The second Basil and Dawson had left with the king, Olivia, Helen and Hiram had begun to look for anyone who matched the description Basil had given. Olivia looked carefully to see if she could see a tailless mouse.
''Curses that Basil of Baker Street!''
Olivia looked in the direction from which she heard someone bad-mouth Basil and stared. Nearby stood a very old, short mouse with brown fur using a cane. He had to be around his late 80s to early 90s, Olivia deduced. The mouse had grey hair, a monocle over his left eye and was dressed in fine clothes. He looked very short-tempered and was grumbling to himself. With him were two taller and younger mice, both of whom bore a strong resemblance to the old mouse. One had a fine crop of bright blonde hair while the other was had a mop of curly dark red hair. The blonde mouse mouse looked a good decade older than the red-head, had a similar mean-spirited look as the old mouse, and wearing make-up all over his face, the type that actors would use, and for some reason people were staring at him, but he ignored them.
''Grandfather, please don't cause a scene,'' the blonde man pleaded, looking aghast. ''The king invited us here out of the goodness of his heart as a tribute to Father, you should be grateful.''
Olivia squinted at the blonde mouse. She didn't know why, but he looked familiar. Where had she seen him before?
''Grateful?'' the old man sneered. ''As if a measly tribute to my son could make everything better, while that murdering detective still roams free, being praised as a hero. Hero, indeed! A hero who caused the death of both of my dear Marianne's offspring! The professor was the only link I had left to her.''
Olivia's eyes widened. This old mouse knew Ratigan's mother!
''Don't be disrespectful to Grandfather, Emmett,'' the red-haired mouse snapped, glaring at his brother. ''Marianne was very important to him, as were her children.''
Olivia stared at the red-haired mouse and mentally noted that he was the same height as Charlie and the Viper.
''I know,'' Emmett said, holding up his hands in protest, ''and I have nothing against that. I just think it's wrong to blame Mr Basil for their deaths. If anything, Ratigan himself was responsible, since he started the fire that killed his sister, and Mr Basil never pushed him off Big Ben –''
''Stop it, Emmett!'' Gideon said sharply, hugging their grandfather. ''Mr Basil killed them both, and Grandfather has been haunted ever since. Not to mention, Mother has been in a terrible state following Father's death, and it's all Basil's doing.''
''How did you figure that?'' Emmett challenged, trying to sound tough and failing.
''No backbone at all, little brother. It's because he's the source of all the grief in our family.''
''You really are Grandfather's mini-counterpart, Gideon,'' Emmett muttered to himself. ''So unreasonable ...''
The old mouse heard. ''That's because he recognises my pain, unlike you,'' he said unkindly, and Gideon nodded in agreement. ''And I will have you know, Ratigan's dear sister died because he was trying to kill Mr Basil's father, at which he succeeded, and Ratigan himself died five years later because he was trying to kill Mr Basil. It's the Basils' fault! I always knew from day one that family was trouble, and the deaths of Marianne's children were proof. I sure hope the rumours are true that the Viper has returned, he'll put that heartless detective in his place!''
Gideon's shoulders instantly tightened.
Emmett saw a few rodents gasping and staring and buried his face in his hands. There was no use arguing any further, his grandfather was just too blind and stubborn when it came to anything Marianne-related. He saw Olivia and gave her a nod of apology. ''Calm down, Grandfather. Come on, let's go outside, the fresh air will do you good.''
''That's your excuse for everything, Emmett,'' said Gideon. ''Trying to end a discussion you hate. Such an imbecile, no wonder you're the runt of the family.''
Emmett fumbled as he ushered his brother and grandfather away. He hated confrontations but he had to keep the peace until Victor arrived. He was much better at this.
As the three mice disappeared into the crowd Olivia heard the grandfather grumbling: ''As if fresh air will bring back Marianne and her children …''
The second Gideon turned around, Olivia stared. While Gideon had a tail, it was a prosthetic tail, which was why people had been staring at Gideon. If Gideon had a prosthetic tail, that meant if he removed it, he would be tailless. Gideon so far fitted two of the three traits Basil said to look for in the Viper. The young woman knew she had to follow them and see if Gideon had a bother with his left arm, as well as to remember where she had seen Emmett before.
Olivia scanned the area for the trio of mice as though her life depended on it. She spotted them by the exit and disappearing behind a corner. The young woman was about to start walking in their direction when a familiar male mouse appeared in front of her, blocking her path. Olivia froze when she saw it was Charlie.
''Hi there, miss!'' he said in his usual hyper, flamboyant voice. Had he somehow recognised Olivia, like Helen did?
''Uh, hello?'' she said, adopting a sophisticated accent.
''Charlie Bennett, at your service,'' he said, shaking her a little too ecstatically. ''And I must say, you are a very pretty young lady.''
''Thank you,'' Olivia said, holding her dress and relived that Charlie didn't recognise her. ''My name is Wendy, Wendy Darling,'' she added, thinking up a name as quickly as possible.
Charlie kissed her hand, causing her to shiver slightly. ''Pleasure to meet you, Miss Darling.''
Olivia laughed nervously. ''Likewise, Mr Bennett. I don't mean to be rude, but I'm in a bit of a hurry.''
She tried to walk past Charlie but the young man mimicked her movement like a mirror, blocking her path once more.
''I'm glad to meet such a pretty girl. I recently had my heart broken by my first love, with whom I thought I stood a chance until –'' Charlie's lips started trembling – ''my bachelor idol won her heart.''
Charlie might have been clingy and hyper, but Olivia still felt bad for rejecting him, but she had no time for this. ''I'm sure you will find someone else,'' she said quickly, patting his shoulder, ''I'd love to stay and chat, but I really do need to –''
She again tried to walk away when Charlie grabbed her arm. ''It won't be easy, but I am trying, Miss Darling. I know it sounds mad, but I still have hope that I will win her from my hero.''
Olivia held back the urge to bury her head in her hands.
''Then I saw you and I thought: 'She's gorgeous!'' so I thought I would try my luck. What do you say, Miss Wendy Darling?''
Olivia had anticipated this; she knew Charlie well. ''Actually –''
''Good idea!'' Charlie cheered. ''I'll take you to meet my aunt now!''
Olivia didn't have time to respond before Charlie started dragging her around the audience chamber. She would now have to look for Gideon later, she thought. ''Isn't this such a grand party, Miss Darling? My aunt was the reason I was also invited. She has a very personal connection to the royal family, given our family history.''
''Really?''
Though Olivia didn't want this right now, she had to admit, she was curious about his aunt as she had heard Charlie talk about his aunt constantly at college.
''Ah! There she is!''
Olivia looked ahead and saw a pretty rat woman, drinking wine and wearing heavy make-up. She was talking to Basil, Dawson and King Edward. Olivia instantly recognised her as Regina Radcliffe, the famous children's clothes designer from Oxford.
''Aunt Regina!'' Charlie called out, and Olivia was incredulous. Regina Radcliffe was Charlie's aunt?
''See, there he is now,'' said Edward.
''Thank goodness.''
''Charlie Bennett?'' Basil asked, shocked, using a disguised voice just in time as the two approached them and taking hold of Olivia. Edward saw and smirked as he realised.
Regina placed her now empty wine glass on a tray that a passing waiter was carrying and hugged Charlie fiercely with her right arm. ''I told you to keep close by,'' she said in a stern tone.
''I'm sorry, auntie.''
After they pulled apart, Charlie stood next to Regina. They were the same height. Only Edward didn't look at all surprised.
''Charlie is your nephew, Mrs Radcliffe?'' Dawson asked in a stunned voice.
''Yes,'' Regina confirmed. ''Guess it comes as a surprise to you?''
Basil, Dawson and Olivia nodded.
''Your Majesty, you knew?'' Basil asked, turning to the king.
''Yes I did. I didn't realise you had been acquainted with Charlie already?''
''I haven't,'' Basil said, lying through his teeth. ''I have merely heard of him from my good friend, journalist George Baker, whose daughter Helen goes to college with Mr Bennett.''
Edward knew Basil was lying, but didn't question it as he was in disguise. Nevertheless, he spotted the anger coming from the detective. ''Well, I have other guests to attend to so I will leave you all to it,'' he said, a little nervously, and left the group alone.
''So,'' Regina said after a pause, ''I think introductions are in order, don't you think? Charlie, say hello to my new acquaintances, Mr … sorry what was your name again, sir?'' She winked.
Basil was relived Regina had agreed to keep their secret. ''Mr Barrie Ingham, my lady,'' he said in his disguised high-society voice, inventing a name as fast as lightning. ''My good friend, as you well know, is Nigel Porter, and our dear lady friend here is –''
''Wendy Darling, Mrs Radcliffe,'' Olivia finished, holding her dress in a lady-like fashion, and Basil beamed at her. She really knew the ways of being a detective.
''Pleased to meet you, Miss Darling,'' said Regina. ''And since my nephew was the one who brought you here I'm guessing you have become the new object of his affections?''
Hearing this, Basil held Olivia tightly in his arms as the monster in his stomach suddenly roared. In an attempt to keep things calm, Olivia said, ''It appears so, Mrs Radcliffe. He told me about how his first love recently got together with someone else.''
Regina sighed sympathetically and ruffled her nephew's hair. ''The first heartbreak is never easy, but I'm glad Charlie is attempting to move from Olivia Flaversham.''
''Not quite, Aunt Regina. Against my better judgment, my stubborn side has vowed never to give up on sweet beautiful Olivia Flaversham until the day I die!'' Charlie said, striking his usual dramatic, flamboyant pose.
Regina shook her head in amusement.
Sensing Basil's anger, and because he was genuinely curious, Dawson quickly said, ''Forgive me, Mrs Radcliffe, but I am rather curious about Charlie's adoption. Pardon my intrusion.''
''You're not intruding at all, Mr Porter,'' said Regina reassuringly. ''You were bound to wonder. Charlie is my sister Elsie's child. Elsie and I became best friends due to our parents' friendship. Elsie's parents liked to go sailing a lot, but one day there was a storm and they were lost at sea despite being good swimmers. My parents then adopted Elsie as a second daughter. When we grew up, I met my future husband, Tim, at university, while Elsie had married a Mr Bennett, also called Nigel, when our parents died in a horse and carriage accident. It was then revealed that Nigel was performing criminal activity, so he was jailed.''
''What a scoundrel,'' Dawson said in disgust, and Basil nodded in agreement.
''Not long after, Nigel killed himself in prison, just as Elsie discovered she was pregnant with his child. She carried the baby for nine months but,'' Regina's eyes filled with tears as Charlie hugged her, ''Elsie died giving birth. Before she passed, she named him Charlie after her birth father, insisted he bore Nigel's surname despite everything he did and asked me to raise him. And of course, I did just that.''
''How very commendable of you, dear,'' said Dawson in admiration.
Basil, meanwhile, thought back to when he first met Charlie and remembered his words: ''She's very protective, of course it's understandable after my mother died at childbirth and her aunt, uncle and cousin were killed by some lunatic villain.''
Now it makes sense he thought. Regina's aunt, uncle and cousin were Ronald, Diane and Ruby Mortimer, and 'the lunatic villain' who killed them was the Viper! No wonder Regina is overprotective of Charlie, and that's why he had a sheltered upbringing.
Regina reached into the collar of her dress and pulled out a locket, which she handed to Olivia. Olivia opened the locket and she, Basil and Dawson saw a picture of beautiful mouse woman who Charlie closely resembled.
''Is this Elsie?'' Dawson asked. ''She's beautiful.''
Regina thanked him just as Charlie took the locket back.
''I hope you can forgive my nephew, Mr Ingham,'' Regina continued apologetically to Basil. ''I know he come across as a little … exuberant, shall we say, but it's due to me sheltering him all of his life.''
''It's understandable,'' said Basil. ''You just wanted to keep your promise to your sister.''
''You're the best auntie ever,'' Charlie said, hugging her.
''Regina,'' Dawson piped up curiously, ''will Mr Radcliffe be joining us?''
Regina and Charlie looked at each other forlornly. ''Unless it was Uncle Tim's ghost,'' Charlie said quietly.
''You're widowed?'' Olivia said gently.
Regina's eyes filled with tears again and they rolled down her cheeks.
''I am so sorry, my dear,'' Dawson said sorrowfully, handing her a handkerchief. ''Here, dry your eyes. I didn't mean to distress you.''
''It's not your fault, Mr Porter,'' Regina sniffed, drying her eyes with her right hand. ''You didn't know. Like my uncle was, I am a very private rat so not much is known about me outside of work. I was happily married to the love of my life some years ago, but tragedy snatched my husband away.''
Olivia pulled the famous designer into a hug. Sher knew exactly how she would feel if she lost Basil.
''Aunt Regina could never marry any other man,'' Charlie said. ''Uncle Tim was her soulmate, and the only father I had ever known.''
''I am sorry for your loss, Mrs Radcliffe, Mr Bennett,'' Basil said, bowing.
''If it hadn't been for that accident my Tim would still be here now,'' said Regina. ''We had only just got married three years prior. He was a real gentleman, so polite and handsome, so brilliant and not only did lose my husband, I also lost our child.''
''The stress over Uncle Tim's death caused Aunt Regina to miscarry,'' Charlie revealed, and Basil, Dawson and Olivia were stunned.
''No words can describe your loss, Mrs Radcliffe,'' said Dawson, closing his eyes in respect as he thought about Pauline and his suspicions regarding her sickness.
The kind doctor handed Regina another handkerchief. ''Thank you, Mr Porter.'' She blew her nose. ''I'm okay now,'' she said. ''Losing them both took its toll on me and – I'm ashamed to admit – I even contemplated suicide, before realising I still had Charlie who needed me, as well as loyal customers who depended on my clothes, so I slowly but surely pulled myself together and landed back on my feet.''
''Well done,'' Olivia praised her. ''My father was the same after my mother passed, he was stricken with grief, but he carried on because he still had me.''
Basil hugged her as she closed her eyes.
Regina held out her right hand and showed off the ring with the red stone. ''My husband gave this to me on our first date. It's one of my most prized possessions.''
''It's beautiful,'' Dawson complimented. ''And it seems the Mortimer family has endured more than its fair share of tragedy,'' he added compassionately.
''That's true,'' Charlie agreed. ''Sometimes I wonder if our family is cursed or something. That actually would explain a few things.''
Basil was now feeling guilty about Charlie. Hearing more about his family, he was beginning to understand why Charlie was so clingy. Yet, he still couldn'tshake off the untrustworthy vibes. Maybe it really was just jealousy?
Basil then looked down and saw Regina had on a realistic-looking prosthetic tail and was curious. Did she lose her tail in the accident that killed Tim? He would ask her about it later when she had recovered from the retelling of her true love's death. How awful what she had been through. If he lost Olivia, Basil would not able to solve a case again.
Regina was about to speak again when a loud voice said: ''Now, see here, Your Majesty!''
The group looked to see the old, short mouse Olivia saw earlier with his two grandsons, Gideon and Emmett. King Edward had a few guards protecting him from the old man's rants.
''What an impertinent fellow!'' Dawson scoffed. ''How dare he be so disrespectful to the king?''
''Come on, Wendy, Nigel,'' Basil said to his two comrades urgently. ''Let's see what's going on. Excuse us, Mrs Radcliffe, Mr Bennett,'' he added, bowing politely, the trio walked away from aunt and nephew, Dawson once again walking awkwardly due to his tight trousers.
''I saw them earlier, William,'' Olivia whispered as they walked across the room. ''The old man's older grandson, Gideon, is a possible suspect. He's the same height as the Viper, and he has a prosthetic tail he could remove.''
Basil gave her a big smile. ''When we get home later, I am going to kiss you so badly, Livy!''
Olivia giggled. She didn't have time to indulge Basil about the old man being an acquaintance of Ratigan's mother before they reached Edward.
''Do you want us to escort him out, Your Majesty?'' asked one of the guards, pointing his weapon at the old man.
''No, it's fine,'' said the king, clasping his hands together. ''I'm sure we can sort this out politely, right, Mr Richmond?''
The old man growled, and the guards walked away, telling their king to shout if Mr Richmond got too aggressive.
Basil, Dawson and Olivia appeared by Edward's side.
''Oh, hello,'' Edward said awkwardly to the trio. ''I'm sorry for the commotion during your work, Mr Richmond is quite upset.''
'' 'Upset' That's an understatement!'' Mr Richmond said in a very cross voice. ''Now, Your Majesty, I bear no ill towards you, but I want to know where that murdering Basil of Baker Street is. Are you shielding him? Why did you even invite him, just because he saved your mother? I want to give him a piece of my mind!''
The trio looked at one another.
''And what do you want with Mr Basil?'' Olivia asked, doing her best to sound casual.
''To berate him, of course!''
Basil was puzzled as to why this old mouse hated him, but before he could ask why, Emmett stepped forward and said politely, ''I apologise for my grandfather's behaviour, You Majesty, and you and your friends, Mr …?''
''Barrie Ingham,'' Basil said.
''As Grandfather said,'' Gideon said impatiently, ''where is that detective?''
Basil stared at Gideon, not liking him at all. He instantly saw Olivia was speaking the truth, he was the was indeed the Viper's height and had a prosthetic tail, just like Regina did. He looked only a few years older than him, and Basil had a nagging feeling he had seen him somewhere before, but where?
''Don't start Gideon,'' Emmett whined, trying to sound authority-like and failing. ''I don't see Mr Basil anywhere, so please just leave it. I told you earlier, he didn't do anything wrong.''
''Oh yes he did!'' Mr Richmond insisted. ''He murdered Professor Ratigan!''
Basil, Dawson and Olivia, looked at one another again. Then Basil voiced what they were all thinking. ''Why would you be so mournful about his death? That monster was an evil, murderous, vicious, corrupted, demented, low-life scoundrel who –''
''I don't care!'' Mr Richmond shouted, and everyone in the room was now looking in their direction. ''I don't care what he was. He was her son!''
'' 'Her son'?'' Olivia repeated with a frown, trying her best to feign ignorance.
Emmett placed a hand on his grandfather's shoulder. ''Once again, my sincerest apologies,'' he said, in a tone of embarrassment. ''My name is Emmett Richmond. This is my much older brother Gideon and our grandfather, Samuel Richmond.''
Olivia gasped as she now remembered where she had seen Emmet before.
''Samuel's son Victor, Gideon and Emmett's father, worked here in the palace as a royal guard for many years, until his aging limbs forced him to retire,'' said Edward. ''Victor was a good friend as well as a good guard, but sadly he recently died from cancer. That is why I invited the Richmonds here tonight, to both cheer them up and honour Victor's loyal service to my family.''
''Cheer up, indeed!'' Samuel snorted unkindly. ''The only thing that would cheer me up is that detective being locked up, or hanged, or something, for what he did to Professor Ratigan! He was all that was left of his mother.''
''Mother?'' Dawson repeated, and looked at Basil. ''As in – ?''
''No,'' Basil said quickly, and Olivia detected a hint of panic in his voice as he glanced at her. ''He means his birth mother – Marianne Ratigan.''
''Ratigan was an orphan?'' Olivia gasped.
Samuel nodded stiffly. ''I may not remember their first names due to my age, but I remember Ratigan and his sister's connection to my Marianne. She was one of my oldest and dearest friends. She was very kind and caring, as well as possessing qualities of genius which she then passed onto her son, but so fragile. Then she married that Percy Ratigan fellow and – I mean, sure we were still close friends, and I could see he truly loved her but, why, Marianne? Why?''
''Grandfather, please!'' Emmett pleaded. ''I don't like this humiliating display!''
Samuel stopped sobbing and glared at him. ''Humiliating display? Why can't you sympathise with the anguish I've been suffering all these years? She nearly died giving birth to Ratigan, he was too big to be delivered the normal way, but the doctor managed to save her life. They said having another child would kill her, but she was determined to give Ratigan a sibling. And on the night Marianne's second child was born, she succumbed to death and Percy, who had never wanted children, killed himself in grief to join her.''
Olivia was shocked. ''Poor Marianne. Perhaps the deaths of his birth parents were partly a contribution to Ratigan's descend into villainy,'' she suggested.
''Do not speak about Marianne's child that way, young lady!'' Samuel shouted, pointing his cane at her, and Basil stepped in front of her.
''I will not tolerate anyone talking to her like that!'' he said angrily. ''I don't care if you are old, I would like you to apologise immediately, Mr Richmond!''
''I shall not! She should keep her mouth shut, or think about how she talks about Marianne's children before speaking, Mr Ingham!''
Basil clenched his fists. ''Don't push me, Mr Richmond,'' he said in a dangerous voice, taking a step closer.
''Grandfather, please apologise to Mr Ingham and … what is your name, my dear?'' Emmet said, looking at Olivia.
''Wendy Darling,'' she answered, doing her best not to appear embarrassed.
Samuel ignored them. ''Humph! After Marianne and Percy's deaths, Ratigan and his new-born sister were taken to the orphanage that the parents of one of her other friends ran, and then they came along and adopted them.''
'' 'They'?'' Olivia asked, tilting her head curiously.
Basil turned pale. He couldn't let her know the truth, not now. Not by this insane old man. If anyone was going to tell her, it would be himself, when he was ready no matter what. So before Samuel could continue, the detective said, ''A generous couple who took in two orphans when they had nothing and raised them as their own, providing them with the loving care they needed. Ratigan made the choice himself to become a horrid beast. Samuel Richmond, evidently, knows nothing about love or compassion so of course he would refuse to acknowledge any of this.''
Samuel's face grew very red.
''Grandfather? Gideon? Emmett?'' said a sudden voice before the old man could explode, and everyone looked to see a handsome mouse with blonde hair like Gideon, his brown eyes full of warmth. He stood in between Emmett and Gideon, as whom he was same height. ''Is Grandfather causing a scene again? Sorry I'm late, You Majesty,'' the man apologised to Edward, ''My mother had a panic attack so I had to see to her first.'' He looked at Basil, Dawson and Olivia. ''Hello, I am Victor Richmond, the eldest Richmond brother, named after our father.''
''Pleased to meet you, Mr Victor,'' Basil greeted, and frowned. ''I regret to tell you your grandfather is causing a scene, unfortunately. Mr Samuel is under the delusion that Ratigan was not the horrid beast we all knew he was, out of affection for his mother.''
''Marianne again?'' Victor sighed. ''Grandfather, how many times have I told you to stop? And Gideon, you're no help.''
''Why are you and Emmett such goody two-shoes, big brother?'' Gideon jeered. ''Mr Basil has caused unimaginable torture to our family. He killed both the professor and his beloved sister, both of my Marianne's children, so he has blood on his hands.''
Little did anyone know that throughout this whole showdown with the Richmonds, a familiar face was watching from the entrance with a toothy grin and wearing make-up.
''Mr Victor, your brother is talking like your grandfather,'' Dawson said to the eldest brother in concern.
''Gideon does this a lot,'' Victor said uneasily, and Emmett nodded. ''He has a few … issues. I think we should leave these people in peace.''
''I agree,'' said Emmett, as Victor put a hand on his shoulder.
''For now,'' Samuel and Gideon said together, and Victor and Emmett quickly ushered them away.
Basil stared after them with narrowed, suspicious eyes. There was definitely warning bells surrounding them, specifically Gideon. It was also nagging his brain that he just could not recall where he had seen him before! And curiously, all three brothers were wearing the same green coat.
''I say,'' Dawson said despairingly, ''Samuel and Gideon need a wake-up call.''
''How true, doctor,'' Basil agreed.
''As Samuel said, Marianne was very dear to him,'' said Edward. ''I believe her passing had a big effect on him, and he has never been able to fully let go.''
''As much don't as I don't like his attitude,'' said Basil, ''I can relate to that, in a way.''
Olivia knew Basil was talking about the past incident with his family, and she placed her hands on his cheeks.
Edward smirked again but decided it wasn't the best time to ask.
''That Emmett,'' Olivia said slowly, starting in the direction where the Richmonds had left, ''I've actually met him once before.''
''You have?'' Basil said sharply. How intriguing, he thought, that he and Olivia had met a Richmond. ''Where, Livy?''
''At Mousefield College. He entered around the same time Helen and I did. He takes classes in photography and he is often seen with a camera. I occasionally saw him in the library but never spoke to him. He's usually keeps to himself, but he's friends with Charlie since I've seen them talk a few times. One day in May, he cornered me in the grounds and he …'' She trailed off, blushing.
''He what, Miss Olivia?'' asked Edward.
Olivia swallowed and said shyly: ''He confessed his love to me, and asked me to marry him.''
Basil's eyes bulged out. ''What?''
To be continued ...
There we go, part two, and I thought I would end it on a funny note.
What a rather informing chapter! Where will the snippets of information we have received go from here?
Poor Regina and Charlie. As Dawson said, the Mortimers are a tragic family, aren't they? Let's hope happier times lie ahead for aunt and nephew. Now we understand why Charlie behaves the way he does.
The Richmonds are definitely ones to watch, especially Gideon, who takes after his grandfather. Where has Basil met Gideon before? Also, keep in mind at what Olivia said about Emmet's photography.
Regina's line that ''tragedy snatched my husband away'' was inspired by a similar line spoken by Barkis in Corpse Bride.
As promised, we learn a bit about Ratigan's past, and it appears we are getting closer to learning Basil's big family secret.
Since Basil is close with the royal family because of nine years ago, I figured he would intervene in a situation like the Richmonds with Edward.
Hope you like you liked Basil, Dawson and Olivia's aliases. Dawson's alias, Nigel Porter, is a combination of the character Professor Porter from Tarzan, and Nigel Hawthorne, who voiced him.
Time to answer reviews:
duchessofbooks: Yes, it did seem Charlie was over Olivia but judging from this chapter it appears he's not. Now we know another one of Olivia's admirers in Emmett. Basil won't be too happy, will he? Chuckle. Glad you liked The Little Mermaid reference, it made sense for the Viper to say that.
Next time, the Viper will finally make himself known to Mousedom, and Basil comes face-to-face with his old enemy.
See you soon!
