Author's note: Feel free to call me a troll while reading this. I honestly don't mind it. Thank you for the reviews, y'all! And adding this to alerts and favorites.

Happy reading!

Chapter Nine

"Stay close to me, Santana." Brittany said as they bounced along toward the Smythe home the next day.

"You really think Sebastian will try something?" Santana asked from across the carriage.

"Lord Blaine both seemed to think so. Kurt, too."

She nodded. "Then I'll do everything I can."

They were silent the rest of the trip. Brittany had told her the previous night about all the two men had said to her while they sat on her bed holding hands. It was the only luxury the two had permitted themselves, though Brittany had greeted her with a kiss. It resulted in Santana blushing slightly and being flustered.

She'd stayed late into the night, even when her eyes were heavy and she knew she'd be yawning all day. She hid another one as they pulled into the drive.

"Brittany." Santana reached out and clasped her hand. "If I'm made to leave the room, just keep your guard up. And yell for me if you need me."

Brittany nodded.

They were greeted in the sitting room by a smug Sebastian. He kissed Brittany's hands, keeping his lips on them for longer than necessary. When he finally pulled away, he said, "I'm sorry to say that my sister awoke this morning with a horrible headache. Any bit of light is bothering her. She's up in her room now with all the curtains drawn. I can't even light a candle to check on her. She screams in pain when the door is even cracked."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Give her my best wishes." Brittany said genuinely.

"I will. Thank you." He looked over her shoulder at Santana.

Brittany glanced back to see a stony look on her maid's face. She smiled kindly at Sebastian. "But I get your company, yes?"

He grinned, "Of course. It's such a lovely day. Why not a short walk before we take tea?"

She looked at Santana again.

"I assure you, Miss Brittany, it's just a walk. Like yesterday. We don't need a chaperone."

"My mother would never forgive me if she ever found out."

He winked. "Your mother never has to find out if your maid can keep her mouth shut."

"Santana comes with me." She said. "Or I don't go."

His expression changed for an instant, but was back in place just as before. "Of course." He held out his arm. "Shall we?"

Brittany hesitated and then slipped her arm through his.

They walked for a while without speaking. Sebastian held her arm close to his side.

"Do you have any marriage prospects, Miss Brittany?" he asked.

"No, my lord. I know a lot of good men, but none that seem interested, so I don't want to try to be interested in them. Why have my heart broken?"

"Why, indeed?" He smiled at her. "So shall you and I have a straight-forward friendship?"

She took in a deep breath. "I suppose."

"All right, then." He puffed out his chest. "I'm going to marry you, Miss Brittany. I've already decided. I just have to convince your father and you. Your father first, I suppose. You, I can convince later."

"Why do you want to marry me?"

He leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Because you are very pretty."

She could tell as he pulled back that there was more he wanted to say, but he was saving it. She would bet a large sum it was something vulgar.

Needing to change the subject, she asked, "Does your sister often suffer headaches like the one she has today?"

"Yes, all her life. Our mother did too."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Well, it only happens once or twice a month, so it's not so bad." He smiled coolly.

She smiled back. "And you, my lord?"

"What about me?"

"Do you suffer from headaches?"

"No, my aches are elsewhere." He turned his leer back on her. He examined her face for several long seconds before saying, "Ready to go back in?" he asked, turning them around smoothly.

She just nodded, making brief eye contact with Santana.

"Santana," Sebastian said as they walked inside.

"Yes, my lord?" She asked.

"Please go in the hall and find my butler and tell him we're ready for our tea. And help him bring everything in."

She looked to Brittany who nodded assent. She left.

Sebastian walked to the door and locked it, setting Brittany's heart to racing.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Getting some much-needed privacy." He walked over and grabbed her shoulders roughly. "You're a little temptress, aren't you?" he asked. He put his face close to hers. "I like it. But I'm not going to chase you."

"What do you mean?" her voice shook.

"Don't play games with me, Brittany." He walked her backward and pressed her against the wall. "I will be marrying you. This is just insurance."

"I still don't understand." She said. Perhaps if she kept him talking, nothing bad will happen. But she knew it would. She knew just what he was planning to do.

"Oh, Brittany, you are such a liar." He pressed his mouth to hers harshly.

Her teeth hurt. Her lips hurt. His whole body was crushed against hers. She tried to push him away, but he was just too powerful. She continued to struggle anyway.

He pulled his face away. He hissed, "If you ever breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll swear on my mother's grave that you seduced me. And I have at least five men I can convince to say the same thing."

"Sebastian, please. You're hurting me."

His grin became evilly gleeful, "Good." He lowered her to the nearby sofa and pushed up her skirts.

She continued to struggle underneath him as he pulled and pushed at her clothes with one hand while holding her down with the other. Tears streamed down her face.

And then he was moving painfully inside her without warning. She cried out. He clamped a hand over her mouth. He moved forcefully. The pain didn't stop; it only seemed to get worse. It went on forever.

Santana knocked at the door. She rattled the knob. She called, "Miss Brittany? Lord Sebastian? Why is the door locked?" She started pounding. "Open this door!"

Sebastian chuckled and only increased his speed and force. And then he was finally done and moving away from her. He flicked her skirts back down before he stood and pulled his trousers back up.

He walked over to the door and opened it. "What's with all the noise?" He asked. He stepped out into the hall. "Never mind the tea. Miss Brittany has said she needs to be getting home." He looked out the window. "And look, your carriage is still out there." He turned to his butler. "Rustle up the driver. Now." He walked away.

Santana stepped into the room to see Brittany struggling to sit up. She hurried over and helped her up. "What happened?"

"Nothing, just help me get home." Brittany said.

In the carriage, Brittany leaned against Santana. She said nothing. Tears continued to fall from her eyes.

"Did he do something to you?" She asked, raising her hand to run it over Brittany's hair.

"He said he'd deny it if I said anything." She said pitifully.

"Brittany." She said into her hair. "Tell me. I'd believe you before him any day."

"I know." She sat back and wiped at her eyes. "I can't tell my mother or anyone else. He said he had at least five men who will swear I seduced them if I said anything."

Santana stroked Brittany's face with the back of her hand. "Oh, Brittany. You have to say something."

"No one will ever believe it. It's my word against his. He has a title. I'm just the daughter of a merchant. They'll believe him first." A breath rattled in her chest. "But I know you believe it and that's something."

"I do believe." She said softly. She leaned in and gave her a brief kiss. "It'll be all right."

"I know." She wiped her face some more. "Help me think of an excuse for my mother."

"I'll tell her you have a headache. Just go up to your room. I'll bring you tea. And kiss you until you feel better." She smiled. "If it will make you feel better?"

"It probably won't." Brittany said. "But I'll accept whatever comfort I can get."

"Then let me hold you a while. Will that help?"

"It will, I think." She leaned against Santana and relaxed slightly. She'd never be able to fully relax again. She was sure of it. She would forever feel Sebastian over her and inside her. And if he made good on his promise that he would marry her, she knew it would only get worse.