Chapter Ten
Butler, Surprising. Bride, Celebration
When the first day of November encroached on the inhabitants of the Phantomhive Manor, there were many things that needed to be done. Sebastian surveyed the manor with a discerning eye, silhouetted against the rising sun of the new day. Everyone inside the house was sleeping and weren't scheduled to wake up for at least another hour. The Young Master had requested Marianne be allowed to sleep in. Of course, the demon understood why. Being the kind and considerate Master that he was, Ciel was obligated to allow his servants a day off to celebrate the day of their birth, as was the case with Marianne that day.
Sebastian smiled. His beloved mate was nineteen today, so he would awaken her at a later hour than usual. Many things had been planned, and the servants had used what time off they had that month to get presents for the girl. His would unquestionably be given in private. And he was looking forward to seeing the smile on her face.
Still, there was much to be done, and it was time to wake up the other servants. The demon only hoped they didn't cause too much havoc on this special day. His wrath upon their imbecilic souls would know no rival…
When Sebastian entered the servants' quarters, he clapped his hands. The sound boomed like thunder around the room, and followed by the screams of Bard and Finny as they bolted from their beds.
"Whazzat…! Are we bein' attacked?" Bard yelled, pulling his portable flamethrower out from under his pillow and aiming it around the room.
Finny shook his head sleepily and fell out of his bed with a thud.
"Is it mornin' already…?" he asked.
The demon, who had moved to pick up the awoken Tanaka by his nightshirt collar, glanced at the two men, clearly still half-asleep.
"You are aware what day it is, are you not?" said Sebastian. "Be sure to wake up MeyRin before joining me down in the kitchen. There is much to be done."
He left before they could say anything back at him, not that they ever would…
Washed and dressed, Bard, Finny, MeyRin and Tanaka entered the kitchen with slight apprehension. Sebastian was looking at them all with a serious expression on his face.
"As you may already be aware, it is Marianne's birthday today and the Master has allowed a small party to be arranged in celebration. I have awoken you earlier than usual in order for you to have time to complete your chores before the party. I suggest you get them done as efficiently as possible, for I will be taking Marianne away from the manor so that you can set up the decorations prepared. For the day, I must entrust the Young Master to your care. I have left instructions for you to follow, and I expect them to be followed to the letter, are I clear?"
The servant trio saluted the butler.
"Sir, yes Sir!"
Marianne blinked her eyes, drifting out of her slumber, and ran a hand through the bangs hanging messily against her forehead. She groaned and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Nineteen; she was nineteen. She couldn't believe it. Marianne realised that she could even walk around as a girl, and not have to hide any longer. Her mind drifted back to when everyone returned from their fateful trip to Houndsworth…
When they had returned to the Phantomhive Manor, everyone made their way to Ciel's study. Ciel seated himself in his chair behind his desk, Sebastian stood behind him in the shadows, and Marianne stood to Ciel's right and removed her wig, letting her brown hair flow freely around her head and shoulders. The servant trio and Tanaka stood in a line on the other side of the desk.
"Now, shall we begin?" Ciel said as he steeped his fingers together on the desk. His blue eye cold and calculated as he continued. "You all came to me late last night, barely able to contain yourselves on the fact that Edward is in fact a young lady. While your shock is understandable, this fact is to remain among the Phantomhive household, is that clear?"
"Yes Sir!" the servants cried in unison.
"Ho, ho, ho." Tanaka chuckled.
The boy then turned to Marianne.
"You are to answer their questions, and say when there are things that delve too deeply, do you understand?"
She nodded her head.
"Yes, Master."
The servants turned to the girl.
"What the Hell is your real name?" Bard asked, deciding to take the lead. "If you're not Edward, who are you?"
Marianne's hands fiddled with her wig.
"My name is Marianne Blackmore. Edward was my father and Montague was my mother's maiden name. They are both deceased."
"Don't you have any other family? Couldn't they take care of you?" MeyRin inquired.
Shaking her head, Marianne's face darkened at the thought of her betrayer of an aunt.
"All deceased now, except my father's sister and her daughter. My paternal grandparents have died in the last year, and I would have gone to them. If anyone found me now, I would go to my aunt. I would rather keep as much distance between us as humanly possible. She is a money-grubbing trollop who would sell me out to the highest bidder if it improved her standing in society. I would have gone into her care because I was underage at the time of my parents' deaths. She would happily have spit on their graves if she knew where they were buried. I refused to allow myself to be subjected to her bitterness and cold-hearted spite."
Finny, growing uncomfortable with the coldness displayed by the young woman, spoke up.
"Why did you not tell us sooner, Marianne?"
Marianne pondered his question for a moment, then had the decency to look embarrassed.
"Well… I guess I just got used to dressing up as a boy. Sebastian and the Young Master were the only ones who knew, and I suppose I felt it was safer that you didn't know… My parents were killed for trying to protect me, and I don't want anyone else to suffer the same fate."
There wasn't much to be said that could top that reasoning.
Sebastian, who had been silently observing the proceedings, finally entered the conversation.
"What are your orders, Young Master?"
Ciel glanced at the demon out of the corner of his eye.
"We carry on as before. Nothing has changed, so there is no need to make altercations. Besides, explaining the departure of Edward and the entrance of Marianne, who looks very similar to him, will just cause unnecessary problems."
Sebastian bowed.
"As you wish, Master."
Marianne jolted out of her memories just as the door opened and Sebastian stepped inside. He smiled at the dishevelled sight of her, nightshirt slightly askew and the soft curve of her shoulders exposed to his feasting eyes.
"Ah, Marianne, I am glad to see you have awakened," he said.
The girl blushed under his gaze and pulled the shirt back into place. She was surprised when he placed a cup of tea on her bedside table and offered her a plate of fluffy eggs and crispy bacon.
"Breakfast in bed?" she asked. "This is a surprise."
"It is the day of your birth, is it not? So you may enjoy the luxury of a day off."
"I don't think any of the others get this sort of treatment."
"That's because they are not you."
She couldn't say anything in response, only turn even redder than before.
Sebastian smirked and allowed her to eat her breakfast in peace while he prepared her clothing for the day: a dark blue day dress with black lace trim, black button boots and a small dark blue hat trimmed with a black ribbon and a black net face veil. Marianne finished her food and sat down in front of her mirror, undoing her hair and beginning to brush it. The demon appeared behind her.
"Allow me."
She met his eyes in the mirror, and slowly handed him the brush. When he took it to her hair, it flowed far more easily than when she did it; any difficult knots and he would use his fingers to loosen them. Marianne watched with wide eyes as he twisted her hair into a neat plait and pulled it up into an elegant bun.
"There. Lovely."
While she would admit she liked what he had done, she was curious about what he was up to.
"Now, I've left your clothes on the chair. I shall assist when you call me." Sebastian said as he walked away to deal with the breakfast stuff.
Marianne wandered over to the chair and found the dress. While it didn't have the large hoops for under the skirt, it still had the corset and chemise and petticoats. Suspicious as she was, she trusted Sebastian had a plan, or else he wouldn't have her parade around as a woman. Quickly ducking into the bathroom, she slipped out of her nightshirt and pulled the white chemise over her head, doing her best not to mess up her hair. Next came the petticoat, a soft white thing with a lace-like hem; when it was on, it swirled around her legs like dancing snowflakes.
Once that was done, Marianne picked up the corset and wrapped it around her slender frame. Eyeing the laces at the back, she sighed, gathered up the dress and made her way back into the bedroom. Sebastian was waiting for her with a smirk on his face.
"Shall I lace you up, my dear?" he asked, giving her a shit-eating smile.
Without a word she turned her back to him and offered up the laces. The demon took hold of the dark strings and began to pull.
As she stood in front of the mirror, feeling her chest becoming constricted and watching her breasts get pushed up against the corset boning. She wrung her fingers together, focused on her breathing and closed her eyes.
"Finished." Sebastian whispered into her ear.
Marianne opened her eyes.
"Thank you."
He had done the laces just tight enough to ensure a womanly figure, but still leaving her to breathe, bend and move like normal. She picked up the dress, unbuttoned the back, stepped into the opening, and pulled the heavy load up until her arms slipped through the long sleeves. The demon came up behind her once again and fastened all the buttons that ran along the length of her spine. Even through the layers of clothing, the girl could feel the heat of his skin, the brush of his knuckles against the bump… bump… bump… of bone.
"There," he said once he finished. "You look lovely. Now, put on your boots and hat, and meet me in the entrance foyer."
Sebastian took her hand in his, and pressed his lips against her knuckle before he left the room.
Marianne smiled to herself as she buttoned her boots, a pleasant pink blush dusted her cheeks. She sat in front of her mirror, gently pinned the hat into place and lowered the net veil over her eyes. Out of one of the drawers, she pulled out some cosmetics; a little face powder to smooth the skin and some natural lipstick to highlight the colour. Part of her wondered why she putting so much effort into her appearance, but a deep part of her heart relished the time she had to be a woman again.
With her skirts hiked up to her ankles, she ran from her room and went directly to the entrance foyer. Sebastian was waiting at the foot of the stairs dressed in his black coat and gloves with a dark blue coat draped over his arm. Marianne spotted the servants and Ciel standing at the door. The demon smiled as she descended.
"Your coat, My Lady."
She allowed him to slide the coat onto her body; it was a perfect fit.
"Do I want to know how you always seem to know my size?" she asked.
Sebastian smirked.
"A butler who cannot deduce a young lady's clothing measurements isn't worth his salt."
Marianne blinked.
"But surely you can't call me a lady…"
"You are, My Lady."
He looped her arm through his and led her over to everyone.
"Kya! Marianne, you look so pretty!" MeyRin squealed.
Finny nodded his head with a smile and sparkling eyes. Bard blew smoke from his cigarette with a smirk.
"You clean up pretty good," he agreed.
Ciel tipped his head to the couple.
"Enjoy your day out. I do expect you back here at six, so do not be late, and do not delay."
Sebastian bowed.
"Very well, Young Master."
Marianne, uncaring of the eyes upon the pseudo-family unit, reached her free hand over and stroked it through the boy's slate grey hair.
"Thank you."
She and Sebastian left not long after that. Marianne was surprised when Sebastian assisted her into a carriage and took a seat beside her. He tapped the roof of the small compartment. The driver snapped the reins of the horses, and they were off.
The girl stared quietly out of the window, her hand held in Sebastian's. She watched the scenery pass by with a smile on her face. She was unaware of Sebastian's gaze watching her every movement.
The demon gazed at her with a quietly content expression on his face. While he hadn't been pleased when they were interrupted in Houndsworth, but maybe they had been caught in the moment, and he would much rather have his intentions known before stealing a kiss from her sweet bud lips. Part of him did wonder if her inhibitions had been lowered that night because of the heat from the hot spring. While the thought had some pleasure, having her in complete control of her senses was better, she would be far more responsive then.
Even though it was his plan to entice her with a day out as her true self for her birthday, he wanted to slowly get her interested in outings just the two of them. She was a lady, and society had rules to which gentlemen were meant to engage them. He needed to adhere to them for the time being, at least until their bond was more firmly established, then he could show her how a demon courted his mate.
Thinking of her and her beautiful body, pale and slender with hair as soft as a kitten… Dark blue eyes fluttering closed when his lips drew closer to hers… Her warmth as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her face buried so innocently into his chest… Her long nails scratching into his back and drawing blood when he pinned her down in their nest…
"Sebastian?" Marianne called.
She had looked away from the window and caught him staring at her with the most unusual expression on his face. Concern filled her when she saw his eyes glowing demonically in the shadow of the carriage. He blinked and Marianne watched his eyes return to their red colouring.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Sebastian merely smiled like the devil.
"Simply admiring the view," he replied.
She smiled back at him.
"You must really be enjoying it then, if your eyes show your… true nature."
The demon felt his canine teeth scrape against the inside of his lip. A smirk curled across his face.
"I must say, the view before me is most… pleasurable."
The driver took them up to the busy streets of London, in the very centre of the bustling shops and bellowing merchants. Sebastian stepped out of the carriage and paid the driver, telling him to come and pick them up later in the day. He moved back round to the door and assisted Marianne out of the small compartment, her dainty hand consumed by his black gloved one. The girl tugged lightly on her veil, hoping the net covered her sufficiently, and allowed herself to be escorted like a lady by the handsome butler. As they walked, she watched the people hustle and bustle around one another with their towers of parcels and packages; the chill in the air was slowly beginning to set in, a clear sign that autumn wasn't going to last much longer, and snow was on the way soon.
"Why London? What made you choose London?" she asked.
Sebastian pondered this for a moment.
"When you cast your former self to the flames, you chose to come to London to start a new life, which ultimately led you into the service of the Young Master, and to working with a demon," he explained. "I found the symbolism ironic. And it is rare that you actually come to the city other than when we come with the Master. I wanted to give you the opportunity to enjoy yourself here without having to worry about your work or the Young Master's cases."
Marianne smiled.
"Part of me wonders why you're so good to me…"
The demon smirked.
"Let us just say that there are very few humans I hold in higher regard than the rest of the depraved souls. You are one of them."
"Must be a very short list."
"Which consists of you and the Young Master. He is one of the more amusing contracts I have ever had. You are more of a mystery that I am unable to resist attempting to solve."
"… I suppose there's no higher compliment than that, earning the good favour of a demon."
"But of course."
They stopped at a small flower stall, bursting with a rainbow of flowers. Sebastian passed a farthing over to the stall keeper, an old woman with weathered skin and sunken eyes, and left her to hand a bouquet of white roses tied together with a black ribbon over to Marianne. The girl looked at him in confusion.
"This may be your only day off this month, so it seemed fitting that you visit your parents' graves, if there is the chance of no other day coming free." Sebastian reasoned.
Marianne smiled up at him, and clutched the bouquet to her breast.
"Thank you."
They walked away arm in arm, slowly disappearing into the masses of patrons and passers-by.
The graveyard was cold and quiet. A chilling wind swept through the stones and whistled against the expanding cracks and crevices. It danced through the white roses petals and sent them into the air like glistening snowflakes. Marianne and Sebastian stepped through the gravestones, their shoes crunching against the dirt and fallen leaves. When they reached her parents' graves, obscured as they were under the tree, the girl knelt down and brushed the leaves and debris from the pristine stone. She pressed her hands together as she rose to her feet, pressed her lips together and smiled.
"It's been nearly two years since you were laid to rest. I have turned nineteen today, and I am still free of Aunt Henrietta and her treacherous parish. Not much has changed since I was here last. When I came here last, I was only a few days from leaving with everyone from the Phantomhive household to go to Houndsworth to assist in dealing with some problems down there. It took a while longer than expected, because we ended up not only with a human killer, but a Demon Hound as well. Ciel ordered that Sebastian train it at the Phantomhive Manor, I'm not particularly fond of the dog to be honest; Pluto, that's the dog's name, has the bad habit of turning into a human when he gets overexcited, which usually leaves me having to cover my eyes because he hasn't learned the concept of clothing… or he deliberately ignores it and enjoys my trying to avoid his… nudity." Marianne explained. "Although his addition to the household isn't the only thing that's changed. I have been exposed as a girl to the rest of the servants. I would have laughed at how they found out, but I was too mortified to do anything other than try to cover myself the best I could while soaking wet. I was in a hot spring at the time so there was very little I could cover up with…"
Sebastian remained silent as Marianne told her parents the entirety of what had occurred since her last visit. She did have a wonderful gift of telling stories; her love of books was well known throughout the manor. During the first year of their time together, he would often find Marianne curled up in one of the armchairs in the library with a book in her lap; on occasion she had fallen asleep while reading. Sebastian would have had to awaken her from her slumber and send her off to bed. He stopped finding her there when the others started to join the staff, but he always noticed a book missing from the many shelves, so he knew she was reading in her room.
Now that he thought about it, it was when he found her curled up in an armchair for the first time that he found himself comparing her to a sleeping kitten, and relished in teasing her. Although it also led to the discovery of their shared love of cats…
They stayed until the sun began to set. Sebastian checked his pocket watch and contemplated going to the girl and bringing her back to the mansion; they were going to be late if they didn't leave soon. Marianne turned back to him, graced with a smile through the net of her veil.
"Thank you for today, Sebastian. I'm grateful for this time with them," she said.
The demon nodded his head and extended his arm to her. She looped her arm through his and they began the trek back to the carriage.
"The day isn't over just yet, my Lady."
When they arrived back at the manor and entered the foyer where they were greeted by an explosion of party poppers and streamers.
"Happy Birthday Marianne!"
Through the ribbons and confetti, Marianne saw Bard, MeyRin and Finny gathered around a table with a well-made cake sat on top of it (clearly Sebastian's work); nineteen candles flickered in the light. Tanaka was lost in the small pile of presents on the floor, and Ciel stood at the foot of the stairs, cane in hand and looking bemused by the proceedings.
"You planned to get me out of the house so you could set up a party for me…?" the girl whispered.
The maid rushed forward.
"Come and open your presents, Marianne!"
One by one, Marianne opened the presents placed in her hands. From MeyRin, she received a pair of black lace gloves. From Bard, some hard leather gauntlets. From Finny, some different coloured hair ribbons and grips. And from Tanaka, a collection of works by Jane Austen. Ciel, having observed the gift giving and the blowing out of the candles, stepped up and handed her his own present. Marianne took it with a smile and found its contents surprising.
"Is this what I think it is?" she asked.
The boy smirked.
"I had Sebastian deliver the measurements and get it custom-made. It would be better than having to always pull your dagger out of your pocket."
In her hands was a black leather thigh holster, the perfect size for her dagger. Although she wondered how Sebastian could have gotten her measurements, but something told her he knew her exact size just by looking at her.
The smile that graced her face could only be considered as beautiful.
"Thank you all so much. I will never forget this day."
The party continued until late. Everyone had left for their beds and Ciel had been taken care of by Sebastian. The demon was walking with Marianne to her room, her gift tucked into the pocket of his tailcoat. Marianne opened the door to her room, let him step inside, and allowed him to assist in removing the garments she couldn't take off without help. When she walked away into the bathroom to change into her nightshirt he pulled the small box out of his pocket and awaited her return.
Marianne, dressed in her white nightshirt and her hair plaited, walked into the room and saw Sebastian holding a small black box in his hand.
"What have you got there, Sebastian?" she asked.
Sebastian smiled.
"I wanted to give you my gift in private."
She blushed prettily as she accepted the box.
"You didn't have to get me anything."
"I wanted to."
She opened the box and gasped. Staring back at her was a black ribbon choker beset with a glowing red jewel that once on would sit on her jutting collar bones.
"It's beautiful… I've never seen a jewel like this before."
Sebastian nodded his head and assisted her in putting it on.
"It is a very rare stone. I thought you would appreciate its beauty."
He didn't mention that the stone was originally from Hell, and a way to ward off other demons from trying to pursue her.
Sebastian was surprised by the warmth that brushed against the skin of his cheek. He glanced down and saw Marianne. Her lips were pressed lightly against his cheek, her eyes closed and a becoming blush on her cheeks. Marianne drew away and touched the jewel against her throat.
"Thank you for the most amazing day."
He kissed the back of her hand and bid her goodnight.
There were many things to prepare for the coming morning…
Oh dear, and I promised I wouldn't tease you with almost kisses. Although that's not strictly true, since Marianne kissed him on the cheek. She is a lady, so wouldn't do something so… unladylike. In this era, it is the man who is meant to make the first move, so to speak. But it seems that Sebastian is drawing her closer and closer to complete seduction. Not that she needs it.
Don't worry, next chapter will be onto the next episode.
Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
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