Mute - Revised (A Black Butler Fanfiction)

Chapter 1

Mary-Clara's POV

I woke to hear my mother screaming at the Cook. Something about overcooking an egg? Though I didn't like eggs very much, I decided I could at least check on the Cook and make sure he's okay. But I'd best wait and avoid Mother for the next few hours until she's calmed down.

Dana, my personal butler, entered the room with my breakfast on a tray. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. Of course: if I didn't want to go down and eat, she'd bring the food to me.

She's always trying new styles for her hair: today her long black locks were braided in countless tight plaits, all pulled back with a single rubber band. It hung nearly to the small of her back, and as she's close to 6 foot, it made her seem even leaner and taller. The maid outfit she was forced to wear on the first day vanished on the second day, and as she managed to get her hands on some butler uniforms, her striking figure only seemed all the more vertical.

She was the only one who could effectively communicate with me, the only one who'd play cards with me and not go easy, the only one who would ride my horse with me on a sunny day and eat sandwiches on a blanket in the middle of nowhere . . . the only one who felt comfortable sharing a silence with me and knowing if something was wrong.

I don't know what I'd do without her.

She yanked the curtains open, and the sunrise made her honey-gold eyes light up and her dark skin glow. I sat up, letting her set the tray on my lap, and started to wolf down my breakfast as she flung open the wardrobe doors.

She talked as she slowly narrowed down my outfits options for today. "Some decisions were made last night after you went to bed. I'm afraid you're having guests this afternoon, they'll be staying the weekend. An Earl is coming to find a new fiance. His previous one recently moved to Australia and being of such high rank, he must choose a new one within the week or his reputation as the Queen's Guard Dog will be tarnished. He'll most likely find interest in your sister if she puts up her usual facade. I hope you'll make a small effort, but don't try to win him over if the poor boy is already smitten with Carlotta.

"Mistress has decided to send me on a business trip a few towns over for an interview with a potential new butler. Conveniently, I won't be back until nearly midnight, perhaps tomorrow morning. You're aware Dahlia is due to have her foal any day now, so I know you'll want to be there to make sure it all goes smoothly and to clean the hay when she's finished birthing." She holds up my two outfit options. "Trousers and a lavender shirt, or pants and a brown shirt?"

I stab my fork towards the brown shirt, placing the empty tray on my nightstand more roughly than I intended. It made sense Mother would send Dana away the one weekend I'd need her more than ever. She wouldn't want me having even the slightest chance of finding the favor of this Queen's Guard Dog, and getting rid of the only person in the mansion that can speak Sign Language significantly lowers my appeal as a potential fiance.

That didn't mean I wasn't upset she had to send Dana away.

I didn't realize Dana had already braided my hair, but when I did I tore a few strands loose to cover my left eye.

She makes my bed as I dig through my nightstand, filled with papers and stories I'd written when I was younger. Mother tried to throw them away when I used to show them to her, but Dana saved most and stashed them in my nightstand drawer. Plus all the paper helps to hide my gun.

Calm washed over me at the familiar touch of cool metal when my fingers found the barrel. Dana pretended not to notice as I filled each of the cartridges and slip more into my trouser pockets, but I see the faint frown of concern that always appears when it becomes so apparent that I have a fully loaded gun on me at all times. I slip it into the back of my waistband, eyeing Dana's gun: a glint of metal under her shirt. She hates it but knows how much comfort it brings that she can defend herself if the need arises. Hopefully, it never does, but in this day and age, you never know what's going to happen.