919. Chapter 919

After The Nose

Episode 8.05

By

UCSbdad

Disclaimer: This still stinks, so no, I don't own it. Rating: K Time: See above.

Author's note: These are the continuing adventures of Lord and Lady Castle in a steampunk 19th Century England.

Author's other note: I have at long last finished I, Spy, the sequel to Four of a Kind and Alexis's in Wonderland. Once again Caskett will travel to alternate Earths. I'll post chapters of it alternatively each day with the After…series.

Lord Richard Castle was upset. His gorgeous and brilliant American born wife, Lady Katherine Castle and his equally beautiful and equally intelligent daughter, Lady Alexis Castle had been avoiding him for days and had even stayed away from home for several nights. He had asked about what they had been doing, but the two women said it was just the press of their work that kept them away.

Lord Castle thoroughly understood this, for due to the unpleasant inability of the English to see women as anything but an adjunct to a man, all of Katherine and Alexis' many inventions, discoveries and works had been credited to him. He deeply disliked that state of affairs and thought that he should confess publicly that the two women were in fact his equal and in many ways his intellectual superior. However, something was afoot, something odd, and he intended to get to the bottom of it. But first he had come up with a plan.

He was sitting alone in his home just off Sloane Square as both ladies as well and Victoria, their maid, and Jenny, their cook, had left with the ladies. Well, not quite alone.

Demming, the Castle's Tibetan mastiff sat across from him, cheating outrageously at solitaire. Demming had accidentally wandered into the laboratory that the Castle ladies used and accidentally knocked over two vials of liquid. Being a dog, he had lapped up the fluid, which he found quite tasty. Something then happened to Demming. His intelligence rose dramatically and he grew opposable thumbs. From that night on, Demming had snuck back into the laboratory whenever he could. He now walked upright and spoke English. He also did his best to dress as an English gentleman, although due to his tail and fur, he looked more like an English gentledog.

"Dash it all, Demming. I need to find out what the ladies are doing. "

Demming stopped putting a red Queen on a red King and scratched his head. "I'm afraid I can be of no help to you, Lord Richard." Actually, Demming could have done any number of things to help, but he was busy working on his plans for world domination. He honestly felt that the time for a canine supervillain had come and he intended that that supervillain would be English and named Demming.

"The ladies have said that they were going to a showing of paintings by that very short French fellow. A lot of trash if you ask me. However, I'm convinced they are elsewhere. At the very least, I need to establish that they are not at the art gallery as they said. But how?"

Demmings interest in things French went no further than a French poodle named Fifi, with whom he'd had a torrid relationship. Alas, for poor Demming, Fifi was a fortune hunter who'd taken Demming's entire fortune, three pounds, four shillings and tuppence and left him behind. This financial loss seriously disrupted Demming's plan for world domination. However, an idea formed in Demming's mind. "Perhaps, My Lord, I could be off assistance to you after all. You, as a titled, wealthy English explorer, big game hunter, inventor, writer…"

"Yes, yes, Demming, get to it."

Demming smiled inwardly. Lord Richard was hooked. "If you went to the art gallery, you would be recognized at once, possibly causing problems with Lady Katherine and Lady Alexis. However, if I went, disguised as a poor Bohemian art student, I would blend in unnoticed and could see if the ladies were present or not."

"Capital idea, Demming. And so kind of you." Lord Richard said.

"However, I would need a small sum to buy appropriate clothing, a disguise, cash for a cab and incidentals. I suppose twenty pounds would do."

Lord Richard was surprised. "That much?"

Demming nodded. "The Bohemian clothing would have to come all the way from the seacoast of Bohemia." He explained.

Lord Castle handed over the twenty pounds, much to Demming's delight. Demming slipped upstairs to grab some of his old clothing which would certainly qualify as Bohemian at the very least and then hailed a hansom cab, instructing the driver to take him to the local pub where he had a very fine dinner and a good bottle of wine. He felt it would be appropriate for a poor art student to show up with alcohol on his breath. He then proceeded to a chap he knew and purchased a fake black beard, which did not match his brown and white fur.

Never the less, Demming headed for the art gallery and was able to slip in, relatively unnoticed. His sensitive nose soon picked up the distinctive scent of Lady Katherine, Lady Alexis, as well as Victoria and Jenny. Feeling that he had done his duty, Demming headed for the door, but was distracted by a table offering free food and drink. He found that the drink was only lemonade, but drank it any way. He found the sandwiches more to his taste as they were free. As he ate, he looked around at the paintings. They were rather odd paintings, he thought. One featured a woman in chains being prevented by some man from going somewhere. Demming didn't know much about art, but he knew what he liked.

Bondage? He thought to himself. I never would have thought it of Lady Katherine. I wonder if she has access to those leather dresses I see in those magazines I have delivered to me in unmarked envelopes. I'll bet that Jenny can get all the handcuffs she needs from her husband, Constable Ryan.

Demming was contemplating the idea of Lady Alexis in leather riding breeches with a horsewhip, when he heard applause and Lady Katherine stepped up onto a speakers' dais.

"Sisters! Friends! Thank you for coming to our gathering. Even as a wealthy and privileged member of society, I do feel oppressed. I am an intelligent and knowledgeable woman, as is my adored step daughter, Alexis, but society forces us to credit our accomplishments to my husband, Lord Richard Castle. If women are ever to be taken seriously, we need to be able to help select our own leaders. We need the vote. I want full adult female suffrage and I will settle for nothing less."

She was interrupted by long and sustained applause. Figuring he had heard enough, Demming grabbed a plate of sandwiches and left.

Much late that night, Lady Katherine arrived home and was surprised to find her husband still awake.

"Richard, are you all right?"

"Yes, however, Demming saw you and Alexis earlier today at the art gallery."

"How did Demming find out about that?" She asked, suspiciously.

"You had free refreshments. How could you not expect Demming to show up?"

She nodded. "True. And now you know that I'm a suffragette. Are you angry to find that out?"

He nodded. "A bit because you didn't tell me. However, I can hardly imagine you not being a suffragette. I do know you, Kate." He smiled at her.

"You approve?"

"Always. And I intend to stand next to you the next time you speak. Perhaps I'll even speak myself."

And, in another part of the house, Demmimg worked hard on his plans for world domination. "Today England. Tomorrow the world." He muttered.