This story was also published elsewhere by me.
***
Birmingham,
March, 1893.
Master Edward Doyle watched the hansom cab horses clip-clop past his house from the upstairs window, in the cobblestoned street below, people walked to and fro this cloudy afternoon. Oblivious to what he had in mind inside of his house! Edward turned away, shoes creaking a little on the hardwood floor even beneath the exotic carpet. Only one of the maids now remained inside, cleaning the upstairs bedroom next door. Master Edward smiled. He dug into his jacket pocket and withdrew the clear glass amber half pint bottle of Doyle's Druggists Limited Brand Anesthetic Chloroform, Use Only In An Aired Room, the thin paper label proclaimed in red lettering. Edward had wrapped a pure silk purple handkerchief around the Chloroform bottle. This product was one of many produced by his own company and he was proficient in the use of the powerful soporific by now...The Chloroform bottle's heavy liquid contents sloshed quietly with his walking momentum since a small empty bubble of space had been left within from the previous week. Master Edward smiled thinly, his moustached lips twitching slightly at what he had in mind. He replaced the bottle and handkerchief within his pocket. No one was aware of what was about to transpire, so no one would disturb them! He knew from experience by now to air a room before using the Chloroform, so Edward undid the latches with his black leather gloved hands, pulling up the wooden window frame. Instantly all the outside hustle and bustle of the maddening crowd could be heard, although his nose wrinkled at the smell left behind from the industrial factories on the town periphery.
Master Edward crept through the house, moving closer to the master bedroom where his young housemaid, Camilla was turning down the very large and soft as silk king size bed. He could hear Camilla's exerted breathing and sounds of fresh bed linen being pulled and softened out. Camilla had opened the master bedroom windows and fresh outside air flowed down the hallway where he was. Edward stopped to stand in the shadows against a wall, his heart racing. Taking out the Chloroform bottle, he could hear Camilla fluffing a large pillow, "Ugh!" Camilla's voice groaned. Edward held his breath then gently uncorked the Chloroform bottle with the folded thick silk handkerchief ready in his gloved hand...the pungent chemical fumes filling the air before he sufficiently dampened the pad. Taking great care only to soak the purple handkerchief until it was thoroughly wet in the centre and only dripping a few freezing cold, sweet pungent drops onto the hardwood floor. He re-corked the bottle and pocketed it, being free to breathe again. Even though the Chloroform-soaked purple handkerchief was at arms length, the sickly sweet Chloroform odour was heavy in the air as he made his stealthy way towards the unsuspecting maid.
There he found the twenty-five-year-old girl, in her silken Maid's Uniform, busily patting down the bed linens. Her brunette hair tightly wound, her firm neckline, breathing hard as she worked. Bending over the bed, ruffling her maid's black skirt. The barest hint of her black cotton stockings on her supple ankles.
Camilla suddenly noticed Master Edward standing behind her.
"Oh, sorry sir. Won't be a minute more, sir."
"That's quite alright, Camilla. Please continue." Hiding the Chloroformed handkerchief behind his back.
A slight blush on her cheeks," Very good, sir." Camilla replied. She frowned slightly, sniffing at the odd dizzying chemical aroma suddenly within the room then tried resuming her task despite a creeping suspicion that something was amiss...
Camilla returned to her work, she bent over the bed slightly once again to smooth down the bed's top sheet and Master Edward's brow perspired. He wiped at the sweat with the hand with the Chloroformed handkerchief! His vision blurred for a moment and he stumbled towards the maid, Camilla. The floorboards creaking with complained perhaps alerted Camilla, before she caught a much stronger telltale chemical aroma filling the air.
Master Edward extended his gloved hands and grabbed at Camilla. "Oi! What are-" Camilla yelled before Edward thrust the Chloroform-soaked handkerchief over Camilla's shocked nose and mouth.
"What're ya doin'?!!...Mmmph?!!" Camilla screamed underneath the rag.
