From this list of Historical AU prompts.
âMr. Holmes! Wh-what are you doing here?â
Sherlock Holmes, notorious rake and highly eligible bachelor, raised one elegant eyebrow before glancing down at the fan clutched so nervously in Miss Molly Hooperâs hand. âAh,â he said, bowing slightly. âYou were signaling someone else with your fan to meet in the gardens. I thought you were looking at meâŠwell this is awkward.â
Miss Hooperâs cheeks turned red with mortification. âI was notâŠhow dareâŠâ
He had the audacity to laugh at her reaction. âHowever, I fear the object of your flirtation, Mr. Thomas Ashe, is untutored in the language of the fans, and is currently dancing with Miss Janine Hawkins.â
Instead of wilting, Miss Hooper straightened her (delightfully bared) shoulders and gave him a look of cool appraisement. âThe same Miss Hawkins who has been seen much in your company as of late, Mr. Holmes?â She snapped open her fan and fluttered it in front of her (impishly lovely) face, so that only her (large, doe-like) brown eyes showed above the yellow lace.
Sherlock studied her through narrowed eyes. Clumsy as her use of the fan had been when attempting to signal to the young man for whom sheâd presumably set her cap - and as nervous as her reaction to him had been when he instead of the insipid Mr. Ashe had joined her - heâd anticipated a corresponding lack of spirit in her responses to him. Instead, he found himself facing a very spirited young lady, not at all the wallflower society whispered her to be.
âMiss Hawkins finds my company tolerable only in that I am able to steer her towards the unmarried young bucks who might best suit her temperment,â he said, surprising both Miss Hooper and himself with his honesty. âShe believes me to be, shall we say, uninterested in the charms of the fairer sex, despite my reputation to the contrary.â
âAnd why would she believe such a thing?â Miss Hooper asked, her fan lowered and her face bright with curiosity. âCould it be because you have deliberately led her to such an understanding, in order to keep her attention away from you? I have heard that you are not much interested in putting aside the freedoms of bachelorhood in order to take on the role of husband.â
âWell, Miss Hooper,â he replied, dropping his voice an octave and quite enjoying the way she swallowed and moved a nervous step backwards, âI find that you are much more interesting than you have presented yourself at these tedious functions.â
He took a deliberate step forward, causing her to back up yet again, until stopped by the presence of a pear tree. He leaned one arm above her shoulder and dipped his head low. âTell me, Miss Hooper,â he purred as his mouth hovered just above hers, âwhat other fascinating things shall I learn about you this night?â