The bumpy ride in the carriage was pleasant despite the fact that it seemed to have rearranged my skeletal structure. As I slipped out the black door, pausing to admire the red velvet covered interior, I feared looking up at the place where I would be working for I don't know how long.
The Phantomhive mansion. I tipped the carriage man with as much as I could spare, and managed a weak smile. A shilling was a lot for me, considering I'd just gotten it as a tip a week ago for waiting on tables in that bar. Honestly, a young girl like me shouldn't be working there. I didn't care how old people thought I acted - fifteen was too young to be dragging drunkards out into the streets. Especially when they fought back.
The carriage man tipped his hat to me, grinned and chortled a merry "good day, miss!" He then turned in his seat, picked up the reigns and whipped the horses, and it took the fading cab to make me realize that I was terrified and I had no idea what to do.
I hefted my bag, which only contained a few simple dresses, a rag, my resume, and my old Funtom stuffed rabbit, and looked at the stairs. Bloody hell, I thought to myself, looking down at the spotless marble. How was I supposed to walk up that with dirty shoes? I'd have to use that rag early.
Each step I took I'd clean the previous one. I know, it's silly, but I felt bad mucking up the lovely steps. After about five or so, I turned and bumped into someone, which caused me to stumble back and dirty another three stairs. I bit my lip, turned, and bowed to the person.
"I'm sorry!" I cried, keeping my head down. When I didn't receive a reply, I glanced up fearfully.
A boy with gardening gloves and a straw hat tied around his neck was looking at me, and he seemed to be quite confused. He then pointed to the dirty stairs and ordered "clean them."
"Yes, sir," I mumbled with a nod, bending down and finishing my work. When I stood back up, I was scared, - no, terrified, - that the boy would say "go away, you mongrel." I'd gotten that a few times in the orphanage when I asked about things like reading, writing and arithmetic. I'd then gotten my ears boxed and old Mrs. Tabbot saying "one and one is two, and the rest you can figure out on your own!" Even if I'd asked to read a book. I didn't think either subjects were related, but then again, I wouldn't know either way.
But when I did stand up, my feet left the ground. A shoulder dug into my belly as I landed with an "oomph!" on the back of the boy who I was sure would have me fired before I'd even been into the house. I clutched my bag desperately as he bounded up the stairs, and kept my mouth shut. If he would beat me, so be it. I'd been beaten before, so I was quite used to it and could keep from crying until I was almost unconscious.
To my surprise, (and relief) he set me down gently on the welcome mat. "There! Now you don't have as much work to do!" he said with a bright smile. "I'm Finny! What's your name?" he asked, grabbing my hand and pumping it up and down.
I shook my head a bit and replied "um... it's Gwenivere."
"Gwennie? Oh, I have a sister named Gwennie! Wait - no I don't. But anyways, come inside! Come in and meet everyone!" Finny opened the big oak door as if it were nothing more than a cheap thin birch one, like at the orphanage. He pushed me in, and my nostrils were assaulted with a mixture of smells that had managed to drift into the grand foyer. Cake and flowers and clean silk sheets, to name a few. A tall man with dark hair smiled down at me pleasantly from his place in a gold gilt frame, his beautiful fair skinned wife standing behind him with a hand on his shoulder. Another set of stairs went up from the floor and straight to the picture, and then split off into two smaller sets which went up into the depths of the house.
Standing on the left staircase was a boy, perhaps twelve, dressed in black shorts, socks, shiny black leather shoes of the highest quality, black vest and teal jacket. He had an eye-patch over his right eye and though he resembled the man in the painting, the snarl that twisted his beautiful childish face was enough to make me want to drop my bag and run. I gulped and bowed, stuttering out a damnably frightened sounding "g-g-good evening, Earl." I winced at my own inability to stand up for myself.
"Yes, isn't it?" he replied, tapping a ringed finger on the banister impatiently. "Just what are you here for?"
"She's here to clean the steps!" Finny piped up behind me. I stood up and cringed, putting a hand to my back. The things I'd gone through today... and I probably wouldn't even get a chance to move any further into the house with the impression I seemed to be making.
Ciel Phantomhive smirked, and looked down at me with utter contempt and sheer disgust painting his features. "And just what, pray tell, possessed you to do that?"
"Well, the steps outside were clean and I didn't want to get them dirty with my shoes so I just wiped them off, you see, after I'd stepped on them, but if that was too forward of me, I apologize, I didn't realize…" I babbled. I was looking down as I said it and hadn't realized that Ciel now stood right in front of me until I looked up. I stepped back and felt my eyes widen in fear. I clamped my teeth together to keep from shivering too obviously.
He smiled. A genuine, adorable little boy smile that made my heart pound in my chest. He looked so cute that the previous expressions on his face before barely tainted my sudden impulse to protect him from everything that could possibly take that smile away from him. I tightened my grip on my bag.
"Thank you," he chirped, smiling wider. He then reached for my bag and said "may I?"
"It's a little heavy," I cautioned, switching into "big sister mode," as the younger kids at the orphanage liked to call it. I opened the bag and kicked myself internally, noting that the only things showing in my bag were my resume and my old worn rabbit. He took them out and handled the rabbit carefully, then asked "is there anything else in that bag that holds sentimental value to you?"
"No, sir," I replied, smiling at him as gently as I knew how.
"Good. Finny, throw it out."
My jaw dropped in shock, and Finny simply snatched my bag from my hands and walked out the door. I looked back at Ciel Phantomhive, once again scared, but also hurt, confused and appalled. Then I realized that I was alone with him, and suddenly, I was much more scared than I had ever been in my life. More than even the first time I'd been sent to get a lashing with a belt by Mrs. Tabbot for asking why I couldn't go to the boys' side of the sleeping quarters. I had been five years old at the time.
"Sebastian!" Ciel snapped. He seemed to be ignoring me.
A man in a black vest appeared, his white button-up shirt smeared here and there with icing, his sleeves pushed up to his elbows. He smiled at me reassuringly, and I do believe I got my first crush, despite my situation.
But Ciel's voice broke through my thoughts, stating clearly behind me: "At my mansion, Miss Gwenivere, maids have the same outfit. You'll have no need for anything else in your bag, as we will provide the daily clothing for you. My butler, Sebastian Michaelis, will show you to the servants' chambers, and he will assist you in finding a room, today's attire, night clothes, and settling in. You have until-" he glanced at the clock, which showed half past six, "seven o'clock. You will then join me in the sun room for a game of chess. If you do not know how to play, I will teach you. I trust you will become a formidable opponent, Gwen. Finally, I shall retire for the evening; you will clean up the kitchen with the help of Sebastian, and also go to bed. Tomorrow, you will start to learn how to read, write and calculate. I will not stand for one of my servants to be illiterate. Have I made myself quite clear?"
Relieved, I nodded and smiled, replying with "yes, sir."
"I look forward to working with you in the future," Ciel said, turning away and stepping onto the bottom stair. He then turned and looked over his shoulder at me.
"As do I, sir," I murmured, smiling again. Then Sebastian grabbed me by my elbow and began to lead me away.
So started my time as a maid and playmate at the Phantomhive mansion.
******
