The Artful Dodger

1.03 No Burn

I laughed with Belle as we entered the estate. "So he... he kissed your leg?" she asked in a whisper. "Yes. It was so unexpected" I replied. "But did it feel good?" she asked. I looked to her to see she was raising and lowering her eyebrows repeatedly in a teasing manor. "Belle" I squealed. "What? It is a valid question. Because if not, I will have Michael teach the noble doctor a lesson about touching my sister" she said. "Belle!" I scolded this time. "And if you must know... it was nice? I don't know how I am supposed to talk about it" I mumbled. "Do you want- did it make you want to give yourself to him?" she asked.

I laughed lightly. "He does that without kissing my thigh above my burn" I admitted in a whisper. "Kimberley! Kimberley!" we heard the distressed calls of Fanny. Belle and I shared a look before moving to the bottom of the stairs. Fanny had made it to us by time we arrived there.

"What on earth have you done with my perfume?" Fanny complained. She was holding up the bottle of perfume that was in my room. Or that was once perfume. I switched its contents out with carbolic acid after I was incapable of buying new spray bottles. How did she even know it was in there? That doesn't matter, actually. "Let me see your neck." I said. I grabbed her face lightly and moved her head from side to side.

Her neck seems normal. It doesn't seem to have done anything. In fact, it didn't. "It didn't burn." I mumbled as I moved her head side to side again. I took the perfume bottle from her. "Perfect" I smiled before rushing out.

"You can be as mean to me as you like, but I will still love you, just to spite you." Fanny called after me. Belle chased after me. "Kimberley, where are you going?" she asked. "I need to go to the hospital" I informed her. I stopped at the carriage. "No" she hissed, grabbing my hand.

I turned to her, confused. "Wh-" I began but she cut me off. "It is late. And mother will skin both you and your doctor alive. If you wish to save Charlie or see Jack again, then you will go to your room, get ready for bed and sleep. You can go to the hospital tomorrow" she said. I sighed. She is right. I don't want her to be. I want to go to the hospital and save Charlie. I want to spend the rest of the night with Jack, even be in his arms. But tonight... tonight I can't. Or shouldn't at least. If I were already there, that would be one thing, but I am home.

I locked eyes with my older sister. "I can't go, can I?" I asked quietly. "No, I'm sorry Kimberley" she whispered. She interlocked our fingers and dragged me inside. I silently followed along as she dragged me into my room.

Belle dropped my hand before turning to close the door. I walked to the center table and placed the perfume bottle of carbolic acid down. Belle moved to sit on the couch and picked up her book. "Are you always going to read in here?" I asked. I moved to start organizing the papers on my desk. "This is my favorite spot to read and be in your company, you know that" she replied. "I know, I know. I was teasing you" I laughed. That and it feels like all she really wants to do is read. My couch is arguably the only comfortable one in the estate, so sometimes it feels as though she uses the excuse of wanting to be in my presence for being able to read in such a comfortable place.

We were in silence, her reading and me organizing my mess of a desk. Now that my research is done I can finally put my things away... until I have another thing to research that is. Our silence was broken by a knock on my patio door. I turned to see Jack leaning in the doorway. Once he saw me looking at him he waved. I smiled, turning to my sister. "Should I leave you two?" she asked. I gave her a shrug as I set my papers down.

I walked over to the patio and opened the door. Jack was smirking at me. God, I cannot with him. He is... everything. "You scared me" I said to him. All he did was look at me. "Fancy a bit of brain surgery" he asked, stepping into my room.

"You're going to cut open a skull?" I asked excitedly. Jack continued to walk into my room. His lack of an answer means yes. "Wonderful. You've done it before?" I questioned. Jack stopped, turning to me. He seemed so unsure of everything. "No, but I know what happens. Head, big drill and then... Well, generally, they die of infection." he said, taking his hat off. He tucked his hat under his arm.

His hair looks ruffled from his hat, so dreamy in some ways. I shook my head lightly. That is not something I need to be thinking of at the moment. "Then why are you here?" I asked confused. If the man is going to die, then why isn't he there trying to stop it. "Because I'm hoping to avoid him generally dying of infection-" he began, tilting his head. Oh... he is here trying to stop the man from dying. "when we open up his skull to let the pressure out." Jack finished. I nodded my head. That makes a lot more sense.

I licked my lips lightly. Does this means he truly trusts me to do this? Does he trust that I figured it out? "So, show me this, um, sewage acid of yours. I need to find a way of using it on a skull that's open to the sky." Jack said. I smiled. He does trust me. Jack turned and looked around my room. He is trying to find it.

I reached over and grabbed it from the table. I cleared my throat gaining his attention. I spritzed Jack, unfortunately it happened when he was more towards me then I thought and it got in his eyes. Dear god, please don't affect his eyes. He stumbled back in shock. "What the hell?" he complained. Jack closed his eyes, wiping his face. The tone of his voice wasn't one I have really heard before, but it was kind of funny.

"Doesn't burn, does it?" I asked relatively excited. I am still a little worried because I got his eyes, but he seems fine and he has not started to scream bloody murder. "No. But does it do anything?" he asked. He stopped wiping his face and looked at me. Does it actually work? "I don't know, but I think it might." I told him. "There is no might" Belle said.

I jumped lightly, shocked. I forgot Belle was in the room. I was so wrapped up with all of this. I looked over to my sister who still had her nose in the book. "You worked on it for almost two days with little sleep, Kimberley. It will work" Belle said. She looked up from her book. "Now go, the man does not have all night. I will handle mother" she said. I smiled at her. "You are the best. I owe you" I told her before grabbing Jack's hand.

I dragged Jack out of the house and we went to the side of the drive where the carriage was. "Take us to the hospital. Now" I ordered. I got into the carriage, Jack following me. I bit my lip, looking down at the perfume bottle in my hand. "It will work" he said. I don't even know how he knew I was focused on the bottle or worried about it. It is far too dark, I can barely even make out his face. "It will work. I trust you" he said. I smiled lightly at him. Jack grabbed my hand and interlocked our fingers. "It will work" he repeated. I leaned forward and rested my head on his shoulder. Jack kissed the side of my head. I hope he is right. I hope this works.