The Glass Rose

Chapter Six

Adelaide couldn't sleep that night. She tossed and turned, but couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing a piece of herself. Life seemed dull without a certain detective in it, despite it only being a few hours. She decided it was ridiculous to spend her time wallowing in bed and got up and began to bake scones. When she finished them, she caught herself putting them in a small basket. Usually, when she couldn't sleep, she would bring some baked goods up to Sherlock's apartment and they would eat them over tea and talk. The thing was, she couldn't go to him now like she usually did. He was her closest friend and now without him, she had no idea what she was doing anymore. She decided to bake some muffins as well to distract herself from her racing thoughts. Once she finished baking, the sun had begun to rise, meaning she should get ready for work. She did so without thinking, just going through the motions. Placing the baked goods into a larger basket she grabbed it and headed to work, figuring it couldn't hurt to be early. She stopped at the post office on the way, picking up a few letters.

She knew she was the first one in the office because she had to unlock the door. She placed the large basket of treats on her desk and then hung her coat. She sat down and began to bury herself in her filing. She glanced over the papers as she did so, and couldn't help but find the Tewksbury case fascinating. All she could think was there was something else going on there. She turned away from the stack of papers, realizing she hadn't opened her letters yet. The first one was from Enola describing the man on the train who tried to kill the boy and how he tried to kill her just the other day when Adelaide had to patch her up. She also explained that she would be traveling to Basilwether to see if she could figure anything else out.

Adelaide let out a sigh. She knew there was nothing she could do to stop the girl, despite her risky actions. She just hoped that Enola would be alright. She looked at the other letter, her eyes widening when she realized it was from her mother. She quickly tore it open, eager to see what she had to say.

Dearest Adelaide,

I am disappointed that you ran away, but I understand your actions. I know it doesn't seem like it, but I do truly want what's best for you. Unfortunately in this day and age, the best thing for you is a husband. You need a platform before you can start changing things. I know that one day, the world will be better for women, and you will have played a part in it. However, the easiest way to create a change is from within.

I didn't marry your father because I loved him. I was young and similar to you. I wanted to be free. When I was eighteen, my parents decided I would marry William, despite him being twenty-nine at the time. I didn't want to marry him, and I certainly did not love him. But time went on and I learned to love him. I wanted all of my children to marry for love, but your father was too worried about the family's reputation.

I said some things the last time I saw you and they were cruel. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. You are my daughter and I love you. I hope you are doing well. I miss you.

With love,

Mother

The blonde couldn't believe what she was reading for a moment. It felt like some cruel trick. As if she were expecting to get another letter telling her it was nothing more than a joke so the family could laugh at her. She tried to force it out of her mind and turned back to her work.

Something instantly clicked in her mind. Why would a family send both detectives and a murderer after the Viscount? They wouldn't, at least it wouldn't be the same person. The mother had hired the detective company to find her son, but someone else hired a murderer to hunt him down and kill him. She began digging through all of the paperwork she just filed, trying to find an answer. Absent-mindedly, she began pinning things up on her empty bulletin board behind her desk, trying to figure out more about the case.