I don't own Kuroshitsuji.
Elizabeth left before it got particularly dark and Ciel and Lydia each went to their respective bedrooms for the evening. But soon Elizabeth's visits became more and more frequent, and with each visit, Lydia felt less and less like a third wheel and began to speak up more.
At one point, before taking a trip to the theatre, the girls got into a rather heated argument about which hat would look better on Ciel- the one Elizabeth had bought for him or the one Lydia purchased. Elizabeth's was a more grand piece: The hat was as big as day, and the large sky blue and white stripped bow on the side only drew more attention to Ciel. While the hat Lydia got was smaller, a navy dark blue stripe went around the base of the mini top hat. In a word, it was simple. Finally, Ciel ended their bickering by agreeing to wear Elizabeth's hat first (seeing as she is his fiancée after all), and wear Lydia's for the second half of the event.
But today, after a fencing lesson, the bubbly blonde girl was feeling especially confident. During tea in the dining room, Ciel left the ladies to their own devices. This was her chance.
"Lydia Katherine Francis, I challenge you," Elizabeth spoke triumphantly, like she had the girl cornered or something.
Lydia chuckled and threw dark curls off of her shoulder. "I don't see why my entire name was necessary for that. But besides that, why should I accept your challenge? I didn't even know a girl like you would have any experience whatsoever with a sword."
"A girl like me? What's that supposed to mean?"
Meanwhile, in a nearby room, Ciel was having a much less pleasant conversation.
"What do you mean you don't have any suspects yet? If you ask me, all signs point to one person!" the earl shouted into the phone.
"I'm sorry, Earl. It's just that this is a much more difficult case than you may think," an officer told the child.
"I disagree. I'll be in town soon," the earl insisted and then slammed the phone down. "I cannot believe that those are the people put in charge of protecting Her Majesty's city," the slate-haired boy mumbled, stomping back into the dining room, only to catch his fiancée and friend in yet another argument.
"I just feel it would be rude of you to decline," Elizabeth retorted.
"And? What's the matter with that? We aren't in the public eye. So I don't necessarily have to come off as affable. Besides, I'm really not in the mood," Lydia said, arms folded.
"I wasn't in the mood for you when we first met you know. But here I am. Dealing with it," Elizabeth said matter-of-factly.
"That's wonderful. You're being the perfect lady. Always keeping your mouth shut- in public and in private." Elizabeth smiled, for what Lydia said seemed to be a genuine complement. "But that the hell do you want for that? A cookie?" Lydia added with a grin on her face. Ciel was unable to completely conceal his laughter, which gave notice of his presence.
"Cieeeel!" the blonde screamed, jumping from her seat and running toward her fiancée with arms open wide, as she normally did upon seeing the boy. Lydia rolled her eyes.
"Elizabeth, what's the matter with you?" Ciel asked, prying the girl from his clothes. "Elizabeth, we don't have time for this!" Ciel looked away from her and up at Lydia, although he was unable to look her in the eye either.
"Ciel, what is it?" Lydia got a feeling that something was wrong. She too, rose from her seat and walked toward the earl.
"Sebastian," Ciel called for his butler, and left the room, he couldn't be the bearer of bad news. "Take care of this for me," his retreating form called.
"Sit with me ladies." The way Sebastian said it made it sound more like a command than a request. But the girls sat anyway, both on either side of Sebastian. "It seems that there have been a series of crashes similar to the one that you, Lydia, made it out of. The only difference is that all passengers of the coach have been missing. As it turns out, the erises and their fathers have been being kidnapped and recently, killed as well." The butler stopped upon seeing the look of horror on Lydia's face.
The girl stood quickly, knocking her chair to the floor. "Is my father dead?" she asked, tears threatening to fall.
"We're not yet sure. But that's what my I've been invited to town to find out. You're welcome to come along if you wish," Ciel said from the doorway, walking over to pull Lydia into a much needed embrace. "The both of you. You may both accompany me," he corrected after laying eyes on Elizabeth's covetous scowl.
"I've already been to town once this week, I suppose I could go home now," Lizzie said. Her tone was sharp and almost angry. It was very out of character for her.
"Very well. And you, Lydia?" Ciel asked. The girl pulled her tear-stained face from the crook of Ciel's neck, where it had been tucked as she sobbed softly over the possibility of her father's death.
"I... I'd like to go. I should get out of the house," she said, her voice cracking as she spoke.
"Alright," said Ciel, placing a hand on the small of her back and another on her side, guiding her to the door.
A/N: Please don't hate me! Review! ... please... ~xoxo~