Chapter 13: Moment of Truth
Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. This was what I kept telling myself mentally while I stood in front of the mirror. My heart was pounding like a drum. My stomach fluttered with butterflies. I glanced over my shoulder at the gown that remained neatly on my bed just waiting to be worn. But somewhere I couldn't push myself to act upon it.
I honestly hadn't the slightest clue what I was doing, let alone what to expect. The only thing I knew was that I was standing in nothing but my under garments, worrying. Worrying about the kind of individuals I was soon to be associated with. Worrying about not acting the way I believe I should. But most importantly, worrying about whether some of said individuals happen to know the true me.
"Are you almost ready, dear?" Basil called out from the hallway. This sudden thing caused me to jump since I was too deep in thought to even hear that he had knocked on the door.
"I-I-I just need a moment or so," I replied nervously until I glanced back at my reflection once more. "On second thought…" I said I a whisper before I spoke louder, "Do you mind getting Mrs. Judson for me?"
"Of course," he answered before heading downstairs. I took another deep breath before grabbing the corset that I had placed on a nearby chair when I came up here earlier to get ready. Wrapping it around me, I didn't even have much of a chance to even draw the string through the first hole before hearing the door knock. Knowing who it was, I gave the okay to let the landlady in.
"Oh, my dear, you should have requested my help sooner," she told me, taking the long string from my hand and began looping it through.
"I should have, but-" I was soon cut off when she yanked the bottom part of the corset, causing it to constrict around my form. "Um…am I…I not supposed to be able to breath is this?"
She chuckled. "Think of it as a side affect Miss Méndez," she replied as she tugged on it once more.
"O-oh!" I gasped, placing my hand on my stomach. "A side effect, huh? Never heard it put that way before. Here I thought it was to cut the air flow to my lungs."
"It is torturous, dear, I know. But thought it appears to be going out of style now, there are still some young ladies that wear them."
And I have to be one of the few, why? I asked inwardly while she finished tying the strings together.
"Also, in a way you are presenting yourself as the fine young lady you are. So in this case, breathing is not entirely the most important thing."
Looking at her through the mirror, I gave her a confused expression. "But, I'm not presenting myself to anyone. I least I don't think so."
"Actually you are." Sitting me down in the chair, she began to work on my hair. "I have a feeling this invitation Mr. Basil had received was for something more than it seemed. The mice you are about to come in contact with have no trouble looking down on those that are different."
"Because I'm Puerto Rican," I stated. "They think I am uncivilized just because I come from a place that they think we are barbarians."
"Possibly, but I might be getting ahead of myself. But I don't think that. I believe you are a charming young woman." She then smiled at another thought. "I've also noticed how fond he has become of you."
"Who, Basil?"
"And who else, dear? Not once, in all my years of knowing him, has he acted in such a way that he has with you. Sure he has had women who were clients of his take their shot at him, but each time he would simply turn then away with no interest on a romantic level. It seemed the only way for a woman to catch Mr. Basil's interest in that way was if she was strong and able to deal with him."
"But surely there must be some like that."
"There are, but none that he has come in contact with. Except for one. But if there was, it would take a miracle for my stubborn tenant to admit such a think as him falling in love. Seeing it for myself on the other hand…Mr. Basil, like I told you, is extremely careful when expressing his emotions. Lately, however, he's seemed happier, calmer than I have ever seen him."
One tug and a twist later, Mrs. Judson placed the comb on the vanity table, smiling brightly. "There we are," she announced. I too smiled as I looked it over.
"It's beautiful," I commented, rising to my feet. Lifting up my arms, Mrs. Judson helped me into the gown. Smoothing out any unwanted wrinkles, I turned towards her.
"You must go, child. I'm sure he's waiting." I nodded before making my way out of my room. Before going downstairs, I took a deep breath and made my way down. With each step I took, my heart skipped a beat. I could feel it in my gut that I was terrified, but for Basil's sake, I knew I had to remain calm. Reaching the ground floor, I couldn't help but grin as I watched the detective pace back and forth, mumbling something.
"You look quite becoming," I commented, grabbing his attention. When he flinched, I chuckled as he hastily straightened himself up.
"My apologies, dear. I…I…" He paused for a moment. "My…that dress suites you quite well."
"Thank you, and I'm surprised you have more than one tux. I always thought you would have one"
"Oh, this old thing? I think I wore this to a funeral of one of Mrs. Judson's family members. It's been in my wardrobe for so long, I'm shocked the moths have not eaten it by now."
I laughed a bit while I shook my head. "For something that you say is old, seemed awful new."
"Yes, well, you know Mrs. Judson."
"I do," I agreed. Looking into his eyes I was once again hypnotised by those jade colour orbs. But after what seemed almost like an eternity, I managed to break away. "Basil, I-"
"Jonathan."
"What?" I asked confusingly.
"My name, dear. It's Jonathan."
"Oh, well...um…Jonathan, I think it's best that we go." He nodded in agreement, helping me into my coat before slipping into his own.
Extending him arm, he smiled lovingly. "Shall we?" In return, I produced a smile of my own while I looped my arm around him, guiding me to the cab waiting outside to take us to our destination.
It took a while before reaching the large house in Greenwich. Descending the hill, my nerves started to get the better of me. Like always, this did not go unseen.
"It's all right darling. You have no reason to fret," the detective assured me, taking my gloved hand into his own.
I hope you are right, I thought as I nodded. When the hansom came to a stop, I glanced out the window, wondering what waited inside. I jumped in alarm when the door opened, revealing another tall, but poised black furred mouse. His eyes were a very distinct colour of what seemed almost turquoise. I watched as Jonathan stepped out, paying the cabbie and tipping the other gentleman before turning towards me.
Once my feet touched the ground and we made our way towards the large estate, my stomach tightened, telling me that my nerves were getting worse. For the time being, however, I chose not to let it get the better of me.