Why not give Basil and Dawson another mystery to solve? This takes place between the movie and my fanfiction, The Red Herring of The River Apatite Murder, which… I'll be rewriting…. You can hate me later. Anyway, anyone who's seen my deviantart account (which I really to get back to uploading art there too….) will know I like the idea of Professor Ratigan having two brothers. In my case, their names are Sebastian James Ratigan and Jim Moran Ratigan….. Spoiler warning (not really), we're going to meet Jim in this mystery. And probably some mention of Sebastian.
Eli H. Lee
Introductions to Members of Riverfield Family
The rodent family by the name of Riverfield consists of four influential members. The head of the house is Robert Riverfield, who has had high success in the jewelry business, and has high hopes of his son Alexander taking over it. He is graciously ambitious, even at his current age. Alexander Riverfield himself already has had high success in overseeing trading and helping in his father's business. He's very well-traveled, and fluent in many languages. The head lady of the house, Robert's wife Amelia, has been confined to her wheelchair after becoming paralyzed from the waist down and sees herself has a patron to the arts. She admires paintings, so she has numerous of painting around the mansion and summer house. She admires the musical side of art the most however, so she takes whatever chance she can to see concerts and operas. Last but not least, is the daughter of the family, Helena Riverfield, who seems to follow her mother in valuing the arts, though instead of supporting musical talents like her mother, has interest within the world of acting. She shares the admiration for painting talent as her mother and has many suitors seeking her hand in marriage.
"It does sound like quite a lovely family."
Florence Lobb looked over towards her niece Ethel Blair smiling. Ethel was short, had a tuft of fur on her forehead, had light brown fur, and gleaming ice eyes, contrasting her aunt's tall height, head full of blonde hair with grey showing, pale fur and dark brown eyes. Both were dressed in similar dresses, although Ethel wore a pastel pink and Florence had a much more darkened red.
Florence looked back down at the letter in her hands as Ethel looked to the side to view the countryside.
"Yes, they are quite lovely. And if we're lucky enough, this visit may just get you a chance to join it!" Florence said, making Ethel look back up at her in astonishment. "Alexander is still not married, and just so happens to be looking to settle down with a nice young girl, such as yourself, dearie."
Ethel looked down at her hands, blushing as she bit her lower lip. Florence took on a grimace as she continued. "Besides, you can do far better than that silly, stupid sister of yours." Ethel shot her head back up.
"Anna isn't stupid, Aunty." Florence looked at her in shock before the younger mouse continued on "Silly? Of course. She has a very naive look on the world. But she's not stupid." Ethel looked back to the view of the countryside again. "She's… merely blinded." Florence sighed and placed the letter she was holding down.
"I'm sorry, Ethel. I… I won't say I didn't mean it like that, I did. But I suppose at my age, it's harder to remember what being at yours and Anna's age is like. What I know I'll never understand at any age is why your father would ever agree to any of our relatives marrying a rat, nevertheless his own daughter!" Huffing, she looked back towards his niece. "What was that rat's name anyway? Raagen? Rathbin? Ratarin? Ratekin?" Ethel gave a little chuckle before correcting her aunt.
"Ratigan, I believe. Sebastian Ratigan in fact. He's a colonel in fact."
"Ratigan? Not connected to the criminal, I hope!"
"He says he has a brother who's a Professor in one of the private universities out in the country. He mentioned another brother to Father, but he also lives in the country as an artist and actor. Besides, there have been Irish immigrants coming over, and Ratigan is a common Irish surname." she commented.
Florence sighed again. "Well, at least you'll be getting a proper husband."
"How can you be so sure? I haven't even met him, nor has he has even met me. What if he doesn't find me suitable?"
Ethel jumped a bit at her aunt's laughing. Florence patted her hand before calming up. "Oh, you doubt your Aunt Florence and your mother? We've been making a list of suitable young mice for you for months, dearie!" Ethel smiled nervously as Florence went back to laughing before the carriage stopped, causing both to look around. A couple of human got one, and Ethel looked out to see if she could hear what's going on.
"Why, Mr. Holmes! Doctor Watson! What a surprise to see you! What brings you two here to the country?"
"Originally on holiday, ma'am. Right now, to a visit on request by a dear acquaintance of ours by invitation."
Ethel looked towards her aunt in confusion as Florence began saying, "Huh, I wonder if we'll be joined by any other guests the Riverfields may have invited."
"Who else would they most likely invite, Aunty?"
"Us, as a matter of facts, madams."
Ethel and Florence both screeched and jumped back a bit at the sudden appearance of two mice, one tall, brown, a tuft of fur on his forehead, green-eyed and in a brown jacket, the other short and plumped with a lighter tan, dark eyes and dirty blond mustache while wearing a blue jacket and reddish vest.
The short of the two tipped his matching hat in apologizes towards them, saying "My pardons, madams. We didn't mean to frighten you both."
Ethel tried to calm herself as Florence perked her ears. "Wait, I know you two. I've seen your pictures in the paper. You're Basil of Baker Street and Doctor David Dawson!" she gleefully chimed.
Basil nodded as Dawson tipped his hat again.
"A pleasure, I'm sure. And the name of you two lovely ladies?"
"I am Florence Lobb, and this my niece, Ethel Blair." Ethel nodded in greeting while smiling before scooting over. Both Basil and Dawson sit down next, Basil next to Florence and Dawson next to Ethel.
"If I may a bit curious, gentlemen, how do you two know the Riverfields?" Ethel asked. Dawson looked downwards as the carriage started to move again.
"Oh, I personally don't know the Riverfields, but Basil here wishes to introduce me to them during this visit he was invited to," Dawson explained while Basil chuckles.
Florence tilted her head at the detective, commenting, "Oh? Then what of you, Mr. Basil? How do you know them?"
"Alexander Riverfield and I met in university," Basil explained. "Many of our classes were the same, in fact."
"Really?" Ethel asked. "What was he like then?"
"Alexander… he was quite the prankster. I joined in some of them, but I rather prefer to skip out on most. I remember every time he would pull a prank on my dormmate. Glue and feathers, sticky pillows, blue ink in hair and fur, if you can think it, Alexander probably did it."
"That must have annoyed your poor dormmate so much."
"Well...Knox..," Basil paused before continuing, "Knox got the last laugh in the end."
Ethel tilted her head in head before glancing back to the view of the countryside and Florence looked towards Dawson in question, who in turn gave a slight shrug. Ethel looked back up. "So, they invited you for a visit?"
Basil perked up a bit before lighting his pipe. "Yes, Alexander is turning thirty-six next week."
"Seems a tad odd to introduce Dawson here during a birthday visit for a friend," Florence said.
Dawson coughed a tad before explaining, "It's not really so much as just an introductory. It's also on the part of the lady of the house, Mrs. Riverfield, and a concern on her health."
"I think I understand," Ethel stand, clearly in thought. "If they saw in the paper you were a doctor, and Mrs. Riverfield is having problems concerning the reasons for her confinement in her wheelchair, along with the fact Basil would know you, it'd make sense that this would be a proper introduction."
"And what of you two? How do you know the family?" Dawson asked. Florence giggled and clasped her hands.
"Coincidentally enough, I'll be introducing Ethel here to the family. I'm more in the know of Mrs. Riverfield. I've met her while at the Mousetoria and Micebert Museum, along with her daughter, Helena." Florence's gleeful face while Basil rolled his eyes and let out a puff of smoke.
"So husband-hunting then?"
"Basil!"
Ethel looked down while Florence and Dawson both looked at the detective with disapproval. "You don't have to say it so bluntly, Mr. Basil."
"On the contrary, I think there's not enough of us that dare to be blunt, Mrs. Lobb. I must say, I'm rather surprised that you met Helena with her mother," Basil said, giving a rather stern expression. Ethel looked back up confused.
"You've seen them together sir?"
"Rarely. Granted, I suppose I should take into account that last time I ever Helena was before she went to Cheltenham Ladies College."
"When was the last time you've seen them?"
"I've seen Alexander every now and then, most recent was about a year ago. I haven't seen Helena and the rest of the family in six years."
Ethel chuckled a bit before biting her lower lip. "You didn't keep in contact with the rest of the family then?"
"Didn't really care to. Besides, they were already trying to get Helena and I to court before she left."
"You didn't find her interesting." Ethel didn't even bother to phrase it as a question, already seeming to get an idea.
"Oh no, Helena was interesting," Basil sighed before letting out another puff of smoke. "But not in the way I think I would have liked. Besides, I had already started my career and considered myself married to my work even then."
Ethel looked back to the view before gasping. Florence looked up before chuckling. "Ah. Seems we've arrived."
The mansion was three stories, save for what appeared to be a tower that have four stories, and white, with a lush garden all around the entrance. Like most mansions The roof had a blueish tint to it, and the windows were wide all around. As everyone exited the carriage, the four mice were greeted by a large, dull brown rat with some freckles, golden eyes, short brown hair and sideburns, and wearing a butler's uniform. With him were several servants, many looking curiously at them. Stepping forward, the butler bowed towards the four before smiling at them.
"Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to Clearwater Mansion. We've been expecting you."
Basil raised an eyebrow as the butler lead them into the house while the other servants carried the luggage brought with the four mice.
"I take it you are Basil of Baker Street, Dr. Dawson, Mrs. Lobb, and Ms. Blair?" The butler helped take their coats and hang them up before leading them to the sitting room.
"Correct. And you are, sir?" Ethel asked, looking around in awe. The butler chuckled before looking at the young mouse amused.
"Sir? Heh. I'm merely a simple butler, ma'am. My name isn't important."
"Oh I doubt that very much."
Everyone looked up to see a female mouse with tannish fur, wavy reddish brown locks of hair, brown eyes, and wearing a blue and black dress with lace and a jewel collar at the top of the nearby stairs. The butler chuckled nervously as the mouse began going down the stairs.
"You shouldn't demean yourself so much, Jim. By all means, if you weren't around, this household would be in a wreck."
Basil looked very surprised before huffing. "I see you've improve on your volume, Helena."
Helena smiled and nodded in greeting. "A pleasure to meet you again Basil." Turning to the others she clasped her hands. "And I'm glad to see you could come as well, Dr. Dawson. And you two must be Mrs. Lobb and Ms. Blair. I do hope you'll all find it simply lovely here. Don't mind Jim too much. He's too humble for his own good."
Leading the group alongside Jim, Helena continued with, "You won't be the only guests. My brother naturally will be inviting other. Basil, you remember Moore and Adams, yes?"
Everyone else turned towards Basil, who paused at the sound of those two names. "Our cousin is also here visiting, so if you see a spotted mouse, that'll probably be Juliette."
Jim opened the doors to the sitting door to reveal that the entire room full of paintings. Dawson, Florence, and Ethel both gasped at the detail in them while Basil blinked a few time. The rest of the room was also lavish in furniture and had a very light blue color theme to it. But it was clear from the moment that anyone walked in, that the first thing they would notice would be those paintings.
"Basil of Baker Street, Dr. Dawson, Florence Lobb, and Ethel Blair, ma'am," Jim said, casting a grin towards the guest before quickly switching to a normal smile. Helena seated herself next to an elderly mouse in a wheelchair with black eyes and grey hair, and had a very similar fur color to Helena.
"Thank you. Do bring some Earl Grey tea for us," Amelia said, smiled tiresomely. "Please, everyone, sit down."
Once everyone was comfortable and Helena began playing the piano in the room, Amelia rested her head.
"I'm sorry that my husband and son won't be here for most of the day. They're both out on business and won't be returning until around dinner."
"That's quite alright. I'm sure it's important either way," Florence said, smiling all too gleefully. Dawson, Basil, and Ethel were still staring at the paintings during all this. Noticing this, Amelia tilted her head to view the paintings as well.
"Beautiful, aren't they? I could stare at them all day and still not see any paint strokes in any of them."
"Who's the painter? There's no signature or initials," Dawson asked, adjusting his glasses while trying to find such.
"I don't know myself. And at my age, I can't really be looking into this, and …-Oh, Helena, that key is B-sharp! Not C, B-sharp!" Amelia's yelled took her guests by surprise as she glared over at her daughter, who paused in her playing.
"I'll keep that in mind, Mother," was the respond.
"Don't keep it in mind, get it right! Now! No wonder why most of your suitor bail out on you!"
Ethel flinched slightly at the familiar tone while Basil grinded his teeth. "You haven't changed a bit, Mrs. Riverfield." Helena paused in her movements as she took a glance at them before starting to play again. Just then, Jim brought in the tea and set it down.
"Anything else ma'am?"
"Yes, please show our dear guests to their rooms. Don't want any of you dearies to get lost here. In the meantime, Helena, we'll be teaching you the keys upon the piano once again."
…..
"Tell me, Jim, if I recall correctly, the position of butler belonged to an Albert Roberto," Basil began as they all started the climb up to the stairs, Jim still carrying the tray of tea up, absent of two cups. "What happened to him? He was around your age when I was last here."
"He had an accident."
"Accident?" Everyone turned toward Ethel, who had an ear perked up, before they all continued on.
Jim sighed while keeping his eyes forward. "Yes, Ms. Blair. An accident. With these stairs in fact. Apparently, on his way down to get the master's evening tea, still near the top, he missed a step."
"Good lord, is he alright?" Dawson asked, causing the butler to huff.
"If you can call 'dead' alright."
"That's dreadful," Florence remarked, now looking at each step she took.
"Yes, in fact, I'd dare say you should be careful around these stairs. The rest in the mansion are fine… but for some odd reason it's only these one connecting the first floor to the second that ever have any accidents. The others never have had any."
"There's been more accidents?"
"Yes, many, Dr. Dawson. Very few have ever been fatal, and as far as actual facts go, my predecessor was the only one who has ever died due to them," Jim grimaced, looking back at the stairs as they all reached the second floor.
"'As far as facts go'?" Basil questioned.
"I meant he's the only one ever recorded, or that anyone who stuck around long enough can remember. But some of the servants, mostly the maids, have it in their heads that there was a previous death and hence a ghost causing the accidents. As if that ever happens," Jim added with a huff.
"You don't believe in ghosts then?" Ethel asked.
"Oh no, I do. I just find it silly how the other servants perceive it. If anything, I find their thoughts rather insulting to their own idea on it all. A Tash is still dead, after all. The actions of it doesn't matter, you still don't speak ill of the dead."
"For a 'simple butler,' you seem to have a strong opinion," commented Basil.
Jim gave a slight glare as they began to ascend to the next flight of stairs. "In this household, Mr. Basil, a strong opinion maybe the only thing to have."
Ethel tilted her head while keeping her eyes on the butler. "You said 'Tash.' You're of Irish heritage, Jim?" Pausing, the rat in question sighed a bit before continuing.
"Yes, ma'am."
Florence scowled at her niece while Dawson went back to the previous topic. "You said there have been numerous accidents on the first flight of stairs. Was one the cause of Mrs. Riverfield's confinement to her wheelchair? And what of the other accidents?" Grateful for the change, the rat nodded in respond.
"Yes, as far as I'm aware, Mrs. Riverfield had fallen down the stairs herself. As for the other accidents, I'll try my best, but I'm afraid I can only give a good description to the ones that have happened while I have worked here. There were several before I began working, but afterwards there was the chef, while giving an in bed meal to the master. He was midway of the stairs where he seemed to have misplaced his steps. There were two maids from the kitchen. Both were also midway down before suddenly losing balance. There was also the gamekeeper. He had needed to inform the master of something that happened in the grounds. What else?" Jim paused the conversation to think. "Then there was one of Master Alexander's guests. A Walter Adams, if I remember correctly. He ended up with a broken leg after falling midway."
"Adams? Is he one of the other guest this week?"
"Yes in fact. I'm surprised that he even wishes to come back after the argument he had with Master Alexander. The other guest coming is also John Cause, who also was a victim of the accidents. He was closer to the bottom half, so he only suffered heavy bruising. Oddly enough, he also had an argument with Master Alexander before the accident."
Basil raised an eyebrow at the information. "Both had arguments with him, and both had accidents?" Jim nodded slowly, pausing for a moment.
"And then there was Ms. Helena herself. Or rather, she almost was an accident." Jim seem to be focused forward as if lost in thought before adding, "And personally, but most unsettling for me."
A silent pause went around before Florence spoke up. "What do you mean, most unsettling?"
Jim looked at them before continuing up the stairs.
"Because it was the one I witness myself. Apparently, earlier that day, she had gotten into an argument with Master Alexander, just like Mr. Adams and Mr. Cause. I had just entered the room when she, at the top of the stairs, began to fall forward." Jim looked downwards, back towards the first flight of stairs. "Master Alexander had been shortly behind her. I never saw her pushed or anything, but…" Basil followed the butler's gaze before looking back at him. "a part of me wonders."
…..
"Well, that was informative," Dawson said, drinking his tea. Basil was by the door, smoking his pipe as he concentrated. Standing up from his unpacking, Dawson thought for a moment before looking towards the detective. "Basil? You know Alexander well enough, right? Would he ever..?"
Basil glanced back before letting out a thick puff of smoke. "I won't deny that the time between university and the last I saw him, I did see him starting to develop a temper… And, he and Helena never saw eye to eye, so the argument thing? Doesn't surprise me a bit. But the idea of pushing anyone down the stairs? I find that odd. Especially towards Adams and Cause. They were even closer friends to Alexander."
"What are they like anyway?"
"I couldn't tell you about now. I never really spent that much time around them. But back in university, they were just as much as pranksters as Alexander. Cause however always had a boyish, slightly naive energy to him. And he followed Alexander like a puppy to his master. I'm surprised he had an argument with Alexander. Adams was… flirtatious. He'd always go off of the grounds and try to flirt with the ladies in the closest town."
"Well, I will admit, Helena isn't exactly what I expected."
"I admit to that too. Granted, I'm sure six years would have some difference, and then including the fact she went to a ladies school… But the overall difference surprises me even more. That didn't even felt like the Helena I once knew. Six years ago, yes, I couldn't really stand her, much like her brother. But she still was an interesting mouse then. Now…" Basil looked towards Dawson's bedroom door. The two of them had a connecting bath between their bedrooms. Where Dawson's had a deep blue color, Basil's own bedroom had a more russet brownish color theme to it.
"That's a completely different mouse."
Dawson went on unpacking, thinking as well. "Well, Jim did say she almost had an accident on those stairs. Sometimes the mind, when faced with something that almost endangers the person's mind, will cause a shift in itself. Sometimes, it heavily affects personality. This could be Helena's case. And seeing how her mother treated her, it's clear that there probably wasn't much help."
Basil paused for a moment. "Amelia was always like that. Alexander used to mention that before that accident of hers, she was still strict in both his and Helena's lifestyles. When I was last here, she was just like that. Only differences now is that it's a piano and not singing, and that Helena didn't retort back to her this time."
"Sounds like she was quite the rebel back then."
"She was fifteen. She wanted to rebel against a lot of things. I wasn't the only one who didn't want to be courting anyone. You think Helena wanted to get courted by me? We only stood each other because we just didn't want to deal with it."
"Fifteen? So she's twenty-one now?"
"Twenty. Her birthday is in the middle December if I remember correctly."
"Basil... If the mother is like that, what of the father?"
"Don't get me started on that mouse. I'll give Amelia credit, she tried to give both Helena and Alexander the same amount of attention, no matter how strict. I saw that clearly when I met the family years ago. Robert played favorites and never hid it. He never made it a secret that Alexander was going inherit most of everything, save a few thousand pounds and properties for Amelia and a small dowry for Helena." Basil let out another puff of smoke. "It's actually one of the reasons why those two had a rivalry." Basil went silent for a moment before perking his ears as if realizing something.
"Dawson, did you notice a pattern with the accidents the butler told us?"
Dawson seemed confused. "No, not really."
"Almost all of the accidents happened when the persons were halfway down the stairs."
Dawson blinked at the thought before adding, "Of course with Mr. Cause and Ms. Helena as the exceptions."
"No, not Cause. Jim said he was closer to the bottom half, meaning that he just happened to be on the lower half while still midway down," Basil corrected. "Helena is the only exception."
"Well yes, if we're looking at only the ones that have happened while that butler has worked here. Mrs. Riverfield and the previous butler happened before he came here obviously. There could even have been more accidents that have happened," Dawson noted. Basil seemed almost lost in thought.
"There could be a pattern in them too… why I wouldn't be surprised that, with the exception of Roberto, most of them happened midway."
Dawson paused before turning back to look at his friend. "Didn't he misstep at the top?" Basil only stared straight forward in thought.
"Just like how Helena almost fell at the top."
A silence entered the room between the two after that sentence, only to be broken by Dawson as he closed the last drawer.
"Oh how about a different topic. It all could be coincidence."
"Oh sure, just change the subject while we may have discovered more on the inside once again and possible another case."
"Is everything always a case to you? What am I saying, it's you I'm asking this to."
Basil grinned as Dawson went into thought.
"The butler," the detective said, making his associate look confused.
"Jim? What about him?"
"Doesn't he remind you of someone?"
Dawson thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No, he really doesn't. I mean, I do think I've seen him before, but I can't really think of who he would remind me of. Who does he remind you of?"
"Ratigan. Same eyes color and very similar fur color, absence of the gray areas of the face. Similar jaw line."
Dawson stared at Basil for a good few minutes before the sound of a gong was hear.
"Hmph. Dinner time already."
…
At the dinner table, the four guests were joined with Amelia and Helena, along with an elderly male mouse with light brown fur and amber eyes dressed in a green velvet. Robert Riverfield smiled at them as he sat down at the end of the table across from his wife. Next to him on the right, across from Ethel, was another male mouse with slightly darker brown fur than Robert and a similar fur style on his forehead like Basil. Alexander was already staring at his sister, who sat on their mother's right side. Across from Alexander was Ethel who clearly seemed uncomfortable, while next to her was Basil, who also was next to Dawson. Across from Dawson was Florence, who was studying the two other male mice near Helena and the two other female mice seated on either side of her. Across from Basil was a very young calico female mouse with straight red hair and blue eyes wearing a pale green evening dress. Juliette seemed to be barely 16 and quite shy.
The female mouse on Florence's other side had very curly light blond hair and white fur accenting her red eyes. Pearl Lupine was wearing a violet dress and was already trying to have a conversation with Cause, who was across from her. John Cause was much like Dawson in height and width, but the fur on his forehead curled downwards and his auburn eyes held a childlike character to them. He wore a green vest and small red tie, seemingly unsure how to respond to Pearl. Across from Helena and next to Pearl was the last guest to arrive, Walter Adams, who wore a red vest to accent his green eyes and black and white spotted fur. The top of the fur on his forehead seemed to have been groomed backwards. He went on trying to impress the Riverfield daughter, and by the bored look on her face, he wasn't getting anywhere.
Robert tapped his glass to settle any conversations down and stood up, a smile on his face as he began to speak.
"I thank you all for coming down this week, even if some are on rather different reasons from others in their minds. Most here, such as my son's old school friends and of course our own little family, are here for Alexander's upcoming birthday. Others, such as the young ladies here, are by invitation from my wife to join us. In fact, out of all of our dear guests, there are two exception. Dr. Dawson here, and my little niece, Juliette. Doctor, I'm sure you'll be glad to help?"
"In any way possible, sir."
Robert nodded in thanks and continued. "Thank you, good sir. As for Juliette, she will be living with us from now one."
Alexander huffed, "Oh goody. Shy little Jully gets to live with us. Maybe you can teach Helena how to probably play the piano."
"Alexander!" Amelia hissed, Helena looking down as Robert looked in disapproval.
"Yes… well, I suppose before dinner is brought out, I should tell you all a few things about the house. First off is the first flight of stairs, especially around the middle part."
Florence chuckled. "Yes, your butler mentioned it when he was showing us our rooms. It's such a shame that the one before him died just because of a misstep."
"Died?" Pearl asked, looking shocked. "That's terrible!"
"Yes… terrible." Basil took note of Robert's glance towards Alexander before Walter spoke up.
"Yes, those stairs are tricky. I broke my leg on them, and even John here fell down them once. We're not making that mistake again."
Robert coughed to get everyone's attention and then continued. "Well, yes. There have been many accidents on those stairs, so I do beg you to be careful while climbing them. There's also the fourth floor in the tower here. We keep it locked at all times, so if you come across the third flight of stairs, just ignore it. There's really no use to go up there. Also, don't mind the servants too much, they just gossip all through their work. If they say something, they're probably trying to impress the others. In the meantime, during your stay here, I wish you all a wonderful week." Robert raised his glass as a toast and everyone followed suit. After he sat down and the servants brought in the meal, Basil began to speak up.
"Tell me, Mr. Riverfield, before you had to replace Roberto, did the other accidents also always occurred when someone was midway down?"
Robert looked surprised at the question before thinking and nodding. "Yes, actually. Well, no. Amelia and Roberto were at the top."
Amelia sighed and shook her head. "It's lucky the others were midway down. I was even luckier not to share poor Roberto's fate."
"So is Helena," Ethel commented.
"What do you mean 'so is Helena'?" Alexander questioned, alarmed towards the mouse across from him.
"Jim mentioned that as well. Said she almost fell down the stairs from the top steps. Both Mrs. Riverfield and Helena here are quite lucky," she responded, causing Alexander to twitch a bit. Helena smiled bashfully though and kept looking down.
"Compared to Roberto, anyone who has fallen down the stairs are lucky."
"Oh don't be so modest, dearie," Pearl said.
"But it's true. Everyone else have only suffered broken bones or heavy bruises. Roberto actually died," Juliette spoke up, taking a piece of soft cheese. "It was horrible. The poor man had broken his neck."
"You were there?" Dawson asked. Juliette nodded in respond.
"It was around the Christmas holiday. The entire family who could come were here. I won't ever forget it. It was also around the time the fourth floor was locked up in fact."
"Why is it kept locked up?" Florence asked, seemingly suspicious. Helena chuckled in response.
"It's where we keep the extra paintings. Most of the paintings you'll find around the mansion were often given to Mother as presents. That Christmas week, we had so many that we had to put some in a room and lock it so that they won't become damaged."
"Seems a bit extreme to me," Ethel retorted, earning a slight smile from the Riverfield girl. Alexander frowned.
"So, Basil, Dawson, about what happened in the city. Did they ever find Ratigan's body?" he said, earning excited grins from Walter and John, but both Basil and Dawson frowned.
"No," Basil responded. "They think his body fell into the river, but no, they haven't found his body."
"That's a pity, maybe we could have burned it," Walter joked, only to have Basil give a slight glare.
"Maybe not to that extent," John commented.
"He almost killed the Queen!"
"Doesn't mean we have to be harsh on him. After all, we did know him ourselves."
Everyone else turned to John as he resume his portion of the meal.
"You did?" Pearl questioned.
"Well, yes. He actually did use to be a professor. He was really nice back then too. A bit no nonsense, but we were pranksters back then after all. He was in charge of mathematics and chemistry."
"Really…" Florence's mind seemed to be turning.
"You know, the butler seems similar to him, actually. What's his last name?"
"The butler?" Alexander thought for a moment. "I don't actually think we know."
"You hired a butler you didn't know the last name to?" Dawson asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Aside from Helena, none of us really address him, he always seemed to know when he was addressed."
Helena sighed before speaking. "Moran," she answered. "Jim's last name is Moran. "
"Hm."
…..
This went on longer than I thought.
Please review.
Eli out.