"The Widow" Bertha

It's almost dawn.

No one in the carriage spoke for a short time, only the "creaking" and the rattling of the horse's hooves as the wheels rolled over the ground. The two sounds intertwined into a marching music in the silence.

It wasn't until halfway through the journey that Mycroft unhurriedly interrupted the unembarrassed silence.

"Congratulations, ma'am," he said leisurely, "you have won a new site."

"Thank you."

Bertha said politely, "Congratulations too, Mike."

Mycroft seemed surprised: "Congratulations to me?"

Bertha: "I came here early in the morning, and I'm sure I'll gain a lot. But did you catch the Truth Society?"

"Indeed."

Hearing Bertha take the initiative to mention this matter, Mycroft showed a somewhat relieved look, as if he was really an ordinary gentleman who shared work troubles with his wife: "They want to trouble you, it's actually hurt It’s hard work, ma’am. To mobilize Scotland Yard, it can be regarded as having used quite a lot of contacts. In this way, following the action and climbing the pole, it can be said that it has almost uncovered all the clues of the Truth Society in London.”

"As you plan?"

"As I planned," said the gentleman, sending Bertha a smile, "thank you very much for persuading Mrs. Ward, ma'am."

It was not so much her persuasion as it was by Mycroft himself--he was willing to offer the opportunity, and Bertha would be in vain in vain if Mrs. Ward did not seize the opportunity to turn over.

"It can be considered that she still has ambitions," Bertha said indifferently. "Isn't it great to take this opportunity to return to the social stage? But..."

"but?"

"You never miss a beat, Mike, I just didn't expect it to work like this."

It's just that the Truth Society has used Scotland Yard's relationship!It doesn't seem like a big deal for the police station to investigate gang members, but Mycroft has completely overturned the opponent's deployment with carrots and mud.

And Mycroft certainly understood what Bertha was lamenting.

The gentleman holding the cane sighed and seemed to be mocking: "Madam, this government is like an antique clock. It looks very simple in principle and structure on the surface, but in fact every screw and every gear has a great effect. Which One wrong step in a part, and the watch can go awry.”

Bertha asked with great interest, "Then which part are you?"

Mycroft replied earnestly: "I am none of the parts, ma'am, I am the maintenance craftsman."

Therefore, if there is a problem with the watch parts, he can see it at a glance, and he has to be responsible for repairing and replacing it.

Bertha didn't intend to ask more about this matter—the biggest reason she and Mycroft have cooperated so far is that neither of them intends to get involved in the other's actions, at least on the surface.

Not on the bright side...

Bertha can't stand against the government, can she?

She pondered for a moment, then pretended to be relaxed and said, "Then can I wait for the newspaper?"

"Not necessarily this time, ma'am," Mycroft explained. "A lot of officials are involved, and those who know or don't know are very involved. I'm afraid you won't see them line up for the gallows this time."

That was a pity, for Bertha liked to watch such excitement.

After a few conversations, they had already arrived home.

It was broad daylight, but not yet when the neighborhood was buzzing.Bertha let Mycroft lead her out of the carriage, and returned to Mrs. and Mrs. Smith's apartment.

She helped Mycroft take off his coat and gloves: "In this case, I boldly assume that there will be no truth society in London in the future."

"At least they don't have power," said Mycroft, "and if any survive, they're nothing more than rats in the gutter."

"Then my bar is not threatened?"

"..."

Mycroft turned around.

He looked at Bertha silently, seeing that she was still chatting, hanging his coat on the hanger while talking.The Jamaican girl was slim and charming, even when she turned around to help him tidy up his clothes, there was an inexplicable sense of intimacy and charm.

"Bertha."

He said calmly: "There are some twists and turns in this matter."

Bertha raised her hand to hang her heavy coat on the hook, her fingertips ran over the collar, the thick fabric felt so real between her palms.

You can even smell the man's remaining aftershave.

"tortuous……"

The girl withdrew her hand, and the index finger touching the collar fell on the side of her lips intentionally or unintentionally, as if she was lingering on the man's breath.

Then Bertha raised her golden eyes.

"The twist is," her lips parted slightly, her hoarse voice vibrating in the morning silence, "you are the one who asked someone to draw symbols on the wall, right?"

Eyes met, Mycroft did nothing more than raise an eyebrow.

Then he admitted frankly: "I can't hide it from you, madam."

Who else could carry paints, paints, into South Bank Street, near Lady Thames's pub, and be unnoticed?It could only be her own people, but Bertha didn't have any subordinates who could afford such expensive paints.

Not subordinates, only other "insiders".

Apart from Mr. Postman, Bertha really couldn't think of anyone who could be suspected.

"When did you know?" asked Mycroft.

"It's not too early."

Bertha replied: "When you begged me to go and ask Mrs. Ward to help you—you were too good at your calculations, Mike. It makes me think that you could have been better at your calculations."

If it was him, would he put himself in a passive situation?

"All the movements of the Truth Society, including Dr. Lear's accidental discovery of the existence of Pastor White, all happened after the symbols appeared. Thinking forward, the symbols in the bar are the beginning of the enemy's actions; thinking backwards, the reason why they act is nothing more than I mistakenly thought that I moved from Nan'an Street to the office.

Lady Thames's brothers and sisters, and her friends are at the office, is she not?If it wasn't for the Society of Truth's determination, why would they bother to ask Scotland Yard to raid my territory. "

Said Bertha came over from the hanger.

The Jamaican was tall, not much shorter than he was even in front of a tall gentleman, and Bertha could look Mycroft straight in the eye just by raising her head a little.

Those eyes had the same keenness and alertness of the Holmes family, but adorned themselves with a more mellow decorum and kindness.

"And for the truth to learn to move, all I need is for me to leave like this."

said Bertha.

"Except for the fact that Dr. Lear's men came after the Jack the Ripper case, there's nothing wrong with it. I'm safe, and you're safe—I'm not wronging you, Mike?"

She asked directly, and Mycroft smiled back.

"I pushed the queen one square forward, and the opponent's pieces moved," he said. "You guessed it, ma'am."

This metaphor is really appropriate.

All he did, from beginning to end, was to move Mrs. Thames.The key pieces on the chessboard moved only one square, but the opponent's alarm bells were set off.

Then the Truth Society sent Dr. Lear to the Whitechapel area, and Dr. Lear met an old man by accident. After that, things went smoothly one by one.

"Then you have to thank Pastor White."

Bertha hooked her lips: "He's not on your chessboard."

The Jack the Ripper case was nothing more than an incident. This piece that was not on the chessboard turned Dr. Lear into an army, which undoubtedly catalyzed the entire chess game to directly enter the rhythm of intense conflict.If not, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" may have to get bored for a while.

"Of course," Mycroft nodded, "I have to thank him for providing additional clues, and..."

"and?"

Mycroft stared at Bertha for a moment.

She still had the half-smile look on her face, neither annoyed nor completely indifferent.The majestic Sherlock Holmes can naturally understand the thoughts of the woman in front of him, and he calmly responded: "And madam, I didn't just move a pawn."

"of course."

Bertha nodded approvingly.

"The king moved with the queen, didn't he?" She just rested her index finger on the collar of the coat and landed on the same position on the man's clothes, "If I am in danger because of taking a step forward, you will also suffer. "

"What a ride together, my dear," said Bertha.

well.

This sentence was enough to make Mycroft's observation conclude that she really cared about this matter.

"I have concealed something in this matter," explained Mycroft, "but for your and my safety, Madam, I think you can understand."

He is very confident.

Of course Bertha could understand, and Mycroft did impeccable things: he used her as a pawn, but Bertha had already expressed dissatisfaction with this before, so Mycroft decided to end the game by himself.

He accompanied her, even though Holmes had absolutely no need to.

During this period of time, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" have been very close. Mycroft lives with Bertha, cooks for her, and trusts her when the enemy comes to her door. Bertha can't pick her up from a rational or emotional point of view. What's wrong.

"You said you would satisfy me afterwards."

Bertha's fingertips went up slightly and stopped between the man's collar and skin: "How are you going to satisfy me, Mike?"

Mycroft answered irrelevantly, "So you're not angry, madam?"

But he concluded otherwise.

Bertha smiled.

She stepped up a little and gave Mycroft a kiss.

It wasn't the first kiss between them, and it wasn't even the first kiss Mycroft had responded to.He knew what she wanted, and they knew it the moment their lips touched.The man bowed his head slightly, slid down her hand holding the tie, held the girl's waist restraintly, but accepted her intimacy frankly.

Between kisses, Bertha's lips touched the man's skin, and she whispered again: "How are you going to... satisfy me?"

Mycroft laughed lowly.

If he still can't accept the hint like this, then he is a man in vain.

"For a moment I did not understand what you wanted, ma'am," he said, "and even mistook you, like other ladies who have schemes, to wish for a stronger bond to keep our alliance together."

"For example, the blood of in-laws?"

"Yes, but later I probably understood that this kind of understanding is a great disrespect to you."

"So you understand what I want."

"I."

Mycroft Holmes' voice quivered in her ears: "It is only me you want, madam."

"bingo."

Bertha raised her eyes, and her eyes met. The girl's dark golden eyes were still shining brightly in the dim light of the morning sun.

"What reward do you want?" she asked hoarsely.

What responded to her was the man's hands firmly grasping the waist and the distance that completely disappeared.

Bertha chuckled softly.

"how?"

he asked, his breath blowing against her ears between the words.

She held back her smile, and lingered on the back of the man's neck with her fingertips: "When?"

Of course Mycroft understood what Bertha was asking, and he closed his eyes slightly, allowing himself to indulge in the strong scent of roses for a short time.

Bertha smelled differently, and it was not uncommon for Mycroft Holmes to smell rosewater, but she smelled very different.The warm rose was almost domineering, sweeping across his lung cavity domineeringly, but there was a bit of bitterness and imperceptible sourness in it, which was the same as her personality, straightforward but also complicated.

He didn't answer, just breathing evenly and deeply by her side all the time.

He made no answer, but Bertha understood.

"come."

She curled her lips and said provocatively: "Aren't you trying to please me? I'm hard to please, Mike."

Men gladly accept the challenge.

Bertha didn't expect that the big devil who always sat behind the scenes could have such power, he almost pushed her against the wall, even if he took a few more steps to go back to the bedroom, he refused.

Of course Bertha didn't mind.

With close caresses, she undid his tie. In return, Mycroft untied Bertha's bun, and the thick, long black hair poured down, and the tie and bun fell to the ground.

The light of the morning sun swayed through the window, but it couldn't reflect the entangled shadows in the dark.The never-faded clothes rubbed against each other, the black hair intermingled with the palm of the man, and the lingering brutality of the Jamaican girl collided with the primitive and British tradition of restraint and alienation.

At first Bertha plundered recklessly, without restraint and strategy, and soon Mycroft calmly grasped the rhythm, which is obviously longer than burning everything quickly, he has both patience and opportunity , and some are covered under the tight-knit gentleman's skin with an amazing desire to control

Madness and control, passion and coldness.

When it was all over, the sun was rising.

The two leaned together, and Bertha held his head hanging on her shoulder, and sighed contentedly.

"As I thought."

She licked the corner of her mouth: "except not on the bed."

Mycroft couldn't help laughing.

"It doesn't matter if you want to make up for your lacking imagination," he said, "but before that, should you and I have breakfast?"

"uh-huh."

Bertha raised her eyebrows and turned her head sideways.

She would not miss the flash of satisfaction on the man's face.

Well, it’s not enough to be satisfied by myself, but...

Bertha leaned back against the wall.

With the opening of the distance, she was able to see the entire expression of Mycroft, and the latter was the same——

Under the sunlight, the gorgeous face that was close at hand bore some traces of moisture, which was more moving than before.

She still had the same nonchalant expression, her golden eyes were aggressive: "You just asked me if I was angry? I am very angry."

Mycroft was slightly taken aback.

Then all Bertha's smiles subsided.

"It's so beautiful, Mr. Holmes," she said, "and earning a lot of money, and he is still the one who sits on the chess table and wins without losing money. Since the chess piece had a little emotion before, just satisfy her , no one will suffer."

"lady--"

"Shh, hear me out."

Her fingers pressed against the man's lips.

"I'm angry because it's only a word's work to explain your plan to me."

Was it so hard to tell her to move away, to be with him?Could it be that Bertha would coldly refuse, or do something secretly?

"But you didn't, not only didn't you, you didn't even have Sherlock Holmes to assist you. Anyway, everything was so perfectly prepared, even this," Bertha looked at herself and the other party who were in a mess, "were all ready, how about What is there to say?"

In the final analysis, it is Holmes' inherent arrogance-he thinks it is unnecessary.

"You don't think it's necessary, but I think it's necessary."

Meeting Mycroft's slightly astonished expression, Bertha felt a little better.

She smiled and said: "I'm very difficult to coax, my dear. And if there is another time, I will still be angry."

After she finished speaking, she rubbed the corner of her mouth again, this time, it wasn't just the breath that was almost disappearing on the clothes.She smiled again and said contentedly, "Thank you for your hospitality."