Mrs. Dawkins (The Artful Dodger) [TBS]

Part 51

I clutched Jack's arm firmly, the warmth of his skin grounding me as we made our way through the bustling corridors of the hospital. Each step felt heavy with anticipation and concern. As we approached the entryway, my eyes fell upon Aunt Lisbeth, who stood with an air of imperiousness. Her nose was pointed upward, as if she were surveying a world she deemed beneath her, and a deep frown tugged at the corners of her mouth, emphasizing her disapproval of the chaotic scene around her. She leaned gracefully on her ornate parasol,

I gave Jack one final fix and squeezed his hand as we approached, "Aunt Lisbeth?" 

"Finally. I was begining to wonder if this gentleman of yours was merely a fictitious delusion." She abruptly snapped, her sharp gaze shifting toward us with an intensity that made the air feel charged. As she took her time inspecting him, her eyes travelled methodically from his laces, which were slightly frayed and unkempt, up to his tousled locks that framed his face.  "Hum..." she scoffed, "Y/n, why have you brought me the porter?" 

"No, no! Aunt Lisbeth, this is Doctor Jack Dawkins. My fiance." I introduced, "Jack, this is my aunt Lisbeth." 

"Pleasure to finally meet you, madam." Jack smiled offering his hand to her, "If I may say so, it is very clear that Miss Everset gets her beauty from your side of the family." 

Aunt Lisbeth immediately she grimaced and used her parasol to bat his hand away. "Do not attempt to butter me as if I was your morning toast. Doctor Dawkins." she glared, 

"Forgive me I only-"

"Don't interrupt." she snapped, 

"I was merely-"

"There you go again. Interrupting. Come now doctor even a toddler understands to keep its mouth shut once being told. Or do you also need a firm smack on your backside to remember when you're being asked to do a simple task?" 

Ooooh nooo... oooh noo... 

Jack bit his tongue, but there was a rage behind his eyes, 

"step aside." She commanded me, 

"Yes Aunt Lisbeth," I nodded stepping back from Jack's arm, 

"Let me look at you," she said before she began her slow and detailed inspection of him huffing and scoffing as she did, "Surgeon?"

"Yes, A much-celebrated surgeon." he snapped back, 

I began picking at my nails as I watched her pace around him prodding him with her fan and parasol like he was a pig to be inspected for a prize, 

"And you court my niece?"

"Indeed, we are well into our courtship. followed all our rules I assure you." He briefly smiled at me, 

"Hum... I do not believe that." She snapped gripping his chin to turn him back to her, "I highly doubt you have not at least attempted to... push the borders of your courtship with my niece."

"I assure you I have not."

"In any case, you intend to wed my niece?"

"That I do. as soon as courtship rules allow. I'd have married her already if her father allowed it." 

"Yes... well her father is not the one deciding this." 

"He's her father-"

"Her father is a fool. And I know better than him." 

"Do you... when was the last time you saw your niece? In all our courtship. She's never mentioned, You." he smirked, "Not till today anyway, hardly think you seem that important to our courtship if you weren't mentioned till now."

Jack... I love you but please don't poke a bee's nest.

"And where precisely did you obtain your ... exhaustive and intricate education?" she glared changing the subject, 

"I trained in the navy, learnt my skills in the pressure of combat." 

"I assure you that is not as impressive as you think it is."

"I am not trying to Impress you merely answering your-"

"Of course, you are trying to impress me, I am the last line of defence to prevent my niece from ending up a wife to a useless husband and mother to children without a future. Her father may have been foolish enough to sell her off to the first man who asked. But you will find I am less enthusiastic to waste her looks, breeding and education on the likes of ... unworthy gentlemen." 

"And am I. And Unworthy gentlemen?" He glared, 

Oh god please no... jack please don't... 

"Hum... may I be frank Doctor Dawkins?" she said straightening herself in front of him once more,

"you may..." he said sliding his hands into a knot across his chest, 

"Frankly, I am discontented. I see my niece has the same pension for dirty lost puppies as her mother did. I see you entirely plainly, and I see that you are an ill-mannered, uncivilised, coarse, boorish, young man who appears to stand by his uneducated position as if it grants him a single morsel of merit, when even my butcher can cut up a cow and at least he has the decency to cut cleanly and properly to deliver me a fine and delicate cut of meat rather then your hacking and lacerating like some third rate apprentice not yet strong enough to move the saw. How you caught the attention of my niece is unclear to me other than perhaps drugging her wine or perhaps you have some stunningly tearful childhood that brings out her foolish pity. All I know truly is this, I will not be allowing my niece to align herself with an unkempt butcher as long as I live. Regardless of her father's words. So either you undergo some miraculous gentlemanly transformation within the next sixteen seconds. Or... we shall say good day. and your blood-strained britches will not be welcome to come near my niece, and your courtship with her will be... Disguarded. Like a rotten leg." 

Well... I can't say that went much worse than I expected. 

"Come along Y/n. we are leaving," she commanded turning to head back to the carriage, 

I didn't want to go with her, of course I didn't. I wanted to stay with Jack, there was no way on earth I wanted her to call off our engagement, But what other choice did I have? I wanted to cry, to scream to do something but I was totally paralysed. 

"Y/n. Come alone. We are leaving." she turned back to snap at me, 

I held my breath looking up to meet Jack's eyes, his face was full of rage boiling below the surface, but he met my eyes. Pleading with me not to go with her, both knowing if I went with her she would bully my father into calling it off and this would all be over. 

"Aunt Lisbeth I-"

"We. Are. Leaving." She commanded, 

"No," I answered,

"...What did you say?"

"I said no," I answered, "You may be my aunt, but father has agreed our courtship. And I am not going to simply go with you when you demand it be ended after mere moments in his presence. Father has spent far more time socially with Jack and he is more than happy for our wedding." 

Jack cracked a smile and offered his hand, 

I smiled and took his hand letting him pull me into his arms wrapping his other hand around my waist, 

"That's my darling," He cooed kissing my knuckles, 

"This is ridiculous!" she yelled, "Fine! I will see your father alone." She turned and walked with purpose towards the door, 

But Jack's smile turned into a full-blow smirk, pulling me tighter in his arms, "May I be frank now Madam?" 

She froze up...