Act Seven: An Awkward Dinner

                                    

                                          
As they approached the door, a noise like none Louisa had ever heard before escaped from the room in front of them.

                          
"My god, what is that noise, is someone in pain in there?"
                          
"God has very little to do with that noise; thankfully, what you hear emanating from the dining room is Miss Elizabeth laughing. She is a little excitable, I'm afraid."
                          
Opening the door, Sebastian bowed slightly, "good evening, my Lord, Miss Elizabeth, please excuse my lateness; your guest had a few issues with the dress."
                          
Louisa shot him a look, which he pretended to ignore.
                          
"Well, things will be much easier when Mey-Rin assumes her new duties tomorrow", said Ciel, pointedly. 
                          
"Yes, my young Lord."
                          
Sebastian carried Louisa to her seat. Placing her down gently, Elizabeth spoke, "you mean to say that Sebastian has dressed poor Louisa since she has been here? Well, that is not done at all, you poor thing. Ciel, you should have said; I could have sent one of my maids over."
                          
Sebastian bowed, "if you will forgive me, my Lady, the only reason I have been assisting Miss Louisa is because her wounds were no sight for anyone of a delicate nature. The young master felt that in such a case, some social protocols might be put to one side."
                          
"Yes, exactly." Snapped Ciel, who was already bored, and tired of Elizabeth's incessant chattering.
                          
Sebastian glanced briefly at Louisa, smiled faintly, bowed and left the room.
                          
Dinner was a tedious affair with Elizabeth only stopping talking to eat or when she was expecting a reply from either Ciel or Louisa.
                          
As the meal ended, Elizabeth took up a new line of conversation. "Silly me, here I am chattering away, and I haven't asked about you at all," she said, looking at Louisa.
                          
"There really isn't anything to know, Miss Elizabeth." Replied Louisa, noting that Ciel had started to pay attention to the conversion.
                          
"Don't be silly, its Lizzy, after all, we are practically family, you must be able to tell me something about you, I didn't know Ciel even had any distant cousins."
                          
Worry spread across Ciel's face as Elizabeth waited impatiently for an answer.
                          
"There really isn't much to say. I was brought up by my parents in the West Country. I had no idea that I was even related to Lord Ciel until the accident when as my only living relative, I was brought here to recover under his care."
                          
Ciel relaxed a little as Elizabeth hung on every word. "But, the accident, what happened?" 
                          
"I don't know; I have no memory of it at all, the doctors think I may never remember."
                          
"Oh, how sad. Well, at least you have my darling Ciel to look after you now. You must come shopping with me in town when you are feeling up to it. I find shopping always makes me forget sad things."
                          
Now it was Louisa turn to look horrified, while Ciel smirked and laughed quietly. 
                          
"You too, Ciel, a trip to town would do you a world of good."
                          
"I, I, couldn't possibly, I have far too much work to so."
                          
"Don't be so silly. I will make all the arrangements." At that, she began laughing and talking about her plans for the London season.
                          
Both Ciel and Louisa were losing the will to continue when respite came in the shape of Sebastian appearing at the door. "Excuse the interruption, but it is getting quite late. Lady Elizabeth, your coach has arrived to take you home."
                          
"Oh dear, and we were having such a wonderful time. We must do this again soon."
                          
"Yes", said Ciel without a hint of enthusiasm. "Now, I will walk you out. Louisa if you will excuse us."
                          
Ciel watched as the coach carrying Elizabeth sped away. "Sebastian, I believe I will retire for the night, Elizabeth is quite exhausting." 
                          
"Yes, my young master. I will return Miss Louisa to her room and then come and help you prepare for bed."
                          
"Very well, but hurry, I am in no mood for waiting around."
                          
Sebastian bowed and returned to the dining room. "The young Lord is retiring for the night; his betrothed has quite worn him out."
                          
"I'm not surprised, she is, quite lively isn't she."
                          
"Yes" replied Sebastian as he lifted her from her chair and held her tight against him. "That is one word for her."
                          
As they returned to her room, Louisa asked, "I don't get it, they seem so young and ill-matched."
                          
"I'm afraid that is the way with the noble houses. Miss Elizabeth's father is a business associate of the young Earl's, and they were promised to each other from a very young age."
                          
"So, it is about money and status."
                          
"Yes, I'm afraid so, still they have been friends all their lives, so it could be worse."
                          
"I'm not entirely sure that Ciel would agree."
                          
Sebastian smiled, "I couldn't possibly comment on that."
                          
As they reached the guest room, Sebastian laid Louisa on the bed and turned to leave.
                          
"Must you go? I'm not sure I know how to remove half of this" she said gesturing to the dress. 
                          
"I will return once my young master is settled for the night; if that is what you wish?"
                          
"Yes, very much."
                          
Sebastian made his way to the young master's bedroom, almost ready to admit to himself that what he felt for Louisa was more than just the need to protect her and a strong desire to remove her innocence. But he was foremost his master's loyal servant and his duties to his master must come first, whatever his personal desires may be.