Against the Brotherhood by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Bill Fawcett

available to her at present. She is disinclined to tolerate slights.”
    “Dear me,” said Holmes. “Is she such a stickler?”
    “I begin to think she is,” I admitted, feeling disloyal for saying it. “If I continue to disappoint her, I will be worse than a cad to her. You may have noticed that she has a strong sense of what is due her. She has informed me that she expects us to choose our wedding day within two months.”
    “That may not be possible,” said Holmes, carefully continuing, “How profound is your attachment?”
    I felt my face redden. “I cannot answer that, Mister Holmes, not as a gentleman. I will confess I have never given the matter much thought. We have been promised to each other for all our lives. Our families have long anticipated our union.”
    Holmes waved this remark away. “Yes. I understand.” He frowned, and then told me, “You may write to her if the note is brief and reveals nothing of the nature of your mission. I will most certainly arrange for it to be delivered. You may be satisfied that she will hold the missive in her hands by tomorrow morning.” He pointed to a box of stationery on the writing table. “Write now, if it suits you.”
    Doing my best to order my thoughts, I sat down and reached for the inkwell and pen.

    My dearest Elizabeth,
    I write to inform you that my employer has instructed me that in the execution of my duties I must be absent from London for a period of time, which length cannot at this instant be accurately determined. Therefore I ask that you make allowances for this and hold me in your thoughts and your prayers while I discharge the obligations my employer has lain upon me. I will certainly keep you in my thoughts and prayers while I am gone.
    I realize my travels may inconvenience you, and I ask your pardon for the same. I have no reason to suppose this will prove to be an isolated event, and I apologize for the awkwardness imposed upon us.
    I will send you word as soon as I know the hour of my return, so that I may once again have the honor of visiting you and your parents at Twyford. Rest assured that I will inform you at once as soon as I have returned You have my word that I will do nothing that will betray your trust in me.

    With my most profound affection and esteem,
    Paterson Erskine Guthrie

    It was not as elegant a letter as I wanted to write, but under the circumstances, I felt it conveyed my most pressing concerns in a way that would not displease Mycroft Holmes or Elizabeth Roedale. I gave it to Mister Holmes to peruse.
    “Very good, Guthrie,” he approved as he handed it back to me. “Tyers will carry it to Twyford when he has completed his daily visit to his mother.”
    “How is she?” I asked, recalling how dire her case was. I folded the letter, put it in an envelope, and sealed it, writing Elizabeth’s full name and direction on it.
    “Failing,” said Holmes. “Tyers expects to be summoned for the end at any moment. It is very sad.”
    “Will you extend my sympathies to Tyers,” I requested as I handed the letter to Mister Holmes once more.
    “I will,” said Mycroft Holmes. “And now, I think it would be best for you to leave with James. You have been in here long enough to convince those watching that you have caught the interest of a solicitor. Make sure you do your parting from him abruptly, so that your watcher will know that all did not go to your satisfaction.” He gestured to the door before handing me ten shillings. “Carry on. I will expect to see you tomorrow.”
    “God willing,” I replied, and went to the door. “How do I account for this money?”
    “Any way you like. Theft would be one explanation, and not an unexpected one,” Mycroft Holmes suggested with a wicked twist of his lips.
    “Theft,” I repeated as I left him alone.
    James was sitting behind the desk in the outer room, bent over a stack of papers. He looked up as I came up to him. “You are done?”
    “For today. I will come again