Chapter 10

Brewing Storm

When the dusk finally came, Nathaniel and Almeison cut their outdoor walk short. They discussed nothing but personal interests, some political issues in both England and Germany, and a little about family. It was revealed that Anne-Sophie Frome's engagement to Charles Grey was mainly an allegiance, since the Fromes had financial problems, and marrying into the Grey Family was all the previous Lord Frome could think of as a solution. Almeison thought it was a good piece of information, and went on to narrate how she was never betrothed to anyone, despite being royalty. She left the part where her father could be humiliated and made fun of, as Nathaniel did not need to hear that.

Their pair crossed the wooden fences that separated the Frome property to the forest up ahead, where Anne-Sophie's corpse was recovered, and the corpse of the little girl still hidden in Almeison's chambers. Both entered through the servant's entrance, with Almeison's arm intertwined with Nathaniel's, and she leaning against the frame of his body.

When Lord Frome opened the kitchen door, the sight was unceremonious.

Charles Grey's hand was up inside Ilona's skirt. The maid leapt from his lap, her green eyes widening in shock and in tears. The young nobleman fixed his gloves and smoothed his white tailcoat, trying to look nonchalant, but failed miserably as Her Serene Highness went in like a whirlwind and glared at the poor maid.

"Get out, you slut," Almeison snarled and watched as Ilona bowed and exited the room.

As quickly as he entered, Nathaniel rushed in to hold her back. "Come, Lady Coburg."

She furiously slapped his arm away, hissing, and rounded towards the astounded Earl Grey. "What were you doing with that slut on your lap?!"

"It was nothing," Grey told her calmly. His hands were about to hold her shoulders, an attempt to soothe her, but she backed away.

"Nothing? Nothing!" She curled her fists, as her body shook with anger. Tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. She blinked them away and continued glaring. "Nothing, you say! Fancy that! A lowborn maid squirming and giggling on your lap, Charles! I saw what she was doing; with her face so close to yours! We all knew what she was doing! Yet you say nothing!"

Grey gave her an apologetic look. He glanced sideways and saw Phipps arriving, looking all confused. He turned back to his lady, who was breathless in her anger.

"My love," he said gently and recklessly, not caring if people heard him. "I am sorry."

"Sorry?" She spat as tears fell from her flushed cheeks. It made Grey uncomfortable and stepped towards her, opening his arms for her. But she shook her head. "No, no; I am not a little girl who needs her tears to be kissed. No, get away from me!"

His voice remained low and soft, as he stepped forward again. "Allie, please..."

She stepped back and rasped, "Get away from me! I can smell the whore on you! You disgust me!"

The moment Grey's arms were around her, she rounded on him and slapped his cheek, the stinging sound echoing in the kitchen. Phipps was aghast and Nathaniel stood with his mouth open. Ciel Phantomhive and his butler arrived just in time to see Her Serene Highness bolting out of the room, wiping her tears.

Once everything was quiet, Phipps approached his partner.

"What happened?"

"I did her a favour." Grey winced when he touched his aching cheek. "You know what kind of favour. I should talk to her." He pushed Phipps aside and ran upstairs.

With a hand still caressing his cheek, he burst into the bedchambers of Almeison, and did not find her there. It was empty, with its windows closed and the bed still in order. He caught glimpse of the accursed little sack lying underneath the desk; the corpse of the girl found in the forest two days ago. Growling, he was about to leave when he heard noises coming from his room on the other side of the hallway. He raced towards it, opened the door, and found her.

Almeison was standing in front of the full-body mirror, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. She looked through the mirror as Grey entered and shut the door behind him.

"Allie—"

"Did they buy it?" She immediately cut him off.

Unable to catch her meaning, his brows furrowed. "What?"

She briefly looked behind her to meet his inquiring look, and then returned to her reflection on the mirror. "Did everyone know about what happened? If they did, then that is good, isn't it?"

"Good? What are you talking about?" Grey noted how her voice sounded casual and ordinary, as though nothing transpired in the kitchens.

Instead of answering, Almeison crossed the chambers and stopped in front of him. She brought her fingers to the cheek where she had slapped him earlier. "Oh, does it hurt much? I am so sorry," she said, her voice all apologetic and gentle. Charles still did not understand. When she sensed his confusion, she laughed a little. "It was a believable performance, wouldn't you agree?"

Finally, it dawned into him.

"It was nothing but an act?" he asked incredulously.

"Why, yes." She nodded. "I asked you to acquire information from the maid by any means necessary. I never thought you would resort to sexual seduction. But hey, it was worth as shot, was it not?"

Grey shook his head and glared. "It was an act?"

Almeison rolled her eyes. "Yes, now pay attention."

"No!" He thundered towards her, seething. "Why the hell did you do that?! Do you have any freaking idea how hurtful that slap was?" He pointed angrily at his aching cheek.

"Well, I already apologized," she answered. "I only did that act to assert my power back. If that maid, Ilona, has the slightest misinterpretation that she is being favoured by a rich nobleman, she will start to imagine things. She will think she is the favourite. Now, I cannot let that happen. A little scare might do the trick." She smiled triumphantly at him.

Her smile faded when Grey suddenly pressed her against the wall and pinned her hands on either side of her head.

"You and your stupid tricks!" He gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on her wrists. He leaned closer, scowling. "You think you're so smart, hm? You like playing tricks and getting away with them, and then watch as we try to play with you!"

"You did not think it was real, did you?" She blinked. "I thought you already got the message, so I went in and thundered towards you. The slap was a little out of place, but it should not have hurt that much."

"Never mind the slap!"

"Then I cannot see what the problem here is!"

Grey paused for a while to regain his composure and steadied his breathing.

After a moment of silence, she realized something. "You did not think I was genuinely jealous, did you?"

"Shut up." He removed his hands and backed away.

"That was really unprofessional, Charles. You actually thought I was jealous. I'll be damned if that happened." She gave a little haughty laugh.

"I said, shut up, Almeison! Do you want me to draw the sword?"

She immediately held her hands in defence, fear rushing up in her veins. "You know the rules: no pointy things against me. Her Majesty ought to scold you for threatening me."

"I don't care," Grey snapped at her. "I don't care about you or what you want to say! Get out of here. This is my room. How dare you come here uninvited?"

"There is a dead girl in my room. I already endured sleeping there for two nights, Charles. I would not tolerate it any longer. If you want to sleep there, then please, do so. I am claiming this room as mine."

"You cannot do that!" He rounded towards her, furious once again. "Who do you think you are?"

"Almeison of Coburg, the new Master of the Horse. And to think, in a few weeks, I would lead the Golden Jubilee parade of Her Majesty. Phantasie dass!" She clapped her hands delightfully.

Once the investigation was over, she would have to travel back to London and prepare for the celebration. It excited her to think about supervising the management of the royal carriage, of all the horses she was supposed to watch. She would wear red and black, with golden badges on her coat, and a black feathered-hat upon her head. She would have a sword slung around her hips, but Queen Victoria promised that it was nothing but a toy, to ensure her safety.

Charles Grey crossed his arms above his chest, smirking deviously. "Almeison of Coburg, the new Master of the Horse, indeed. I wonder how many people know you are born out of wedlock."

Almeison stopped her fantasies. She whirled towards him, frowning. "What did you say?"

"Oh, I don't know." He feigned innocence and played with the longer patch of his silver-white hair. "It seems odd to me that Her Majesty would allow a lowborn into the court, especially you. The Duke of Coburg must have been very ashamed of you, that he sent you away from home."

"You, Earl Grey, do not know what you are saying." She stood in front of him, looking up into his indifferent eyes. They showed no emotions, as opposed to the ferocity they showed only a few moments ago.

"I do, of course." He chuckled. "Her Majesty told us about you, before you came to court."

"Perhaps, but you do not know anything about my life in Germany." She blinked back the tears once more, and this time, they were real tears, triggered by emotions she thought she had left behind when she left her home, Rosenau Palace. She loved that place, a small palace in the countryside, Prince Albert's childhood home.

"Does it matter?" Grey shrugged. "You are a bastard, and bastards do not get many credits unlike the full-fledged children."

"Full-fledged?" Her voice was thick with emotions. "Is that what you are, a full-fledged son of one of the most noble families in the country? And I—Her Serene Highness, Almeison von Coburg, with all the rest of all the damned pretentious titles—am nothing but a half-breed. Oh, yes, very much so, Earl Grey. I am so overwhelmed with your honesty," she spat sarcastically. "Perhaps I should curtsy to you now, since you are so high and mighty? Should I kneel and kiss your shoes, and call you my lord?"

The sudden outburst did not sway him. Instead, he smirked and said, "I cannot see why not."

"Very well, then." Almeison drew herself away from him and gave a little curtsy. "You must be happy now. If you'll excuse me, Lord Charles Henry Grey, I would have to leave and dress for dinner. There is Lord Frome waiting for me, I believe. He has more respect for me than my own friend has."

With a little disgusted glance at him, she opened the door and left him behind.

Everyone was deadly silent when they entered the dining hall. Nathaniel and his little sister, Marianne, arrived hand-in-hand, followed by the elderly Frome butler, Rickard. Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian came in next, after spending an hour thinking about their next move, now that their group seemed divided after the argument between Earl Grey and Lady Coburg in the kitchens. Charles Grey went in alone, quiet as a shadow, and seated himself next to Ciel. Then came the steward, Declan Spencer, with some of the food. Ilona was two paces behind him, avoiding everyone's eyes.

The time seemed to have stopped when Her Serene Highness and Charles Phipps entered together. Almeison was wearing plum silk evening dress with black embroidered swirls around the collar and sleeves. A velvet ribbon was tied around her waist, and a matching, albeit thinner, velvet choker around her neck. Her golden hair was in a curly ponytail, adorned with another ribbon.

She smiled demurely to Lord Frome. "I brought a present all the way from Germany, a little chair, if you are wondering."

"I am honoured, Your Highness," Nathaniel breathed against her gloved hand and kissed it.

Almeison glanced vindictively at Ilona, who was standing in the corner of the room.

"It is for your maid, Lord Frome, to sit on. It occurred to me that she has no seat of her own, so she must borrow mine. It might also save her from a storm that would brew the next time. Or perhaps it might save her less time to squirm in someone else's lap."

Ilona flushed red in embarrassment, but kept her head low. Sebastian turned away to hide his snicker.

"Of course." Nathaniel made a mental note not to cross her. He led her towards the table. "To dinner, Your Serene Highness."

With grace, Almeison accepted his hand and sat beside him on the dinner table. Food was served and wine was poured into their goblets. The silence was broken when Ciel, the clever young earl, distracted Lord Frome and asked him about hunting. Delighted with the topic, the brown-haired young man began to explain this and that to the young earl, which eased the tension in the dining hall.

Grey glanced at Almeison's modest demeanor, glowered, and leaned against his partner. "What game is she playing this time?"

"Nothing, I should like to think," Phipps answered in a hushed voice, and then took a small sip from his wine. He watched as Lady Coburg commented on something Lord Frome said, which made him laugh. "It appears she only wants some peace after what happened earlier," he added.

"Make amends?" Grey snorted. "Don't make me laugh. Look at her; she's clearly enjoying this. For all I know, she is plotting something."

"But we are always plotting," Phipps said, with a hint of amusement. "Why do you think Her Serene Highness is always with him, leaning against him, and laughing with him? Of course, she has something up in her sleeves. Why do you think Earl Phantomhive disappears in one second, and then appears in the next? Why do you think he always asks the oddest questions? Of course, he plans to end this investigation and return to London as soon as possible."

Phipps chuckled. "Our little group is always plotting."

*Phantasie dass - Fancy that!

*The term "slut" has been used since the late 14th century, though its meaning is not as terrible as it is today. There are published books from Medieval Ages that include the word.

Author's Notes: Seems Grey and Ilona's "romance" is short-lived, thanks to Almeison. At this rate, no one's going to flirt with Grey anymore, not while she's around. For now, do enjoy a lovers' quarrel and some shaming of the "other woman". The shaming was out of place, yes, but Almeison be like: "To hell with it!"XD

Thank you to all who reviewed last chapter! I am very grateful for your kind comments and opinions! I'll be sure to work harder and make this story better as it goes.

Reviews are always appreciated. Thank you for reading!