Salutations! Thank you for reading. This story is based off a roleplay I am currently doing with my friend username LilyHelsing. She gave me permission to post her Snake and my OC's interactions. My OC, Laire, is Scottish and I wrote her with an accent hopefully you will be able to read it easily enough, if not please tell me so I can reduce the amount of accent I write. As I said this was originally an RP so I am sorry if the POV changes a bit more frequently than usual I did try to iron it out but you never know what I missed.

Anyways thanks for reading!

The Earl Phantomhive's carriage trundled along the country road to the manor. Inside the Clarence carriage the child Earl was staring at a the papers that his butler had gathered.

"This is all Sebastian?"

"Yes, my lord. All that remains is your approval."

"Very well, I will sign them in my office."

"There was also a message from Lady Elizabeth this morning. She wants to ensure that you will still be hosting Easter this year as you promised at Christmas."

The young boy sighed. "Yes, yes."

Outside the carriage pulled to a stop in front of the manor. There was a thud as the driver dismounted and soon the door opened.

"We have returned tae th' manor mah Laird." The Scottish born driver said with a bow as they held the door open. The young Earl stepped out without a word his butler following him.

"Laire," the butler said to the driver. "We will not be needing the carriage for the rest of the day. The young lord has his riding lessons in two hours. Set up the course and ready his horse."

"Aye, sir," the Scot replied shutting the door and detaching the steps. With a slight bow they hopped into the driver's seat and drove the carriage to the stables. Stepping down once more the driver removed their bowler hat. The long curly red hair that was tucked inside came tumbling down.

"Och," the woman sighed as she removed her suit jacket. "Ah doona know how th' men stand wearin' suits all th' time. Tis' bad enough havin' tae wear one tae drive."

With her arms fully free the driver and stablemaster stretched before beginning to unhitch the horses. "Th' city roads were nay tae rough on ye were they?"

"No, Mistress," Betsy, the elder of the two black Hackney carriage horses, said.

"Speak for yourself. I despise cobblestone," William, the other of the two, complained.

"Ah am sorry William but Ah canna change th' streets now can Ah?"

"I suppose that would be difficult."

Removing their hitches Laire rubbed their muzzles where the leather had rested. "Och, both of ye go an' rest. Ah doubt th' Laird will need tae go owt taemorrow."

Shaking out their mane's the two horses trotted over to the manger to eat and drink their fill. With a smile Laire hung up the hitches and began to undress herself completely. Carefully she folded up her dress shirt and suit coat. Then with a grateful sigh she removed the vest that Sebastian had made for her that compressed her breasts and gave her a more masculine appearance. Laire pulled on a loose tunic style blouse before removing her slacks and shoes. She replaced them with a pair of tan leather breeches-skirts were impractical to wear while doing outdoor work-and a pair of tall riding boots. As a final touch she wrapped a leather belt around her waist and placed her long dirk in the sheath attached.

Now in her proper attire for working in the stables Laire set about checking on the horses. There were five in total. Betsy and William were now resting in the shade of their stalls while the other three were out in the large paddock. From her position in the stables Laire could see Anne, the Chestnut coloured American Quarter horse, and Rachel, the palomino Akhal-teke, resting in the shade of the trees near the stable. However, Vincent, the Earl's prefered Belgian Black leisure and hunting horse, was nowhere to be seen.

"Are you looking for Vincent, Mistress?" Anne asked getting up from her resting position and coming over to greet her caretaker.

"Aye, do ye know where he is?"

"Yes, Rachel and he had a fight. He took off to the far side of the paddock."

"Och, Ah donna need tae deal wit' 'hat reit now….Anne could ye go an' fetch him? Ah need tae set up th' trainin' coorse fur th' Earl."

"I will do that," Anne agreed.

"Thank ye." With Anne fetching Vincent Laire went back inside to gather the small fences and other obstacles needed for the Earl's lessons. Carrying them out to the large flat area of the paddock where the lesson would take place. She had just finished setting up when Anne returned with Vincent not far behind her.

"Och, good, Vincent Ah need tae saddle ye up. Th' Earl will be owt here soon fur his lesson." The stallion walked past Laire and into the barn without a word. Laire rolled her eyes and followed the horses.

"What did ye an' Rachel fight abowt?" Laire asked as she saddled the horse.

"It is mating season and she did not take to my advances that is all," Vincent replied a bit huffily.

"Och, Ah see. Well th' Earl doesna want any of ye tae mate this year so perhaps tis fur th' best. Ah will provide ye wit' a potion tae tak' th' edge off yer urges."

"If you must, Mistress."

"Well Ah ken nay hav' ye an' Rachel fightin' now ken Ah?"

"I employ a inhumanly strong Irish man as a gardener, an American pyromaniac mercenary as a cook, a clumsy Welsh assassin as a maid, and my butler is a demon; yet the strangest thing in this manor has to be the Scottish witch stablemaster that can talk to animals."

Laire jumped slightly at the unexpected voice. Turning she bowed to the Earl. "Mah Laird, yer horse is ready an' please Ah am nay a witch Ah am a bhuidseach."

"A word which means magic user in Scots Gaelic," another voice familiar voice said from behind Laire. Said witch jumped again and turned to see Sebastian holding Vincent's reins. "To be more precise you would be a bana-bhuidseach, a female magic user, or in more common tongue: a witch." The young Earl smirked as Sebastian helped him on to his horse.

"Could at least call me a sorceress 'hat does nay hav' th' same connotation of evil as witch," Laire said as soon as they left the stable, then she sighed. "Though Ah guess tis does nay matter, Ah lost any right tae be called bhuidseach when Ah lost mah staff."

Laire leaned against one of the stable windows watching the Earl outside. As she watched she allowed herself to become lost in her memories.

Laire hummed to herself as she hung the freshly washed clothes out to dry on the line. From up the way she heard a male voice join in her song.

"Alein!" Laire shouted dropping her sheet back into the basket and running to the young man coming down the path.

"Och Laire!" Alein called running towards her as well. When they met he scooped her into his arms and swung her around.

"How was Edinburgh?" She asked in their native tongue of Gaelic.

"Wonderful but I missed speaking Gaelic, English is such an odd language."

"So did you bring me anything?" Laire wrapped her arms around her neck and looked up at him with a pouting lip.

Alein laughed and pressed a short kiss to her bottom lip. "Naturally my love, another one of those books you love so much."

He pulled the leather bound book from his satchel and pressed it into her stomach forcing her to let go of him to take it. "Thank you Alein!"

Laire spun around with the book clutched to her chest. "Which one is this?"

"A new one just written this year by a fellow Scot, called: 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'."

"Sounds fascinating, I am going to put it inside would you like some tea?"

"Yes please." They walked together holding hands into Laire's and her mother's home.

Alein sat down in one of the hewn wood chairs. "How is the town? Any better than when I left?"

"No, I am afraid the mold keeps growing over whatever they plant. All the crops have been destroyed."

Sighing Alein rubbed his face. "I was afraid of that. Are you sure you cannot do anything about it?"

"I told you Alein there is no spell to fix this. Mother and I have looked in all the books and even sent out word to others who might know but this seems to be unfixable by magic. It does not help with that new preacher in the town riling everyone up by calling us evil and the cause of it."

"He is still up to that? I thought once Isla cured him of that illness he would have calmed down about you two."

"No, still as loving as ever," Laire said with a short laugh.

"Laire?" Another voice called out.

"Mum! Your back!" Isla, Laire's mother, walked in the door her and in her arm a basket of herbs and roots for potions.

"Oh hello, Alein. Laire put these away for me." Laire dutifully took the basket and put the ingredients in their proper places while her mother talked casually with Alein about his studies in Edinburgh. Alein was currently studying Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and was currently back for a few weeks in the summer before he started his apprenticeship at the hospital.

"Laire," her mother said once she was done putting everything away. "I am sorry to send you away when Alein has just returned but I need you to go over to Pitlochry. Mrs. Aberdeen's tonic is ready."

"But Mum, that is a 5 hour ride." Laire complained even as she knew that she would be going.

"Well then young lady you better be on your way if you wish to make it before nightfall. Take Glen to ride but spend the night and some time in town. I do not want you riding back in the dark or too early."

Laire sighed and grabbed her staff, riding cloak, and boots. Putting Mrs. Aberdeen's tonic in her own satchel Laire hugged her mother and kissed her on the cheek. Alein followed her out of the door and to the small stable where they kept several animals including chickens, a goat, and their horse, Glen.

"I wish we had more time together." Alein said pulling her into her arms.

"I will be back in less than a day. Tomorrow afternoon at the latest." Laire mounted Glen. "I love you, Alein."

"Goodbye Laire!"

The sun had just peeked above the loch when Laire took off that morning. Her mother had told her not to leave this early but she did not care. She had had plenty of sleep and a good breakfast of eggs and bacon. Laire wanted to get back to her town, and to Alein, as soon as possible. She followed the path back to her home to drop Glen off.

Glen smelt the smoke before she did. Rushing towards her home Laire arrived to find it in ashes.

"Mum!" Laire cried urging Glen forward. Above the tree line she could see the smoke now. They burst into the clearing. Her home was a smouldering ruin.

"Mum! Mum!" Laire called riding around the rubble.

"The villagers took her away," their goat said.

"The villagers? No. Glen run, please!" Laire reached the town in record time. "Mum!"

Laire rushed through the village looking for any hint of her mother. No. Laire pulled glen to a rough stop. No. There she was next to the church. Hanging from the tree. Dead.

"NO!" Laire roared leaping off Glen and up to her mother's body.

"There she is!" A cry came from behind her. Laire turned the preacher and a group of villagers had come up behind her.

"What have you done!?"

"We shall break the curse you witches set on this village!" The preacher exclaimed. "First the elder now the younger! Grab her and tie her up like the other!"

Laire ran back to Glen but they grabbed her before she could mount. Quickly she cast a defensive spell to push them away from. As they slid back Laire managed to get onto Glen. They started to ride away when a gunshot went off and Glen was hit in the rump. Together they fell and Laire's staff flew out of her hand. She reached for it desperately but before she could reach it a familiar hand picked it up.

"Alein quick! Give me my staff! They killed Mum!" She looked pleadingly up at him holding her staff in his hands. Then he broke it over his knee. "NO!"

"I am sorry Laire but this is the only way!"

The townsfolk converged on Laire pulling at her clothes and hair. "You know it is not a curse it is just nature!"

"Do not listen to her! This is God's punishment! You shall not let a witch live! That is what the Holy Word says." The preacher yelled over the crowd.

In an act of utter desperation Laire pulled the dirk from her belt and stabbed it into the leg of the man nearest her. The crowd released her just enough for her to begin to run. Then the stone started to rain down upon her. If the villagers could not hang her the would stone her to death.

From up ahead there was the rumbling of hooves and a carriage. "Help me!" Laire called out. The carriage was in sight and she ran towards it. She was almost there when well placed rock hit her on the back of her head knocking her out.

When she came to Laire was still on the ground but now there was a boy standing over her. "Good you are finally awake," he said in a clipped English accent that spoke of pure nobility.

"Aye," she said in English. "Help, please, they killed 'er. They killed mah Mum."

"I am aware. Do not worry you are safe my butler took care of the problem. The villagers have been chased off for now." It was then that a larger black figure stepped into view.

"Demon," Laire whispered in horror. Then her eyes fixed on the boy again. "Which makes you his contract holder."

They two looked at each other surprised. "Yes," the demon finally said. "My Lord it seems we have a true witch on our hands. Should I take care of her as well?"

"No." The boy said sharply. "Tell me witch, what is your name?"

"Laire….Ah donna care if ye kill me Ah hae nothin' tae live fur wit mah Mum dead an' Alein…."

"I am not going to have you killed. I wish to present you with an offer. Come and work for me. As you said you have nothing left, if you can swear that you will help protect me and my home then I can give you employ and protection from the villages if they should so wish revenge." The boy held a hand out to her as if to help her up. Laire knew if she took it she would be accepting his offer. She did.

"Excellent now the question comes of how you can best serve me….are you any good with horses?"

"Och, aye, Ah am verra good wit all th' animals."

"Then from now on you shall be my stablemaster and carriage driver. Laire welcome to the household of the Earl Phantomhive."

Laire broke from her reverie as the Earl and Sebastian returned. "Ye are improvin' mah Laird," she said as he dismounted.

"Yet he still has a long way to go," Sebastian said helping the Earl down. "His posture while trotting is still abysmal."

The young Earl was scowling and rubbing his back where Sebastian had tried to correct his posture with a riding crop. Fortunately for her, Laire was able to hold back her smile at his misfortune. "Would ye like a tonic fur th' pain mah Laird?"

"I am fine," he said sharply. "Sebastian I want tea in my office while I work."

"Yes, my Lord," the butler said with a bow. The two left without a further word to Laire, a boon for the Scot. As grateful as she was to them for saving her life and taking her in she still had her problems with the demon and his contract holder.

Once she had removed the saddle and reins from Vincent Laire went to her trunk of supplies to begin creating the libido suppressant for the male horses. Upon searching her dried herbs and flowers Laire realized she was missing one of the key ingredients. With a slight sigh she checked the sky. Given the position of the sun it was nearing three o'clock. She had just enough time to take Anne into town to the apothecary and buy the herb needed.

"Anne," Laire called and the reddish coloured horse came trotting into the stables. "Ah need tae go intae town."

"I would be pleased to take you."

"Thank ye," Laire said as she grabbed the saddle she used for Anne. After getting Anne ready Laire went back over to her trunk and pulled out one of her skirts. Although the townsfolk were very nice and friendly Sebastian would skin her if he found out that she went to town wearing her breeches. Changing again Laire hopped up onto Anne and set off.

In town Laire made her way to the apothecary waving to a few familiar faces as she went. At the right building Laire hopped off Anne and tied her to a post. Though it was unnecessary, Anne would not allow anyone but Laire to ride her while they were out. Patting Anne's nose Laire entered the shop.

"Oh Miss Laire what a pleasant surprise." The shopkeep exclaimed as she entered.

"Good day Mister Nelson. How are ye?"

"Excellent my niece has actually just arrived for a visit. Might I introduce you?"

"If tis th' niece ye rant an' rave abowt fur studyin' plants all ova th' British Empire most certainly."

"Excellent, I will fetch her." The chemist disappeared into the back where his shop connected to his living space. Laire heard some muttered voices and soon two sets of footsteps were returning. Mister Nelson appeared first followed by a young woman approximately the same age as Laire.

"Miss Laire this is my niece Eileen Box, Eileen this is Miss Laire she works at Phantomhive manor."

"Miss Box," Laire greeted with a slight bow.

"A pleasure, Miss Laire." Eileen said moving around the counter to extend her hand. With a smile Laire took it.

"Yer Uncle has told me of yer work an' show me some of th' sketches ye sent him. Ah must say 'hat Ah am impressed by yer work an' knowledge."

"Thank you. What work do you do at the manor?"

"Ah am th' Stablemaster," Laire replied proudly. Eileen looked a bit surprised but then she smiled.

"It is nice to see another woman not allowing social etiquette to limit what they can do. I am glad the Earl Phantomhive is forward thinking as well."

Laire had no idea how to take her words so she merely smiled. "Thank ye, Ah would love tae chat, however, Ah must get back tae th' manor. Mister Nelson could ye measure owt ten ounces of cat's-head seeds fur me?"

"Of course Miss Laire." Mister Nelson said.

"How long will ye be here, Miss Box?" Laire asked the other woman as he Uncle moved about.

"A few months, actually. I am putting together all my work and am going to try and get it published as a book. Uncle John has a spare room and he is letting me stay with him in exchange for some help around the shop."

"How kind of him. Perhaps we ken get together fur tea some time and chat then. Ah would love tae hear more about yer work."

"Of course, that would be lovely. In a few weeks, perhaps? Send a note around when you have the time."

"Aye, Ah will do 'hat." At that moment Mister Nelson finished measuring out the seeds. He came over the small bag in hand and gave it to Laire. Handing him the coins to pay for it Laire smiled. "Thank ye, Mister Nelson."

"Naturally, you are one of my best customers with all those tonics you make for the horses."

Laire smiled and gave a nod. "Ah will contact ye Miss Box, abowt th' tea. Hav' a good evenin' both of ye."

"Farewell," the pair said as Laire shut the door. Outside Laire tucked the seeds into the saddle pouch before hopping up on to Anne.

"Alright Anne, time tae go back tae th' manor.