Chapter 5: A Lesson in Flattery

Upon hearing the banging on the door the girl awoke to screams filling the night. Elizabeth began to cough uncontrollably as smoke filled her lungs. The banging continued louder. Suddenly, she felt hands dragging her out of bed, discombobulated she fought back.

"Liza! Liza! Smoke coming! Big fire started! Must get out! Hurry!" White Owl's face was blackened with soot and her night gown was dingy. Elizabeth finally regained her sense…the whole room was filled with smoke and many of the girls had already awoken. A horrifying scream filled the night air as bright red and yellow lights flickered in the hallway from behind the closed door.

"Open the door!" A man's voice cried. Elizabeth grabbed her shawl and through it around her cold shoulders. Vincent stood in the hallway, holding three young Indian children.

"Elizabeth!"

"Vincent! What is going on-"Behind Vincent, the hallway was in flames. She was paralyzed with fear as she watched the flames dance in the corridor. The girls from the other dorms were running down the hall with water buckets, yelling and screaming.

"Elizabeth bring the girls and come out now! There isn't much time before this level collapses!" He yelled.

She rushed back into the room, waking the girls up, rushing them to get out. Finally the last girl was out of the room. White Owl grabbed her hand and together they followed Vincent down the hallway. Pieces of broken, burned wood fell from the ceiling as they ran down the fiery corridor. Flames licked at their heels and their hair. But beside the hallway, a door was closed. Beyond it she heard a voice crying for help, pleading for someone to save them.

"White Owl there is someone in that room!" The Indian glanced down the burning hallway, then again at the door.

"No time! Must leave them!"

"I can't leave this person here to burn to death! Go on without me! Send help!" White Owl ran ahead. Elizabeth searched for something she could use to beat down the door. A large log lay on the ground; she grabbed it, but it burned her hands. She screamed in pain. She torn off the hem of her night gown and wrapped her hands in the cloth.

"I'm going to get you out! Trust me!" Again and again she rushed the door.

"Elizabeth!" Vincent came behind her and grabbed hold of the log.

"I'll help you!" Suddenly, the fire seemed to grow stronger, determined not to let them save the victim. Before she could answer him, she felt large object hit her and she fell. The last thing she remembered…was being carried away and a young man yelling her name. While someone's hand… was still beating on the door of the locked room.

"No! Stop! Please there's someone in the room! Leave them alone! Stop!" Elizabeth screamed. Someone, something was holding her down, trying not to let her escape this nightmare. Kicking, biting and screeching she fought fiercely against her unknown assailant.

"Lady Elizabeth! My Lady stop! Come to your senses! Lady Elizabeth!" The dreams would not cease. The pain in her heart would not refrain from stabbing her memories. Her eyes would never forget what horrid and abominable events had taken place that fateful night. Feeling putrid liquid coming up from her stomach, she wrestled free from Helen's tight grasp and ran to the washroom. Helen stood outside the door, listening to the splash of vomit hacking up from Elizabeth's body.

"Lady Elizabeth, don't move I will come in and help you clean-,"

"No! No! Do not come in here, Helen! I'm afraid I've made a bit of a mess."

"Now Lady Elizabeth I'm coming in there!" Helen opened the door and the smell of vomit met her face. Elizabeth sat on the floor, holding a wooden bucket by her face. Helen quickly presented a towel to the young woman, and then began wiped her face with a wet washcloth.

"You have been experiencing these nightmares since you came back to England. It has only been little over a week since you returned and yet you have not slept at all. My Lady will you not tell me what bothers you so?" Elizabeth buried her head in Helen's chest, allowing the woman to hold her.

"Helen…do you believe that all men are created equal?" Surprise did not describe how Helen reacted. She was unprepared for such a question. Are all men equal?

"Well my lady…I suppose. The Good Book says that the Lord created all men in His image."

Elizabeth wept.

"Then why…why is it that those without fair skin are persecuted and beaten while I stand in the light of society? Helen aren't we all the same? Don't we all have similar dreams and love for our families despite physical differences? Oh, Helen!" Elizabeth covered her face, warm tears slipping between her fingers. Helen held her even tighter as the small girl's body wracked with uncontrollable sobs.

Those people…those children! Those innocent children…how could such misfortune befall them? What did they do to deserve to have their homes stripped from them and their families slaughtered before their eyes? Why!

"People…do wicked things, Lady Elizabeth. Sometimes, all we can do is try to protect those who are being harmed. You tried…Lady Elizabeth, did you not to protect those children?" Elizabeth looked at Helen, surprised at her knowledge.

"Where did hear that?" Helen's face turned to one of guilt.

"Vincent Tudor told me, ma'am. I apologize. I should not have revealed that knowledge." Elizabeth wiped the tears remaining on her face.

"No, it's alright. Vincent and I…did all we could. It was thanks to him…we even got out of the burning school. It is because of Vincent that I am even alive."

Elizabeth smiled sweetly as she poured the hot tea into the white cup. The porcelain shined beautifully against the glass table in the small country cabin. Several bookcases lined the walls, stuffed with books of renowned poets and authors. Her father had built this for her before she returned, a special surprise as a welcome home gift. Elizabeth simply loved the small wooden space right on the east side of the lawn and only several miles from the house. The young man drew a book out from the shelves and began flipping through the pages. He chortled sheepishly as he walked to the table and sat, crossing his legs.

"How about this, "If music be the food of love, play on." Tell me…this is absolutely amusing."

"William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night." She said in a roundabout way.

"By George, woman, what type of person are you? Your head is like a library!"

"Is that a compliment?"

"Of course, you are relatively the shrewd one." Elizabeth shook her head, short blonde curls bouncing prettily against her face as she sat with Vincent. The glass table was adorned with sweets and snacks that the servants had prepared fresh for her and brought out to the cabin. Though, Elizabeth admitted no sweets were as good as Sebastian's. The man had a natural talent for just about everything, as ridiculous as it seemed. In America, Elizabeth had learned to make the simplest of food. Bread, venison, stew, and steamed vegetables. Nothing fancy like in England, but more fulfilling.

Perhaps, it was made out of kindness and love. Not just with skill or talent to impress but to fill one's self. I remember my first helping of venison…drenched in sauce Running Deer made. It was delicious. That dear child…my heart yearns to know what has become of him…and all the other children.

"Reminiscing about the old times, Elizabeth?" Vincent asked, quietly. His gaze was soft and caring, emphasizing the concern in his voice.

Elizabeth nodded gaily, trying to shake off the sorrowful emotions that threatened to make her weep. But no matter how hard she tried, she could never forget those children.

"Yes, I suppose a little. What about you?" Vincent smiled playfully.

"Oh, me? I am just admiring your beauty, Elizabeth." Elizabeth blushed so quickly she felt as if her face had caught on fire. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks and blood rushing to her hands. Such outright flattery, she had never experienced before! So this concept of bluntly complimenting her was almost unbearable! Trying to hide her flushed face, she stood and walked towards the light blue tinted windows. Glorious, warm sunlight shone through the windows perfectly, illuminating the room. Two indoor rose bushes sat in front of them, and large ivy covered the outside of the window.

"I hear that you plan on entering the medical field, Elizabeth. Why would a young woman of your beauty and charm wish to go into such a gruesome and tedious field of work?" Elizabeth smiled, remembering her Aunt Angelina. Every time she thought f her, it reminded her of why she wanted to become a doctor.

Aunt Angelina…you inspired me to reach beyond what society had to offer me. It is because of you…that I want to become a doctor! I wish you were here to see me now, how proud you would be!

"I want to help people Vincent. I want to be of use to the world. Whether that be making and discovering new medicine or delivering babies! I want to help this world somehow. I want to more…than some pretty lady on a glass pedestal." She smiled. Vincent nodded, but a look out doubt ran across his face.

"I feel very happy for you Elizabeth…but you're not doing this because of…well…your aunt are you?" Elizabeth frowned.

"No! Well yes…she did encourage me to seek whatever I wanted, but it is because of her example I wanted to become a doctor! It has nothing to do with her death at all!" She exclaimed. Vincent's eyes widened at her outburst.

"I did not mean to offend you, darling." Appalled by her harsh tone, she could not look him in the eye. Elizabeth's heart was intensely distressed by the recollection that surfaced whenever she thought of her aunt.

"I apologize, Vincent. My aunt was very dear to me. I adored her deeply…no one barely speaks of her anymore since her death. It's just that…" She turned to him, smiling faintly.

"Ciel never speaks of her and whenever I try to talk to him about her, he refuses to speak or ends up leaving." Vincent cocked his head to one side, showing his slight interest in this new bit of information.

"Ciel…I don't believe I know the chap." Elizabeth grinned.

"Earl Phantomhive is his official title. He is my cousin and quite the interesting character!"

"Ah, but that is understandable no?"

"Perhaps, but I've always felt there was something more…like he was hiding something from me. Haha, listen to me! I sound like a bumbling detective!" Vincent laughed heartily and stood. Walking to Elizabeth, he placed both hands on her shoulders, casting a reassuring smile.

"Either way, I love the sound of your voice." Once again, her heart fluttered a little bit.

"You really must stop saying these ridiculous things!"

"But they're true."

"Really now, Vincent…you are quite the charmer. But I am afraid your shallow flattery holds no place in my mind." Elizabeth said, lightheartedly. She broke free of his grasp and began walking towards the door.

"Shall we go for a walk in the gardens? Since it is mid-summer I know that the Baby's Breath, roses and Bouvardia are blooming. It is the most beautiful sight in all of London!" Elizabeth proudly stated. Vincent nodded his head, and winked.

"Do not be so shy Elizabeth. You are the most beautiful in all of London." Laughing, Elizabeth took the Shakespeare novel from the table and walked out the back door. She could not believe the utter blunt words coming from his mouth. Never in all her teens years had any man so frankly flirted with her intentionally!

I find this quite amusing! This man will stop at nothing until he gets me to go courting with him! Such a silly man…but he is smart. Oh, but he is so delightful to be around! He makes me laugh so light heartedly. Surely he knows I am no fool to be swayed by such shallow words.

"You sicken me, Vincent Tudor with your silly words!" Vincent chuckled and followed the young woman into the back yard. Sunlight basked them freely now that they stood in nature's glory. She listened to the neighing of the horses in their stables and smiled as the sun continued to shine. Oscar, the elderly gardener who had worked for the Middleford family for over three generations and his four adult sons worked and kept after the marvelous lawn every day. Waving, the elderly gentleman smiled at the duo as they walked through the lawn. Elizabeth excitedly named every flower that they passed, eager to tell Vincent of the new plants she and her Aunt Angelina would have grown together.

"Bellflowers and jasmine are very popular this year." Vincent admired. Elizabeth smiled, leaning down to smell the scents of the white flowers. Vincent stooped next to her, pulling the bellflower to her nose.

"You really have a love for flowers, Elizabeth…"

"Yes, I do. My Aunt Angelina loved flowers; her favorite was of course the red rose. I have a whole garden just full of them on the west side of the lawn…there-," Elizabeth pointed to what looked like a small building made of stone with a stone tower. Red rose vines covered the walls of the tower and the gates, causing it to appear like a place in a fairy tale. Vince took notice the clouds were turning rather dark…he glanced at Elizabeth still going on about the flowers and how wonderful they were. It was going to rain soon enough…

Just as he was thinking it, small droplets began to fall from the dark blue sky and then it poured down. Elizabeth yelled in shock at the sudden change of weather and tried to run back towards the estate. Instead, Vincent grabbed her hand preventing

"Vincent Tudor! It is pouring outside! We will both be soaked if we stay out here longer!" She yelled amidst the loud rain. Vincent smiled; Elizabeth's blond hair was now fallen and wet about her face.

"But this is the best part of the storm Elizabeth! Don't you remember us dancing in the rain at the school? Don't you remember how dirty we became in the mud? How White Owl, Running Fawn and the Apache natives danced with us!" Vincent laughed wildly and opened his arms wide, inviting the rain to fall on him. Elizabeth giggled as he opened his mouth and tried desperately to catch rain drops. Suddenly lightening flashed, brightly lightening up the whole lawn. Elizabeth screamed. Vincent grabbed her hand and together they sprinted for the stables. Laughing, tripping and yelling they finally managed to reach the barn house.

Elizabeth fell down into the hay, chuckling hysterically. Oh, the fun they had had at St. Josephina Augusta School! White Owl and Running Fawn had taught her and Vincent how to do the rain dance that was so important to her culture and to her people.

I remember Vincent blushing beet red watching me dance around that small campfire…

"Elizabeth, you'll catch a cold if you stay in those drenched clothes you know." Vincent cautioned as he began removing his jacket, vest and dress shirt. Elizabeth rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"I know that! Turn around so I may undress. No peeking!" Elizabeth teased. Vincent growled.

"You know I am not the type of gentleman that would peep on a lady..."

"I...admire you much more than that..." He whispered.

Hello! Sorry this chapter is a bit late, but mid terms are finally over and I actually have multiple projects due at school tomorrow. Anyway, I hope you guys loved this chapter and please review it! I love reviews, and it lets me know that I am doing well...or that I need some work. Well, my little four month old nephew came over the house and hung out with my hubby and me. It was a lot of fun and he was so talkitive! He was cooing and laughing...ah...I love babies! :) Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Remember to review!