"The Widow" Bertha

Not long after Sir James Ward became Home Secretary, even though the parties held were called "friends only", they were still quite large and could be called night salons.

Especially when someone learned in advance that Mr. Mycroft Holmes, who never liked to show up, had actually accepted Sir Ward's invitation letter. I would like to say a few words to the eldest son of the family - although Sir Ward has a higher official position, he can often see him after all, but it is not so easy to see Mr. Mycroft.

"Have you heard? Not only is Holmes coming tonight, but he is also bringing a family member with him."

"What?! Why haven't I heard that Holmes has a female family?"

"It's true. It is said that it is his secret lover. The two have been dating for a long time in private. This is the first time they have appeared in public."

Discussions like this spread among the women in the meeting.

As a result, when Mr. Mycroft Holmes appeared on the stage, countless eyes were cast in the party hall both openly and secretly, just to see what the "secret lover" of Holmes looked like.

And they were not disappointed.

Mr. Mycroft Holmes who entered was tall and imposing, with an upright posture worthy of the appearance of a decent gentleman.Beside him is a tall and beautiful lady, she is wearing a crow-blue dress, her black thick hair is tied into a bun behind her head, and her gorgeous appearance is unobstructed.

The lady held Holmes' arm generously, with an intimate look.On the other hand, Mr. Holmes thoughtfully chose a bow tie of the same color to match his girlfriend's outfit.

The two were quite low-key when they entered the door, but they captured the attention of all the guests present.

——What a pair of lovers!

"Mr. Holmes!"

A member of Congress greeted enthusiastically: "I didn't expect to see you at the party."

Mycroft nodded: "Good evening, Senator Brandon. It is my honor to be invited by Sir Ward."

Senator Brandon: "This is..."

"Ah, this is Miss Marple," Mycroft introduced, "a good friend of mine."

Although he only said "friend", what does it matter if a gentleman openly brings an unmarried lady to a party, plus the rumors first?

Senator Brandon showed a knowing smile.

Bertha's feeling about this is that maybe this is really the purpose of Holmes inviting her to the party.

After the councilors left, Mr. Mycroft introduced Bertha to the other guests who came forward to greet him. It is believed that the news that "Holmes' lover is named Marple" will soon spread throughout his social circle.

He even looked like he was enjoying it.

During the interval between introductions, he expressed his admiration to Bertha without hesitation: "As expected of you, Miss Marple, you said to help me keep an eye on the Whitechapel area, and then I got a clue. You must know that Colonel Dent was exhausted. After working hard for more than half a year, I only kept an eye on Miss Ingram."

Bertha: "..."

Wait a minute, since Colonel Dent was keeping an eye on Miss Ingram, why did he suddenly kill her again?

These remarks made Bertha tilt her head, but the majestic Holmes seemed completely unaware of the problem with her words.

Forget it, seeing his magnanimous appearance, Mycroft must have the bottom line in his heart.

Therefore, Bertha did not pick up this topic, but instead complimented Holmes himself: "You are still warm-hearted, sir. I am a newcomer, and not only helped me provide me with real estate information and bank information, but even took the initiative to bring me into the upper class. How are you?" Kind and virtuous gentleman."

Mycroft: "The prize is the prize."

Bertha: "Where there is."

A man and a woman who seemed to be a couple of gods and gods had finished their business exchanging, and they all showed a smile exclusive to human beings. They pressed the topic tacitly and seamlessly switched back to the social mode.

As host of the party, Home Secretary Sir James Ward was naturally the centerpiece of the interior.Mycroft led Bertha forward, and when he approached Sir Ward, the gentlemen around him said something, and everyone laughed out loud.

"Mycroft!"

The Minister of the Interior turned his head, dropped the topic of chatting in surprise, and turned to welcome the distinguished guest: "My biggest surprise tonight is to wait for you to come!"

The polite smile on Mycroft Holmes's face remained unchanged: "What are you talking about, so happy?"

"We talked about the recent topic of the House of Commons," Sir Ward said with a smile. "I heard that the wife of a member of the House of Commons has been very busy recently. She opened a private girls' school, raised money to publish a magazine, and even went to the park to do it herself. Preaching—this is Mrs. Congressman!"

"Oh?"

Bertha could assure that Mr. Mycroft was not actually interested in this, but he still put on a curious attitude of listening and listening: "What political views is this trying to promote?"

Before the Minister of the Interior could speak, a gentleman beside him laughed and said, "This congressman's wife believes that women should also have the right to vote!"

When the voice fell to the ground, there was another burst of laughter.

Bertha: "..."

Mycroft ignored it, as if he hadn't heard the "interesting stories" told by the gentlemen at all: "Sir Ward, let me introduce my female companion, this is Miss Marple, a very talented private detective .”

"Miss Marple."

As soon as the Home Secretary put aside the ridicule about "women's suffrage" just now, he became a polite gentleman again: "A private detective? Then you must have encountered a lot of strange things."

"Although most of the work is boring," Bertha responded politely, "but interesting things happen."

"Please allow me to introduce you to my wife later," Sir Ward said enthusiastically. "She usually likes to listen to other people's interesting stories about the market."

See, that was the role of women in society in the nineteenth century.

One provides a joke, and if Bertha guesses correctly, the gentlemen do not know their Member of the House of Commons, and it is nothing more than a joke.

And this "Mrs. Congressman" is likely to be Miss Jane Eyre's employer, Mrs. Emily Fisher-the upsurge of the women's movement was just around the time of World War I, and now it is only in its infancy. Bertha expected it would not be so Many congressmen support their wives to carry out social activities in this way.

The second is that Sir Ward is enthusiastic about Bertha, and in essence he still wants to win over Mr. Holmes beside him.As for himself?No time to talk to a woman, just leave it to his wife.

After greeting the host of the party, Mr. Mycroft continued to speak to Bertha: "The national machine needs human support to operate, if they are kicked out because they are too stupid, there will be not many people left in the British government. "

The implication is that he does not share the views of the Home Secretary.

Bertha raised her eyebrows: "I didn't say anything."

Mycroft smiled: "Of course, I'm just expressing myself."

Bertha glanced at him.

"Sir, you don't look like a sociable person," she said. "To be invited to a party tonight is as much a thing as a host."

"If you have something to say, you can speak it bluntly, miss, why do you need to beat around the bush?"

"..."

Then don't set up a contact person at the White Horse Hotel like a secret agent!

Bertha slandered in her heart, but remained calm on the surface: "I mean, you invited me here to keep an eye on the Secretary of the Interior?"

Mycroft: "Sir Ward is generous. He has sponsored a lot of scientific research in recent years. He is a very farsighted gentleman. You said that the gang in the Whitechapel District recruited people to test drugs, which reminds me, Sir Ward Indeed, several novel drug studies are included in its sponsored program."

"You think Sir Ward is a fellow of the Truth Society?"

"I have reservations."

Bertha understood.

In other words, he may be a member of the Truth Society, or just a sponsor, or he may be completely unaware and just think he is helping the development of medicine.

"The money is signed by Sir Ward himself," Mycroft said, "but the specific sponsorship projects are managed by his wife."

It has been a tradition since ancient times for the wives of nobles and politicians to assist their husbands in their political careers.For example, Sir Ward held a party, but the person who actually hosted the party was his wife. In other public places such as banquets and salons, Mrs. Ward also acted as the spokesperson for her husband.

At the same time, they can also help their husbands win votes, host small meetings, and even run investment projects such as education, charity, or scientific research, which are essentially for men’s political career activities①.

And these ladies are busy in and out, presiding over the overall situation, they can almost be called free secretary assistants, what do they end up with?Nothing, even wanting the right to vote is laughed at by their husbands.

Recalling the smiles of the gentlemen around Sir Ward, Bertha felt only ridicule.

"...then I really must make friends with Mrs. Ward," she said.

"Excuse me, Miss Marple."

After Mycroft finished speaking, he changed the topic: "In return, I will provide you with a useful clue."

"what?"

"Twelve days later, Scotland Yard decided to expel the gypsies who settled in the Whitechapel area. You are an angel, and naturally you can't bear to see women and children displaced. You can ask them to take refuge near the pier."

Bertha was slightly taken aback.

Then she showed a smile, which was Bertha's first sincere smile since entering the party.

"Thank you very much, sir," said she, "but I have been in the country for a long time, and I have not been to a public dinner for a long time. How about giving me a few minutes to spare when discussing business?"

"Ma'am?"

Mycroft's voice fell to the ground, and melodious dance music sounded in the huge party hall.

The elder Holmes paused slightly, and then said politely: "I thought Madam was not a person who likes socializing, chatting, and dancing."

"Indeed."

Even if Mycroft Holmes did not show it, Bertha could feel a little reluctance in his heart.She still had a wicked smile on her face: "But I just want to dance with you."

Mycroft: "..."

After a while, the other party also extended a smile.

The four eyes meet, the eyes meet, and a moment of eye contact is enough for the two to understand each other's intentions.

"Madam took the initiative to invite, and even I have absolutely no reason to refuse." Mycroft slightly owed his upper body, and stretched out his right hand towards Bertha, "Is it okay, ma'am?"

That's more or less.

Bertha put her right hand into Mycroft's palm with satisfaction: "Why not?"

The author has something to say: ① The information comes from "Research on the Status of Women in England in the 18th-19th Century".