The Speckled Band: The Wedding

[grrlpup]

Canon story: The Speckled Band
Title: The Wedding
Author: grrlpup
Rating: G

In the reception line, Holmes took in the groom with one keen glance: the man's face was kind, though without his bride's hard-won discernment.

The new Mrs. Armitage, seeing Holmes' inspection, smiled gently. "It was truly kind of you to come," she said to him.

Holmes looked them over once more, nodded. "Much happiness," he murmured. We left shortly thereafter.

Comments

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Interesting. Holmes making sure that the husband wasn't like the stepfather? He did seem to take a kindly interest in her.

[grrlpup]

I didn't know if it would be enough interest to induce him to attend a wedding, but I like to think so!

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

I like it - Holmes doing the wordless vetting of the young man, performing the service her father should have done. "She's been through quite a lot, sir, so let me only say this - if you make her unhappy I shall set a swamp adder on you. Good day."

[grrlpup]

He was rather a cipher, knowing her for many years but only proposing when she's thirty, then not believing her account and generally being completely useless. But... not a bad sort. :\

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

After the Stoner family life, Helen's probably looking forward to hanging around with a dull man who's NOT actively trying to kill her. Definitely a step up from Step Dad.

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

A great idea! Thank very much for sharing this scene. I'm sure it happened.

[grrlpup]

I hope so! :)

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Nice to see Holmes ensuring the job is fully done.

[grrlpup]

I'm sure he doesn't check up on every client, but Miss Stoner was so brave and competent, and quite isolated.

[debriswoman]

This fits the tale very well:-)

[grrlpup]

Thank you! I hope they live more or less happily ever after. :)

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

...the man's face was kind, though without his bride's hard-won discernment. I wonder if this might act as a barrier between husband and wife - that Percy Armitage is a nice, kind man who can't quite grasp that not everyone is like him; that there really is evil in the world.

I wonder if his wife told him the full truth about her stepfather's actions - and if she did tell him, I wonder if he believed her. It was after all the fact he thought she was making a fuss about nothing that led to her having to go to Holmes.

[grrlpup]

If they'd known each other for many years and he hadn't gotten the picture, and then still didn't when she told him outright what was going on... I suspect he didn't get more than the "indiscreetly playing with a dangerous pet" version.

Not an ideal marriage, but at least he wasn't evil?

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

Oh, I really liked this. I love to see one last glimpse of her life, and to know that she has found peace. She's one of my favorite clients, so self-possessed and brave. Thank you for this :)

[grrlpup]

I liked her lots! She and Holmes seem two of a kind, great observers and chroniclers of detail.