Esteemed Malevolence

XXXVII: Impending Desperation

A few days had passed since the Judge had finally met his end. It was like all the looming tension at 186 Fleet Street had diminished slightly - the barber and baker had barely bickered now that they had some more time to themselves. Eleanor was unbelievably optimistic now that she could finally figure out the next step for the two of them. Both Eva and Toby were now present a hell of a lot more too, and that only extended Eleanor's happiness.

The four of them were a bit like a dysfunctional family - at least, that's how she saw it. She was always sure to avoid any topics where she had to use the 'F' word when talking to Mr Todd. He certainly wouldn't entertain that idea - for the moment he was completely focused on her, and she didn't want to open her big mouth if it meant that it would automatically force them to take a step backwards.

She hadn't brought up fatherhood either. She realised that the revelation of who Eva Fiori was to him, was likely taking a while to sink in. She knew it must have been hard for him to accept - he'd once despised the girl and had even contemplated slitting her throat at one point, so it was no wonder he never spoke of her to Eleanor again.

He'd seemed a little put out when Eva had taken up Mrs Lovett's offer of a roof over her head, however. Though it wasn't clear whether his disagreement was because he was trying to cover up the guilt he felt towards his own daughter, or because he still loathed the young lad who was still there by her side.

Eleanor had a suspicion that Sweeney was perhaps jealous of Toby, but it wasn't her place to say anything. After all, she was enjoying all of the attention he had been giving her those past few days.

They'd managed to spend a lot more time together now that Toby paraded around the courtyard in a cheery manner each night, whilst Eva manned the trays from the bake-house, or helped out the lad wherever she could.

It was an enormous risk having her tending the tables. Every night had been a challenge for her so far. Seeing all those desperate fingers ripping into hot pies - pies that she knew were filled with the steaming flesh of a ground up human... It both horrified her and made her hungry stomach grumble at the same time.

She despised the fact she had an underlying addiction, and secretly hoped that observing cannibalism from the sidelines would slowly twist her mindset. She was more than aware that she didn't need to eat her own kind, yet her appetite was increasing with every second she served Mrs Lovett's customers in the courtyard. Her eyes would cloud over with envy as she glared at them, but she always kept her mouth shut and went about wiping down the surfaces, or removing the benches of clutter.

It was just fortunate that Mrs Lovett was usually out there with her - Eleanor was still fairly cautious of the girl, and more often than not, had managed to snap her out of her greedy fascination. The baker would whisper to her or fashion some important job for her to do, and that usually did the trick.

The saddest part of Miss Fiori aiding the baker, was that Toby Ragg seemed none the wiser to how truly deranged and deadly Eva was.

He too did his fair share for the baker - he was the friendly face that first seated each customer, and ironically, the one in charge of ensuring every tumbler was filled with gin.

Every night had been fairly bearable so far, with no hassle from anyone whatsoever.

That was, until one particular night.

A night in which cages were finally rattled.

It was mid-week, and the pie shop was buzzing as usual. Toby was grinning inanely and dressed smartly, dashing between tables, completing the tasks that he'd been set. The lad was in his element.