𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞

Headed Home

Florence didn't think she could stand being alone with Ruby for another moment more without. She stayed dangerously close to Clair as all four of them sat at the bar. Cathryn was busying herself flirting with the bartender while Clair and Ruby were deep in conversation about some author. Florence absently thought about how she hadn't read Alice in Wonderland since the day Clair and Cathryn arrived. Her life had took an adventurous turn that day. She felt a pang of sadness at the thought of them leaving.

Ruby's voice drew her out of her reverie, "Florence, buttered toddy?"

Both Clair and him gave her an expectant look.

"No, no, I'm alright really." She fussed.

"Just one buttered toddy please." Ruby ordered the bartender, sliding two pounds forwards on the wooden bar anyways.

Florence gave him a disapproving glare. Clair laughed. Soon enough her second drink arrived, Cathryn ignored it and happily winked at the bartender who gave a chuckle.

"Alright, you've got to love this one." Ruby assured.

Hesitantly, Florence picked up the glass. After giving it's oddly colored contents a long gaze, she squeezed her eyes shut and took a sip. The liquid was room temperature and sweet, enjoyable really. Florence turned to Ruby and bobbed her head excitedly whilst swallowing the toddy.

"You like it?" He confirmed with a pleasant laugh.

"Much better than the last one." Florence giggled happily.

"Alright, but after this one we should really go." Clair warned, glancing nervously at his pocket watch.

"Ne sois pas un tel trouble-fête." Complained Ruby.

"Don't be such a spoilsport."

"I can't understand what you've just said, but you're expression tells me enough." Clair grumbled.

"Florence's father said back before midnight." He added.

"We really should get going Ruby, it's already 11:00." Florence chimed.

"Well, drink your toddy femme, my money is not going to waste." Ruby teased.

Cathryn was now busying herself stumbling around the bar looking for someone to dance with. Florence stifled a giggle as she watched Cathryn spill her drink on a man. He swore and stomped away angrily. Cathryn just happily moved on to a young woman. Clair watched as she rambled some long elaborate story to the girl.

"I'll go get Cathryn and we can leave." Clair announced, rising from his spot at the bar.

"Elle va avoir une belle gueule de bois." Ruby scoffed in French.

"She's going to have a lovely hangover."

"What did you say?" Florence couldn't catch the last word.

"She's going to have a lovely hangover." Ruby restated with a chuckle.

Florence gave a breathy laugh in return, he laughter put her slightly more at ease, causing her to offer Ruby a sip of her drink. She raised her glass towards him and raised a questioning eyebrow. Ruby gladly reached for the toddy and took a sip. He turned his eyes upwards in mock contemplation.

"Merveilleux." He whispered dreamily.

"Wonderful."

Florence snatched the drink back with a giggle. Grumpy Clair showed up towing a drunk Cathryn which quickly dampened the mood between the two.

"We have to go." Clair mumbled, stealing worried glances towards Cathryn.

"That's your favorite thing to say isn't it?" She complained.

The children slowly made their way out of The Devil's Tavern. The walk back to the carriage seemed agonizingly long. Cathryn babbled for the entirety.

"I don't want to go back."

"Although I do want to go back, back to home that is."

"Home with you Clarence." 

Florence saw him visibly wince at that. She shuddered and stifled a squeak. Florence understood there must be a deeper motive to her words, did Ruby notice too? Maybe that night where she'd heard Cathryn giggling was just that. Her having a laugh with her step brother. And if it wasn't was it justifiable? 

"They aren't truly related." She reminded herself.

Still, it didn't feel right. Still, she wasn't responsible for Clair. Still, she felt these odd ties to the boy. The shuffle of the children's feet slowed as they approached the carriage. Several stragglers were still exiting Simpson's in the Strand. Adventurous, wild, younger couples. Thomas, the coachmen had dozed off inside the carriage. Ruby politely jostled him awake, and the stout man toddled to his spot in the front.

Ruby, Florence, Cathryn, and Clair all took their places. The same they'd used when riding there. Florence with Ruby on the left, and Cathryn with Clair on the right. They weren't nearly as talkative as they had been on the ride there. Clair hummed a sweet song and Ruby muttered occasional words in French. Ruby helped Florence exit the carriage, as Clair did Cathryn.