Thorns And Roses

Chapter Seven

"Cheers Mrs Crosby! 'ave a lovely night!" Trilled Eleanore as she closed the pie shop door loudly.

"That everyone mum?" Toby asked from behind her counter where he was drying off her kitchen utensils.

"Tis love." She said, padding down her apron of flour. It had been a few days after her journey to the police station where she'd had her rather embarrassing rant. Eleanore had hardly heard a peep out of Sweeney while he moped about upstairs. She knew he was angry with all the fuss the shop was getting lately. No one was coming up to see the barber for a shave, they wanted to see the baker who'd saved Britain's next Prime Minister. At least, that was what they said. Eleanore was sure that the story would have faded by now but if anything it was the talk of all London!

Every day, from morning till night customers would cram into her shop and milk her of her baked goods. A great many times couples or groups had come into the shop when every table was full, and Toby had to turn them away. Occasionally, while she and Toby were worked off their feet she would see Sweeney stood by his shop door, a hungry gaze in his eyes that wasn't because of her food.

Only one man had gone up for a shave in the past week, and the judge had still not made a single visit to his shop, despite the attention Sweeney had garnered at the shaving contest. She supposed the Beadle had never told him about his establishment, the slimy git would probably say it was far too common for the judge.

Eleanore had been desperate to speak to him or to see him. But she had been working so hard all day that she hardly had the strength to keep her eyes open and make his dinner. By the time it was done, Toby always offered to take it up for her so she could go to bed and rest. And that was how the days went on.

No, she decided. Tonight had been a decent night for business but she still had the energy to personally give him his dinner and check up on him. She only hoped he was in a good mood.

"Toby love, see if ya go in me coat pocket there's an 'andful of shillings. Why don't ya go 'an get us some toffees eh?"

At once, Toby's eyes lit up with happiness. "Thanks, mum!"

Within a few seconds, he had quickly hugged her, grabbed the money and raced out the door. The things that boy'll do fer toffees...

With a reasonably clean kitchen and a fair amount of time on her hands, she decided to cook Sweeney something nice and healthy, something that he'd like.

~•0•~

Upstairs in his cold barbershop, the demon snarled at the vermin that walked the streets outside the shop. He clenched his fist around the handle of his razor and gritted his teeth. He needed blood. He thirsted for it, like one thirsted for water in the desert. Just one kill, one throat. That was all he needed.

The bell to the shop door chimed as it opened and a grin worked itself across the barber's lips.

"Mista T!" Sang Eleanore cheerfully, and at once Sweeney's grin fell away and was replaced by a scowl. He turned to glare at her, and she paused. His gaze was fiery with anger as if he could reduce her and her tray of food to mere ash.

"Um, I brought ya some dinner Mista T. Y-you 'avent been eatin' all that great an' it's me own fault. I'll admit. So I jus' thought I'd cook ya up somethin' nice ta warm ya old bones up 'ere." She was rambling again like she always does when she's nervous. She didn't like the look in Sweeney's eyes.

"Take it away." He growled, turning back to the window.

Eleanore huffed and put down the tray, firmly placing her hands on her hips and scowling at his back "Mista T! I spent the' last hour preparin' this for ya. You haven't eaten in days, 'ow d'ya expect to put up a fight with the judge or one o'yer customers if ya ten seconds away from passin' out?"