Long time no see!
PLEASE REMEMBER TO RATE AND REVIEW
Sebastian had stuffed me in the carriage with Ciel, and we'd ridden off. I watched the mansion disappear from view as the Phantomhvie crew had waved us off. We were a bit of a long way out from our destination, so naturally, the ride there had been a bit long. I had grown tired in that span of time as Ciel wasn't much for conversation. He had been looking over paperwork like some little business mogul and had paid me no mind. Which was fine by me, as I had much to digest. A trip to London? Showing a face like mine might not be a good idea, but Ciel seemed to trust that his good name and word would defer suspicion. But, I wasn't even sure if I trusted him though. Don't get me wrong, I was truly grateful to be in his good graces; but this feeling of dread has lingered since my arrival at the Phantomhive Manor. Even as I sat in the carriage with him, I felt unnerved and even fidgeted a bit. I had never met such strange people. They made me incredibly curious why is why I figured I hadn't up and left just yet. But something deep down told me to run. I had so many questions. Like, why would he task an incompetent work force for such important duties, and most especially the butler who seemed to clean up after their messes? I couldn't dissolve the pit in my stomach when I walked around the mansion aimlessly. Things felt..off.
In a little while, we'd arrived in London, my thoughts still occupying me as I hopped out of the carriage with Ciel. As the Sebastian and Ciel walked ahead of me, I stopped here and there - once inside - and inspected the home curiously. I found it to be luxurious, even though it was a bit smaller from the actual Phantomhive Manor. I doddled behind them, paying more attention to the details of the home, noticing it looked untouched. Dusty. But, much more authentic than the Phantomhive manor. This home felt like a real one. If that makes any sense at all. I didn't get the feeling it was trying to be something it was not. I couldn't understand it, but as my eyes rested on the portraits, I could see it's weathered look and dustiness and was comforted by the thought.
Hardly noticing I had stopped where I stood, I heard the beckon of Sebastian's voice and looked up to see the butler watching me expectantly. I quickly hurried along behind them.
"This home is much different than the manor," I commented nervously, my eyes sliding away from Sebastian's and to Ciel.
Ciel shrugged, obviously disinterested in the comment. He was busy mumbling to himself about the crowds in London. So Sebastian chimed in, and I begrudgingly looked over to him, hoping I didn't look visibly uncomfortable.
"It's much quieter, isn't it?" He smiled, so innocently. "We should be able to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet."
"Perhaps," I replied, smiling sheepishly up at the demon. At the top of the staircase, Sebastian pulled open the door for the two of us, only to be met with 3 strangers filing through bookshelves and cupboards hurriedly.
Seemingly in search I suppose. I'm sure there was shock between the three of us at what lay behind the door. Ciel and Sebastian, as well as myself had just stood there stunned for a second. I reacted the quickest, taking a step
behind Sebastian's taller form to hide myself. These were people of nobility! People who may have already heard about my expulsion from the Whiston manor. As far as they were concerned, I was a gold-digger and murderer.
Ciel was upset to say the least and demanded to know why the three of them were here in his townhome. To which, they replied something about how interesting it was that the Queen's Watchdog
had reappeared. I remained hidden behind Sebastian, until one of the males in the room called out to me.
"Are you accompanied by a Lady today, Ciel?" The male had spoke.
"Ah, yes," Ciel spoke. Sebastian had moved away from in front of me, exposing me to the other individuals in the room. "Miss Midori Haruka, the wife of the late Charles Whiston," Sebastian explained, bowing slightly as he introduced me to the others. I felt faint, my heart beating faster than what was normal. I wish I'd had at least some time before hand to properly prepare myself for socializing,but alas I was having to bow awkwardly and greet as nervous as I was.
"My!" The Lady in red exclaimed, regarding me with shock.
"Ah, the exotic and beautiful Midori Haruka from America?" The foreign looking man approached me now, taking his hand in his own. He rose my hand up and pressed it to his lips, bowing at the waist. "You were quite the celebrity just a few years earlier, weren't you? As well as quite the scandal." Ciel chimed in now, as I had yet to say anything. I was in a shock.
"Those matters are not of importance now," He stated. "Come. We have much more relevant matters to discuss this morning." Ciel and Sebastian waltzed further inside of the room, the boy plopping down in one of those cozy love seats and Sebastian beginning to ready tea. This man who still held my hand in his escorted me inside, having me sit down beside him on another couch.I was uncomfortable with his forwardness and incredibly awkward because of it. In a short bit, tea was served to us all. And with their thirsts quenched, we began to discuss the Jack the Ripper Case. Well, they did. I sort of was just awkwardly taking up space beside this person I had come to figure out was Lau. Between their conversation, I had learned the Lady was Madame Red and her butler was Grell. At some point, the idea of actually visiting the crime scene was proposed. Which Ciel had full-heartedly volunteered himself to do, much to my displeasure. I have a very weak stomach for gore.
After a bit of rushing around that day and a strange encounter with someone called the Undertaker, the lot of us were back at the townhouse. This time, armed with a bit more knowledge about the enemy than before. I had dutifully taken notes, as Ciel did mention he expected to play a part in this take down of Jack the Ripper. But I was far too slow to come to my own conclusions, as Sebastian had already completely narrowed the primary suspect down by the time we had arrived home. It blew us away to see how much work he had accomplished in such a short span of time! Aleister Chambers, the Viscount of Druitt. I do not think I had heard of him but once or twice in passing. He would soon be having a party, the last party of the Season.
Madame Red thought it good to attend in disguise. Which would have been fine, if I was not the center of the plan. Now, I found myself in a private room with Sebastian, who was approaching me with a measuring tape.
He had meant to give us privacy, escorting me inside the room. After all, I would be in nothing more than a chemise and pantaloons. Which at first had been fine. Sebastian had unlaced my billowing dress and let everything all to the floor at my ankles. Which was fine. I didn't feel insecure about being near naked..At first. There was a mirror that I inspected myself in for the briefest of moments, reveling in the sensation of being free of the constricting corset. But when Sebastian took a step closer and came into view into the mirror, the reality of being near naked seemed to resonate in my mind.
"Shall we?" He said simply, obviously insisting on the measurements. I turned to look at him, slightly flushed. But I hoped it wasn't too noticeable. It was quiet. Still. I could not even hear the banter of the others in this room. It was just me and him in the quiet of this private room. I was not sure how I felt about being alone with the butler, as our last two encounters had been ones that left me gaping like a fish out of water, like a school girl who was swooning over a boy. Nevertheless, I stepped forward in his direction, not saying much but meeting his eyes instead. He seemed to smile at this.
"Miss Haruka, please stay still as I do this," He spoke, taking a few more steps towards me. I instinctively took a step back. He looked down at me, the faintest hint of surprise in his features before his expression returned to calm and stoic.
"I promise you I will not do anything inappropriate, Miss Haruka." He spoke, a hint of playfulness in his voice. I tensed, looking up at him a bit more flustered than before.
"Now," He spoke, "Please raise your arms. I will be measuring your bust first."
"Okay," I replied unsurely, raising my arms. He took a step closer. An unnecessary step closer. I looked up at him, expectantly as he wasn't doing anything, and yet...I watched him for second longer and he was distractedly fiddling with the measuring tape, his attention elsewhere. On me. His crimson red eyes were fixated on my wide grey eyes. His gaze was unwavering. The only way I could think to describe it was..smoldering. I was admittedly, captivated by him for a moment before I felt the cool crisp air at my body and realized I was half-naked. At this realization, I was nervous. But he seemed to pick up on this, quickly, a small smile tugging at his lips as he readied the measuring tape around my body.
His movements were slow, as his hands slowly dragged around my body, ghosting over my breasts. I looked anywhere but at him as he did this, but I could still feel his scathing gaze. Measuring tape in hand.
"Thirty six and a half inches," He spoke. He pulled away, the stoic expression back on his face. He went on measuring me, watching my facial expressions until he could read the numbers off to me. I felt so awkward and helpless next to him, silently blushing as he went away at his work.
"Lovely. Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Haruka." He spoke, retracting the measuring tape. He stuffed in into an inner coat pocket, looking down at me with a chipper, happy go lucky expression.
"Allow me to assist you in redressing." I nodded silently, my cheeks still scorched red I'm sure. I was utterly embarrassed at how this butler had been toying with me. His light touches on my body, his incredibly flirtatious demeanor..I couldn't stand it. When he assisted me in putting back on my dresses and petticoats, Sebastian did so in a way that was much more professional and less..."sensual," than he had just been. My mine was still elsewhere, still stuck on the way he'd handled that whole situation. After a bit of silence he began to speak to me again.
"I shall make preparations for a dress to be tailored specifically for you under the name Margaret Harding. You will answer to that name tomorrow evening during the ball," He spoke.
"Margaret Harding," I repeated to myself. "Okay." The words were hard to say. I was still a bit flustered.
"You are to seduce the Viscount, earning a way inside one of his secret parties to investigate."
"Seduce? I'm no seductress," I replied hesitantly. I looked up at him, flustered at the suggestion.
"Nonsense. I'm sure when you met your late husband you were not just a blushing, flustered mess were you?" It took me a second to process what he had said, and well. I couldn't help but become a blushing, stuttering mess at his suggestion. With that, Sebastian was turning on his heel. "I shall prepare dinner tonight, Miss Haruka. I would suggest you join the company of the Young Master whilst I do so." It was an obvious dig at my tendency to end up in the kitchen back at the manor. But I couldn't manage a smart reply. I just sort of stood there frozen, even as he left.
The butler was flirting with me, wasn't he?