Read Online Chronicles of the Lost Years (The Sherlock Holmes Series) by Tracy Cooper-Posey - Free Book Online Page A

“Thanks, deary.” She moved toward the table and paused when she saw it was covered with papers.
    “Don’t worry,” Elizabeth told her. “I can see to it. They are all in order, anyway.”
    Mrs. Hudson nodded and left the room, after a quick glance at Holmes, who’d not moved from his comfortable position. Elizabeth began clearing the table.
    “Hello, Watson. You’re early,” Holmes said from the depths of his paper. He lifted his head and looked at Elizabeth over the top of the broadsheet. “There’s absolutely no need for you to help her.”
    “She’s getting old,” Elizabeth pointed out.
    Holmes lowered the paper and considered the novel idea. “Yes, I believe you’re right. I hadn’t noticed.”
    “That doesn’t surprise me. Anything not directly related to one of your cases gets overlooked. As for the female sex, you’re positively absent-minded.” She looked at me. “Would you like another late supper, John? Sit down.”
    I sat at the table, hiding my amusement. Elizabeth’s assessment was absolutely correct.
    Holmes stood and stretched. “Women as a breed are tiresome, superficial leeches that batten onto men with their clinging self-centered wiles and suck them dry.” He dropped his paper to the floor and moved to the table. “This looks to be up to Mrs. Hudson’s usual standards.”
    Elizabeth sat in front of one of the plates. “Perhaps I should start taking in washing,” she remarked lightly.
    “My dear Elizabeth, you know perfectly well I do not include you in that general category of women.” Holmes buttered his bread. “I am sure that if my end was premature you would take over my job with your usual skill and efficiency and probably do it better.” He pointed his knife at her. “Despite your enforced silences during an investigation I know you observe and deduce as much as I do. You haven’t been simply watching me as Watson does. You have also been learning.”
    Elizabeth smiled. “I could never emulate you. I do not have the foundation knowledge, such as your training in chemistry.”
    “But you make up for that lack with what I am beginning to understand is a woman’s intuition.”
    “Are you suggesting that sometimes I am of help to you during an investigation?” Elizabeth asked.
    “Yes. You keep women from bothering me.”
    Elizabeth laughed. “Then my contribution is a worthy one.”
    Naturally I wondered how Elizabeth had managed to slide under his armor and claim such a very unique place in his heart.
    I don’t suppose I would ever have heard the story and thus gained my answer, if I hadn’t developed a fever one autumn. It took me a long while to be rid of it and my recovery was slow. I cannot remember now whose suggestion it was that I recuperate at Baker Street, but it struck all of us as a sensible solution and I was duly installed in my old room. Elizabeth became my temporary nurse.
    With such an arrangement, Holmes’ domestic affairs were wide open to my scrutiny and as I lay in bed day after day, I found my observations both educational and entertaining. I had supposed myself a man of the world, well versed in the habits and ways of women in their homes, but I was soon to discover that I knew very little indeed.
    Elizabeth was an excellent nurse. Always helpful and kind and deft in her ways, she never became overbearingly cheerful or solicitous. Doctors can make the very worst convalescents, I know, but I did try my best to remain patient.
    Elizabeth would spend long hours curled up in the armchair by my bed, telling me stories of their journey about the remote corners of the world, or otherwise entertaining me in the comfortable way she had. Indeed I often found myself relating events that I considered unfit for a lady’s ears and not only would Elizabeth appreciate the tale, she could usually better it.
    Mrs. Hudson, much to my surprise, was one of the mainstays of the household. I had thought her an outsider to Holmes’ affair, but it seemed she