A/N: HEY GUYS!
I haven't posted in a while because of work. In fact, I'm supposed to be going into work later today, but since I have some time till then, and I'm awake, and I can't exactly go on a walk today because it's snowing [it's cold and I want spring, even though spring isn't my favorite season!] then I decided to look over this chapter! If it's left in a cliffhanger I apologize, and if not, that's great! But I only have time to post one… probably today.
I'm getting home by 8pm, tonight, and have to wake up and be into work by 10am. So, I'd rather just head to bed once I get home.
But, I'll also say this, I haven't posted in a few days because I've been working on my latest chapters. When it comes to action, I have to write, at least that scene, all at once, or else I start to write in tangents… Sadly, I'm starting to write in a bit of a tangent, but I'm hoping to finish my 'fight scene' so, in my head, I can move on.
Oh, and lastly, if this wasn't quite clear… So Clara DOES have asthma. Not a terrible form of asthma, but she can get an attack if she's under a lot of stress or very angry. However, she's lived with it for years, and has managed to train to be a fighter, despite her problems. Sadly, the asthma never has fully left her, so she can understand the situation Rachel and the younger twin is going through. Just so you know. Now, I'm no real expert, by my father does has asthma. It was worse when he was younger, and he has an inhaler on hand, just in case. Considering this isn't the 21st century, inhalers don't exist, so Clara has to come up with different solutions.
I read that some inhalers use caffeine to help with the symptoms. That's why she suggests coffee, for a young boy. Not because she wants to stunt the boy's growth, though that is a good reason why the younger twin is smaller and frailer then the older one, but to see if his asthma can be combated with caffeine… but there's my reasoning to that. I'm not sure if I give that 'advise' in this chapter or the very next one, but just a heads up!
Okay. THAT'S IT! I hope you guys are enjoying your week, or if you live in the USA, stay safe in that blizzard! I'm in Colorado and I haven't been hit with too much bad weather, just basic snow, but I know there are places that have flooding and a terrible blizzard. So, just stay safe! And I'll see you guys later!
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
Hearing a knock at your door, you let out a deep, tired grumble… but hearing the knocking again, you turned in the sheets, just slightly, so your mouth could be heard as you said a mumbled, "Yes?"
"Lady Graves. I am here to tend to you. May I come in?" you heard a voice, causing you to pause and squint your eyes in annoyance.
And then you sighed, deeply, though you honestly didn't want to be disturbed. "… Fine," you stated, turning over in the bed so your body was facing away from the door, but you put your head over the soft blankets, trying to get back to sleep.
Sadly, the moment the woman stepped into the room and pulled open the curtains you specifically closed so you wouldn't be disturbed, you could only outright groan in agitation. "Come now, Lady Graves. It's morning. It's time to arise with the sunlight."
"Don't bother me," you growled lowly, trying to pretend you could get back to sleep, but instead you felt a hand being pressed on your shoulder, shaking you in an attempt to wake you up. "… Must you do this?"
"Yes. Lord Phantomhive would like you to come to breakfast. According to him, you promised the twins that you would be playing with them today," she stated, and you sighed, lowly.
You shot her one sharp glare through the covers you were wrapped within, causing the maid to flinch at your glaring, but then your face fell into the pillow as you sighed, deeply, in irritation before slowly sitting up into the bed, groaning as you put a hand to your head. You rubbed your sore forehead, sighing to yourself at being awakened like this. "… Could you, at the very least, close those blinds?"
"Yes ma'am," she responded, making her way back to the curtains and closing them, and she turned to you with a smile on her face while you sighed in relief, though you still felt irritated. "Forgive me, but it is my job to attend to you during your stay here, at the Phantomhive mansion," she told you, but before she could continue you held up a finger, your hand running through your matted hair as you looked her over with a silent, critical stare.
You noticed her soft auburn brown hair, tied back in a slightly messy bun, her stereotypical maid attire, full body white apron and everything, and the slight freckles upon her face as her nose scrunched at your staring, her pink skin lightly brightening under your gaze as you looked into her light brown eyes. "… What's your name?" you asked, causing the girl to give you a smile.
"I'm known as Kyla, ma'am –"
"Well, I'm Lara, and you don't have to call me ma'am. I'm guessing we're about the same age, anyways," you scoffed, causing her to blush lightly in embarrassment.
"A-actually… I'm twenty five," she told you, causing you to pause before letting out an 'oh' in response.
"I'm nineteen, close to twenty, so I suppose the age difference isn't too far off," you responded, before sighing as you began to push the sheets away from your body, intent on getting up all at once, instead of lying in bed for another few hours.
It'd be nice, to lie in bed. It's been a while since you've had such a comfortable set up, but… sadly, it doesn't look like you'll be getting any peace and quiet. So, you might as well get up now. "Is your birthday close?" she asked in a curious tone, causing you to give her a glance before you smirked, lightly, in response.
"Maybe~… So, let's get to it, then. You got me up and everything," you stated, not exactly giving the woman any room to complain or respond, but instead she gave you a nod and a smile, motioning for you to walk into the nearby bathroom, where she helped you get ready for the day.
It was… weird to be helped for every little thing. But, with Kyla's guidance, you learned how you should properly prepare yourself. At least, how to put your clothes on, and how Victorians wash themselves, and just how long this sort of morning routine should take.
Luckily for you, this didn't take too long, and you were properly fitted into a corset and bloomers, long white stockings that reached up past your kneecaps, kept up by garter belts while you slipped into black dress shoes, a white blouse tucked into a black skirt, and lastly an outer blackish, gray cloth that happened to be one of your better outfits. It was simple, but a bit easier to wear around a building. 'Proper', as the ladies would call it, but easy to put on and take off.
"Too bad you don't have colorful outfits," you heard the maid say as she tugged at the ends of your skirt, making sure it was straight before standing back up while you shrugged your shoulders.
"I'm surrounded by the deceased, Kyla. People expect me to always wear black. Why would I bother with clothes that have too much color?" you told her, before reaching for a brush, giving her a smirk, as you began to comb out your hair and properly put your hair up. If there was anything you've grown used to, it'd be putting your hair up into a bun. You didn't mind a ponytail, but keeping your hair up and constricted was hard to get used to. Heck, the only reason why you bother is because of the looks men would give you whenever they walked into the mortuary, if your hair was down.
If there's anything you detest, it's the leering gaze of predatory males. Though women, not so much.
"But, you have such lovely dresses here!" you heard Kyla say as she began to look at the outfits you had placed in the closet, and not in the drawers, and you glanced over your shoulder before scoffing as you went back to pinning up your hair in a simple, yet personally styled design.
One of the only things you get to do, yourself, for yourself, it would seem.
"I had a feeling I'd need something a bit less… gray," you decided to say, but then you sighed, "but it's not like I want to wear any of them –"
"Oh, come now! I'm sure you would look beautiful –"
"Beauty or not, I brought them because Mrs. Hopkins insisted I try them. Maybe I'll leave them here if I don't have room in my baggage for them," you decided to say, but then you heard a huff, causing your head to glance behind you as you noticed the young maid was clutching her fists, before punching up into the air.
"That settles it! Tomorrow, I am getting you into one of these dresses! No exceptions! –"
"No way –"
"Come on! You'd look so pretty! And besides, I believe the Midfords will be visiting us tomorrow. You want to look~ your best~" she told you with a grin, but you couldn't help but give her an unsure look.
"… Midfords? If I may ask, who are they?"
"The Midfords are a highly prestigious household, under the title of marquess. Their current head is Marquess Alexis Leon Midford, but his wife is our Lord Phantomhive's sister, Marchioness Francis," she told you, pausing for a moment before continuing with a light smile. "They have an older son named Edward, and a daughter, Elizabeth. Their dear Elizabeth is betrothed to our young Ciel Phantomihve," she explained, and you gave her a curious look before smiling at her, lightly.
"Ah. I see. Thank you," you told her, and she giggled in response.
"Of course! Lady Phantomhive told me that you aren't quite accustomed to English society. I understand if you do not know who certain people are. In fact," she continued, while you reached into one of your bags, pulling out a hand sized box, and after unlatching the lock you placed it in front of the vanity mirror, looking at the various accessories you've accumulated over your stay. Mainly for your hair, but some other items as well, "I didn't know who the nobles are when I first arrived. You learn quickly when you're a servant to the Phantomhive household."
"I see. And why is it you're here? Did the Lord request you, or did the Lady take pity upon you?" you asked in a calm, yet curious tone, snatching up a blue and gray ribbon, wrapping it around your bun before tying the ribbon at the bottom, letting the ends hang behind your neck before you turned and looked back at the maid.
"W-well… the Lord… did, if that's what you're asking. I came to the manor looking for work, and after some time I was accepted as a maid. This is my first time helping one of our guests, personally," Kyla told you, causing you to pause for a moment before you gave her a light smile.
"You're doing a good job, Kyla," you told her, before you stood to your feet, sighing to yourself as you began to make your way to the door, "but now, why don't you show me to the dining room? I'm still not familiar with this place."
"Of course! But," she continued, holding up a pair of gloves from the top of one of the dressers, "don't you want to wear some gloves, ma'am?"
"… Do I need to?" you asked, raising an eyebrow, and she quickly shook her head.
"N-no! I suppose not, but it would be… strange, I guess," she stated, but you simply gave her a smile over your shoulder before you made your way out of the bedroom, with the maid rushing behind you.
You have no doubt in your mind the girl will be back in the guest room, tidying up the place, considering you made it an absolute mess. Normally, you'd make your bed and organize your belongings, but right now the thought of food was on your mind…
And you're going to have to put your best foot forward, if you want to keep up with these mannerisms.
Hopefully they have some strong tea… or coffee. Coffee would be great, right about now.
! #$%^&*())(*&^%$# !
"Good morning, Clara," you heard someone calling out your voice the moment you walked into the dining room, but your feet automatically began to make your way to the delicious smell of strong coffee, causing a snicker to leave the man's breath. "… Say, good morning."
"Don't treat me like a child, God, geeze," you scoffed in disgust, sitting beside the Undertaker at the empty table, but you smiled meekly as the cup of coffee that was in front of the man was suddenly in front of you, warm and piping hot, but you simply grasped the cup, bringing it closer to your body as you held it close to your person. "… Thanks."
"Pah! You're lucky the young earl knows I enjoy coffee in the morning, or else you'd be coffee less~" he snickered, only for you to bring the beverage to your lips, inhaling deeply, before taking a cautious sip, tasting the flavor. "… Helloooo~? –"
"Shut up. I'm not awake enough for your idiotacy," you snarled, casting him a dark, irritated glare, but he only grinned, casually snickering every so often underneath his breath as he watched you sipping, and slowly you turned to glare, again. "… What?"
"Is that a word? Idiotacy? Don't you mean idiocy?"
"I just made it up. My God, how can you be so awake right now?" you growled lowly, but he simply smiled, letting out a content hum while you scoffed in annoyance.
"Don't you know~? Us reapers –"
"Are bat shit crazy because you wake me up at random points throughout the night, and then sleep all day. Seriously, you must be half bat. Or owl. It's the only explanation," you grumbled, only to feel a slight pat on your head as you snarled, causing the man to chuckle lightly before he stood up, leaving the table for a moment, before returning.
You sat in silence as you sipped at your coffee, watching as a butler came from the kitchen, apologizing for… you suppose not getting you coffee, but you simply stared, simmering in your own irritation for being woken up in the first place, and the Undertaker snickered. "Don't worry, dear boy. My apprentice isn't a morning person."
"You aren't either, you ass hat," you scoffed, the butler giving you a shocked look at your 'indecent behavior', but Undertaker simply smiled, thanking the boy for another cup of coffee, before the two of you sat in silence, sipping away as you waited for breakfast.
Man… this coffee is strangely good…
"… Better?" you heard Undertaker ask, after noticing you drank half of the cup, already, but you shrugged in response, and he smirked as he continued to sip at his own cup. "Perhaps I spoiled you, my dear."
"Spoil? What's the point in waking up early if you don't even open the store early? Duh," you huffed, taking a sip, or rather a gulp this time, before placing the coffee back down on the table, and finally letting out a much needed yawn. "… So, how did you sleep?"
"Just lovely, dearie –"
"And you got woken up, I'm guessing," you continued, but he simply snickered in response.
"Some poor~ boy did the job, but I was already up when he arrived," he told you, but you simply cast him a tired, but interested look. "… What?"
"You were up. This early. Why?" you scoffed, but he smiled lightly in response.
"Just thinking~, is all. Nothing to worry your pretty little head," he grinned, but you only rolled your eyes and scoffed, your face leaning closer to the table as you closed your eyes, close to falling back asleep… until you heard the Undertaker snap his fingers right next to your ear, causing you to react instinctively.
And aim a punch right at his face.
He caught your hand, laughing at your growling, only causing you to snarl deeper. "Ass! Let me be!"
"Giahahahaha~!" he laughed in response, keeping his grip on your hand while you tried to hit his face with your other, but he easily grasped your other hand.
"You are acting like a child, my God!" you huffed, swiping your hands out of his grip, only for your face to fall onto the table as you let out a soft, low whine. "… I need more coffee."
"Now, now~. Drink too much caffeine and you'll be sleepy every day," he stated, but you simply kept your face on the table, too emotionally drained to care, right now. With a smirk, he swapped your cup with his own, which was nearly full, still, causing you to turn your head and give him a confused, but intrigued look in response. "Only one more~"
"… I'm not a baby bird. I don't need you to feed me… Where is everyone, anyways? Why are we here and no one else is –"
But your question was answered for you as you heard the familiar noise of children shouting down the hallway, making their way towards the dining room, and slowly you lifted your head off of the table, putting a hand onto your hand as you leaned onto the table, your other hand grasping the warm dark brown liquid as you sipped, or more like gulping for that much needed caffeine. "Lady Lara, it's terrible!" you heard the oldest twin cry out as he ran into the dining room, right up to you as you flinched at how loud his voice was becoming. "Mother and brother –"
"They're both feeling sick today," Vincent explained as he walked into the room, giving the two of you a meek smile. "I apologize for the inconvenience. I know you wanted to spend time with my little boys, and –"
"What exactly are they sick with?" you decided to ask, the man giving you an unsure smirk while you sipped your coffee, sighing to yourself at the warm bitter taste before you placed the cup down, patting the boy's head before he could start jumping and yelling in your face.
"My youngest. He has the same illness as his mother –"
"That asthma problem, right?" you stated, giving Undertaker a look as he smirked and nodded, while Vincent gave him an accusing glare in response. "Don't get so mad, Vincent. Your wifie told me she had problems and apologized for any inconvenience that may cause."
"Oh… If Rachel told you, then –"
"Just how severe are the symptoms?" you asked, watching as Vincent sighed to himself, making his way to his side of the table to sit down. You let the boy crawl up onto your lap, plopping him down while you sat up in your chair, trying to look enthusiastic.
Sadly, you were failing, and you just looked irritated and grouchy.
"Sometimes Rachel becomes so ill she cannot get out of bed. She gets a nasty cough, and can be bedridden for days. At worst, weeks. Just a few months ago, my youngest displayed the same symptoms. He was bedridden for a week and a half. Luckily my sister in law, Baroness Burnett, was at the manor, during that time. She's a doctor and knows how to handle such conditions," he stated, but then his head raised as he gave you a cautious look. "Why do you ask, Lady Clara?"
"Well… if I may?" I decided to ask, looking at Undertaker as if you were asking him for permission to continue, and you noticed the boy's eyes blinking, wide and curious, before you turned back to Vincent to give him a light smile. "Sadly, from what I understand it, asthma has no real cure. However, there are a lot of people who have this disease and can still go about their days, normally. If your wife continued to have the symptoms of asthma into her adult years, she must have, a, been outside and running around too often, or b, never fully recovered when she was a child. If you take care of yourself and use preventive matters when you're still young, then you're less likely to have asthma related attacks. At least, it won't be every other day and instead, only once in a while.
"Now," you smirked, holding up the boy's hands and playfully putting them up onto the table, causing the boy to giggle as you continued with your explanation, "causes for asthma related attacks is dust and pollen, mold, strong chemicals, and cold air. Sometimes, staying indoors for too long, in the cold, can cause a reaction. Going outside and soaking in the sunlight for at least a few moments is perfectly acceptable. However, I know some personal tricks that have helped keep my problems at bay," you told them, giving Undertaker a smirk at the unsure look he was casting you, but before he could say much you heard Vincent make an obvious comment.
"Wait. You have asthma as well? You look healthy, Lady Clara," he stated, bluntly, and you gave Vincent a devious smirk in response.
"Of course. You wouldn't know if you were just looking at me. One can develop similar symptoms and still go about their every day lives. However, since the age of four, I had problems with breathing. I had to take it easy until I could figure out how my body worked. And, my asthma related problems are probably mild compared to the problems your wife and son have," you told him, pausing for a moment before looking over at Undertaker. "Should I?"
"Should you what?" Undertaker responded with a smirk, but you gave him an expectant look as he sighed in response. "… It's up to you, child."
"Fine," you replied, giving him an irritated look before looking back over to Vincent, smiling in reply. "Firstly, if you've already gone through the task of cleaning up the manor, making sure there's no dust and pollen lingering about, and especially mold problems, then the next step is changing the food you eat. Fatty and sugary foods can make the symptoms worse. I'm not saying don't have dessert all the time, but cut back on your intake. Eat fruits, vegetables, and meat more often. Fish is better then most meat to eat, but if you cannot have fish all the time then that's understandable. But fish is the healthiest meat to have, if you make sure it's thoroughly cooked. Not all seafood is good for you, but maybe your saturating your meals with too much starch. Fatty foods. Or maybe it's too sugary. I don't know. Just avoid adding sugar and fat, if you don't need it. I use oil instead of butter and lard, and if I have to use butter and lard I just reuse it into the next dish. That way, I'm not eating too much fats and my meal tastes pretty delicious.
"But if all else fails, having your little sick patients eat light soup is the best option, until they're better. Have them drink plenty of water… Oh! And while this trick doesn't work for every case, I drink coffee every day for a reason. The caffeine will help keep my lungs pumping, but the tests that I've read and endured personally, it helps prevent my asthma related attacks. They started making me drink coffee when I was… six, and it helped with my prevention. Sadly, no cure for asthma, but there some tricks to prevent a rough cough and shortness of breath from occurring.
"But we all die anyways. I've outlived people who were perfectly healthy, so nothing is for certain," you finished with a smirk, poking the boy's cheek before setting him onto the ground, but he tugged at your dress, getting your attention. "Yes?"
"Does that stuff really work?" the boy asked, eyes wide and full of worry, but you smirked, patting the boy on top of the head.
"Over time, perhaps. But bedrest when you get sick is key, though when it comes to me, even I have to walk around after being trapped in bed for more then eight hours. In fact, why don't we come up with a fun little lunch for them?" you told the boy, his eyes blinking, curiously, before he rushed to the other side of the room and began to tug on his father's clothes.
"Father, can we?"
"I don't see why not," Vincent chuckled, causing you to smile lightly, but you felt Undertaker nudge your arm to get your attention.
"Nothing about the medicine~" Undertaker asked in a whisper, so low and quiet you hoped the other two didn't try to listen in.
"Nope. Besides," you continued in a louder tone of voice, "most of that is caffeine, anyways. I'm not saying a boy who's, what, five or whatever should have a lot of caffeine. It could stunt his growth if we're not careful, but maybe half a cup?" you stated, before looking back across the table and giving Vincent a smile, "and if you're going to give coffee to your little patients, I'd say one cup for the adult, half a cup for the child. And no added sugar. That'll defeat the purpose, but you can add cream. Or milk. Just not too much. Coffee is bitter, but terribly addicting," you scoffed, reaching for your cup and drinking some more, again. "I know I could suggest just drinking black tea, straight, without anything added, but tea doesn't have as much caffeine as coffee, and if you can get coffee beans for the Undertaker, then you must know how to get more beans for your own family. Am I right, Vincent~?" you smirked deviously at him, causing him to sigh as he scooted his son's chair closer to the table.
"You're correct… but how can I believe your words? You're no doctor," he stated, but you shrugged your shoulders as you sat back into your chair, sighing to yourself as you continued.
"You could try a lot of experiments and hope for the right results, or you could trust someone who has asthma, too. At least, that's what they told me it is. There are different types of asthma too, so maybe my way won't be very helpful, but I'll have you know I was thinking of being a doctor, at some point in my life. And regardless what you nobles think or not, the funeral business is within the medical field. You're just dealing with the deceased, not the living. My brother insisted~ I study everything medical, and where I came from, you need to know how someone dies just as much as how they were living. Most of the time, they go hand in hand… You don't have to take my advice, but I would suggest looking for mold in the walls. Even if it isn't pertaining to asthma, it never hurts to look around. Mold can cause a lot of different problems, over time," you told him, sipping on your coffee casually, before you put your head back into your hand, leaning into the table as you sighed to yourself.
"Also, what always triggers my problems is the pollen in the air. That could be why they're suddenly having problems. If I hadn't grown used to my own problems, I'd be coughing and sitting in bed, right about now," you honestly stated, as if your observation was the obvious thing in the world, and you sipped on your coffee, pausing as you looked to the boy and gave him a light smile. "So? You twins wanted me to talk about the medical field, right? And since it'll be the two of us for a while, maybe we could make lunch? Or brunch?... Whatever you call it," you stated, causing Vincent to lightly chuckle.
"What did you have in mind~?" he asked, but you smirked back in return.
"It's simple, once you think about it. Though, if you don't have the ingredients, I'll improvise. I get how irritated a head cook can get if you invade their personal space, but we'll make things simple. Little Ciel and I can make my family 'make me feel better' soup, and if you have any fruit, especially oranges, we'll serve those for lunch… Maybe have a light salad, if you have lettuce and other greens. Just throw that into a bowl, but don't add dressing. Especially ranch dressing. I don't know if you have ranch dressing, but if it's an oil based garnish then maybe that can be added. Just a tad, for flavor.
"Tea, of course. Maybe something herbal based. And if we're having something sweet, something light. Like flat cookies. Nothing like cake or brownies or whatever. And we should have this all outside," you finished, with a smirk at your own thought process. "We'll have them come outside once it's all prepared, and once we're done eating, they can go back inside. If you have a gazebo or a canopy… or an umbrella or something, we'll set that outside, too. That way, they won't be directly in the sunlight, but they can get warm and soak in some English sunlight. Who knows when it'll get rainy, again," you grinned, but then you paused as you noticed the earl wasn't exactly giving you a response. "… So? Do you want to do that, or should we just skip all of the extravagance?"
"… Must it be oranges? I don't know if we have any," he responded, causing you to smirk.
"Lemons, maybe? Or limes?"
"But wouldn't that be gross to eat on their own? –"
"Yes, yes it is," you chuckled to yourself, "but I suggested oranges because of their acidic properties. It's not as… intense as a lemon or lime is, and if you don't have oranges, the cook could hopefully make a dressing for the salad with a touch of lemon juice added. Or lime. A little bit goes a long way," you grinned. "Then, what fruits do you have?"
"Mainly berries, right now. I believe we have an apple orchard or two close to perfection, but –"
"Then we'll have a little berry dish. Something simple; maybe even mix it into the salad? Or, just cut up the apples into easy slices to eat. We don't need to eat much. The patients are still sick, and won't want to eat a lot anyways. We just need to make sure they get a bit of everything. Greens, fruits, some acid, and lastly the tea. That'll be important.
"Dessert, not so much," you chuckled, and then you heard Undertaker chuckling next to you.
"I didn't know I had such an amazing cook," he giggled, but you rolled your eyes at him.
"Well, when you bring home nothing but eggs, hunks of meat, and bread, I can't exactly work with just that. But I get it. You can't buy fancy stuff every day, and –"
"At least I know~, now," he grinned, but you gave him a pout before turning your gaze back to Vincent.
"… If you're busy, you don't have to help –"
"No, no. I want to help! This sounds like fun," Vincent chuckled, turning his attention to his son. "Right, Ciel?"
"Yes! Everyone is going to be so happy!" he cheered, but you chuckled and rubbed the back of your neck.
"M-maybe. This isn't a cure or anything –"
"Nonsense! This'll be fun. I'll have the staff know what we're planning," Vincent stated, kissing the top of his boy's head and telling him to stay in his seat before he left, for a moment, while you gave Undertaker a tired look. He simply smiled lightly in response, giving you a playful nudge while you gave him a suspicious glance.
Why… hasn't he been making sly comments, like usual?
What's up with him?