Read Online The Hudson Diaries by Kara L. Barney - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kara L. Barney
Tags: Fiction
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with some concern.
“If you ask me, I’d say you needed a breather.” He smiled slightly, and I could not suppress a laugh.
“But I also… Ah…” He fidgeted and quickly handed me a small blue handkerchief. “There,” Dr. Watson said hurriedly. “I hope I got it right. Something about having blue on your wedding day.” He shrugged, interlocking his fingers nervously.
I smiled, and could not resist embracing him also. “It’s perfect.”
“Baker Street will not be the same without you, Miss Beauregard… But I should call you Mrs. Hudson now,” he admitted shyly.
“To you I shall always be Martha,” I said before the door opened and I was drawn in by insistent, busy hands.
Eventually, when all was ready concerning my person, I was left alone. I could not be still, and so I wandered the halls of the church for a time, pondering on the many events that had led me to the present moment. In my wanderings I found myself in front of the chapel doors, and after a moment’s pause, slowly opened them.
As I entered, the sun streamed beautifully through the stained-glass windows, filling the room with beams of color. To my surprise, I discovered someone sitting alone in the pews near the center. As I rustled lightly down the aisle, he turned, and I smiled.
“You’re early,” I said, sitting down next to him.
“I wouldn’t miss an occasion like this for all the world.” said Mr. Holmes tentatively. Knowing that it was difficult for him to enjoy such social gatherings, that was a very high compliment indeed.
“Surely sir, an extra half-hour, rather than a whole one, would have been sufficient.”
He chuckled and tapped his fingers together, pondering.
“Are you well, Mr. Holmes?” I asked.
“Yes. I only wish that I had been more prepared for a day such as this one…a day I knew would come too quickly for me.”
It was my turn to laugh now. “Worry not, you shall never lose me as a friend.”
“You, and Rupert as well, are always welcome at Baker Street,” said Mr. Holmes, smiling slightly. “I am sure Watson will be glad for the merrier company, for I am not always the best of companions.”
I giggled, and for a while we sat in peaceful silence. Realizing the time for the ceremony was at hand, I rose, saying, “I had better see that all is in order before the wedding begins,” and I turned away.
“Martha,” Mr. Holmes called, and I turned back. He took me by the shoulders, smiled once more and sighed. “You look beautiful,” he said—then he kissed me lightly on the cheek.
Taken aback by this show of affection, I paused before leaving the chapel, watching my former employer sitting alone, and hoping in my heart that he could find such happiness as I had found in Rupert.
The ceremony went perfectly—Dr. Watson did quite well in giving me away, though he might say otherwise—the day was fine and joy abounded.
A few times I caught Mr. Holmes looking about suspiciously, as was his way, for few were trustworthy, and all were thrust beneath his interrogative stare. As is generally expected, however, I was distracted by the music, dancing, and the many well-wishers who congratulated us as we passed them. William Hughes, Mary Moore and Thomas Gray, along with many of our friends from childhood, came to wish us well, and I could not have been happier.
As the sun was slowly sinking over the park, Rupert and I were bidding farewell to many of the guests as Mr. Holmes approached stealthily. He smiled and went to embrace me, but as he did so he whispered in my ear, “Beware, you are being watched.” He squeezed me tightly, and gave me such an earnest look that I dared not question it.
“Mr. Holmes…” I started to say, but he shook hands with Rupert, turned away and was gone.
I turned about nervously and saw a pair of eyes I knew well, surrounded by dank, dark hair. The shadow moved off slowly, then disappeared from sight.
At last, when all the guests had departed and we retired to
“If you ask me, I’d say you needed a breather.” He smiled slightly, and I could not suppress a laugh.
“But I also… Ah…” He fidgeted and quickly handed me a small blue handkerchief. “There,” Dr. Watson said hurriedly. “I hope I got it right. Something about having blue on your wedding day.” He shrugged, interlocking his fingers nervously.
I smiled, and could not resist embracing him also. “It’s perfect.”
“Baker Street will not be the same without you, Miss Beauregard… But I should call you Mrs. Hudson now,” he admitted shyly.
“To you I shall always be Martha,” I said before the door opened and I was drawn in by insistent, busy hands.
Eventually, when all was ready concerning my person, I was left alone. I could not be still, and so I wandered the halls of the church for a time, pondering on the many events that had led me to the present moment. In my wanderings I found myself in front of the chapel doors, and after a moment’s pause, slowly opened them.
As I entered, the sun streamed beautifully through the stained-glass windows, filling the room with beams of color. To my surprise, I discovered someone sitting alone in the pews near the center. As I rustled lightly down the aisle, he turned, and I smiled.
“You’re early,” I said, sitting down next to him.
“I wouldn’t miss an occasion like this for all the world.” said Mr. Holmes tentatively. Knowing that it was difficult for him to enjoy such social gatherings, that was a very high compliment indeed.
“Surely sir, an extra half-hour, rather than a whole one, would have been sufficient.”
He chuckled and tapped his fingers together, pondering.
“Are you well, Mr. Holmes?” I asked.
“Yes. I only wish that I had been more prepared for a day such as this one…a day I knew would come too quickly for me.”
It was my turn to laugh now. “Worry not, you shall never lose me as a friend.”
“You, and Rupert as well, are always welcome at Baker Street,” said Mr. Holmes, smiling slightly. “I am sure Watson will be glad for the merrier company, for I am not always the best of companions.”
I giggled, and for a while we sat in peaceful silence. Realizing the time for the ceremony was at hand, I rose, saying, “I had better see that all is in order before the wedding begins,” and I turned away.
“Martha,” Mr. Holmes called, and I turned back. He took me by the shoulders, smiled once more and sighed. “You look beautiful,” he said—then he kissed me lightly on the cheek.
Taken aback by this show of affection, I paused before leaving the chapel, watching my former employer sitting alone, and hoping in my heart that he could find such happiness as I had found in Rupert.
The ceremony went perfectly—Dr. Watson did quite well in giving me away, though he might say otherwise—the day was fine and joy abounded.
A few times I caught Mr. Holmes looking about suspiciously, as was his way, for few were trustworthy, and all were thrust beneath his interrogative stare. As is generally expected, however, I was distracted by the music, dancing, and the many well-wishers who congratulated us as we passed them. William Hughes, Mary Moore and Thomas Gray, along with many of our friends from childhood, came to wish us well, and I could not have been happier.
As the sun was slowly sinking over the park, Rupert and I were bidding farewell to many of the guests as Mr. Holmes approached stealthily. He smiled and went to embrace me, but as he did so he whispered in my ear, “Beware, you are being watched.” He squeezed me tightly, and gave me such an earnest look that I dared not question it.
“Mr. Holmes…” I started to say, but he shook hands with Rupert, turned away and was gone.
I turned about nervously and saw a pair of eyes I knew well, surrounded by dank, dark hair. The shadow moved off slowly, then disappeared from sight.
At last, when all the guests had departed and we retired to
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