Sebastian's Mate (Book 1)

Act 26: The Ball

The coach journey was short and pleasantly quiet. They had arranged to meet Elizabeth there, which helped, and neither Sebastian nor Ciel wanted to say anything that would upset Louisa. It was Ciel, however, that broke the silence as they arrived at the stately home that was hosting the ball.

"Do I need to impress on either of you the seriousness of this evening? One wrong word could have severe consequences for us all."

Louisa saw the fear in his eyes and heard it clearly in his carefully controlled tone, after giving up so much to gain revenge on those that wronged him, the fear of something going wrong now was all too real for her cousin. She answered calmly and sweetly, "cousin, you already have my word. I will do nothing to change the promise I made you."

Ciel managed a ghost of a smile, "it is not your behaviour that concerns me." He said, looking directly at Sebastian. "I have no desire to constrain you with orders that could endanger Louisa, but I will if you cannot control yourself."

Sebastian nodded his understanding and added, "my Lord, I am ever your humble servant, I will act as appropriate for a Phantomhive butler. I will behave impeccably as long as the gentleman attending the ball do the same." His eyes glinted as he finished speaking.

Ciel's smile grew slightly stronger, "should anyone lay inappropriate hands on my cousin, you may at as you see fit, within our wider agreement."

"Thank you, young master," Sebastian smirked, that left him a wide range of options, should they be needed.

As they arrived, Sebastian alighted from the coach first, before aiding Louisa and Ciel. Louisa took Ciel's arm, and Sebastian fell into step behind them. Louisa was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the house. While the Phantomhive manor was the epitome of understated taste, this was completely the opposite; it was ostentatious to the point of being one step away from gaudy.

The noise, colours, and general movement within the building assaulted Louisa's heightened senses, making her feel nauseous before they even entered the grand hall. Ciel held tight to her arm, while Sebastian put a steadying hand on her shoulder. Both looked her with concern. She took as deep a breath as she could while laced up in a corset, held her head high, and moved forward with Ciel. Sebastian's pride at her determination showed only in his eyes, to the rest of the world he remained the stoic butler; a role he knew he would have to work hard to maintain throughout the evening.

Elizabeth's squeal was audible above the general cacophony that met them as their arrival was announced. She raced over, grabbing Louisa from Ciel and whisking her off into the crowd. Ciel looked at Sebastian, concerned at the demon's reaction, but his face was emotionless, only his eyes told how he felt, and only those close to him understood the truth behind the colour change.

"Go about your usual duties, Sebastian, see what you can uncover; but stay where you can be called, just in case either of us should need you."

Sebastian bowed low, "as you wish my Lord." He headed off into the crowd while Ciel found a quiet corner from which he could observe the whole room. He needed there to be something, some answers for him or Louisa; it had to be worth the stress and risk that he was placing on his cousin.

The ball progressed in the same tiresome manner that Louisa had expected. She was passed from dance partner to dance partner, yet with each, the conversation was the same. Each was only interested in the disagreement between her parents and Ciel's and how that affected her stake in the family inheritance. While some were more subtle than others, each was as limited in their capacity to consider her as anything other than a means to a fortune and potential breeding stock to heighten their already inflated egos.