As the newest Sherlock Holmes novel continues to work its
way though the publishing process toward its debut in November 16, I am posting
previews from the book -- introducing you to some of the irregulars featured in
the Irregular Lives: The Untold Story of
Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars.
Irregular Lives tells the true story of
Holmes’s relationship with the band of street-urchins who became is allies over
two decades. This week, I’ll preview Kate
& Archie, two of the irregulars Doyle never mentioned by name. So, let
me introduce you.
Kate was
an orphan who came to the irregulars when she was an adolescent girl --
dressing as a boy to protect herself. Archie, one of the gang, eventually fell
in love with her. Here’s a scene from the story:
As Kate ceremoniously dressed, Archie watched her from the bed. To
Archie, she embodied the best of femininity without any hint of frailty or
vulnerability. Her strength was apparent in her sure movements and piercing
green eyes.
Uncomfortable and flattered at the same time, Kate chided Archie:
“What you lookin’ at, boy?”
“The most beautiful gel in Clerkenwell.”
Archie laughed, which made Kate happy. She had been happy since
the day they met. Prior to that, her family had consisted of a rag-tag gang of
boys who had befriended her a dozen years ago.
She had been attracted to Wiggins, the leader of the gang, not
with a grand passion, but with affection. She screwed up enough courage one day
to kiss him. He looked hurt. “Aw-w, Kate! Don’t seem right, do it. You and me
bein’ pals, an’ all.”
He was right, of course. Wiggins usually was. Her motivation, she
realized then, was not to charm the man himself, but rather to ensure his
continued care and protection. Spitalfields was a dangerous place for a girl
coming of age. She was aware that, unless she snagged a fellow, she would
likely find herself strolling the streets and alleys at the upper end of
Haymarket. She had seen herself in the faces of the prostitutes who waited,
bare-shouldered in daring décolletage, for a graceless young gentleman to buy
them a drink and more. Kate knew that she teetered on the edge of that life,
and was determined to maintain her balance. She even dreamed of finding herself
in Mayfair, or some other posh neighborhood in London.
The last touch was a comb she placed in her auburn hair that
pulled her curls to the side of her left ear. She did not have delicate
features, but her eyes were large and fierce. Her body was thin and tanned,
which gave her a sultry appearance.
She swung around to face Archie. “There, wot do you think?”
“You beauty! I pity the poor men of the city. ’Elpless they will
be before the charms of lovely Kate, the Siren of Swinton Street.”
She laughed and walked to the bed, bent low, and kissed Archie. He
reached up and pulled her closer.
“Stop it,” she scolded. “You’ll wrinkle mi dress.”
Archie swung around to place himself on the edge of the bed. He
put his arms around Kate’s waist and pulled her between his legs. “I’ll wrinkle
more than that, mi lovely.”
A knock came to the door at that moment.
I hope that you will follow this blog in the coming weeks as
I introduce Benjie, and others. You can catch a glimpse of Wiggins, Ugly and
Snape in previous posts.
While these sneak previews are fun, they are not a
substitute for reading (or listening to) the entire adventure. I’ll let you
know the moment it hits the bookstores in November 16 -- but you can PRE-ORDER NOW on Amazon.
