Chapter 28
Westfield College
Days had passed since Basil's birthday and now, Olivia was now ready for her final exams. The love making they did that night was replaying in her mind, she was hoping that she did conceive.
The first few days were crucial, but there was always the chance of not conceiving. Olivia decided to focus on her studies for the next few days. The first exam was on the 5th of December and the next day was another. She reprocesses her mind of the material she studied and it was coming back to her. She felt confident after finishing the first two exams.
During the first exams, Olivia would use the toilet more often than usual and she was also suffering from dizziness and fatigue. She thought it was just stress and spent the weekend with Basil after taking her second exam.
Basil was preparing to leave Mrs. Silverman's house as the semester was about over. That weekend, when Olivia came to visit, he noticed how tired she was. He asks her, "Are you feeling all right?"
"I guess, I just feel tired. Maybe it's from studying," she replies and he lets her rest on his bed. He tells her that the king was about finished with preparations to the wedding ceremony and the reception ball.
"Mrs. Judson also finished the dress," Basil adds and Olivia smiles. "But unfortunately, I can't see it. I know I'm not allowed to see the bride before the wedding, but she also insisted I don't see the dress," he said and she gives a nod.
"What about the rings?" she asks and he places a hand on hers.
"Oscar and Margaret took care of them, they'll be stopping by tomorrow to show them. I asked them to hold on to them until the big day," Basil replies and she gives another smile, but yawns.
"I can't wait for all this to be over, then it'll be our big day," Olivia said and Basil gives her a kiss on the forehead.
"Rest up first, you still need to finish two more exams," he replies and pulls a blanket up to her shoulders. She falls asleep instantly and didn't notice Basil cradle next to her some time later.
On Saturday, Oscar and Margaret stopped by to see Basil, but Olivia was still asleep, so they decided to not bother her. Oscar takes out a big velvet box to reveal two gold bands, one was thicker, but the other was thin.
When Monday came, Olivia developed a headache and went to the toilet again before the exam. She decides to check her breasts, but was not feeling any changes. It had been over a week since she and Basil had unprotected sex. However, the one thing that stood out in the health books she read was that expecting mothers would have morning sickness within six weeks after conceiving.
Olivia decides to remove those thoughts and takes her exam. She remembered a lot of things on the exam that she studied over the last few months, she even saw some familiar questions from the mid-term tests. After finishing the exam, Olivia rushes to the toilet, again. She thinks back if she drank too much water or tea. She always loved morning tea before coming to class and she did drink two cups before taking the exam.
Tuesday was a big day, not only would Olivia be finished with the exams, but she and Basil would be going home to Baker Street. Basil decided to tidy up Mrs. Silverman's home as a way of thanks for offering him a place and be close to Olivia. He was going to miss this place and takes a look out the window. He was observing the prewinter setting, but it looked as if winter already arrived.
Basil then notices an elderly woman rat with a cane and wearing black. She was stout and her rat tail just laid on the ground. Something was off about this rat woman, Basil thought she was looking at him. She was staring with cold eyes, but then she turns to walk towards the campus. Basil couldn't help but feel disturbed by this rat woman.
In her classroom, Olivia was almost finished with her exam, but decides to turn her face away to give her brain a rest. She looks out the window and her mind goes blank when she sees the same rat woman she saw the day before the Guy Fawkes ball.
She stands from her seat to get a better look at her, but her teacher walks up to her. "Miss Flaversham, are you finished?" "Oh, sorry no, just need to stand for a minute," she whispers and sits back down. She looks back out the window, but the rat woman was gone.
Olivia finishes her exam, she was able to remember the material, but afterward, she decided to look around the spot where the rat woman was. Unfortunately, too many mice have walked around the grounds, so she couldn't find a particular foot print.
She goes to her dorm to retrieve her belongings and walks to Mrs. Silverman's home. The snow was caked in soot from coal fires, but it crunched under her feet as she walked. She did wonder if it would be a better idea to leave London for the countryside as the atmosphere was often plagued by haze from the fires.
She then knocks on the door of her teacher's home and Basil answers. She places her bags down and they share a hug. "How do you feel?" he asks.
"Good, better than good actually. I mean, I don't feel good in my body, but feel confident in these exams," Olivia replies, but Basil gives a look of concern.
"You still don't feel well?" he asks.
"I think the stress will go away when we are home," Olivia answers, but Basil still felt concerned. Mrs. Silverman, who came home earlier, bid the two farewell and was excited for the wedding.
"Mr. Basil, it's been a pleasure having you in my home," she said and Basil shakes her hand.
"And I can't thank you enough for opening your home to us," he replies and the teacher happily nods and turns to Olivia.
"Miss Olivia, it's been a pleasure having you as a student. I just hope you return to Westfield in the future," Mrs. Silverman said with tears in her eyes and Olivia gives her a hug.
The two bid goodbye and thank you, and made the trek towards the trolley that would take them home to Baker Street. "How long will it be until you get your grades back?" Basil asks Olivia.
"Mrs. Silverman told me they like to give out the results after the holidays, so we just wait," she answers and they climb up on the trolley's steps and settle in the mice compartment.
"Elliott, I thought I tell you something," Olivia said and Basil listens. "Before the Guy Fawkes ball and today, I saw a rat woman. Now this might seem-" "Hold on," Basil cuts in, "You said a rat woman. Was she elderly and wearing black?" he asks and this made Olivia gasp.
"Yes, but how..." she trails off.
"I saw her, too, but what disturbed me about her was that I thought she was looking at me," Basil replies and Olivia nods at this.
"Elliott, I just remembered. I went through some old newspapers in the library. Your mentor, Henry Walker was pursuing a rat woman in 1882, but she was killed when a building collapsed. The body was never retrieved, but the newspaper said the rat woman was Ilse Altendorf. However, Rosenberg said his mother's former marital name was Ratigan, but she could've used a maiden name," Olivia explains to him.
"Ilse Altendorf," Basil repeats the name and looks at Olivia, "You said the body was never retrieved, but no one has heard a word from Ilse Altendorf, at least not in over 25 years at least."
"But what if...I mean would there be a possibility that she's still alive?" Olivia asks and she looks into his eyes, he was thinking.
"If she is still alive, she would be ancient, roughly 80 or so. From what I can recall, Ratigan was in his late 40's or early 50's when he died ten years ago. And Rosenberg was roughly in his 40's when he died," Basil answers. Olivia looks to the floor and rubs her temple.
"Darling, if anyone associated with Ratigan or Rosenberg dares to come near you, I will protect you. I promise," Basil said and she nods.
The trolley comes to a stop at Baker Street and the two jump off. Olivia takes in the familiar site and a smile forms on her face. Basil leads her to his home and she felt relaxed when she saw the warm glow of 221B 1/2 Baker Street.
Basil opens the door and both Dawson and Mrs. Judson gave shouts, "Welcome home!" It did startle Olivia a bit, but she smiled and hugged both of them. Mrs. Judson prepared a nice dinner for them and they share stories of the last few months, but the two lovers kept their sex life out of it.
The two then went to bed together, it felt good to be in the same bed and Olivia nuzzles her head on Basil's chest. In just one week, they'll be sleeping the same bed as a married couple.
From the author: So there's a lot of things going on here. Is Olivia pregnant? Did she pass her exams? Just who is this rat woman? Very soon, these questions will be answered, but you just have to hang tight.
See you soon my friends!
