I'm not a big fan of original characters, but I thought I'd experiment with this. Enjoy!
Chapter Two: Charming Stranger
"Dear Elizabeth,
How long has it been since we have last seen each other? A little over a year, perhaps? Unfortunately, I admit that this case is a little tougher to crack than I thought. However, I feel that I'm coming closer to catching the scoundrel. I still have plenty of work to do in this strange place, but it's quickly coming to an end, I imagine. Maybe in just a few weeks I will be able to return to the streets of London. I might even return in time for my birthday, but I'm not exactly sure. Hopefully, you won't have to wait much longer than you already have. I apologize for such a short telegram, but not a lot has crossed my mind, and I'm terribly busy. I'll write more in the next one, and maybe send some flowers if I find the chance.
Sincerely,
Ciel Phantomhive"
Elizabeth folded up the letter and held it to her chest for a moment, letting out a merry sigh. He continued to keep his promise, sending a letter every single day, and occasionally a few foreign gifts. The girl had honestly doubted him, but the earl had followed through. Elizabeth gently placed the delicate piece of paper back into the envelope and set it next to her pile of telegrams; all those that he had sent throughout the year and a half since he had left in last early spring. Each letter meant the world to her; it meant that he was safe and still alive. She would have loved to send her thoughts back to him, but there was never a return address on the envelopes. It wouldn't matter, anyway. She would tell him everything once her fiancée got back.
The now 15 year old girl stood up and looked over at Paula, who had been sitting and waiting patiently on her master. Elizabeth quickly took hold of her servant's hand and began to drag her away from the seat. "I wish to go shopping now!" The young girl giggled. She sped out the door and tossed the maid into the awaited carriage, then jumped right in and slammed the doors shut.
Paula and Elizabeth sat quietly inside their transportation as the young girl stuck her face onto the window to gaze at the outdoors. It was about the middle of autumn, and the leaves of the trees were either shaded brown or red or orange and beginning to fall. It was an ugly time, in Elizabeth's opinion. The trees were becoming bare, and their hideous branches were beginning to show. The tips of the unsightly limbs were a dark brown, and dark brown was such an ugly color. She looked over at Paula, who had been wearing exactly those colors. The young girl grimaced.
Paula took this as an invitation to a conversation and grinned, bringing up her jingles and shaking them just once. "Oh, don make that face! We're goen ta have fun todeh!" She cheered.
Elizabeth scooted down from her knees and flopped on to the chair in a normal position. She nodded and the corners of her lips barely curved upwards. "My Ciely said he'll be absent for a few more weeks, but then maybe he'll return in time for his birthday!" The young girl exclaimed, kicking her legs in excitement. She gripped the edge of the seat, not being able to contain her utter joy. To think that he might actually return in only a few more weeks was a better present that a dolled up pony.
The carriage suddenly slowed to a halt, and Elizabeth jumped from her seat and slammed the door open, not even caring that Paula was left behind once she ran onto the busy sidewalk. The energized child hopped from window to window, peeking inside for only a moment before scurrying to the next one. Paula huffed as she struggled to keep up, lifting her dress as high as she could to keep from falling. She had only managed to catch the girl when Elizabeth had come to a dead stop in front of a large window. Paula turned to see what she was looking at. It was the most enormous and absurd looking stuffed cat with the most obnoxious blue ribbon tied around its neck! The young girl couldn't keep her mouth shut while she awed at the novel, her hands attracting to the window. "Oh, Paula! This is a perfect welcome home gift!" The girl cheered, whipping her head to look at her servant. "A perfect birthday gift too!"
Paula scratched at her own cheek and stared at the abhorrent doll. It nearly took up the entire window it was displayed in. The servant shyly chuckled and looked at her tiny master. "I thought that yer fiancée dident like cats."
"He'll like this one!" Elizabeth huffed, ignoring the ignorant maid's statement. The stubborn girl rushed through the doors that jingled bells when she stampeded in. She immediately turned and threw her arms around the overly large cat in attempt to lift it, but it was too bulky to get down from its pedestal. Her face turned red and she soon gave up, now pointing her finger at Paula and wildly panting. "You! Help me get this down, now!"
"Ah, that won't be necessary, miss," a nearly bald, grey haired man greeted from behind the counter. He must have been the toy shop owner, based on his attire. The old man lifted his fingers and snapped, and two strong men came from the back doors and lifted the stuffed animal from its throne. They patiently waited for their next orders while the old man continued on with the business. "So what would you be needing this here giant cat for? It must be important if you're willing to spend so much on the thing." He walked from behind the desk and stood over the feeble customer.
Elizabeth clasped her hands together and her eyes began to sparkle in the utmost luminescent fashion. "I'm purchasing it for my fiancée! He's coming home in just a few weeks!"
The old man chuckled at the girl's overindulging enthusiasm. He studied her expensive looking dress and hair, knowing this kid wasn't just a fibber; she was obviously of royalty or something of the matter. The toy shop owner kneeled down to look up into Elizabeth's cerulean eyes and smiled the most sincerely he could. "Well then, we'll have this especially gift wrapped for that boy. In the meantime, how do you plan on paying?" He asked with a twinkle in his teeth.
The girl nodded and pulled down her purse, but when she dug into the sack she couldn't seem to find her wallet. Out of distress, she fell onto her knees and began to dig deeper and deeper, tossing out all the other useless junk on the floor. The owner raised an eyebrow, a little confused and irritated with the situation. Elizabeth frantically now turned her purse upside down and dumped whatever was left onto the floor, but her wallet was missing. Her heart sank, knowing the owner wouldn't sell her the desired cat. She quickly scooped up all of her things and stood back up, flushing from embarrassment. The young girl meekly smiled up at the intimidating old man, who was now frowning, and the other two men stood behind him glaring just as scornfully.
Before they knew it, the two girls were face down on the middle of the street, and the door was slammed behind them. Elizabeth quickly jumped to her feet and swiped the dust off of her gown. "They have no respect!" She huffed, clenching her fists as tightly as she could. The girl hastily turned around to witness her beloved cat toy being put back on its display; the two men disappeared after the deed was done. She sighed, knowing she wouldn't have time to run back home and get her wallet before it was sold to some other picky little child. Elizabeth trudged to the window one last time and placed her hands upon the glass to gaze at the noble gift. If only she hadn't forgotten her wallet at home.
"I can get that for you," an anonymous voice called from her right. She turned her head to see who the figure was. It was a boy of just a little more height than her, and he was wearing the most cute and frilly of white, lacey clothes. His black hair was slicked back, and he had the strangest colored eyes; red, just like her fiancée's and the butler's. It seemed like that eye color was becoming more and more common, but the young girl couldn't fathom why. However, that wasn't her biggest concern of the moment, for she desperately needed that cat.
Her eye's lightened up and she offered one of her most glistening smiles. "I would hate to ask you to do such a thing, but I will definitely pay you back, mister!" She begged, coming a few steps closer to the stranger.
The figure shut his eyes and smirked, placing his hand up in front of himself for her to stop. "Please, call me Lucifer."
Before Elizabeth could come up with something else to say, the porcelain skinned boy passed her by and opened the doors, the jingle echoing behind his body. The eager young girl stared at the door in awe, waiting to see what would happen next. Paula came up close to her master's side, knowing exactly what that boy was doing- flirting. The maid didn't like the idea of that, since the girl was already engaged. Before she could retort, the stranger had walked out with those two men caressing the enormous stuffed animal behind him. He threw back his long, crochet-like tailcoat with one hand and placed his other hand over his chest as he bowed. "For you, madam."
Elizabeth's smile widened as the two men dropped the cat and marched back inside. "Ohhh, thank you, Mr. Lucifer! What an awfully nice thing of a stranger to do!" She cheered. She desired to bring the young man into a hug, but because she had no idea who he was, the girl restrained herself. Elizabeth's eyes now traced the mysterious boy, who seemed so distant yet so familiar. He had charms of both Sebastian and Ciel, which was odd yet so attracting. However, she definitely had to stick to her word and follow through in her marriage with Ciel. Besides, she was still a little intimidated with this stranger, as she was with all strangers. Elizabeth relaxed her shoulders a bit and studied the figure before speaking; "I'll have to go home and fetch my wallet so I can repay you," she informed.
Lucifer let out a loud chuckle and waved his hand in the air. "Oh no, my dear. That won't be necessary. Please…" his voice was warm and soft. He took a step forward and kneeled down while easily taking her hand and looking up into her glimmering eyes. "… Allow me to take you out to dinner. It would be my pleasure."
Elizabeth yanked her hand away and deeply blushed. "I'm happily engaged, so there won't be any dinner-taking anywhere!" She pouted, now crossing her arms with her back turned to the rude boy. "And my name isn't madam or dear. I go by the name of-"
"Elizabeth Middleford," he interrupted. Lucifer stood up, now portraying innocence and sincerity, his cocky smile missing from his face. "Or Lizzie. I know you very well." The astonished girl turned to look at the stranger, and Paula slid behind her master confused, wondering who this boy was or where he came from. "If you allow me to take you out, I will gladly explain myself and how I know so much about you."
Elizabeth stared at him a moment, wondering who this character played his self to be. Interested in solving her own little case, she threw her entire arm back at Paula and waved her off. "Please take my present home! I'm going out for a while!" Elizabeth declared, skipping to her date and throwing her arm around Lucifer's, although more for protection than affection. She looked back at her anxious servant. "I'll be home before sunset," she announced, turning forward again as she joined her partner in his carriage.
Elizabeth was returned safe and sound to her home by eight in the evening. It was approaching nighttime, and the skies were dark. She slid past doors and corridors before sneakily making her way into her room, silently shutting the door behind herself. It was relieving to know she hadn't disturbed anyone on her way.
The stuffed cat sat next to her bed. It would scare her if she woke up in the night to see that. The young girl began to rethink her purchase and wondered if it would startle Ciel too. However, it was already bought, and Ciel had better enjoy the thing because she sacrificed a lot to obtain it!
She flopped on her back in her bed, reflecting on all that had happened this evening. Lucifer was only a year older than her. Their parents had apparently met at a ball some time ago, and the boy had taken immediate interest in the lovely girl who stood alone without a date. He was quite the flirt. In fact, he was very good at it. Elizabeth could hardly sit at the edge of her seat while engaged in every word this man had to say. She wasn't at all interested in him, however; at least she tried not to show it. She was going against her word by falling for some other boy she hardly even knew, but it didn't hurt to make friends while her fiancée was absent. Elizabeth sighed, regretting she had ever even agreed to Lucifer's proposal today. She knew she was falling into a hole that would be difficult to get out of, but maybe the stranger would go away.
Yes, he would go away, Elizabeth assured herself has she rolled onto her side. She gazed up at the mighty cat and smiled, as if it was reassuring her on her thoughts as well. She closed her eyes and began to fall asleep, still in her attire from the day. Hopefully, Ciel's next letter would ease her from her thoughts.