Till Death Do Us Part (Black Butler)

Chapter Seven

~Silas' POV~

Lady Lucille seemed on edge after her tour with Lord Phantomhive. I found her holed up in her room, pacing the floor frantically. She'd let loose her long golden hair, it was a unique color a cross between champagne blonde and dusty auburn. There were streaks in it from where she had run worried fingers through it and I realized she hadn't taken the time to let her hair down it was just a side effect of her worrying. Her startling rose colored eyes zeroed in on me in an instant as I opened the door to her bedroom, letting myself in.

"Lady Lucille?" I approached her with concern.

"Silas, he's already suspicious of me, he knows!" She resorted to speaking in code, every other word she'd said was in a different language we had both studied, she was using French, Russian, Romanian and Hindi.

I followed her lead and kept to the code, "What are your orders?"

She stopped her pacing and turned to me. Her dazzling rose eyes were wide and doe like. I'd never seen her look so vulnerable. "I don't know what to do." She returned to English.

I held my arms open and smiled as she dove into them. Holding her securely in my arms, I rocked her gently and cooed to her softly. "I'll always be by your side."

Her petite form melted into my embrace. She fit perfectly in my arms and I smiled as she let out a soft sigh of contentment as she relaxed against me. My mistress was quite an amazing young woman and had nerves of steel. It was disheartening to see her so vexed.

"What do you think of everyone?" She resorted to the code again, "Anything we need to be worried about?"

I followed her lead, "All the men seem to be trained in some form of combat. Rose seems pretty oblivious to most things; I don't think we'll have to worry about her."

Lucille suddenly tensed in my arms, "Someone is approaching the room slowly." She whispered.

The master of the house was indeed suspicious of us. I pressed my lips to her temple and smiled softly as she melted into my embrace once more. Reluctantly I released her from my hold and took a step away from her. "Is the room to your liking, Lady Lucille?" I asked her at a normal volume, in English once more.

Her rose colored eyes narrowed into a glare, staring past me to the door and for a moment I worried she wouldn't play along. My mistress had quite a temper. "Yes, I find it rather charming." She glanced around the room trying to point out something specific to shoo whoever was listening at the door once they realized we weren't up to anything suspicious. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked to the painting hanging over her fireplace. "That was done by a French artist." She said somewhat distantly as she took a step toward the painting.

I followed her gaze and watched her quietly as she stared around the room in awe. The room was entirely filled with French influenced accents.

"Everything is French." She noted almost breathlessly. "Why would they do that?" Her eyes were filled with uncertainty once again.

"Perhaps to make you more comfortable." I replied hoping she would catch the double meaning, it may also be an attempt to get her to let her guard down and slip up. They had reason to be suspicious after all and I feared for my mistress' safety. "It's a kind gesture. You should thank, Lord Phantomhive."

Her rose colored eyes turned on me. The faintest of blushes splashed across her pale cheeks. "You think he did this for me?" She had completely missed the double meaning.

I couldn't help but smile at her, she looked so small and completely in awe at the idea Lord Phantomhive would be so considerate. My mistress was completely out of her element here. Originally, I had been worried she would be treated poorly by her prospective husband, now I was concerned my mistress was at risk of becoming smitten with him.

Whoever was listening at the door ventured away, but Lucille was still looking around the room in awe. My mistress had not been prepared for such a mission as this. She had been sheltered all her life from the world of romance and I feared her naivety would cause her nothing but heartache. I didn't know very much about her childhood, but I did know it wasn't a very happy one, which was truly distressing as she had the most beautiful laugh I had ever heard.

"It reminds me of our trip to Italy." I indicated the painting above her fireplace, it was a French artist and in French style. It was a beautiful white rowboat atop a pristine lake with a young couple beneath a parasol.

Lucille turned to me curiously before returning her gaze to the painting. A small smile lit up her face, "When father fell in the canal?" She pondered as she held back a laugh.

"He fell?" I chuckled, "If I recall correctly someone was the cause of it."

"I haven't the faintest idea what you are getting at Silas." She bit her lip to keep from smiling.

I took a step closer to her and gently caught her small hand in mine before twirling her about in my arms. She stumbled into my arms with a soft squeak and her rose colored eyes ensnared me as she stared up at me in awe. "You pushed him in."

A dazzling smile lit up her face and she laughed. Her beautiful melodic laughter sent my heart into a tizzy. I'd stay by her side always, if just to hear her laugh. She straightened herself up after a moment, "You have no proof of that, Silas."

"I watched you do it." I chuckled, "Fear not, Lady Lucille, I shall take your secret to the grave."

"Thank you, Silas." She sighed softly as she hugged me briefly before pulling away from my embrace looking downcast and remorseful. "I'm sorry for hitting you earlier." Her cheeks were flushed and for a moment I thought she was blushing, until I noticed the pallor of her skin and the glassy look in her rose eyes.

"It's alright, I should have known it would upset you to speak so carelessly." I gently reached for her as she suddenly swayed on her feet. "Lady Lucille?"

She fell into my arms and I pressed my lips to her forehead. Her skin was nearly scalding hot; she was burning up. She had been in the rain and cold for far too long. I swept her off her feet and carried her to the bedside. "Silas?" Her voice was weak, "What are you doing?"

"You have a fever." I replied softly as I laid her atop the covers. "I'll call for Rose." I couldn't likely change her clothes without incurring the wrath of her husband to be.

"Don't leave me."

"Never." I vowed as I clasped her hand. "I will forever be at your side, but I need to see to your health first, Lady Lucille." She nodded her understanding and released my hand from her hold.

"Will you bring me warm milk with honey?" She asked softly.

"Of course." I smiled to myself as I slipped out of the room to fetch Rose.