Chapter Text
“Are you sure that's a good idea, Mrs Stirling?” Edward glanced over his reading glasses, still hesitating from writing down her request.
“It's not like I have much of a choice. I can't lose that house. That's all I have left, Mr Pettigrew. The bank already repossessed almost everything. If I miss even one monthly payment, I'll lose everything.”
Edward could see her dark eyes welling up with tears. Poor girl. Emily's situation was dire. The expansion of the local railway had failed tragically when the new bridge fell. Tragedy that took her father's life and dragged her into a massive amount of debt.
“Still… You're still young and at an eligible age. Hosting strangers at your home will permanently damage your reputation. You know how cruel gossip mills are.”
“I already made peace with the fact that no man would marry a lass who has such a huge debt and the curse of an empty nursery for her dowry. If I'm to live as a spinster, I would rather do it in the house where my fondest memories were made.” She gave him a sad smile. “Besides, I’m used to the whispers and stares.”
Edward sighed.
“Give me a week to draft and type the contract. Until then, think carefully about what you’ll write to the newspaper.”
“Thank you, Mr Pettigrew.”
“Mrs Stirling, please. Do take care.”
Emily nodded in response. Her black mourning dress made her look even more pale. She walked silently like a ghost. A haunting shadow of the strongly spirited girl she was before the hellish years she was facing.
***
“Bed and board, aye?” Donald looked over his brother's shoulder.
“Price dinae sound bad either.” Douglas used a pencil to draw a circle around the small ad in the newspaper.
“Come on, Douggie! We shuid go noo afore someone else takes the rooms.”
“Dinae be hasty, Donnie! We need to hev at least a few backup options jus’ in case.”
“We willnae need ‘em if we get there first!”
“If the facilities are in bad conditions, we’ll need ‘em.”
Donald grunted in frustration.
“It’s better to see all the options afore settling for one.” Douglas circled another one with a bit of hesitation.
“Aye, aye… I know, I know…”
Oliver laughed at the sight of Donald sulking in the chair while Douglas carefully read the newspaper. At first, he found it hard to tell the ginger haired twins apart, but after working with them, he learned that the older twin was fiery and brash while the other was more thoughtful and understanding.
“Fighting even on your day off, eh?”
“Morning, Oliver.” the twins greeted him in an uncanny unison.
“For God’s sake! Don’t do that! It 's creepy!”
Donald smiled mischievously.
“What? Is ol’ Ollie afraid of evil twins?”
“Ye shuid lay off those penny dreadfuls! It does ye nae good, Oliver.”
“I’m not afraid of anything! Besides, if there's some truth to the story about evil lurking between twin brothers, we all know that would be Donald.”
“Oi! What is that supposed to mean?” Donald snapped.
Douglas just scoffed without taking his green eyes from the newspaper which only cemented his brother's annoyance.
“Fucking twats.”
“That’s no language suited to be used in public, Donald!” Duck stared at him with brows furrowed. “Not very Great Western of you.”
“Ugh… There ye go again quacking aboot yer old railway.”
“It took longer this time. We must congratulate you on your growing restraint.” Oliver munched on a huge slab of bacon.
Duck was about to respond when one of the ads Douglas had circled caught his eye.
“That address… isn’t it one of the Stirlings’ properties?”
“Eh?”
Douglas re-read the address with widened eyes.
“So it is true. Mrs Stirling is really desperate to pay off her father’s debt.”
“By ‘mrs Stirling’ ye mean Emily Stirling? The pianist from the music festival?” Donald was in shock.
“Yes.The one in an emerald green dress and golden hair pins.”
“I thought she lived in London.”
“Rumor says that the townhouse in London was the first one to be repossessed. But in truth, she came back to Sodor as soon as she got divorced.”
Oliver winced.
“Oh. I wouldn't blame her. Heard the man even insisted on taking his surname back. That must've been very humiliating in-”
“These shuid be enough. Let's go, Donnie!” Douglas hastily stood up, ripping and folding the newspaper page.
Donald raised an eyebrow at his brother but followed him out the door.
“Aye. See you’se later, lads.”
It didn't escape his eyes that Douglas stuffed the poorly folded newspaper page in the pocket closest to his heart. He knew his brother had the habit of reading sappy books before sleeping. Now and then he would catch him daydreaming or eyeing flower bouquets from the flower shops.
“Douggie? It’s not like ye to leave like that. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I jus’ dinae like these kind of gossip.”
Donald heaved a sigh. His brother was a softhearted fool.
***
“A disgrace! That’s what you are, Emily!” Gordon threw the newspaper to the ground. “Have you no shame? Tarnishing what’s left of your father’s name like that! That’s so… so… Disgraceful!”
“If you came all the way from across the town to hurl such insults at me, I advise you to leave, Gordon.”
“How I bitterly regret ever suggesting Henry to court you when you came out! I’m so glad that he found you too young for him. Not even James is as shameless as you. Where is your dignity? Turning your family home into a boarding house! A BOARDING HOUSE!”
“I have debt and living expenses.”
“Must you be so indiscreet about it? Now people know how desperate for money you are. Have you no dignity left? Fancy announcing so publicly that you’re almost destitute! In truth, now I don’t even know if you’re above offering private services in bed for your future tenan-”
A slap echoed sharply through the street. Donald and Douglas exchanged glances as they approached the source of the commotion.
“I warned you.” She clutched her trembling sore hand. “Leave.”
Gordon rubbed his cheek while his shock burned into pure rage.
“Maybe death wasn’t the worst thing that happened to your father. Having you as a daughter must’ve been the worst curse a man can have.”
Emily slammed the door to his face. Gordon, still fuming, stomped towards his waiting carriage. That’s when he noticed the twins staring at him.
“Enjoying the show, I presume.” Gordon scoffed.
“Aye… if hearing a twat insulting a mourning lass in her own home is considered decent entertainment for the likes of ye.” Donald crossed his arms.
“I thought Sir Topham Hatt’s officials were expected to be well mannered.”
“You two know nothing! Her father was one of my family’s most trusted friend. Don’t you dare act like you have the right to have any opinion on this. Not only have you been here for less than 2 years, but you’re just two miserable yard workers. You were never taught about the relationships between folks above you.”
“So many words to jus’ say ye’re a pompous prick. See, Douggie? Money canae buy class.”
“Besides, ye’re wrong. We moved to Sodor 3 years ago.”
With a huff, Gordon climbed into his carriage and left.
“I wonder why all inspectors are such pompous arses. Is it in their job requirement?”
“Wouldn’t doubt it. Given how they seem to be competing with each other to see who can be more insufferable.“ Douglas pulled the newspaper from his pocket to look for another address.
“What are ye doing?”
“Well, we shuid giv the lass some time. There’s a boarding house a few blocks awa-”
Donald pulled Douglas by the arm across the front garden.
“Oi! Donnie! For fucks sake! She must be distraught!” He protested through aggravated whispers.
“I’m not losing a good bargain because of rich folk drama.”
Douglas slapped his brother’s hand before he could reach the doorbell. Which earned him a push to his chest.
“Wuid ye stop that?”
“Ye’re the one who shuid stop! How can ye be this insensitive? That’s a distressed woman. A proper man doesn’t just prance over a woman’s distress to get a bargain!” Douglas held his brother's arm.
“Oh for fucks sake, Dougie! Can ye stop being a softhearted fool for five minutes?”
During their brief struggle,Donald accidentally kicked the door.
“Shit!”
Douglas panicked at the sight of his brother’s footprint on the front door. He kneeled trying to rub it off with his coat’s sleeve. The door opened suddenly, sending poor Douglas to the floor, at Emily’s feet.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Her eyes were red and puffy. Face still damp from her tears.
Douglas scrambled to stand up and recompose himself. His face burned with embarrassment.
“Good morning, miss. We saw your ad in the newspaper.” Donald smiled.
Emily’s eyes went directly to the footprint on her door.
“You could’ve used the doorbell.”
The sight of her narrowing eyes at them made Douglas even more nervous.
“I-it was an accident. I swear! I apolog- We apologize.”
Emily’s gaze softened. She regretted her harsh tone from earlier.
“It’s alright… as long as it was really an accident and not…” She paused and looked at them suspiciously again. “ I think I saw you working in the train station. Say, did Gordon send you here to scare me?”
“W-what?”
“I know Gordon is a very respected inspector. So I understand that you can’t deny him such strange favors. But honestly, it won't work.”
“For goodness sake, no. We wuid never agree to something like that.”
“I’m not sure if I should believe you.” She carefully eyed them. “Tell me your names.”
“Donald and Douglas McIntosh, ma’am!”
“Ah! You must be Mr Montague’s friends.”
“You mean Duck? Aye. He’s a friend of ours. Dinae know ye’re acquainted.”
“I can’t say I’m acquainted with him exactly. All I know is that Mr Pettigrew advised me to ‘rent for those who are close to Mr Montague, mostly known as Duck.’ He even gave me a list with names.”
“Did he tell ye why?”
“I… forgot to ask.” She embarrassedly avoided their gaze.
“Ye must trust him a lot, to not even think of questioning his advice.”
“Well, yes. He's been my father's lawyer for decades.” She stepped aside to let them in. “Please, clean your shoes before coming in.”