CHAPTER 2

Suddenly, it occurred to Doll about Jumbo and the others going to Phantomhive Manor, thinking Ciel was there. If Ciel was going to offer to help her, she had to tell him.

"Ciel! Jumbo and the others, they're going-"

"To attack my manor? Yes, I'm already aware of it. Joker told me."

"But your servants and anyone else there is in danger!"

"Hardly. My servants are skilled in protecting my home. They'll be okay."

"What will happen to Jumbo and the others?"

"Depends on my servants. If they're merciful, they'll just scare them off. But sometimes if people come uninvited with death on their mind, then death they will find. Hopefully, they'll just scare them off."

Doll nods sadly. Hopefully, that will be case.

Sebastian interrupts them.

"Considering how late it is, we should stay at the townhouse tonight and leave for the workhouse tomorrow."

Ciel nods in agreement.

"Yes, you're right. Sebastian, take Doll to the townhouse and then come back for me. Tell Soma and Agni to give her the same hospitality they would to me."

Sebastian bows.

"Yes, my lord."

Sebastian picks up Doll, and takes off.

Ciel hides in the woods nearby in case someone notices the fire and comes over to investigate.

Sebastian runs like the wind. Doll is surprised by how quickly he is going. She wonders who these two people really are.

Sebastian and Doll arrive at the townhouse. Before Sebastian could open the door, Agni opens it. Soma is there as well. Both of them are surprised to see Sebastian carrying a strange girl and Ciel being nowhere in sight.

"Sebastian, is everything okay? Who is she? Where's Ciel?" Soma asks with concern.

"The young master is okay, I assure you. This young lady is Doll, and he is taken it upon himself to help her return home. He asks that you show her complete hospitality. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go fetch him."

Sebastian bows and leaves, closing the door behind him. Soma turns his attention to Doll, and introduces himself.

"So, your name is Doll, eh? Pleased to meet you. I am Prince Soma Asman Kadar, son of the Raja of Bangal, and this is my most trusted servant and friend, Agni."

Agni bows to Doll.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady." Agni says.

"It's a pleasure to meet you two as well." Doll says.

At that moment, Doll's stomach growled.

"My goodness! Have you eaten anything today?" Agni asked.

"No, not since this morning. But I'll be okay. I got some candy here in my pocket..."

"No, no, no! That won't do! Come, let me cook you something."

"I don't want to put you in any trouble..."

"No, it won't be any trouble at all! Agni is the best cook in the world! Wait until you tried his curry!" Soma says with enthusiasm, taking Doll by the hand and leading her to the dining room.

"Well. okay then. I would like something warm to eat." Doll replied.

Back at Kelvin's manor, the fire is beginning to die out. Sebastian arrives, and Ciel walks out of the woods.

"You're a few minutes late." Ciel says mockingly.

"My apologies, my lord, but the girl was a little heavier than you." Sebastian replied with a sly smile.

"Indeed. Well then, let's leave."

"Yes, my lord."

With that, Sebastian picks up Ciel and takes off. They arrive shortly at the townhouse and enter. The aroma of middle eastern spices fills the air.

"What?! Why are they cooking at this hour?!" Ciel says with shock.

"Well, my lord, you did say for them to show that girl hospitality, so they're probably preparing something for her to eat."

"Oh, right." Ciel says with a sigh as he takes off his hat and coat and hands them to Sebastian, along with his cane.

Sebastian puts them in the closet and they make their way to the dining room. Doll is sitting at the table, scarfing down a plate of Agni's curry. Just then, Soma and Agni exit the kitchen with more food.

"Who's ready for seconds?" Soma says cheerfully. Just then, he notices Ciel. "Ciel! You've returned! Please sit! You must be famished!"

Ciel sits at the table. Soma was right, he was hungry.

"Yes, I guess I am a bit hungry, thank you." Ciel replied.

Soma and Agni happily serve some of their curry to him.

After eating, Ciel feels tired.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll be heading off to bed. It'll be best for you to do the same, Doll. We'll leave in the morning. Sebastian will show you to your room."

Ciel heads to his room, and Sebastian tends to him. Afterwards, he shows Doll to a room and leaves.

Early the next morning, Sebastian draws the curtains to let the sunlight in. The warmth of the sun coming through wakes Ciel up. He turns over, and to his shock, lying next to him, is Doll. I see she's forgiven me, Ciel thinks to himself.

"My, my. Twice you've been in bed with this girl. Imagine what Lady Elizabeth would say if she saw this." Sebastian says with a smile.

"Shut up." Ciel says, annoyed.

After saying goodbye to Soma and Agni, Ciel, Sebastian, and Doll make their way to the train station. Doll was wearing a spare suit Ciel carried in his luggage, since the clothes she had on earlier were basically rags, and there wasn't a dressmaker's shop nearby. Sebastian went to the ticket booth and purchased the tickets to the town of Renbourn where the workhouse was.

After getting the tickets, they make their way to the train. As they are about to board, a street urchin selling fruit came up to them.

"Care to buy an orange, sir?" the urchin asked Sebastian.

"Sebastian, buy two." Ciel said as he and Doll boarded the train.

Sebastian takes out a few coins and hands them to the child.

"Thank you, sir!" The girl says as she hands Sebastian the oranges. "May God bless you on your journey!"

As Ciel and Doll sit in their compartment, Sebastian enters with their luggage and puts it up in the overhead storage.

"I'm sorry, Master, that we all have to share a compartment like this, but there wasn't anything else available."

"It's quite alright, Sebastian." Ciel replied.

The train leaves the station. Sebastian peels one of the oranges and hands it to Doll, then peels the other and holds it for Ciel, who picks off slices from it to eat.

Doll falls asleep, and Ciel and Sebastian discuss matters about the workhouse.