Lilliana was eating breakfast with Lady Elizabeth in the garden the next morning when the young girl was summoned to her parents' study. Her heart was heavy knowing that this family had experienced another tragic loss. Elizabeth still had not returned when Lilliana had finished eating, so she allowed a maid to take her dishes to the kitchen and wandered into the extensive gardens. Finding a bench in the warm sunshine, she rested. The heat from the sun temporarily eased her mind of the night before. She had fled the alley as soon as the butler had turned the corner with Ciel, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he would be looking for her. After all, she had exposed herself, no matter how quickly she hid again. It would be a matter of time before he found out it was she who had healed him during his fight with the reaper.
Do I want him to find out? Wouldn't it have been easier if I had revealed myself to him? Why didn't I? These questions plagued her mind and she hated that the answers were rooted in her own insecurities. What if he doesn't like me? What if he doesn't want a witch for a soulmate? What if I'm too young or not good enough for him?
Desperately, Lilliana tried to dispel the doubts from her mind. She couldn't afford to think like that. She didn't want to cower in front of her soulmate, afraid of what-if's. An odd sound distracted her and she looked for the source. Her heart was pained when she saw the tear-streaked face of Elizabeth and the slow gait that brought her into the garden. Immediately, Lilliana rushed to meet the girl, embracing her. Though she knew what had happened, she had to pretend that she didn't or else explain how she snuck out of her family's mansion last night.
"Elizabeth, child, why are you crying?" she asked.
Through her tears and sniffles, Elizabeth managed to answer. "My Auntie Red was murdered last night!"
Lilliana didn't have to act very much to express her horror with the news. She had, after all, witnessed it firsthand.
"Not only that," the young girl blubbered, "but the funeral is this afternoon and…" She trailed off, hesitating. When she was forced to meet the older girl's gaze, fresh tears sprung from her eyes. "Father is taking us to the country house to mourn privately as a family and sending you away!"
Now that, Lilliana was not expecting. "What do you mean, Elizabeth?" Her stomach twisted with unease while waiting for the girl's answer.
Elizabeth was wailing now. "He's sending you to stay with Ciel until we get back. Lilliana, I'm so sorry! I don't want to send my friend away!"
Lilliana's heart nearly stopped, so profound was her shock. Belatedly, she resumed stroking the young girl's hair and assuring her that she would be okay, she understood, and it was not her fault. Truth be told, she was overwhelmed by the maelstrom of questions laying siege to her mind. Her situation just became that much more complicated. She was certain at least a few of her ancestors were having a good laugh right about now.
They ventured back into the mansion and parted ways at the stairs, each girl going back to their room to prepare for the funeral. Lilliana allowed a maid to assist her with her corset and dress, but politely declined further help. She wasn't entirely sure why, but Lilliana hated when other people touched her hair and she had for as long as she could remember. She took her time brushing out the onyx-colored locks and arranged a few simple braids to frame her face, leaving the rest free to hang down her back.
She decided on the dark green dress from the shop where she first met Elizabeth, both to honor that first meeting and as a nod to the Mother Earth who was welcoming the soul of one of her daughters today. Lilliana again made sure to conceal her mate markings and magick before donning her thankfully dry black velvet cloak. Her familiar's silver locket was tucked into her bodice over her heart, the warmth providing her some comfort. It had been several days since she was able to release and interact with her familiar and she was desperately missing that in the current uncertainty.
Within an hour, the Midford family, Lilliana, and her two travel bags were in a carriage headed to the grand church where Madam Red's funeral was to be held.
The service was a large affair, as Madam Red had been incredibly well-known. Elizabeth was openly weeping at her aunt's coffin, while muffled sniffles made themselves known in the church pews. The preacher read the funeral rites and the ringing church bells added to the melancholy atmosphere. Lilliana sat in a back pew away from the mourning relatives to grant them privacy and even shed a few tears while sending her own silent prayers to Mother Earth. She couldn't help but cringe at the plain white dress they were burying her in.
Her stomach suddenly twisted and she froze. She could sense the demonic aura and bright, innocent soul just outside the wooden double doors of the church that told her Ciel Phantomhive was about to make his entrance. Seconds later, the doors were pushed open and the little Earl strode purposefully to the coffin at the front of the church. She smiled and a few tears escaped her when she saw the red dress he carried. Yes, she thought, bless you, Ciel.
The demonic aura lightly flared as he sent hundreds of red flower petals into the church, though he remained hidden outside. She lifted her head and closed her eyes, quietly murmuring her gratitude for this simple kindness. When she opened her eyes, she saw Elizabeth had stopped crying and was gazing at Ciel so tenderly for his last gift to their beloved Aunt Red.
The preacher concluded the funeral and the coffin was solemnly escorted down the aisle, family following close behind. Friends and acquaintances trickled out next until finally it was her turn to leave that place of mourning and step into the sunshine. As soon as her eyes adjusted to the brightness, she spotted Elizabeth and her family speaking to Ciel. She was waved over by the young girl and she nodded before slowly making her way through the crowd to their little group.
Her heart beat faster as she approached them, dropping into a small curtsy in front of the little Earl. Elizabeth formally introduced her to Ciel and her parents told Sebastian where her bags were. The next couple minutes were a blur that went too fast for Lilliana. She knew that Elizabeth's parents were eager to depart for their country home and she wanted them to have the privacy to mourn their loss. She really did.
However, she was not at all mentally prepared to be in close quarters with the two people she had just run away from the night before. Especially Sebastian. She was still weighed down with the insecurities that plagued her and she had decided not to reveal her magick until she was able to confirm whether or not Sebastian was truly her soulmate. That meant pretending she didn't know he was a demon, pretending she hadn't witnessed Madam Red's death or Sebastian's fight with the reaper, pretending she was a normal human girl in a foreign land. Piece of cake, she thought sarcastically.
Now she was seated across from Ciel in his comfortable carriage while Sebastian drove the team of horses to the Earl's country estate. Shortly after they left the church, Ciel spoke to her.
"I apologize for the swiftness and manner of your transfer to my mansion, Lady Rosenberg. As a guest of my estate, you will be shown every hospitality in the name of the Phantomhives. Besides Sebastian, there are four other servants I employ, all of which you may utilize if necessary." Ciel paused. "Though they may not be all that useful as Sebastian seems to be the only one who isn't an incompetent fool."
Lilliana found herself giggling at Ciel's statement and remembered the stories she had heard from Elizabeth. "I thank you, Lord Phantomhive. You are very kind to open your home to me. Honorifics aren't quite the same here as they are back home, so you may call me by my name only, sir."
Ciel looked mildly surprised at her accent, this being the first time she had spoken enough for it to be noticeable. "Where is home?" He inquired curiously.
"America, Lord Phantomhive," Lilliana answered with a small smile.
"You travelled across the ocean by yourself?!" Ciel asked, half appalled and half impressed.
Lilliana blushed lightly, nodding. "Yes sir, I docked in London 4 days ago."
Ciel sat back against his plush seat and looked out the window thoughtfully. He asked no further questions and Lilliana leaned against the wall of the carriage for a short nap. Her lack of sleep the previous night and the fast changes the day had brought was catching up to her and she did not resist the pull of sleep.
They arrived at the manor just before the setting sun touched the horizon, casting a haunting orange and red over the stones of the mansion. Lilliana gasped when she saw it. It's the mansion from my vision! She felt her marks warm all over her body and some of her unease vanished. Speaking of my marks, she thought, I'll need to recast the spell to conceal them again soon. I don't have much time left before they start to show through.
Sebastian escorted the two through the front doors and left Bardroy to take care of the horses and carriage. That should keep that idiot out of the kitchen while I prepare supper for the young master and his guest, he thought. He noticed the fatigue on both their faces and quickly bowed.
"Lady Rosenberg, I will show you to your room now. You may rest there until I bring you your dinner. Tomorrow I will give you the official tour of the mansion and introduce you to the other servants." He paused and turned to the young lord. "Master, I will bring your meal to your study shortly."
The young lord nodded and politely bowed to his guest before heading up the stairs. Sebastian turned to the young woman and also bowed before requesting she follow him. Her pale cheeks took on a pink tint and Sebastian internally sighed. Human females always fawned over him. He turned and led the way up the opposite staircase that his master had taken, her two bags in his hands. Down a long hallway of closed doors, Sebastian covertly glanced over his shoulder to study the young woman. Her skin was exceptionally pale but without an unhealthy pallor. Her eyes shone like emeralds and held a depth he hadn't expected. Her features were pretty and her hair hung down her back in gentle waves, like a silky black waterfall. Her green dress was mostly hidden by her black velvet cloak, which she clutched like a security blanket. She's far from average, he decided. If she didn't hide beneath her cloak and if she wore her hair up like a proper lady, one might even consider her beautiful.
He mentally shook himself. My appraisal had a purpose besides finding her to be pretty, he growled at himself. I needed to decide which guest room would fit her aesthetic the best. What kind of butler would I be if I could not adequately provide for our guest? After a quick scan in his head, he chose the Lavender Room. Arriving at that door, he opened it and stepped back to grant her entrance into the room. He watched her face light up and he allowed himself a satisfied smirk. Right again, he thought smugly.
"I do hope you will enjoy your stay at the Phantomhive mansion, Lady Rosenberg. Please make yourself comfortable and I will return shortly with your dinner." He bowed and closed the door behind him. Sebastian was in the kitchen seconds later, sighing at how much more work he would have now with a strange guest in the mansion.