Chapter 18

Basil aroused from a deep slumber, his brain hurt a bit, but that was mostly from last night's love making with Olivia. They were still holding each other and Basil thought of not disturbing her, she was sleeping like an angel.

He looks over to the window of his room, the sun had risen some time ago, another day had started. Then he hears Olivia moaning and begins to arise from her sleep.

"No, don't wake up," Basil pleads, but the young lady mouse pushes herself up, her hands on his chest. She rubs her eyes and stares down at him with a smile. "Morning love," he said.

"Morning Elliott," she replies and kisses him. She looks for her nightgown and robe, their clothes were scattered on the floor. Basil stretches out his arms, cracks his toes, and rubs his temple.

"Your head hurts?" she asks.

"A little," he replies, then starts looking for his clothes. He decided to put on new clothes, seeing how neglected the ones he wore last night were. He puts on his signature brown trousers, white shirt and brown vest.

"I would like to call the university," Olivia said and adds, "I hope I can speak to the head of the mice department and discuss about the semester."

Basil then remembers from last night that Olivia mentioned of staying on the campus, perhaps living in her dormitory until the end of the semester. He hated to be away from Olivia, they had been separated for ten years and recently got back with one another.

"Olivia, do you know any hotels near the campus?" he asks and she looks at him in surprise.

"For what reason?" she replies and he places a hand on her cheek.

"I don't want us to be separated, not again, and if I stay nearby then we could visit every weekend," Basil answers and Olivia begins to think.

"You might want to ask Mrs. Silverman, my teacher, she lives around that area," she replies and Basil nods.

"All right," he said, but then begins to think, "Would they allow male mice on the campus?" he asks, but Olivia chuckles.

"You'd be surprised of the number of young male mice that sneak onto the campus, both day and night. I wonder if they'll integrate both genders at the college sometime soon," she replies and they leave the bedroom.

They walk into the dining area, the two bowls of soup still on the table, now ice cold. They take the bowls into the kitchen, the pot was still on the stove, the soup from last night became a thick glob.

"Leave it for Mrs. Judson," Basil said and Olivia begins to look around for any breakfast food. She lights a fire in the stove, again and pulls out a tea pot. "Want me to help?" he asks.

"Are there any quail eggs?" she replies and he looks around. He usually never goes into the kitchen as it was Mrs. Judson's territory, but since the two were alone, they had to fend for themselves.

Just then, they hear a knock on the door. "I'll go look," Basil said and leaves the kitchen. He walks up to the front door, wondering if it was a new client, and he opens the door. His stomach drops when he sees a male mouse, dressed in fine clothes, but he recognizes him as the son of Lord Samuel Kinkle, Robert.

"Mr. Basil," Robert said, "I was hoping you would be here. I came yesterday, but saw your note."

"What can I do for you, Mr. Kinkle?" Basil asks, but he was hoping that the mouse would not ask about Olivia's whereabouts.

"I'm in need of your services," Robert begins and adds, "I was hoping you would locate a certain lady mouse, Miss Olivia Flaversham."

'DRAT!' Basil's mind shouts, but he asks Robert, "Didn't you see the papers? I solved her father's murder and-" "I'm aware of that," Robert cuts in, "I just want you to go find her. I suspect she is in Scotland. I'll pay you big if you bring her back."

"Bring her back?" Basil asks, but then he begins to think that Robert was still interested in Olivia, despite turning him down.

"Elliott, who's that?" he hears Olivia behind him, but then she notices Robert on the stoop.

"Robert?" she said and the rich mouse looked just as surprised.

"Miss Flaversham? What are you doing here?" he replies. Basil was prepared to defend Olivia, he knew that Robert was not in love with her, not in the way Basil loved her. He suspected that Robert was only interested for her connection to the detective.

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Olivia replies.

Robert clears his throat and says, "I heard that Mr. Basil solved your father's murder and I was hoping that you would reconsider my proposal." Basil's insides grew hot with anger, he hated this mouse, perhaps even more than Aunt Sophie, but he grew to like her in the end.

"I said no Robert and the answer's still no," Olivia replies, but the Kinkle heir didn't like the sound of it.

"How would you be able to survive? Especially in a place like London? You have nowhere else to go," he said, but Basil stands in front of him.

"On the contrary, she's staying with me," the detective replies and Robert stares at him and he looks back at Olivia.

"What is going on here?" he asks. Olivia gently pushes Basil aside and reveals the emerald ring on her finger. Robert's face drops and he asks, again, "You are engaged?! To who?!" His voice was rising.

She takes Basil's arm and Robert begins to connect the dots. "You!" he shouts, "But Miss Flaversham, he's old!"

"He's not that old and he's far more kinder and gentle than you," Olivia replies, but she could sense Robert getting more angry.

"Are you saying I'm not kind and gentle?" he asks and she nods. "How dare you! You leave me for him! How would you survive on his salary?! I have more money than-" "You think I want to marry you for your money? Or is there something else?" Olivia cuts in.

"I'm saying that you won't survive and he'll grovel at your feet, a worthless female who's only-" "Worthless?!" Basil shouts, his anger was at it's peak. "How dare you call Olivia worthless! For your information, Olivia has a far greater intelligence than you Robert Kinkle!" he shouts.

"Mr. Basil," Robert tries to talk, again, but the detective was not having it.

"Your family might be rich, but I've seen what your father does to your sisters and mother," Basil said and Olivia notices Robert's face turn pale "You male Kinkle's treat your female kin like garbage. Well, I pray that they will have the courage to leave your abusive household and away from scum like you!" he adds. Robert begins to babble and Olivia thought he shrunk a few inches, which made Basil tower over him.

"If any of your female family members come to me for help, then I will make sure you suffer a fitting punishment," Basil said, his voice growing low with rage.

"Are you threatening me?" Robert asks in a whisper.

"It's a promise and don't go crawling to the king. He doesn't hit his wife and his daughters, and he has been grateful to me for saving his mother The Queen, remember that?" Basil finishes and Olivia watches him inch his head towards Robert.

"Now you get your masculine arrogant ass off my stoop," Basil said in a whisper, but then shouts, "GO ON! GET OFF MY PROPERTY!" Robert Kinkle takes a few steps backward and falls into the bush, but he gets up and runs away from the detective.

"AND IF I SEE YOU ANYWHERE NEAR OLIVIA, I WILL-" "Elliott! Calm down! He's gone!" Olivia exclaims and begins to rub his shoulders. She gently pulls him inside the house and shuts the door. Basil then takes a few deep breaths and sits at his chair by the fireplace.

"Elliott, are you all right?" Olivia asks.

"I'm fine, just feel...exhilarated at the moment," he replies and pulls her into his lap. "Sorry if I scared you again," he adds.

"No, I wasn't scared, just...surprised that you stood up to him," Olivia said and leans her head against his. "Would you really do that? Defend the female Kinkle's?" she asks and he gives a serious nod.

"Like I said, the male Kinkle's are harsh on the women and in fact, I'm glad you turned him down. I would hate to see you be a victim of his and his father's abuse," Basil said and she encloses him in her arms.

"But do you think he'll tell the papers about our...engagement?" she asks, but Basil chuckles.

"Let him, I figured it is time to tell the world, although, reporters will probably pester us for a while," he answers, rubbing the ring on her finger with his thumb.

She nozzles her nose against his neck and at first, she thought Basil would want to make love, again, but then, the telephone rings. "Oh I hate that thing!" Basil said and looks up at Olivia, "So sorry, I wanted to make love again, too."

"You read my mind?" she asks and he chuckles. She gets off Basil's lap and he goes to answer.

"Basil residence," he said and Olivia hears a voice speaking, "Dawson...the train...oh good...late? How late? I see...We're actually going to Westfield, just to talk about the remainder of the semester, so not sure how long we'll be...Don't worry, she's fine...All right...we'll see you tonight."

He hangs up the ear piece and turns to face Olivia. "Good news?" she asks and he gives a slight nod.

"The next train to London will not be until about 2 o'clock, so they might not be home until late tonight, maybe 8," he said and a smile forms on Olivia's face.

"Well, hopefully we won't take long at the college and we could..." Olivia trails off, but Basil got the idea pretty quickly.

"I just love the way you think," he said and gives her a kiss. "Best not let my manly desire overtake me right now," he adds and Olivia nods. She goes to the telephone and makes a call to her school.

Basil notices the tea pot hissing with steam and he resumes his search for the quail eggs. He finds them in a cabinet and prepares the pan for them. He then hears Olivia finish her conversation, "Thank you Mrs. Silverman, we'll be there as soon as we can."

She joins him and takes over the preparation, but Basil watches her. For a very long time, women were told to tend the house while the men were away. Now that it was the start of a century, it was time to treat both genders with equality.

After finishing their meal, Olivia cleans the dishes, but also leaves the pot of soup from last night in the sink and fills it up with soapy water. "Best not attract any bugs," she said.

Basil dresses in his signature coat and hat, but Olivia was curious, "Do you have any other clothes?" she asks.

"Not exactly," he replies and Olivia shakes her head.

She finds a black colored dress, not the same as her funeral dress, but it was to signify that she was still in mourning. "Just a few more days," she said to herself. The two leave the house, with Basil locking the door and they walk down the street to the trolley.

"Oh, before I forget, I should warn you," Olivia said and explains, "I am sort of a celebrity on the campus, but the women are more interested in you. So do expect a swarm of ladies."

"Duly noted," he replies and they find a trolley that would take them to Westfield College.


From the author: This chapter shows that there are two kinds of men, those who abuse women and those who stand up to masculine pride. I wanted to show Basil that he shows respect for the female gender and will stand up to the injustice done on women, best show his soft side.

Anyway, hope you are enjoying this! See you soon!