TBO: Sorry it took awhile...But, I came back with chapter two! And thank you Mermaid Monster and S.A for leaving reviews! :D
Lizzy: Yay! Another chapter all about ME!
Ciel:*sighs in annoyance* Enjoy, I guess.
Dark emerald eyes stared, void of emotion.
Hollow cheeks and dark circles that pooled under those empty green eyes.
Messy blonde hair that was full of knots and unwashed.
Skinny fingers tips that reached up to touch the cold glass.
Tears that would soon fall were unshed.
Who was this depressing person staring right at me?
Midford Household
"Brother, I don't think that escorting me is necessary." Elizabeth said breathing out a small sigh, before she walked towards her older brother who was simply standing by the lounging area. Edward simply laughed at her reaction, and used his left hand to brush back his blonde bangs.
"What would Mother say if I left my undeniably cute little sister alone without an escort? I'd be punished for sure."
Elizabeth smiled at his comment, but it slowly dropped into a small frown. Paula had picked out a dark green dress with a black laced rim that lightly touched her knees, black bow that was strapped to her side, and a white laced collar around her neck. The sleeves were long and big enough to hide her small hands, so she decided against wearing any gloves. She wore plain white stockings, and low heeled black shoes.
When Elizabeth caught Edward's skeptical gaze she laced her fingers together and giggled lightly. "Why, thank you so much big brother. All the thanks go to Paula for helping me pick this out."
Paula leaned against the door frame of Elizabeth's room, straining a smile at them, as she tried to use her hands to fan herself in hopes that her body would cool down. Edward sweat dropped; he tried to not think about the torture that the Maid probably went through in picking a dress for his younger sister. Elizabeth simply waved at her maid, and forced a small smile on her face.
I don't want them to worry about me. Elizabeth thought to herself as she watched as Edward talked with Paula, with a small blush on his cheeks. Paula then bowed and left them, leaving the two siblings in the hall. Elizabeth couldn't help but giggle behind her hand, mischievously.
"You look quite adorable, big brother."
Edward rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly at the compliment. "Well, I wouldn't say that I look adorable…" The young lord wore a short sleeved white button up shirt with a dark green tie tied around the white laced collar. Above the shirt was a sleeveless black blazer with a breast pocket. He sported green and black checkered pants and did not tuck his white shirt into them. He wore black socks that stopped beneath his knees and black lace boots that reached passed his ankles. Sighing at his sister's beaming face, Edward gave in.
"Thank you, for the compliment. Paula…um also helped me pick my outfit out." Edward then wasted no time in hooking their arms together, before Elizabeth could comment. Elizabeth inhaled slowly, hugging her teddy bear close to her right side. Edward caught a glimpse of the doll, and at its slightly distorted appearance.
It looks like Elizabeth is outgrowing it. I'll have to remember to buy her a new one. Edward noted, reaching for the handle with his black gloved hand. Elizabeth's hand suddenly shot out to stop his, and Edward looked down at her in surprise.
"Lizzy?"
Elizabeth blinked and stared at her hand blankly as if she was unaware of what she had just done. Edward furrowed his eyebrows and turned his complete attention to her, patting her blonde pig tailed head.
"...is there something bothering you, Elizabeth?"
The young noble girl simply smiled up at her older brother and shook her head. "No, no. I'm just a little nervous." She said, looking back at the door before her.
Now that I think about it… Her emerald green eyes narrowed with unease at the door before her. What reason would Her Majesty have to invite big brother and me to this meeting? Just what can be so important that the whole noble family has to be present for? Her grip on her silver teddy bear increased with every passing second. Elizabeth suddenly felt hesitant to enter the lounging area.
This did not go unnoticed by Edward. The older sibling could only frown slightly at his sister's off behavior.
Edward tugged at her arm, which pulled her out of her thoughts. "Come Elizabeth." He twisted the knob of the door, much to Elizabeth's unawareness, and pulled her into the brightly lit room. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, the lights blinding her briefly.
"We can't keep the Queen waiting."
Midford Household: Lounging Area
"Would you care for a slice of chocolate fudge cheesecake, my dear children?" The baked sweet was placed right in front of Elizabeth by one of what the young girl assumed to be her butlers. Elizabeth could already feel her sweet tooth craving for the treat, and grabbed the fork that was sitting beside her plate.
"Thank you." Elizabeth thanked with a small twinkle in her eye, nodding at the butler who then quickly returned to the Queen's side.
"Thank you for your hard work." Edward, who sat beside her, thanked the butler after he settled the plate of cake before him. Their parents were seated across from them, and the Queen sat in front of them all, with a cup in tea in hand.
Queen Victoria sipped her tea, and smiled at the two siblings. "What a pair of well mannered children you have. You are truly blessed, Lord Milford." She complimented them; watching as Edward's face became flustered. However she was taken aback that Elizabeth only ate her cake with a platonic expression.
What she didn't know however was that on the inside, she was just screaming in happiness at the treat. Queen Victoria narrowed her eyes at the young noble girl, feeling quite skeptical.
This girl…was she always this distant?
Francis simply donned a simple smile, as she cupped her gloved hands around her tea cup. "You are too kind, Queen Victoria. For what reason do we have this lovely visit from you for?" The blonde haired mother questioned, to the surprise of her husband and children. Queen Victoria smiled even brighter, and folded her hands neatly onto the table.
"It's just like mother to quickly cut to the chase…" Edward whispered to his nervous father. Alexis who had broken out in cold sweat at his wife's behavior, could only shove a piece of cake into his mouth. "Just drink your tea my dear boy." Alexis instructed, and Edward did as he was told.
Elizabeth simply tapped her silver fork against the gold rim of the plate, already feeling bored. She quirked an eyebrow when she noticed her brother lean in towards her father and whisper something into his ear, only to shut himself up by drinking his tea. She twirled a strand of her blonde hair around her finger mentally sighed, hoping that the meeting would be over soon.
"Very well then, I came here to discuss the recent deaths of the dear noble family; the Phantomhives." Queen Victoria seemed to enjoy the shocked and grim expressions of the Midford family judging from the small smile on her lips. "You see, something interesting has happened a few days ago connecting to the incident that I wanted to bring to your attention." She explained to the family.
Francis was the first to recover from her shock and she tightened the handle on her cup. "Have you found those who were responsible for their deaths?" She asked, her green eyes narrowing at the smiling woman. Elizabeth and Edward inhaled sharply at the thought of the Phantomhives' murderers. Queen Victoria simply dropped her smile.
"No." She smiled again. "It was something much better than that. A young navy haired boy had stumbled into the Royal London Hospital with a man dressed in black. I was told that he had been searching for a specific doctor, Angelina Dalles."
Alexis and Francis furrowed their eyebrows at the thought in utter confusion. "A navy haired boy…was looking for Doctor Angelina Dalles…" They muttered to themselves in unison. Edward simply pressed his lips firmly together and his chin thoughtfully. Elizabeth stroked the head of her teddy bear, absently.
It couldn't be…She thought to herself, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. Her head was starting to hurt every second. It was just a coincidence.
"But, why would a navy haired boy seek out Aunt An?" Edward inquired aloud, although he was merely asking no one in particular. Francis noticed the concentrated and distant look on Elizabeth's face and watched her reaction with worry.
Elizabeth…
Queen Victoria turned towards her butler, who was still standing unfazed by her side. "Bring us more tea. It appears that everyone's cup is empty." She ordered, and turned her attention back to the Midford family, not bothering to watch her butler bow to her and do as she ordered.
"That's exactly what I asked myself as well." Queen Victoria held her cup out so that her butler could pour some tea it. "Why would a ten year old boy with navy hair seek out a doctor of such high nobility? Our guess was proven once he addressed Ms. Dalles as "Aunt An". A nickname that only her niece and nephews would address her by." Once he moved away, she sipped slowly, and smiled. "Delicious. Anyway, the boy seemed to also fit the description of Ciel Phantomhive perfectly. We have concluded that the boy was lucky enough to escape with his life that very night." She concluded.
Elizabeth looked down at her empty cup sadly. Poor Ciel, would he be able to cope with no parents?
Francis exhaled deeply and held out her tea cup for her Majesty's butler to refill. "I see…" She quickly glanced at her daughter Elizabeth in worry. Elizabeth had regained her composure, but traces of unease were evident on her face. Francis was just worried about what she could have been thinking at the moment.
Alexis cleared his throat, and set his tea cup back onto the table. "How come we haven't seen the boy yet?" He asked suspiciously. He ignored Edward who flinched at the strong taste of the newly brewed tea.
Queen Victoria giggled. "The time has not yet come for him to be reintroduced." She said. Francis crossed her arms over her chest, in slight anger towards the Queen. "We are his relatives; we have the right to see him!" She retorted, her tone rising at the end.
"Francis!"
Francis froze at the sudden hardened tone of her husband, and she retreated quickly. "I apologize; it was rude of me to go against your better judgment." Elizabeth glanced at her mother, and pressed her lips firmly together in worry.
It's rather rare for Mother to lose her cool so easily...
Queen Victoria smiled sadly at the family, and then she reached for her napkin that was beside her plate of baked sweets. "I understand how hard this is on you all. But, it was the Earl himself who requested that he should have some time to himself to readjust." She explained, dabbing the sides of her mouth with it.
No one in the room seemed to be shocked by the sudden news of Ciel becoming the new Earl of the Phantomhive family. Since the shock of him being alive still left them a bit fazed.
"The good news is that he has permitted visitors tomorrow." The Queen's butler then pulled out her chair, and held out his gloved hand for his Lady to take. The Queen smiled generously, and pulled herself up, waiting for her butler to grab her coat and staff for her.
"Your coat, my Lady." The members of the Midford family sat stiffly, watching the Queen with their steady green eyes. Queen Victoria, fully dressed, slowly walked over to where a certain noble child was seated with a wide smile.
Elizabeth almost jumped as a hand touched her shoulder, and she quickly raised her gaze to meet the eyes of the elderly woman. She was about to say something, when the Queen smiled even brighter. "Why don't you greet your fiancée with a beautiful smile next time you see him? It will make him feel more at home, don't you agree?"
Elizabeth blinked in surprise at the woman's parting words to her, and bowed, lifting up the ends of her dress as Queen Victoria passed by her.
"The hospitality was lovely, Lord Midford." The Queen sent a tender smile his way, and Alexis simply raised himself from his seat and bowed politely. Queen Victoria then nodded at Francis, whom nodded at her as well, with less enthusiasm as the other, and bowed nonetheless. Edward bowed respectfully alongside of his father, once the Queen had passed by him.
Elizabeth stood up straight, and couldn't help but allow her eyes to linger on the Queen's straight back as she left the room and her in awe.
Elizabeth's Room
"Lord Ciel is alive?" Paula questioned in surprise, but a bit too loud for the quiet of night. "What great news that is!" Elizabeth could only nod absently, with her pale arms raised above her head as she was instructed. It had not been too long after she and Edward had been dismissed to retire to their bedrooms right after the meeting with the Queen.
Right when her brother had hooked their arms together, and led her towards their newly polished staircase, did the blonde haired girl notice the unpleasant aura emitting from her mother. Francis stood beside the door with her arms crossed over her chest, arguing with her husband who was speaking in between her pauses patiently. However, Elizabeth couldn't understand what their argument was about because Edward had pulled her away.
You would think that we would all be happier…
Elizabeth was pulled away from her thoughts once she heard Paula's cheerful voice behind her. She turned her head towards her, and cocked her head to the side. "Paula? Did you say something?" She asked, bewilderedly. Paula raised her brown eyebrows, and smiled gently, working her fingers through the knot on her corset.
"I was just wondering if you were going to visit the Phantomhive household tomorrow. It does seem like a good opportunity to get to see him as soon as possible." Paula debriefed. Elizabeth's eyes softened a little at her suggestion.
Her Ciel…alive?
It was still too good to be true.
Her fingers lightly brushed against the full body length mirror that she stood in front of, hesitatingly. She stared intensively at her reflection.
Had he changed over the month?
She had definitely changed over the spam of the month of his disappearance. Her green eyes were paler, her blonde hair was wavier, and she grew a few centimeters.
Would he still like me? She asked self consciously.
Elizabeth felt the relaxing feeling of cold winds brushing against her stomach. The brown corset loosened and fell to her feet and so did a few drops of liquid. Turning her body around slowly, Elizabeth sniffled and looked up at Paula with tear filled green eyes.
"Lady Elizabeth…?" Paula called her name in surprise. "Did I make you upset?" She inquired, worriedly. Elizabeth tightened her grip on the skirt from the dress that still hung by her hips. Paula brushed back strands of blonde hair from her Mistress' eyes so that she could see her face better.
Elizabeth raised her hand to cover her eyes immediately. "N-No, I'm really happy and excited. But I can't help but feel a little scared." She finally said, cowering behind her hand. "I've changed so much. What if he doesn't l-like me anymore? I don't want that to happen." She asked her voice cracking.
Paula smiled widely at Elizabeth's response. "Well, you won't ever know until you ask him yourself." She answered as she removed the remaining articles of clothing on her Mistress and pulled a pink nightgown over her head. Once her pigtails were removed, Elizabeth was soon tucked into bed. Elizabeth then reached her hand over to her nightstand to grab her silver teddy bear and hugged him to her chest, sighing in content.
Paula was about to blow out the lights of the torch in her hand, when she was interrupted by Elizabeth.
"I'm going to visit Ciel tomorrow." She whispered, her eyes closed and a smile evident on her lips.
Paula tucked in the silver teddy bear and petted Elizabeth's head. "I'm glad." She whispered back, happy to see a smile on her Mistress' face. She blew out the torch and stepped out of the room, with a small smile on her face.
"I assume that Elizabeth is asleep?" Francis asked Paula as she approached her down the hall. The brown haired maid jumped slightly in surprise but laughed nervously, nodding quickly. Francis was dressed in a white frilly night gown with a torch in her hand, and a stern scowl on her face.
"I guess she's also decided to go visit Ciel tomorrow, am I correct?"
Paula nodded to that as well, surprised. Francis seemed to have been expecting that, and she crossed her arms over her chest, with a small smile on her face.
"I've been worried about her. But she seems to be taking everything well." Francis walked towards Paula and patted her shoulder, before walking away down the hall. "Thank you for staying by her side Paula. Goodnight." Francis said softly, surprising the young Maid yet again.
Paula smiled to herself; feeling accomplished, and continued walking down the hall.
However, the young brunette haired woman could not have predicted the start of unfortunate events that would start to rain upon the small family in the near future.
TBO: That's all folks! I hope this chapter was OK at least. I had some difficulty writing it...
Elizabeth: I like it!
TBO: Really, Lizzy? *Turns to Ciel*
Ciel:...well...*Elizabeth's starts crying* It's not...bad.
Elizabeth: YAY! CIEL! *Spins Ciel around in a never ending twirl*
TBO: Well, hoped you enjoy. Please R&R!