Leo met with Basil again in the morning, to talk about his success of yesterday "So many girls and no sign of true love Leo?" Basil chuckled while he looked through a microscope.
Lawrence chuckled "All but one maiden.." he nudged Leo playfully who plopped in Basil's red chair. Basil quirked an eyebrow "One maiden? Surprised you haven't mentioned her?" Basil noticed the behavior on the young prince, his white shirt untucked, his black hair not slicked completely back, and his brown vest had wrinkles all across the chest "No sleep last night I presume? She must be quite a young lady.."
"Quite?" Lawrence scoffed "She's all he ever talks about!" he mockingly walked around the room acting like Leo "She's so beautiful! She's so wonderful! She had the most beautiful voice!" Basil and Leo laughed "She vanished last night, without a trace.. I think he's delusional."
Leo got up and waved a finger at the boys "You laugh now, I promise you… I'm gonna find her… Basil do you think there is a chance we can find her?"
Basil rubbed his chin "There is always a chance.. just as long as you can think."
Lawrence helped him into his long brown coat "Alright loverboy.. time to meet some more ladies.." he reached the door and stopped, in front of him was a chubbier mouse with golden fur. He looked at the address and then looked at Lawrence with surprise "Is this the residence of Basil of Baker street?" a little tan mouse clung to his sleeve, she was wearing a little teal coat and a matching hat with a red pom pom on top. She instantly walked in and stood in front of the prince "Prince Leopold?" she said.
The tall mouse chuckled "Yes, what is your name?"
"Olivia Flaversham." She shook his large hand, in return he kissed it "Nice to meet you young lady."
Olivia blushed, that is when Basil intervened "I am Basil of Baker street, may I be of assistance Doctor?" the mouse stood amazed "Now how did you know I was a doctor?"
Olivia tugged on Leopold's sleeve "I heard that you are looking for a wife, have you found her yet?"
Lawrence intervened and patted Basil on the back "Maybe if Miss Cecile De Roux shows up again." He snickered and Dawson spoke up "Mr. Basil, we are in need of your assistance, you see-"
Leo interrupted "I do apologize but I must be off, Nice seeing you Basil.." he shook the doctors hand "You too doctor.." he turned to the little mouse and winked "And you Miss Flaversham." She blushed harder as he disappeared into the dark morning sky.
"ELLA!" Hildegard shouted from her room, "Yes?" she answered softly
"Ella tie my corset.. I can talk without hearing me gasp for air." Ella had the joy of pulling the strings tighter and tighter as her mistress pleaded "That's enough!" she walked to her vanity, pulling out a powder puff and powdering her silver fur. "Hildegard?"
"Yes what do you want?" She growled in anger.
The white mouse adjusted her dress "If you would want to impress the prince..why don't you just be yourself?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"I mean.." she paused to think hard of her words "With the fancy gowns and makeup.. that's superficial. If a man truly loved you he would adore you at any form, your best or your worst." She smiled at her and Hildegard gave a slight smile "Wow.. that is the biggest..LOAD OF RUBISH I have ever heard!" she laughed hard and wiped a tear of laughter from her eye "On a serious note, I do consider you a sister Ella, and you would want me to be honest with you correct?"
Ella's blue eyes widened with interest "Oh of course!"
Hildegard slyly smiled..similar to her father "I think that presenting myself for the occasion of meeting a prince is pretty important, wouldn't you say?"
"Y-yes.." Hildegard smiled wider "I mean take you and me.. I am meant to charm dukes, princes, and lords.. with beauty, riches, and grace like mine I can get anyone and anything I want. And you.." she shrugged her shoulders "With such a natural… naïve-ness .. homely look, and a great attitude about being yourself you can charm a vegetable farmer or perhaps a traveling carpet salesman.. what I mean is.. I chose looks and you chose" she looked at her and smirked "Whatever this is.. and it should stay that way. And when the prince and I are married someday you can find your own romance."
Her eyes saddened and she started to walk out the door when she spoke again "I knew you would be someone I could really relate with!" she smiled and continued her makeup.
"The address is in a sketchy area.." the man said to meet us inside the bar…" they walked into a small club, The Rat Trap. Carrying a bundle of lily's, Leo sat down at a small table with Lawrence, a small bat with a peg leg and a lizard walked up to them with gruff voices "Prince Leo and guest?" Leo nodded and the bat giggled as he brought out blindfolds "We need you to put these on…"
Lawrence looked at the little bat "What is the meaning of this?"
The lizard spoke up "We don't want anyone to know where our..Home is.. privacy reasons." He whispered to the bat "That's what the boss said right?" he nodded and Leo nudged the brown mouse next to him "Come on.. lets get this over with."
In what felt like hours, Leo and Lawrence walked through different pipes, making different turns. Right, Left, Left, Right, going on and on until the Bat finally halted them. They stood for a couple minutes until a small gate was opened and they walked through. Leo looked around and saw Lawrence cringe his nose and look to the prince "I can see why he wanted us blindfolded, this place is an absolute mess.."
At his last word Ratigan came striding out of the barrel "Ah Mr. Lawrence! Good to see you again!" he shook his hand, then Ratigan bowed slightly "And this must be His majesty.. Prince Leopold, may I introduce myself, Professor P. James Ratigan at your service." Leo smiled and shook his gloved hand. Ratigan motined them and they walked to the barrel "Please do excuse the mess, I do only have one maid.."
While the food continued to heat in the oven, Ella took a small package out of her dress pocket, she buried through the brown paper until she found a list, the hundred pounds she won, and a secret passage out of the sewers without being seen. She muttered to herself while checking the list "…Suitcase..hat…dress.. go to market and buy food.. train tickets." She heard the clopping steps of Fidget as she attempted to stuff it back in her dress. "Boss said… what's wrong."
She quickly answered "Nothing."
"Why are you-"
"I'm fine…" She said quicker. Fidget quirked an eyebrow and continued "Boss said the guests are here, don't screw anything up.. is something burning?" Her blue eyes darted to the oven as she pulled open the iron gate and slid on her oven mitts "Please don't burn, Please don't burn." She said repeatedly. A sigh of relief came from her when Fidget noticed a small piece of paper sliding out of her clothing. He smiled wickedly and quickly hobbled away disappearing out of sight.
"So your Highness, any luck on finding a queen.." Ratigan sent a curious look to Leo right across the long wooden table. Leo lifted his drink "It has been quite a challenge." Ratigan chuckled slightly "If only ruling a kingdom was easy as well hmm?"
"I beg your pardon sir?"
Ratigan folded his hands "Well.. you are going to be king soon, after you find a suitable wife. Have you any idea on the responsibility the crown holds?" he cleared his throat "I do hope you don't believe taking the crown will be a childish game.."
Leo raised an eyebrow "Well my father has raised me well-"
"Indeed he has, he has raised a charming young son, with an adventurous appeal as well?"
"That is true." Leo glared.
"I have heard about your spontaneous adventures such as.." he pondered "Leaving to Peru on the day of the archbishops visit, oh and I do recall reading about that instance where you released that indigenous viper snake from Africa during the Denmark festival!" he laughed "talk about disaster, and that day-"
Leo stood out of his seat "My childish 'adventures' are far behind me now… being king not only means being mature but to have a sense of humility as well.. even if they happened four weeks ago," he scratched the back of his neck. Suddenly Ratigan's eyes darted to the corner of the room and he stood up "Ah here she is!" the men all stood up and Leo's eyes turned wide. Hildegard was wearing a dark blue gown with sleeves that toppled over her shoulders, her long black hair was tied into a bun, fastened with a diamond hair clip. She continued to stride as her beauty enveloped the entire room. Leo bowed gently and took her white gloved hand, kissing it gently "My lady, It is my honor to meet you."
Hildegard smiled gently "So nice of you to come." Lawrence winked at Leo as he pulled the chair out for her. Fidget hobbled to Ratigan "Tell Ella we are ready."
"Miss Hildegard, I must say that your father's description does you no justice." Lawrence gently smiled.
"Why thank you." Leo smiled at her and she smiled in return "I do hope you have enjoyed your stay here in London."
At that moment Ella walked in the barrel carrying two full trays of dinner rolls, she blew a strand of hair out of her face and looked up, locking eyes with Leo. She gasped and tripped on the long red rug, dinner rolls flailing in the air. She noticed the frustrated looks around her and immediately ran back into the kitchen, before looking back at Leo and running into the wall slightly. "Who was that?"
Ratigan smiled sympathetically "That my dear boy is our maid.. poor thing.. always tripping over her two feet." Hildegard chortled "She is an absolute dunce… always daydreaming."
The dinner went on and the awkwardness between Ella and Leo became stronger. By dessert, they have probably exchanged glances over a thousand times. "Prince Leo, You didn't answer my question earlier.. How have you enjoyed your stay in London so far." Ella came in with a pitcher of water as her eyes darted around "Well actually, I have-"
"Who wants water! Fresh cold water! Right here! In my hand!" Ella smiled nervously as the guests looked at her strangely, she looked down and poured the water into everyone's cups.
Leo continued "Well I must say the culture is absolutely astounding, I do give my tip of the hat to the arts."
"How so?" Hildegard asked innocently
"Well I actually saw a wonderful singer." Ella's blue eyes lit up as she poured water into Hildegard's glass. "Miss Cecile De Roux as they call her, she was absolutely stunning.."
Hildegard crossed her arms "Well what does she have that I don't?" Ratigan hushed her and she composed herself. Leo chuckled "Her voice was like that of an angel, she had a grace that only can be in a dream. I hope to see her once more to tell her that myself." He exchanged another glance at Ella who sighed slightly.
Hildegard smiled "Well maybe you and I can- AHHHHH!" Ella didn't notice that she had kept pouring the water, the water overflowed and poured all over Hildegard's dress. Leo handed her a napkin to dry off and she calmed down, Leo took her hand and kissed it "Well it has been a wonderful evening.. Nice to have met you, perhaps we should meet at another time."
She dreamily sighed "Oh, Okay.. maybe tomorrow a private dinner?" he was halfway out the door "Ye- um- sure fine.." he grabbed Lawrence and off they went. Hildegard sent a wicked scowl to Ella, pushing her out of the way "You horrible, stupid, stupid, wretched girl! You ruined EVERYTHING!" she ran to her room with tears in her eyes.
Ratigan got up and grabbed her wrist tightly, as she tried breaking away he thretently whispered "If you do anything to ruin this union, I promise you will be locked in your room without food and water for the rest of your pathetic life.. Do you understand?" a huge tear rolled down her face and she nodded quickly "y-yes." he let go "Clean this mess, Now." As he left he muttered to himself "After all that I do.. After all that I have done." He walked out and slammed the door to his study, he rubbed his temples and heard a knock at the door "Not now!" he yelled. The prince walked in and his frustrated look became a large smile "Your highness! How can I help you?"
"About that maid.."
"Oh she is quite distraught."
The prince tilted his head "..Distraught?"
Ratigan nodded "Yes, Poor thing was just left on the streets one day without anyone to care for. I found her and took her in like the saint I am. You see she is not as stable as she thinks she is, poor naïve girl. I do hope that her lack of focus and organization has not ruined your evening with my daughter."
He narrowed his eyes, Leo was sure that same woman at the club was not anything but distraught. "Yes, I understand.." he walked out and looked back "Thank you professor." He shut the door and Ratigan rubbed his hands together "Oh no.. Thank you your highness."
Ella swept and mopped the floor, ridding the tile of all the leftover food and liquid she had spilled. She wandered outside the barrel to dispose of the trash when she felt a force pull her back.
Leo's green eyes met with her intense blue ones as she held her mouth closed gently "Please don't scream." She struggled as he hushed her "You are the same girl from the bar aren't you?"
After a few moments she nodded "I am going to let go now, are you going to scream?" she shook her head and he let go, letting her catch her breath "You do have some boundary issues.."
He looked around and grabbed her hand, leading her behind the lair "What are you doing here."
She embarrassedly looked away from him "I work here."
"Yes I can see that, and you don't do as well as you hoped." She was about to walk away when he grabbed her hand "No please.. I'm sorry I just- I have been looking for you everywhere."
"Why?" her body became tense and he answered jokingly "I wanted to see the woman who thought it was good to be seen." He smiled and Ella walked away "That is the biggest load of-
"Miss De Roux-"
"That's the other thing.. my name isn't Cecile de Roux… is Ella."
"Ella." He sighed that's beautiful.." he made her blush slightly "Full name?"
"That's it.. nothing else." she held the necklace around her neck "I never knew my parents." She looked at the prince and tucked the necklace back into her collar "Well.. if you don't mind I have a mess to clean up."
"Wait!" he softly yelled
"What? You got my name.. what else do you want?"
He smiled at her "I want to get to know you." Ella scoffed and continued to walk, that's when Leo spoke again "I don't think Ratigan would like to hear about his servant sneaking out to earn extra money, would you?" she turned around quickly "Please your highness I'll do anything!"
Leo looked at her and smiled gently "One afternoon, tomorrow!" Ella waited a few moments to think it over "Fine.."
His green eyes lit up "Wow.. didn't think I'd get this far." He brought a hand to his heart "I promise I will not say a word."
Ella sighed "Thank you Prince Leopold.. I do appreciate that."
"Call me Leo." he smiled and walked to the entrance of the lair "See you tomorrow Ella."
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