"Enola, not so fast!", yelled Grace as she paddled. "You got to keep up Raven!", yelled Jasmine back. "I'm trying Thunder!" "We don't have enough time for this! They will be here any minute!", yelled Enola now. "I'm sure they're not gonna be there when we arrive!"

A week ago on Enola's 16th birthday our girls awoke only to find out that Eudoria Holmes was missing. She instructed Mrs. Lane to give Enola her gifts at tea time. Enola opened them just to see a beautiful self made painting set with a flower code and a small hand book about flowers and their meanings. "We were happy, weren't we Mrs. Lane? Shouldn't she give me them herself?"

As the girls paddled down the road Enola's bicycle began to shake and the girl herself fall to the ground. Enola groaned and began to get up. Grace and Jasmine of course helping. They heard the train coming, got on their bicycles and began to paddle even faster.

"The fourth thing you need to know is that we're presently on our way to collect my brothers. Mycroft and Sherlock.", said Enola. Grace and Jasmine looked confused. "Who's she talking to?", whispered Grace to Jasmine who only shrugged with her shoulders. The three girls started to scan all the people until their eyes laid on two men. "Sherlock Holmes. The famous detective, scholar, chemist, virtuous violinist, expert marksman, swordsman, singlestick fighter, pugilist and brilliant detective thinker.", explained Grace to Jasmine. "How do you know all of this?", she asked in amazement. "Enola talks a lot about him." "My genius brother. He will have all the answers.", said Enola sure.

Enola inhaled sharply and cleared her throat before making sure she looked perfect. She stood proudly yet not ladylike and had a smile on her lips. Something you couldn't say about Jasmine. Instead she tried to stay just like Grace, like a true lady. But that wasn't her style. The three girls looked at the two men, who surprisingly didn't return their smiles nor did they make eye contact. They turned around confused leaving Enola to call them. "Mr Holmes? And, um Mr Holmes?", she called softly yet nervous. "You sent for us?", asked Grace this time. "You sent a telegram. Asked us to meet you here?"

The other thing you need to know is that both Holmes brothers have never met Grace nor Jasmine and they actually can't really remember Enola either.

"Enola.", said Sherlock. "And who two might you be?" "I'm Grace and this is my friend Jasmine. We're old friends.", explained Grace quickly. "My God. Look at you. You're in such a mess.", said Mycroft to his younger sister. Enola took a look at herself. She thought she looked quite alright. "Where's your hat and your gloves?" "Well, I have a hat. It just makes my head itch. And I have no gloves.", said Enola like it was a normal thing. Which it was, at least for her. "She has no gloves?", said Mycroft unbelievable to his younger brother. "Plainly not, Mycroft.", he answered uninterested. "We didn't send for you, silly girls. We sent for the carriage. Did you at least bring it?", asked Mycroft rudely.

"The carriage?" "Yes" "What carriage would you be wanting? Because I have a few in mind---", began Enola but was cut off by Mycroft. "The carriage I pay for." "Right. I think you may have us confused with another house.", said Jasmine. Mycroft just looked at her annoyed while Sherlock found it pretty amusing. "Boy, fetch us a carriage.", he yelled at a random boy. "Quickly!"

●●●

The three girls and the two men sat in the carriage with silence. No one dared to talk. Not even Grace. "Oh. What the...", sighed Mycroft. "Oh, dear God, look at the house." Enola gasped at the sight of her home. Jasmine and Grace found it historically beautiful and amusing. "Isn't it wonderful?", said Grace soft. "What the hell has she been playing at?", asked Mycroft.

Enola, Grace and Jasmine made their way inside while the boys were greeted by Mrs Lane. All of them went inside.

As they entered the salon, Mycroft looked shocked. He went to the table and picked up a tennis racket. "What is this?" "Tennis?", said Grace. "Mother says I'm getting quite proficient.", said Enola smiling to Sherlock.

Enola and her mother were playing Tennis while Grace was reading one of her new favorite novels and Jasmine was watching the game. The game was starting to heat up a little and so it happens that the ball hit a lamp. Enola gasped. "I suppose that's game.", said Eudoria and gestured for Jasmine to give her a point.

"Where the hell is she?", asked Mycroft quite angry. Sherlock soon after following him. "I would say this is going quite well, wouldn't you?", asked Enola her friends. Both girls looked at each other nervous.

"Her bed hasn't been made.", marked Mycroft. "Hmm. Chrysanthemums." "Clothes haven't been put away.", said Mycroft. "And Iaurustinus, and Queen Anne's lace." "Enough with the belly flowers, Sherlock.", said Mycroft annoyed. "Huh. But it wasn't foul play.", said Sherlock. "How? Are you certain?", asked Mycroft. "Her regular supply of drawing pencils has dwindled to nothing. She clearly had decided not to replace them, and you rarely find that kidnap victims have planned their own disappearance.", stated Sherlock his facts. "She wasn't returning, and yet she disguised her intentions perfectly.", whispered Grace to Jasmine.

"No madwoman could compile the accounts she sent me over the last ten years. Perfectly clear and orderly, detailing a bathroom...", began Mycroft. "Which doesn't exist.", explained Enola to her confused friends. "And a water closet" "Likewise" "And the constantly rising salaries of the footmen, the housemaids, the kitchen maids, gardeners, under gardeners..." "You get the point.", said Enola to Grace and Jasmine. "...and for Enola, a music teacher, a dance instructor, a governess.", finished Mycroft. "Enola", called Sherlock. "You at least had a governess?", he asked. The young girl stayed in silence until she spoke again. "She wouldn't like you in here. This is her private space." "Tell me, she at least saw that you had an education? She valued education.", asked Sherlock interested. Jasmine saw the smirk on Mycroft's face.

"She taught her herself!", defended Jasmine her friend. "She made me read every book in Ferndell Hall's library. "Shakespeare, Locke, and the encyclopedia and Thackeray..." "...and the essays of Mary Wollstonecraft.", finished Grace the sentence for Enola. "And I did it on my own account. For my own learning.", as Enola said the last sentence she looked at Mycroft.

"Which mother said, was the best way to become a young...woman.", finished Enola her statement. "Well this is what she wanted you to become?" "Mycroft.", said Sherlock. "What?" "I don't know what she wanted me to be. She's left me too.", said Enola. "She will return, won't she Sherlock?", asked Grace. Sherlock inhaled deeply. "Won't she?", asked Enola.

●●●

Grace and Jasmine stayed in their room while Enola was eavesdropping the conversation of her brothers. "Do you think Eudoria left on purpose?", asked Jasmine as she took her shoes off. "Probably. I mean she never liked it here." "But why would she leave Enola behind?", asked Jasmine again. "Maybe to protect her from something.", said Grace thinking. In this particular moment, Enola came in. "Mycroft wants to send me to a finishing school!"

_______________________________________

Here's the first chapter of act ii!! Hope you like it!

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