The meeting lasted very shortly seeing that in a matter of 5 minutes after entering Evelyn's office Sir Henry ran out shouting how foolish she was and she does not know what she has done. He ended by retorting a little girl should stay in her play as he left.
"Evelyn Eden James. What did you do!" Delilah shouted. Normally no servant would dare address Eden, or their master in general with that tone but Eden always gave her maid a pass. Eden shrugged this off, rubbing her pet serpent's head. Her silver eyes didn't have any emotion to them.
"Told him the truth Delilah, aren't you the first to say lying is a sin? And also what right do you have to come in here speaking to me like that, we still haven't discuss your little act of treason. You lied to me!"
Delilah sighed leaning herself on her mistress desk. "I didn't lie Eden, I simply hid the letter from you in order to keep you ignorant." Both the snake and Eden gave the maid an annoyed poker face.
"What did the note read?"
"It referred to the recent murders about London, she is requesting that you and the Earl of Phantomhive find out who is performing these crimes and insure they do not continue." Eden's eyes widen for a second before she chuckled in laughter.
"Aww Delilah could it be you were hiding it to protect lil ole me, isn't that sweet Victor."She said referring to her pet stroking his scales. Victor hissed in response at the maid protectively, in which Delilah jumped back in fright.
"Oh, I am definitely making you into a belt ." Victor stood on his tail hissing more venomously.
"You both are childish." Eden said annoyed hitting the serpent with a rolled up piece of paper. He turned to his master growing angry but instead just curled back in a ball. "You act more like a dog than a snake not like she would ever really hurt you, right Delilah." Eden held the little white serpent him up to Delilah's face, "right Delilah?" The maid only grew more afraid but took a breath agreeing."
"right milady. Now please, its getting late and a little girl needs her sleep or she can get cranky." she said patting her mistress head. Eden no matter the age hated being treated as though she was a toddler. Looking at Victor she indicated what she wanted to do. Instantly he pounced on the maid, causing her to shriek and scream in fear.
"Eden!"
The girl just chuckled before giving her 'family' an amused smile. A hour or so later Delilah staggered out the office looking like she's been to war. leaning right beside it to catch her, Mary smirked . "Ha, new look princess?" The brunette glared at her lesser.
"Why are you up Maryanne?" She frowned.
"Thats not away to greet me." Delilah glared obviously not in the mood. "Heh, I guess it is at the moment." She said under her breath. Delilah just started walking away. "Just go to bed . We have -" Stopping she felt Mary's hand latch onto her's.
"Delilah, I didn't just come to say hi…" Mary paused . "Lilah, ya gotta come clean at some point." Delilah didn't speak and simply pulled her hand away. "go to bed. That is an order." She was cold in her delivery not leaving Mary much else to say. Mary turned on her heels slowly began walking to her room, lasting words being- "Yes...Miss Hurst."
…
"3:01AM," Delilah yawned to herself , stretching her arms over her head, "8 hours and 59 minutes." She murmured lifting herself from her bed. She yawned again unbuttoning the top buttons of her sleeping gown, tiredly stalked over to her dresser, rubbing the crust from her left eye. Opening up one of the drawers she pulled out her blue maid's uniform, holding it against her tiny petite frame.
She groan at her disgusting image in the mirror, referring to her slightly expanded midsection, but then sighed placing the gown on her bed, knowing it couldn't be helped Although no one else had notice her stomach was growing but it was her body. She could tell even the littlest of changes. As she did every morning she entered the room off of hers lighting three candles, the scent of rosemary incense feeling the tiny room. Dropping to her knees in front of a large cross, she bowed her head, grasping both hands on her rosary,"O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin." She lifted her head blowing out the candles.
"Amen.."
Delilah stepped out from the manor walls, a lantern in her hand guiding her path in the darkness to the far back of the Estate where the servants quarters reside. It was three am after all. She approached the large home, near the back of the estate. The moment she opened the door all servants stood at attention, saluting the girl. "Good morning Miss Hurst." All 9 servants greeted in unison.
"Hmm you all are up. I am quite surprise, but nonetheless good work all." She smiled brightly, her head cocked to the side sweetly. "Its nice to see all of you at once."
Unlike Mary, she stayed silent not even looking in Delilah's direction. The small maid didn't look in her direction either but just looked straight ahead.
"W-we have urgent matters to discuss." She said in a serious tone. "Today a very important guest arriving in less than," She paused pulling her pocket watch from her maid skirt, "5 hours and 30 minutes. I have already given you your chores for the day. I expect them done and each of you at the door ready to greet our guest. I want an even number of both men and women, the rest of you attempt not to make a mess. Understood?"
"Yes Captain!" All ,but Mary, saluted in unison.
"Good, I expect all of you out this house in 30 minutes." She explained . "Now go prepare for the day." Without hesitation all the servants rushed their room getting ready for the day. even Mary.
Last night it was clear that Mary had wanted to speak to Delilah about something very important but she gave her the cold shoulder...no matter she was upset with her. The normally excited , free spirited girl was hurt.
Waking up Eden:
"Good morning my lady." Delilah said opening the curtain allowing the bright light to enter her mistress's bed chamber. A groan escaped Eden's lips as she turned away from the light, pulling her light blue sheets over her head. Waking Eden had always been an ordeal.
Delilah pouted pulling out her pocket watch from her skirt pocket. "3 hours and 20 mins left," she mumbled to herself closing the watch back up.
"Please Lady Eden you must wake up now." She begged, softly tapping her mistress shoulder, receiving a whine from the pale girl.
"Five more minutes Lilah." Eden whined tossing in her bed. Delilah sighed going to the end of her mistress bed, gripping her ankles. " I'm sorry my lady but I can not allow that to happen." In one swift movement Eden was yanked on the bed taking the covers with her. Eden hit the floor with a thud. She attempted to crawl away but was stopped by a foot on her night gown. "For today you have a very important meeting with the Earl of Phantomhive and I'll be damned if your good name is soiled because you choose not to be a proper hostess, now up!" The brown eyed brunette demand dragging her mistress into the bathroom, quickly stripping her before tossing her into the already ran bath.
"See my lady that wasn't so bad." She smiled dusting off her skirt," Now I'll be back in thirty minutes I expect you bathed by then and waiting in your room, Lisa will come to bathe you." Delilah reached for the knob of the door before turning her head to her Mistress. "Don't dilly dally dear." she said in a sweet but threatening tone before leaving the room. Delilah dug into her pocket pulling out a small checklist, crossing off 'Mistress bath'
"Next lunch prep-" she paused hearing a loud crash coming from down stairs. Rushing to the stair balcony Delilah caught sight of four servants panicking over a falling China cabinet.
"You incompetent fools!" She shouted down at the servants, her english mixing with her native tongue, "Le comte de Phantomhive will be here soon et vous avez sacrément idiots tout prêt fait un gâchis de chose (The Earl of Phantomhive will be here soon and you damn idiots have already made a mess of things.)." She ranted angrily at the women. " Clean this up immediately and re-polish the floor. I want this done in a before the Earl arrives, understand!" She demanded gaining a salute from all four servants before they broke off to gather cleaning equipment.
"2 hours 45 minutes left " she sighed heading down to the kitchen to check on lunch.
"Mary," Delilah called to the red headed cook as she continued preparing today's meal.
Mary turned to the brunette and cold look on her face.
"Delilah.'' She asked as she seasoned the meal in black pepper, not even looking at Delilah.
Being Mary, she always had a joke or two she used to annoy Delilah but the shorter servant could tell something was different. "I-is lunch prepared yet?"
"Almost."
"Some detail would be nice..."
I've already finished this evenings snack, cornmeal cake of pears with a wonderful light raspberry sauce and blueberries. I've also completed tonight desert that being a apple compete, draped with yogurt." Mary pointed to each dish. " The chai tea with a hint of ginger will be served right before lunch. The only thing I have left to prepare is steak and kidney pie with poached salmon of course. It all should be done before the guest arrive." She assured going back to cooking.
"Very good Mary you never fail to impress me." Delilah praised checking off lunch from her up in her work Delilah didn't notice Mary's approaching her until her chin was lifted , eyes staring directly into Mary's. Her cheeks was hot with embarrassment as Mary leaned into her ear.
"You're starting to show." She whispered, ensuring no one else would hear. Her hand traveled down to Delilah's barely noticeable swollen womb. Her eyes narrowed falling on the ground. She gently pushed her away. "Don't say stupid things Mary-Anne."
Delilah left out the room with that leaving Mary to stare in her direction. "Heh, and I thought Eden was stubborn." She sighed lightly before
Delilah hurried to her mistress bedroom, knocking twice before entering. Eden sat on her bed fully dressed in a outfit picked by Delilah. She was dressed in a all crimson gown with
a white ruffle collar, her legs crossed, her back straight and her gaze impassive.
"Stand," Delilah commanded in such a tone Eden couldn't help but due so.
The maid circled around the girl, seeing if anything was out of place.
"Perfect my lady, you look like a doll." She smiled innocently at her mistress, earning a small glare.
"Thank You Delilah, how long till our "guest"arrive?" She said very loosely. She didn't like the idea of someone entering her home.
"An hour and 57 minutes." She said crossing off another task on her list. Eden shrugged walking away from her beloved servant. "W-wait! Where are you going Lady Eden?"
"I'm going to see my pets then."she stay scanning the contents of her book shelf, looking for something to read." I get me when he arrives."
Delilah bowed, "yes my lady."
Delilah stood beside four other female servants, including Mary at the front door awaiting the Earl's approach. Mary sighed in complete and utter boredom. "Lilah I understand it is not often the young heiress has guest but it's so hot. Do we really gotta wait out here?" Delilah nodded, " Yes, the young Lady is an noble women, therefore we must hold her at a higher behavior than a peasant, show she is worthy of her position." Delilah said bluntly then paused watching as a black carriage slowly pulled up in front of the manor. "...He's here." She whispered to Mary. A response was not returned however making her nervous . From the study Eden paused from her book feeling a chill run down her spine.
"Something is wrong" she mumbled to herself, heading to the window peering to see what was occurring outside her walls.
The carriage stopped and Delilah nodded to one of the servants to open the door. From the carriage emerged the butler and then his master Ciel.
The female servants including Mary swooned over Sebastian as both he and Ciel approached the front of the manner. Delilah simply rolled her eyes before greeting the men.
"Good evening Mister Phantomhive, welcome to The James manor, " Delilah began with her a sweet smile and naive voice. Although she was very respectful to herself Delilah was questioning the
child's height. She was short and petite for her age but it was a little odd for her to be taller than a male. She curtsied to the Earl "I truly hope you enjoy your stay at James manor." The maid piped up getting a view of the events behind the boys top hat. There they were , all the girls drowning the butler in a harem.A dark aura started to come from Delilah spreading to the women like a warning. The women paused barely shaking in her boots. The maid gently gave a giggle before smiling, "My mistress is in her office. I will take you to her. Let's enter shall we enter?" Delilah said clapping her hands twice, turning to face the door. All of a sudden the large wooden double doors swung open exposing the enter beauty of the manor.
"Please follow me Earl."
