The Lazarus Machine

Chapter 24

Sherlock returned John back to his brother's home in time for supper.  Sherlock declined to enter, informing John that both Mycroft and Harry were currently in residence and that he'd be much better off dining elsewhere that night.  However, Sherlock dashed off before John could inquire if that was an invitation to dine with him, so John entered the house.

Harry was in a mood and Lord Sherrinford ignored it, asking utterly mundane and impersonal questions about his day.  When the questions turned around to John, he wasn't quite sure what to reply.  I spent the night and most of the day with my fiancé and a couple of bags of rotting body parts.  Surely not proper dinner conversation.  He tried to avoid the topic entirely and thanked Lord Sherrinford for the clothing he was having made for John, something generally above and beyond his duties.

"You're very welcome, Captain Watson.  We must have you outfitted in the latest to properly present you to our acquaintances.  I do hope you like the wedding suit in particular.  I had it modeled after your uniform."

John's mouth tightened.  "It is quite a fine-looking suit, Lord Sherrinford."  It was, and it fit well, but John was no longer part of the army.  He wouldn't have chosen the pattern.  Lord Sherrinford just inclined his head slightly.

"Tomorrow will be a busy day.  The members of the family who must travel will arrive then.  I do expect both of you around for tea and introductions."

"Sherlock and myself?"

"Heavens, no, they already know Sherlock."  Lord Sherrinford laughed at his little joke.  "No, you and Sir Harold.  We want them to see what a fine young man will be joining our family."

"Of course, Lord Sherrinford, I shall make it a point to be available."

John spent the day in the sitting room, alternately reading and greeting even more eccentric Holmes relatives with Lord Sherrinford and Harry.  Many of them had the same sharp, probing eyes as Sherlock, though few had his utter disdain for formality.  A few, to John's delight, insinuated that they had expected this invitation due to Mycroft's wedding, not Sherlock's, and that they were anxiously awaiting word of the next heir.  This managed to make Lord Sherrinford color and cough into his fist.  He could only indicate that he chose to settle his brother first before focusing on himself.

John tried to remember all names like Aberforth and Euphemia and Drucilla, Philander and Petrina, Lord Talmadge and his young twins Engelbert and Ebenezer.  He'd never spoken so many syllables in his life.  A few looked rather amused at his name, John, the most common name in the country, the name given even to the anonymous man John Doe.  Try as he might, he only could later recall one of Sherlock's great-aunts, Eunicetine, because of the staggering amount of feathers she wore in her hair (fanned out much like a peacock's tail) and the fact that the old woman's hands wandered quite freely.  Far too freely.

Still, John found himself having a surprisingly amusing afternoon and evening.  He and Harry didn't have much extended family and they were not as jovial and familiar as those who descended upon the Sherrinford house.

"It is a bit overwhelming now, Captain Watson, but they will be diluted among the ton who will attend the ball tomorrow evening in celebration of the nuptials."  Lord Sherrinford had finally finished a last introduction of a latecomer, Barindel Holmes.  The gentleman had assessed John quite thoroughly, but he was used to it now. 

"Oh, I don't mind in the least," John said, drinking from his glass of champagne quite newly imported from France.  "Everyone has been lovely."  And they had been.  Everyone was so pleased that Sherlock had agreed to marry, even if the man wasn't here to dispel any lingering fancies that this was a love match.  John had flushed when Amphasia Holmes had kissed both his cheeks and declared him adorable and quite what Sherlock needed.

"The reports indicate they are just as taken with you, Captain Watson.  Quite interesting."