Chapter 12: His Daughter, An Embarrassment.
A/N: Hey! Sorry for the wait for the chapter. I really had to think about where I want the rest of this story to go. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or have an idea of where you'd like this to go! I'm considering writing a sequel, depending on how this story ends. I'll try to get a few more chapters out within the next week, as I'm leaving for a holiday next Thursday and won't be able to update for a week. Thanks for reading, let me know what you think!
The ball had come around a lot quicker than January would have liked, and she planned on sulking in her room for as long as possible. She sat at her desk, staring vacantly into the mirror in front of her. Today, her dark brown hair was pinned up into a bun, with a few strands of hair crafted into intricate braids wrapped around it. Her fringe was swept to the side of her face, a few loose curled baby hairs brushing against her pink cheeks. Luckily, the bruise that had formed on her cheek had finally started to disappear and looked like no more than a faint birthmark. Turning her head, she glanced at the ornate clock sat at the end of her desk and groaned in frustration when she saw the time…
5:36 p.m.
That meant that she would be expected to show her face downstairs, and soon. Maybe she could fake an illness, say she has been taken ill suddenly, and couldn't possibly attend, in fear of spreading an unknown illness that could be contagious! No, Sebastian would no doubt catch her in her lie, and she'd never heard the end of it. Or maybe she could say she has urgent business to attend to, somewhere deep in the middle of London, somewhere much too far away for her to make it back in time. No, that wouldn't work either. She didn't have any business of her own to attend to, and plus she didn't know anyone in London who was more than a mere acquaintance to her. Sighing, January stood up from her chair, brushing down her skirt before heading out of her room and into the nursery on the other side of the manor. January opened the door slowly, being cautious not to make any noise. There, sat comfortably in a rocking chair and dressed in some of the finest silks January had ever seen, Lizzie was staring lovingly down at the content baby in her arms. January offered Lizzie a small smile, and approached the two slowly.
"He loves to nap, doesn't he?" January said quietly, taking in the sleeping baby's form. Blonde hair was already starting to curl on top of his head, and his big blue eyes were currently hidden under sleeping lids. Lizzie smiled up at her, her fingers running gently over the baby's golden locks.
"He does. He's been a dream." Lizzie replied, a certain happiness present in her voice. January sat down on the windowsill beside the rocking chair.
"The party is starting soon…" January said meekly, dipping her head slightly. Lizzie frowned a little, adjusting the baby in her arms as she stood up to face January.
"You don't have to stay long. I know you don't want to see your brother." Lizzie said plainly. January looked at her questioningly, and before she could say anything, Lizzie beat her to it with a simple "I know."
"I just need you to stick around long enough so Ciel can offer you a position in his company. After that, you're free to retire for the night." January nodded in understanding, a feeling of shame washing over her. Here she was, a guest in her cousin's house, and she was acting like how she would expect any spoilt brat to act. Lizzie left the nursery, heading downstairs towards the building noise of guests arriving and servants scurrying about. January remained perched on the windowsill, feelings of confusion and vulnerability swirling around in her chest and making her feel somewhat uneasy.
Downstairs, Ciel's party is just beginning…
Ciel greeted an older gentleman, whom he believed was the owner of a decently sized clothing chain, and moved on rather quickly to another gentleman he was much more familiar with, Lord Alexander Huxley, a fair-haired gentleman who was growing in fame for his popular travel and transportation company. There was no better person for this job, really. Alexander was exactly what you would expect; diligent, organised and did not mess around. He valued his business more than nearly anything, and Ciel trusted that he would be a valuable asset to his own company. His son, however… was not of any interest to Ciel. Elizabeth had informed him on his background, and his steel hold on his parents. He got away with everything and anything, he was their only suitable heir, after all.
Disgusting. Ciel thought as he glanced across the large ballroom, seeing said Huxley son brushing himself up against what appeared to be an already intoxicated young lady; no older than 18. This is what Alexander allowed? His son to be a sleazy, abusive and manipulative boy who saunters around like he owns the place? Awful! Ciel was glad he wasn't offering him a position to work under the Phantomhive name.
"...those are my plans for the upcoming spring season, my Lord! Transportation straight to France from Dover." Alexander said happily, and Ciel nodded in agreement. He hadn't been listening to a word Alexander had said, he had been too busy observing his Casanova son who was now attempting to touch the young lady inappropriately. Ciel felt himself grow annoyed, and decided it was time for the boy's foolishness to end.
"Alexander, may I please ask you to control your son tonight? He's taking advantage of a young lady who's had a few too many drinks." Ciel pointed at Cassius over Alexander's shoulder, and Alexander turned to see his son groping the girl's breast, a glass of champagne in his free hand. Alexander turned red, before beginning to apologise to Ciel profusely.
"My lord, I am so very sorry for my son...he is somewhat of a nuisance, you see…" Alexander stammered, embarrassment clear in his quivering voice. He dabbed his sweating forehead with a handkerchief, before rushing off to scold his son. Ciel rolled his eyes, and turned on his heel to wander around the bustling ballroom. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted January stood alone at the side of the room, nobody even glancing at her as they strolled passed. Ciel made his way over to her, grabbing two glasses of champagne as her went.
"January, it's nice to see you here tonight." Ciel said softly, trying not to intimidate the meek girl. January smiled at him, taking the glass he held out to her.
"Thank you, my lord." January's smile faltered as her eyes locked onto her father and brother across the room from her; her father was holding Cassius by the shirt and muttering what she assumed were words of stern warning. Cassius looked incredibly irritated as he shrugged his father off.
Better to stay away from him tonight, then. January thought, surprised to see her father showing such anger in public. Ciel looked over his shoulder, trying to figure out what January was staring at. It didn't take him long to find out.
"That's your father and brother, is it not?" Ciel looked at her, their eyes holding each other's gaze. January nodded her head, her features seeming to contort slightly into an expression of annoyance at the very sight of her own family.
"It is, my lord. I apologise for their behaviour. My brother is utterly shameless at the very best of times." Her words seemed harsh, like she couldn't bring herself to pretend to feel any positive emotion towards either men. Ciel was slightly surprised at this, having only seen January as a timid and weak girl.
"It's quite alright. He can act like a fool all he wants, as long as he doesn't make a scene at my son's party. I can bite my tongue." January let out a small laugh, before taking a sip of her drink. Ciel saw Lizzie from the other side of the room, those piercing green eyes locking onto his blue ones. He had business to attend to, and he needed to get it over with soon.
"January, walk with me." Ciel offered his arm to her, and she took it hesitantly. They started their slow stroll around the ballroom, avoiding dancing couples and drunken groups of rowdy people. "I believe you're aware of what I do, and what your father does also?" Ciel looked down at her, she was much smaller than him. He had grown into a tall, lean man at 5'10". January must have been 5'3" at most, and he towered over her.
"Yes, your company is one of the most successful, my lord. My father is becoming somewhat popular, but not enough to his liking." January said plainly, not indulging too much into the details of her father's company. Ciel nodded.
"So, would you be opposed to working under my company's name? I'd be happy to offer you permanent residency here until you decide to leave, and you would have the title of foreign transport manager." January looked up at Ciel, thinking about the offer for a second. Ciel couldn't read her face, and thought for a moment that she might refuse his offer.
"Yes, I'd be pleased to accept your offer. Thank you, my lord. It'd be an honour to work under your name." She offered him a bright smile, and Ciel gave a small smile in return. He offered her a curt nod before returning to Lizzie's side. January wandered off into the crowd, and Ciel's attention turned to his wife.
"Did she accept?" Lizzie asked quietly. Ciel looked down at her, nodding slightly. A smile spread onto Lizzie's face.
"Thank you Ciel, thank you so much!" She said gleefully, and he took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.
January slipped through the crowd quietly, ignoring the odd leer she received from the occasional intoxicated man. A firm hand pulled at her arm, and she was pulled into a waltz with Cassius. A scowl formed on her face, the alcohol that was lingering on his breath made her feel sick. Cassius smirked at her, pulling her body close to his in a sloppy attempt to dance gracefully. Once they had spun to the outer part of the ballroom, January ripped herself away from him, scurrying off to the drinks table. Cassius followed her angrily, snatching a glass from the table as he approached her.
"Sister, why won't you dance with me?" Cassius growled at her loudly, making a few people turn their heads to observe the two. January rolled her eyes at him, and his face started to turn red.
"I don't wish to dance right now, Cassius. Where's that girl you were harassing earlier?" January said lowly, leaning in to make sure only he heard her. He shot her a mean look over his glass of champagne. From the other side of the room, Sebastian watched on as the siblings continued to bicker quietly.
Please, keep it to a minimum, you treacherous boy. I am very busy tonight. Sebastian thought as he offered glasses of wine to various guests as they passed him.
"But sister, I want to dance with you!" Cassius said loudly, drawing the attention of a number of guests. January felt the embarrassment overwhelm her, and she buried her face in her hands as Cassius continued his drunken rant.
"You're such a stupid girl, January! You're a disappointment to our family!" Cassius was slurring now, and his drink was empty. He picked up another glass from the table, discarding the empty one carelessly. Alexander spotted his two children, and started making his way over to them angrily.
"Father will never love you like he loves me! You might as well just start whoring yourself out now!" Cassius was getting louder, and his anger was becoming visible to the other guests. January scowled at him, anger bubbling in her own chest now.
"I don't need father to love me, I work for the Lord Phantomhive now. I don't need to see you ever again." She spat quietly into his ear, and before she could move away from him he had smashed his glass into the side of her face, and she crumpled to the floor, blood running through her fingers as she held her face.
"You traitor! You deceitful whore! I hope you die within these walls!" Cassius was shouting now, and Alexander was desperately trying to pull him away.
"Cassius, are you possessed, boy?! What do you think you're doing?!" Alexander yelled into his son's ear, desperate to drag him away from the fight he had started. Sebastian was at Ciel's side in seconds, leaning down to take his orders.
"Sebastian, dispose of this hooligan. January is ours now. He has no right to act this way here...not on Phantomhive soil." Ciel said lowly, trying to mask the rage in his voice. Sebastian smirked, and nodded in understanding.
Alexander was still trying to tame Cassius, who was now retching from all the alcohol he'd consumed. January still sat on the floor, her skirt littered with shards of glass. Blood stained her hands and wrists as she held her throbbing face, tears flowing freely from her malachite eyes. Sebastian approached quickly, and grabbed Cassius with ease. Alexander began to protest, trying to swat the butler away.
"Pardon me, sir, but your son is causing a disturbance at my master's party, and we simply cannot tolerate that." Sebastian stated, not even glancing at Alexander as he hauled Cassius out of the ballroom. Alexander looked down at January, and bent down to reach her level.
"What did you say to your brother?" He whispered nastily into her ear, and she removed her hands from her face to look her father in the eye. Alexander winced at the sight of the deep cuts in her face, the blood was running freely and the metallic smell made him feel nauseous. January looked at him with hardened eyes, tears still spilling.
"I refused to dance with him. That's it. He attacked me for no reason. You should be ashamed of yourself, and of him. You know what he's done, and you still refuse to acknowledge the disgusting man you've raised!" January spat, her voice low as she stood up and began to walk away from Alexander. Alexander's face softened, and he followed her out to the gardens; unbeknown to both of them, Ciel, Lizzie and Sebastian followed them outside, waiting to see what would unfold…
The truth will set you free, my little lamb.
