"Ciel, how do I look?" Elizabeth twirled in spot for Ciel to see her new outfit.
Ciel's eyes widened a little as he observed Elizabeth in this new form. The trousers and close cut jacket defined Elizabeth's perfect figure even more. The puffy gowns and dresses she usually wore did a good job of hiding her perfect curves which were now quite visible.
"Umm...Ciel?" Ciel heard his name being called and when he realized he had actually been staring, he blushed and look away. His eye landed on Sebastian who hid a smirk hidden behind his gloved hand. Ciel narrowed his eye at Sebastian and muttered under his breath, knowing full well his demon butler could hear him.
"Laugh all you want, dog. I'll get you." Sebastian's eyes flashed just a tiny bit and he removed his gloved hand that concealed his smirk which had been replaced with a more suitable smile.
"Huh? Ciel, did you say something?" Elizabeth looked from Ciel to Sebastian but before Ciel could answer, Sebastian intervened.
"My Lady, we should get going. The horses are waiting outside." Sebastian stepped aside as Finnian opened the door and smiled at his master.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said kindly as she passed the servants who beamed at her.
"Have a splendid time, master and mistress." Bard said as he stepped back from the saddled horses. Ciel stepped up to the first horse and assisted Elizabeth onto it, just as a gentleman should. Thanks to her trousers, she no longer had to worry about riding with a wooden leg or any of that nonsense. Now she could truly enjoy riding a horse, with all the freedom that came with it.
"Be careful, my lady. If you feel any danger or feel that your horse is going too fast, please call to me as you pull on the reins. Kick your horse gently to get it trotting." Sebastian explained expertly as he continued holding the horse's rein.
Elizabeth watched as Ciel skillfully mounted his horse as Bard held the rein.
"Master, might I suggest Mey Rin coming with us? She may be able assist Lady Elizabeth should she need it. Considering Paula is not here, I'm sure Mey Rin could help Lady Elizabeth with all her needs." Mey Rin's eyes grew wide as Sebastian's gaze fell on her.
"I suppose so, do you have a problem with this Lizzie?" Ciel said looking at his fiance.
"Oh no, of course not, in fact it'd be lovely to bring her along." Elizabeth giggled at the slight blush that spread across Mey Rin's cheek.
"Sebastian, you could have mentioned this earlier. Anyways, Mey Rin, hurry and gather your things. We will set out shortly." Ciel said as he looked at his servants.
"Yes master!" Mey Rin scrambled back into the manor as quickly as she could and headed towards the female's servant quarters. "What is Sebastian thinking all of a sudden...that look?" Mey Rin whispered to herself as she pulled on her riding trousers. She always paid close attention to Sebastian when he spoke and usually when speaking to her, he would barely pay any attention to her, focusing more on the work she'd done, or rather messed up.
"Mey Rin? Are you ready?" The soft knock on her door brought her out of her thoughts.
"Yes, Sebastian. A moment, please." She hurried and finished getting ready and when she opened the door, she found the butler waiting there.
"I'm ready. Sorry, I didn't intend to keep the master waiting." Sebastian looked into Mey Rin's spectacle clad eyes. It was a shame she always hid behind them, she had beautiful eyes.
But what he really focused on was the riding outfit she wore, it was similar to Elizabeth's, bringing out all of her curves, and goodness did she have perfect curves. Her body was more womanly, her breasts rounder, her curves more pronounced. Sebastian wondered what lay beneath those folds of clothes and smirked at Mey Rin who noticed him looking and blushed, waiting for him to speak.
"It's quite alright. It's my fault I said such a thing at the last minute. Now make sure you attend to Lady Elizabeth properly." Sebastian said and gave Mey Rin one quick look over before turning to walk out of the servants quarters and towards the entrance.
"Of course." Mey Rin said after a moment's pause as they stepped outside.
"Good, you're ready." Ciel said turning to the sound of his maid's voice. Everyone was gawking at the bespectacled girl. Bard smirked as Sebastian had and Finnian stared wide eyed. Mey Rin suddenly became very conscious of herself and wondered if she should change back into her dress.
"Mey Rin! You look lovely!" Elizabeth exclaimed from atop her horse. She was glad she wasn't the only one sporting America's new fashion. "Don't you think so Ciel?"
Ciel had no idea what he should say. After a moment's hesitation he said, "Yes, I suppose. Sebastian secure the horse for her. Be careful while you are riding Mey Rin." Mey Rin smiled at her master in gratitude.
"Of course my lord. Come Mey Rin." Sebastian ushered her towards a waiting horse and to his surprise, Mey Rin got on it expertly.
"I take it you're quite the rider, Mey Rin?" Sebastian said as he handed her the reins.
"I did a bit of riding before, yes I did." Mey Rin smiled at Sebastian who simply nodded.
"Right then, off we go." Sebastian led the way as the others followed, Elizabeth stopping sometimes to admire the landscape.
"It's a beautiful day." She cooed, happy to be able to spend it with her beloved.
Ciel and the other's returned to manor after an eventful day outside. Elizabeth and Mey Rin had done most of the riding as Ciel and Sebastian sat back and watched as the ladies enjoyed their freedom. Sebastian noticed the admiring way his master looked at his fiancé and was pleased to see such a loving gaze. Years ago he had feared that Ciel's relationship with his betrothed was a one way relationship but over the years he had discovered he was wrong to assume that. Ciel cared deeply for Elizabeth and just as she would do anything to protect him, the Queen's watchdog, he would do anything to protect her.
However, Sebastian's point of interest wasn't only Ciel. He focused on Mey Rin too. She looked exceptionally beautiful in her new attire, sexy even. Sebastian felt something for the girl he hadn't felt before. He couldn't place a finger on the feeling though and he just assumed it was a passing phase. But the longer Sebastian looked at Mey Rin, riding and laughing, the feeling grew stronger.
"Sebastian, are you alright?" Ciel had asked as he sipped his tea while observing his butler.
"Why do you ask, master?" Sebastian said, arranging the biscuits on the platter.
"You've been staring at Mey Rin, that's all." Ciel smirked as he watched the bewildered look on Sebastian's face. Had he really been staring? Enough so that the master had noticed too?
"I was simply observing her riding skills, master. She is quite good with a horse, is she not?" Sebastian tried to sound as professional as he could.
"Sure she is." Ciel knew better. He himself had been looking at Elizabeth the same way. He laughed inwardly, wondering how master and butler had fallen for the charms of a woman. "Women are such peculiar characters. They are as gentle as a flower, clumsy too, but when it comes to battle, they are as strong as a lioness."
"I suppose you are right, master." Sebastian smiled to himself, recalling the conversation as he prepared the night's meal.
"Bard, do you have the soufflé ready? I'll be calling master and mistress down for dinner. Oh and where is Mey Rin?" Sebastian hadn't seen the girl since they had returned from their picnic.
"She's with Miss Elizabeth. Say Sebastian, the two seem to be getting along quite nicely. I imagine how much livelier the manner will be when Miss Elizabeth becomes our Lady Phantomhive."
"The mansion is lively as it is, but yes, a woman's touch will certainly do this manor wonders. I may be one hell of a butler, but a woman's touch is a woman's touch." Sebastian said as he poured the gravy for the steaks he made into a bowl and set it on the tray.
"I say, we do have a lady in the mansion. She may be clumsy but she looked damn good in that outfit today, don't you think so Sebastian?" Sebastian stopped what he was doing and looked at Bard, a serious expression on his face.
"I do believe you are referring to Mey Rin? Yes, she looked lovely today, but she looks that every day. Nothing special about it." Bard couldn't decide if Sebastian was complimenting Mey Rin or just stating a fact so he let it slide with a dry laugh.
Just then, Finnian came bursting in, carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers. "Sebastian, we just had this delivered by a man in a red suit and green eyes. He says to tell you, and I quote, to my beautiful Bessie. I love how you looked atop that horse today, if only that were-" Sebastian immediately cut him off, annoyed that Grell had defiled Finnian's innocent mind with his nasty thoughts.
"Finnian, the next time Grell comes stopping by, do me a favor and pick him up and throw him all the way back to London if possible." Sebastian took the flowers from Finny's hands and smelled them. "At least the guy has good taste in flowers. This will make a splendid center piece for tonight's dinner." Sebastian expertly spruced the flowers and placed them in a vase filled with sugar water and walked it out to the dining room which had already been set up.
"Finnian, help Bard in the kitchen, I shall go and call our young master for dinner." When Sebastian got to the study, he knocked and entered to find his master sitting in the dark. Only the light of the moon outside filtered through the large window and illuminated his figure.
"Master, why do you have the lights out?" Sebastian lit several candles with the snap of his fingers, putting to use him demon powers.
"I've told you several times to not do that. What would happen if someone saw you? People already think you are inhumane due to your unearthly skills at getting everything done perfectly." Ciel said, annoyed. Sebastian noticed the unease in his young master's voice and spoke up.
"Are you alright? Is there something the matter?" Just as Sebastian asked it, he caught the whiff of the paper Ciel was holding in his hand. "Aah, I see. We have another letter from Her Majesty. What does it say?"
"Read it yourself." Ciel handed the paper to Sebastian.
"My, my. This is interesting. America?" Sebastian smiled at his master, not quite understanding what had him so worried.
"Yes, it seems Her Majesty would like me to travel there and investigate the disappearance of some of her trusted men. She was supposed to hear back from them with crucial information a month ago but she received nothing. The men haven't called or written and when she tried to inquire about them, she discovered they had gone missing."
"Yes, I can see that. But why send us? Can't she employ a detective or perhaps contact the U.S. government and ask for assistance?" Sebastian asked as he pored over the document once again.
"She probably would have but I suspect these men weren't ordinary men. I believe they were spies and the information she was having them aquire was sensitive information. Knowing the Queen, she just wants me to go and do the dirty work they couldn't do and recover that information." Ciel sat there, pondering what he should do.
"America seems like a far trip, master. Will you write to the Queen asking for another job?"
"No, I'll go but I have something to do before that." Ciel got up from his desk, his butler's eyes on his movements. "Is dinner ready?"
"Yes master."
"Good, let's go. Elizabeth must be waiting." Sebastian bowed and opened the door for his master as he walked out.
"Ciel! Good you are here!" Elizabeth smiled as she saw Ciel enter the dining room, Sebastian right behind him.
"Sorry Elizabeth, I had some important business to discuss with Sebastian." Ciel said as he sat down in his chair opposite Elizabeth. Sebastian immediately went about serving them both as Mey Rin followed, pouring the couple some wine.
"Sebastian, after dinner, please bring the other staff members to the parlor. I have an important announcement to make." Ciel looked from Sebastian to Elizabeth as he said that and Elizabeth wondered what it could be.
Sebastian too did not have a clue but complied with his master's wishes. After dinner and desert, Sebastian and Mey Rin quickly cleared out the dishes and called the rest of the Phantomhive staff to the parlor.
"I wonder what Ciel wanted to say. Where is he, Sebastian?" Elizabeth and the others waited patiently for Ciel.
"The young master said he will return in a moment. He went to his room to receive something." Sebastian said as he waited with the others. What was his young master up to?
"Thank you for waiting. I have a very special announcement to make." Ciel walked into the parlor and walked directly to where Elizabeth stood and grabbed her hand and turned her towards him gently. Elizabeth was bewildered at Ciel's sudden actions but stood there looking into his eye, imaging the seal hidden beneath the eyepatch.
"Before I say anything, I'd like you all to know how grateful I am to have a competent and caring staff as yourselves. You are all like family to me, always catering to all my needs and fulfilling my wishes and protecting me and my home. That said, I'd like to share my happiness with you as I always have. Elizabeth." Ciel turned to Elizabeth once again and took a deep breath. This was it. He got on one knee and took out the ring from his pocket as he heard the sharp intake of several breaths as everyone realized what was about to happen.
"Lady Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Midford, will you do me the honor of marrying me and becoming the wife of the Queen's watchdog?" Elizabeth stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief. Her entire life she had been waiting to hear those words from his mouth and yet, now that they were spoken, it seemed like a dream. Tears sprung to her eyes as she let the words sink in. Everyone waited, breaths held, waiting to see what Elizabeth would say.
"Of course Ciel. I love you. Of course I will become your wife." Elizabeth wiped at her tears hastily and held out her hand and Ciel put his mother's ring onto her ring finger, securing the deal. It was done. Now they were officially engaged. Yes they had been each other's fiancé but this made it official.
Everyone clapped in delight, even the demon butler applauded the happy couple, amused at his master's sudden want to get married.
"Congratulations master! Lady Elizabeth! Oh that was absolutely lovely!" Mey Rin exclaimed, absolutely ecstatic. Ciel, still holding Elizabeth's hand, got up and ignoring the presence of his staff, pulled Elizabeth towards him and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Elizabeth blushed but closed her eyes, happy at Ciel's show of love.
"Wow master!" Finnian said surprised at Ciel's show of affection. Bard marched over and gave Ciel a firm handshake while Tanaka stood there smiling at Ciel.
"Young master, your parents would be proud to see what a charming young man you've become. Truly, it is an honor to serve as your butler." Tanaka bowed and Ciel nodded at the man in respect.
"Master, I apologize, but I believe such a situation calls for celebration." Sebastian had slipped away to get the finest bottle of wine out of the cellar and uncorked it to a beautiful display before finally pouring it and handing a glass to everyone. "A toast to the soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Phantomhive!" Everyone cheered and gulped down their drinks, savoring the taste of the good wine and good fortune.
Ciel allowed his staff and Elizabeth to celebrate as they wished for a while before they all quieted down and retired for the night. Mey Rin had walked Elizabeth to her room and Sebastian had already escorted Ciel to his.
"That was unexpected master. I wish I had known earlier, we could have made it a splendid event." Sebastian said as he mixed Ciel's honey and milk before handing him the cup.
"Why? Everyone that matter's to me was here for it, that's all that matters." No that wasn't right. "Well most of everyone that is."
"Yes I can only assume how angry Lady Elizabeth's parents and brother will be. Not to mention Prince Soma too. Agni will have a hard time consoling him." Sebastian gave Ciel a knowing look and Ciel scowled at his demon butler.
"There wasn't any time. If we are going to be departing for America, there is no telling when I will come back or how long the mission will take. I don't want to keep Elizabeth waiting this time. Besides, we are both of age and our marriage has basically been fixed since we were children. It shouldn't be that much of a shocker." Ciel really hadn't had the time to think this through but the only reason he had been in such a foul mood was because he hated the thought of leaving Elizabeth alone again.
"I see. Well regardless of how you did it or when, you did it and that is all that matters. Do you intend to have a grand wedding? It seems the only thing fit for an Earl and his Lady. And of course, you will get an opportunity to invite and speak to the Queen." Sebastian took the now empty cup from Ciel's hand and went about blowing out the candles, one by one.
"I'd prefer something private, but I'm sure Elizabeth would enjoy a grand wedding. Not to mention the countless other people who will be there judging us. This is an order Sebastian, make this wedding a wedding my guests and enemies will never forget. Make this wedding something memorable for Elizabeth. I owe her that much." Sebastian kneeled down next to Ciel who was seated on the bed and leaned in close enough to take Ciel's eyepatch off, revealing his demon contract to Sebastian. His eyes flared red and Sebastian smiled devilishly and placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head before answering his master.
"As you wish, my lord."