"First Blush"
"I'm going into London for the season," Elizabeth announced as her family gathered around the table for supper.
"I'll come with you," Edward immediately offered, and Elizabeth's eyes leapt to her brother's earnest face.
Sighing, she smiled and said, "I'll have Mey-Rin with me, brother, so don't put yourself out for my sake."
Edward sputtered, but Lizzy cut him off again before he could get a word out.
"Besides, I'm going for work; it really isn't your problem and I don't need protecting."
"Lizzy….Mother, Father, I should go with her—!"
"No," Francis said, "My daughter can handle herself. The Lady Phantomhive needs to handle herself. And if the queen has a request, then it is not for the son of a knight to interfere."
Alexis slowly nodded in agreement.
"Lizzy won't be alone, Edward," he said, "and besides, I'm sure that she'll be checking in with Angelina Burnett while she's there. She won't be on her own."
Lizzy smiled, as Mother sighed and Edward looked pensive. And away in her study, a letter from the queen sat waiting on her desk next to an article on Jack the Ripper.
A/N: And here's the start of the Jack the Ripper Arc! I'm totally excited to be writing this. :)
"First Blush," as in the outset, or a pale red