Ciel was seated in front of his Aunt and Uncle Midford, sipping a cup of tea, as Elizabeth sat next to him looking nervously from her parents to her fiancé.
"Well it was bound to happen one day, I just didn't expect it to happen so soon." Elizabeth's mother, Francis Midford, said as she sipped from her own cup.
"You are right dear. My boy, don't get us wrong, we are delighted, but why so soon? You're not even giving us a month to prepare for the wedding. You know that Elizabeth is our only daughter and surely the Earl of Phantomhive needs some time to gather his bearings too?" Alexis Leon Midford said.
Ciel looked at his future in laws, his head hurting from all the questions. They had appeared out of nowhere and it was only after they had settled down in his elegant parlor with tea and scones that he found out Elizabeth had written to them immediately after the proposal and once they received the letters, they immediately returned home from their business trip, even dragging Edward, his cousin and Elizabeth's brother, along with them.
"With all due respect, Uncle Midford, my reason for rushing this wedding is because I will be going to America and am not sure how long I will be away for. This is a pressing matter that deserves immediate attention." Ciel worded himself carefully. He had come to realize long ago that such matters were very sensitive.
"What exactly makes this matter so pressing, Earl?" Edward asked narrowing his eyes at his younger cousin. Ciel met his cousin's eyes and gave him a cool look as he took another sip.
"Elizabeth, honey, I must ask you this. Are you pregnant? Is that why you two are trying to rush the wedding?" Francis asked as she looked at her daughter.
Heat surged to Ciel's face as he understood the implication and immediately looked at Elizabeth who sat shocked, looking at her mother.
Had her mother really asked that question? Right there, in front of her father, brother, and future husband? In front of Paula, Sebastian, and the other staff members who she knew were listening in?
"Mother!" She finally exclaimed, finding her voice. She turned to see Ciel's red face as he processed the misunderstanding. "Of course not."
"Listen, I understand that you two are young and being betrothed, you didn't see anything wrong with what you did, but if your mistake has resulted in such a consequence, then Ciel, you are making the right decision to marry Elizabeth as soon as you can. However, I disapprove of you abandoning our daughter when she is with child. With your child." Elizabeth wished her mother would stop talking. Ciel continued to grow a deeper shade of red, if it were possible. He caught a glimpse of his butler who was trying very hard not to look amused.
"Mother. Please stop embarrassing me." Elizabeth said as she tried to clear up the misunderstanding.
"Embarrass you? Why would I do such a thing? I'm about to become a grandmother for goodness sakes!" Francis looked at her husband who seemed dumbfounded.
"MOTHER! I'M A VIRGIN! THERE IS NO BABY!" Elizabeth shouted frantically as she stood up. Everyone looked at her, shocked from her sudden outburst. The silence in the room stretched out and Ciel saw he had to do something about the uncomfortable situation.
"Uncle and Aunty Midford, and Edward, you too, trust me. The only reason I want to rush the wedding is because the Queen requires me to go to America as soon as possible. I wanted to do it sometime in the summer but I'm afraid it may not be possible." Ciel looked at Elizabeth who had seemed to calm down and she sat down as she let out a sigh.
"I apologize for shouting, but really mother, there is nothing else. Besides, I have no problem with the arrangements Ciel has made. We just want your blessings. So please…" She looked pleadingly at her parents as they exchanged looks.
"Elizabeth, darling, you and Ciel will always have our blessings. If you are happy with the arrangements Ciel has made, then so are we." Alexis said standing up. "Besides, I'm sure Sebastian over there is more than capable of making everything perfect, down to the last glass of champagne." Everyone looked over at Sebastian who simply smiled and bowed.
"As you wish, Master Midford. I shall oversee the wedding preparations to the best of my abilities and make you a proud father of a beautiful bride."
"I'm sure you will. I am glad my son in law is such an able man with such an able butler. Surely we have nothing to worry about Francis. With Edward here too, there isn't much we old folk need to worry about."
Francis threw her husband a nasty look and everyone was sure he'd get an earful later for being called old but for the moment, she nodded. "Yes dear. Of course."
Ciel gave Elizabeth a relieved look as she smiled at him. Ever since she was a little girl, she had but one dream, to become Ciel's bride. That dream would be realized in less than a month, on Ciel's eighteenth birthday. December 14. The day Elizabeth Midford will become the bride of Ciel Phantomhive.
The weeks went by quickly, everyone busy preparing the manor for the wedding. The servants cleansed and washed down everything they could to make the manor shine and sparkle. Ciel and Elizabeth worked on sending out invitations to their relatives and other important guests. Prince Soma had taken up a temporary residence in one of the guest bedrooms of the Phantomhive Manor as soon as he had received the invitation for the wedding, determined to help his friend out no matter what.
Each day Elizabeth would come by to help Ciel with the planning before she had to rush back home to get fitted for her wedding dress and pick out the flower arrangements. Ciel too was busy after Elizabeth left, poring over the case files that had arrived from the Queen along with a congratulatory note from the Queen upon his official engagement.
"Any luck master?" Sebastian asked one night as he poured his master a fresh cup of tea.
"No. These bloody files are useless. There's nothing in here that points toward where those men could have disappeared to." Ciel tossed the papers onto his desk and sat back on his chair. This was ridiculous. Each time he did anything, he hit a dead end. Even he couldn't do anything without a lead. Without something.
"I suppose it can't be helped master. We shall have to start from scratch once we arrive in America." Sebastian set down the cup of steaming darjeeling tea and looked at his tired master. "You seem tired Master Ciel, perhaps I should get you some warm milk and honey instead and you can get ready for bed?"
"No. I still have to look over the Funtom Company papers. We are supposed to launch a new toy." Ciel suddenly smiled devilishly as he looked at his butler. Sebastian, slightly amused, arched a brow and waited for his master to continue. "It's a stuffed puppy with black fur. I helped name it. Sebby. What do you think?" Even today Ciel got a kick out of it when Sebastian made a statement that sounded awfully close to complaining about him being named after a dog.
"That is wonderful indeed master. Will you be coming out with a stuffed kitten too? That would be perfect. Cats are so much more intelligent." Ciel snorted at that. He had hated cats since he was young, mostly because he was allergic to them. But Sebastian adored them and it made it difficult to be near him when he'd handled a cat. Once in a while, Ciel would have a reluctant Bard raid Sebastian's room and release the pent up kittens in his closet outside. Even so, Ciel never ordered him to not go near a cat. This simple joy was something he would allow his butler.
"Dogs are better. They are loyal. Trustworthy. Just as you are Sebastian. Just as you've always been." A hint of a smile appeared on Sebastian's lips but he remained silent.
"Go on and do your other chores. I'll call for you if I need you." Ciel had had enough distractions. He needed to concentrate on his work. Sebastian bowed at his master's will and exited the room and continued on. He had to make sure that all the exits were locked and everything in the kitchen was done before he retired for the evening, or at least until his master called again. Sebastian was surprised to see that Mey Rin had completed all the tasks she was given and had probably already retired for the night. Bard was probably off smoking his pipe and Tanaka and Finny were probably already in bed.
Sebastian made his way to the back entrance to the garden when he heard the sounds.
"Is that humming?"
The soft melody drifted to his usually dulled demon senses and he perked his ears to listen. A smile spread across his lips as he recognized the voice.
Mey Rin sat in a chair in the garden staring up at the bright moon, clutching something to her chest. Even with Sebastian's keen eyesight, he couldn't make out what it was.
"What is she doing out there by herself?" Lately, Mey Rin had been acting weird. She had been completing all her tasks without any hindrances or accidents and she had been acting rather lady like than usual.
"Hmmm hmmm hmmmmm." She continued to hum the certain tune and Sebastian was baffled at her amazing voice. Her usual scratchy and foreign voice was as smooth as silk now as she sat there bathing in the moonlight.
When she finally finished, Sebastian decided it was time to ask her to come inside so he could lock up.
"Mey Rin, if your chores are done for the night, might I suggest that you retire to your room?" His voice carried out to the unsuspecting girl, causing her to startle and fall of her chair. "Oh dear." Sebastian was beside her in a flash, leaning down and offering her a hand.
"Sebastian!" She looked at the butler, dumbfounded. Had he been watching her this whole time? Had he heard her sing? Oh, how embarrassing!
Sebastian could see the hints of pink spread across her white cheeks as she looked into his red eyes and a devilish idea crossed his mind. "Come Mey Rin, let me take you to your room." No sooner had he said it, Sebastian picked up Mey Rin in his arms and started walking towards the house.
"Sebastian! Oh my! Put me down, please!" Mey Rin said exasperated and a bit too loudly. The shock of being in his arms overwhelmed her.
"Sshh. You'll wake everyone up with your shouting." Sebastian scolded her lightly as he expertly shifted her onto one hand locked the door before returning to carry her bridal style.
Sebastian could feel the nervousness emanating from Mey Rin's body as he carried her down the steps and towards the separate servant's quarters that was lit by a series of candles. He blew each one out as he passed them and arrived at her door and pushed the door open before entering her room. He walked over to her wooden poster bed and set her down on the clean linen sheets before finally standing back.
Mey Rin's heart continued to pound in her chest even after being set down. What was Sebastian thinking?
"I do say Mey Rin, you should control that heart of yours before it gets you in trouble." Mey Rin's eyes grew wide as she found his devilish ones. Sebastian looked back a her coolly, a playful smile plastered on his lips. He watched the way she stared at him, baffled at his sudden actions. He leaned in towards her and silence filled the room as Mey Rin stopped breathing and closed her eyes. Would he kiss her? After all this time? A nervous feeling grew in the pit of her stomach but nothing seemed to happen.
She felt his hand in her hair, momentarily tugging on the pin that held it in place before feeling her long red locks cascading over her face. She felt Sebastian withdraw and opened her eyes to see the butler standing there, a finger hooked under his chin, observing her as if she were a piece of art. The light from the single candle in her room and the moonlight filtering in through the window outside illuminated her features quite nicely.
"Much better. When you're not working, you should keep your hair down Mey Rin." Sebastian and Mey Rin stared at each other, when without another word, he turned to leave.
"Sebastian!" She exclaimed his name. He stopped and turned to look at her, a blank expression on his face. "Th-thank you." She didn't know why she was thanking him but she had to say something.
"Good night, Mey Rin." Sebastian left Mey Rin and made his way quickly to his own room. "What was that?" Sebastian's furrowed his brows at his reflection wondering about the sudden sensation that had come over him when he looked at Mey Rin.
It had been happening recently, but more so whenever he was alone with her. It was as if they shared their own little world, able to come forth with feelings and words and actions that they would otherwise hide.
His demon eyes flashed as he remembered setting Mey Rin down on her bed, her human heart beating hard in her chest. He also smelled her arousal and for a second he wanted to laugh. Perhaps this unknown feeling was his own arousal, but it wasn't exactly sexual. He'd had sexual cravings in the past. This was different.
Confused yet intrigued, Sebastian silently sat on his bed waiting for his master to call.