Baker Street Charterers

"Oh, Mr. Holmes, this is a great surprise."

Adams Duane, who was walking along the road, caught a sharp glimpse of the detective wearing a top hat who was whispering to his female companion, and immediately greeted him enthusiastically, without seeming to have the pretensions of a director, and said with a friendly smile, "My Since my son heard about how you solved the case last time, he has admired you very much."

The two people who were discussing whether the bacon here or Mrs. Hudson's bacon tasted worse immediately straightened up. Nora smiled decently, while Holmes raised his eyebrows and said hello politely, "Good evening, Gentlemen and Miss Osman."

Füsun Osman looked up at him in surprise, while her fiancé's face was stiff, feeling that he had been brushed off - as an Osman who had already stepped into Duane's house with half a foot, if Holmes called his wife at this moment He'd be happier for the "future Mrs. Duane" than for the rusty "Miss Osman."

Adams Duane didn't seem to have heard this meaningful title. He patted Holmes on the shoulder and said with a familiar look, "Holmes, this is the first time I've seen you bring a female companion to attend the ceremony." , presumably I will be able to see the second wedding banquet soon, right?"

Holmes straightened his face, and subconsciously glanced at the lady next to him. Nora smiled and didn't mean to be offended. He unconsciously relaxed, showing a lazy, slightly joking smile, "I can't decide that. This Miss Nora Sharp is Mr. Cleveland Hawk's assistant, and has a bright future."

Hearing the word Hawk, the three of them paused, and immediately looked at the young lady whose expression remained still. Before Adams said anything, Cecil Duane took a step forward, stretched out his hand, and was extremely enthusiastic. He introduced himself confidently, "This beautiful Miss Sharp, it is a great honor to invite you to our banquet. I am Cecil Duane, and this is my fiancée Füsun Osman..."

"Nice to meet you." Ignoring the inexplicable eagerness in his eyes, Nora held out her hand to the shy young lady, "Hello, Miss Osman, I am Nora, Nora Sharp. I sincerely wish you well and hope your Life can be as free and happy as before marriage."

Fusun opened her eyes slightly, staring at the pair of bright emerald green eyes with a slight smile in front of her, and finally lowered her eyelids, and said softly, "...Thank you."

There were other guests who needed to be entertained by the director and his son, so Adams left with Cecil who kept looking back and Füsun who was thinking about something with his head down.Nora stared at her back until Holmes said unhurriedly, "It seems that Miss Sharp has a great understanding of what happened tonight."

Nora shrugged her shoulders very unladylike, "I just think that women in this era really need to think twice about their marriages. It is so difficult to find a husband who is sympathetic and loyal."

Holmes paused slightly, not ignoring the meaningless "this age". His gray eyes looked at her carefully for a few seconds, and finally turned his head, eyebrows slightly raised, "So, you should have had many suitors in the past. Well, it is only then that I can say such a sentiment that times have changed.”

Nora smiled, and didn't answer the slightly tentative words. She let go of his arm, pointed to the long table behind, and said lightly, "Look, there is the goal for tonight, I'm going to fill it in." My stomach is full, Mr Holmes, and I wish you a good time."

Holmes bent over, "Please don't be harsh on yourself."

"Yes, sir."

Most people at the dinner party were chatting with acquaintances, and there were not many people around the long table full of food. Nora wandered to an unobtrusive corner, happily picked up the plate, and worked hard on the plate He was fishing for delicacies, but suddenly a familiar voice sounded in a daze——

"Norma."

The smile on the corner of Nora's mouth froze, she put down the dinner plate helplessly, turned her head, and sighed, "Mr. Hawke, my name is Nora—I'll tell you for the third time."

Cleveland, who was wearing a black tuxedo, stood behind her with a brand new look. His light blue eyes stared at her face for a while, his brows were slightly frowned, and he seemed a little puzzled, "Where did you steal your clothes?"

The corners of Nora's mouth twitched slightly, "Mr. Hawke, maybe I'd be happier if you changed what you just said to 'your clothes are very decent'."

Cleveland frowned even more, not quite understanding what she meant, but in his impression, women have always been a very fragile and troublesome creature, so he had to hold back the words of reprimand that came to his lips, and tried his best to tactfully Reminding, "I hope you can return it, if you need money, I can advance it..."

Nora interrupted him by raising her palm, feeling very troubled by her employer's lower-than-average EQ, "Mr. Hawke, this 'stolen' dress comes from Apollina Tailors. My friend Mr. Holmes bought it for me. Borrowed, you don't have to be so suspicious of my 'sinister intentions'."

Cleveland nodded, apparently believing her words. He moved his eyes to the plate she had just picked up, looked it up and down, and finally came to the conclusion, "Your appetite is pretty good." After thinking about it, he added , "more than any woman I've ever met."

"…Thank you for the compliment."

"It's good and healthy."

Nora stared into Cleveland's emotionless eyes, convinced that he didn't mean to mock her at all, then she looked away, nodded perfunctorily, and changed the subject, "Are you also invited here?"

"En." Cleveland replied wearily. In his eyes, all the well-dressed and elegantly smiling humans here are not as worth watching as a dead body that has just been transported to the clinic. He loosened his tie impatiently, not at all. Realizing how a low-level girl from a poor family came to this dinner party and who she was with, he just saw a very familiar figure from the back—thanks to his profession, he couldn’t remember the faces of most people, However, he is extremely sensitive to people's body shape, smell or characteristics, and almost saw her figure at a glance, leaving behind his younger brother who was chatting enthusiastically with others, and sneaked over.

"Have you had dinner yet?" Nora asked out of politeness, but unexpectedly the employer replied immediately, "No."

She paused for a moment with her hand reaching for the plate, and could only ask politely, "Would you like some?"

Cleveland glanced at it, then pointed to the end of the long table, and said as a matter of course, "Roast goose stuffed with chestnuts, thank you."

"..." Nora wanted to tell him "Boss, I'm off work", but she didn't have the guts to offend the golden two pounds, so she walked over patiently and helped Mr. Hawke, who had a negative EQ, bring his favorite food. Cleveland acted completely unceremoniously. Although his life seemed to be chaotic on weekdays, he did not expect that his etiquette was perfect, and his actions carried the unique elegant posture of aristocrats cultivated since childhood. Nora thought of his identity, Can't help but nodded, explaining everything before.

Seeing her glance over from time to time, Cleveland thought she had the same hobby, and said friendlyly, "Do you want a copy too?"

"...No need, thank you."

This is the first time that the boss and subordinates have a meal together. Although the environment is a little strange, the atmosphere is harmonious and friendly.After eating, Cleveland wiped his mouth lightly. Seeing that Nora was looking at the red wine on the table, he couldn't help asking, "Do you want to drink?"

"I……"

Before she had time to speak, a voice interrupted her, and said, "——1820 Bordeaux red wine, the taste is smooth and delicate, even a lady will fall in love with the wonderful feeling of it sliding into the throat."

Cecil Duane came to this corner alone, smiling and looking handsome, he stared at Nora's young face with slightly raised eyebrows, bent down and kissed the back of her hand, and murmured, "It's very nice to see you again Happy, I hope the food here satisfies you."

I am very satisfied with everything except you—Nora quietly withdrew her hand and wiped it behind her, smiling, "It's very delicious, thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Duane."

The light in Cecil Duane's eyes became brighter, he glanced at Cleveland, seemed to be taken aback, a little confused, "This is..."

"Cleveland Hawk." Seeing that he didn't seem to want to answer, Nora avoided the silence and answered instead.

"Mr. Hawke?" He was startled, and a more enthusiastic smile appeared on his face immediately, "Hello, I have admired you for a long time, and seeing you now, I simply..."

Cleveland turned his head, frowned slightly, and asked Nora, "Who is he?"

"..."

He is the protagonist of your banquet, the heir of the Duane family, Miss Osman's fiancé—Nora shouted in her heart, but kept her face calm, and glanced at Cecil's frozen face, no Feeling very headache, he had no choice but to turn the tide before the silence, and said with a smile, "This is Mr. Cecil Duane—sorry, Mr. Hawke's memory is not very good, he just failed to recognize you."

Cleveland was a little unhappy when his subordinates complained about his memory. He was eating well, but out of nowhere, such a human being exuding the breath of livestock-spring came out of nowhere and forcibly intervened in this originally very enjoyable quiet and pure land.He stared at the protagonist of the banquet expressionlessly until Cecil, no matter how dull he was, could detect the aura that clearly told him "I'm very upset". He made an excuse and walked away.

Nora breathed a sigh of relief, but Cleveland did not expect to heave a sigh of relief. Not feeling amused, she said jokingly, "Sir, you seem to be very afraid of him."

"I'm afraid of all the creatures without brains but with legs that can move freely." Cleveland told her seriously, frowning as if thinking of something, "Who is Sherlock Holmes?"

The topic was too jumpy. Nora couldn't recover for a while, she was stunned, and then replied, "...an acquaintance with common hobbies, and a sub-tenant."

"He likes corpses too?" Cleveland's eyes lit up, completely ignoring the concept of "sub-tenant".

Nora considered it for a while, "It can be said that, of course, he prefers to find out who made the corpse."

Cleveland nodded, very satisfied, "If he loses his job, he is very welcome to work in the clinic, and I can pay him two pounds."

Nora couldn't help laughing, "I will tell him the truth, if there is such a day."