"Undertaker! Where are you?" Ciel yells as Sebastian holds open the door for him and Moira as they enter the shop. Candlelight dimly illuminates the room, giving it a dark aura. A jar of bone-shaped cookies sits adjacent to a model of a skeleton on a counter.
A muffled laugh fills the room—the three pairs of eyes observe as a man with grey hair and a scar running down his face exits a coffin from the other side of the room.
"You've come for the children, haven't you Moira Pennington?" he says as he steps out of the casket. Ciel glances between the Undertaker and Moira, looking a bit peeved that his informant didn't address his first yet confused at the same time. Had they known each other before then? Moira hesitates before replying.
"Ciel, who is this man?" she asks, turning to the young Earl—Sebastian smirks.
"My informant for cases," he replies. Undertaker rushes up to Ciel, grabbing his shoulders.
"You know what I want, my lord, give me prime laughter!" he exclaims, drooling.
Sebastian insists that the Countess and Earl stay outside until he deems it okay to come back in, assuring them that he would take care of it.
Moira and Ciel wait in silence outside, gathering odd looks from people as they pass by while they continue to stare at the shop in anticipation—both eager to get the information and quickly leave.
Not long after, a roaring laughter fills the air around them—Sebastian opens the door and invites them in again. The two nobles are met with the sight of the Undertaker leaning over a barrel, giggling like the Mad Hatter.
"You got what you wanted. Now, show us the bodies and their files," Ciel demands, wasting no time.
Undertaker takes out a dozen packets of the deceased, handing them to Ciel and Moira.
"The bodies were found in pieces, all of children. All limbs were removed—the open wounds were sown back up, you see. Some victims are still alive, doomed to spend the rest of their little lives without arms or legs. I pity them, really," he says, chuckling and pulling off the lids from a few coffins and showing them his guests.
Ciel and Sebastian analyze the bodies, taking note to the details of each of the victims
Moira skims over the information, passing the files to Ciel for him to look over. She curtsies to the Undertaker, thanks him for his help, and leads Sebastian and Ciel back to the carriage—much to their surprise.
"The victims were all children between the ages of 5 and 15, the body count has been raised to 23, a variety of children were affected. The limbs were surgically detached. Some were left alive, just without legs or arms, yet the wounds were stitched up. Perhaps we should compile a list of suspects with medical history? Doctors and those with training," she says as the carriage begins moving—Ciel nods, glancing at Sebastian.
"You know what to do," he orders.
"Yes, my lord," his butler says before opening the door of the carriage and jumping out, scaring the driver half to death.
Moira watches as the buildings turn to pastures filled with animals with boredom. The ride back to Pennington Manor passes silently. Ciel ever so often catches a glimpse of Moira, averting his eyes once she nearly catches him doing so.
What was her history with Her Majesty, why was she here. He was perfectly capable of completing the case alone. It wasn't very different from the others. Why did she assign him a helper? It was hardly customary.
"If you have something to say, I would be obliged to here it," Moira says, catching Ciel staring at her again. He blushes and looks out the window, scoffing.
"Nothing, my lady. I'm just thinking to myself," he replies, shooting down the thought.
"No, speak your mind."
Ciel glares—her bluntness was getting on his nerves.
"I was pondering why the Queen would give me someone to work with. It's a simple case, nothing significantly different than the others," he says.
"I requested to work with you," she says as the carriage stops, they had arrived at her manor.
"What—" he wasn't able to finish as she exits the vehicle, strolling up the steps to her home. Samuel opens the door for her as she strides up the final step. She had insisted that he stay at the manor to make sure her new maid didn't break anything. She knew Sebastian would keep her safe—even if he were Ciel's butler and not hers.
"Welcome home, Mistress," he greets. "And welcome back, my lord." He takes their coats and headpieces. A large dark green snake speeds toward Moira as she laughs, hugging her friend in her loving arms. Ciel watches with slight disgust. How could she have a snake for a pet?
"My dearest, Basil! Oh! How I've missed you so," she exclaims. Basil hisses affectionately, kissing her cheek with his tongue.
"He missed you, even if you were only gone for half an hour. He wailed and hissed, curling up in the sheets of your bed. I daresay it got in the way of my work," Samuel says, chuckling.
"Indeed," Moira replies, a bit too busy hugging her pet to give a proper response.
"Ahem," Ciel huffs.
"Yes, right. Samuel, meet us in the Sitting Room nearest the Entrance Hall, please bring the passion fruit tea," Moira says, leading Ciel through the halls to the Sitting Room. They pass many paintings of Moira and her twin sister, Ella.
"Sit, if you want," Moira says as they enter the room, taking a seat in the black leather armchair near the window and crossing her legs casually, stroking Basil's head fondly—Ciel sits on the chair across from her, wary of the serpent.
"What shall we do next?" she asks.
"I was thinking along the lines of a party, inviting all the suspects. Possibly next Thursday, before the season ends at least," he replies, thinking.
"I'll host it, if you did then they would know you were on a case," she adds. Ciel nods, agreeing. The doors open as Samuel enters, bowing before bringing their tea tray.
"Samuel, please cancel all my Thursday appointments for next week, we're having a dance.