Till Death Do Us Part (Black Butler)

Chapter Eight

~Lucille's Point of View~

How could I have been so careless to allow myself to become ill? I had a severe case of chills, yet my body burned at the same time and I was constantly switching from hot to cold. Rose still seemed to be feeling under the weather as she had earlier in the morning, but she smiled as she assisted me into bed and took care of me.

"Rose, you're not well either, you should be resting." I scolded her lightly as she pulled the covers up around me and placed a cool cloth on my forehead.

"Don't worry, Lucy-sama. I just want to make sure you're alright first." She fluffed my pillows and made a move to take the clothes she had changed me out of to the laundry but swayed on her feet.

"Rose!" I dove for her as she stumbled, only succeeding in sending myself to the floor as well as I suddenly felt faint and dizzy.

"Lucy-sama!" Rose panicked as we both fell to the floor.

We looked absolutely ridiculous, me in a nightgown, Rose completely disheveled and covered in my clothes that she had dropped as she fell, just lying on the floor in a tangled mess. I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.

"Lady Lucille, is everything alright?" Silas burst through the bedroom sounding worried. There was a second set of footsteps following his.

I couldn't stop laughing.

Silas smiled down at me as he set a cup and saucer on my bedside table, "You two look absolutely ridiculous." He chuckled, "What were you doing? Trying your hands at wrestling?"

"Rose isn't feeling well either." I noted as I attempted to disentangle myself from her.

Silas knelt beside me and swept me into his arms with ease. "Then you should both be resting."

I turned toward the door to see who had followed Silas in and spotted Anders directing his cat like gaze away from me politely. A faint blush claimed my cheeks as I realized I was in nothing more than a simple pale pink nightgown, that Rose had insisted on.

"Rose you shouldn't be hindering our young mistress." He scolded lightly as he crossed the room to help her to her feet.

Silas tucked me into bed as he had done so often when he thought I wasn't aware. When he first became my guard and I was a terror to him. I spent the days exhausting myself trying to run away from him and give him the slip so my father would get rid of him. Every day after I'd completely worn myself out he'd carry me up to bed and tuck me in. He was completely oblivious to the fact that I had been awake.

"It's not her fault." I shot at Anders as Rose leaned against him unsteadily. "She's not feeling well either."

Anders smiled, "Sorry for disturbing you, mistress. Please get some rest." He steered Rose toward the door.

"Wait. I wanted to talk to Rose a bit longer." I pleaded causing Anders to stop at the door.

"Girl talk?" Rose perked up exponentially.

I feigned an innocent look and pretended to fidget with the blankets to make it appear I was nervous. "Yes."

"Aw! Lucy-sama, you're so cute!" Rose squealed and dove on top of the bed tackling me in a hug, "Let's have girl talk."

"Rose." Anders scolded her in a hiss.

Rose and I turned to Anders simultaneously and pouted, "Please?"

Anders sighed, "Fine, but you are both to be resting while having your girl talk. Rose, please be mindful of Lady Lucille's health." He headed for the door and looked to Silas.

Silas hesitated and looked to me. I offered him a reassuring smile and he bowed. "Your warm milk and honey are on the bedside table. I'll check on you in a bit."

"Thank you, Silas."

Rose giggled, "You're like a cute little puppy."

"I am not!"

Anders chuckled, "Rest you two. Don't make me regret this."

They left the room in silence, though Silas looked reluctant to do so.

Rose settled into bed beside me and I took a sip of the milk and honey Silas had brought me. It was sweet and creamy and reminded me of home. After a few more sips I nestled into bed and turned on my side to face Rose who was smiling giddily.

"What did you want to talk about, Lucy-sama?" Rose grinned.

I blushed at this and bit my lip as I pondered how I wanted to ask her.

Rose kicked her feet as she giggled, "Love?"

I blushed again and buried my face in my hands, "I don't know anything about it."

"Oh come now, you must have been courted by all the boys hoping to catch your attention." Rose teased.

I shook my head, "My father didn't like me to leave the house much. The only men in my life were the men of my household."

Rose smiled somewhat somberly at this, "You lost your mother young, didn't you?"

"She died shortly after I was born."

Rose gently swept my hair out of my face and offered me another somber smile, "I'm sorry, Lucy-sama. My mother sat me down for a talk on my twelfth birthday." She smiled distantly as if she were recalling the day. "We can talk whenever you want, I'll always be here for you."

I fidgeted uncomfortably, "I don't think he likes me very much."

"Master Phantomhive?" She asked me curiously.

I nodded, "He's been very kind to me, but I don't feel like I interest him. How do I make him like me?"

Rose laughed at this, "If he's not interested in you, then no woman has any hope." She teased me, "You should try to get to know him, take an interest in what he likes and spend time with him. Men are also quite fickle, they like to be big and strong and be in control, so maybe play a little at damsel in distress." She winked.

"I thought he didn't like those kinds of girls." I pondered.

Rose smiled, "He doesn't like those stuffy court girls who can't do anything for themselves and focus their time on gossip, that's not you." There was a slight hint of bitterness and venom when she spoke of court girls.

"Did something happen with nobles?" I asked her curiously.

"Ah. Sorry Lucy-sama." Rose sighed, "We're focusing on you today, we can talk about it some other time." She offered me a warm smile. "Oh! I have just the idea. Master Cyril is going hunting tomorrow morning, if you're feeling better you should go with him."

"Hunting?" I asked her skeptically, "Won't he see that as an inconvenience? I'll just get in the way."

"Not at all, and there will be lots of creepy forest for you to play damsel in distress so he can feel like your protector." She grinned. "Have you started your cycles yet?"

I blushed again, "N-no. Not yet."

"Not to worry, I didn't start mine until I was eighteen. On my name day too, really put a damper on things." Rose snickered.

We spent what felt like hours talking about love and Rose shared more insight on how to get Cyril to like me. It was nice having a woman to talk to about these matters and she genuinely wanted to help me. My mission was becoming more and more difficult as I found there were more innocent people involved that I didn't want to get hurt.