Hold the Umbrella (Mycroft Holmes Fanfic)

Anxious

"Is that his carriage, Eliza?" Anne asked as she peeked out of her chamber window.

"It would appear it is, Miss." The chambermaid rushed to the window peering out by Anne's side excitedly. "Oh! Look how lovely it looks! He's certainly a rich fellow ."

Anne didn't really care about the appearance of the carriage. Anyone could have a nice looking carriage. It was the looks of the man inside that she was most curious about. 

The driver had just stopped the carriage and was moving to open the door for Mr. Holmes. However, as soon as the door was opened and Mr. Holmes stepped out, the driver opened an umbrella blocking Anne's view. Looking down she could see nothing but the top of the umbrella. She should have seen it coming. It had been drizzling all morning. It was almost like the fates were playing a cruel trick on her.

"Aww. That's too bad, Miss. You'll be able to see him soon. He must not be that wide. After all, I didn't see his body hanging outside the umbrella, and the carriage didn't shake too violently when he exited." Eliza, formally called Miss Green, moved away from the window and sat at the desk opposite Anne's bed.

"Do you think he saw me staring out the window, Eliza?" Anne asked still gazing out the window although Mr. Holmes had just entered.

"No, Miss. He couldn't see us."

Anne crossed over to Eliza. "You'll be with me when I meet him, won't you? You're my best friend, and I need all the support I can get."

A sad look came over Eliza's face. "I'm sorry ma'am, but your mother is going to have Cook as your chaperone. Your mother doesn't necessarily trust me, but you can tell me about it later."

"Why is she having Cook? I'm surprised she didn't hire a true chaperone."

"You know as well as I. The estate doesn't have the mon-"

At that moment, Lady Chapman entered the room. She looked at her daughter a slight scowl appeared on her face. She was scowling at the dress Anne was wearing. Even she knew it was ugly.

"Is that what you're going to wear?" her mother asked aggravatedly.

"Yes."

"Change."

"No."

"Anne."

"I like it."

"Anne, change this instant."

"No."

Lady Chapman looked at her daughter with absolute disgust.

"Fine, but let's hope this Mr. Holmes isn't up to date in lady's fashion. If not, he won't care what you're wearing. If so, he may find you less desirable, and you know how important this marriage is to this family."

"You mean, how important this marriage is to Father, " Anne retorted. 

Eliza gasped. She wasn't expecting for Miss Anne to be so brash and mean to her mother. Anne really wasn't looking forward to this.

"Head down those stairs this instant! Mr. Holmes has waited long enough. Lead her down, Miss Green. Cook will meet you at the bottom of the hall leading to the parlor."

And with that, Lady Chapman exited. Eliza looked at Anne. She had never seen her so stern in her life. Her face resembled her mother's on a bad day, or more accurately every day.

"Miss, I suggest we head down. I don't think you want to make your mother any angrier than she is." 

Anne lightly nodded, and she and Eliza began their descent down the stairs. In the hall leading to the parlor they found Cook. She wasn't wearing her usual garb. She was wearing an extravagant dress compared to her usual tastes. Anne suspected Mother wanted to her look like a proper lady to cover up the fact they couldn't afford a real chaperone. She was sure an idiot could see through the disguise. Especially if Cook opened her mouth. Cook was known to curse like a sailor in common conversation, but Father never fired her. Anne suspected it was because Cook reminded him of his buddies when he served in the military. Cook approached her.

"That harlot mother of yours has told me not to go on chatterin'. She thinks I'll blow me damn cover and make a bloody scene. I'll sit on that chair in the corner and not say a word unless you start doing unladylike things, you see. So I suggest no kissing, no anything. Not that I think you'll want to kiss the likes of him."

"Thank you, Cook...." Anne said insincerely. 

"Now head in. I still have to prepare dinner after this and I really don't have the proper time to be a chaperone. Now, go!" Cook began to push Anne into the parlor. 

"I'll tell you about the meeting afterward. I promise." She said to Anne as right before she reached the parlor entrance. 

And then, she was there. At the door looking at her future husband. She barely knew this man, but she was going to end up marrying him. Thank God he wasn't looking at her. 

He was too preoccupied with a pamphlet he was reading. She couldn't see what it said but it must be boring because he looked rather boring. 

He wore a gray suit and next to him a tall hat to match his suit. He was old enough to be her father, but his age didn't show too much. And he wasn't fat. He wasn't skinny, but he was healthy. His face was alright. It wasn't the worst one she's seen. That's all Anne got to observe before Cook gave her a proper shove in the parlor. The shove was far from gentle and she hit her elbow on the doorframe. Then he looked up from his pamphlet.