Vault of Bones
Chapter 11 – Blonde Trouble
3 August 1889, Wolvercote Manor
Her Majesty had given Anais a day to rest after the party. She heard from Charles Grey that the Wolvercote was busy. And so, after one day, she sent Charles Phipps and John Brown to fetch her. The two butlers were greeted by Robert and were taken into the reception room to wait for their young mistress. Before Anais was called out, Robert informed the dowager Wolvercote about the arrival of their guests.
"Butlers of the Queen?" Eleanor raised a brow. "I do not want the Queen's bastards in my territory. What do they want?" The Marchioness was situated in her son's study room, rummaging through business papers that Anais abandoned the other day.
"They said they are here for Lady Anais," Robert explained calmly. "Mentioned something about an urgent matter."
Marchioness Eleanor growled. "Anais is working with the Queen's bastards? Why didn't she mention anything?!" She stood up and stormed outside the room, walking towards her granddaughter's room.
Anais was on the floor, right beside Pluto. She held out her dual blades for Pluto to sniff it out. She was hoping that with the hound's sense of smell, he could figure out where that captor of hers lived. She wanted to take her revenge by scaring that man and kill him. Pluto took a few sniffs and then circled around the room. He went outside the porch and sniffed in the air. He barked excitedly.
Anais smiled. Finally, she thought. Her door busted open with an angry dowager by the doorway. Robert was behind the old woman as he tried to calm her. Marchioness Eleanor entered and slapped Anais. Pluto transformed in an instant and snarled at the dowager. Despite in fear of Pluto's anger, she remained her calm disposition. Anais caressed her cheek and growled under her breath.
"What the hell is your problem?! Do you think you can just come here uninvited and slap me?!" she shouted and clutched the blade on her left hand.
"You are working for the Queen?!" retorted the old woman, seething in anger. "That lady had your father hanged! He was my son! And he did nothing wrong!" She tried not to slap the girl in front of her. "How could you work for the woman who killed your father?!"
"Nonsense!" Anais shot back. "His death has nothing to do with me, and he probably deserved it!" She felt the arrival of her tears. She had never met her father but she talked about deserving his death. What a shameful daughter.
The dowager gasped and fought back tears. "My precious son... how dare you talk about him like that?!"
Anais shook her head and ran outside of the room, leaving the dowager dazed. Carlisle heard the argument and rushed over to his young mistress' side. She cried in the hallway, regretting her remark regarding her father. Pluto, now back to human, and Carlisle, soothed her. The butler gave her tea to calm her down.
"Lady Anais," Carlisle said when she finally stopped crying. "Master Phipps and Master Brown are here to get you."
She looked up. "Phipps and John? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Anais immediately stood up and composed herself. Carlisle thoughtfully handed her a handkerchief in which she wiped her tears. "Where are they?"
Carlisle took her to the reception room and opened the door for her. Phipps and John patiently waited and stood up when she arrived.
"John! Charles!" Anais beamed and faked a smile. Man, she was bipolar.
John only nodded and let Phipps do all the talking. "Her Majesty wants you to continue the investigation, Lady Wolvercote," he said.
Anais nodded and turned to Carlisle. "I'll be back, okay? Have Pluto stay here. This will only take a short while." The butler nodded and escorted his mistress and her visitors outside. The carriage was ready and it left before Carlisle knew it.
"It appears the young mistress wanted to get out of here as soon as possible," Carlisle said and sighed as he went back inside to inform the Marchioness.
Buckingham Palace
Anais smiled at the sight of the palace. No matter how she didn't like the job the Queen offered her, she really liked the palace and its staff. It was a good way to make her forget her argument with the dowager. Once they arrived, John politely excused himself. He said the Queen only asked him to fetch Anais and now that she was here, he needed to attend to the Queen immediately. This only left Phipps and Anais to continue. To her surprise, Charles Phipps didn't lead her to the same room which contained the skeletons and the secret tunnel they found the last time she was there. Phipps seemed to lead her to what appeared to be a prison, or the palace's dungeons.
"So, what have we got this time?" Anais tried to sound cheerful for the ever-so-serious Phipps.
The man in white shook his head. "We'll have you interrogate someone today, Lady Wolvercote."
"I'm an interrogator now, huh?" she hummed. "I thought I was only to be your informant?" She flashed a bright smile at Phipps.
"Informant and interrogator are pretty close to each other," Phipps explained. He couldn't help but glance at the short girl beside him. It was their longest conversation alone.
"And yet completely different," Anais insisted with laugh. "But why me?"
"Something tells me Lady Wolvercote is an excellent interrogator."
The dungeon could only be reached by a flight of stairs which led downwards, possibly underground. It was dark and only a few torches provided the gloomy place its light. Anais warily followed Phipps as they went lower. She stopped when he stopped after they reached the bottom and the specific prison.
Charles Grey was there, sitting on a metal stool. At first his attention was focused to whoever the prisoner was, and then it was shifted when his partner arrived. His grey eyes widened as he saw Anais with Phipps. He growled and didn't bother to greet them.
"Grey, how is she doing?" Phipps inquired.
She? Anais was getting suspicious. She turned her gaze inside the prison. Inside was a lady, young and quite beautiful. She had a rich blonde hair and sky blue eyes. What could be a beautiful lady doing inside a prison?
Charles Grey smirked. "Oh, she's fine. Aren't you, love~?" Anais narrowed her eyes. He sounded… flirty.
The woman inside stood up and looked at Phipps and the lady she never saw before.
"This woman is Armelle Strauss, Her Majesty's attendant," explained Phipps nonchalantly. "She was found suspicious by entering the room of the skeletons and attempting to take it."
"That is not true!" Armelle hissed.
Phipps handed her a paper. Anais examined it and sighed.
"You never found anything other than this?" she gestured to Armelle. Phipps nodded. "Did she say anything yet?
"No," came his reply again. "She only listens to what Grey tells and asks her." Anais wanted to ask Grey but she was still angry at him.
"Well~ Lady Armelle here says that she was only framed," Grey chimed in.
"That's what they always say," Anais snapped but refused to look at him. "Say, Charles, is it against the law to torture someone in order to extract information?" She addressed to Charles Phipps, smiling sweetly, hoping to mock Grey. The young earl scowled under his breath. Come to think of it, she never called him Charles before.
Phipps was a little taken aback when she mentioned his name. "Well, I'm afraid not. Torture is not practiced anymore, especially to women."
"My Armelle is quite sensitive too~" Grey smirked and winked at Armelle. Anais rolled her eyes.
"Well, that's a shame," Anais sighed, still addressing to Phipps. "Back in our manor, the servants were always following what the alpha says." She smiled at him. "What do you plan on doing now, Charles~?"
Phipps turned to Grey who only gave him a useless shrug. "Perhaps continue on interrogating her?"
"I can do that!" Grey beamed, raising a hand. "My Armelle and I are starting to get intimate, too~" He winked at her again. "Just leave this one to me, Phipps." He waited a reaction from Anais. To his surprise, she had her eyes focused on the paper. He scowled.
"And yet you still don't have any information," Phipps sighed.
"We're working on it, aren't we, doll face~?" Grey turned to Armelle again with a flirtatious smile.
Anais twitched an eyebrow. Doll face? He used to call me that before. Seeing her reaction, Grey chuckled inwardly.
"What were you doing in that room, Miss Armelle?" Anais started to ask, giving Phipps the favor of being their interrogator. Just like what Phipps told her, Armelle never answered unless it was Grey who asked her. Still, Anais waited. No reply came. Her eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "Aren't you going to answer?" Nothing. Armelle only glared at the lady in front of her. "Something tells me you're guilty." Anais smirked at her.
Armelle flinched. "What are you saying?! Of course not! I told you I was framed! I was cleaning the room when Charles and Phipps arrived."
Well, that did it. Too easy, Anais had to praise herself. Her remark twitched Armelle's nerve.
"I'm sure you can't be ordered to clean that place," Anais continued. "It's an important place, not a place for lying attendants like yourself." Armelle growled and clutched the bars which separated her from the Wolvercote. "Besides, that room is guarded. You can't just waltz in."
"Perhaps you used the tunnel?" Phipps joined in.
Armelle gritted her teeth. "Of course not! What tunnel are you talking about?" She turned to Grey with pleading sky blue eyes. "Charles, please tell them!"
Seeking comfort, Anais thought bitterly.
She glanced at Grey and waited for a reply. His grey eyes were as cold as the time when they talked two nights ago. Grey said nothing and turned his gaze away coldly. Armelle looked rejected. She started to sniff and then cry. That was when Grey and Phipps, like the two gentlemen they were, flinched when the lady cried in front of them. Anais sighed exasperatedly and audibly on purpose as she rolled her eyes.
"What a wad," Anais mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear.
Her dark blue eyes narrowed when Charles Grey went to comfort the crying figure of Armelle. His gloved hand reached her face from the other side of the bars and touched her cheek lightly.
Damn you, Anais thought again. Her heart raced as she watched Grey comfort Armelle. The lady smiled as he wiped the tears off her pink cheeks.
"You don't have to cry now," soothed Grey. Armelle smiled at him.
"Thank you, Charles. You're the best," she replied. Anais rolled her eyes again. Damn, the woman sounded twice as flirty than Grey himself.
"I really don't like it when I verbally abuse someone and they try to find comrades," Anais muttered to herself. "It's unfair."
"Shut up, Brenda!" Armelle screamed. Anais' eyebrow twitched one more time. The Double Charles looked amused and wary at the same time, with Phipps sensing a heated argument between the two ladies. The Wolvercote growled under her breath.
"What are you calling me? Brenda?" Anais repeated, obviously running out of her glorious patience.
Grey smirked and looked more interested than ever. His face clearly stated the phrase 'This is going to be good'. Phipps sighed exasperatedly, rubbing the bridge of his nose and whispering, "Oh, boy…"
"Oh, and this whole time I thought you were," retorted Armelle with a smirk, feeling more confident. "If you're not Brenda, then who are you?"
"Listen, mate, I am Anais the Wolvercote." The dark-haired lady narrowed her dark blue eyes at the blonde woman. She tried to keep her calm like what Ciel advised her a few weeks ago. But knowing her temper, she knew well how much longer this temper of hers was going to last.
She took her chance to mock the lady.
"Listen, you punk and dumb blonde," Anais said as she leaned closer Armelle's prison; her voice echoed with poison and annoyance. The imprisoned lady gasped at the other one's remark about her. "I can compliment you, call you ugly, and insult your entire family all in one sentence. They couldn't do that; Phipps is too sincere while Grey is your typical bastard. Talk with me, won't you? There's more where that came from."
Phipps was taken aback by what she said while Grey smirked smugly. Both were still proud of what Anais' words could do to people. Armelle fell silent and remained cowering inside her prison.
"I guess my work here is done," Anais told Phipps. "I'm planning to investigate on my own, too. Since I'm not needed here, I'd like to go back and work now. The sooner this issue was settled the better." She turned to leave. "Also, you won't be seeing me in a few weeks or a few months… or maybe forever." Anais sarcastically muttered the last phrase so that they wouldn't hear it. She stared to walk away; Grey wanted to stop her but Phipps did that for him.
"Let me escort you," said Phipps. Grey wanted to punch the wall.
Anais smiled again. Damn, that sweet smile was mocking Grey.
"I'll be fine, Charles~ I already know my way around here. I'll see you later, okay? Take care~!"
She sprinted towards the stairs and out of the dungeon. She couldn't wait to get out of that place. Stupid Charles Grey was being stupid again. Luckily, she did know her way around. Along the way she bumped into John.
"Leaving so soon, my Lady?" he asked. He had a cart full of pastries which made Anais quite hungry.
She nodded. "Yes, I won't be back until a few weeks. I'll do my own investigation by that time. See you, John~!" Anais went away again and rode the available carriage that was lying in wait. Then, she remembered Grey.
That infuriating man! She thought and scoffed. Flirting in front of me like nothing happened two nights ago! I swear I won't forgive him!
John fetched Grey and Phipps from the dungeon when it was time for Her Majesty's afternoon snacks. They were butlers, too. Grey was forced to separate himself from Armelle for the time being and followed Phipps with no interest at all.
"Why didn't you talk to her?" Phipps asked his partner without having to face him.
Grey raised an eyebrow. "Oh~? Getting chatty all of a sudden, aren't we, Phipps~?"
"Just answer the question."
Charles Grey stopped and thought for a moment. Phipps turned to him and waited for a reply.
"I didn't need to talk to her, do I?" He gave his partner a sly smirk and walked off again. Phipps decided not to ask anymore.
The Queen smiled as her two butlers entered the library. Her Majesty wanted to eat afternoon snack while reading a good book. John was already there and was serving tea. Phipps and Grey helped in setting the table and stood behind the Queen as she ate.
"John told me Lady Wolvercote already left?" the Queen asked.
Phipps nodded. "Yes, your Majesty. She mentioned something about conducting her own investigation."
John's interest came up and suddenly spoke. "Come to think of it, she also mentioned that to me. She said she won't be back in a few weeks."
Grey felt inferior for not being able to say anything. Queen Victoria dropped her silver teacup gently on the platter.
"On her own?"
"Yes, your Majesty," answered John.
The Queen sighed. "I can't have her investigate on her own. She could get hurt." Grey's eyes widened; Her Majesty was right. "Phipps, please go after her and guide her. I'm getting worried over her."
No, not Phipps again, Grey's thoughts were loud. Before his partner could agree, he finally spoke up. "I'll go after her, your Majesty. I will make sure that Lady Wolvercote is escorted and protected during her investigation."
Queen Victoria smiled. "Thank you, Charles."
Wolvercote Manor
Back in the Wolver-hell-cote Manor, as Anais dubbed it after her argument with the dowager, the young Wolvercote sneaked her way back inside the mansion. She didn't want to let the dowager know; it could start another fight. Carlisle happily assisted his mistress as she snuck in, and escorted her back to her room. There, Pluto was waiting for her. Anais also asked her butler to get her snacks, something sweet, and a tea. NOT Earl Grey tea, mind you.
When Carlisle returned with her snacks and un-Earl Grey tea, Anais munched delightfully on her pastry and went back into her business that morning. She had Pluto sniff the blades again, and again, Pluto barked when he reached the porch.
"So far, so good," Anais said. She stood up and packed her things. Carlisle brought his hand on his chin and watched his mistress.
"My lady, what are you doing?" the butler finally asked.
Said lady opened her wardrobe and took out few of her dresses and shoes. She went back into her briefcase and said, "Pluto and I will be gone for a while. I need to take care of something." She stood up again and fetched her blades, packing them into its usual wooden briefcase. "Don't forget to feed Dante, okay~?" The spotted owl hooted and blinked its eyes. "Don't tell the old woman about this. Am I understood, Carlisle?"
The butler nodded. "Yes, but only on your own? Will you be alright, my lady?" He really looked concerned.
"I'll be fine as long as Pluto comes with me," she turned to him, "and as long as the Marchioness doesn't know." Anais closed her heavy briefcase and placed it on her bed. "I'll be off now. Prepare my carriage; I'm taking Dunlop with me. Oh, and I don't need a coachman." Carlisle reluctantly bowed and left. Pluto barked delightfully; he knew Anais was taking him with her. She knelt in front of him and fixed his spiky black collar. She also took out a leash, just in case of emergency. "There's a good boy, hm, Pluto~?"
Carlisle returned a few minutes later. He escorted Anais behind the mansion where her secret carriage was waiting.
"Please, my lady, take care of yourself," he pleaded. As a butler, it was his job to accompany his mistress wherever she went. But he knew how Anais was capable of being with herself. And considering that Pluto was with her, then there should be no worries at all. He handed her a bag full of snacks and a flask of water.
Anais smiled reassuringly. "I'll be fine, Carlisle. Just make sure Dante is being fed, okay?"
Her butler nodded and assisted her in taking the briefcases inside the carriage. Pluto settled himself inside while Anais herself served as the coachman. Carlisle handed her a dark blue coat.
"See you, Carlisle," Anais waved a hand and then left. She used the road behind the Wolvercote mansion and disappeared into the forest. The butler sighed to himself and went back in. His problem was doubled; first, his mistress' well-being in the wilds, and his alibi for her disappearance. All that he knew was the Marchioness wouldn't be happy with it.
Charles Grey removed the binocular from his eyes. He had been waiting for Anais to leave, and watched her left on her own. He smirked. Grey was in his own carriage, which definitely came from Her Majesty.
"It appears my little wolf is on the move," he whispered to himself and left.
Author's Note: Thank you all for the previous reviews. I am hoping to get more. Oh, and I hope you enjoy the chapter. Grey is such a jerk, isn't he? :)
