Vault of Bones Extra

Invitation of the Queen

23 August 1889, Wolvercote Manor

The next day, after she dressed up as Ran Mao and met Adrian Avery, Anais was determined to rest for the whole day. Her supposed written reports were to be dealt tomorrow. Surprisingly, ever since the marchioness learned that she and Earl Grey were courting, the old woman never treated her badly anymore. Anais found it a good thing. And now, the young mistress lay on her bed, scribbling on a paper. Pencils and crayons that were provided by her butler Carlisle were sprawled on the mattress. Pluto was incredibly quiet, sleeping by the hearth with no interest of his mistress' shenanigans.

Everything seemed to be normal, except when Carlisle knocked and entered her room. Anais slowly sat-up cross-legged on her bed.

"There must be a good reason for you to be here, Carlisle," Anais said as she started to clean up her mess. "Let me guess: the kitchen is on fire?"

"Uh, no, mistress," Carlisle replied with uneasiness. He combed his white-gloved fingers onto his light blond hair. "Do you prefer that the kitchen is on fire before I enter your room?"

Anais laughed. "I'm just joking. Don't take everything so seriously."

"Of course, mistress." Carlisle sighed in relief. "Actually, I'm here because Her Majesty the Queen's butler is here."

"Butler?" Anais echoed. "You don't mean Grey and Phipps, do you?"

Carlisle shook his head. "Master John Brown is here, my lady. I'm afraid neither Master Phipps nor Earl Grey is here."

"Oh, right," Anais said and stood up. "John rarely comes here. What a surprise."

"Should I prepare your dress, mistress?" Carlisle asked kindly.

"That's okay," she said. "He's probably just here to deliver a message or two, maybe even eat a cake here."

She immediately went downstairs and into the reception room. John Brown sat there, silently as ever. He was given company by a few Wolvercote maids who seemed to find him attractive and mysterious. All of them hushed down when their mistress entered the room and asked them to leave. John stood up in a form of greeting and bowed to her. He was wearing his usual white uniform, with his eye-catching sunglasses.

"Good morning, my Lady Wolvercote," said John. "I hope I'm not interrupting a very important matter."

"Don't worry. I'm not doing anything of importance," Anais replied as she sat on the opposite chair as him. Carlisle came in to pour them tea. "Can I do something for you?"

"Yes, actually there is, my lady," John nonchalantly said. He held out a small envelope with red seal and placed it on top of the table. "This is Her Majesty's letter to you."

She took the envelope and opened it. There was a letter inside, and it was not that long. She read it silently. "Her Majesty wants to see me?"

John nodded as he drank from his tea. "This is not another investigation to begin with," he interrupted before the Wolvercote could disagree. "Her Majesty really looks forward on chatting with you, and perchance drink tea." When Anais only blinked at him, he continued: "I am afraid the Double Charles had been sent away for an errand, but Her Majesty assumes they will be back soon. Has Grey told you nothing?"

It made her scowl. Grey certainly told her nothing about his work since he started courting her. She would guess that Grey did not want his work to interfere with his personal life. "Very well," Anais murmured. "I will accept Her Majesty's offer, though it would take time for me to get ready."

"No problem." John Brown did not look perplexed at all.

"Is this another investigation? Because I definitely wouldn't want to do anything about it." She sighed and gave the letter to Carlisle.

"No, my lady," said John. "I'm sure Her Majesty only wants to have a chat with you."

"About what?"

"I'll leave the rest of the conversation to you and Her Majesty," replied John again. "It would be highly appreciated if you come. Her Majesty is really expecting you."

"Okay then," she sighed in defeat. "It'll take time for me to get dressed, though."

John shook his head. "No problem."

When she returned after half an hour, a white carriage pulled up in front of the Wolvercote mansion. John stepped down from the coachman's seat and offered a gloved hand to her, which she gratefully accepted. She wore a red dress with two layers of thick fabric, with the first having a dark shade of red, and the other was paler. Her long white gloves reached her elbows; the dark red choker around her neck was uncomfortable; and the red feathered hat partially covered her mass of ebony hair. John complimented her for looking so beautiful and presentable. They wasted no time; the pair went back into the palace as soon as possible. It would take them a few minutes to get there.

Arriving in the palace, Anais wasn't entirely surprised when the guards greeted her. She had become quite familiar with some of them. John silently led her into the room where the Queen was waiting. The butler opened the door to Her Majesty's garden and led Anais further inside.

Her Majesty was watering her beloved plants when they arrived. She smiled sweetly at the sight of her favorite butler and her guest of the day. The queen gave her watering can to a nearby steward and washed her hands on a sink. Anais watched as Queen Victoria made her way towards a small round coffee table.

"Welcome, my Lady Wolvercote," greeted the elderly queen. "Please have a seat." She gestured for the chair in front of her. "Thank you for taking her, John," she whispered. Her butler only nodded. "I believe this is our first time to actually talk to each other?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Anais nodded and tried to smile.

John Brown made way for the upcoming servants. They pushed a tray full of pastry and tea. When the servants arrived, John helped them set the table.

"It's an honor to be here, Your Majesty," Anais said as she sipped from her tea.

"Oh, the pleasure's all mine, Lady Wolvercote." Queen Victoria smiled. She was dressed in a luxurious black gown with grey laces. What stood out from the mourning old queen was the sapphire brooch pinned about her throat. "I've heard a lot about you from Charles Grey."

Anais almost choked from her tea, too mesmerized at the queen's brooch. "Ah, E-Earl Grey," she stammered, unsure whether she was referring to the tea or not.

"Yes." Her Majesty beamed with delight. "He says you're quite a lady."

I'm going to kill that man. "Oh, I feel honored to be mentioned by the Earl Grey." She forced an awkward smile, as her knees began to shake underneath the thick tablecloth.

"Indeed, Charles is always very delighted to mention you."

"I am hoping he didn't mention anything negative about me."

The Queen shook her head and smiled. "Of course not, Lady Wolvercote. Our Charles Grey is very polite."

Polite? What?

"Also," the Queen continued and dropped her teacup on its saucer, "I've heard about Mistress Wolvercote. I'm very sorry, my dear. Please accept my very late condolences."

"Thank, Your Majesty." She gave her an reassuring smile. "I'm sure my mother would gladly accept it too."

Before anything else, the doors opened once more. John Brown turned his head to see who it was and as expected, the Double Charles returned in the afternoon.

"Good afternoon, Your Majesty~!" Grey chirped despite still a few steps away from the said monarch.

As they inched closer, Anais wanted to bury herself in one of the queen's plants to avoid Grey's look. The Double Charles bowed. Upon seeing her, Grey smirked.

"Welcome back, Charles." The queen smiled sweetly. "I hope no troubles?"

Phipps shook his head. "None at all, Your Majesty."

"Well then." The queen sighed. "I'll have to read your written report later. I wouldn't have my time be divided between your report and Lady Wolvercote over here." Queen Victoria gestured to the lady sitting in front of her. Phipps flinched, for he hadn't noticed Anais sitting there. He was twice more serious in his work than Grey was.

"Good afternoon, Lady Wolvercote," Grey greeted with a playful smile.

"Lady Wolvercote and I are having this wonderful conversation, aren't we?" Her Majesty turned to her.

"Most likely, Your Majesty," Anais replied reluctantly.

With her shaky voice, Grey could tell she was nervous. Just looking at her made him want to laugh and tease her.

"Aren't you and Charles Grey good friends?" Victoria had a mischievous smile as she clutched her elaborately decorated teacup.

Anais froze again.

"Oh yes, Your Majesty. Very good friends, in fact." He had the same glint of mischievousness that he always had, and it made Anais wondered if Victoria and Grey telepathically communicated. But that was impossible of course; they simply knew how to play along with the people around them. Anais was very much sure about that.

"It'll be interesting if you end up more than just friends," Queen Victoria teased and laughed.

"P-Please, Your Majesty," Anais flailed her hands lightly in front of her. She could feel her face becoming red as the shade of her dress, not from the compliments, but from embarrassments. "I really love your sense of humor."

The queen laughed again. "You do look good together. Don't you think so, Charles?" She looked up to her young butler, giving him a hopeful look.

Grey smirked. "Indeed, Your Majesty. Lady Wolvercote and I are compatible, are we not, my lady?"

She rolled her eyes at him and snapped back. "I'm sure Earl Grey is more interested in others. Shall we say, blonde ladies?" It was her turn to smirk. Anais was pertaining about Armelle Strauss.

Damn, she knows where to strike just where it hurts, Grey thought. He gritted his teeth.

"Blonde? But I'd prefer you instead, Lady Wolvercote," the Queen insisted sweetly. Her Majesty still had not the slightest idea about anything between Anais and Charles.

"Eh?" Anais blinked. And here she thought she finally outsmarted Grey. She growled and curled her hand into a fist under the table. She swore she was about to punch someone.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Grey playfully said. "I think I'd prefer Lady Wolvercote, too~"

"If you ever end up together, I'm sure you'll be happy, just like me and my Albert," Queen Victoria mournfully said and began to shed tears. The queen sniffed and sobbed.

Anais panicked on her seat. In a flash, John went beside the queen and took out a hand puppet. It made her blink: there was John Brown beside the sobbing queen, pulling out a puppet from his coat and waved it in front of the queen.

"Victoria, we'll always be together. I'm Albert," John nonchalantly said as he waved the hand puppet of Prince Albert left and right.

"That's cute." Anais whispered to herself as she watched Queen Victoria look up to the hand puppet and smiled. "How come I've never seen that puppet before?"

"He only uses it when Her Majesty is upset," whispered Phipps.

After a few moments, Queen Victoria gathered her composure back. She pulled out a white handkerchief to wipe away her tears. She thanked John for the comfort, and resumed talking with Anais for the rest of the afternoon. The two of them talked nothing in particular, shifting from their interests in the arts and music, since Queen Victoria was a lover of dance when she was younger. She talked endlessly about her beloved Albert, forcing Anais to listen to her stories, and not long after, she ended up crying once more. As the Double Charles stood by and watched, John Brown reappeared with his puppet. However, the queen could not be consoled any more, and had to be taken back in her room to rest.

Before she could finally leave, Queen Victoria turned to Anais.

"I am very grateful, Lady Wolvercote," she said. "Also, I hope you would answer any time when I need your help in an investigation, alright?"

So, this is what this invitation is all about, Anais thought bitterly. She was supposed to say otherwise, but seeing how the Queen sweetly smiled at her and looking so sincere, she had to agree.

"Any time you want, Your Majesty." She sighed.

Grey insisted on taking her back into their manor, but Phipps quickly forbid it and told him to prepare that written report they were supposed to do. The Earl Grey was forced to obey, and promised Anais that he would give her a visit as soon as his job was done. He kissed her on the lips when nobody was looking. She did not mind him showing affections every once in a while. But in Buckingham Palace! She glared and scolded him, with them hiding behind a large white pillar, where no one could see them. Yet Grey only rolled his eyes and pulled her into another kiss again. He eventually waved goodbye to her as he walked back to his office.

Inside the carriage, Anais flopped on the couch and sighed.

"In the end, I didn't even have the chance to decline Her Majesty."

Author's Notes: Hi there! It has been a long time since I updated this story. Here's another oneshot between Charles Grey and Anais Wolvercote. Hoped you enjoyed the short randomness my mind could make up. I actually updated this story so I could conduct a little survey for readers.

Months ago, I promised another Kuroshitsuji fanfic, and had the reviewers comment on which character should I focus on next. Many answered Edward Midford; others answered Snake and another Grey story. Right now, I am writing the Edward Midford fic, though it may take a while since I am still "smoothing" out the mystery of the story. It may take long as well. I would like to hear your opinions on this one: should I continue with Edward or would you rather have another Grey fic? (I already have another mystery plot in store for him as well)