Chapter 4: Desire Grows Stronger When Farther Away
He will be here any minute…
Maylene had just left to prepare lunch. The conversation that had taken place as she walked through the mansion with Maylene hung in her mind like a darning needle on twine. Maylene had obviously been hurt as well as Finnian and Bard by her sudden, wordless departure. The maid expressed how she and Finnian had lived extremely boring lives without her there to pop in and cheer them up. Elizabeth gazed longingly at the black grand piano. A tune she had long put in the back of her mind came to her. She had taken piano classes in America and could now play extremely well. She looked around the room, not wanting to disturb anyone. Sitting on the bench, she smoothed her dress down and began playing an old melodious tune. The melody, reminded her of spring…soft, beautiful and full of new life. If a song could ever make a person tranquil…perhaps, she supposed it was the one her hands graced with the keys. She began singing in French, for that was the language it was sung to her as a child.
"I don't recall ever hearing a voice as resplendent and nostalgic as yours." Elizabeth stiffened, her fingers stopped moving across the white keys as she listened to footsteps coming nearing towards her. Now, her heart was beating quickly. Her hands become sweaty, her mouth felt dry like a desert.
"Earl…" She breathed deeply. He was not going to see her in such a state.
"Earl Phantomhive, I don't recall you ever using dull flattery as a greeting. It is certainly not like you."
Elizabeth felt her heart jump into her throat as listened to him come closer...closer until he was standing behind her.
This is ridiculous! Why is my heart skipping beats! Really now! Calm yourself down, Elizabeth! This is only the first time you have seen him in seven years…its ok.
She refused to look at him. She refused to make the first move this time. But how she wanted to see his face, she wanted to hug him and tell him how much she still cared about him! Feeling about to burst, she hurriedly stood from the bench almost hitting Ciel. She walked towards the door; she just could not take it! Those stupid tears…just would not stop falling.
"Elizabeth why…why didn't you tell me you were leaving? Why won't you look at me?"
She wiped the tears away and straightened her shoulders.
"I apologize, Earl Phantomhive. I should not have come without an invitation!" She began heading for the door, but was stopped by a strong hand enclosed around her wrist.
Look at me! Crying like some bumbling fool…
"You look beautiful, Lizzy."
"What?" Elizabeth gasped in surprise.
"I said you look beautiful." Ciel turned her to face him. Lifting her head up, he gazed into the green eyes he had longed for seven years. Realizing they were no longer the eyes of a girl but of a woman intimidated him.
"Stop saying such ridiculous things! It is embarrassing for a woman."
"Is it? But it's true." The trademark smirk she had always hated spread across his face. She resisted the urge to create an insult and instead looked away from him. His eyes were still the cerulean blue she remembered them, the black eye patch still covered his right eye.
"You have not answered my question, Lizzy." Pouting, she turned to him.
"I did not want to be a burden. After all you worked so much while I did nothing but irritate you day after day. Why would I want to stay in a place I was not welcomed? I wanted to do something for myself…so that I could become a better person." Ciel's face showed an articulation of disbelief and then pain. Those bitter and distressing words coming out of her mouth…was this girl really Elizabeth?
"Elizabeth…you were never a burden to me!" He exclaimed. Elizabeth glared at him; those feelings that had stayed dormant for so long were rising to the surface of her heart.
"Do not lie to me Earl! Do not take me for an oblivious broad! Do you think I am still the silly little child that you once knew?"
"Lizzy! I never said anything of the sort! How could you even think-,"
"Think?" Elizabeth yelled.
"You used to look at me like I was a foreign object! Do not take me for a fool, Earl! I could see the annoyance in your eyes! What does it matter whether I left or not? It did not matter to-,"
"It mattered to me!" Ciel shouted. The room became quiet, only the sound of the birds interrupted the silence that felt so stuffy. Ciel left go of her wrist. Looking straight into her eyes he gritted his teeth and he shook as if some unknown condition had come upon him.
"I longed for you! You left me without a trace! Never during those seven years had I felt so alone! Never had I missed anyone as much I desired you! I searched for you! Do you have any idea of my pain? The anger I had at knowing you left? The feelings of guilt I endured every night, as I lay in bed wondering why you had not given me…even a single goodbye. You did not even send one of your obnoxious letters…" Elizabeth inhaled sharply. Ciel…had he truly spoken those words? Did he really mean them?
"I understand…that I did not make time for you and I treated you in a most shameful way. I took you for granted and in my error I misused you. Lizzy, can you ever forgive me? It is I who is at fault." Elizabeth's tears fell slowly down her pale cheeks. She could not remember a time where she had been more joyful than now.
"Yes...I forgive you Earl."
Ciel reclined in the leather sofa, watching Elizabeth decided her next move. He could not help the smile that found its way across his lips. Never in his life had he ever longed for a person more than he longed for her during those seven years. He had to calm down…he had to breath. To him, everything was happening at once and his life was on fast-forward. He had so many questions to ask her, so many things he wanted to tell her now that she was beside him. He wanted to compliment her hair, her sparkling eyes, and the beautiful smile that graced her pink lips. He wanted so many things! Honestly, he expected some measure of childhood to reside within her. There was none to be found in neither her eyes nor her body language.
When Sebastian had told me he saw in her the fabric store…that Elizabeth was almost unrecognizable I could not believe him. She is…beautiful.
"Checkmate!" Ciel blinked twice…what had she just said? He looked at the chess board in awe.
"What?" She laughed mockingly and winked.
"Oh, Earl you must really pay attention to these types of things!"
"I was distracted Elizabeth. Play another round?" He suggested. The door of the drawing room opened and Sebastian came in, a young man with grey hair also accompanied him. Holding two trays he set them on the coffee table.
"I already beat you once. I would not want to do it a second time." Ciel opened his mouth as he tried to think of a witty comeback, but alas he could not. He smirked. Elizabeth certainly had grown a sense of wit!
"Young Master, Lady Elizabeth I have sweets here and tea for you. Today's snack is Madeira cake with Darjeeling tea. I hope you find it delightful."
"Sebastian! Why you look as if you have not aged a day! Sebastian your sweets are always delicious! Perhaps you can assist me and tell me some of your secrets?" Sebastian smiled.
"If it pleases you, Lady Elizabeth I will help in any way I can. You have truly developed into a lady. I am honored that you would seek my counsel." Ciel coughed, bringing the attention to him.
"What about the Americas? Tell me." Elizabeth sipped the tea.
"It was considerably particular. I attended St. Josephina Augusta school…I made many friends. Oh, the country side is positively beautiful! It does not smell nearly as horrid as London…" Cel smirked.
"Or so it seems."
"It is so! There were so many different things to see and food to eat! But I daresay…the men there are quite the lewd ones. The woman as well can be so indecent!" At her declaration, Ciel chuckled slightly.
"Oh, Lizzy! I daresay you sound like Aunt Frances!"
"I pray not young Master. For Lady Elizabeth is much to kind hearted and gentle to be compared to her mother." The trio laughed.
Elizabeth danced around the bedroom, holding a lacy pillow to her chest. Giggling and twirling her hand around her finger she plopped on the bed.
"Oh Helen! I feel as if I could fly through the air on wings! I never want this feeling to go away! It was amazing! Truly amazing! I could barely breathe during afternoon tea, but Sebastian played the violin for us and we danced! Ah!" She laughed again, and stood swaying back and forth mimicking a dance.
"I could have danced all night! He's has certainly grown handsome since I last saw him! Why, he towers over me now!"
"Really now…tsk my Lady." Elizabeth stopped her joyful celebration to see Helen glaring at her. Immediately she was taken aback…never had she felt such uneasiness. It seemed to last only a moment before Helen smiled.
What…what just happened?
"Helen? Are you alright?" The woman nodded.
"Oh, my Lady I'm just tired is all. I'm feeling peachy. Well you best get your rest for tomorrow. You have a caller tomorrow I hear?" Elizabeth's brows furrow in confusion.
"I have a caller?"
"Yes my Lady! Surely you remember Vincent Tudor? He has returned to London to carry on his father's wine business." Elizabeth smiled.
Vincent was Mrs. Huddersfield's nephew. He had escorted his Aunt to the school and stayed there helping around the campus. Usually gardening and flirting with the other students. He had a very handsome stature with blue eyes that made her think of blue orchids. During the last six years of her studying he had even tried to court her. Much to his dismay she had politely turned him down.
He is a handsome man indeed, but not the type of man I would want to marry. He is kind, with a strong wit and clever speech, but I always felt there was something about him. Oh well…
"Helen, why in the world is he coming here?"
Helen grinned and glanced at Elizabeth, with a playful expression.
"Tsk…Lady Elizabeth don't act as if you do not know. You captured his heart while you were in the Americas."
Hullo...so I decided to go ahead and post this chapter. Mainly because I was already finished with it and because Chapter 3 is a bit short. I hope you al enjoy it! Ugh...I have so much studying to do! I have a Math test this Fri, Communications test this Mon and another Art test this Mon! Gosh...these instructorts are really trying to kill us college kids! Wish me luck! Please rememeber to review! I love reviews!