Back to Baker Street

by spacefemme

In 1906 London, seventeen-year-old Olivia Flaversham is faced with an especially puzzling mystery: the sudden disappearance of Basil of Baker Street. With the help of Basil's nephew Jonathan and Dr. David Q. Dawson, Olivia must try to find the renowned detective and the reasons behind his disappearance. Cover image by gildingofnightfall.

1. Hardly a Bairn

Chapter 1

Olivia Flaversham watched in wonder as her father worked on the new wind-up toy dancers that had been ordered for a customer's daughter. Even after she turned seventeen, the way her father's toys worked never ceased to amaze the girl. The final products moved so gracefully, even more so than any dancer Olivia had seen in real life. They reminded her of the toy ballerina her father gave her for her eighth birthday, years before. That toy was more beautiful, though. "Daddy, they're wonderful!" said Olivia. "That little girl will love them!" Suddenly, though, one of the dancers' heads sprang out. "Oh no," said Olivia's father. "Hold on, Daddy." Olivia had been observing him for years and knew just what was wrong. She opened up the toy dancer's body, adjusted the mechanisms on the inside, and closed it again. She wound up the dancer again and this time it worked perfectly. "Excellent!" said her father, smiling at Olivia. "Your mum would be impressed, you know." Olivia beamed, but then her look turned solemn. "Daddy," she said after a pause. "What...what happened to her? Mum, I mean." Her father paused, looking at Olivia with regret. "She was sick, Olivia." he said reluctantly. "She passed away when you were hardly a bairn. But she loved you very much. Remember that, dear." Olivia was puzzled at her father's vague explanation. "But how did she-" "She was very sick, Olivia! That's all there is to it." her father interrupted. Olivia thought it best not to ask any more about the matter for now. She helped her father put away all of the tools and package the dancers in a gift box to be given to the little girl who would be receiving them.

That night young Olivia lied awake for a while, looking out into the streets of London and wondering why Daddy didn't want to tell her any more about her mother. Perhaps it was just too painful to talk about. But then why did he become so cross with her? She tried to ignore the questions that were eating away at her and get some sleep, but with great difficulty. She was very sick, she thought as she drifted off to sleep. I was hardly a bairn...