An Inspector Calls Eric x fiancée Reader

Chapter 7

Birling: That was the door again.

Mrs Birling: Gerald must have come back.

Inspector: Unless your son has just gone out.

Birling: I'll see.

//he goes out quickly. Inspector turns to Mrs Birling.//

Inspector: Mrs Birling, you're a member – a prominent member – of the Brumley Women's Charity Organization, aren't you?

// Mrs Birling does not reply.//

Sheila: Go on, mother. You might as well admit it. (to Inspector.) Yes, she is. Why?

Inspector: (calmly) It's an organization to which women in distress can appeal for help in various forms. Isn't that so?

Mrs Birling: (with dignity) Yes. We've done a great deal of useful work in helping deserving cases.

Inspector: There was a meeting of the interviewing committee two weeks ago?

Mrs Birling: I dare say there was.

Inspector: You know very well there was, Mrs Birling. You were in the chair.

Mrs Birling: And if I was, what business is it of yours?

Inspector: (severely) Do you want me to tell you – in plain words?

//enter Birling, looking rather agitated.//

Birling: That must have been Eric and Y/N.

Mrs Birling: (alarmed) Have you been up to his room?

Birling: Yes. And I called out on both landings. It must have been Eric and Y/N we heard go out then.

Mrs Birling: Silly kids! Where can they have gone to?

Birling: I can't imagine. But he was in one of his excitable queer moods, and even though we don't need him here, he must have dragged poor Y/N along with him.

Inspector: (cutting in, sharply) We do need them here. And if they're not back soon, I shall have to go and find them.

//Birling and Mrs Birling exchange bewildered and rather frightened glances.//

Sheila: He's probably just gone to cool off, Y/N must have gone along to help calm him down. They'll be back soon.

Inspector: (severely) I hope so.

Mrs Birling: And why should you hope so?

Inspector: I'll explain why when you've answered my questions, Mrs Birling.

Birling: Is there any reason why my wife should answer questions from you, Inspector?

Inspector: Yes, a very good reason. You'll remember that Mr Croft told us – quite truthfully, I believe – that he hadn't spoken to or seen Eva smith since last September. But Mrs Birling spoke to and saw her only two weeks ago.

Sheila: (astonished) Mother!

Birling: Is this true?

Mrs Birling: (after a pause) Yes, quite true.

Inspector: She appealed to your organisation for help?

Mrs Birling: Yes.

Inspector: Not as Eva smith?

Mrs Birling: No, nor as Daisy Renton.

Inspector: As what then?

Mrs Birling: First, she called herself Mrs Birling--