Author's note:
Hello and Happy Holidays to you all! Welcome to another chapter.
As always, thank you for taking interest in this story and to all who have favorited and followed. A special THANK YOU to those who offered review of chapter nine: RedFantisies, alexandriasutherland98, and Akuma-Sama2002. I wanted to make a special mention of the reviews that were given by Guest and . I am not sure why, but their reviews are not appearing in the review section (though I have experienced some issues with the site this week, so maybe that's why), but I wanted to make sure I recognized them as well. I would usually reply to your reviews via PM, but I will here instead. Thank you so much for reading the story and for your enthusiastic interest. I hope you continue to enjoy Sarah's journey. Also, I wanted to also thank everyone who has been offering support and feedback behind the scenes. You lovelies know who you are.
So, without further ado, I give you chapter ten. Poor Sarah and Sebastian…they are going to have a rough day.
Chapter Ten: His Butler, Exasperated
I knew it was going to be a long day as soon as I heard the frantic rapping on my bedroom door. Groggily, I squinted at the small clock that sat on my dresser. It was four o'clock. Why was someone up at this godforsaken hour? It was a half an hour before I usually had to start my day. No one else should be out of bed.
A maid's day starts early, especially if you are the lowest ranking maid of the house. My day began at four thirty when I would rise, an hour before everyone else in the house, and begin my morning routine of getting ready for the day. At five, I would go downstairs to the scullery and begin boiling the water that would be used for washing dishes and laundry, cooking, and bathing. Once that was underway, I would begin to light the fires, taking a moment to stop by the other servants' quarters to wake them. I always started with the room Finny and Bard shared because the two of them were difficult to rouse and would often require me rounding back to their room at least two or three more times before I would hear any sign of life. Mey-Rin and Tanaka never posed such a problem. I usually heard some noise or word of acknowledgement after my first succession of knocks to let me know they were awake. Sebastian, not that it was any surprise, was the only servant I never had to wake up. Usually I would pass him in the hallway as I went up to wake the others while he went downstairs to prepare our breakfast. I had learned on my first day that either Sebastian or Tanaka prepared the day's first meal. I had been confused at first, considering Bard was the cook, but I quickly found out why…apparently they wanted to ensure that we had at least one edible meal a day.
After that, I would finish lighting the fires and would return to the servant's hall just in time for breakfast to be served. At breakfast, the normal beginning of day conversation would commence while we were eating. I would typically remain silent for most of those exchanges, only adding a comment here or there when prompted to by the others, preferring silence to the droll conversation. Sebastian usually remained silent as well until he interrupted to assign the duties for the day. I also noticed that he never ate, or at least never ate when the rest of us were present. Bard said he thought he always ate in his office, but I had seen no evidence of that, either. I did not give it much thought, though. He was a grown man and could make sure that he kept himself fed. It was just odd.
From there, I would commence on performing the tasks Sebastian had assigned me for the day, only taking a break for around one for lunch and then around nine o'clock when we all came together for dinner. After dinner was concluded, I would spend the next two hours cleaning the kitchen and scullery to make sure everything was prepared for the next day and going about ensuring that the fires that needed to remain lit for the night were stoked well enough they would not expire and that the ones that did not were adequately extinguished. To my relief, we had not had cold enough weather that I needed to check on them during the night. Finally, after all my work was completed and I had prepared myself for the night, I would fall into bed, exhausted and sore, by eleven thirty or midnight only to have to do it all over again the next day. It was tiring work, but I did not mind it. In fact, in my own way, I actually enjoyed it. Having a routine again and something to distract my thoughts helped provide me with some much needed stability. But, it also made me covet one thing above all else…sleep. And I was currently being robbed of the last few precious minutes of it.
I heaved a heavy sigh as I swung my legs over the bed, rubbing my eyes and stretching as I waited for my brain to come out of the fog that slumber created. Grabbing the loaned night coat from where I had draped it over the foot of my bed, I slipped it on as I shuffled to the door.
"I'm coming," I called to whoever was outside my door before mumbling grumpily under my breath, "This better be worth it."
The match crackled as I struck it to light the candle. While my room was small enough to be lit by the moonlight that filtered through the window, I knew the hallway would still be pitch black at this hour.
"Yes, who is it?" I asked, reaching for the lock.
"It's me, Sarah," Mey-Rin's panicked whisper answered.
Without hesitating another moment, I unlocked the door and opened it, anxious to see what was the matter. I started as the candlelight illuminated the hall about us. Mey-Rin stood before me, trembling uncontrollably, her nightgown soaked through, her hair a disheveled mess. Assuming the worst, I reached out a comforting hand.
"Mey-Rin, what has happened?" I whispered softly, steeling myself for what she might say.
"Oh, Sarah," she began, earnestly grasping my hand, "You must come quickly! If Sebastian finds out, he'll skin us alive!"
Without waiting for an answer from me, Mey-Rin turned and, still having a vice like grip on my hand, began pulling me down the hall. I gripped the candleholder tighter to make sure I did not drop it as we dashed down the servant's stairs to the second floor. My mind whirred, trying to make sense of what was happening. Why was Mey-Rin so worried? Nothing seemed to be amiss with Ciel or the other servants. Surely nothing could have been destroyed at this hour…no one was supposed to be up yet. And why had she said "us"?
We halted abruptly as we came to the bathing room that was used by Ciel and any noble guests who stayed in the manor. What could have happened here? Our bathing room was on the same floor as our quarters.
Finally able to catch my breath, I looked to Mey-Rin for an explanation.
"You have to tell me what in the world we are doing at his lordship's bathing room," I panted.
Even in the poor light given by the candle, I noticed Mey-Rin pale considerably at my words. She opened and shut her mouth several times as she attempted to offer an explanation, but seemed to find herself with a lack of words. I sighed heavily when she was unable to respond.
"Honestly, Mey-Rin," I huffed as I marched to the door, "It cannot be all that bad."
I wrenched open the door and found myself unable to move as I took in the scene before me.
"Oh, good heavens," I whispered, still unable to believe what my eyes were seeing.
It appeared that somehow the handle to the cold water tap of the tub had been broken off and the pipe that carried the water to the tub had been damaged, which had not only caused the tub to overflow, but to also send a geyser of water shooting up into the air. Fortunately, due to the size of the room, the water that was rapidly covering the floor had not made it to the door to seep into the hallway…not yet, at least. If we didn't figure out something soon, however, it would.
"Oi!"
The startled cry broke me out of my shock induced stare. I turned to where the cry had originated to find Bard doing the last button of his sleeping trousers, a deep blush on his face. Looking down, I noticed the other clothing that lay, haphazardly strewn across the wet floor. Then, glancing over at Mey-Rin as she timidly joined me by my side, I noted the red marks that littered her neck and shoulders. I inhaled sharply as I realized what had happened. I may have been somewhat innocent when it came to the dealings between men and women, but I wasn't, as they say, born yesterday. I was here because of a rendezvous gone wrong.
"Sarah, we can explain," Mey-Rin hesitantly began, a blush of shame creeping across her face.
I put up a silencing hand. I was beginning to understand why Sebastian seemed so stern. Maybe I should not have judged him so harshly.
"There's no need."
Bard stepped closer, pulling his shirt on as he interrupted, "What do you need us to do?"
He withered as I gave him a scathing look.
"I will handle things here. You two gather your things and try to get back to your rooms without being seen," I paused, prepared to end there when I noticed the worried looks on both their faces, "And I won't speak a word of your indiscretion."
Both breathed a collective sigh of relief at my words before they quickly executed my instructions.
"Thank you," Mey-Rin gushed gratefully as she took the candle from me and they both hurried out the door.
"Yeah, thanks." Bard called back.
Now that I was alone, I turned to look at the chaos that surrounded me. Sighing, I put my hands on my hips, as I whispered, defeat clear in my voice, "How am I supposed to fix this?"
After a moment of consideration, I decided that the first thing I should do is do what I could to prevent the water from reaching the hallway. So, I closed the door and, removing my night coat, stuffed it underneath the door to seal it off as best I could. Then, quickly pattering over to the tub, I tied some of the soaked towels around some of the gaps in the pipes to slow the streams of water that came from those holes. Though it did nothing to stop the fountain that was coming from the top of the pipe, it still helped, if only minutely.
I raised my hand to my chin as I inspected broken handle, shivering as water rained down from the accidental fountain, soaking me through. If there was a way that I could tighten it, that might cut off the demand for the water. That was really a shot in the dark. I didn't have any sort of plumbing knowledge. I looked about the room to see if there might be anything I could use as leverage but could not find any. Sighing once more, I pushed my sleeves up to my elbows and firmly grasped the metal bit where the handle should have been and twisted as much as my trembling hands would allow. It did not budge. Instead, my hands slipped off the bit and over where the water spouted freely from the pipe, causing water to spray me in the face. I gasped at the frigid temperature and backed away, my heart pounding in my chest.
Above the rush of the water, I heard the door slam open. I turned towards the door, opening my mouth to warn whoever it was not to come in, but found myself frozen when I realized who it was. Sebastian stood, hands on either side of the doorway, as he stared, mouth slightly open, at the sight before him. If I hadn't been so surprised by his appearance, I would have found his shock amusing. I guessed it mirrored the expression I had worn but a few minutes ago. However, I found myself distracted by the haphazardly disheveled look of his hair and slightly flushed cheeks. I felt warmth pool inside me as my gaze traveled lower to where his unbuttoned shirt hung loosely from his torso, where the pale skin of his muscular chest and toned abdomen were revealed. Apparently this situation had been brought to his attention whilst he was getting ready. What a delicious sight. About to indulge myself and allow my gaze to travel lower, I noticed that he had stepped into the room.
The irritation and accusation that were clear in his glare erased all previous thoughts and made my heart stutter in fear. Defensively, I held up my hands as he closed the door behind him, slipping the now saturated night coat back into place.
"I didn't do this," I blurted out, which caused him to pause. Taking advantage of this, I quickly added, "I can't get this to tighten to shut off the water."
I reached down, doing my best to keep my hands from trembling as my whole body shook from the cold, and grabbed hold of the bit. I was about to demonstrate what I had been trying when his gloved hands took hold of mine. I paused, my brow quirking questioningly as my gaze me his. A slight smile graced his lips as he removed my hands from the bit.
"Allow me."
Crouching to reach below the tub, he twisted a knob that was tucked underneath that I hadn't seen. Immediately, the geyser stopped and the water ceased to flow from the tub's faucet. I wrapped my arms around my torso as I continued to shiver, my breath shaky. Sebastian rose to stand, a proud grin on his face as he clasped his hands together.
"There, you see? Problem solved."
"Thank you," I breathed, internally scolding myself for not noticing the cut off valve, then, looking about the room, added, "What are we going to do about this?"
Sebastian placed his hands on his hips as he surveyed the damage for a moment before replying, "The tub should drain soon. Then we can use buckets to scoop up most of the water and mop up the rest. Thanks to your quick thinking with the night coat, the hallway wasn't too affected."
I attempted a grateful smile, but it was a feeble execution at best. My body jerked suddenly, my muscles tight as I tried to warm myself. This did not go unnoticed. I averted my gaze as I heard the quiet splashing of water as Sebastian walked over to me.
"A bit cold, are we?" he asked. I did not have to look at him to know he was wearing one of his signature toying smiles. I jumped and turned back to him when I felt his hand rest on my shoulder, before he added, "We should get you upstairs and into a fresh change of clothes."
My eyes searched his as I tried to determine whether or not he was being genuine or if he was suggestively jesting, but I found his expression strangely unreadable. Deciding I would rather not find out what exactly he had meant, I feigned an apologetic smile as I stepped back, sliding myself from his grasp.
"That is alright," I began as I turned and made my way towards the door, "I will retrieve what buckets I can from the scullery so we can begin to clean up. The walk should help."
I reached for the doorknob and had begun to open the door, when a shadow appeared to my right just before the door was slammed shut with a bang. I blinked a couple of times, glancing to where I saw a gloved hand resting against the door.
"I'm afraid I can't allow that," Sebastian's voice purred in my ear.
I did my best to ignore the craving his voice elicited, choosing instead to focus on the pang of annoyance his actions provoked.
"And why not?" I defiantly asked, crossing my arms as I turned myself around to face him.
My heart stuttered as I realized how closely he stood to me, towering over me as he leaned his elbow against the door. His damp hair clung to his cheeks, small droplets of water falling from the ends of the fringes to his chest, glistening as they slowly made their way down his smooth alabaster skin. A hint of a blush flushed my cheeks as I nervously grabbed fistfuls of the skirt of my nightgown as I tried to suppress the urge to reach out and touch him. This was an already compromising situation, I reminded myself as a clenched my hands so hard I felt water trickle through my fingers from the thick flannel material. I shouldn't complicate my situation further by giving credibility to the rumors that had already been spread…that I was a slut…a whore. None of which were true, but once the words had been spoken, the damage had been done.
"Well, for one, the longer you remain in these clothes and freeze, the more likely you are to get sick. You have only just recovered completely from your injuries. I won't have you getting sick on my watch. Besides," Sebastian started with a matter of fact tone before pausing.
Nothing but the pounding of my heart in my ears drowned out the silence that fell between us as his eyes slowly traveled down my body, outlining every detail as he did so. A smirk teased the corner of his mouth, clearly enjoying what he was seeing. My blush deepened, though, to my surprise, I felt an overwhelming pride swell inside me along with a desire to reveal more to him. My eyes widened as I realized that, rather than being modestly embarrassed, I was enjoying this. There was something strangely satisfying at being able to give him a taste of his own medicine. I blanched at the thought. What was wrong with me?!
At that moment, his gaze snapped back up to mine and I could have sworn his eyes flashed a brilliant crimson for a moment. However, when I blinked, his strangely hued eyes were the same as always.
"Besides," he repeated, taking a step closer to me, effectively closing almost all of the distance between us. I clenched my hands harder, digging my fingernails into the palms of my hands as he leaned in, his gaze never leaving mine as he brought his face a mere inches away from mine, "With as soaked as your nightgown is, it leaves little to the imagination."
I gasped, looking down for a moment to realize that he was correct. Though the thickness of the flannel prevented anything explicit from being seen, there were really no secrets being hidden by how the material clung to every inch of my body. An embarrassed heat went through me and I quickly wrapped my arms across my chest, relieved that I still had the modesty I had seemed to be sorely lacking a minute ago.
"Why didn't you say something sooner?" I demanded, shooting the butler a disapproving look, to which he chuckled and smiled, feigning innocence.
"Why, I thought you knew."
I growled angrily and glared up at him, trying to look as indignant as my trembling body would allow. When I offered no retort, a satisfied smile came across his features.
"Very well then, why don't you put this on until we get you upstairs? An extra layer should help," he said, more as a statement than a suggestion a moment before he removed his shirt and wrapped it around my shoulders.
Cursed be that butler if he had any idea what he was doing to me. I remained silent, pulling the shirt more securely around me, as he bent over to pick up my drenched night coat and walked back to put it in the tub. As he did so all of the emotions raging inside me were a cacophony compared to the indifferent silence I maintained on the outside. My eyes greedily traced the muscular contours and lines of his back and shoulders, making sure I glanced down at the floor as soon as he made to turn around.
Without another word, he opened the door and exited into the hall. I assumed I was supposed to follow so I did, quickly jogging to join him at his side. Another violent shiver shook my body as we began ascending the servant's stairs and I pulled his shirt tighter to my body. Even though his shirt was still damp, it was dryer than my nightgown and offered comfort more than anything. Curious, I closed my eyes and rubbed my nose inconspicuously against the collar of his shirt, feeling my muscles relax somewhat as I took in a deep breath of his scent. It was a pleasant mixture of earth, cinnamon, and musk.
As we continued our walk in silence, I glanced over to Sebastian, my mind at a loss to explain how one person could make me feel so many different things. It was perplexing, to be sure, but I had come to find that I did not mind it, not even the explicit desire, though it fought against my modest nature. I had still been cautious. Ciel's warning and my own instincts had not been lost on me. But I found that the more time I spent around the enigma of a butler, the more comfortable I felt around him. I had come to realize that, slowly over the past month and a half, he had become my friend. It was an unusual friendship, seeing as neither of us were entirely normal, with him being the butler for one of the Queen's guard dogs and I a former Silencer, but it was a welcome companionship that we both seemed to mutually enjoy in our own way.
"Sarah," Sebastian called, drawing my attention to him before he continued, "Earlier you said that you hadn't caused the destruction in the bathing room. Do you know who did?"
I paused as we came to the door of my quarters, sighing internally. I had hoped that he would let it go.
"Yes, I do."
His eyebrow quirked, displeased that I had not been as forthcoming as he had wanted. He opened his mouth to press the issue further when I cut him off.
"And, no, I won't tell you."
"Why not?" he asked, stepping towards me. I stepped away from him and opened the door. I did not want to be pinned by him again, especially not where we could easily be seen.
"Because, I promised not to. And if there is one thing you can know about me, Sebastian Michaelis, it is that I always keep my promises," I replied, a playful smirk on my lips as I turned to face him, finding a smirk on his face that mirrored my own.
"That is a bold statement, coming from the daughter of Richard Wakefield. I thought your father built his legacy on broken promises."
"He did. But that is how he created so many enemies," I stated, holding my ground as he stepped towards me again, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe. My gaze was firm and determined as I looked into his face, "I may be my father's daughter, but I am not him."
He chuckled softly, an amused smile lighting his face.
"Very well, then," he paused, his amused smile morphing into a wickedly mischievous grin before adding, "You do realize that I will find out whether you tell me or not."
"Yes," I quipped, "but at least I will have kept up my part."
I was about to add that he should return to his chambers to clean up himself, when I tensed once more, my teeth chattering as strong shivers shook my body. Sebastian's brow dipped in a concerned frown.
"Perhaps you should take a warm shower before you start your day."
"But," I objected, glancing back at the clock to see that it was already a little after five, "what about the fires and the water? That needs to be done before breakfast."
Warmth heated my cheeks when I felt a gloved finger pressed against my lips to silence any further objection.
"Do not concern yourself about it. I will take care of everything."
My brows raised questioningly at his statement. I had no idea how he was going to prepare himself for the day, heat the water, light the fires, wake the servants, and cook a full breakfast in less than fourty-five minutes. It seemed impossible.
"No need to worry, everything will be done as it should be. Because," he began, then winking, he added, "I am simply one hell of a butler."
/
The deep grating rhythm of the brush against the floor of the dining room thrummed in my ears as I scrubbed the richly hued hardwood. I felt beads of sweat on my nose and forehead and loose strands of hair dangled by my face, tickling my flushed cheeks as I continued my work on my hands and knees. Scrubbing the floors was hard work, especially of a room this size…and this was the second time this week I was doing it. When Sebastian had informed me of this task at breakfast, I thought I had misheard him. However, when I had attempted to clarify by reminding him that I had done so on Monday, he had repeated that the dining room floors needed to be scrubbed in such a tone that I knew I was not to question his orders a second time.
I sighed as I felt the glove on my right hand slip to expose the palm of my hand. Sebastian had given them to me on my first day, stating that there was a good chance that I might eventually assist with cases during which I might have to disguise as a noble woman. One could not pass as a lady with a maid's hands. I thought it was a rather silly precaution at the time, given how comically large the gloves were for my hands, but in the past two weeks I had come to appreciate them. Despite the protection they offered, I still had to apply a good deal of ointment to my hands each night before bed due to how chaffed they had become from working so much in water.
I rose to sit on my knees and taking the neck of the damp glove between my teeth, as I did not want to get my left glove wet-I intentionally did this in case I had to handle something quickly I could not do with wet gloves, and gave a firm tug. At the same time, I heard Sebastian call my name from the doorway which was to my left.
I turned, mid-tug, to acknowledge his arrival. A queer look passed over his features, as if he had been struck with something, his eyes snapping to where the glove rested between my teeth. However, it did not last long enough for me to truly discern what he was feeling before his face returned to his normal stoic expression.
"Yes, Sebastian?" I asked, releasing the glove.
"I have come to take you on the remaining part of the tour of the mansion. Now that you have fully recovered, I believe you are ready for it."
I raised my brow in bewilderment and frustration. If he was going to do that, then why in the world did he have me doing this?
"I thought you wanted me to scrub the floors," I challenged.
"Let me rephrase my previous statement," he said, his tone taking on an edge of annoyance, "Our master wishes you to finish the tour. He wants you to do something, call it a test of sorts."
After a moment of consideration, I nodded in acquiescence before I removed and pocketed the gloves and rose to my feet, reminding myself that today was not a day I should be trying Sebastian's patience. The incident in the bathroom was only the beginning folly of the day. Later this morning, Mey-Rin had managed to break an entire set of the finest china while she was cleaning and Finny had tracked a copious amount of snow through the whole lower floor of the mansion. How he had done it, I could not begin to fathom. Though, most of the accidents that occurred because of the servants seemed to have little to no reasonable explanation. Such as how Bard thought the best way to clean up the snow was to melt it with a flame thrower he had procured from who knows where. There were some I had heard that had the misfortune of being accident prone, but these three seemed to have a proclivity for it. Needless to say, by lunch Sebastian appeared to be at the end of his rope and when Finny had attempted an apology, Sebastian had rose without a word and went outside.
"Should I change before we do?" I asked, picking up the pail and brush.
"No," he briskly replied as I walked up to him, "There is a good chance you will get dirtier during this tour. I do not want you to ruin your evening uniform."
Without another word, he turned on his heal and began to stride down the hallway. Knowing I was to follow, I did so without prompting, sprinting to catch up with him, making sure I did not do so too quickly, as I did not want to spill any of the soiled water on the carpet.
"What sort of test?" I questioned, glancing up at him.
Without looking at me, he opened the door to the servant's stairs and began to descend at a quick pace so I had to rush to keep up.
"You will find out once we arrive," he answered, his smooth voice echoing against the plaster walls.
"Arrive where?" I prodded as we came to the hall of the lower floor where we, as servants, spent most of our time.
I grimaced, doing all I could to keep the sloshing pail from spilling its contents on the floor as Sebastian halted abruptly in front of me. He turned, just as abruptly, to face me. I could tell from the strained nature of his expression that I was to tread carefully.
"My, you are full of questions today," he taunted.
I dropped my gaze to the floor in apology for my curiosity.
He paused for a moment, possibly considering how to respond, though I could not tell because I dared not look at his face, before he walked into the scullery where I was to deposit the pail and brush.
"It is a room that I like to call my special pantry."
I rolled my eyes as soon as my back faced him, pouring the contents of the pail into the large sink. Yes, because that really cleared things up.
Accepting that I would receive no legitimate reply from him, I dried my hands on my soiled apron before I removed it and discarded it on the counter until I needed it again. He was waiting expectantly for me to finish when I turned around and quickly exited the scullery once he saw I was ready. I followed him as we made our way down the hall, passing rooms with which I was already familiar: the servant's hall, the kitchen, the larder and the door to the cellar, the butler's pantry, and Sebastian's office. Other than the wash room and the area where the firewood was kept, which were located the opposite direction, I did not know of any other rooms that were located on the servant's floor.
We rounded a corner at what I thought had been the end of the hall, as I hadn't had any need nor time to explore this far on my own, and continued for several more meters before we came to a stop in front of an imposing set of double doors. Sebastian then reached into his tailcoat and removed a large brass key, which he extended to me.
"These doors are usually locked, so you will need to carry this on you at all times should the need arise for you to access this room." He instructed, but gave no further explanation.
I held the questions back that I so desperately wanted to ask. Not that I would have had any time to. As soon as I safely pocketed the key, he turned and opened both of the doors in a grand fashion.
"My apologies for the delay, my lord," he said, announcing our presence before we both stepped into the well lit room.
As he strode over to stand by his master's side, I found myself unable to move. My lips parted as I stared around the room in childish wonder. The room was enormous! It must have spanned the second half of the lower floor and was filled from floor to ceiling with weapons of all sizes and makes, from daggers and swords to machine guns and cannons. At the far end where Ciel and Sebastian stood, there appeared to be an indoor shooting range.
"Welcome to the armory," Bard's voice called from across the room. A wide grin spread across his face, his signature cigarette resting in the corner of his mouth, as he and Mey-Rin approached me.
"Do you like it?" he asked with amused confidence.
"Like it?" I asked in return, finally able to pull my gaze away from the weaponry before enthusiastically adding, "I love it!"
Mey-Rin and Bard laughed at my enthusiasm while I began to walk around the room, finding myself unable to keep my attention away from the treasures that surrounded me. I paused in my walk as something caught my attention.
"Is that a…?!" I began, starstruck.
Forgetting myself, I rushed over to where a rifle sat perched as if begging me to pick it up and did so without a second thought.
"It is!" I cried, giddy with excitement as I rotated the rifle to inspect it from every possible angle, as I continued to effervescently gush, "The latest Whitworth sniper rifle! I had heard rumors that they were going to make another one, but I thought it was still in design. Oh my, look at the curvature of the wood! The grip has such a more natural feel! It's perfect!"
I looked up at Mey-Rin and Bard, clutching the rifle to my chest like a lovesick school girl would a letter from her suitor. The look of surprise on both their faces was amusing. Though, to be fair, I don't think they had never heard me say so much in one single setting and certainly not as enthusiastically.
Someone cleared their throat and I was reminded why I was here. My cheeks flushed as I turned and looked down the length of the room to where Ciel and Sebastian stood. Sebastian had covered his mouth to stifle his sniggers at my display, clearly amused. Ciel, on the other hand, stood with his arms crossed, obviously not appreciating my display of emotion.
Timidly, I placed the rifle back on the rack where it hung, whispering longingly to it, "I'll come back for you," before I followed the other two servants to the shooting range.
As we approached, I noticed a small table had been set up, the top of it littered with the gleaming pieces and parts of various firearms, along with a paper practice target the hung on the range. Was this some sort of accuracy test?
As if in response to my mental musings, Ciel stepped forward, an arrogant smile plastered on his youthful face.
"You are probably wondering why I've called you here," he paused, waiting to see how I would react, but when I remained stoically indifferent, he continued, "I had the pleasure of speaking with Lord Thomas Carson yesterday. You remember him, correct? He certainly seemed to remember you."
I was unable to hide the chagrin that soured my expression at the mention of Lord Carson. My father and I had worked a case with him back in January trying to weed out a mole within his company that was passing design information for his trains to the Germans. The mission had been successful and Lord Carson had been more than pleased with my skill as a sniper, but after having worked so closely with him for the three weeks it took to completely close the case, he had become quite besotted with me, despite the rumors. And while I could say that I did not dislike the middle aged Lord, I certainly did not care for him, either. He drank far too much and thought too little for me to take a liking to him.
Upon seeing my reaction, a satisfied smirk tugged at Ciel's lips as he crossed his arms and continued his explanation.
"While we were discussing a potential business deal, your name came up and he was more than willing to offer up what he knew about you. Had a rather glowing opinion about your marksmanship. He said you were the best sharp shooter in all of England and that you could use any firearm that was put into your hands."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mey-Rin's expression sour at Ciel's words, but he paid her no attention.
"So I thought," he wistfully said as he gestured to the table, "Why not test that? You are a Phantomhive servant, after all. And though I have heard many things about your skills, I have not witnessed them for myself."
At this word, Ciel stepped back, allowing Sebastian to take his place. Sebastian motioned towards the table in a sweeping and grand fashion.
"On the table you will find the parts for three different handguns. In order to pass my master's test, you must assemble all three and shoot the perimeter of the target so that the middle is removed from the rest of the paper. You must do so in a minute and a half."
"What?!" Mey-Rin exclaimed in disbelief, as I advanced toward the table, my steps sure and steady.
"That's impossible!" Bard sputtered before swearing softly as his cigarette fell from his lips.
Ciel chuckled in response, his gaze challenging as he looked toward me.
"Not if she's as good as the reports say."
I returned his challenge with a confident smirk as I wordlessly accepted and turned back to the table.
"Very well, then," Sebastian stated, pulling his pocket watch from his vest.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes momentarily, effectively clearing all other thoughts from my mind than the task at hand. Focus.
My eyes snapped open as I heard the click of his pocket watch being opened.
"On my mark," I heard him say, pausing only a second before he announced, "Begin!"
My hands worked at a dizzying speed, the sound of metal sliding and springs crunching as I began assembling the weapons as quickly as I could. Though the pressure of the task pressed me to haste, there was an inner tranquility that I had not felt for weeks. I was proficient at executing my duties as a maid, but this was what I had been trained for. The feel of the cold metal beneath my fingers and the slickness of the grease was as natural as the feeling of piano keys to a composer or a brush in the hands of an artist. This was where I found my center. This was home.
My focus was so intense that the gasps of awe from Bard and Mey-Rin as I finished assembling the last handgun were barely audible to me. Without hesitating, I took the first gun in my hands and began firing rapidly around the perimeter of the target as instructed. Flashes of light and the reverberating crashes of gunfire echoed throughout the armory. A faint smile graced my lips as the harsh smell of gunpowder pleasantly burnt my nose. If only my younger self could see me now.
"No, PaPa!" I had objected, trying to wriggle myself free from where I stood pinned between my father and the rifle that was being forcibly being held against my shoulder.
"Yes, Sarah!" he growled.
"But I can't!"
"You can and you will," he insisted before gruffly positioning my hands on the large weapon.
I stood, trembling, as he corrected my posture. This was the second time he had tried to teach me to shoot. Our first session had ended after I had fired only two shots because the noise and the power had frightened me so much that I refused to continue.
"Now listen to me, Sarah," my father said in my ear, lowering his tone as he adjusted the sight on the rifle, "Do you remember what you told me when I brought you back from Italy? You said you didn't want to be weak anymore."
I narrowed my eyes at his mockery. How dare he use my words against me!
"Have you changed your mind?"
I clenched my hands, grinding my teeth to keep my voice from wavering as I whispered, almost inaudibly, "No, sir."
"What was that?" he leered, "I couldn't hear you."
"No, sir!"
"Good!" he yelled, raising his voice to match mine. As he began to pace around me, he continued, "Then you will learn how to shoot. You will do this all day, every day until you get it right. Shooting a gun should be as effortless as breathing. And don't forget, this is just the beginning."
That was the moment when Lady Sarah Wakefield, Silencer of the Queen was born. True to his word, he had me rise every day at six and would not let me finish until sometime between ten and eleven. Training with my father was a grueling endeavor and he was not the most patient teacher.
A month later he had taken me on a mission with him, despite my pleas that I was not ready. My father had always been a believer that experience was the best teacher. I had been correct in warning him that I was not prepared for the field, though. When we were in the most crucial moments of the heist, an unexpected wave of assailants attacked us and forced us apart. I had managed to hold my own against some of them, but as I was reloading, a man approached me from the side and rushed in. I almost died because I faltered under the pressure of the moment. Perhaps my father had been correct in allowing experience to tutor me that night. I never allowed that to happen again, but I also never forgot that it was my father who had put me to the test.
I smiled with satisfaction as the air tensed with held expectation as I finished firing the last pistol. Even from this distance, I could tell I had done a nearly perfect job at tracing around the target, the center held on by a mere sliver of paper. It was then that I turned to Ciel, who, once again, wore a smug smile at his perceived victory.
"It appears that you have not completed the task I set before you. How disappoint-…,"
His mockery was cut off as I raised my right arm and, without bothering to look, fired the last round I had intentionally saved for this toward the target, knowing even without being able to see that it would not miss its mark. It was a dramatic display, but I enjoyed getting the chance to show off what I was really capable of…and I may have relished a bit in silencing the supercilious child as well.
"You were saying, my lord?"
I watched in delight as his gaze widened, his jaw tensing, confirming what I had already known. Beside him, Sebastian stood, his eyebrows raised in surprise before he turned and gave me a nod of approval. If the smile that was painted on his face meant anything, he was clearly impressed. That was perhaps the most satisfying thing of all.
"Time," he called, closing his pocket watch.
Behind me I heard Mey-Rin gasp and Bard mumble an awe inspired, "Blimey." I turned just in time to have them both rush up to me, Mey-Rin grabbing my hands in adoration, her glasses gleaming in the light of the room.
"That was incredible!"
"Yeah," Bard joined in over Mey-Rin as she continued to babble praises, crossing his arms after he lit a new cigarette, "The only other person I've seen do something like that is Sebastian." Then, giving Mey-Rin a swift pat on the back, he continued, "Be careful, or you might be looking for new employment soon. It looks like we've got ourselves a new sharp shooter."
Even though I knew he was merely jesting, Mey-Rin's expression darkened a little at his statement and her gushing compliments came to a sudden stop.
"Don't be daft, Bard," Ciel reproved, regaining our attention. He stood with his feet planted and arms crossed over his chest as he looked over to us, his composure and sense of authority recovered, "Mey-Rin isn't going anywhere."
Taking a few steps towards me, his presence was commanding as he raised his chin to look up at me.
"You have done well, Sarah. I believe you have proven that you are worthy of your post." he praised. Though underneath that, I saw the subtle warning in his eyes, reminding me that he still did not trust me. My display had revealed two things…that, as an ally, I would be a formidable opponent to any enemies, but conversely, as an enemy, it would be foolish to dismiss me. To do so could be deadly.
I smiled graciously at his complement, bowing my head as I curtseyed.
"Thank you, my lord."
Any conversation that might have ensued from there was cut off when, through the thick doors of the armory, Finny's panicked cries could be heard. All of the servant's gazes snapped to Sebastian, who visibly cringed at the sound.
"Do forgive me, my lord. It appears something has come up which requires my immediate attention," he apologized, acting as if we all hadn't heard Finny, "And I believe it is time for the other servants to return to their work as well."
Ciel chuckled and smirked as he looked up at the butler, clearly enjoying how disgruntled he was.
"Indeed."
/
My fingers traced the delicate patterns embroidered on the fine linen of the tablecloth, smoothing out the wrinkles. This evening, Ciel had decided he would take his dinner in the game room so I was tasked with preparing a small table to fulfill his lordship's wishes. During my initial tour, Sebastian had informed me that it was rare for him to use the dining room on a daily basis, but preferred to reserve its use for when he was entertaining. This made sense. It would be odd to have such a grandly laid table prepared for only one person.
The dining ware clinked lightly as I carefully laid the spread of various dishes, glasses, and silverware in the appropriate spaces. I measured to be doubly sure. I had not seen Sebastian since the tour of the armory earlier this afternoon and I did not want my work to be cause for more criticism. As I finished folding the napkin on the plate in a delicate rose fold, I heard the door open.
"I will be finished presently," I stated, fully expecting it to be Sebastian who was entering, but was surprised when I glanced up and saw Bard instead.
"Bard?"
The cook's gaze darted across the room nervously, before he whispered, "Sebastian's not in here, is he?"
I shook my head, "No, I thought you were him." I whispered in return, not quite knowing why I did.
Bard sighed with relief as he stepped just inside the door. I came over to him, looking up at him questioningly.
"What are you doing up here? You should be in the kitchen preparing dinner for his lordship."
He looked away from me, shamefaced, as he reached a hand back to rub his neck.
"Well, you see, that's why I came up," he began, then giving me an apologetically pleading look, added, "I need your help."
I gave him a tired half-smile, before gently placing my right hand on his shoulder to nudge the both of us out of the room.
"Alright, let's see what we can do about it then," I softly agreed.
As I passed by the cook to take the lead, I saw a grateful smile beaming on his face.
"Though we'll have to be quick about it," I warned, glancing back to make sure he was following, "We can't let Sebastian know that anything is out of sorts. I'm afraid if one more thing goes wrong today he'll kill us all."
I had meant for my last statement to be a joke, but the nervous laughter that came from Bard in response told me that he wasn't sure whether it was or not. I suppose that was why, in the short time I had actually been working as a servant, that I had become the other servant's go to problem solver. Sebastian should have been the one to handle blunders like this, but he was typically unapproachable in those circumstances and Tanaka was usually never to be found outside of meals or events where his presence was required. So the responsibility fell to me, as I seemed to be the only other level headed servant in the house.
We both made our way to the kitchen with as much haste and stealth as we could manage. Upon entering the kitchen, I realized that Bard not only needed my help with dinner, but he needed me to make it as well.
"I forgot to marinate the steak the young master was to have for dinner, so I don't know where to begin. Usually Sebastian would be able to tell me what to do, but…," he trailed off, but I understood what he meant.
"Well," I sighed, rolling my sleeves up to my elbows and putting my hands on my hips, "let's take a look at the pantry and go from there."
Apparently by "us" I really meant "me", as several minutes later it was I who returned from my solitary quest with a roast, potatoes, carrots, and a handful of spices.
"This should make a satisfactory dinner," I announced as I set the ingredients on the preparation table, relieved to see that while I had been in the pantry Bard had lit the oven and set out a cutting board and several bowls.
As Bard surveyed the array, he gave an approving nod, "Thanks again. You're a real life saver."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," I teased with a grin as I went over to the sink, "Lord Ciel has yet to be served dinner, so this plan is not yet complete."
Bard chuckled, the corners of his eyes creasing from the genuine smile that lit his face and made his blue eyes sparkle, as he playfully nudged me before he began to wash his hands.
"I do s'pose it's best to not count your chickens before they hatch."
"Yes, I suppose not," I agreed, unable to stop the smile that spread on my own face as I looked up at him.
A tender warmth swelled in my chest at his familiarity. Other than Angelina, it had been years since someone had treated me with such gentle amiability. My heart ached, bittersweet as the nagging reminder echoed in my mind that he most likely had not heard the rumors of my past. Once he did, Bard would probably become like countless others who spurned me after he heard what was being circulated as truth.
My smile faltered at that thought and I returned to the task at hand, washing the carrots before I peeled and sliced them. We worked in contented silence for several minutes until the clock chimed, indicating the time was now four thirty.
"Oh, no," Bard mumbled, dread clear in his voice.
"Now, Bard," I soothed, cutting the potatoes into large chunks, "I am almost done with the vegetables. The roast has been seasoned, so all that needs to be done is for it to be broiled for a half an hour, which is perfect timing."
I glanced up from my work to see that Bard stood staring, a panicked look on his face, at the clock. Apparently my words had fallen on deaf ears. Then, clenching his fists, he let out a yell of exasperation.
"No, no, no. This is not good at all," he mumbled frantically, scooping the vegetables into the roaster along with the roast, "Sebastian will be here any moment and he will wonder why dinner is not in the oven."
"Bard…-," I started as he opened the oven door and sat the roaster on it.
His eyes lit with excitement that could only be explained by his mind conjuring a delusional epiphany.
"I know what will speed things up."
The sense of foreboding that sat uncomfortably in my stomach warned me that no good could come of this. For a brief moment, he rummaged about in the cabinet before pulling out a flamethrower.
"Oh god," I whispered.
As he quickly slipped on the weapon, I raised a staying hand and opened my mouth to plead with him to see reason, but it was too late. A second later, he pulled the trigger and flames roared from the nozzle. There was a thundering bang as the flames ignited some unseen explosive, the force of it throwing me backwards. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for impact. My mind whirred in confusion when no impact came. Rather, I felt that my head was being supported. The sound of Bard's coughs and the cease of the sound of crumbling stone let me know that the worst was over.
I cautiously cracked my eyes open, not knowing what destruction I might find. My body immediately tensed as I recognized the gloved hands that cradled my head. My gaze snapped up to find that I was lying on the ground, with Sebastian on top of me. His body curled protectively around my own, holding me close to shield me from the debris that had been flying a moment ago. The dust that clung to his clothes and hair gave him the appearance of a specter.
"Sebastian?" I whispered, my gaze meeting his.
"You are unharmed, correct?" he questioned. Though his voice conveyed concern, I marked the restrained rage that smoldered in his eyes.
I simply nodded, unable to find my words. At this, he rose abruptly, pulling me to my feet as he did so.
"Baldroy," he seethed toward the scorched man.
The cook forced nervously terrified grin, rubbing the back of his neck as the butler approached him.
"Oh, hello, Sebastian. I-I can explain this."
Any pitiful explanation he could have offered was cut off as the other servants burst into what used to be the kitchen.
"What happened?" Mey-Rin asked.
"Is everyone alright?" Finny added.
Tanaka said nothing, but merely assessed the destruction with his usual impartial demeanor.
"Enough!" Sebastian roared, effectively silencing us all.
No one dared to move a muscle.
The butler's chest heaved as he worked to check his anger, "Everyone is to immediately return to their quarters until our usual dinner time."
"Sebastian, I…-," I began, extending my hand to comfort as I stepped forward to offer my assistance when he cut me off.
"Everyone," he seethed through clenched teeth.
I recoiled as if he had physically struck me, pain evident in my gaze.
"C'mon, Sarah," Bard comfortingly mumbled, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as he led me out of the kitchen along with the other servants.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Sebastian glaring daggers at Bard and I before he turned on his heal and disappeared from sight.
For the next several hours, I attempted to keep myself occupied by reading or sketching, to no avail. No matter how I tried to occupy my mind, I would eventually find myself musing over how sharply Sebastian had spoken to me. My jaw would tense and my nostrils would flare as, chest heaving, I would have to use every ounce of my self control to keep myself from marching downstairs to give him a piece of my mind.
Dinner did not help matters, either. At nine o'clock, I had expected Sebastian to come for us, but he did not. So, at five after, I went about to the other's rooms and we cautiously proceeded to the servant's hall where we found our dinner prepared and ready to eat, but no Sebastian. The mood of the meal was heavy as well. Once or twice Bard had ventured to start conversation to distract us, but it feebly died a moment or two after he started. No one was in the mood for laughter tonight.
One by one, the servants left the table as they finished their meal, a quiet "Good night" the only farewell of the night. I shook my head, breaking the hypnotic hold the dancing flames in the hearth had on me, to realize I was alone. With a heavy sigh, I rose, clearing the table and carrying the dirty dinnerware to the scullery as I did every night. As I began washing, my mind began to recount the events of the day, the sloshing of the water fading into the background. I thought of my nightgown that hung in the washing room, hopefully dry despite how soaked it had become this morning.
Pausing in my work, I looked down at my gloved hands, rubbing my fingers together as my heart sunk with guilt. Even though Sebastian should not have lashed out at us in his anger, I had been just as wrong in being furious with him. As difficult of a day it had been for us, it had been all the more difficult for him since he was the one who had to remedy almost all of the disasters that had occurred today, in addition to his normal duties. I had judged him too harshly.
As I dried the dishes and placed them in the storage cupboard, an idea came to me. Before I wiped down the table and counters and extinguished the lamps, I put a kettle of milk over the fire. A few minutes later, I gingerly touched the side of the kettle to verify it was warm enough. Then, I poured the contents of the kettle into a tea cup and added a small amount of honey along with a lavender sprig as garnish. A satisfied smile teased my lips as I admired my work and sat the teacup on its platter partner. This would, hopefully, be a suitable olive branch.
Bard had warned me that if Sebastian was ever in his office with the door closed, to never disturb him save for a life threatening emergency. I reminded myself of this as I found myself standing in front of said door. I knew it was a risk, especially after how the day had transpired, but I would have felt a coward if I did not at least try. Not giving myself another moment to reconsider, I softly rapped my knuckles against the door.
"Yes?" Sebastian's exasperated voice answered.
I leaned against the doorframe, adjusting the platter in my hands.
"It is Sarah, sir. May I come in?"
Moments ticked by in silence, until finally he gave a defeated, "Yes."
I opened the door to the butler's office. It was a modest room with a small fireplace on the far wall. In the middle of the room sat Sebastian's desk and behind it was the wine cellar, where the wine was kept under lock and key. The wall adjacent to that was home to two bookshelves, in which all of the ledgers for the mansion's expenses were kept.
"What is it that you need?" he asked, eyeing me cautiously as I closed the door behind me, "Is there something else that requires my attention?"
"Not at all," I softly answered as I approached his desk where he currently remained seated, "I only wanted to bring you this."
Sebastian's brows furrowed as he stared, bewildered, at the steaming cup I had placed on his desk.
"I heard it is good for frazzled nerves," I added quietly, a sheepish grin lighting my face.
He continued to stare at the honeyed milk as if it were an alien object he had never seen before. Then, blinking, he looked up at me, his expression still puzzled.
"Why did you bring this to me?"
I deadpanned at his question. I thought it had been obvious why I had brought it, but, seeing as the usually composed butler seemed genuinely perplexed, I ventured to explain.
"Well, today has been a taxing day for all of us, especially you. And, this evening when Bard blew up the kitchen you were so out of sorts and then when you were not present at dinner…I just thought you could use it. I know it has helped me when you have made it for me in the past."
His eyebrow quirked questioningly at my explanation, still obviously confused.
"So you made this for me because you thought it would comfort me?"
"Of course," I huffed, slightly annoyed. I couldn't conceive how he didn't understand this.
"But why?" he pressed.
"Because," I paused, suddenly feeling uncomfortable about what I was about to confess, "Because you're my friend…and friends comfort each other."
If Sebastian had looked confounded before, he looked so utterly shocked at my words that I thought he might fall from his chair.
"Friend?"
A warm smile answered his strangely innocent question.
"Yes, you're my friend," then, with a chuckle, I added, "What, have you never had a friend before?"
His face was unreadable as he replied matter-of-factly, "No."
My smile disappeared and I found myself at a loss for words in light of his admittance. Sebastian had never had a friend? Never? I thought Ciel had come to live a lonesome life, but at least he had the Midford's and Angelina and me, even though he seemed to loathe me. Sebastian had no one.
"Oh," was all I managed to say.
A reassuring smile spread across his face as he said, "Do not worry. I do not regret the life I have led. Though," he paused, his gaze intensely capturing mine, "I confess I am glad to have found a companion in someone such as you."
My cheeks flushed with a dusting of a blush at his strangely worded confession. I bit my lower lip as I tried to decide on a suitable response. When I couldn't find one, I motioned towards the forgotten teacup.
"You should drink that before it gets too cold," I mumbled awkwardly.
A knowing smirk tugged at the corner of Sebastian's mouth before he simply replied, "Yes, I should."
When he did not move to begin drinking, I nervously glanced at the clock that hung over the fireplace to see it was eleven o'clock. My fingers played with the fabric of my skirt as I returned my gaze to him.
"I should retire for the evening," I stated, anxious to remove myself from his studying gaze.
He offered no response save a slight nod of his head, before returning his attention to his work. Taking this as my cue to leave, I strode to the door, pausing as I opened it. I turned back, a warmth stirring in my heart as I watched him intensely study the pages before him. Unbeknownst to me, a ghost of a fond smile curved my lips as I stepped out of the room and made to close the door.
"Good night, Sebastian," I softly called.
At this, he looked up from his paperwork with a genuine smile.
"Good night, Sarah."