*****It's been too long! Hello all! I am recovering from a hard family loss, but determined to finish this fic out! Have patience with me please!*****
***Hello fans and readers! I have good news! Starting with chapter 1 and going alllll the way to chapter 22, I'M EDITING AND UPDATING ALL THE CHAPTERS! ALL OF IT! CONTENT WILL BE DIFFERENT (and hopefully better!)!
Elizabeth breezed into the dining room moments after Ciel had sat down. Out of gentlemanliness he stood and moved to pull out her chair before sitting again. Ciel reached for the little silver bell to call for Sebastian to bring breakfast. He was stilled by Elizabeth's bright voice, "Oh Ciel, can I ring the bell? It's just so tiny and cute!" Looking at her smiling face, Ciel shook his head. "How is it possible that your childishness makes you even more beautiful?"
Blushing furiously, Elizabeth looked away. Ciel pushed the bell towards her, and immediately her face lit up. Reaching for it, she daintily grabbed it between her thumb and forefinger, pointing her pinky, and gave it a prim shake. Ciel chuckled at how happy such a simple thing could make her.
Almost immediately, Sebastian appeared, noting Elizabeth's happy look and Ciel's fond one as he watched her. Not bothering to hide his amused expression, he stated the breakfast menu as he served them. After they had begun eating, he stated the day's agenda. "Master, Lady Elizabeth, the day's schedule: 10:30, a brief meeting with a representative from an Irish company who wishes to merge with us. 11:30, lunch will be served. 12:30, a short dance lesson with Mrs. Flemming, and at 1:30 we will depart for London." Ciel had been absently nodding during the recitation, but nearly choked on his drink at the word 'London'. "Sebastian," he demanded, "why are we going to London?"
Elizabeth giggled, drawing his attention to her. "At my request, Ciel. We simply must go shopping for the ball tonight! I haven't a thing to wear, and we might even find a match set!" Ciel sighed, wishing he had some way to get out of being dragged around London by this ball of energy. He would be the laughingstock of the whole city! Sebastian, seeing his Master about to object, swiftly spoke up. "Young master, surely you can tolerate a few mere hours of shopping for the sake of Lady Elizabeth, yes? Who knows, you might even enjoy it," he added with a definite twinkle in his eye. Elizabeth clapped her hands with delight and squealed with joy. Ciel looked at her glowing face and all objections died in his throat. It's not fair! Why does she have to be so irresistible when she's like this?
Elizabeth could feel her entire body buzzing with excitement. "Elizabeth?" He asked softly. "Yes, Ciel?" She answered with an embarrassing squeak in her voice. "Would you like me to come with you to London?" She gasped, touched that he was asking her what she wanted. "Oh, yes! Yes, yes, yes! It would mean so much to me, and I'm sure we'll have fun. Pretty, pretty please?" Elizabeth asked, pulling out a dirty trick: her eyes.
Damn, Ciel thinks, Why does she have to do that? I've always been a sucker for her eyes. If she asked me to jump off a cliff with them, I wouldn't be able to say no. She's just so beautiful, how can I say no? Sighing at how kept he is, he couldn't help but smile at her and say, "Alright, Lizzie, I'll go with you."
Elizabeth's heart thundered in her ears as she gasped. Her whole face lit up. Noticing her shocked stare, Ciel asked, "What?" Elizabeth shook her head a tiny bit and smiled, a dark blush on her cheeks. "You smiled," she whispered tenderly. "I've missed that smile." She giggled at the blush on his cheeks as he quickly looked away. When she finished her delicious breakfast, Elizabeth stood and said, "I'm going to finish getting ready now and find a book to read while you go about your business. I'll have lunch brought to my room so as not to disturb you. I'll be ready by 1:25, promise." As she walked by his chair to go to the room she was staying in, she leaned over and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for joining me for breakfast," she added softly.
After skipping to her room, Elizabeth happily flopped onto her bed, only to get right back up again to go to her vanity. She lightly applied some color to her cheeks and lips and started in on her hair. To pass the time, she decided to weave it in a complicated 5-strand braid with a ribbon going down the middle. Finished with that tiring task, Elizabeth went to sit in her window seat. Looking outside with a silly smile on her face, she allowed herself to daydream. I wonder if he'll kiss me tonight. Blushing furiously, her thoughts continued. We'll be slow dancing, our arms wrapped around each other. "Oh, I've just got to find the perfect dress!" She cried. Picking up the book she borrowed from Ciel's library, she curled up in the window seat, closing her eyes to soak in the warmth of the sun.
"Lizzie? Sebastian is bringing the carriage around," Ciel called quietly through the door to her room. Upon hearing no response, he opened the door to peek inside. He spotted her limp form on the window seat and immediately assumed the worst. Rushing over, he was eternally grateful when he saw her chest moving rhythmically with her breathing. He chuckled and reached down to pick up the book that had fallen from her grasp onto the floor. Smiling tenderly, he sat on the edge of the seat and brushed a stray curl from her eyes. Ciel was unable to resist kissing her full lips. Her eyes flew open at his gentle kiss and a small gasp escaped her.
The way Elizabeth was looking at him, with such love and trust, nearly undid him. He cupped her cheek in his hand and leaned in for another kiss. She responded so sweetly it made him ache. Ciel couldn't help but deepen the kiss, opening himself up to her, allowing her to glimpse his churning emotions behind the calm exterior. He felt her hands venture to the back of his head, tangling involuntarily in his hair. Ciel pulled her onto his lap with a low growl, kissing her hungrily. He needed her.
Elizabeth broke the kiss and gasped for air, resting her forehead against his. She watched him open his beautiful blue eyes and loved the blush that spread across his cheeks. Teasingly, she said, "I guess I should fall asleep more often." Ciel chuckled, sliding his hands under her as he stood, cradling her in his arms as if she was the most precious thing in the world. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gently kissed him once more.
When she opened her eyes, he caught her gaze and said, in a husky voice, "Lizzie, I love you." She smiled at him with her heart in her eyes, ready to profess her love, but she was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Lady Elizabeth, Master, the carriage is ready."
Ciel sighed, curious as to what Lizzie was going to say, but carefully set her on her feet anyway. Just before he could start toward the door, Lizzie grabbed hold of his hand. Glancing down at her slightly pink face, he grinned like a kid on Christmas Day. Ciel opened the door and allowed her to exit first. Together, they walked through the big front doors to the waiting carriage.
Ciel held her hand and helped her up into the carriage. Before he joined her, he caught Sebastian's eye and wondered at the gleam in it. "Young master, did you have any trouble retrieving Lady Elizabeth from her room?" And with that, everything fell into place. Ciel glared at Sebastian, who had the nerve to act innocent. Fairly spitting the words, Ciel said more than asked, "You knew she was asleep, didn't you?" Sebastian merely chuckled and bowed.
Lucky for Sebastian, demons aren't easily killed, otherwise he would have dropped dead on the spot from Ciel's glare. Muttering to himself about the demon butler, Ciel stepped into the carriage and took his seat across from Elizabeth. As distracted as he was, he didn't notice the barely concealed mischief in her eyes. Once the carriage door was closed, she got up quickly and crossed the space between them to sit on his lap again. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she leaned in close to whisper, "I love you too, Ciel." Seeing the hungry look appear on his face once more, Elizabeth gave in and kissed him. "It's a long way to London," she whispered mischievously against Ciel's soft lips when they came up for air. The only reply she received was, "Not long enough," before he claimed her lips, and her heart, again.