Chapter 12: Rendezvous in Youth

Sebastian stood outside the master suite, holding neatly stack papers in one arm and a silver tray with the other. He glanced at the clock on the wall in the corridor, it read a quarter past five in the morning. The sun rise had barely begun outside, yet his young had already been awake for several hours working relentlessly. Sebastian sighed at the thought of the day's activities…he had much to do. Lady Elizabeth had arrived yesterday afternoon with her things; he had settled her in and then assisted the servants in doing their daily duties.

More like completing their duties for them…since they cannot do it themselves…how useless they are.

Sebastian softly knocked on the door. He grinned as he heard movement and the swish of papers from inside the bedroom.

"Come in, Sebastian." Sebastian heard his young master say. The young man appeared extremely agitated as he glanced from paper to paper in his hands. His reading glasses sat on the bridge of his nose, his lips in a slight pout of frustration. Ciel sat at the table near the empty fireplace, stacks of books before him. Sebastian bowed and set the papers down on the nightstand.

"The young master is hard at work, I see." Ciel ruffled his hair, exasperating greatly.

"I couldn't sleep last night, Sebastian. My work could not let my mind rest. I still have to do the numbers for this month's sales and I'm late on the production reports for Uncle Claude."

"Would the young master want me to take over for you?" Ciel shook his head. Sebastian set the tray on the table and took of the top. Ciel grinned and reached on the inside of his robe, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. Swiftly taking one and lighting it, Ciel breathed the smoke in deeply. Sebastian walked to the closet, and began going through the clothing.

"Get out my dress shirt and blue vest. I'm taking Elizabeth out today." Sebastian smiled.

"Is that so?" Ciel sipped the tea and set the cup down.

"I promised her I would. I keep my promises." Ciel sipped his tea again and eyed the papers that Sebastian had set down. His eye brow rose as he stared at the papers.

"Those are?"

"The reports you ordered from the Yard and the information I have compiled on the men who attempted to abduct Lady Elizabeth. It appears that our incident was not their first offense…"

"Is that so…" Ciel took one file and flipped through its contents. So these were the men who had tried to kidnap Elizabeth?

They're all natives…they look like they're from the Americans from what I've seen of them. The Jack fellow was a former circus performer with Noah's Circus as well…his last place of employment was the Royal London Hospital…I see now…but what is his connection…to the Hospital? Why Noah's Circus?

"It's too peculiar to be a coincidence…" Ciel mused.

Damn…I can't let Elizabeth out of my sight for an instant. Until I know exactly who is behind the attack…and know the whereabouts of Helen, I cannot let Elizabeth leave my reach of jurisdiction. If Helen were to ever appear before her again when I am not with her…the end result could be fatal.

Elizabeth sat at the vanity, gazing at herself in the mirror. Her blonde curls were very messy and her eyes were red with weariness. She had not slept a wink last night, her mind kept wandering to that night when the men tried to kidnap her…and to thoughts of Helen. She had resisted the urge to go into the past nursery and sleep inside there. The nursery was the only room where she felt safe and calm. It was as if her Aunt Angelina's presence was always there, lovingly watching over her…

Why can't I…stop thinking about her death? Why?

Elizabeth covered her face in her hands, trying not to let the small tears seep through her tightly entwined fingers. Aunt Angelina had been dead for several years and yet she still could not accept her Aunt's untimely and grief-stricken death. There were so many questions left unanswered…so many things that had not been revealed to her family it unsettled her. The Yard had given up searching for her murderer…to leave Elizabeth without peace knowing that the man was still out there.

"They say those who have trouble forgetting immoralities have a hard time forgiving sins…" Elizabeth mused silently to herself.

Ciel…was so withdrawn for weeks after her death…even now he refuses to speak to me about the old times when Aunt Angelina was with us. Could it be he feels a pain worse than mine?

Elizabeth allowed the thoughts to soak in her mind, slowly pondering them. Ciel was the type of man who would never allow anyone to know what he was thinking or feeling even when it hurt him dearly which meant that everyone around him hurt as well. Elizabeth could feel a sob arousing in her body, but she did her best to keep it down. Crying would not solve anything…it was who Ciel was now…it was in his being.

"Ciel...you're not strong at all! How weak! Not to share your feelings...with people who love you!"

Croquet was not Elizabeth's specialty. She frowned, watching the blue wooden ball roll slowly and then stop several paces from the small iron hoop stuck in the ground. Setting her hands against her hips, she stared down the ball as if somehow…it might sense her murderous intent. However, the little wooden ball sat steadfastly in the green grass, not moving an inch.

"I'm not very good at this, Ciel." Elizabeth admitted. The young man smiled and gestured for her to hand him the mallet in her hands. Elizabeth reluctantly gave him the mallet and stood next to him.

"Sebastian, retrieve the ball, won't you?" Ciel called. The butler nodded and grabbed the ball then set it in front of his young master. Sebastian tried dearly to hold in a snicker as he watched his young master instruct Lady Elizabeth on croquet.

"You must hold the mallet like so…to make it the ball go through the hoop." Ciel lightly swung at the blue ball and watched it go through the first hoop then the second. Elizabeth shook her head in dismay…she was never good at competitive sports.

Unless you can call fencing a sport…

"It's not that hard, Lizzy." Ciel said, gently patting her shoulder.

"Says you…" Elizabeth pouted. Sebastian covered his mouth quickly as if holding in a laugh. Ciel handed her the mallet, and stood behind her.

"Now, you must line up the ball with the hoop…can you see it?" Ciel asked. Elizabeth nodded.

"Don't stand so stiffly. Spread your legs arm's width apart…that's better! Now…take a deep breath…"

Ciel's so close to me…I can feel his back against mine…oh he smells so good!

"Teehee…ah…"

"Lizzy?" Elizabeth jumped at the tone of Ciel's voice. She smiled nervously and laughed.

"I-I, just something made me laugh is all! Really!" Elizabeth tightened her grip on the mallet and hit the ball with all her might. Her embarrassment seemed to power the hit, because the ball was sent flying over the hoops, clear into the other garden. Elizabeth breathed heavily, and smiled wide.

"Haha! How was that Earl Phantomhive?" Elizabeth boasted proudly. Ciel's face bestowed no particular expression, but gazed at her in the funniest way. His face began to turn red, and his shoulders began to shake. Elizabeth frowned as he quickly turned away from her, small cackles erupting from his mouth.

"What are you laughing at?" Elizabeth asked, quite irritated that Ciel had the nerve to laugh at her.

"Oh, Lizzy…I always knew you'd still be horrible at sports!" Elizabeth gasped in anger.

"How do you laugh at a lady? You have absolutely no discretion, Earl Phantomhive!"

"Now, now, Earl it's not very gentleman like to laugh at such a beautiful lady, ne?" Elizabeth turned to see a Chinese man with a scantily clad woman hanging on to him. Sebastian stood next to the man and bowed.

"Young master, Mr. Lau has come to grace our day with his presence…" Lau grinned and cocked his head to one side…for a moment Elizabeth saw his eyes open in a most fox like appearance. She resisted the urge to shy behind Ciel, as he came closer, still grinning.

Lau…Lau…?

"Ne! Oh my, is that Lady Elizabeth? How pretty you've become!" Lau winked at her. Elizabeth laughed gently as she realized who the man was.

"Lau! Lau it's been ages!" She expressed happily. Lau took her hand and kissed it, glancing at Ciel.

"Why, the good Earl didn't tell me you had returned! How rude of him!" Elizabeth laughed and pointed towards the lawn.

"Lau, you're just in time to play a game of croquet. Won't you join us?"

"Elizabeth!" Ciel protested.

"If the young master wishes, I can set it up again." Sebastian added. Ciel sighed, and waved his hand in carelessness.

"Do what you wish…" Ciel mumbled watching Sebastian set up the game. The day was bright and beautiful with a splendid sun out. Ciel watched as Elizabeth eagerly explained to Lau the terms of the game. Color had returned to her cheeks, and she was not so pale as she was when bedridden...

"Young master..." Sebastian began.

"What?" Sebastian nodded towards Lau.

"It seems that Mr. Lau has information...about our intruders." Ciel clasped his hands together, thinking.

"I'll speak with him tonight...after Elizabeth retires."

Wow! This chapter is super short and I am so sorry! I finished my finals and I passed all my classes! I have two A's and two B's! Hurray! Hopefully, I'll update again this weekend, but don't take me on that. My hubby and I have been working at a camp, cleaning, painting and putting down some vinly wood flooring. Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter! Please review! Thank you all for reading and so sorry about the late update!