Title: Deceitful Love

Main Pairing: Buffy & Spike.

Rating: Early in the story, should be teen. Later on though, trust me, things will get heated.

Summary: Set in early 18th Century England, Lady Elizabeth Summers, by her father Lord Rupert Giles, the Duke of Devonshire, has become the main prize for the eligible suitor who wins the various competitions the Duke has set forth. Elizabeth, being the dutiful daughter she is, does not argue with her father's decision of a marriage, as in this rare marriage occasion he is not marrying her off for a profit, but instead hopes that she will find true happiness. Despite whatever his intentions are, a forced marriage is still...forced. She has no choice in the matter and Elizabeth reluctantly agrees, even if it means sacrificing her spirit of passion, hopes of freedom and dreams of finding true love.

William Jameson is a thief. He isn't just any thief though, he's the best. And it was not a title he gave himself, it was a known fact throughout the country, Spike - Shadow of the Night. Whose face has never yet been seen, but whose scandalous antics are known around the world. One afternoon, an opportune moment arose while William and his best friend Alexander Harris, were taking a stroll when they came across a sleeping drunken nobleman. Doing what any normal man under the circumstances would have done, they searched his pockets for anything valuable. They found something much more intriguing however…an invitation to participate in competitions at a rather rich estate. Upon thinking about it, they came up with the plan: Pretend to be noblemen, be welcomed into the circle of nobility and once night fell, steal what they could from the treasures within the grand estate and be gone.

But what happens when William finds out that the winner of the games will not only win the deed to the estate but a bounteous amount of money and treasures? That wasn't it though, the champion of the games will also win the hand of the beautiful Lady Elizabeth. With one gaze upon her, he can sense the fire within her, the longing of an adventure and the curiosity growing inside her. All his life William has stolen whatever he wanted. But would he now be able to steal Elizabeth's heart?

Author's Note: Loosely based on the movie 'Son of the Dragon'.

Disclaimer: I don't own diddly squat.

. C h a p t e r . O n e .

She walked briskly through the gardens, her hands were clammy and her face was full of anxiety.

One month. Just one month until they began to arrive!

And she just had to tell Elizabeth. It wouldn't do for her Lady to return back to the estate not knowing what was awaiting her. Picking up her skirts a little higher she ran past the large marble fountain, and into the garden's maze. Concentrating she focused on the right turns she had to make to get to the center. Dawn smiled as she finally reached her destination; she was getting faster and faster every time. Taking a deep breath she walked into the hidden garden. Most people didn't get to this part of the maze. There were many exits, various places the maze takes you so that you think you've reached the maze's goal, but this garden…this was the real treasure of the maze. And it was her mistress' favorite place to be when she wanted to get away. There weren't many places she could go. The Duke, some would say had become rather odd, after his beloved wife the Duchess, passed away. He had felt that the only way his daughter could be safe was to keep her under lock and key. He felt that traveling was what made his wife sick, her passion for adventure and sightseeing was the very thing that done her in. He would not take that risk with his one and only daughter. So for the last six years, she remained in the country, safe from the world.

Dawn smiled, the daughter of the Duke was beautiful. She stood there for a minute admiring her watching as Lady Elizabeth was sitting on one of the stone benches near the Cherry Blossom tree. It was imported all the way from some foreign land and planted long before their time. Her mistress sat there, basking in the sunlight, her skin glowing radiantly, strands of hair falling from her neatly coiled up bun, giving a sort of halo around her face. Her eyes were closed and Dawn couldn't help but feel guilty for interrupting her Lady's peace. But somebody had to warn her and what more suited person then her? She was after all her best friend. And although she was the Lady's personal maid, the two had grown to form a type of sisterly bond.

She would tell Lady Elizabeth stories about what happens in the city, and in return Elizabeth would tell her about her hopes and dreams and fantasies she might have for herself. Of course, dreams and wishes of love would never come true for Elizabeth. Not now. Not after finding out what the Duke was planning. Dawn scoffed at the idea, it was rather cunning she must admit, but the ending result of a chosen marriage, Elizabeth was sure to disagree.

She had to let her know beforehand. Dawn knew how Elizabeth felt about a marriage for profit. She wouldn't like it, in fact she would sulk about just the thought of it, but being the dutiful daughter that she was, she would never disobey father. After the Duchess passed away, Elizabeth felt even more need of being the loyal and obedient daughter. She hated to see her father upset, so anything he asked of her, she did without any reject.

Elizabeth opened her eyes suddenly upon hearing the steps of someone coming. Sighing she turned around disappointed at the intrusion of her peaceful afternoon rest. Disappointment quickly turned into a bright smile when she saw that it was her best friend, her only friend, walking towards her. "Dawn! What brings you here? Do you have any new stories for me?" Elizabeth always did enjoy hearing the stories her friend told her. She didn't have many freedoms. She never told anybody except for Dawn once, that she envied her. She had the freedom of roaming around the city once in a while. She had choices she would never get the chance to have. Pushing aside any depressing thoughts she motioned for her friend to sit down on the bench beside her.

"Actually, M'lady-"

"Dawn, how many times do I need to tell you? There's no need for formalities. You're my best friend. Now, what is it that brought you all the way to the center of the maze? You hate going through this place." Elizabeth giggled, the first time she remembered Dawn coming into the maze, the poor girl had gotten lost for hours, Elizabeth herself and a whole handful of the staff had to come searching for her.

Dawn gathered her senses and put a reassuring hand on Elizabeth's. "Elizabeth. I came with some rather alarming and disappointing news."

"First you call on me formally, now you use my real name?" Elizabeth's small brows furrowed in confusion. Dawn and she had been friends for many years now. When they were younger, they agreed that because they were best friends, they would have secret names for each other. Elizabeth decided on Dawn for her, because Dawn was the most hopeful and prettiest time of the day. It was a rather suiting name for her very enchanting friend. Dawn on the other hand, had decided on a rather peculiar name for Elizabeth.

"Buffy?" A twelve year old Elizabeth asked confusingly. She had just given her friend a beautiful nickname and this was what she was given in return? Buffy? It was rather curious…

The maid nodded happily at the younger girl. She was only four years older than Elizabeth, and yet after coming up with this name, she felt herself to be rather cunning and imaginative. Dawn and Buffy often snuck out together to play as soon as Dawn's chores were done. Of course as time went by, the time to play grew shorter as more chores were added to Dawn's list as she became an adult. But the two made do with whatever time they had.

Dawn smiled at her friend, reaching for her hands. "Let me explain dearest Buffy. Each letter in your name stands for a trait I feel is inside you. B, is for beauty. Because you cannot deny that although you are young, you will grow into the most beautiful Lady. U, is for unique, because you are one of a kind. F, is for fire because you are wild like fire, no matter how polite and dutiful you may seem you are always getting either you or my persons into some sort of mischief." Dawn laughed as Elizabeth mockingly hit her on the shoulders. "See? You ruffian. And you call yourself a Lady. I don't think I should continue explaining your name."

"Oh please do. Please." Dawn smiled and did as was asked. "F is for friend. May you always remember that no matter what, you will always have a friend in me. And Y, is for You. Always remember who you are. You are pure and innocent and kind. But you are also bold, vivacious and witty. Never forget it. For those are the very traits I love about you."

"Oh Dawn! Thank you! I wish for you to always call me by this name. I love it. Thank you." Buffy threw her arms around the girl. Dawn sat there unsure, but after a few seconds of hearing Buffy's praises she gave in. From that moment, although just a maid, she was going to protect her as if her very own flesh and blood.

"Alright, so tell me, what is it that has gotten you so worried?"

"Your father, it was a surprise but- I don't think it's a very nice surprise at all and-"

"Dawn! Just tell me already. What is my father planning?"

"He has arranged for eligible suitors to come to the estate in hopes of a marriage. He has set some sort of competition, and the winner will win your hand. See, he has figured that because he is getting old, you are in need of a man to look after you. I don't know how he came up the idea of a competition but it is rather exciting if you think about it." Dawn tried her best to make this sound as positive as she could for Buffy.

Buffy stood up in shock. So the time for her to marry was soon approaching. Calming herself she sat back down, she knew this day was coming, she was already seventeen years old, she couldn't wish anymore that her marriage day would keep being pushed back. "So when are my potential husbands coming?"

Dawn looked to the side, here it was, the time to bear the bad news. "Actually, it seems that your father has been planning this surprise for a while now…You see…"

"Oh God." Buffy felt like she was going to be sick. Holding her stomach with one hand and gripping her friends hand with the other she squeaked out the question. "Is it that soon?"

"One month. I came here as soon as I found out, I assumed, and I assumed correctly, that your father's good intentions wouldn't have sat so lightly with you if you had just simply strolled back to the palace and met your surprise face to face." Dawn watched as the princess tried to gather herself. She felt her heart ache out for the young Lady. Buffy had so much passion to see the world, to have an adventure, to fall in love. Of course, her father had no idea. It was mostly the help that knew that side of Buffy. Because unlike most nobility, Buffy was genuinely kind. She didn't care about rank or status, she wanted to be with others who were fun and could tell her stories, it didn't matter if they weren't born with blue blood, as long as they were kind. That's one of the reasons Dawn immediately took a liking to her. Although born into nobility, she was genuinely a kind person.

Buffy didn't know what to say, so she just nodded silently. Dawn locking elbows with her, walked her out of the gardens, and led Buffy to her future.

London

"Bloody 'Ell Xander, what do you mean you didn't get it?" A tall man with curly blonde hair stood up abruptly, knocking his seat down. The commotion he was causing gathered the attention of several onlookers.

"Spike-" His companion whispered. "Sit down. For crying out loud, I got distracted! I'm sorry!"

The man rolled his eyes and let out a forced laugh. "Oh right. Distraction. What could have gotten you so distracted that you couldn't even steal off a couple pounds of gold from an old hag's home?"

"Look I'm sorry alright?" The man shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Spike always did make him feel like a child whenever his blue eyes stared at him like that. He could feel him piercing through him, he had to admit it was kind of scary. "Cut it out. You scare the hell out of me when you do that."

"Good." Spike bent down and lifted his chair back to its normal state. "So what was this great distraction?" Spike asked, falling into his seat. He crossed his arms and stared at his companion, awaiting a response.

Lie Alexander, Lie. Think, think. I got it! "A mouse." A mouse?

Spike looked on disbelievingly, "A mouse." Spike repeated stupidly.

"Umm, yea. I was about to grab the purses when I saw a coupla mice running about and I left. I don't like mice." He broke the bread in half and shoved a piece into his mouth, hoping his friend wouldn't ask any more questions. If he had told him the truth, he would never have lived it down.

"You know, sometimes I wonder how such a lit'le nancy boy could be my best friend."

"No need to wonder, just know." Xander gave him one of his stupid grins.

The two finished their meal at the tavern and left, walking through the streets of London, planning out their next steal. It was another cloudy day, the streets were filled with grime, and the stench was strong enough to make even a grown sober man heave. It was nothing new to Xander and Spike however, this was their home. They belonged here in the streets. They passed by some entryways leading to gambling hells and places where whores tempted men. They decide to pass for the time being. Can't gamble without any money. Well, they could, being the cons that they were, but Spike wasn't in the mood to deal with women or cheaters at the moment. He was too busy trying to think of another way to make an easy two pound. It wasn't as if he needed the money right away, rather that, he was saving money, and the faster he saved enough money, the faster he could retire somewhere. No more worries of running away from the law or getting found out. No more running…That type of life sounded rather good to him actually.

The two were taking a shortcut through alleys when Xander stopped Spike and pointed towards a darkened spot in the alley. "Look at tha' Spike. Seems like someone had a little too much to drink. You think he's okay?" Xander asked uneasily.

Spike looked around, there was nobody except them in the alley. "Maybe we should check his pockets."

"Are you telling me you want to rob this man while he's down?" Xander asked shocked.

"What? Of course not. That would make me a black hearted, bad man…I propose we simply take the nice man's things so that no one don't have the chance to. Cause you know, there are worse people out there in the world then us. Someone might harm him if he had something valuable."

Xander nodded, patting him on the back. "I get it. We keep this man safe, by taking whatever it is he has that can cause trouble. Good man Spike." Xander gave Spike a rather hard pat on the back and the two walked over to the drunk. "Looks sort of like a Noble to me." Xander said pointedly. "What is he doing out in the common streets of London?"

"Psh. Not all Noblemen are Noble. You should know that by now." Spike wasn't naïve. He knew that those well off, still sank into the streets to be with common whores and to gamble. So what made them so much better then he? A stupid piece of paper giving them a title that's what. "Stupid ponce, don't got nothing' worth thieving." Spike let out a disappointed sigh. "Wait a minute-"

"What is it?" Xander asked, standing up. No luck for him either.

"I don't know. A letter by the looks of it."

"Should we read it?"

"What type of thieves would we be, if we didn't?" Spike fingered the lettering on the envelope, it simply read, Lord Finn. Looking down at the man at his feet Spike assumed that he must be him. The seal on the letter hadn't been broken yet so there was a good chance that the Lord himself didn't know what the letter contained. Opening the letter slowly Spike saw that it was written in beautiful script, and he started to read silently to himself:

Invitation to the Duke of Devonshire's Estate

Ladies and Gentlemen of the ton,
we humbly invite you to join us for
a grand Masquerade Ball
and the chance of a Lifetime.

Gentlemen, be a part of the Game!
The winner shall receive a most grateful and
bounteous prize for their efforts.

All participants and recipients are asked to be received
by no later than the 30th of October.

The challenge will begin on the first of November.

All recipients must have the invitation in hand
in order to participate.

"Well, what is it? What did the letter say?" Xander stared at his friend curiously for a minute, and then shook his head disapprovingly. "Oh no. I can see your wheels spinning, your planning something. And knowing you, your plans aren't usually any good. Spike? Spike, answer me!" Still, not getting a response, he grabbed the letter from his friend's hands and quickly scanned the letter. "Oh no…Spike, we cannot go to this!"

His lips curling into a mischievous smile, his blue eyes sparkling he nodded his head. "Oh yes, Xander. We are."

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