The Earl of Phantomhive (DemonCielXLizzy fic)

Chapter Six

Elizabeth's Resurfacing Memory

The meeting with her father could've gone a little smoother than it had originally but Elizabeth was oddly satisfied that Ciel stood his ground firmly with her father. Alexis's methods of getting things done always consisted of intimidating whomever he could. That was the reason he and Ciel didn't get along as well as everyone had hoped.  Ciel disliked her father, even as a child, the two just never got along. 

Elizabeth vaguely recalled the multiple spats between their parents; Vincent Phantomhive and Alexis Midford. No one really wished to come between them and ninety percent of the time it was over the children. Alexis may have said something rude to either Ciel or the young Midford daughter and Vincent would come to their aid. He really was a great man in more than just one cause that is.. 

And her husband Ciel was truly his son, nearly a twin really if one had been ignorant to the Phantomhive family tree. 

The Lady of the manor felt useless at this point. Ciel and Sebastian were off on a meeting two hours away from home and she was stuck manor sitting. She sighed as she truly felt bad for having pestered Ciel with her trivial family affairs before his stressful business endeavor. 

"M'lady?" A small bed maid bowed slightly in the doorway of her chambers. "May I ask if you're in good spirits? You look down, is there some way I could help?"

Elizabeth smiled a warm spread of gratitude for the young bed maid. "Oh my, you've done enough, Gretchen, Get off your feet for a while you must have blisters."

The young, red headed, girl smiled, "May I sit with you?"

"If you wish it, I don't mind." She sat in Elizabeth's closet chair, the one she used to put on her shoes and, most often, brush her hair. "Come now, Gretchen. You can sit on the bed, you clean it enough."

"Perhaps that's why I don't wish to sit on it, M'lady." They shared a giggle as Elizabeth glanced at her freshly made bed. "I forgot about linen day, you girls work so hard here.. it's difficult to keep up with your schedules."

"Well, our head maid is very on top of things here at the Phantomhive manor. She takes her job with pride."

"Yes, I noticed how meticulously she scrubs the hall floors. I believe you could eat the finest of dining off of them."

"That is true." Gretchen smiled and straightened her attire, "You seem tired M'lady, would you like to take a short go or maybe a hot bath?"

"To tell the truth Gretchen, I would very much so like to leave this manor.. perhaps only for a day or a few hours..But I fear the Master would be upset with me."

"Perhaps not..maybe go shopping M'lady...Do you really think he would mind?"

"I'm not certain.." Elizabeth sighed and laced her fingers together on her lap.  Stress surely took a large toll from her petite form. Her father and brother were just enough to keep her on her toes with stress, and her poor mother...

"I'll make you some tea.." Elizabeth nodded and noted the young bed maids swift exit. Perhaps Elizabeth's presence was depressing? All the other maids seemed to avoid her as much as possible. She just couldn't help how toxic she felt really, life was just hitting her decently hard.

She stepped out onto her small balcony and leaned on the rails. Her bright green eyes gazed upon what she shared with Ciel. A beautiful large garden and courtyard, lovely rosebushes lining and intertwining with the large steel fences protecting the Phantomhive manor, well kept shooting grounds just east of her position and some odd miles off toward to woods,  and the happiest staff she had ever laid eyes on tending to every inch to be seen.  Though she was pleased with everything she had seen and everyone she had spoken to over the years, there was still a missing piece. It was almost like trying to remember someone she never really knew in the first place. It was really a difficult thing to explain.