The air was tense.
After about fifteen minutes worth of apologies, Mey Rin and Finny decided it would be best to take Isabelle and Enobria with them back to the manor to explain the situation to their Young Master. However, that didn't make Enobria despise them any less.
The awkward atmosphere was almost suffocating. Isabelle shifted in her seat uncomfortably, glancing at everyone, somewhat nervous of the possibility of Enobria picking a fight with the servants. Isabelle just kept her mind occupied with where she was going.
The Phantomhive Manor.
"L-lady Isabelle?" Mey Rin called hesitantly. Enobria stared at her, only making the maid sink into her seat. Isabelle then shot a glare at her maid, who backed off.
"Yes? Um… Mey Rin, was it?"
The maid nodded slowly, concentrating her gaze to the carriage's floor.
"I-I'm so sorry about all this, I hope I haven't caused you too much of a burden, yes I do…" Mey let her head fall to her chest in shame and Isabelle smiled at her subtly.
"It's quite alright, Mey Rin. Besides…" her words trailed off as her gazed turned back to the window, watching the unfamiliar scenery become bathed in the light of the setting sun just outside the rocking carriage.
Mey Rin bit her lip nervously; unsure whether to ask what Isabelle was going to say. But, she kept quiet, letting the girl think to herself as the swayed rocked gently on the road home.
Thankfully, the trip back wasn't too long.
Finny hopped out from the driver's seat and held the door open for the group, Mey Rin allowing Isabelle and Enobria out first. Isabelle gazed at the manor in awe.
"What a magnificent manor…" she breathed, glancing around the landscape with the breeze blowing through her brunette hair as Enobria stood attentive behind her.
Finny sighed nervously, grabbing the basket of supplies before leading the group toward the front entrance He then turned to them before opening the door
"N-now, the Young Master isn't aware that we brought guests here, so…" his words trailed off nervously. Isabelle nodded understandingly as he opened the doors wide for them, the lights of the foyers chandelier pouring into the growing darkness outside.
The gardener escorted them inside, Isabelle looking around, somewhat star-struck. Isabelle glanced up and saw, at the top of the staircase, the infamous butler in black looking down at them. He narrowed his eyes, coming down the stairs gracefully.
"Mey Rin. Finny. Why have you brought company with you?" He asked while trying to stay composed in front of the unexpected guests, however his tone remained cold and blunt.
Mey Rin and Finny, who originally planned on handling the situation as calmly as possible, latched onto Sebastian, apologizing frantically through a mixture of occasional sobs.
Mey Rin finally was able to explain what happened at the market, Finny nodding his head desperately as support as he had nothing to add.
Sebastian sighed, pulling the two away and stepped forward toward Isabelle, Enobria standing behind her like a shadow. He bowed to the ladies politely.
"I'm terribly sorry about them. Please, do come in, I hope to deliver the Phantomhive Family hospitality to its fullest." he said, escorting the two to the conservatory, seating them with some tea as he went to, reluctantly, inform his Master.
Isabelle sat comfortably, sipping her tea as Enobria stood behind her with a piercingly protective presence. She sighed deeply.
"Well, this surely is an unexpected turn of events…" Isabelle said, sipping her tea daintily, Enobria nodding in agreement as she glanced around the conservatory curiously.
Meanwhile, Sebastian knocked gently on the door of his master's drawing room, a familiar "Come in" emanating from inside. Sebastian walked in his hand over his heart, staring over at his master, Ciel, who sat looking over documents at his desk.
"My Lord, we have guests." He said simply. Ciel looked up from his papers in surprise, eyes wide.
"Guests?! At this hour- who and why?!" He shouted before standing, slamming his hands on his desk in an outrage. He scowled at his butler in disbelief. Sebastian sighed softly.
"There was an accident with a young lady's carriage, caused by the Phantomhive family servants. I was curious as to whether or not you wanted to greet them." The butler breathed, glancing at his master as he wandered out from behind his desk.
"Fine…" Ciel huffed, rolling his eyes, in complete disbelief of the entire situation. "let's be done with this quickly so I can sleep soundly tonight."
Sebastian nodded, fixing his master's appearance before ushering Ciel to the conservatory where Isabelle and Enobria sat, making idle conversation out of boredom.
Isabelle looked up from her teacup, her azure blue eyes meeting Ciel's before anyone could speak. They both blinked at each other before Ciel cleared his throat, putting on a smile for the guests.
"Hello, I am Earl Ciel Phantomhive. I'd like to apologize for the inconvenience my servants have caused the both of you. I'm truly, terribly sorry…" he said with a sigh, sitting down in a chair Sebastian had pulled out for him. Isabelle smiled softly as she nodded.
"It is quite alright, really. They were very kind to invite us out here. You have an extraordinary manor…" she said, watching him curiously yet cautiously. Ciel nodded, Sebastian pouring him a cup of fresh, warm tea.
"Well, nevertheless, it is a pleasure to have you here. Oh," he blinked, narrowing his one eye, "how rude of me… may I ask your name Milady?" he asked, tilting his head slightly in question before sipping his tea.
Isabelle looked up, setting her teacup on the saucer. "Isabelle Tonnerre."
She spoke simply, blinking at him before sipping her tea casually. Ciel froze in surprise, setting his tea cup on its saucer.
"Tonnerre…" he repeated, attempting to conceal the surprised breath to his words. She nodded in confirmation and he narrowed his eye further.
"So… you are the infamous Duchess of Tonnerre. Born outside of the bloodline and brought in by the first lady. Then, you were taken in as the Queen's Raven. Am I correct?" he asked bluntly, studying her closely. Isabelle nodded, a small smirk stretching across her face.
"And you are Ciel Phantomhive, the Queen's Guard Dog, another fellow Aristocrat of Evil…" she said softly, lacing her fingers together before resting her head on them.
Ciel nodded slowly.
The two sat silent for a while, studying each other as the time passed. Sebastian and Enobria glanced back and forth between the two but remained respectfully unmoving and silent.
"…It's a pleasure to meet you, Isabelle Tonnerre." He said, raising his teacup with a subtle smirk. Isabelle smirked back, toasting their teacups.
"Please, the pleasure is all mine…"
Ciel hummed slowly to himself in thought, sipping his tea again.
"So, what do you plan on doing now that your transportation home is out of order…?" he asked curiously. Isabelle blinked in surprise before falling silent for a few moments, not having any immediate answer.
Ciel sighed, "Well, it wouldn't be a very gentlemanly thing to throw a Duchess on the streets… My reputation would be slandered." He thought aloud, lacing his fingers together while shutting his eye.
"It would be an inconvenience…" Isabelle said with a tired sigh. He opened his eye, staring back at her.
"Well, I do suppose you can stay here until the necessary repairs have been made, if you wish of course... Besides, it was my servants who were at fault in the first place." he sighed, sitting back in his seat while sipping the last of his tea.
Isabelle nodded slowly in thanks, "I wouldn't mind staying…" she said, the two setting their empty tea cups on their saucers simultaneously.
Sebastian gathered the china on his cart as Ciel watched her curiously.
"Then it is settled…" Ciel hummed, trying to suppress a yawn.
"I hope I won't be too much of a burden…" she said, staring back as Enobria bowed respectively behind her.
Ciel shook his head slowly, "It is no problem, I insist…" he said, Sebastian standing behind him. Isabelle smirked softly with a final nod.
"Alright then… Sebastian, show them to their rooms please." Ciel ordered as everyone stood up.
"Yes, My Lord…" Sebastian said, holding his hand over his heart as he bowed.
Only a little later, Sebastian returned to Ciel's room. Ciel narrowed his eyes in thought as Sebastian dressed him in his nightgown for bed, candlestick aglow on his bedside table.
"You seem quite trusting of that girl, My Lord." Sebastian stated while pulling his masters clothes off as Ciel sat on his bed comfortably.
Ciel scoffed as Sebastian put on his nightshirt, "don't be daft. She seems nice, however…"
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
"That's all the more reason not to trust him." Isabelle stated, Enobria pulling her nightgown onto her lady.
Enobria nodded slowly, "understood, Milady."
Isabelle sighed as Enobria tucked her into the unfamiliar bed before going off to her own room with a soft "goodnight".
The two earls stared off out their windows as the full moon's light seeped in through the silken curtains, both lying in their beds deep in thought before sleep slowly, but surely, took them both.
A long day was surely awaiting them.
Ohhhh yea Isabelle has now officially met Ciel. Things gonna get crazy. Secrets gonna unravel. Clothes gonna come off. I mean what- Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
Stay creative my friends~