Vault of Bones
Chapter 03 – London in Sight
Anais poked her head outside the carriage window. They were in a vast forest, where she presumed the Wolvercote Manor was located. Pluto barked excitedly, and if he had a tail in his human form, it would have been wagging by now. She was excited about her new home. She heard from the coachman outside that the mansion was grand. Few moments later, Anais could see the roof of the mansion. She retreated her head; she wanted to surprise herself.
"Are you ready to live in your old house again, Plu-Plu?" she asked.
The hound barked happily. Then the carriage stopped. A steward opened the door for her and assisted her outside. Anais gasped at the sight in front of her. The mansion was indeed grand. It had pointy grey roof, walls painted in yellow and pillars which resembled a typical Jacobean-styled mansion. The entrance to the mansion was welcomed by a flight of stairs. She took said stairs and entered the mansion at last. Inside the servants were lined up, bowing to her and the dowager. The floor was covered with a rich red carpet, chandeliers were present, paintings acquired from other countries and flags inside. Not the flag of England, but flags bearing the Wolvercote crest: a grey shield with a red wolf in the middle, a golden crown on top of the shield.
The Wolvercote family also had their personal museum, called The Wolvercote Collection. It was located in London and it was the place where the Wolvercote members, being a family of artists, displayed their artworks, painting and crafts. Gerald Wolvercote and his father were excellent artists while the Marchioness Eleanor was more interested in collecting busts. Many aspiring artists came and went inside the gallery and many students visit for a tour, preferably the Violet Wolf students from Weston College. It was free for anyone to enter as it would also help in the advertising the Wolvercote Wine industry.
But enough of that.
Anais was escorted by a steward to her room. They took various turns, left and right, with Anais gaping at every turn they made. Every hallway had different decorations but it was mostly paintings. At last the steward stopped in front of a door at the end of the last hallway. He opened the door and gestured Anais to enter. She gasped. A spacious room, with colorful wallpaper and carpet, two armors standing on each side of the fire place. There was also another Wolvercote flag.
"Please excuse me, my Lady Wolvercote," the steward bowed and left.
"Not half bad of what I imagined," she murmured, examining the furniture. Pluto settled himself near the fireplace, yawning and stretching. Another painting was on the wall and Anais stared at it.
A knock on the door came and it was quickly answered.
"Yes?" inquired Anais.
It was another steward. How many stewards does this place even have? The steward bowed.
"Marchioness wanted to see you, young Mistress," he said.
What?
"Oh! I'll be right there!" She turned to Pluto. "Stay here, 'kay?" Before the hound could reply, the lady closed the door behind her.
The steward led the way. They took the stairs to the third floor of the house and into the dowager's study room. It was actually her father's study room. Anais entered and sat on a chair. A long table was in the middle of the room; behind it was a tall and wide glass window. The dowager was rummaging through the bookshelf. The younger Wolvercote looked around and fixed her eyes on a special painting.
The portrait depicted a young man of regality and sophistication. He had black hair and dark blue eyes. His skin was as pale as Anais', and he looked similar to her. He wore a black frock coat rimmed with gold. From Anais' standards, the man was incredibly handsome. She stared for what seemed like forever. She even found herself imagining what this man could even sound like. The dowager watched her granddaughter being mesmerized by the portrait of her own father. She never met him; she never would.
"He is your father," the Marchioness Eleanor said simply. She placed the documents she needed on the table. "Gerald Fyodorich Lev Wolvercote, Marquis and head of the Wolvercote Company. He was a kind and talented young man, intelligent and generous." The dowager shook her head; her face showed remorse for a second. "He was also an artist; he even went as far as to become a prefect in his school days. Yet it all went downhill when he married your mother." Now, Anais was incredibly interested. "Gerald married your mother when both of them were nineteen; too young for my opinion. Caroline never lived here; she preferred Brighton, the very reason why you were raised there."
"Please save me the sad story of the parents, Marchioness," Anais sighed. She wanted to explore the place already. During their travels, the dowager and Anais exchanged a few words. No more rising of voice, only sarcastic remarks from the younger one.
The dowager nodded and sat on the table. She read some documents and finding the right ones, she handed them to Anais.
"What are these?" She didn't bother to read.
"Documents. Now that you're part of this house, you will take over the rights of your father's company. However, you won't be able to be head of the company until you become marchioness yourself. As for now you will serve as the company's backbone. All you have to do is sign here." The dowager showed the line where it needed Anais' signature. She bent over and proceeded to sign it. "Wait. Aren't you going to read it?"
Anais shook her head. "You already told me what it was. All I have to do is sign, right?" The dowager nodded. Anais returned the paper to the woman and continued to sign more papers. It appeared that her father led a company which produced wine. It was well-known throughout London at first, and then to whole England. After his death, the Marchioness introduced their wine to other countries such as Spain and Germany. It was Anais' turn to continue it.
After signing, the dowager put away the documents. "You will start tomorrow."
"Can't I start next week?"
"Why?"
"I was planning to visit someone living in London," she explained.
The dowager shook her head. "You can visit them next week. Work comes first. I will supervise you."
Anais sighed. Perhaps it would be better if she checked on her duties first before slacking off.
Anais was in a carriage. The dowager had her wear a beautiful white and blue dress, complete with a blue feathered hat and long white gloves. She was finally going to London for her visit. Pluto was forced to be left behind. As usual, he poked her head out of the window. She was excited. It wasn't as if it was her first time in London. It had been years ever since she last visited, that was all. Her mother used to work in a hospital in London. They used to visit her mother's acquaintances before. Anais told the steward which road to take and which turn and alleyway. She knew where she was going, and she was excited. Finding the sign she was looking for, Anais asked the steward to stop the carriage and she immediately threw herself out.
"Undertaker?" she said, opening the door without knocking. The place was dark and filled with cobwebs. There were many coffins lying on the floor while some leaned on the wall. Anais looked around, no sign of the man she was looking for. She walked further inside, running a finger across the dirty table. She dusted her finger off.
"Undertaker? Come on, I know you're here," she tried again. To be honest, Anais was starting to be uncomfortable in the place. She sighed in defeat. "It's me… Anais Wolvercote?"
In an instant, she heard a eerie noise. The coffin on her right began to open its door. It sent shivers down her spine. She was about to scream in terror when a green eye gleamed inside. Undertaker gave her a sly grin. He opened the coffin's lid and set it aside, approaching the newcomer in his shop.
"Why, hello, Lupus of mine," he grinned. Anais still felt shivers. Undertaker giggled creepily like there was no tomorrow. "What pleasant surprise." He went closer and gestured her to sit down, in which she did. "How have you been? I've missed you~" Undertaker ran his fingers on her shoulder and grinned. She shuddered.
"It's good to see you, too," Anais greeted. "How's life?"
Undertaker sat in front of her. "Care for a drink?" He held up a teapot, ready to pour its contents in a beaker. She shook her head no, and he frowned. "For one thing, my life hasn't been in a twist ever since the disappearance of the Earl Phantomhive and his family." Oh, yes. She heard it also. Last December, Earl Vincent Phantomhive and his family were attacked in their manor; it was burned down and everyone died, including their son Ciel.
"So, this is your business now?" She looked around the house. The door was closed, making the place darker than it already was.
"Beautiful, isn't it~?" He grinned.
"This is lower than your usual standards, Undertaker," she remarked, picking up a cloth and putting it back again.
"Careful," Undertaker grinned. "That silvertongue of yours will get you into lots of trouble."
"Yeah, it will. Anyway, I'll be off now," Anais nodded. She stood up and went for the door. Undertaker immediately closed it in her face.
"Why all of sudden, pretty Lupus?" he exclaimed, smiling wickedly at her. Anais rolled her eyes. Undertaker had always called her mother Lupus when she was a child. Now he was calling her that.
"What now?" she asked.
Undertaker held a jar of cookies in his hands. Anais stared.
"Internal organ-shaped cookies?" she asked again, now bewildered.
"It's yummy~"
Anais held out her hand to accept it but Undertaker took it out of her reach. "Give me a first rate laugh first." He laughed like he always did. "I can't wait for a good laugh! Carol gave me this joke that made me laugh whenever I remember it." He rolled on the floor laughing. He sat up. "Now, young Lupus, give a first rate… Eh?"
Said young Lupus was nowhere to be seen. And the jar of cookies was nowhere in his hands. He heard her shout from outside his shop.
"Thanks Undertaker. See you~!"
Undertaker did nothing but flop on the floor in defeat.
Anais didn't eat the cookies, not yet. She would wait until she got home to share it with Pluto. The carriage stopped once again in front of their destination. She looked outside; they had arrived in the Midford Manor. Before she could get out of the carriage, a flash of yellow and green clouded her vision.
"Ah, big sister! Big sister!" the young Midford daughter called out to her, clutching her skirt as she ran towards her.
It was Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Midford, youngest child. She had blonde hair in contrast of her bright emerald ones. Said young lady ran towards Anais and hugged her by the waist.
"I'm so glad you came to visit us!" Elizabeth clapped her hands. "Come inside! Hurry! I'm sure big brother will be delighted to see you~!" Elizabeth literally dragged Anais inside. The mansion was huge, as big as the mansion of Marchioness Wolvercote. Elizabeth led the way, eventually leading her to the gardens where her older brother was.
Edward sat comfortably on a chair, sipping tea while reading a book. He looked up and saw his younger sister dragging his female childhood friend. He smiled upon her arrival.
"I thought I heard someone," he greeted.
"I missed you too, Ed," Anais laughed.
Edward and Anais shared the same age. He, like Elizabeth, had blonde hair and green eyes. He was dressed in a casual suit, black with a red bow tie. Elizabeth forced Anais to sit down and asked the servants around them to pour tea on her cup. The younger girl had also sent one of her attendants to inform her parents about their guest. Elizabeth smiled widely as she watched Anais.
"I'm so happy! Say, big sister, how about you come with me and shop for dresses? I've seen a dress in London and I instantly fell in love with it~!"
Anais smiled. "Anytime you want, Elizabeth."
The girl frowned. "I told you to call me Lizzy! Lizzy! Okay?" It brought tears to her eyes. Anais laughed and nodded.
That was when Marquis Alexis and Marchioness Frances Midford entered the gardens. The Marquis came in first, quiet and stern. Anais stood up nervously to greet the couple. In a flash, Marquis Alexis smiled and hugged Anais while the Marchioness sighed at the scene in front of her. Her husband had always been lighthearted.
"You still look so cute~! How long has it been? A year, perhaps? You've grown taller," the Marquis exclaimed, patting Anais' head.
Marchioness Frances cleared her throat. "Welcome, Lady Wolvercote."
"Ah, M- Marchioness," Anais faked a smile; this woman terrified the hell out of her ever since she was a child. Frances was a strong woman and very dignified. "It's good to be here." She tried to curtsy, but it didn't impress the noblewoman.
"You need not to do that when you can't do it properly," the Marchioness snapped. Somehow, she wouldn't be surprised about her words.
The Midfords and Wolvercote sat in a circle while tea and afternoon snacks were prepared.
"We've heard about Lady Caroline," Marchioness Frances started.
Anais nodded. "Yes, but I'm over it now. It's better to have her rest already than suffer." She sipped her tea and inhaled its fragrance. Black tea.
"That means you're staying with Marchioness Wolvercote?" Marquis Alexis asked.
She nodded again.
"What about your father's company? Did Marchioness Eleanor give it to you?" Alexis asked again, sounding very intrigued.
"Not exactly. She said I was to be the backbone," she smiled. "It sounds like hard work; I'm not really a business-minded person."
"Well, that, I understand," agreed Alexis. "You're still young. I'm sure Marchioness Eleanor will guide you."
Getting tired of the conversation, Frances sighed and tried to change the subject.
"What about your swordsmanship?" she inquired. Anais stiffened. "Are you practicing like I told you the last time?"
She didn't reply at first. The answer was no. She didn't practice like the Marchioness ordered her to. She could mentally slap herself.
"Uh, that would be negative, Aunt Frances."
The Marchioness closed her eyes and breathed heavily.
"Didn't I tell you? You need to work on your footwork! Footwork, young lady! How do you suppose to protect England without proper footwork on your stance?! Indeed, your endurance and balance may suffice now but with no footwork, you will lose the battle!" Frances tapped the table with great force. Anais only shrugged.
She mentioned the word footwork four times. Protect England? Battle? What was the Marchioness have been eating lately? It was obvious that she wasn't a knight, not even a member of the Midford family. But maybe they considered her as one? Frances had always supervised her swordsmanship practice when she was a child, along with Edward, Lizzy and Ciel. Unfortunately, she and Ciel didn't improve as much as the two Midfords did.
"R-Right, Aunt Frances! I'll look into it…" Anais replied. Or maybe not, she thought.
Frances sighed. "Do you have a sword with you?"
She was surprised. Where the hell would this conversation lead to?
"Well, I… uh, I guess so, but they're… at home right now," Anais lied.
Frances nodded slowly. "Good, good," she murmured.
At five in the afternoon, Anais bid farewell to the Midfords. She thanked the Marquis and his wife, patted Edward's shoulder and hugged Lizzy.
"Be sure to come back, big sister," Lizzy begged with teary eyes.
Anais laughed. "Of course, Lizzy. By then we could go shopping like you wanted."
Hearing that, Lizzy beamed with brightness. "Okay! Be careful on the road, big sister~!"
With that Anais went inside the carriage and left the Midford Manor. She couldn't wait to tell Pluto what happened today.
Author's Notes: Next up, Ciel, Sebastian and the Double Charles!
References:
1.) The Wolvercote Manor is based on Fairy Tail's Heartifilia Konzern.
2.) Gerald Wolvercote is based on the name and appearance of Fairy Tail's Jellal Fernandes. His physical attributes are exactly the same as Jellal's, only having a dark hair.
3.) The Wolvercote crest is based on Violet Wolf's crest.
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