Morning Wood
Dance With Me
Chapter 7: Dance With Me
The Duchess of Norwich had pulled out all the stops for this extravagant ball in the heart of London. It was ostensibly the Duchess's birthday celebration, but rumor had it the true purpose of the party was for her to find a new young lover among the minor gentry. It was common knowledge that she and her husband had been estranged for years, though they acted friendly enough toward one another at social functions such as this.Ciel twirled his fiancee around the room, playing the perfect gentleman. Her eyes sparkled with delight. Ciel sighed inwardly. He was fond of Lizzie…
He pitied the girl. Being promised to him would most likely throw her life into ruin, in the end. Even if it weren't for the social alienation that came with marrying into the family of Her Majesty's watchdog, there was also the reality to consider… a reality that was considerably uglier than even the most malicious rumours the aristocracy could think up when the Phantomhive name crossed their lips… a reality that might easily result in her being widowed at a very young age… and all that for a man who could never truly love her. Poor Lizzie…
A couple drifted close to them, and Ciel realized with surprise that it was the Duke and Duchess themselves. They seemed lost in their own world. Very odd, that they should seem so comfortable with one another, when all the rumour mills had them estranged… What can they be up to? Ciel took note of them and tried to listen in on their conversation.
"Have you found one yet, my dear?"
"Just look at that lovely blonde over there. I think he's been smiling at me…"
"Oh, no, you can't have that one. That one's mine!"
"Since when, darling?"
"Since I took tea with him in the cloakroom an hour ago."
"Took tea... in the…"
"It's a metaphor, my sweet."
"Oh!"
The couple spun away from them again. Ciel was torn between being shocked and laughing out loud. He watched their backs as they moved about the room. Suddenly the ball seemed to lose its edge of sinful infidelity. Instead it had almost a friendly feel. Their host couple were not estranged, after all. On the contrary, they seemed to be, well… pals.
Lizzie giggled delightedly at the juicy information that had just dropped into their laps. "That'll be us someday, Ciel!"
Ciel turned to his fiancee, startled. "Lizzie, did you, er… hear what they were talking about?"
"Why, yes! That's what I mean." Her girlish smile seemed completely out of tune with her words, and Ciel had to step back and look again at his betrothed for a moment. Does she know what she is saying?
Her face grew serious, and she stepped back into Ciel's arms, twirling him into a corner, away from prying ears. "Don't tell me you thought I'd expect fidelity from an arranged marriage? I know you've been in love with someone else for awhile now. Someone you can't marry."
Ciel could do nothing but stare, trying to reconcile his eyes with his ears. Sweet, prim little Lizzie…
"I'll be your wife in name only, Ciel. I'll be your wife to keep your secret. We'll each have our lovers, and we'll be the best of friends, just like the Duke and Duchess of Norwich. Please, Ciel, tell me you don't hate me!"
Overcome with emotion, Ciel crushed her to him, embracing her with more fervor than he'd ever thought he would want to. "Thank you, Lizzie…" Tears stung the young earl's eyes as he kissed her cheek. "Oh, thank you!"
Lizzie pulled out a lacy pink handkerchief and dabbed at her fiancé's tearstained face. "Silly boy." She smiled gleefully. "Come, let's dance some more!"
***
Sebastian watched from a dark corner as his master … his bocchan … embraced his lovely young betrothed with giddy abandon. Surely that goes beyond the requirements of decorum… what is he playing at?
Doubts began to creep into the demon's uneasy heart. He seeks to escape me… I have indulged myself too much, and frightened him away… How could he help but be disgusted by my depravity, after what I forced him to do with me today…
Sebastian shrunk further into the darkness, his sudden despondency causing him to lose his grip on his human form, uncanny shadows and dark feathers beginning to swirl around him…
A/N: ....muahahahahaha....