Adaptation, Part One: "Phylogeny"
The aftermath was something the like of which Elizabeth hoped never to face again. Although her mother and aunt bore the brunt of it, neither Edward or Lizzy could escape the madness that crept into their lives. Francis was left struggling to pick up the pieces of the Evil Noblemen's cases as well as the Phantomhive business interests, even as she worked through what was left in the rubble with Aunt Angelina. And the funerals the two women handled together, arranging for the assistance of an old friend of the family.
While Father had attempted in the beginning to bear some of the load, Francis had pushed him out declaring it was a family duty (still, Edward had claimed one evening to see Father hold her in his arms, and Mother quietly linger there). Lizzy and her brother, meanwhile, were almost lost in the chaos. And Edward, for a lack of any means to help, decided that it was his responsibility to protect his sister from the worst of it. When one of the adults looked fit to break, he would herd Lizzy away with diversions or lessons, and she, for the most part, went along with it, unable to deny her brother the feeling of usefulness.
A/N: This takes place right around the same times as "Acquiescence," or a little after.
We're not done with Jack the Ripper yet, though; I'll be getting into the meat of the red butler arc in a few chapters. But for now, this is a two-parter, so there's another half to "Adaptation."
"Phylogeny:" of them all