Hold the Umbrella (Mycroft Holmes Fanfic)

At First Sight

Anne was thankful the meeting was over. It appeared neither of them could find the right thing to say fearing that they would say the wrong thing. And by the looks of it, both of them were overwhelmed.

However, meeting Mr. Holmes gave her a new look at her impending nuptials. Perhaps, he wouldn't ask too much of her. There were some things all husbands expected, but Mycroft, it appeared, wouldn't push her. He seemed the quiet type. No, she decided, he is the quiet type. 

After rushing out of the parlor, she returned to her chambers hoping to find Eliza. She wanted to spill her guts about the meeting but in reality, not much had happened. As she made her way up the stairs, her mother stopped her. 

"It went well, I presume?" her mother asked.

"Fine. It went fine."

"Good," her mother replied.

And with that, Anne's mother made her way down the stairs to do whatever else she had planned for the day. 

Anne let out a sigh and continued her journey to her chambers. On entering, she saw Eliza at her desk drawing on a piece of parchment. Eliza had a talent for art.

Eliza looked up and excitedly asked her, "Did it go well?"

"It didn't really go at all. We hardly spoke." Anne had to admit she was a little disappointed, and she was sure Mycroft was disappointed as well. The whole purpose of the meeting was to get to know each other better and both had learned nothing. Absolutely nothing. 

"Oh, that's too bad," Eliza said and returned to her sketch. Anne walked over and glanced down at the artwork. She knew it all too well. It was Eliza's home when she was a child, a beautiful cottage in the country.

"Do you miss it?" Anne asked. Eliza looked up and a sad smile appeared on her face.

"Yes. I'll always miss it." A silence permeated the room. A sad silence they shared together. Then, something came to Anne's mind.

"Can I ask you a question, Eliza?"

"Of course you can."

"Well, I am getting married in two weeks time, and I'd like to know if you would be willing to be Maid of Honor?" 

Eliza looked up at Anne with a face of shock and excitement. "You mean to say you want me, your chambermaid, to be your Maid of Honor?"

"Of course, Eliza! You're the best friend I have, and I wouldn't want anyone else to be there. Not even my mother." However, as soon as Anne mentioned her mother a sad look crossed Eliza's face.

"What's wrong?"

"Your mother would never allow it. A simple maid like me doesn't belong at your side. Your mother cares too much about your families appearance to the outside world."

"Well, to hell with my mother!"

Eliza nearly fell out of her chair.

"Anne, what's come over you? 

"I have come to the conclusion that if my mother can pick who I get to marry, then I can pick who I want at my wedding. I especially can choose who gets to be my Maid of Honor, but I also have another offer. Possibly even more rewarding than my Maid of Honor. I don't know what the Holmes's estate is like. I am sure there are many servants and maids that reside there. However, I am sure Mycroft would be willing, or I will make him, offer you a job on our staff, continuing as my chambermaid. And then, one day, my future children's governess."

This time Eliza really fell out of her chair. However, she rose out of her fallen position on the floor and embraced Anne in the tightest hug they had ever shared. Tears fell down her face, and Eliza thanked Anne over and over again. Then, Eliza released from Anne from her embrace, wiped her tears, and asked her a simple question.

"You're really going to follow through with this? I thought that you never wanted to marry. I thought you wanted to travel the world and become an adventurer. At least, that's what I  thought you wanted to do." 

Anne sat on the bed and let out a sigh. Eliza was right. She was straying from her personal path. 

Then, she realized why she was marrying Mr. Holmes. 

Anne knew she could easily escape in the night and make a life of her own. She was smart, she was resourceful, and she had the motivation. But now, something was stopping her.

All the time she sat across from Mr. Holmes, Anne felt something. She couldn't express it in words, because she had never felt it before. 

It was simple. Anne was entranced by Mr. Holmes. He was a man of mystery, and she knew that moment she laid eyes on him. Maybe it was just a childish fancy. After all, he is an older man. Therefore, that naturally makes them less compatible. However, the awkwardness, the nervousness, the anxiousness they both had in their first meeting was beautiful. It was the only thing that could possibly make them compatible. 

No, she thought to herself, this is ridiculous.

However, Anne couldn't deny her feelings. 

She looked up at Eliza and responded the only way she could.

"I am in love."