"Hot water..." I sighed, sinkin' into the giant tub.

The plum haired maid had brought me t' a guest washroom a few minutes ago t' shower off the mud, then filled the white tub t' the brim with soap an' water. An' now I was in absolute heaven.

"I'll bring you some clothes now, ma'am." The maid said with a bow. What was her name again? Mey or somethin'...

"Hold up there Mey!" I called out as she started leavin'. "A shirt an' some slacks would be just dandy right now. Oh, an' please don't call me 'ma'am', or nothin'. I ain't near refined enough for it."

The maid blushed an' started mumblin' an' bowin' over an' over again as she backed outta the room an' closed the door.

I shook my head an' sighed, leanin' back against the tub.

"I think you broke her." A familiar voice chuckled suddenly from outside, makin' me jump.

"And how, pray tell, did I do that?" I called back once I recovered from my shock.

"Well, for starters, she only blushes this much around Mister Sebastian."

I chuckled a little at that.

"And she was mumbling something about Mey and slacks."

I snorted. "Yeah, I kinda forgot her name, an' it's only natural for me t' wanna keep my legs warm in this weather, right?"

Bardroy chuckled again an' I could just imagine him shakin' his head.

"Any way, finish up. I wanna show you around the manor."

I called out an affirmative an' Bardroy left me t' finish in peace.

☆☆☆

"And out back there are the gardens. Trust me, they're much prettier when it ain't raining."

I smiled up at Bardroy as he pointed stuff out excitedly.

After a few more minutes he finally seemed t' notice my smile an' glanced down at me. "What?"

I shrugged an' shook my head. "Nothin'. Yer just cute when yer excited."

We both paused for an instant at that, then looked away from each other 'fast as we could with blushes on both'a our faces.

I wanted t' pull my hair out in embarrassment, but ended up just fiddlin' with the blouse Mey got me. How could I say that?! I'm so stupid!

"So..." Bardroy finally coughed into his hand, breakin' the akward silence. "How ya liking England?"

I reprimanded myself once more before lookin' up an' forcin' a smile on my face. "It's great! Real different, but I got work, an' lodgin', so it's goin' real well. Oh, an' guess what? My boss's teachin' me how t' read an' write!"

Bardroy grinned down at me approvingly 'round his new cigarette. "Nice. So I'm guessing I won't have to read legal papers to ya anymore."

I snorted an' bumped his arm with my shoulder. "No."

We both started chucklin' at that, but it died down as we stopped in front'a a door with the Bee Keeper coming outta it, a little boy beside him.

I looked t' Bardroy in confusion as he bowed t' the boy with a mumble of "young master".

The boy nodded t' the cook, then glanced up at me with only one eye. The other was covered by an eyepatch.

I grinned at him, an' bent down t' his level, my hands on my knees.

"Hey there little fella!" I grinned, holdin' out my hand t' shake his. "I'm Nevada Tilly! You the Queen Bee's son?"

I could feel Bardroy's wide eyes on my back, as I heard the bee keeper nearly snarl, then bow t' the little boy.

"Young Master, I apologize for this woman's behavior. This is-"

"Nevada Tilly, I'm aware." The boy smirked an' shook my hand, then turned t' look up at the bee keeper. "Sebastian, I shall be taking my luncheon in my office with Miss Tilly today."

The butler hesitated for a moment before sighin' an' bowin' again. "Very well, young master. Come, Bardroy. We shall prepare the young master's meal."

Bardroy an' I stared at each other for a moment longer before both posh males had us turn an' walk away.

☆☆☆

"I am the master of this household, Earl Ciel Phantomhive." The boy stated in an authoritative tone as he sat behind his desk.

Nevada Tilly gawked at the small child, who couldn't have been older than eleven years of age, and whistled out a low note. "Well shoot. Sorry 'bout the name callin' then, sir."

The young earl shook his head with a small smirk, then rested his cheekbone upon a closed fist.

"You have a remarkable accent, Miss Tilly. Tell me, what state do you hail from? Texas? Or perhaps maybe Georgia, or Nevada." The boy chuckled quietly at his own joke.

"I'm from the Arizona Territory, sir. It ain't a state yet, but I'm sure it will be soon." Nevada replied politely. "I moved here 'bout a month ago. Got a job at John Mason's butcher shop, an' now here I am, I guess."

Ciel leaned forward at that. "Yes, about that. There have been a string of lower class dissappearances in the general area of Mister Mason's butchery, mostly young men and women in the labor force. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you, Miss Tilly?"

Nevada remained quiet for a moment, not realizing that she was being interrogated. This was all just conversation to her.

"Well," she finally began. "I know that the delivery boy hasn't shown up t' work for 'bout a week."

The young earl portrayed a fake countinance of shock. "Really? What was his name?"

As his master talked, Sebastian Michaelis backed into the room, a rolling tray in tow.

"His... name was Thomas, or somethin'..." Nevada muttered, her gaze following the covered tray hungrily as Bardroy came in with a second one. "Thomas White..."

The woman was practically salivating when Sebastian set the trays down before her and his master and lifted the lids.

It was some sort of meat plate, gorgeously cooked and steaming with an aroma unlike that which she had ever smelled before.

"May I...?" Nevada wondered, already grabbing a knife and fork.

Ciel Phantomhive smirked and raised an eyebrow, gesturing with his hand. "Be my guest."

Bardroy watched from the corner of the room and couldn't help but stifle his laughs at the absurd woman before him. She was eating as though she had never tasted food before in her life, moaning with pleasure at every mouthful. The sounds of which made the Phantomhive cook's face flush.

"Are you enjoying your meal?" The young earl questioned, still having not touched his food.

Nevada nodded happily, her mouth full.

Ciel's smirk lessened some as he leaned forward. "Tell me. Are you familiar with the meat from your shop? Have you seen it cut and prepared?"

Nevada shook her head and swallowed. "No sir. Ever since Thomas disappeared I haven't been allowed in the meat freezer, an' Mister Mason won't let me cut up anythin' anymore. He says we ain't got the staff for it. I just work the front an' make deliveries."

The boy earl clicked his tongue. "I was afraid of that. Sebastian, take these away. I've seen enough."

Nevada Tilly let out an unintentional whine as her plate and utensils were taken away from her. With a pout, she turned her head to look at the boy before her. "What's this all about, huh?"

Ciel leaned forward even further and interlocked his hands upon his desk.

"Well, Miss Tilly, it is entirely possible that you just devoured your coworker, Thomas White."

Bardroy froze, his eyes widening in horror.

He watched from his position across the room as Nevada began to shake, her own honey eyes wide and her mouth agape.

The cook took a step forward and reached out a hand. "Nevada—"

He didn't even reach her before the woman turned in her seat and promptly vomited onto the rug.