Chapter 4 Diamond|Three

"Good morning, Miss Vincent. Is your master out?" Lord Lambert asked while walking into the shop. It's been a few months since the last encounter, but this time he was holding an ebony walking stick. He looked a bit weaker than last encounter. Not much, but definitely a bit weaker.

"Yes, she's on her daily 'after-breakfast' break." Ciel smiled apologetically.

"That's alright, I'm used to your tutor different breaks. Are you used to it already, Miss Vincent?" Lord Lambert laughed good-naturedly.

Ciel chucked softly and said, "Hard not to get used to if she takes at least 3 breaks daily. And each and every time she has a different excuse!"

Lord Lambert chuckled together. "That's what my sister told me when she was the one coming."

Ciel wanted to say something but then thought better of it, she returned to her drawing. Somehow, even though it's such a subtle gesture, Lord Lambert still caught it.

"Do you have something you want to ask me?" Lord Lambert smiled encouragingly.

"Well... master said you're a very accomplished artist. Remember the kitten you drew for me last time? I tried drawing it too, but it's not as pretty and cute as yours!" Ciel dug out a pile of papers from her drawers, all drawings of kittens.

Lord Lambert chuckled and said, "Miss Vincent, you're such a diligent student. Let me show you." He took hold of the paint brush and teased, "If I give you some homework this time, will I even be able to enter this store next time I come here?"

Ciel smiled embarrassingly and said, "My friend back at home called me a perfectionist." Irene, their landlady, always jokingly said she needed to clear up a storeroom just for Ciel's artwork. At the mention of her friends, she felt a bit lonely. She quickly pulled herself out of the sad mood, she pinched herself and said, "Do give me some homework! I'll finish them all perfectly!"

Lord Lambert burst out laughing. "You don't even know if I'm really an accomplished artist. Maybe I can only draw kittens?" He shrugged and looked at her daringly with an eyebrow raised.

Ciel scrutinized him and exclaimed, "I don't believe that. Not even one bit! Your whole face screamed Accomplished Artist."

"Then why didn't you notice that when you first met me?"

Ciel was out of witty replies and said, "I admit defeat. So are you really an accomplished artist or not?"

"Well it's up to you to decide, " Lord Lambert replied with a teasing smile.

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Anticipating the arrival of Lord Lambert became a favorite pastime of Ciel. She enjoyed the short time they would spend together discussing drawing techniques and when Lord Lambert had the mood, he would add in a few strokes in the mask Ciel was drawing.

Ciel knew she should sell those masks like she should, but in the end all of their 'joint artworks' were locked in a chest in Ciel's room. When she missed home, she would take them out and surprisingly her home sickness would lighten a bit.

Ciel stared out of the window for the fifth times in five minutes, she could not concentrate. Lord Lambert should have arrived last week, even her tutor said so, but he didn't. His sister's mask left in her tutor's room.

Could it be that he's sick? Ciel thought worriedly. It's no denying that his health had been deteriorating. When they first met he could still walk by himself, slowly he had to use a walking stick and then his valet had to accompany him. Until last time he had to come in a wheelchair.

Ciel was very worried about his health, but every time he replied with his usual smile and the same phrase, "Never been better, don't worry."

She wanted to ask him more, but she's just an apprentice of a mask maker. She was not even his friend. She wondered why he didn't hire a healer. By now Ciel knew that everyone in this world had a power or two, except herself. Maybe because she did not belong to this world to begin with. Some had the power of healing.

The door opened a crack, freezing ice cold air blew in her face. She looked up expectantly. Maybe it's because of the snow. The snow stopped Lord Lambert from coming.

There was a carriage outside the store and an old man she recognized as one of Lord Lambert's servants stood at the door.

"Miss Vincent, I'm Lord Lambert's servant. Lord Lambert has a letter for you." He held out a letter to me. She read through the letter quickly and realized that Lord Lambert was inviting her to his manor in the capital, of course bringing his sister's mask with her.

"Is Lord Lambert alright?" Ciel asked worriedly. Why didn't he come himself?

The sadness that quickly disappeared from the servant's eyes did not escape Ciel's notice. The servant said, "This year's snow storm hit the capital quite hard. It might be better if Lord Lambert remains in the manor."

Ciel nodded silently. "I'll tell my tutor about it and get the mask. Please wait for a second."

As the carriage brought Ciel closer and closer to the capital, all Ciel thought was the sense of foreboding she had ever since she received the letter.