Mrs. Dawkins (The Artful Dodger) [TBS]

Part 48

I stood between my father and Miss Hardcastle, rage boiling inside my held back only by my bottom lip between my teeth. I looked to the road and pondered just bolting, abandoning it all and running to Jack at the hospital. But I knew it wouldn't be any use.

The carriage pulled into the front of the house stopping with a short jolt.

All held their breath as the door opened, and there she was.

Aunt Lisbeth was a remarkable sight to behold. She stood tall with an imposing figure, broad shoulders, and a long hooked nose that exuded an air of authority. Her lips were tightly pursed, giving the impression that she was in a perpetual state of disapproval. Her elegantly placed black curls, expertly dyed to conceal any signs of greying, were artfully arranged in a large black hat with a striking white ribbon.

Her attire was equally impressive. She wore a tightly laced corset that accentuated her already slender figure, creating the illusion that one could easily encircle her waist with a single hand. Her long black gown was a work of art, adorned with intricate pearls and delicate embroidery.

Aunt Lisbeth's choice of jewellery was equally exquisite. Every piece was crafted from mother of pearl, with large and impressive pearls set in silver. In one hand, she carried a black lace parasol adorned with pearls, which she used not only for shade but also as a stylish and practical walking stick, complete with a handle made of mother of pearl. In her other hand, she held a matching fan, secured around her wrist, with each blade featuring a grip of mother of pearl.

"Lisbeth," my's father smiled trying to pull her into a hug,

But with a flick of her wrist, she drew her fan across her face between them, "Do not touch me, Eric." She said not needing to bark or even raise her tone just her firmness enough, "Save us all from your scent and save my cleaners the work."

"Of course." He nodded,

"Delight me, with why I am the last to know of my niece's engagement." she closed her fan looking down her nose at him,

"She is not engaged, she is courting."

"Which I should hope still means the same thing." she replied, "One does not court not to engage. Courting is a formality. And at the age of your daughter it is a formality you cannot afford." She said, "Nevertheless. Why?" she almost whistled the W as she said it,

"You were sent about her debutant Ball,"

"I was indeed."

"The young man made himself known then, the rest has simply been pleasantries."

"Well then, reveal her. Or is she so frightened by the king's English that spills from my lips she hides below her piano once more?"

"I am here Aunt Lisbeth," I spoke up begrudgingly bringing herself closer,

"Ahh. I forgive me, I feared he'd married a maid." She snapped, "Let me look at you." She demanded,

I moved to the centre of her view and held my hands behind my back,

Lisbeth looked me up and down several times, making sure to be slow and meticulous about how she looked at me, "Hum..." She scoffed, "You are thinner than last I visited."

"Yes, Aunt Lisbeth,"

"...It is progress I suppose." she rolled her eyes, "The face is better. As it is the hair." she said, "Come we must take tea."

Without saying another word, Lisbeth, her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed in determination, marched into the study. The room was dimly lit by the warm glow of the fire, casting dancing shadows on the walls. As she entered, the servants, dressed in their crisp uniforms, bowed and offered her every seat in the room, from the plush armchairs by the fire to the antique chairs by the window. Lisbeth, her gaze sweeping across the room, declined each one with a curt shake of her head.

Finally, she stopped in front of the first seat offered, a high-backed armchair positioned beside the crackling fire and overlooking the snow-covered garden outside. With a decisive nod, she settled into the chair, her eyes fixed on the flickering flames.

The staff, attentive and poised, approached her with a silver tray, adorned with delicate china teacups and a steaming teapot. "Would you care for some tea, madam?" the butler inquired, his voice as smooth as silk.

Lisbeth, her gaze still fixed on the fire, initially declined the offer with a polite wave of her hand. However, as the maid moved to serve the other guests, a sudden change came over her. With a sharp, commanding tone, she called out across the room, "I'll take tea. Now" The staff, accustomed to her swift changes in demeanour, quickly adjusted, pouring a steaming cup of tea and delivering it to her side. "So, Neice of mine."

"Yes, Aunt Lisbeth?" I asked doing my best not to slouch,

"This... gentlemen?"

"Yes, Aunt Lisbeth?"

"He comes with a name I assume?" she asked, "Most men do, many of them are utterly irrelevant not like they ever do much with them besides stamp it on everything they can like a puppy pissing on all it see's,"

"Yes, he has a name," I slightly blushed trying not to chuckle,

"Well? Am I to be graced with it or is it an ever-going mystery?"

"Doctor Jack Dawkins," I smiled proudly,

"Doctor?" she perked up suddenly more interested in the conversation beyond the mere plenties of it, "My, my."

"Doctor Dawkins is the surgeon at the Hospital."

"A surgeon. Now I do say that's an awful lot better than I expected." she sipped her tea, "I had fears you'd desire to run amok with a penniless panhandler, some brutish blacksmith or a horrid haberdasher boy." she explained,

"Didn't you marry a tailor?" My father spoke up,

"Do not be sharp with me Eric." She snapped back, "So? Tell me of the courtship?"

"Well, he and I first met after I had an accident in town. Bruised my hand fairly badly so my father took me to the hospital, and Doctor Dawkins treated me. We conversed socially a few times after that and we invited him to my ball. Luck we did, I ended up having a terrible bout of breathlessness and by the grace of god, he was there to aid me. He made his intentions very clear to Father and at a dinner sometime later he asked to enter our courtship." I explained, "We have followed of course all social rules and have been spending time in our courtship chaperoned by Miss Hardcastle." I smiled doing my best to hide my lies as I couldn't really admit everything else me and Jack had already done,

"Good, good." Lisbeth nodded, "He seems a proper gentleman."

I tried to hide my blush,

"it does bring me some peace for fiscal security." she said, "Tell me, how much shall you expect for the household once wed?"

"Ohh uh... Ja- Doctor Dawkins, doesn't make very much money." I admitted,

"Hum..." she scoffed, "I see. Well, I suppose it is a boundary of the industry, but once he is head surgeon of his hospital all will be well,"

"He isn't-"

"He will be. You will make him. It is a wife's duty to make her husband see reason and presume what is best for him. Regardless of his own selfish ambition." She explained, "He will make you a wife of a head surgeon or you will not make him a father of children it is a simple pact, he will do as told and see reason as all men do once deprived of the marital bliss between your legs."

I tried not to gasp,

"Y/n. I will not have my niece be penniless." She warned, "I would call off this courtship than allow you to wed some penniless surgeon doomed to fall into his bottle after each day of work."

"Yes Aunt Lisbeth," I nodded,

"Good. Now, Summon this surgeon I wish to inspect him for my niece."

"Well as it happened Y/n wasn't feeling well this morning, she and Miss Hardcastle were to take her to the hospital this afternoon." My father spoke up clearly trying to get Lisbeth away from him and the house for a while,

"Splendid. We shall go at once." Lisbeth demanded with a loud stomp of her parasol on the floor,