Catching Mr Ripper

Part Seven

Elizabeth awoke to the sound of someone rushing into the room and opening the curtains, sunlight piercing her eyelids.
"Five more minutes" She groaned, covering her head with her pillow.
"Miss, Edmund is here" Mary told her, making Elizabeth shoot out of bed. Mary dressed her quickly but even as Elizabeth charged down the halls Mary was still finishing up. Mary managed to finish just before Elizabeth reached the dining room door.
"Good morning father" Elizabeth couldn't hide her smile as she entered the room.
"Good morning Elizabeth, join us please" Zebulon smiled "Allow me to introduce Mr Edmund Reid"
"It is nice to formally meet you Miss Vance" Edmund smiled at her across the table.
"You've met each other?" Zebulon asked.
"They danced last night father" Clara answered for them.
"Mr Reid is a wonderful dancer and conversationalist ever since we first met at sixteen" Elizabeth explained.
"As are you, Miss Vance" Edmund smiled.
"Mr Reid wishes to court you, Elizabeth" Zebulon told her.
"If you would like me to that is" Edmund added.
"I would enjoy that" Elizabeth nodded with a smile.
"Perhaps we could take a walk in the park this morning?" He suggested.
"That sounds quite lovely" She nodded.

Edmund and Elizabeth strolled around the park arm in arm.
"I can't believe that I get to walk around in front of others and show them that you're mine" he whispered to her.
"Don't let Madeline hear you" she warned.
"Just two more of these and I'll make you my fiancée" he smiled.
"Can you meet me, tonight? At our home?"
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I think we should stay apart until I ask your father for your hand"
"Edmund that's torture" she groaned.
"If you love me, you'll be able to wait" he challenged.
"I've been waiting since we were children, I've waited long enough" She groaned.
"You're so impatient" he smiled.
"Didn't your mother teach you never to point out a woman's flaws" she teased.
"My mother taught me to find a woman with plenty of flaws because it is that woman that will be perfect for me" he smiled.
"We are too alike, Eddie"
"There is no such thing. Only two souls made for one another, we are that my love" he smiled down at her.
"I wish that I could kiss you" she whispered. Edmund squeezed the hand on his arm tightly.
"That is me kissing you" Elizabeth repeated the action.
"That is me kissing you back" she smiled up at him "Harder" she teased.
"You always need to be better than me don't you" he laughed, making her laugh.
"Always, but that's why you love me"
"Yes it is" he smiled down at her as they continued to stroll hand in hand.
"Father is letting me attend medical school. I start tomorrow and it's close by so I'll get to stay at home"
"Your father is letting you?"
"Yes, he said it's my reward. I can't wait, the people, the learning-" she noticed his wide smile "What?"
"I'm so in love with you Elizabeth Vance"
"And I am so in love with you Edmund Reid" she squeezed his arm lightly, earning one back in return.

Elizabeth sat on the window seat of her home, her book in her hands as her mother and sister worked on their needlepoint.
"And how was your walk with Mr Reid?" Harriette asked.
"He was a perfect gentleman. He asked if he may call upon me tomorrow and I said yes" Elizabeth told her mother with a wide smile.
"When will I have gentleman callers?" Clara whined.
"You've only been out a year Clara, give it some time" Elizabeth assured her.
"You think this Mr Reid will want to court long term?" Harriette asked her daughter.
"I hope so" Elizabeth admitted "I find him most agreeable"
"Wonderful" her mother couldn't hide her smile as she continued with her needlepoint.
"I wish I had someone to call upon me" Clara groaned into her needlepoint.

Elizabeth stood in her room after dinner, waiting for Mary to arrive. As she finished slipping off her jewellery Mary slipped into the room.
"Good evening miss" She smiled.
"Good evening Mary" she smiled back.
"Will you like to dress me for bed or will you require you're out clothes for a while longer?" Mary smirked at her in the mirror reflection.
"I think I'll require my out clothes for a little bit longer" she smirked back.
"Edmund?"
"Who else makes me this happy?" She smiled.
"Don't get caught or else your parents will have my head"
"Do I ever get caught?" She smirked.
"I'll hide out somewhere for a while, no one will know" Mary told her with a cheeky smile before she headed off.

Elizabeth opened the door to her home and headed inside, hearing sounds of a saw coming from the dining room. She moved to the doorway, watching him work shirtless for a moment before she spoke up.
"What are you doing?"
"Building us a table. What are you doing? I thought I told you to stay away"
"You did, but I'm persistent" she smiled.
"You can't be here, Lizzie" he warned, watching as she moved into view and slid into one of the chairs he made, in nothing more than her under things.
"Why not?" She challenged.
"Lizzie. You can't get pregnant before I've even asked your father for your hand. I want you but I want you as my wife" he admitted.
"The way I was thinking wouldn't get me pregnant" she smirked widely.
"You're going to kill me one of these days" he groaned as he crawled towards her making her laugh. Edmund grabbed her hips, pulling her to the edge of the chair before he lifted her underskirt over his head and pulled down her bloomers. He kissed the inside of both her thighs before he brought his mouth to her centre, making her writhe and jerk under him until she completely fell apart under him.
Edmund moved away from her to finish up what he was doing before she interrupted him.
"You'd better get back to bed" he encouraged.
"In a minute" she panted "I don't think that I can walk yet" he smirked, continuing with his work as she caught her breath.