Chapter 7: His Daughter, Claimed.
Sebastian had packed away January's belongings and was setting off down the hall and towards the kitchen to begin issuing orders to the servants. As he approached the kitchen, the smell of smoke was evident and before he was merely feet away from the door, an explosion sounded from inside said kitchen. He slammed the door open, to unveil a dishevelled Bard standing in the middle of the kitchen, his hair atop his head in an afro and a flamethrower in his hands.
"Must you do this every time I ask you to cook a simple cut of meat?" Sebastian sighed, irritation clear in his voice. Bard shrugged, and proceeded to blow some soot off of his shoulders.
"Sorry, boss. It was just takin' so long!" He exclaimed, as Sebastian started to sweep up the dust and debris.
"Bard, please gather up the other servants whilst I clean this mess," Sebastian stated, bending over to pick up the near-cremated joint of beef, "and bring them here immediately." Bardroy offered him a quick salute, followed by a "Yes sir!" before he rushed off to find Finny and Mey-Rin. Sebastian sighed, and began to clean the kitchen with amazing speed, quickly repairing anything that was destroyed and polishing the kitchen counters back to their pristine white conditions. Just as he wiped some sweat from his brow, Bard barged through the door with Finny and Mey-Rin in tow. They lined up in front of Sebastian as he stood straight in front of them.
"Finny, I need you to fetch me some of our best roses from the garden. Ensure there are no thorns on the stems." Finny nodded his head happily, pulling his hat onto his head.
"Yes, Sebastian!"
"Mey-Rin, please set the dining table with the appropriate cutlery for tonight's meal. Don't forget, we're setting the table for three people now. The Lady January would be most upset if you were to forget about her." Mey-Rin nodded frantically, rushing off the get the silverware.
"Yes Sebastian! I mustn't forget about the lady, our guest! She'd be very upset, yes she would!" Her shrill voice carried through the hall as she hurried off to the dining room.
"And Bard," Sebastian started, approaching the soot covered chef, "please check our stock in the basement. I will call you if I need any further assistance." Bard raised his hand in a salute again, before turning away to head to the basement.
"On it, Sebastian!"
A sigh of relief escaped Sebastian's lips as the kitchen emptied and he was finally alone, able to prepare dinner for tonight; A beef wellington, paired with roasted seasonal vegetables and a light red wine gravy over top, followed by a light victoria sponge cake accompanied by fresh berries and cream. He rolled up his sleeves and got to work, making sure to prepare the food to absolute perfection.
Upstairs, in Lizzie's dressing room…
"Oh, January, I'm already beginning to show so much!" Elizabeth squeals excitedly, hurrying over to the seated woman to the side of her, and promptly grabbing her by the wrist to bring her in front of the mirror. The two women stood together, their reflections staring back at them. They were so different in appearance; Lizzie was taller than January by 3 or 4 inches, and her golden blonde hair cascaded over shoulders gracefully in tousled curls. She had the body of a woman, her hips were round and her waist was still small even though she was carrying her first child. January, on the other hand, was petite and her hips were nowhere near as womanly as Elizabeth's. Her umber hair sat straight today, gathered over one shoulder and stopping just below her breast. A delicate hair-pin kept her bangs out of her face.
With a wide grin on her face, Lizzie turned to the side and pulled her nightgown taut to her body, the soft fabric emphasised her growing bump. January smiled at her, and Lizzie placed her cousin's hand on her bump. January stroked it lovingly, having only ever felt another baby bump in her life.
"It's so exciting! I'm so happy that I get to be here through it all." January said happily, resting her head on Elizabeth's shoulder. Elizabeth pulled her into a hug, and released her when she heard a knock at the door. She called out to the person, beckoning them to enter the room. Sebastian stood at the door, bowing to the women.
"I have come to inform you that dinner will be ready in 5 minutes or so." He lifted his head, taking in Elizabeth's appearance. "I will send for Paula to help you dress, Lady Elizabeth."
Lizzie smiled at the butler, "Thank you, Sebastian. January and I shan't be long!" She called out to him as he turned down the hall. January stared at the spot where he once stood, seemingly unable to avert her gaze anywhere else. Lizzie raised her eyebrow at her cousin curiously, a smirk forming on her face.
"Come on, January! I know Sebastian is handsome but you can't stare at him like that!" January begins to blush, and Elizabeth giggles at her like a schoolgirl. Another knock sounded, and Paula came into the room. She offered a bow to the women in the middle of the room.
"I'll head downstairs so you can get dressed." January said curtly as she left the dressing room, closing the door behind her with a gentle click. She hurried to the staircase, lifting her skirt and ascending the stairs quickly. She reached the dining room, and before she could open the door it opened from inside the room, as if Sebastian had sensed her arrival.
"Ah, my lady. I'm happy to see you early for dinner. Please, take a seat." She smiled at him and picked a seat on the right side of the table, knowing that Ciel would sit at the end of the table and Sebastian would stand at his left - giving her the perfect view of him as she ate her food. He pulled out the chair for her and she sat down, thanking him. Shortly after, Lizzie appeared now fully dressed and Ciel appeared not long after. As they ate their meals in silence, January made sure to offer the handsome butler a longing glance, a slight smirk and then she would return to her meal, feigning an innocent unawareness.
My, what a teasing girl you are...Sebastian thought devilishly to himself as Ciel stood up from his meal, bidding the ladies goodnight. Mey-Rin collected the dishes hastily, rushing off to the kitchen to get them cleaned. Elizabeth stood up next, making her way after her husband. Finally, January stood up from her seat, and she offered Mey-Rin a genuine smile as she collected her plates from her.
"Thank you, miss maid." She spoke gently, taking in the maid's nervousness. Mey-Rin flushed red, bowing her head to January whilst nearly dropping the plates in her hands.
"N-no need to thank me, my lady!" She stuttered, offering a shaky grin before rushing off to the kitchen again. Sebastian observed as January as she skirted around the table, shooting him one more suggestive glance before leaving the dining room.
They said you were shy; so meek and mild… you've mastered that disguise, haven't you, dear? Sebastian smirked, chuckling to himself. He swiftly left the dining room, and headed towards the servant's quarters.
In January's room, she prepares for bed…
January slipped her pale yellow dress off and it landed in a crumpled pile around her feet. She stepped out of the mass of fabric, heading towards the other side of the bed where her nightgown had been laid out for her.
By Sebastian? No, probably not. She thought to herself. She doubted he would recommend such a modest article of clothing. She pulled the soft fabric over her head and within seconds she was ready to retire for the night. Picking up the previously discarded dress, she placed it on the dresser at the other end of the room before crawling under the masses of blankets on her freshly made bed.
Where did all these blankets come from? Reminds me of home...I wonder if…
January brings one of the blankets up to her face, and she inhaled the scent of them… lavender, just like the ones from her room at home. Her eyes widen and she smiles, realising that it must have been him! After all, Sebastian was the only person to see her room and pick up on something as small as that.
Amazing… he's a true gentleman. January thought to herself, remembering their encounter in the carriage. Oh, how she would never forget those brief moments that their lips finally touched.
She had just began to settle down into her pillows, when there was a light knock at her door. Confused, she threw the blankets off and crept out of bed quietly, approaching the door with caution. Opening it, she sees Sebastian stood outside her door, a smirk plastered on his face. Within seconds, he has taken her in his arms and their lips are touching again; this time with a ferocity January had never known possible. He lifts her, his hands gripping her thighs roughly and January leans into him, her wrists interlocking behind his neck and her fingers finding their way through his raven hair. His lips moved their way down to her neck, and eventually they ended up on her bed. January lay underneath him, a leg on each side of him as he continued to kiss and nibble his way down her neck. A soft moan escaped her lips and she felt him smirk against her skin, and she felt the deviousness overtake her.
Gripping him by the shirt, she pulls his face up to hers and their eyes lock again - crimson meeting malachite - and she offers him a mischievous grin before flipping them over, so she is sitting comfortably on his hips and her form in perfectly displayed under the moonlight that breaks through the curtains. Her nightgown cascades down her body, pressed to her skin enough to show the curves of her body. Sebastian took in her appearance hungrily, his deep ruby eyes travelling up and down her body. In an instant, they're flipped again, and he leans in close to her as she still holds that cheeky grin.
"I thought you were supposed to be shy, my dear January…" His hand slips down her body, his fingers grazing over her nipples and across her clothed stomach. "You're seeming to be quite the opposite, wouldn't you say dear?" He looks up at her as he makes his way down he body, his eyes never leave hers and before she realises it he's tearing her nightgown from her body; rendering her totally vulnerable and bare. A soft gasp leaves her as the white torn fabric flies over her, and lands on the floor on the other side of the bed.
He leans over her again, except this time she realises that he too is undressed, and she traces his fingers along the sculpted muscle of his chest and down to his abs. Sebastian leans down again, gently kissing her ear.
"Give me your consent, and then I will do whatever you please." He whispers huskily into her ear. January smirks up at him wickedly, bringing her head up so that their noses touch.
"I consent. Now, do your worst, I won't beg." She states playfully, and he pins her arms above her head. He lets out a deep chuckle.
"We'll see about that, my darling."
