Fic: Mr. & Mrs. John Moore (aka Miss Sara Howard Moore) VIII: Beaded Pearls (1/10)
Title: Mr. & Mrs. John Moore (aka Sara Howard Moore) VIII: Beaded Pearls (1/10)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): John/Sara, Julia Ogden, Laszlo Kreizler
Fandoms: The Alienist/Murdoch Mysteries
Genres: Angst, Drama, Historical, Holiday, Horror, Mystery, Suspense
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: Halloween still clings to Pine Grove like cobwebs.
Chapter Summary: John and Sara welcome Dr. Julia Ogden to New York City.
Date Of Completion: March 6, 2021
Date Of Posting: September 19, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Universal does, more’s the pity.
Word Count (this chapter): 1262
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
The entire series can be found here.
I
Oysters And Champagne
Elegance of Nature,
And of Man,
Colors fiery,
Tastes sublime,
Full and bountiful.
Edna Grace Caulfield
"Golden-Edged Senses"
1898 C.E.
"Sara!"
"What is it, John?"
John Moore entered his wife's detective agency. "We're here."
Sara left her office and emerged into the outer office. John swept his arm out. "May I present Dr. Julia Ogden."
"Welcome, Dr. Ogden." Sara held out her hand.
Julia took it and they shook hands. "Thank you, Miss Howard." Obviously John had told her that she had kept her maiden name in her professional life. "This is delightful, Miss Howard, your own detective agency "
"Sara, please, Doctor."
"Julia, please."
"Julia. How was your train trip from Toronto?"
"Very pleasant. Autumn is a grand time to travel. Such beautiful panoramas!"
"Yes, the countryside is glorious this time of year," John said. "We'll see some spectacular views on our way to Cloverdale."
"I know you'll be busy with Laszlo all day, but would you do us the honor of joining John and I for dinner tonight?" Sara asked.
"Very much so."
Julia's eyes sparkled as she accepted the invitation. John was taken with her enthusiasm, and she looked charming in a blue dress and hat, her strawberry-blond hair arranged in a French twist.
"I am most eager to hear about your medical experiences. A woman doctor is most impressive," said Sara.
"As is a woman private detective," Julia said.
"I hate to break up this mutual admiration society, but Laszlo is expecting us," said John.
"Yes, can't keep Laszlo waiting," Julia laughed. "I look forward to this evening."
"Me, too," said Sara.
John escorted Julia out and they took a hansom cab to the Kreizler Institute. Laszlo greeted Julia warmly.
"Thank you for coming, Julia. I'll be leaving for Vienna in a few days, so we have much to do."
"Of course, Laszlo."
"I'll leave you to it, Doctors. See you tonight, Sara. Can you join us, Laszlo?"
"I think so."
John left and went to The New York Times offices.
& & & & & &
At dinner that evening, Sara and John hosted at Delmonico's, which delighted Laszlo (it was his favorite restaurant), and intrigued Julia. She loved the elegant setting and was impressed with the menu.
"This consomme is delicious," she said.
"The chef here is extraordinary," Laszlo said.
"Ah, yes, you are quite the gourmet."
"That is very true," Sara agreed.
"I always said that Laszlo could have been a great chef," Julia laughed.
"That's interesting," John said. "I thought that you Canadians, like the British, were rather formal in your form of address, unlike us Yankees, who call everyone by their first names."
"Well, that's true." Julia was looking stunning in a green silk dress and white opera gloves. A white feather swayed on top of her glossy pompadour with a diamond affixed to its base. "But I've known Laszlo since I was a little girl. He and my father knew each other."
"A fine man," Laszlo said with a smile.
"Medical colleagues and friends."
"That's nice. John says you're training to be an alienist?" Sara sipped her wine.
"I am considering it. The case he spoke of is certainly intriguing."
"Andy is a special case." Sara looked affectionately at her husband. "John has taken an interest in him."
"You found him in an abandoned mansion?" Julia buttered a Parker House dinner roll.
"Yes, we were investigating whether the house was haunted for a client who had just inherited the place."
"How fascinating! So he was the ghost?"
"Turns out to be so, or what the client took for a ghost."
"My goodness, I'd like to hear that adventure."
Laszlo said, "The story is quite incredible, but the dreams they had are an alienist's treasure trove."
"Dear Laszlo, always analyzing," said Sara dryly.
Julia laughed. "Much like a colleague of mine, Detective William Murdoch."
"I've heard of him. One of my fellow reporters worked at The Toronto Gazette a few years ago. He's very well-known. The detective, I mean."
"He is quite the artful detective," Julia said proudly.
"You said he is a colleague of yours?" John asked.
"Yes, I work as City Coroner with the Toronto Constabulary."
"A coroner?" Sara asked. She sounded extremely interested.
"Yes, I'm going to be a doctor at the Children's Hospital in Buffalo, but I've spent many years at the city morgue."
"I thought you were studying alienism?" John asked.
"Oh, yes, if it suits me, I might switch to that."
"A woman of many talents."
"I hope so."
The consomme bowls were taken away by the time waiters and replaced by a crisp wedge salad with a flavorful vinaigrette dressing.
"We will evaluate Andy and see if he is truly in need of our services," Laszlo said.
"He may, but he might just be a case of simple-mindedness," said Sara.
"You know him?" Julia asked.
"I met him in the Biggsby mansion."
"On Halloween," John said wryly.
"Goodness, what a night to meet someone."
"Especially when there's a storm."
"Tell me about it."
John and Sara recounted their strange tale of icy rooms and flying axes, and Laszlo interjected, "Such were their dreams."
"Don't forget the fog in the house and the body hanging from the oak tree in the backyard," John added
"What body?" Julia asked.
"There was no body," Sara explained. "We had dreamed it after hearing about the suicide of Emily Biggsby from that very tree."
"That must have been frightening."
"It wasn't a formula for peaceful sleep," Sara admitted.
"I give you credit for solving that case with such details."
"Sara never gives up," John said with pride in his voice.
"You make quite a pair: top-notch detective and investigative reporter."
"Much like you and Detective Murdoch , eh, City Coroner?" Sara quipped.
Julia looked a little sad for a few seconds, then was back to her gay self. "This case has all the trappings of unusual circumstances."
"You take the prize for understatement," John laughed.
Oysters were the next course. Julia seemed especially fond of the dish. She used her tiny fork to pick out the meat from the shell and sipped the superb champagne.
"Heavenly combination," said Julia. "Oysters and champagne are civilization's finest."
"You speak with poetic sensibility," John said approvingly.
"And a gourmand's refined taste," said Laszlo.
"You have conquered them, my dear," said Sara.
Julia laughed and they exchanged knowing looks. Sometimes it was so easy with men!
"I suppose you find New York to be rather raucous," Laszlo said to Julia. "Toronto must be much more refined."
"Oh, Toronto can get quite raucous." Julia squirted some lemon juice onto an oyster. "We have need of a Constabulary."
"All societies do, but the British influence makes Canadian culture with less jagged edges."
"Ah, yes, our European background values refinement. Believe me, we Canadians treasure our formalities, but some of us admire American vivacity."
"We appreciate it," said John, saluting her with his champagne glass.
"Well, let's just say we prefer you as neighbors over, oh, say, Russia."
"Wise," said Laszlo. "The Russian bear can be a difficult neighbor."
When the Lobster Newberg arrived, there was much laughter and bantering going on.
John and Laszlo were looking forward to the journey to Cloverdale tomorrow.
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