Something To Hide

Dorian walked into the hallway that Jekyll generously allowed him entry to. He shuddered at the transition from a cold and dismal temperature to a cozy warmth radiating from the nearby fireplace. With that, Jekyll came up from behind and took his coat, where Dorian rose his brows at the polite welcome the good doctor was giving him, despite his initial distrust. As Jekyll turned and hung the gentleman's coat up, Dorian Gray turned his attention to the rest of the house and smiled. "Marvelous!" He praised with a grin. "Simply marvelous!"

"Forgive me for my general curiosity and most likely missing something so apparent, but what is marvelous??"
Dorian didn't bother looking at him. Merely pointed his cane at the interior of the home. "Your humble abode, dear sir! I haven't seen such a well kept living space in quite some time!"
"Well then, if you like it so much, you can have it sir."
Dorian merely laughed. "Not interested in the slightest, dear boy. For I no longer have myself a home."
Jekyll rose his brow. "No home?? Were you casted out? Was it destroyed?" "By Jove, what depressing selections. But alright, I'll be truthful. I no longer have a home because..I left. And I never looked back. From my past and everything. I left to make a better name for myself. To atone for my sins..."
Dorian stepped towards the doctor. "I heard the same of you. In fact, that's why I'm here..because you and myself.. we're kindred spirits."
The good doctor turned his head in a way that displayed curiosity in the most innocent manner. "Kindred spirits? Whatever are you implying?" Dorian nodded and took his gaze from Jekyll to the rest of the house. "I'm implying that I know of your exploits. The ones done under the persona of..Hyde..I believe??"

Jekyll's chest puffed up and his breathing quickened, his sagging eyes filling with renewed energy. "I demand you tell me what you want this instant or I will throw you out back into that infernal storm!" Dorian sighed and rolled his eyes playfully. "Dear boy, no need to get so excited. I promise, I'll get to the point of my visit..as soon as we sit for a good spot of tea?"
Jekyll's eyes glanced over at the lounge, and he quickly took control of his breathing. "..Of course..forgive me..I..I'm just..I just need to get a..hold of myself..."

With a trembling hand, he reached for the edge of the doorway leading to the lounge and held onto it, tightening his other hand into a fist as he bent over and tried to control his breathing.
His eyes closed and his face went from a healthy peach to a frightful red. Dorian took note of this and took a step in his direction, gently laying a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright, dear boy?" Jekyll perked up and switched his gaze from the floor to Gray. "Yes, of course... please..follow me."

The doctor advanced forward with the dashing gentleman in tow and they made their way to two cushioned armchairs, placed before a crackling fireplace. Dorian gestured his hands to the scene and smiled wide, setting his cane beside his selected seat. "Ah! This is the way to conduct business!"
He took his seat and breathed in a comfortable manner, satisfied of the state of his visit so far. His eyes wandered the room and registered all the items and furniture to be seen. One such item that sparked his interest was a small table across from them that was littered with papers. This intrigued him.
Jekyll nodded at him, already departing to go into the kitchen.
"I'm going to go and make that tea. I'll return in a few moments.."
As soon as the doctor left, Dorian peeked behind the chair to make sure Jekyll was truly out of sight. He then turned his head back around and stood back up, rushing forward towards the small table that previously caught his interest.

There, he examined the very top paper resting on the small pile, and brought it up to his eyesight. That's when his gaze narrowed.
They weren't just ordinary papers. They were letters.
Letters from many individuals, in fact.
He took it upon himself to sift through the pile and quickly assess the purpose and the importance of the content contained in such letters. The envelopes harbored the names of ones such as Gabriel John Utterson, Richard Enfield, Hastie Lanyon and a Mr. Poole..

His brow lifted. Naturally, he did not recognize any of the names. But these were from long ago. Why did Jekyll have them laying about on the table? Was he perhaps reading them for memories sake? Or perhaps.. did he steal these? It was quite curious why a man who no longer visited the outside world by choice was immersing himself with it. If he refused to take part in the world just outside his doorstep, then why cling to the authors of these letters? And furthermore..what did these letters contain?

Dorian had to know. He snatched one from Mr. Poole and slipped it out of the envelope, bringing the small yellow ink stained paper close to his eyesight. He peered through the poor lighting at the rather faint cursive handwriting, while simultaneously checking to make sure Jekyll was not ready to come back in any time soon.
"What's keeping you, old boy? Unable to find the tea?"
"No no, I'm only getting it in now, please be patient.."
Dorian bit his lip, seeing that he might have bought himself a little time. He hurriedly sifted his gaze across the letter's contents until he reached the end and caught sight of it.
We mourne the loss of our esteemed Dr. Jekyll, and pray he finds his way to heaven, despite his unspeakable activities..

Dorian lifted his head.
So that was it.
These letters..at least judging from the one he held..
they were stolen.

He heard a sudden rattle as if glass was clanging together and he jolted, quickly placing the letter back on the table precisely where he found it and hopped over to a different part of the room, pretending to examine something else by the time Jekyll entered inside. The doctor was carrying a silver tray with a teapot and two teacups resting on the top, ready for consumption.
His eyes instinctively and alarmingly darted to Dorian as he stepped in, looking quite confused as to why he was wandering the house and fiddling with his things.
"Whatever are you doing, Mister Gray?"
Dorian turned and nodded his head with a smirk at the doctor.
"Nothing, my friend, just taking in the scenery."
The dashing gentleman began strolling around the room, taking quick glances in fake amusement of the contents of his household. "You have such a beautiful house, full of beautiful furniture and antiques. It's a pity you have to stay couped up, unable to share your splendor with anyone else. Not even a friend."

Jekyll set his tray down, clearing his throat, obviously attempting to regain his composure. "..Yes, it is..I haven't had a visitor in....well..I don't get visitors. Not anymore."
Dorian lifted his head. "I see.."
His eyes fell at the small table and he saw now his chance to bring up the pile of seemingly stolen letters. He pointed at the envelopes. "And what of these? If you don't get visitors..don't talk to anyone..then where do these come in?"
Jekyll staggered over to his armchair and took a deep, concentrated breath, sitting down with struggle and bending his body towards the fireplace.
The doctor closed his eyes. "You promise not to tell a soul?"
Dorian slowly nodded, giving Jekyll cause to take another deep breathe.
"Alright....I confiscated them."
Gray's eyes widened a bit at the sound. "Confiscated? You mean steal?"
Jekyll shifted. "That sounds awful.. stealing..that's only something that he.." He sunk. "..Would do.."
Dorian's face teemed with curiosity. "HE?"
Jekyll felt entirely uncomfortable. "...yes....he.."
Dorian perked himself up and sat down quickly on his own armchair. "And who is this...he??"

Jekyll obviously wasn't wanting to answer. He held his chin down and took deep, shallow breathes. And he finally did speak.
"Hyde.."

CONTINUE TO..
A Case-Sensitive Matter