Chapter Two
The rain had diminished overnight, making it so Lillian woke to the warmth of sunlight pouring through the lace drapery. She didn't sleep well that night, constantly being startled awake by the crashing of thunder and the dancing shot of lightning that accompanied it, as well as the fact it was not her own bed she was sleeping in, as she had always found it hard to sleep in the bed of a stranger.
The scent of flowers from the Phantomhive garden filled the air, tainting it with the smell of roses, her favourite of flowers, and painting a smile on her face as she sat up, a hand covering her eye just in case. In case of what, well her contract seal of course. She was aware of the one Ciel hid, as her own butler had told her much about Sebastian, but Ciel had not caught on to hers, at least, not completely. Of course, perhaps that was because of the noticeable scar that she would always purposely let peek from the bottom of her eyepatch, a scar she had made her butler create himself to make her story more believable.
As she tied on her eyepatch, which was still blue and did not come close to matching that of her borrowed dress, a fact that deeply frustrated her, she heard the gentle knock against the door.
"You may enter," she sang, her hands slipping from the strings of her perfectly knotted patch and into her lap. She gazed out of the bedroom window innocently, regarding Finnian speaking with a small blue bird. This made her smile.
"Good morning, Miss Hill," Sebastian spoke as he sat a silver tray on the bedside table. "How was your slumber?"
"Delightful, thank you," she shot him a smile, stretching with a yawn. "Is that Earl Grey?"
"Why, yes it is," he handed her a teacup with roses and a gold lining around the rim, "Is this to your liking?"
"Yes," she sipped, trying her best to play the part of an innocent household guest, "It's my favourite."
"It is the Earl's favourite as well," he picked up the tray to take his leave, "One of your family drivers will be along shortly to take you home. We informed them of your injuries, so they seem much happier that you're safe than angry that you attempted to run away."
"Thank you."
With that the butler left, the door closing slowly, so the handle was obviously released with hesitation, as if there was more information that was supposed to be said, but was held back. Lillian made note of this fact.
Unable to move freely on her own, Lillian stumbled throughout the room in attempt to make herself presentable. It was a failed effort, and in the end she ended up limping to the doorway, looking out and smiling towards Mey-rin who just so happened to be walking by, attempting to balance a tray of teacups.
"Excuse me," Lillian called as sweetly as she could, "Mey-rin was it? Could you aid me for a few moments?"
"Oh yes Miss Hill! Yes I can!"
Moments later Mey-rin was sitting beside the young girl, fixing her hair and doing her make up.
"This is so embarrassing," Lillian managed, "It would be my luck I would end up needing the aid of the Earl Phantomhive while trying to prove myself as capable as him," she forced a sigh, "I really am extremely dependent on others."
"I don't think so Miss," Mey-rin chimed in, "I think it takes an independent girl to even attempt to run away from parents during a storm. At your age I would have been so afraid to, yes I would. You are very strong."
"I suppose strength comes from experience, as does fear. I was once frightened so much that something as childish as running away does not fear me in the least bit."
"Is that how you hurt your eye?" Mey-rin spat, then shook her hands and head frantically, "Oh no, Miss, that is not my place. I'm sorry if I offended a guest of the Phantomhive manor."
Lillian giggled, "Do not freight, I'm not offended in the least." She reached up to touch her eyepatch, "But yes, you see, there was an accident in my home. The doctors say I'm lucky to be alive," she rolled her eyes, "but that is such a cliche thing for a doctor to say, do you not think so?"
"I guess that's a matter of opinion, but I believe many of us are glad you're okay."
"Thank you," Lillian smiled, thoughts of what was to come were running through her own mind, but she pushed them away, attempting to stand. "I wish to wait downstairs for my carriage. Would you please accompany me down the stairs?"
"Of course," Mey-rin wrapped her arm around Lillians waist as the two waddled down the hallways to the stairs.
"Miss Hill!" Finnian called from outside, the door to the manor opened wide so the scent of the recent floral bloom invaded the air in the most delightful of ways. He rushed through the doors and up the steps, "You shouldn't be walking on that sore ankle," he lifted her up, stronger than he appeared, which surprised Lillian and made her laugh out loud. "I'm strong but mighty!" Finnian announced, carrying her down the stairs, a task Mey-rin knew she would not be able to do herself.
"Thank you so much!" Lillian hugged the boy as he sat her on the front steps so she could wait for the carriage.
"Anytime, Miss Lillian," Finnian blushed, going back to the garden and talking once more to the blue bird.
Lillian looked towards the clouds as she waited, thinking about her step by step plan that would demolish the Phantomhive name. Of course, she knew she was playing against the maker of games, but she would be the master. Sure, Ciel may consider himself the King of this game, but Lillian was the Queen, and when it came down to it, she would call checkmate on the young Earl.
And as the carriage pulled alongside, and the young Earl greeted her parents, the important Hill family, she felt a genuine smile grow on her face. For everyone was a pawn in this game, including her parents, her maids, her drivers, and her demon butler.
"Until we meet again," Ciel spoke, the two looking at each other, eyepatch to eyepatch, brown eye to blue.
"Yes," Lillian smiled, "Let us make that meeting sooner than later."
And with that, the Phantomhive manor grew smaller and smaller in the distance, and the plan grew more and more clear.
