May had heard that the road to hell was paved with good intentions.
"Excuse me young lord, I believe you dropped this." May stood behind Ciel holding out his pocket watch; he took it with a look of mild surprise.
"Thank you. How careless of me." Ciel commented as he stowed it away in his coat for safe keeping.
"It's no trouble. I'd hate to lose something so pretty myself." May smiled politely; she was on her way to the store when she noticed the shining watch lying in the dirt. As May scanned the area, she saw the aristocrat accompanied by his butler just a few feet ahead.
May had briefly toyed with the idea of keeping and selling it; after all, the nobles had so much money already, and here she was just getting by. Regardless of her need for money, she knew she'd just feel guilty later; a thief she was not.
"Well, have a nice day miss. Sebastian, when you are done shopping for groceries, wait out here." Ciel ordered. "I will not be needing your help finding Lady Elizabeth's gift."
"Yes my lord." Sebastian bowed slightly; after Ciel had gone into the dress shop, he smiled at May cordially.
"Pardon me miss, but would you happen to know where I could buy candy beetroot?" Sebastian inquired. "I'm afraid I am unfamiliar with this area and I simply must acquire the vegetable for my master's dinner party."
"Oh yes, go five shops down the road, take a right, then you-"
"Would you be so kind as to show me the way?" Sebastian requested with an almost bashful air.
May nodded. "Certainly sir, follow me, it shouldn't take long."
"Please, there's no rush. That being said, there is no need to call me 'sir'. I am simply one hell of a butler, not gentry of any sort."
"Oh? You're so refined though-um, I'm sorry, that was rude of me to just blurt out." May apologized.
"Nonsense. I am merely a servant, and you need not use any formalities with me." Sebastian assured her. "Call me by my name, won't you?"
"Of course, Sebastian it is." May nodded. "I was taught a lady shouldn't use coarse or forward speech, though it doesn't come easy to me. The skill of proper etiquette isn't exactly my best quality."
Sebastian smiled bemusedly. "No, that seems to be your kindness."
"What?" May blinked feeling quite off guard.
"It's easy to see. I'm sure most people would've just made off with my young master's watch and thought nothing of it."
"I did think of it though…" she confessed averting her eyes to the ground.
Sebastian nodded. "Yes, but you ultimately decided against it. Temptation can be quite hard to resist, but you stuck to your morals like the good girl you are."
May couldn't help chuckling slightly. "Huh, it's as if you knew what I was thinking the whole time or something."
He merely smiled and it filled her with an odd feeling.
"A butler, huh?" May watched absently as Sebastian looked through the markets produce carts. "He seems so dignified...but something's...off."
She tried to study him discreetly; May prided herself on her good instincts, but for once, they were failing her.
"How stupid, he's just a servant, one of the common folk working under nobility." May told herself; still, there was something about his manner that made her uneasy. It was helpful and polite, yet May couldn't help feel as if he was mocking her, simply playing the role of the subservient butler.
"Would you do me the honor of escorting me to my young master? I can't seem to recall the way back." Sebastian stepped over to her with his purchases.
"No problem; do you need help carrying those?"
"Ah, there's that charming sweetness." Sebastian smiled down at May knowingly; she wondered if he could tell what she was thinking. "Please, don't worry yourself over a lowly servant."
"Lowly is the last thing you are, and I'm pretty sure you know it."
Instead of voicing her accusations, May led him back to the dress shop; Ciel was waiting outside impatiently with a package.
"About time."
"Forgive me my lord, I'm afraid it would've taken much longer if this young lady hadn't accompanied me."
Ciel frowned dismissively and handed Sebastian the package. "Come, we still have many preparations to make for tonight's ball."
"My lord?"
"What is it?" Ciel sighed impatiently.
"May I be so bold as to invite the young lady to the party? I will see that she has the appropriate attire." Sebastian turned to May. "I wager you don't own any gowns for formal events yourself?"
"No, but you don't have to-"
Ciel cut you off. "I don't see why not." he faced her directly. "As the head of the Phantomhive household, I implore you to attend my fiance, Lady Elizabeth's, birthday celebration. The party is at seven this evening; please do not be late."
"T-thank you young lord. I will arrive on time." May curtsied deeply; Ciel nodded and made his way to the carriage. "Come Sebastian."
"I look forward to your presence at tonight's festivities my lady. Until then." Sebastian bowed deeply and left May with a coy smile. She bowed back, torn between delight at being invited to such an event and suspicion.
May looked on as Sebastian entered the carriage with Ciel and the carriage took off. "Why would he…?"
"Sebastian."
"Yes my lord?"
Ciel studied him shrewdly. "Do you know that woman?"
"No my lord, I have never seen her until today."
"Yet you take it upon yourself to invite her to the party. Hmph, you're pretty presumptuous for a butler." Ciel drawled. Sebastian looked right back, completely unfettered.
"She was kind enough to return your pocket watch and assist me in finding an ingredient for this evening's dinner. I merely felt it necessary as a servant of the Phantomhive manor and your butler to thank her properly."
"Whatever. Just remember our contract; you fulfill my orders before going off galavanting." Ciel yawned.
Sebastian's smile was humble, but there was no mistaking a trace of triumph.
"Yes, my lord."