Chapter 7

As their young Master sat for breakfast, five of the six servants stood within the smaller dining room, their Master seeming to pay them no mind. That was till Finnian let out a sharp cry of pain, covering the back of his head with his hands, as he rushed over to their Master, a dart sticking out the back of his head.

"What was that for Master? What did I do?"

"Nothing, I don't need to justify my actions." He replied, seeming to surprise the gardener.

"There you are," Sebastian said as he pushed open the doors, looking to the five, his attention first going to Finnian. "Have you finished weeding the courtyard Finny?" The young lad just gaped in answer, next the maid "Mey-Rin, have you washed all the bedding?" He asked, pulling the maid from her daydream.

"Um, well…" Straight onto the cook

"Baldroy, shouldn't you be preparing for tonight's dinner?" The cook merely smiled, looking away. "Tanaka…" He looked to the older man, "well, I suppose you're alright as you are." He said, the oldest of the five in his usual resting knelt position. "Lilith…" He looked to the housekeeper, who was leaning against the bookshelf, watching him.

"Yes, Seb?"

"Is the dining room laid and prepared for tonight's guest?" She raised an eyebrow at him, tilting her head slightly, looking between the butler, their Master and back again.

"I may be one hell of a housekeeper, but mind reading isn't one of my specialties..." She said, standing up properly, hands folded behind her back. Her comment seeming to have caught everyone in the room off guard, causing Ciel to choke slightly on his breakfast. Sebastian merely smirked, raising an eyebrow at her. "Though, now I know that it is needed I shall do it to our Masters standards, as soon as it is possible," she said, making her way across the room to the door. She turned to Ciel, bowing her head, bumping Sebastian lightly as she exited the room. Three of the four servants eyes were locked on her, Sebastian allowing his eyes to follow her for a moment before snapping back.

"Now all of you," he said, partially gaining their attention, "we have no time for thumb twiddling this morning," still gaining more but not all. He sighed inwardly, before ordering; "So get back to work!" Causing the three to jump, racing out of the room, near running Lily over as they went.

"Yes sir…" Mey-Rin let out

"Simply hopeless…" Sebastian commented.

Once their Master had finished his meal, Lily was able to start preparing for their guest that evening. Sebastian, having set the others their tasks, worked on preparing the meal, silverware, table cloth and roses. When his tasks were interrupted by their Master summoning him, he looked in on the housekeeper, smirking slightly on seeing her working without issue. He would make her pay for her remark earlier, but now was not the time for that.

When she was practically finished a loud bang, crash and shattering echoed through the manor, causing her to leap near out of her skin, hanging onto the chandelier. Her heart was racing as she looked around, eyes as wide as they could go. She sighed, hanging her head slightly, shaking it as she put together what the noise had been.

"Damn it all Mey-Rin…"

She was just about to get down when the doors swung open, causing her to hiss in shock. She looked down, groaning softly as she watched the butler walk in.

"Bloody hell… Sebastian…" She said, causing him to look up, spotting her. "What did she break now?" She asked.

"Nothing more than she has before… If you wouldn't mind joining me down here, Lilith, I require your assistance." She nodded, leaping down to the table, before hopping onto the ground.

"Yes, Seb?" She asked, standing before him.

"This all needs to be moved outside, quickly."

"Wha… What?! You have got to be…" She sighed, closing her eyes, running her hands over her face, "what else did they break?"

"Everything, but I have a plan on how to fix this, which requires your assistance." She sighed, nodding.

"Of course, of course, whatever you need Seb."

"I will have Finny come carry the tables outside… I will require you to bring out the table cloth and…"

"The table toppings, of course Seb, I shall." He nodded, turning he made his way to the door. He paused, hand resting on the wood.

"Thank you, Lilith." He said softly before exiting.

Once everything was in place, Lily stood with the other servants, standing upon the newly installed wooden pathway. She kept a slightly exaggerated space between she and the other four, still annoyed by her work having to be redone outside. Though what Sebastian had been able to do to compensate for their mess was impressive, if she hadn't known the state of the grounds before hand, she would have been convinced that the stone garden had always been there.

As the carriage pulled up, Sebastian opened the door for their guest as he stepped out, Lily bowed with the rest.

"Good evening, welcome sir." They said, Sebastian explaining the layout of the garden and plans for that evening's meal. Once the guest was inside the house, having been led in by Tanaka, the remaining servants relaxed, bar Lily. She crossed her arms, closing her eyes as she extended the distance between she and the three.

"Whew, we actually did it," Baldroy said, wiping the sweat of his brow, the three admiring the work done.

"Who would have thought that a dozen bags of gravel could turn into an amazing garden!" Finny cried, catching the attention of Sebastian, who was bringing in the guests hat, coat and cane inside.

"Naturally we were able to do this, we serve the Phantomhive family after all." The three turned to face him, Lily still turned away. "There is still work to be done, let's take care of it while the Master is talking business with his guest. Look sharp now."

"Right." The three said in unison. Sebastian looked to Lily, before hearing a soft.

"Of course… Seb, of course." He carried on inside