Chapter 7: Doubting Emotions

"Elizabeth, I am greatly remorseful for having to formally decline the invitation to your mother's dinner party. Business has called me away on countless cases so that I cannot possibly forge a way to attend. Please understand that I wish to spend a measure of time with you. Perhaps we could take a boat out on the lake this weekend? I am eagerly awaiting your response." Elizabeth bit her lip while rereading the letter.

He refused the invitation… he has not changed one bit!

Elizabeth scanned the letter once more, noting the soft strokes of the words. She could not help but smile faintly at the consideration he had given into sending her a hand written letter. At least that revealed that he was not completely overlooking her…Elizabeth sighed, allowing her form to slump into a most un-lady like shape.

Ciel was always working, always away, always going off. Sometimes he did not back to London for weeks at a time…and when he did return he always had the face of death about him…she was concerned and confused.

I try not to become livid about him but how can I not when he casts me off so easily? I thought that…when we spent the day together everything would change. It seems I was sorely wrong.

Elizabeth cast the letter on the glass table. The million purple bells were in full bloom this summer, much to Elizabeth's delight. Around this time of year the garden sprang to colorful life and the flowers thrived. Elizabeth tried to tend it on a regular basis, but with her hospital work it almost unmanageable. However, she had many helping hands. The gardener and his sons had not failed in taking care of it while she resided in the Americas. She looked around the shrubbery, noting the red roses were doing well…

Every time I see those roses…they remind me of Aunt Angelina…how I miss her!

She turned back to the letter, tempted to throw the stupid thing away in disappointment.

"Is this all he could do? Ciel never tells me anything. Perhaps I have fooled again…" Elizabeth wrung her hands together, trying to stop a small tear forming at the corner of her eye.

"Why…why must you always hide your true self from me? Don't you know I care about you?" Elizabeth whispered.

"Perhaps my Lady, he does not appreciate you." Helen stood outside the gate of the garden holding a silver tray.

"I thought that you would become famished, my Lady after working so hard. Ever since you returned you have been work diligently. Did I disturb you?" Helen asked. Elizabeth shook her head.

"No Helen dear. Thank you for the tea." Helen smiled, twirling a blonde curl around her fingers.

"You are most welcome, my Lady." "Perhaps my Lady, he does not appreciate you." Elizabeth turned towards the entrance gate of the garden. Helen held a tray with tea and other goodies, a frown covering her face.

"You have been crying, my Lady?" Elizabeth breathed deeply; she did not want to alarm Helen for something so trivial.

"Oh, just matters of foolish love, Helen. It is nothing serious!" Elizabeth took a bite of the strawberry tarte that Helen laid on her plate. The sweet taste of cheesecake and strawberry filling swathed her mouth in yummy goodness. Elizabeth had always loved strawberries since she was a girl.

I remember Vincent and I used to pick wild strawberries with the natives. Such fond memories…

"Helen these are delicious! Did you make them?" Helen grinned.

"No, my Lady. A young man sent them for you." Elizabeth's eyes brightened.

"The Earl Phantomhive?" Helen shook her head, a slight blush rising in her cheeks.

"It was Vincent Tudor, my Lady. He even sent you a bouquet! I had the servants send it up to your room." Elizabeth tried not to show the pang of disappointment she felt on her face. She was grateful for Vincent spending so much time with her, yes. Indeed, she was ecstatic that her dear friend was in London and they had acquired so much time to pass with each other. However, deep down…she knew there was one man she wished would give her the time of day… Helen frowned at Elizabeth's reaction.

"I thought my Lady had something special for Vincent? He is quite the handsome man, is very wealthy and has a wonderful character. Isn't he what my Lady has always sought after?" Elizabeth smiled and stood from the chair. She twirled her short blonde curls around her finger and shrugged.

"I have always wanted that in someone else, Helen. It seems that no matter how hard I try…I cannot seem to crack that ice heart of his. Perhaps…I should move on? But every time I think of it…my heart continues to pull towards Earl Phantomhive. I hate it." Helen laid her hands on Elizabeth's shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze.

"Vincent Tudor is a fine man, Lady Elizabeth." Elizabeth smiled, patting Helen's cheeks.

"Yes, yes, I know Helen. He is a good man."

"And his brown eyes are beautiful!" Elizabeth laughed heartily.

"Oh, Helen his eyes are blue! Blue like the ocean depths…"

"So have you have noticed?" Helen teased. Elizabeth opened her mouth as if to reply, but could not think of anything. It was almost as if she were rethinking herself…her eyes were blank for a moment before regaining their light.

"Yes…I have noticed…and it scares me."

Elizabeth watched Ciel closely as he steered the boat into the middle of the late. It was gorgeous summer day, with a slight cool breeze to the face. Foreshore Park was full of fine dressed people, many nobles and their families had crowded the place. The lake was full of men and women in the boats, contently gliding on the water's crystal surface. Elizabeth had dreamed of outings like this one, with Ciel when she was a girl. Now that she was actually on one…she could scarcely believe it herself.

None the less…I feel this outing would be much more enjoyable if Ciel would smile.

Ciel had arrived at the Middleford estate around lunch time in a fancy landou. Elizabeth could not remember how fast her heart was beating when he arrived. His suite was a simple dark blue with a white undershirt; his vest was dark green velvet. Ciel was absolutely handsome! Elizabeth stole a glance at him across from the boat. His dark blue eyes were gazing across the lake, observing the people. He had a scowl on his face, a look of disgust.

I've always known he hated social outings. I suppose that has not changed much…but can't he smile this once? He looks as if he is on edge about something, something is bothering him and he is allowing it to fester. What bone headedness!

"It's been a long time since we had an outing like this. I believe I was about eight years old." Elizabeth grinned.

"You were scared to go into the water because you believed Aunt Angelina about a huge fish monster; you clang to your mum all day long!" Ciel scoffed.

"I was not scared, woman." Elizabeth grinned and leaned closer to Ciel.

"Oh?" Ciel turned away, focusing on the dock.

"Says you! Remember grandmother had those porcelain dolls lined up on her mantel? You thought that they followed you around all the time and that at the stroke of midnight they came to life!"

"I don't remember such a thing!" Elizabeth protested. Ciel laughed mockingly and set the oars down.

"Oh how contraire, Miss Middleford! You stuck to me all night long and I didn't get a wink of sleep." Ciel retorted.

"I'm surprised you sleep at all." Elizabeth stared straight into those eyes that showed so much irritation. She almost wanted to laugh in his face, the picture of him becoming so upset over a childish quarrel was certainly entertaining.

Ah, since when did I start having these strange thoughts?

"You certainly have grown a bit of backbone Lizzy." Ciel snickered. He picked the oars and started rowing again.

He acts like nothing just happened…why doesn't he ever be honest with me? I can see it in his eyes, that irritation and anger. He still has so much he wants to tell me, yet he refuses to say it! He has not changed one bit! What an ass!

Elizabeth leaned back against the boat, lazily allowing her hand to glide along in the water. Ciel rowed them back to the shore, safely tying to rope around the deck pole. He extended his hand towards Elizabeth and helped her out of the boat. Suddenly, without warn a strong wind blew nearly throwing Elizabeth off balance as she stepped out of the boat.

"No!" Elizabeth yelled. Ciel watched as the apple green summer hat flew of Elizabeth's head into the crowd of people.

"Ciel that's my mother hat! She'll have my hide if I don't return it to her in proper shape! Oh, she will never let me hear the end of it!" Elizabeth pulled up her petticoats and began chasing after the hat with Ciel right behind her. He bumped into a lady then into a gentleman and almost tripped over a child trying to keep up with the runaway hat and his fiancée.

"Lizzy! Running is not lady like! You haven't changed at all!" Ciel yelled, trying to keep up with her without knocking anyone down. Elizabeth feared it was impossible to get the hat back. The throng of people in the park that day was a huge amount and the wind was strong. Elizabeth panted heavily…quickly scanning the park for the white hat, worried she might never find it again. There! She saw it blowing towards a picnic table and began walking briskly after it. Finally the hat come to rest on the green grass, she dived for it and caught it just before the wind could blow it away again. But much to her surprise there was a pair of brown boots under the runaway accessory. Still on her knees she looked up. There was Vincent, smiling away like silly school boy! Embarrassment could not adequately describe what she felt.

"Hello there, Ms. Middleford! I haven't seen you for over a day or so." Vincent smiled and took her hand, pulling her off the grass. Ciel gasped for breath as he caught up with her, he was extremely cross and had a mind to lecture her. It was then he noticed the man touching Elizabeth. "Really now…dear…you must be more careful with these things." Pulling out a satin kerchief, he wiped the grass and bits of foliage from her dress. Elizabeth laughed.

"I'm so sorry Ciel! I certainly did not intend to run off like that!" Vincent released her hand and turned to Ciel.

"I don't believe we have met. I am Vincent Tudor, CEO of Tudor Wines and Spirits. You are-?"

"Ciel Phantomhive." Vincent frowned slightly.

"So you are the infamous Earl Phantomhive! Watchdog of the Queen they call you, correct? It is a pleasure to finally meet you then." Ciel grasped Elizabeth's hand, drawing her closer to his side. He already decided he did not like this man. Something in his aura made Ciel extremely uncomfortable; he did not like the way Vincent looked at Elizabeth.

"You are acquainted with my fiancée, Elizabeth Middleford?"

"Fiancée? I had no idea…congratulations, Cordelia." Elizabeth frowned at the mention of her middle name.

"I thought I asked you to stop calling me that. You know how I despise my middle name." Vincent smirked and looked at Ciel.

"Oh? But it sounds positively lovely with your first, if I am not to blunt in admiring." Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"You're a natural flirt, Vincent. It is no wonder you cannot settle down. Being in your mid-twenties and all…" Elizabeth jested. Ciel noticed she had a hint of annoyance in her voice, but she was fighting a smile.

"I'll take that as a compliment, Elizabeth. You certainly know how to shut down a man's sincerest advances don't you?" Elizabeth giggled and was about to reply until Ciel abruptly interrupted her.

"We really must be off! The weather looks foul. Nice meeting you!" Ciel began pulling her away from Vincent towards the more crowded park.

"Ciel! How rude!" Elizabeth exclaimed. He did not stop walking until they were near the stream again. She snatched her hand back, laying them on her hips and casted her cousin the most irritated gaze. He was jealous…yes he was.

"Ciel! You will tell me the motive behind your rudeness to Vincent this instant!"

"No reason…I just wanted to be alone with you is all. I find his presence quite stuffy, don't you dear?" In his gaze, Elizabeth could recognize a look she had not seen since she was nine…when the stable boy had given her flowers for her birthday.

"You're jealous. Is that it?" Ciel scoffed and refused to look Elizabeth in the eye.

"That's a damned ridiculous notion." Elizabeth exhaled greatly, staring him straight into his eyes. Her voice was level as she spoke.

"Ciel…seven years is a very long time."

"What are you saying, Lizzy?" Elizabeth smiled faintly, coming behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. Ciel stiffened at the close contact, at the feeling of her bosom against his back.

"I am saying, Earl Phantomhive that in all those seven years no man could steal my heart away from you. My love has only grown stronger with time."

"After all those years, I would have thought you had found someone more worthy than I."

"There is no one like you, Ciel."

I'm so sorry this is two weeks late! I have been sick with the flu and I am just now getting over it! Plus I had three different test this past week and I have to get ready for a speech. Anyway, I hope you all love and like this chapter! I tried to do my best to make sure Ciel and Elizabeth stay in character, but also because I have depicted them older here, in their late teens they have both changed significantly. Ciel drinks and smokes now, also curses more often. He has been more sinister, but at the same time more open to those around him. Elizabeth of course, is quite flirty and witty. She is more independant and has been exposed to how evil mankind can truly be. Please, please review! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!