London, England. August 23rd 1887.
Rosaline smiled at the birds building a nest under the tree she was sitting underneath. She was feeling better now as her illness finally subsided for the moment.
The birds reminded her of a real life married couple; each parent had to do their role to insure a safe life for their little joys to come. Thinking of that made her wonder about her relationship with Finny. He was only a simple gardener; it wasn't as if he would have tons of money for better things let alone to take care of her. Rosaline often wondered if Finny and hers relationship would go beyond anything other than sweethearts. She was very use to a pamper life as noble girl, but she didn't think being somebody of lower status be too hard.
Rosaline reached out to touch one of roses against the manor, the rose felt so soft under the tips of her finger. A gentle smiled tugged on Rosaline's lips as she went to pick it out the bush. However, something made contact with her backside and now she was laying face first in the bush.
"Ha-ha!" A crackle erupted from behind her. Rosaline groaned getting out the bush now covered in leaves and filth. Her green eyes met with the ice blue eyes of her brothers, "Alois…..what was that about." Rosaline replied a little tearful.
Alois only stared at Rosaline with a mischievous smile decorating his features. "What was what about, dear sister?" Alois grabbed a handful of Rosaline's hair pulling it roughly, making her grunt in pain.
"N-Nothing…" She muttered quietly, hoping that he would let go.
Alois shoved her backwards into the bush again before releasing her hair. His mischievous smile then turned into a frown. "Get yourself clean up you like shit." He said leaving her in the bush.
Rosaline got up dusting what she could of the dirt off, if she ever had to think of anything that would push her to get out of Trancy manor it be her brother. As much as she loved Alois, his bullying of her and the servants were quiet too much to handle. Tears started rolling down her face; she tried her best to get them to stop but could not.
"Rosaline?" A hand softly touched her shoulder, Rosaline knew by the gentleness of the voice and touch that it was. "Finny?" Her eyes twinkled with sheer happiness seeing the Phantomhive gardener there. However, he was not smiling as always, he had frown painted on his lips. "Why the long face?" Rosaline questioned concerned.
"Why did your brother kick you in the rose bush?" Finny asked. Rosaline's eyes widened in fear and embarrassment, knowing Finny had witnessed what happened just a short while ago.
"It was nothing, just Alois playing around." She played off.
"It didn't look like he was playing." Finny stated. Rosaline just looked down, still embarrassed that not only did Finny see the way Alois treated her but also she was covered in filth thanks to her brother now.
Finny wiped the trailing tears off Rosaline's cheeks, "Hey no need to become so upset." Rosaline only nodded her head. Finny sighed quietly to himself. He knew Alois was a bully to Rosaline but he never thought it went to that extreme.
"Why are you here today, Finny? Aren't you suppose to be working?" Rosaline asked him.
"It's my day off this month, so I figured I'd show you something I found in the woods a few weeks ago." Finny said.
"Oh." Rosaline responded in a thoughtful manner. "What is it?"
Finny smiled and reached out for her hand, "It's a secret."
Rosaline thought about it for second, but knew there was no harm in it. "Sure." Finny smiled taking her hand.
"Alright follow me." Finny lead the way.
It was about an hour walk, Finny lead Rosaline a little deep into the woods. Birds were chirping and little insects were buzzing around. Rosaline smiled, she liked it out here, but she still thought about why Finny would bring her out here. Finny let go of Rosaline's hand, walking over to a tree. He motioned for her to follow him, the gardener crotched down to an opening in the tree. Rosaline looked over his shoulder; her eyes sparkled in awe at the sight before her.
There was a small baby rabbit sleeping inside the hollowed out part of the tree. Rosaline smiled, she loved animals so this was such a treat for her! However, where was the mother rabbit or the babies? "Finny where is the mother and other babies?"
"I don't know, I kept seeing it in the garden at the manor. I never saw anything else with it, so I followed it here and still no sign of a mother or anything else." Finny spoke.
"Oh." Rosaline muttered softly.
The baby rabbit's ear twitched and its head shot up quickly looking around. Big chocolate eyes stared the two right in the eyes. Rosaline and Finny both released an "Awe." As the baby rabbit stumbled out the hole. It was the same chocolate color as its eyes with huge floppy ears.
Rosaline giggled when the little rabbit licked her hand, "Say Finny is the baby rabbit a girl or boy?"
"I don't know actually." Finny said. "Hmm." He picked it up.
Rosaline waited patiently while Finny looked or whatever he was doing. The blond boy sat the rabbit back on the grass. "Girl…Defiantly a little girl rabbit." Finny declared.
Rosaline smiled looking at the rabbit, "A girl! Should we name her?" Rosaline asked holding her.
Finny placed a finger to his chin, "How about…..Bronwyn?"
Rosaline eyes furrowed together in confusion, "Bronwyn." She replied slowly thinking he meant Brownie.
"Yeah! I hear it in town, I don't recall the meaning though." Finny said absentmindedly.
Rosaline looked at Bronwyn winkling her nose. The baby rabbit suddenly licked Rosaline's nose and jumped out of Rosaline arms. Just a hopping away deeper into the woods. "What was that about?" Rosaline inquired.
Finny shrugged standing up, "I haven't the slightest clue, but let's follow her." Finny helped Rosaline off the ground.
Finny and Rosaline chased after Bronwyn, curious to see why she was hopping away. Both stopped when they stumbled upon Bronwyn sniffing something. "What are you sniffing-Hey!" Finny ran forward sliding onto the ground.
"What's the matter Finny?" Rosaline stepped to see but a young black dressed girl lying in dirt. "Who is she?"
Finny was lifting the girl up, "Its Lady Zoey."
"Lady Zoey?" Rosaline repeated. 'What a moment as in Earl Phantomhive's new fiancée?' She thought.
"I have no idea why she is out here alone, where on earth is her butler?" Finny looked around. "Well come on we have to get her back to manor and found what is going on." Finny said.
Rosaline picked up Bronwyn nodding, "Okay."
After placing Bronwyn back in her little den, she stuck by Finny the entire way back to Phantomhive manor. Rosaline could tell Finny was very worried but that was Finny anyone close to the Phantomhive's was family to him. Rosaline looked at the girl called Zoey, her black attire seemed odd, and her glove was ripped exposing a finger. Why did she have a nail that was black like Claude's?
A/N-Yes, yes I know! I promised the first week of this month, but I will not lie, I'm actually grounded! So the only reason I'm on right now is because my mom is being nice and letting me on for a short while. I'll still be grounded until next month, sadly.
Just for the sake of the future I will not promise chapter updates, I'll post when I can. The next chapter is being worked on, the problem is ten pages into it I realized it was not going to work out so I had to rip out the pages in my notebook *Irritated sigh* So I'm trying to work on it now. So in a way being grounded is a blessing.
A thanks to my beta-readers and my mom! A thanks to people who have read as well.
I will see you in the next update!