This is a very short chapter, I know. Planning on waiting to get a review or two to see if you guys like the writing style and formatting before I continue! The proper storyline will start in the next chapter, so treat this as a prologue. :)
Galloping through the woods on her beloved steed, a woman was hurriedly riding towards the Phantomhive manor. The horse huffed as it slowed down to a trot, walking through the open gates to the impressive home of the Earl. For her, it wasn't quite a home, more of a palace – but due to terminology it still counted as a manor. Never before has she set on a surrounding so grand. The movements of getting off the horse and straightening out her dress seemed to come from the subconscious, as she was too busy figuring out whether this was even reality. "Marticia! We have been expecting you." A tall man with messily slicked back hair voiced this in a deep, comforting tone of voice, snapping Marticia back into reality. "Ah! Mister Michaelis, sorry for not paying attention.." explaining her gobsmacked entrance in embarrassment, Marticia stepped forward to the head butler of the residence. "I am honoured getting the chance to give the young Earl a riding lesson." She chirped with a smile. "What kind of an honour is it for a professional to be giving an amateur some advice, hm?" Sebastian mocked his master with a smirk, "He's getting ready by the stables. If you could follow me.." He gestured his arm towards the stables, giving Marticia the signal to walk in front of him. All these fancy manners and gestures, Marticia really needed to read up her P's and Q's to fit in next time. They reached the stables, her gaze turning to the Phantomhive boy, clad in the most expensive equipment imaginable. Not that she didn't have it, but no amateur would ever need it. That's the Earl life for you, Marticia thought to herself. "Earl Phantomhive." She curtsied, showing the little posh-culture manners she knew. "You look dashing, young master." Sebastian commented. Anything the butler seemed to say sounded like a tease, or that was just Marticia's opinion. "Miss Mortes." The Earl reached for her hand and shook it, "It's a pleasure to see you again. You were victorious by a very large gap, overkilling the other contestants." A chuckle came out of Ciel. It was true, she saw the two watching her at the Ascott womans' tournament. Apparently his fiancée dragged him there. "Practice makes perfect, my lord." Marticia gave him a small smile, "One day you could maybe match up to my standards. Come on now, no time to waste." Mortes tried putting on her best strict voice. No dilly dallying with riding, no, no. Absolutely not.
He was terrible at this. It looked like he was going to fall off the horse at any moment. And one would expect someone of such high class to know his way around a horse. "My apologies.." Sebastian leaned in to whisper, "The Earl doesn't quite have a way with animals." He explained as he watched his master bounce around whilst a steed of the purest breed trotted around the grounds. "He's going to improve, I assure it, Mister Michaelis." She let out a quiet sigh. Not for a good ten years though.
"Earl Phantomhive wishes for you to become a part of the Phantomhive household, Lady Mortes."