The Hunt for Jack the Ripper (The Phantomhive Diaries #1)

7. Ciel Phantomhive

This part of the story was a bit tedious to get through but I'm glad I'll be able to post it for you guys. I usually have trouble keeping up with consistency in posting. However, I am working on that. I hope you all enjoy reading it just as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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Ciel showed Lord Damiano around the mansion. As part of the Phantomhive hospitality, it was important for the host to show the guest around the house. Ciel showed him the study, the drawing room, the library and the game room. He didn't show his guest where the servants were, however. Most guests weren't interested in knowing where they slept. They weren't even interested in the secret passageways that were hidden in the manor. Ciel and his brother used to play there all the time, especially during hide and seek, despite Francis and Sayo scolding them for using the passageways that were solely exclusive to the servants. Though truthfully, it was because he didn't want Lord Damiano bothering Tanaka. For some reason, a lot of nobles felt entitled to have an opinion on who should have the right to work or not, and because of Tanaka's condition, he knew noblemen like Lord Damiano would have distasteful opinions about him. To Ciel, it wasn't anyone's business.

He walked alongside Lord Damiano, though he kept a distance from him. A good two feet from him, as he wasn't comfortable being too close to strangers, mostly grown adults.
When they finished the tour, Ciel led Lord Damiano to his guest room where he would be staying for the night. This was usually Sebastian's job but he was already busy preparing the dinner table.

"My butler prepared the guest room here at the end of the hall," Ciel said. "It will be too dark for you to head back to London so I thought it would be best for you to spend the night with us."

"Ah," Lord Damiano smiled. "That is very kind of you, thank you."

"As mentioned before," Ciel said. "The Phantomhives consider hospitality to be of most importance."

"And where do you sleep, Lord Phantomhive?" Lord Damiano asked.

Ciel hesitated on telling him. "...At the other end."

"Forgive me for questioning your decisions, my lord. But I think I would feel much safer staying closer to you -."

"I'm afraid those rooms are reserved for family members only," Ciel cut him off quickly. He wasn't going to even allow him to entertain that idea. "My fiance has a room right next to mine and my aunt Lady Dallas has a room reserved across the hall opposite of my room. I make no exceptions to that."

"Oh, um, no of course. And I respect that completely," Lord Damian almost stuttered nervously. "Forgive me if I offended you."

Of course, you didn't.

"It's quite all right," Ciel said. "I know you meant no offense. If you like, I can have my butler do some arrangements. I just don't want to get into the hassle of angering my family for changing their bedrooms."

"Yes, I understand perfectly."

That part was not a lie. He knew Lizzie more than ever. And he knew she would be quite displeased if she found out someone tampered with her bedroom, especially after she took her sweet time decorating it the way she liked it. But at the same time, Ciel was not comfortable having a stranger sleep too close to his room. And seeing how adamant Lord Damiano was about it, it made Ciel realize he had to be extra cautious tonight.

It was almost a relief for him when Sebastian appeared.

"Dinner is served, my lord," he said with a bow.

"Thank you, Sebastian," Ciel said. The butler frowned slightly, looking surprised that he thanked him. The boy then turned his attention to Lord Damiano.