CHAPTER 8
Doll is stunned by this. This is the first time anyone said that she was beautiful, let along thought that. She sadly turns away. Finnian gives a concerned look.
"Did I say something wrong?" Finnian asked.
"No. It's just...I'm not beautiful. Never have been, never will." Doll replied sadly.
"What makes you say that?"
"You really want to know?"
Finnian nods.
Doll sighs. He's going to find out sooner or later, she tells herself. Might as well let him see. He'll run off in disgust, just like so many others, she thinks. She lifts the tuft of brown hair on her head to show him her scar and eye. Finnian gives a shocked look, but it is of one of great concern and worry, not disgust.
"Doll! What happened to you?" Finnian asks.
"I don't want to talk about it." She replies, letting her hair back down. "So, you see, I'm not beautiful, and I don't want any false sympathy to make me feel better, either."
"You're wrong. Do you think that scar matters to me? I still think you're very beautiful, and that's not false sympathy, it's the truth."
Doll is stunned by this, as well. This boy is too sweet and kind for his own good.
"Do you really mean that?" She asks.
Finnian nods.
"When you first saw me, what was the first thing about me that you liked?"
Finnian blushes.
"Well..um..it was your freckles." He replied.
Doll is stunned by this, too. Her freckles was another part of her face she didn't like as well. For him to say that he likes her just the way she is, is something she'll never thought would happen with anybody. She finally gives a smile. She then walks over to Finnian and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you, Finny. I think you're cute, as well." She says as she heads into their room.
Finnian smiles as he touches the cheek she kissed and sighs. It was his first kiss from a girl, and he wanted to enjoy this moment for a long time.
The next morning, Baldroy and Tanaka head into town to buy groceries to replinish the food pantry. Doll fixes Ciel his breakfast, and then prepares breakfast for her, Finnian, and Mey-Rin.
After washing the dishes and making the preparations for lunch, Doll helps Finnian some in the garden, making sure he doesn't have any mishaps. As this is going on, Sebastain observes from Ciel's study window and chuckles.
"What's so funny?" Ciel asks as he is working with the balance sheets from the Funtom Toy Company.
"Your stray is definitely a busy little bee. She's already completed her morning kitchen duties and now is working in the garden with Finny. Since she started on that, he hasn't had any accidents."
"That's good. It's refreshing to know I have someone else here besides you and Tanaka that doesn't destroy everything he or she touches."
"Yes, my lord. But I think I see something beginning to form here."
"What's that?"
"Nothing important at the moment. But I'll definitely let you know when it is."
Ciel sighs as he goes back to his paperwork with the Funtom Toy Company. He hates it when Sebastain starts with one of his esoteric banters.
Baldroy and Tanaka return from the market, and Doll and Finnian help take in the groceries. Afterwards, Baldroy and Doll prepare lunch for Ciel and make preparations for dinner. They decide to cook one of Ciel's favorite dishes: pouliet a la campagne.
After dinner and having a parfait for dessert, Ciel is about to turn in for the night. Then there is a knock at the door. Sebastain goes to answer it, and returns a few minutes later with a letter with the Queen's seal on it.
"Her Majesty beckons us once again, my lord." Sebastain says, handing Ciel the letter.
Ciel opens the letter and frowns.
"Her Majesty is sending Grey and Phipps over tomorrow to discuss what she wants me to do." Ciel says while reading it.
"Does that upset you, my lord?" Sebastain asks.
"No. The idea of having an empty food pantry again just after having it filled is what's upsetting."
"Then what do you plan to do?"
"What I usually have to do, of course, which is being a kind and generous host to the Queen's royal servants. She'll expect no less from her guard dog."
"Yes, my lord." Sebastain replied.
