Act Eight: Temptation

                                    

                                          
Sebastian swiftly made his way back to the guest room, where he found Louisa just as he had left her. He took her hand and gently pulled her up into his arms. "You are so very beautiful," he said as his hands worked effortlessly to undo and remove her dress. As it fell to the floor, his arms encircled her, moving her closer to him. He kissed her neck, revelling in her response as her breathing quickened at each touch of his lips.

                          
Gathering her in his arms, he pulled back the covers and lifted her back onto the bed. He laid next to her and trailed kisses down her chest, caressing her skin gently with each one. His hands moved to her waist, feeling the curve of her hip, as he brought the kisses back up to her lips, she ran her hand through his hair, pulling him closer to her. Lost in the moment, he wanted very much to give in, to take her, to make her his. He used every last ounce of self-control he had left to pull gently away from her. Her disappointment was clear. She looked hurt; as if she had done something wrong.
                          
"Not yet, my sweet one." He said "you must be absolutely sure that it is what you want, and I will not risk hurting you. At least not until you want me too" He added with a dark smile lighting up his red eyes. 
                          
Louisa ran her hand down his face, wanting to feel his lips on hers again. She could easily get lost in those eyes, in the pleasure they promised. She didn't understand half of what she felt, but she knew she didn't want it to end. Sebastian lay there just as entranced by her. He had never been troubled by such feelings before, and certainly not while serving a master. He took hold of her hand and brought it to his lips. "Soon, I promise." He went to roll away from her, but she grabbed his arm, "stay, please, at least until I'm asleep" she said in barely more than a whisper. "As you wish my love," he replied instantly and without thinking about the words he chose.
                          
Sebastian covered her carefully and laid back down on the bed next to her. Keeping the covers firmly between he placed his arm around her and felt her relax. Her breathing slowed and soon she was asleep. Sebastian made no move to leave; a part of him never wanted to leave her side again. He suddenly wondered what Ciel would make of it all, the look on his face should he find his butler curled around his sleeping mystery house guest. The thought brought an almost malicious smile to his face as he lay there, watching his beauty sleep.
                          
*****
                          
Louisa woke to the sun streaming through the windows. Sebastian was gone. She sighed, remembering the feel of his hands and his kisses. Just the thought of him made her feel strange. Her reminiscence was interrupted by a knock at the door.
                          
"Excuse me miss; I have your morning tea. Sebastian said I was to bring it and help you to dress for breakfast, yes he did."
                          
"Thank you; you must be Mey-Rin."
                          
"Yes miss, I am miss."
                          
"Wonderful. If you could find me something that doesn't involve corsets and frills, I would be grateful."
                          
"Yes miss."
                          
Louisa drank her tea and let her mind wander back to that kiss, she wanted so much to feel his lips on hers again, to feel him close to her. The promise of more always seemed to hang between them whenever they were alone, but Sebastian always pulled away from her and she didn't know what to do with the feelings that surged through her whenever she thought about him.
                          
Lost in thought, Louisa barely noticed Mey-Rin return with a plain, dark blue dress. "Will this work miss?" 
                          
Snapping out of her thoughts, Louisa looked up, "it is perfect; thank you."
                          
Mey-Rin helped her to dress, gasping as she saw the red wounds that crisscrossed Louisa's body. Her hands started to shake, and her movements became increasingly unsteady. Worrying for the wellbeing of the young maid Louisa took hold of her hands. "It is ok, Mey-Rin; I believe I can manage it from here."
                          
"But miss, Sebastian said I was to help, he will be upset if I don't, and that's not good, no it's not."
                          
"It's ok, I won't tell if you don't," said Louisa with a smile.
                          
"Won't tell who?" said a voice at the door. Mey-Rin jumped as Sebastian entered the room. "Oh, Sebastian sir, I didn't see you there, no I didn't, I wasn't going to leave, really I wasn't." 
                          
 "It is ok, Mey-Rin, you may go about your other duties, I will finish here, Miss Louisa is not used to having a maid and she has a lot to learn about how things work in the manor."
                          
His voice was stern, but the light in his eyes gave away his enjoyment at playing on the fear he instilled into the servants. 
                          
Mey-Rin rushed out of the room, clattering into something in her haste to get away. 
                          
"It is a good job that they are good at the things they were actually hired for," sighed Sebastian as he moved to complete the buttons on Louisa's dress. "Good morning, Miss Louisa, I trust you slept well," he said loudly enough for anyone passing to hear. In little more than a whisper, he added, "you look more beautiful than ever, my imperfect beauty."
                          
Louisa blushed as he then lifted her face to his and kissed her. His touch made her heart dance and her skin shiver; she wanted that kiss to go on forever, but too soon it ended, and Sebastian stepped back away from her. His eyes alight with pleasure at her desire and her frustration, he slipped back into the role of dutiful butler. "We cannot keep the young master waiting. Do you feel up to walking today?"
                          
"Yes, I think so" replied Louisa still struggling to get her breath back and her thoughts in order.
                          
"Excellent, it will help build your strength. Take my arm and we will start slowly; the master is waiting in the breakfast room."
                          
"Just how many rooms does this place have?"
                          
"As many as it needs at any one time," said Sebastian cryptically. 
                          
When they arrived in the breakfast room, Ciel was indeed already waiting for them; he stood as she entered. "Good morning, Louisa, I'm glad you could join me today. Are you feeling well rested?"
                          
"Good morning, my Lord, and yes, thank you."
                          
"Excellent. Sebastian, you may serve breakfast."
                          
"As you wish my young master."
                          
They ate in silence, a relief for both of them after the noise of the previous night's dinner. The peace gave Louisa the space her mind needed to try to make sense of the anathema that was Sebastian; but try as she might she could find no logical reason why she felt as she did or why any distance between them felt like an eternity. 
                          
As he finished, Ciel sat back in his chair. "Louisa, I would like to try that technique that Sebastian mentioned to retrieve your memories; if you feel you are up to it today?"
                          
"Yes, my Lord, I would like to try," Louisa answered nervously; afraid of what this technique might involve and what it might uncover.
                          
"Excellent, we will use my study. Will you join me there when you are ready?"
                          
"Yes, of course."
                          
"Sebastian, your presence will be required in my study as soon as Miss Louisa is ready."
                          
"Yes, my Lord, I will be there presently." Sebstian smiled and began to clear away the breakfast things. If this worked, then he at least may have some of the answers he needed; yet, something told him any answers that did spring forth were only likely to bring more complications.
                          
Ciel left the room and headed for his study. Something was troubling him. Sebastian was smiling for a start, and that always spelt trouble for someone. But it was more than that, retrieving Louisa's memories, could it endanger her? What else lurked in her past? Then there was Louisa herself. She had been through so much, was she destined to be just another pawn in his game or was there something more about her appearance at his manor. He could shake the feeling that they had met and that he should know her. Her face was so familiar, it reminded him of someone he could not place and that troubled greatly. 
                          
Back in the breakfast room, Sebastian helped Louisa to her feet and held her as she found her balance. "It's these damn shoes; I will never get used to them."
                          
"Are you sure it is just the shoes?" He said as he ran his hand down her back.
                          
"That's not fair." She said.
                          
"Now, I never said I played fair, only that I would do you no harm." He grinned a purely devilish grin. Before leading her to the study. "Come now; the master really doesn't like to be kept waiting."