The Printing company was not the only company she owned. There was a chain of small print shops throughout England where many people would stop and make copies of Wedding Certificates, Baptismal Certificates, Death Certificates; really just any type of certificate. Also books, important documents, and one of the shops had been turn into the start of the Monthly Illustrated Strand Magazine.
The recent edition was about all the murders she had personally reported to the queen. It also had an advertisement section, were the her printing and the cigarette company were advertised along with other neighboring companies such as the Funtom Toy Company.
2 years ago, when her family had- nothing. Two years ago the company had suddenly fallen, then the Earl comes back with a mysterious butler and the company rises from ashes. Much like what happened to her…
Now there was another company she owed was that terrible Cigarette company. Banquet Hall Bouquet Cigarettes were quite popular amongst the nobles. She hated that company that made and distributed them. They were all over London, and some parts of America, like New York. She hated it because a fool once had left his partially burned cigar lit, on a stack of parchment from Egypt . It was literally made out of dried grasses. Well what happened next you ask? The drunk fool didn't notice that the stack had caught on fire, until he was trapped in his room, and he had been killed. It was just too foolish but it still caused Adrianne to hate the company. The only reason it was still going on was because of her cousin.
Cousin Belphamore was a short ugly man. Only 23 years old, and had once been married. His wife died, or so he said. Everyone had their own suspicions, since he found out she couldn't have children, he had been enraged. His act at her Funeral had been amazingly convincing, but some still wondered.
Now his argument on keeping the company was the following:
"Think of all the workers, they surely have children that they won't be able to feed when you selfishly take their jobs to close down the very successful company they so dearly take care of!"
"My dear cousin! Think about me? Most of my money nowadays is from that company. Close it and I will be as broke as the old beggar around the corner of the plantation!"
"If you want, I will take the company off your hands, and will personally manage all of the functions, and will only bring back suggestions, and good knews!"
Now of course, she let him, for the sake of some peace, but she wasn't all that content.
? ゚ヤᆵ? 1 Year Later (1887) ? ゚ヤᆵ?
One day something surprising came along her way. "Adrianne… I think you should let me raise the price for the cigarettes, since you know, the tobacco prices are rising too!" now what?
"I thought I said that we would grow our own tobacco. Belphamore, don't' tell me that you have been buying cheap tobacco the entire time! I thought we had plantations, just as it was when I was in charge of it!"
This conversation had taken place in her study. There was a knock on the door.
"Come in." it was Alexander. He had a letter in his hands.
Adrianne was nw 15 years old, and still was not over her own butler. In human years, she guessed, he would probably be 26. But he was a demon. He could be hundreds, even thousands of years old! But that meant nothing. Her black hair had grown longer, her breast had grown too, causing her man embarrassments when her dresses were too tight, and Alexander was there to see her suffer with the buttons. She was also taller, which was an advantage. She was almost to Alexander's shoulders.
Not strange enough, Alexander didn't seem to age at all.
"Mistress, a letter for you from the Phantomhive estate." she took it from his hands and briefly skimmed it frowning. "It is an invitation to a Charity ball he hosts every year."
Without even sparing a look at her cousin she orders him to leave, and he does so. Grumbling to himself, and stomping off, he doesn't even close the door. 'Alexander, can you get the door?"
"Ofcousre."
"So let's see…The Earl of the Phantomhive Estate, Ciel Phantomhive invites you to a charity ball to blah, and blah blah blab. Blah blah. But of course Blah is blah… And a bunch of other words coated in sugar." she sighs and looks at Alexander. "Do I have to go?" she makes a pouty face. He walks closer to her ebony desk.
'We want to keep the company popular don't we? So, it is highly suggested that you do go." she frowns.
"Will you go as my escort?" she knew what he would say. The same 'It's unacceptable' stuff would pop up. It was worth a try!
"That would be unacceptable. I am merely a butler afterall!"
"No one has to know!
"Why don't you ask someone closer to your age to go with you?" she huffs.
"How old are you?" he thought for a while.
"I could be considered to be 25 years old."
"Ha! You aren't too old!" she pointed out.
"Correct, but I am still your butler. She stood from her chair.
"I wish I was at least 20!" she ran and hugged him tightly. After a few akward seconds he put his arms around her, and smelled her sweet scent. Like roses and chamomile.
"Will you come then- as my butler I mean?"
"Of Course." she gave him the best smile on earth.
? ゚ヤᆵ? 1 Week Later ? ゚ヤᆵ?
"So Alexander… are you sure this dress is the right one?" she was wearing a dark blue floor length dress. The material sparkled when she moved, and layers of lace fluttered around her.
"Of course." he answered. She frowned.
"That's not what i wanted to hear." she looked up at his wine eyes. That seemed almost blood red now.
"Verywell. I think you look magnificent." he smiled uniquely. He then grabbed her into a simple 3 step dance.
"You look just as your grandmother dreamed you." he paused. "Elegant, graceful. Don't forget these…" on her neck he placed her grandmother's sapphire necklace. She smiled, and when he wasn't looking, she swiftly kissed him on the cheek and stepped back almost immediately. His hand went up to his cheek and he kept it there for a while.
"Thankyou." she beamed at him.
? ゚ヤᆵ? 1 Hour Later ? ゚ヤᆵ?
"This party is going to be soo boring!" I rather stay at home and study latin with you." Adrianne whined during the carriage ride. Suddenly Camino the Italian driver stopped the carriage.
"Eh, Mistress Blackvood, I think you may wanted to see these." he called back.
"It better not be something dumb!" Adrianne called back. Alexander jumped out of the carriage, and helped her out. The short italian driver was tugging at his brown hair. Both Adrianne and Alexander turned there heads to the road and what they saw didn't surprise them one bit.
There was a small black kitten sprawled on it's back in the middle of the road.
"Eez eet dead?" Camino asked poking it with a stick. Alexander went up to it and patted it's belly. Instantly the cat started purring. It's eyes opened revealing olive green irises. In less than a blink it was in Alexander's lap and he was dangling a leaf over it.
"Another one?" whine Adrianne. Although it wasn't a real whine, she felt the need to catch Alexander's attention. Whenever she saw him giving so much attention to something else, she felt something in her twinge. What was it? Cat's seemed to love Alexander. That is why they had a bedroom and a garden specifically for cats. Currently, they owned 12 cats. The latest had been found three days ago. They even had a servant named cat. Who took care of all the cats. They had found her around the same place where Alexander had first seen the first "Jack the Ripper" murder. She had been investigating she said, since she had these strange cat senses, and had smelled the blood. She as only a young girl of around 12 years was quite adorable. With short blond hair, the olive eyes of a cat, and her high pitched voice. She was so perfect for her job. And she did do her job well. Sometimes somehow, the cats would reproduce. Adrianne preferred not to know how, but she had an idea. Then in those times, they would give the kittens as presents. It was a tad bit hard to make them let go of Alexander's coat, but in the end it was worth it.
"Adrianne, I heard Lord Phantomhive's Butler had a weakness for cats and kittens!" he gave a naughty smile. He was familiar with this butler. And they were not the best of friends. His smile grew when he saw the face of pure glee on his Mistress.
"You are quite naughty giving me ideas like that.." she whispered behind him. She went over to one of the black horses and removed it's scarlet ribbon, tying it on the kitten so she looked like a present. Both Adrianne and Alexander shared some devilish smiles.
The rest of the ride was uneventful except for the constant purring of the cat in Alexander's lap. Adrianne was suddenly feeling anger in her chest, but unknowing of the cause soon forgot it.
Hey! I'm back, and made an effort to makea longer chapter. Hope you liked it!
