!" He crouched over, holding his stomach and slapping his knee. "An you stepped in it! Yur whole bloody boot went in!" He laughed some more, and other people on the sidewalk were starting to stare at me. I felt my face turn red, so I quickly turned away from the old man and hurried off down the sidewalk. As I walked away, I heard the old man yell, "I bet it got in yur stockings too! Yur bloody stockings!" I could hear him cackling from a block away as I crossed the street again, my face red, my heart racing, and my left leg smelling like a turd.

I was so ashamed that I stared at the ground as I walked the streets to the theatre. I quickly checked my pocket watch and saw that I still had ten minutes left. I shoved it back into my waistcoat and then fixed my hat and my jacket. I stuck my finger in my mouth and then smoothed the loose hairs on my mustache and eyebrows. I had to at least seem like I was a dignified person.

Turning the corner of a large hat shop, my eyes widened as I took in the sight of the magnificent Royal Opera House. It was a beautiful off white color, with large windows and 6 white columns at the front. It stood higher than the buildings around it, making it really stand out. I had never seen a bigger opera house in my life, and this whole building simply took my breath away. The windows were clear and sparkling in the sunlight, and despite the smoky and busy streets around it, it seemed remarkably clean.

With my heart swelling in my chest, I took a step forward, my eyes never leaving the opera house. A man roughly bumped into me and murmured a quick apology, before quickly walking away. I tore my eyes away from the opera house long enough to watch him disappear into a crowd of merchants. He had been wearing a grey cap that covered the back of his head, and a big brown coat that dragged at his heels. I scoffed for a moment at his rudeness, and then looked back at the opera house, smiling.

Suddenly, I heard my mother's voice in my ear, recalling what she had told me before I left for London. 

   And watch out for pickpockets! They'll rob you blind when you least expect it!

Alright mother.

   I mean it! Keep your eyes peeled Douglas!

Instinctively, I reached my hand into my waistcoat, feeling for my father's watch.

It was gone. "No," I breathed.

My heart skipped a beat and  my blood ran cold. I moved my hand about, feeling for my watch, but only felt the letter. "No!" My breath came in short spurts as I desperately looked at the crowd that the man had disappeared into. I ran into the crowd and began pushing people out of my way as I searched for the man. Some merchants swore at me, but I ignored them, only seeing red and hearing my heart pounding in my ears.

I needed that watch.

I looked around at all of the people who surrounded me but didn't see the man. I knew that it was probably a lost cause, but I still had to try. Standing beside an apple stall, I saw a constable flirting with the fruit vendor, who was a very pretty redhead. I rushed over to the stall, my eyes wide with worry. I caught him by surprise as I shouted in his ear.

"Help me! I've been robbed!" I shouted. He looked very annoyed and he rolled his eyes at me.

"Where?" he asked. I pointed to the spot where I had been standing, and he looked about hopelessly.

"Look, I'm sorry, but he's probably long gone now. If you tell me what he stole from you, I might be able to give it back to you if we ever catch him." He said, looking sympathetic. He had a large black mustache that swooped in stylish curves at the end. I sighed, feeling defeated. This had been the worst day of life. Well, so far in London.

"It was a gold watch about this big," I made a circle with my hands, "with the initials DAC inscribed on the back."

The Constable smiled and nodded his head, and I suddenly realized that there was no way he would possibly remember this later. "Um, do you need to write that down?" I asked. He looked at me quizzically, and I shook my head. "Never mind," I muttered.

"Don't worry sir. I will keep my eye out for that watch of yours. Cheerio." He said, before turning back to the fruit vendor. I grimly nodded my head, and walked away from the apple stall. I couldn't believe that I had been robbed on my very first day in London. My mother wouldn't have been surprised. And my father... Well, anyway.

I crossed the street and found myself finally at the foot of the opera house. I did my best to shake away my stress from the morning as I approached the side door, as instructed in the letter. I knocked on the door and waited, beginning to feel hopeful about the rest of my day.

The door swung open, and I stared into the very angry face of a thin man who wore very small glasses that rested on a sharp nose, and a small bowler hat. He had a thin mustache that tickled his upper lip, and his cheeks were sunken in. He wore a tight black suit with an expensive looking black neck tie. He scowled at me.

"Mr. Collinwood, I presume. You're late."