Well … here we have it chapter 2 of Seven Drunken Nights … I haven't really got an awful lot to say here except thank you for the response to my authors note and this chapter is the fourth version of this, so I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: Not Mine!

Enjoy!

SPOV

"Do you … Susannah, Elizabeth Stackhouse, take William Thomas Compton as your lawfully wedded husband" said the preacher.

"I do" I said.

"Alright then, you may now kiss the bride" said the preacher, and Bill slowly edged closer to me.

"Lunch is served" came the voice of the butler, Charles, breaking me out of my daydream as he began to place food out along the 20 foot long table. I was sitting at one end of the table, and Bill was sitting at the other end, 20 feet away from me. "Thank you" I said, before I could stop myself. It had been two years since our wedding day, and every day since that day, I had always thanked every and every member of staff who did something for me, simply because I wasn't used to it and also because I believed that although they didn't have any titles before their names, that they are people too, and they deserve to be thanked. Simply because I had a title didn't mean that I had to be rude as well.

Also, it was one of the things about me that Bill really didn't like about me. In fact it down right bugged him most of the time, and I had received quite a few tellings off (as well as a few beatings) for things that "bugged" Bill about me.

But, after all, he only did it because he loved me. He wouldn't do it if he didn't love me? Right?

"Darling … you know that you don't have to thank the staff for every single thing that they do for you. You forget that they get paid to be nice" Bill snapped at me. I just ignored him, while contemplating for what seemed like the the millionth time, what life would be like if I left Bill for good, just like my parents had urged me to do, but that wouldn't be happening at all. I was an independent woman, who didn't want to be living in shame and with my brother and his wife – not that Jason wouldn't want me to live with him because he would, but for me to do that would mean that in the eyes of everyone else that I had failed as a wife.

So, I played the part of the happy wife, when in reality, everything was far from happy. Well, Bill might be happy – after all, he was able to go out to the local pub every night where he would surely be the centre of attention (especially after a few drinks), and then he had a wife to come home to. But the truth of the matter was that Bill was a violent drunk who took great pleasure in bullying everyone around him. Especially me.

"So … darling … what are your plans for this afternoon?" I cautiously asked, not wanting to provoke him.

"Well Damaged … not that it is any of your business, but I am going out tonight with a few of my friends and acquaintances to Merlotte's. I expect that you will still be awake when I return tonight. Afterall, I do have a duty to carry out as a husband" he said, and I nodded.

Ugh. Sex was a chore that I absolutely hated with Bill. I mean, wasn't it supposed to be be fun and enjoyable? For everyone involved. Like, literally, sex with Bill would be twice a week – usually on Saturdays and Thursdays, and it would involve usually a maximum of two or four shallow thrusts before he would roll off of me.

Yeah. Sounds amazing. Not.

We continued the rest of our meal in complete and utter silence, and when Charles came by again to collect all of the dishes, I asked him to give my compliments to the chef, Linda, and once again said thank you for collecting the dishes. Obviously, that was enough to spike Bill's anger, because the next thing that I knew was happening, Bill's fist collided with the side of my face and I was lying on the ground.

"I thought I asked you to stop being so fucking gracious towards the staff" he growled at me, as I held my cheek in agony, glaring at him.

"Fuck you" I spat at him. Yes, in spite of everything, I was defiant. After Bartlett, I swore that I would never ever let anyone have total control over me like that again. Ever.

"Don't you fucking speak to me like that … you damaged little whore. You fucking well need to start to act like a lady. I can't have you showing me up like that in public" he said.

I just glared at him.

"Pick yourself up off of the ground, you worthless whore." He said, and then turned, and walked out of the room.

I quickly picked myself up off the ground, and headed back towards my bedroom – yes, my bedroom – Bill had his own too, and only came in here when he had to perform his "husbandly duties". I shivered. That was another thing that I had to look forward to.

I was sitting in my desk chair, just staring into space, and I don't know how long I sat like that before my personal hand maid came in – Amelia her name was.

"Hey, Sookie" she said, as she entered. We were more like best friends than boss and servant. I much preferred that there be no gap between us at all.

"Hey, Ames" I said, and I instinctively moved to cover my cheek.

"I take it that he attacked you again" she said, coming to sit down on the edge of my bed – just opposite from where I was sitting in the chair.

I could only nod.

"That son of a bitch" she said, and I smiled.

"He really was, wasn't he?" I said, smiling to spite myself.

"Sookie … you know that he is never, ever going to change. It is only going to get worse. You should leave now before he gets you pregnant", she said.

Well, what do we think of this so far … review to let me know .. and don't worry … Eric will be appearing soon!