"The Widow" Bertha

Next afternoon, Pall Mall.

Both of them came back very early today, Bertha took off her heavy shawl, while Mycroft only wore a shirt, both of them looked very casual.

He took a book off the shelf: "Richard II?"

Bertha has nothing to do: "Start from scratch? But it's a big project."

Mycroft smiled, and he took the book and sat behind the desk, facing Bertha: "Since you and I have read it, why don't you just open it——Act Three, Scene Two, let's start here."

Bertha leaned forward and rested her elbows on the edge of the desk.

The gentleman opposite cleared his throat and started today's reading session.

"I can't help liking it; I'm weeping with joy at being back on my soil—"

Mycroft's voice was clear, his enunciation was clear, and his pronunciation was standard. When he read the book carefully, his posture was no different from the BBC reading Bertha usually listened to.

Of course, the biggest difference was that he was sitting opposite him.

Mycroft's readings to Bertha had been a fixture between the two of them since she first moved into Pall Mall.The books are all chosen by Mycroft, usually either Shakespeare or Dickens, rarely theoretical bibliography, and Bertha has read them all.

When encountering interesting plots, Mycroft usually reads a sentence and Bertha slaps a sentence, which makes Mycroft helpless, but clearly enjoys it.

After all, reading is secondary, the important thing is to find some fun to pass the time.

And today...

"Let us talk of graves, and maggots, and tombstones; let us use the earth as paper, and with our rainy eyes write our sorrows on the bosom of the earth; let us find some administrators, and confer our wills... ..."

In the middle of reading Mycroft's book, he raised his eyes just in time to meet Bertha's.

The smiling Jamaican girl sat across from her, with only a table between them.She leaned on the armrest, crossed her legs, slightly narrowed her dark golden eyes, with a look of wanton enjoyment.

It's like a leopard that only eats and drinks enough, basking in the sun, lying lazily on the tree, stretching out its forelimbs and watching its food reserves walking around under the tree leisurely.

No matter what she was thinking, she would definitely not look like this when listening to someone read a book.

So Mycroft stopped reading and closed the book.

Bertha raised her eyebrows: "What?"

Mycroft: "Why don't we talk."

"Don't," said Bertha in surprise, "it's rare that you're interested."

One sentence is enough to point out why Bertha is showing that relaxed and satisfied expression.

Looking at his food reserves walking around under the tree-this "store food" is naturally Mycroft Holmes himself.

"If you are interested, you have to face someone who knows what you are listening to." Mycroft deliberately changed into an exclamation tone. "If the other party is not interested, what's the point?"

"you dislike me."

"I don't mean that."

"You just dislike me," Bertha said in a coquettish and elongated tone, and she even put on an angry look, "You men—you are so heartless, you dislike me after sleeping. We have only known each other for a year, and I Have you become that mother-in-law who is not pleasing to the eye?"

Mycroft couldn't help but laugh.

Still holding a thin copy of "Richard II" in his hand, he put on a look of surprise: "Then you misunderstood me, Bertha! It's just because you don't like literature and drama. Since you don't want to listen to books, why don't we just listen to them?" chat."

Bertha didn't bother, she was just joking.

So the girl tilted her head and propped her temples with her elbows: "Okay, what are we talking about?"

"Let's talk about politics."

Bertha understood immediately.

"Sounds like you'd love to talk to me about the political situation in Italy," she laughed. "Is that so, Mike."

Mycroft was noncommittal.

"The Sicilians have been a little sad recently," he said casually, still in the same tone as usual, "especially the Esposito family, there have been a lot of troubles out of thin air. I'm afraid they can't take care of themselves, and it's not their turn to interfere in London's gang affairs." gone."

Bertha understood: "Then I have to deal with this matter as soon as possible."

Mycroft: "It doesn't matter if it's not sooner, when they've dealt with the sudden political problems and they'll find out that all the trouble comes from the London division."

Said he put down the book.

"When the time comes, Mrs. Thames," he said seriously, "will be a good ally and a good helper to help solve the troubles."

— Bertha did not ask what the political question was, and what troubles arose in Sicily.

If she can ask, it will definitely appear in the newspaper the next day; if she can't ask, it's useless to ask.

So save your tongue, and let Bertha see for herself.In short, it is good that she understands one thing: the subsequent political problems all come from the fact that the Italians attacked Mycroft Holmes and gave him a legitimate motive for "revenge".

So Bertha was not the biggest winner of all, Mycroft was.

"And you," said Bertha, "through this matter, will help the Queen solve many international problems. As usual, you have made a fortune by doing almost nothing. Congratulations, Mike."

"It was not Mrs Thames who gave me the chance."

Mycroft said modestly, "It's all due to you, Bertha."

Bertha frowned.

She didn't mind that Mycroft took this opportunity to be the winner of the chess game again, because this time Bertha was no longer just the "queen" on the chessboard, but with Marco Esposity. Chess players entrusted to play chess.

As for Mycroft?His chessboard is related to himself, but not exactly the same game.

"It's a pity that drinking during the day is not suitable," she sighed, "otherwise I would still like to raise a glass to celebrate."

"It's not too late until it's over."

Mycroft said good words of relief: "Besides, it's not suitable for drinking, at least it's suitable for making plans for the next step in the future, isn't it?"

Bertha tilted her head.

She blinked her slightly raised eyes, and then said seriously: "In the future, what do you think if there are three children?"

Mycroft nodded happily: "Okay."

Bertha: "Oops."

At last it was Mycroft who laughed first.

He couldn't help but said, "I don't mind, Bertha, but I don't think you would consider such a thing."

Of course, she was just joking.

Bertha really hadn't thought about fertility issues. First of all, she felt that she probably didn't have the ability.

Bertha Mason is also known to have had a loving time with Edward Rochester before going completely insane.It was not until her illness became more serious that Rochester realized that he had been cheated and had to imprison her.

As for how long that period of "love time" lasted, Bertha couldn't remember clearly, but according to inference, there was half a year, if not a year.

Couples who have just been married for half a year naturally have sex.Nineteenth-century couples didn't pay attention to contraception, but Bertha Mason's belly didn't move at all.

Since the original "Jane Eyre" clearly states that Jane Eyre and Rochester have children at the end, Bertha thinks that this is probably not Rochester's problem, but the original body's problem.

But it would be better not to give birth, and save Bertha the trouble.

First of all, Bertha has no sense of being a mother. She doesn't think she will be a good mother.Since you can't be a competent mother, it's better not to think about it.

Secondly, she doesn't feel that childbearing is more important than her own career.

The price of pregnancy and childbirth is too high, and that will be the most vulnerable time for a woman. Even ordinary people have to bear considerable suffering and risks. As for Bertha?

She's not just a person, she's Mrs Thames, and Bertha is determined not to let a child who doesn't know what's going on get in the way of her gang.

Generally speaking, Bertha has no interest in childbearing in terms of all aspects of physical life and work.

She knew that this was not what Mycroft was asking, so after the joke, Bertha took the initiative to return to the topic.

"If you ask me about gang development," she said lazily, "I'm going to be on my guard, Mike. After all, you're an officer and I'm a gangster. How can I be sure you're not snooping?"

"Ok?"

The surprise and surprise on Mycroft's face was real: "Aren't you a legitimate businessman, dear?"

Bertha laughed out loud.

"Okay, let's talk about business."

She leaned on the armrest, fiddling with her fingertips, her eyes fluttered, her posture was varied, and a cheerful smile appeared on her gorgeous face: "Then I have too many thoughts."

"I want the racecourse on the outskirts of London," she said with a smile on Yanyan, but she spoke nonsense, "I want to get that legal horse betting license. From now on, everyone from the queen to the poor workers will have to pay for my racecourse." Money bets."

"I also plan to buy a few more pieces of land to start a real estate business. I heard that the factory land in London is getting more and more expensive. If I don't get it early, I will definitely not do things that exploit the poor, but what's the point of killing the rich?" Instead of doing it.

In addition, it is also good to engage in financial investment. With a stable business, you are not afraid of suddenly breaking the capital chain; with so many consultants around you, at least you will not lose money.

Even thinking about it in the long run, if there is a chance, I would like to buy a knighthood for Thomas. From then on, I will be the knight's widow sister. "

The more Bertha said, the more she exaggerated. It seemed like random nonsense, but if she managed it properly, every step of the plan she said could be implemented.

Mycroft Holmes knew this better than anyone else.

So the man didn't find it funny, nor did he think she was delusional.The gentleman just nodded: "Everything must be built after the death of the Italians."

"That's natural."

"It's not too far away."

The voices of the two fell to the ground, and the housekeeper from Pall Mall knocked on the door.

"Sir, madam," the old butler said politely, "the postman has delivered the package."

at this time?

Bertha glanced at Mycroft, who understood.

He took the initiative to get up: "Go and have a look, I'm afraid there is news from the Whitechapel District."

it is as expected.

When Bertha came downstairs to the side hall, Mr. Postman greeted her immediately.

His face was not very good-looking: "Madam, Mr. Holmes wants me to pass this on to you."

"Sherlock?" Bertha was taken aback.

She took the package from the postman, tore open the paper wrapping on it, and what was revealed was a cowhide book that was mostly bloodstained.Bertha turned to the first page, and what caught her eye was a detailed map of London's underground waterways.

At that moment, Bertha understood everything.

The casual look and the half-smile gesture disappeared from her face in an instant.Only sharp and faint flames remained in those dark golden eyes.

"it is good."

She raised her pretty face, and all that was written on it was cold.

"I'm going to kill Marco Esposito alive."