"The Widow" Bertha

Mrs. Thames called for a blind date meeting, and naturally asked everyone to dress nicely.

However, there are always a few disobedient ones.

The bar at No. 22 South Bank Street is closed today, and Mrs. Bartz started preparing for the evening party early in the morning.Bertha came in the afternoon, went around, and called two strong young men—

"Put Bill Sikes down!" she demanded.

"What?!"

Sykes next to the wine barrel was terrified: "I don't think any of you dare to touch me, are you impatient?!"

Bertha smiled brightly: "I will give ten shillings to anyone who holds him down."

Other youth: Sorry!

There was a reward first, and Bertha didn't need to say any more nonsense, and a few responsive young people rushed forward to trap the innocent Sykes in place.Only then did Bertha speak: "Take me to the barber to let him cut my hair, trim my beard, and change my sloppy clothes. I agreed to dress nicely. What do you look like?!"

Sykes' forehead was bulging with blue veins: "I don't need a woman, what's the use of me being that bitch!"

Bertha glanced sideways at the bewildered Nancy: "Isn't it okay to dress up to show you a woman? The dirty ones are going to have lice, disgusting! She cleans up all day long, shouldn't you be the same?!"

"Is it not enough for me to make money to support her?"

"She also cooks and washes your clothes for you. Even if it's even, get out!"

Sykes was swearing and dragged out of the bar by two subordinates. Nancy, who had been taciturn, covered her mouth and laughed out loud when she saw this scene.

"Thank you, ma'am," she laughed. "Bill needs to take care of himself."

"Don't be embarrassed either."

Bertha said, "If he makes things difficult for you, you can come to me."

Nancy nodded slightly, but then replied: "He...has nothing to embarrass me."

Bertha just twitched the corners of her mouth and didn't say much.Get along with the past first, and the concept cannot be changed overnight.

After taking Sykes away, Mrs. Thames had to check other people. She immediately pointed the contradiction at the second target, Ned Morrison...but the little accountant had nothing to criticize.

Although he didn't change his clothes, Ned, the little accountant, usually dressed in a suit and leather shoes, and pretended to pin a pen to his chest. He was more cultured than a cultured person.Meeting Bertha's gaze, he even proudly adjusted the frame of the mirror: "I claim to be well-dressed, madam."

Bertha: "..."

Before she could say a word, "Can't Catch" Jack pulled Charlie Berry over, and the two little boys were both dressed up as newsboys, looking neat and tidy: "What about us, what about us, Ma'am!"

It's almost there!

"You are qualified!" Bertha patted the heads of the two little boys with a smile.

next!

She had been picky and picky all afternoon, until dusk, and even the gypsies invited in advance came.

It was rare for Maria to save face, so she brought a few young men and women wearing national costumes. Their appearance made the scene that was so oppressive because of Bertha's teaching director check the clothes suddenly a lot easier.

The bold gypsy girl didn't restrain herself when she saw Bertha, she put her head on one side and said, "I only came here when I heard that there is free wine. Don't think too much about it."

Bertha narrowed her eyes: "Of course, today is enough."

Why did the gypsies come?

Because, as Lambert Byrne said, other forces in the Whitechapel district will not let Bertha grow up for no reason. When she led people into Byrne's house, everyone had already set their sights on Thames. lady.

That's why she invited the gypsies with the best relationship to her door.

——For Maria to see for herself, Mrs. Thames did not intend to annex the entire Whitechapel area, she just wanted to marry and cooperate!

After greeting Maria, Bertha finally caught today's number one target, Thomas Thames.

Like Ned, Thomas hasn't changed much, but he has replaced the beige coat with the formal suit that Bertha asked him to buy before, but the dark red scarf is still worn outside the dark suit, which has not been tied properly, like a very Adolescent teenagers who are not willing to give up their individual expression after being asked to dress by their elders.

Bertha couldn't help laughing: Are you 15 years old!

"Come here." So she said angrily.

"Say it first, ma'am," Thomas came over, "I listened to you."

"I know."

She raised her hand to straighten the collar of this unrelated younger brother, and then tied the dark red scarf properly: "You performed well today, and you deserve praise."

Thomas: "When will the Bourne family come?"

Bertha: "Six o'clock, what time is it?"

It's almost six o'clock.

Without Bertha's urging, the guests who had contacted in advance had already arrived.

Ned invited many members of the Bourne family who were not in charge, or who were not of high status in charge, to visit, and according to Bertha's orders, most of them were indeed unmarried girls' families.

Girls from gangs don't care too much. When she heard that drinks and food are free tonight, Mrs. Thames even brought her young talents over, and everyone was very happy.

A girl appeared, and it was officially lively tonight.

Different from the salon gatherings in the upper class, the bars on South Bank Street have no pretense, but a lot of singing and pornographic jokes. Bertha is more relaxed in this environment, but...

"Where's the girl you picked," said Bertha, grabbing Ned again. "I remember it was... Lyanna Byrne, wasn't it?"

"Ah, she's already here."

Ned pointed at the crowd as a matter of course, and Bertha looked in the direction. What caught her eyes was a flaxen-colored long-haired, somewhat bewildered...underage girl.

Bertha took a deep breath.

"Morrison," Bertha pointed her finger at Ned, "come here."

"..."

There is a situation!

Ned immediately sounded the alarm in his heart, and he stepped forward cautiously: "Yes, is there any problem, ma'am?"

Bertha: "Is she 15?!"

The perfect plan to find a sister-in-law is over!

No wonder Ned himself is so careless. Although the backbone of Thames Office is young, they are at least in their twenties, but any normal person would not be tempted by such a green girl!

Ned didn't expect Bertha's reaction to be so strong, and he broke out in cold sweat: "Madam, please listen to my explanation..."

Bertha: "You shut up."

"You said that it can be cultivated from scratch. Lyanna Byrne is smart enough. She is only 14 years old today. Wouldn't it be better if she could be taken with her?"

"Is it okay for you to bring a 14-year-old girl to the bar!?"

Bertha only felt pain in the head.

It's not because Ned is unreliable, but because there was no law on the protection of minors in the Victorian era, it was normal for a husband and wife to have a seven or eight-year age difference. This year's 14-year-old is the right time to talk about relationships in the fifteenth or sixteenth year of next year.

Bertha...hasn't followed the customs enough to accept this idea. At 14, exactly the same age as the Thames' oldest child, that's too much!

"Before it's too late," Bertha rubbed her forehead, "Go ask someone to call over the children from the office. Are there any other girls under the age of 16 in the bar? Let them go to the house next door to get to know each other." Let's have fun... let Grace keep them company, she loves little children."

"Okay, okay," Ned nodded desperately, "Madam is still thoughtful."

"I go out for a while."

"……lady?"

"I'm dizzy with your anger," Bertha rolled her eyes, "go out and get some air."

It wasn't until Ned frantically brought out several little girls headed by Lyanna Byrne and sent them to the next door, that Bertha felt that her tone had calmed down a lot.

But this Lyanna Byrne Ned had chosen was indeed a clever girl.

She followed Ned out, and when she saw Mrs. Thames standing outside, she stopped first, imitating the appearance of a lady, and lifted her skirt very strangely: "Thank you, ma'am."

——Thank you for what?

Naturally, she is grateful to Mrs. Thames for giving her this chance to change her destiny.

It wasn't long before Thomas came after him.

He went directly to Bertha: "Madam, do I still need to please the Bourne girl?"

Bertha gave him a sideways look: "You too!"

Thomas laughed out loud: "I didn't expect Ned to choose a 14-year-old girl! But the other girls from the Bourne family are also good, and there will definitely be a few couples tonight, and your plan has been achieved, ma'am. But... ..."

"but?"

"The culprit of the symbol upstairs," Thomas said, "Ma'am, are you suspecting that it was drawn by your own people?"

"It doesn't count."

But Bertha had no intention of discussing this matter with Thomas. She said with a smile: "You are also a workaholic. The day of celebration is not about business, just drink and have fun! Without the pressure of marriage, shouldn't it be easier? "

This really hit Thomas's mind. He was afraid that the girl from the Bourne family would take a fancy to him!

"Actually, Ned's choice this time is quite good." Without the pressure, he felt more confident in saying good things to his own people, "I heard that Lyanna Byrne lost her parents early and was living under her aunt's house. Ever since Ned chose She, she immediately became the object of the whole family's fawning, but even so, this girl is not particularly proud or panicked, she is a good seed."

That's right.

Ned's idea was to find a potential wife for Thomas, who would take care of him for a few years before getting married.

But Bertha would never allow this to happen around her!Besides, Thomas didn't want to marry a 14-year-old girl.But it would be nice to have this Lyanna Byrne studying with some young Thames.

The purpose of the marriage is to facilitate the control of the White Pigeon Gang's territory. If the leaders of the other party are raised as their own in the future, why is there a need for a marriage?

"Let's go."

The calculation in Bertha's heart was crackling: "We still have to join in the fun at the blind date meeting!"

Thomas couldn't laugh or cry: "Ma'am!"

Bertha raised a smile as a matter of course: "Why, my subordinates are not only girls from the Bourne family?"

Who else?

Naturally, it was the girls in the red-light district who took down Lambert and delayed the opportunity this time.

The Thames sister and brother entered the bar again, and at this time several hard-working young girls had already walked in through the back door.Katie, who was in the lead, turned around suddenly when she heard the movement.

She was dressed in a clean and beautiful new ivory dress, her long waxed hair was curled up high, and her plain clothes and pretty face made all men and women look pale.

A prostitute who puts on the clothes of a good family can be said to be out of the world.

Katie made her stunning appearance with a smile, and she bowed her head to Bertha generously: "Good evening, ma'am."

"Good evening, Katie."

Then the young girl's eyes fell on Thomas, she opened her red lips lightly, and said in a low voice, "Good evening, Thomas."

***

A cocktail party raged until dawn.

The guests had a good time, but it also meant that many people were very drunk.Naturally, Bertha didn't have to send the drunk herself, but she waited responsibly until the end.

After everyone had left, she gave Mrs. Bartz a few words, and then stepped out of the bar.

The weather is fine tonight, and the early morning in London is surprisingly free of fog.Under the faint morning light, Bertha saw the gentleman standing in front of the opposite carriage at a glance.

The well-dressed and erect man politely took off his hat as soon as he saw Bertha.

She raised the corners of her mouth and moved forward happily.

"How long have you been waiting?" asked Bertha.

"Not long."

The man leaned slightly, sniffed lightly near the girl, and then said in surprise, "I didn't drink much."

Bertha laughed: "Who dares to pour me?"

"Too."

Mycroft Holmes opened the door for Bertha himself: "Please, madam."

Bertha: "Is it good for you to come here in person?"

"nature."

Mycroft picked up the lead stick in his hand, and gave Bertha a knowing smile: "Naturally, it's a great thing, so I have to inform you personally at the first time, madam."