Forgot to mention in my last chapter, maecca refers to mating season, or the actual word mate itself. =^^= Okay, story time~!
Ciel Phantomhive was an amused child.
He'd finally found the perfect way to ruffle Sebastian's feathers; nothing vexed a man like a beautiful woman.
Or, better yet, a doting demoness that, despite her interest, seemed to want nothing to do with him.
He leaned on his fist as his new governess professionally translated the dialogue of Macbeth.
Her thick, burgundy hair was pinned up and placed into a neat ponytail.
She wore a puffy-sleeved, white blouse that fit her figure perfectly, a frilly, black skirt that stopped just above her ankles, and heels.
On her neck was that same choker she wore the day of her arrival. From it hung a silver, oval-shaped locket.
Ciel briefly wondered what picture may be in it.
"Sir," an exasperated voice interrupted his thoughts.
Ciel looked up to see a glowering Beverly staring down at him.
There was a visible twitch in her brow as she slammed the book in her left hand shut.
"Could you at least pretend like you're paying attention to your lesson?"
Ciel fell back in his chair at the tone in her voice.
"Well, young master?" Beverly leaned forward, her nose a centimeter from his, "Tell me, how will you be able to discuss fine literature with society if you won't focus?"
Beverly moved back and tucked a stray hair over her ear with a sigh, her lashes brushing her cheeks.
"For homework, you are to translate the entire fifth act and present it to me tomorrow."
"What! Who put you in charge!" Ciel exclaimed, outraged.
Beverly chuckled softly and tilted her head to the side, a closed-eyed smile on her face as her bangs swished with her movement.
"Why, you did, sir," she replied.
Ciel grumbled, and Beverly giggled, standing up from her seat across from him.
"Class dismissed," she said as she gathered her books and made her way out of the study.
"Hey!" Ciel shouted at her retreating form, "I'm not through talking to yo-"
-SLAM-
Ciel sat back down in his chair with a growl.
So much for his smug mood.
Sebastian paused at the sudden bump, but his grip on Lord Phantomhive's lunch tray remained firm.
Crimson eyes met golden ones as the governess and the butler nearly collided due to her sudden appearance.
The door to the study was at her back and the long, lean body of Sebastian bordered her front.
A stray hair fell across Beverly's face as she blinked owlishly back at him.
"My apologies," Sebastian said, eyes closed as he moved aside so she could get by.
"It's alright," Beverly said, walking past him and putting the fallen hair back in place.
She didn't appear all that flustered, and Sebastian was very aware of it. More aware than he was comfortable with.
He knocked on the study door.
"What?" an annoyed Ciel responded.
Sebastian stifled a chuckle as he brought the tray inside and closed the door behind him.
"Your afternoon tea, sir," he said.
Ciel breathed a heavy sigh as Sebastian placed the tray on the table in front of him.
He lifted the top and Ciel's eyes widened.
"What kind of trick is this?" he asked.
Sebastian looked down at the tray and his brows furrowed.
'That is NOT what I prepared.'
"WHO HAS TAMPERED WITH THE MASTER'S FOOD!" Sebastian exclaimed, as the kitchen door burst open.
"I said I want that, Sebastian!" Ciel shouted, "Give it back!"
"What's wrong?" Bard asked, almost falling over.
Finny and Meyrin quickly helped him up.
"Someone has touched our master's food," Sebastian said, placing the covered tray on the kitchen counter.
He lifted the top and the three servants gaped in wonder.
Ciel reached for the tray, which Sebastian quickly pushed out of his reach.
Ciel growled as the tray slid to the far right end of the table where a gloved fingertip lifted to prevent it from falling over the corner.
The group looked up to see a smiling Beverly.
"Looking for me, Sebastian?" she asked, fluttering her lashes.
"This is incorrigible, Beverly," Sebastian started, "How could you? I did not authorize this."
Beverly chuckled and placed a delicate hand over the tray.
On it was two, square mille-feuilles covered in custard and strawberries, a crumpet, and the basic tea set items.
"Gracious, I really don't see the harm in it," she said with a giggle, "It is only lunch. What would a little dessert do to hurt him?"
"A little dessert too early in the day can have a massive impact on our young master," Sebastian answered, eyes narrowed, "As a teacher, you should well know that sugar contributes to hyperactivity and a lack of focus on one's studies."
Ciel and the Phantomhive servants looked to the governess for an argument.
"Oh, dearest," Beverly purred, "Our young master is not a child with hyper impulses, so there is no need to worry. Sugar can only increase such behavior in children of which this pertains. As a butler, you should allow an actual teacher to deem what's best for her beloved student."
Sebastian shook his head with disapproval as his young master grabbed the tray and began eating the sweets his governess had prepared.
Beverly gave Ciel's head an affectionate pat as he began cutting the mille-feuille layers into even slices.
"Fine then," Sebastian said, moving towards Beverly, "He will have it this time, but the next time you tamper with our master's food, I won't be as indulgent."
Beverly reached up to brush a strand of Sebastian's hair aside.
A smile lifted her lips.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, "Punish me?"
Sebastian gripped her hand before it could make contact.
His eyes stared into hers, accepting her challenge.
"Most assuredly so," he murmured.
Beverly pulled her hand free and the group watched as she left the room quietly.
Ciel gasped, and everyone looked at him in surprise.
"What is it, young master!" Meyrin exclaimed.
Ciel swallowed the slice of mille-feuille he'd cut.
"It's very good," he said.
"Ohhhh! Can I have some?" Finny asked.
"Me too, if you please!" Meyrin joined in.
"What?" Ciel blinked before covering his tray, "No! Go make your own!"
The gardner and the maid heaved sorrowful sighs.
Sebastian glared at the meal, and decided to begin making preparations for the night's dinner.
Bard, Meyrin, and Finny couldn't help but marvel at Beverly's success.
No one had ever gotten away with something like that.
The three stared at the woman in wonder, causing her to sweatdrop.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.
"How did you do that?" Finny spoke up.
"That was amusing!" Meyrin gushed, "Truly amusing! Yes, it was!"
"Nothing we do ever gets under Sebastian's skin," Bard explained, "How'd you pull that off?"
Beverly shook a slender finger and smiled, lashes brushing her cheeks.
"A true governess never reveals her secrets," she answered.
"Awww," Meyrin and Finny whined.
"But, I do have a little treat," she said with a wink, "Let's go see Pluto~!"
Sebastian dusted the corner of every room, leaving no spot untouched. He swept what little dust coated the floor and wiped down the furnishure with polish-coated rags.
As he polished the rosewood cabinet that held an antique, ivory tea set, he spotted movement outside the nearest window.
Pausing from his tasks, he peeked out to see Finny, Meyrin, and Bard cheering as a barefoot Beverly walked on Pluto's large back.
Her eyes were closed and her arms were spread wide open to keep her balanced.
Pluto remained perfectly still, only panting as she performed her little trick.
"I can't believe he's letting her do it," Meyrin sighed, "Me next, Plu-Plu!"
"Yeah! You're almost there!" Finny encouraged.
"What on earth is she doing?" Sebastian asked, a small smile on his face, "Wandering on the back of that creature."
Just as her feet touched the curve of Pluto's head, Pluto turned his face downward.
Beverly slid down the bridge of his nose with a squeal of glee and bounced off his nose.
She giggled as her hair lifted and swirled in disarray and held her billowing skirt down to prevent the chance of anyone seeing underneath it.
The trio laughed merrily as she landed safely on her feet.
"Go on, Meyrin!" Beverly shouted, "It's so much fun!"
"Ah, but what if I don't land like you did?" the maid asked, "And I can barely see with this crack in my glasses!"
"I'll help you," Beverly said.
"Huh?"
Meyrin looked up to see her gloved hand extended forward as she sat on Pluto's forehead.
Beverly's closed-eyed smile was friendly, inviting.
Meyrin nodded and took her hand, laughing as Beverly pulled her up.
Sebastian shook his head at the scene.
"It would appear that I must do everything myself," he said with a sigh.
"What a burden you place on me, governess."
Dinner went as Sebastian deemed appropriate.
No dessert was served until his young master ate his meal, which appeared to contain an unusual increase in vegetables than Ciel would have liked.
He ate with minor complaint, though, and went to bed after his bath.
"I'll see you in the morning, young master," Sebastian said, closing the door to Ciel's bedroom.
Once in the hallway, he blew out the candelabrum and went to locate the Phantomhive's newest resident and trouble maker.
Sebastian meandered throughout the garden aimlessly.
He spotted Pluto lying near a trimmed bush, eyes closed as he slept soundly.
His eyes sought out the golden eyes, the wine-colored hair, the haughty laughter, the knowing smirk.
But she was nowhere to be found.
Sebastian sensed her presence; he could feel her all around him, but where?
'If not below.'
Sebastian looked up to see shimmering, caramel skin illuminated bathed in the light of the moon.
Thick, burgundy hair brushed her shoulders and a white, nearly translucent sleeping gown covered her curvaceous body.
Her entirety was radiant in the light of the moon, but it was clear to him and his young master that this beautiful creature was no angel.
Sebastian lifted a black-petaled rose from the ground, knelt to his knee, and placed an arm to his chest.
"No Romeo and Juliet, please," Beverly said with a chuckle, her bangs passing across her face as she tilted her head to the side.
"Does my lady not approve of Shakespeare's greatest tragedy?" Sebastian asked with a smile as he lifted his head.
"No, it isn't that," Beverly shook her head, her bouncy hair swaying with the motion.
"Then?"
"Do not kneel to me that way," she said with a chuckle, "By only our dear child do you swear your allegiance, and I'm far from your beloved mate."
Sebastian stood back up to his full height.
"I didn't swear anything, my lady," he said.
"Your lady?" Beverly said, pointedly, "Rather presumptuous, aren't we?"
"Presumptuous?" Sebastian stepped forward, his eyes glowing and crimson, "Would that not be a case of the pot calling the kettle black?"
Beverly flicked her thick bangs aside and smiled at him.
"I never said you would have me, you know," she replied, "I said I would have you."
"Furthur proving my case," Sebastian said.
"So what, dearest?" Beverly purred, leaning on her balcony, legs crossed, "Does that provoke you?"
"If I said that it did," Sebastian peered into those fuschia eyes gazing down at him, "What would be your reply?"
Beverly tapped a black-nailed fingertip to her chin as she considered that briefly.
"I would dare you to win me over," she purred, "Woo me, win me over. Do your very best, as befitting of a Phantomhive butler. As a lady, I would expect nothing less, and as a demoness, I may be inclined to submit."
Sebastian's eyes roamed as her words reached him, pausing at the curve of her rounded hips before shifting up to her shapely, cloth-covered breasts.
"I said win me over, not oggle the goods!" Beverly folded her arms across her chest as she leaned on the balcony with her elbows touching the modified steel.
"I was simply admiring," Sebastian clarified.
"You are simply lying," Beverly said as she removed herself from the balcony, "Good night, Sebastian."
Sebastian chuckled.
"Good night, Beverly," he replied.