Sebastian's Mate (Book 1)

Act 13: Pre-Dinner Delicacies

Louisa spent the afternoon with Mey-Rin trying to tame her unruly mane. The process was slowed by Mey-Rin's tendency to shake whenever she saw the tattoo on Louisa's neck.

"We need to find a way to hide that before dinner, Mey-Rin," said Louisa, trying to distract the young maid's attention.

"Yes, m'Lady. Maybe we could leave your hair down and just dress the front?" Mey-Rin replied, relieved that the solution would hide the horrible mark from her as well.

"Yes, Mey-Rin, I think that is the best answer. Let's try that."

With Louisa's hair covering the mark, Mey-Rin was able to focus a little better and soon tamed the front of Louisa's hair, working it around the silver filigree circlet that had been laid on the dressing table. The circlet was studded with deep red rubies, and the filigree design was intricate and flawless.

"It looks amazing, Mey-Rin, thank you. Where did the circlet come from?" Asked Louisa.

Before Mey-Rin could answer, there was a knock at the door and Sebastian entered carrying a large box.

"Excuse the interruption. Lord Ciel requests that you wear this at dinner tonight."

He placed the box on the bed and lifted the lid. Louisa moved to see more clearly as Sebastian lifted the dress from the box. It was deep red heavy velvet, with a low-cut neckline and a non-existent waistline that opened into a full skirt. Louisa looked from the dress to Sebastian.

"It is beautiful, but I will never fit into it, I'm nowhere near that shape."

Sebastian smiled wickedly. "That is what this is for," he said, laying down the dress and picking up another item from the box.

Louisa stared at the corset that laid across Sebastian's arm. She ran her hand across the soft material, feeling the change in texture as she reached each of the heavy bones that were equally spaced along the garment. As her hand moved, her fingers met Sebastian's. Their fingers entwined as they moved closer together. Louisa could feel his breath on her neck and lifted her face to his.

Sebastian, struggling to maintain his composure, broke the moment. "Mey-Rin, I seem to have left Miss Louisa's shoes down in the entrance hall, please fetch them at once."

"Yes, Sebastian," said Mey-Rin, her voice brimming with pride that he had trusted her to complete a task.

As she left the room, Sebastian threw the corset on the bed and pulled Louisa to him.

"You found the circlet that I left for you?"

"Yes, it is beautiful. Thank you."

"These should work perfectly with it." He said, his hand moving through the air and stopping in the space between them. In it sat a small black box. Louisa reached out and opened it. Inside sat an intricately designed silver filigree necklace, set with the same deep red rubies, and below that a pair of silver and ruby drop earrings.

"It is beautiful, but how?"

"If I could not use my power to manipulate matter to create something beautiful for my love..."

Louisa smiled, and before he could finish, she grabbed his neck, pulled him down to her and kissed him. Enfolding her in his arms, he returned the kiss.

A crash outside the room announced Mey-Rin's imminent arrival. They moved away from each other quickly. Sebastian lifted her hand to his lips.

"Until tonight, my love."

As Mey-Rin entered the room, he added, "I will leave you in Mey-Rin's capable hands." He turned to Mey-Rin, and in his sternest voice added, "make sure Miss Louisa is ready on time, you know the young master does not like to be kept waiting."