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 Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 2:02 am
Ciel had noticed her as well, and as did Sebastian. Ciel didn't know how this confrontation was going to happen, seeing as Lady Elizabeth had been the one to give him back the engagement ring, and called off their wedding for Ciel's happiness. What was going to happen when she met his new fiance? Lady Elizabeth, who was wearing a pink dress and was trying on an equally pink hat, turned around and had to fight the urge to glomp or hug Ciel. She saw the ring on the other lady's finger, and knew he had someone else already, so it wouldn't be appropriate. She lady-like walked over to them and curtsied.
"Good morning Ciel, and whoever you are Miss. What brings you into a hat store? These aren't your kind of hats Ciel."
Ciel cleared his throat before he talked again. "I'm with my fiance, Lady Isabella from Spain, on a shopping spree. She wanted to come here first." Ciel couldn't hold his words back from her. He wasn't going to lie to her of all people. Elizabeth was trying to hold back tears because he was happy with another girl, and it was obvious that she loved him too. She could only hope that a man would one day love her just as much.
"Fiance? I see...She's very pretty, and she wears such cute clothes! It's nice to meet you Isabella. I'm Lady Elizabeth, a really old friend of Ciel's, and his ex-fiance by arranged marriage. I hope you two will invite me to the wedding? I could help decorate!" She clapped her hands and put on a fake smile to try and make herself feel better about the situation.
Ciel sweat dropped and shook his head no. "No that's quite alright. I don't want anything pink or girly at the ceremony or in the reception hall. The theme...is going to be...red. That color has many fond memories...as well as a few bad ones..." He was talking about the red of blood, and the red of the flames that took his home and parents from him. Bad memories always made us stronger. Ciel was the strongest of all the lords in England.
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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 6:16 pm
"Nice to meet to met you, Miss Elizabeth. Ciel's told me some nice things about you." Isabella smiled brightly, even thought she was a little uneasy. "I am afraid that I don't know much about what's fashionable in London, Could I perhaps ask for your help in choosing a few hats?" She asked. Which of course was the exact right thing to say because Lizzy seemed to perk up at the suggestion.
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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 6:33 pm
Elizabeth had perked up when she mentioned helping her out with picking a few hats, and she instantly went to work helping her find the cutest one while Ciel watched from the sidelines, not wanting to get involved in such girly things.
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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 6:40 pm
Isabella found herself enjoying Lizzy's company, the blond was easy to get along with and was very helpful in picking out three hats that could be used to mix and match with other outfits.
As it was, Isabella invited Elizabeth to come with her during the rest of her shopping for that day. The girls had fun during the lunch at the new cafe as well.
The trunk of the carriage was quickly filled much to Isabella's dismay. "Well....I suppose that we can do this again tomorrow or another day Miss Lizzy?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 7:00 pm
Sebastian remained quiet, like a good butler should.
Ciel smiled at how well the two girls were getting along. "That sounds like a wonderful idea! We can all go out tomorrow and go shopping again, and all get to know each other better. Does that sound good to you Lady Elizabeth?"
She smiled brightly and clapped her hands happily. "Hai"
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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 7:15 pm
"Then I'll contact you tomorrow morning and make arrangements." Isabella said, with one of her new hats on her head. She and Ciel climbed into the carriage, heading back to the manor.
"That was a lot of fun." Isabella said as she walked in. "Its been too long since I've gone shopping with a friend before."
"Welcome back Young Master, Lady Isabella." Claude bowed to them, he was just putting some of the cleaning supplies away having finished with the dusting.
Isabella had nearly forgotten about him, she gave him a smile and a nod in passing before continuing with. "I can't wait till tomorrow, I'll wear that lavender dress and the gray coat with it. Do yout think that the heels would be too much?" She asked Ciel and the Governess, Hiding her sudden nervousness with excitement instead.
Oh drat it, He had the bad luck of passing thought the front hall when they returned to the manor. Claude had been both apprehensive and relived that Sebastian had gone for the day. And suddenly seeing him again, agitated the spider demon.....not that he could actually see Sebastian with all the boxes he was carrying in. He felt like smirking, but didn't offer to help with that day's shopping.
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:27 am
"Heels, in my honest opinion, aren't very comfortable to walk around in, so I wouldn't wear the heels if you intend on going shopping for the entire day again." Sebastian had walked in behind them, carrying a hell of a lot of packages from that day's affairs, and he would have appreciated the help, but since he was stuck in his own prideful ways he didn't ask Claude and took the packages up stairs all by himself. He didn't get too far though when he wound up tripping on something, and everything came crashing down.
Still keeping his professionalism despite the stares he was getting he began to pick them up, but was surprised when Ciel actually bent down to help him do so. "I'll help you with those Sebastian. Afterall these are my fiance's things. I'll take some of it up to her room."
"Bochan you don't have to-"
"But I want to. Don't backtalk me when I tell you something. Now let's get these things upstairs." The truth was Ciel wanted to talk with Sebastian in private because he could sense that something was wrong. When they were upstairs Ciel sat down in Isabella's bed. "Sebastian what's going on between you and Claude? I could feel the tension a mile away."
Again Sebastian was shocked that Ciel would know that something was wrong with him. Usually he was good at hiding his emotions. He ability to do so must be lacking. "Nothing Bochan."
"Don't lie to me."
He sighed. Well it sounded like an order so..."During the ball I caught Claude cheating on me in the wine cellar. It hurt me a lot, so I stopped talking to him. It was with a girl named Sugar. He told me before that he wasn't going to do anything with her, but he did behind my back." Ciel sighed, knowing there were two sides to every story, and he was going to get to the bottom of this. He didn't like tension between his servants.
"Sebastian go tell Claude to come here. I wish to speak with him...and yes this is an order, and yes you have to talk to him to carry it out. Now go." Sebastian sighed and decided to write it as a note instead. When he got downstairs he just handed Claude the note before going off to do chores somewhere else.
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:09 am
Isabella stared watching Ciel pick up her shopping that Sebastian had dropped. Dropped. In the middle of the stairway like a clumsy footman. She knew that Sebastian was just as skilled as Sammael was, and she'd never seen him do things less then perfect before. It was rather mind boggling.
For his part, Claude fought to keep from smiling, trying to keep his face impassive.( That little devil inside him was laughing hysterically though.)
"Well then." Ms Spencer exclaimed as Sebastian and Ciel disappeared upstairs. "Now that excitements over, Miss Isabella, we'll be practicing your embroidery for the rest of the afternoon till dinner. Mr. Faustus, can you bring us tea?"
Claude gave the governess a slight bow, "Right away, 'mam."
Claude's good mood plummeted when he got the note. Slipping it into a pocket, he picked up the tea tray to take to the drawing room before he went to see Ciel.
Ms Spencer was already asleep in the large comfortable arm chair. Isabella sighed and rolled her eyes, the governess liked to take a small nap in the afternoons.
She picked up the needle and thread wondering what she could embroider today, even thought Ms Spencer was sleeping, she'd still expect the work to be completed.
Isabella glanced up as Claude walked in with the tea tray. She felt her face flush as the butterflies in her stomach suddenly decided to start dancing. Nearly dropping the embroidery frame, she put her finger to her lips to indicate that he not make a sound.
Claude lifted an eyebrow at the Governess snoring loudly away in the chair nearby, he smirked and then nodded in understanding. He quietly placed the tea tray down on the table, silently bowing to Miss Isabella before leaving.
Walking down the hallway towards Isabella's room, Claude smiled in amusement, the young lady could hide it from her young fiancé but she could not hide the attraction she had for him. That one glance a moment ago was all it took for Claude to figure it all out. Miss Isabella had developed an adolescent crush on him despite being engaged the young master. It was the normal for young men and women to develop such feelings.
Isabella was a sensible young lady, he was sure that she’d get over it soon.
Squashing his smile flat before opening the doors to Isabella's room. Claude walked in. "You sent for me Young Master?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:58 pm
"Yes I did. Take a seat." He waited for the other to do so before he began. "Sebastian told me what happened between you two. Something about you cheating on him with another woman even though you promised not to. I want the whole truth here Claude, because I don't like tension between my servants. It ruins their work skills, for example Sebastian dropping everything like a buffoon. He's distracted, and it's all because of what happened between you. Spill it. That's an order."
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:10 pm
Claude sighed inwardly, He didn't want this situation to turn into a ' He said, He said '. The spider butler stated the facts in a his customary tone of voice. "Yes, I did have a brief affair with a female creature and yes I did brake my promise to him. However he can not expect for me to keep only to him when he sleeps with another as well."
There, the plain simple truth.
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:15 pm
"You mean with him sleeping with Sammael? Haven't you been doing that as well Claude? You both are at fault for sleeping with the cat demon, so just by that alone you two are even. You have one up on him by sleeping with the female, so get over your damn pride and apologize with him, because I don't want anymore mistakes when it matters the most...that and because...." He looked off to the side, as if scared to admit something before he looked back at him. "I care about Sebastian's feelings, and when he's hurt I can feel it, and I don't sit well when people hurt my father-figure. Just be the bigger man and make up with him. Is that understood? And don't let it just be because I ordered you too. Do it because you want to, or stay out of his sights forever. He loves you Claude. Don't ruin that."
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:31 pm
There was the barely noticeable hint of tension on his face as he listened to Ciel telling him to apologize to Sebastian. He would do it too but only on principle, but Ciel wanted him to do it on his own. This wasn't an order it was a request.
Claude sat silently in the chair contemplating situation, in the eyes of a human, he was at fault, for what? For petty revenge? Was such a man would stood to such a low action really worthy to continue working as a Phantomhive butler?
Salt into Sugar, darkness into light, despair into hope....
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:58 pm
Ciel raised an eyebrow at him. "Well? What are you still doing around here for? Go and get to it." Ciel then got up and walked back downstairs as well, but then saw that there wasn't anyone there, so he went off in search of Isabella. He smiled when he saw her working on her embroidery, and chuckled a tiny bit at the sleeping governess. "Hello."
Sebastian was in the study, dusting things off. He still wasn't talking to Claude until he said he was sorry for sleeping with Sugar.
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:14 pm
Isabella left out an embarrassed squeak, and was about to hide the large ornate letter ‘C’ perfectly embroidered in black thread on a white handkerchief. "Uhm, Ciel....I....I..." She blushed with embarrassment, he had come in when she was lost in her own thoughts. Did she unconsciously do the ‘C’ for Ciel.....or Claude?
"...I didn't want you to see this. It's not my best work." She said, still blushing, meeting his eyes nervously.
Claude walked slowly down the hall, it was nearing supper time and he knew that he should help with the dinner preparations soon. Sebastian of course would still do most of the cooking.
IF he where to apologize the time would be now. Stopping in the door of Ciel's study. Claude silently watched Sebastian dusting off one of the book shelves.
The strange uncanny sense of dejavu came over him. Yes, it was a little over a month ago that he last did this. His first day at the manor was just watching him. Claude could feel the words at the tip of tongue, held just behind his teeth ready to come out......but they didn't. His damned Demon's pride wouldn't let them come out. Claude just stood in the doorway watching his beloved Sebastian.
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:32 pm
Ciel blushed when he saw the 'C' in her work and he smiled warmly at her. "I think it's your best work yet. Please do continue and don't stop on my account." He then sat in a spare chair to watch her work.
Sebastian could feel Claude watching him like a hawk. He could look all he wanted to as long as he didn't touch. He smirked and started to sing a bit as he worked, sticking his butt out a bit more then usual at some points to remind him of what he was missing out on because of his pride.
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