Title: Hazard of Hearts
Author: Wereleopard58
Rating: FRAO (NC-17)
Summary: Clark Kent meets Lord Lex Luthor who wins him in a bet.
Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or Barbara Cartland's a Hazard of Hearts. Come on give me a break I have been training away from home.
Feedback: Would appreciate it but happy you are actually reading this *g*
Chapter Ten
The carriage went away from Mandrake; inside Clark was struggling with Morgan. He didn't want to use his strength to get away. To show what he could do in front of this evil man.
"When we return we will be married." Morgan muttered as hands roamed Clark's chest and down to his trousers.
"You must be insane to think I would marry you. I hate you, I loathe you. You make me shudder."
"How exciting I long to make you shudder."
"Let me go." Clark begged.
"Damn you Clark, I offer you marriage, the finest house you can imagine. It is only out of kindest I offer you anything. I could take what I want, could take you without marriage. Suppose I make that fact known, Hmmmm. If I let people know how much you enjoyed it. Where would you be then?"
"I'll kill you myself."
Clark yelled as his shirt was ripped down the front, as were the fastenings of his trousers.
A loud gunshot echoed outside of the carriage as it pulled to a stop. Morgan stopped what he was doing.
"Out of the carriage." A highway man sat on his horse, his face covered a gun pointed at the door.
Morgan climbed out first, slowly followed by Clark.
"I'll have your neck for this." Morgan growled.
"No doubt." The highwayman muttered amused.
"Give me your money, your watch and any other valuables."
Morgan handed over his money. "Take it and be damned."
"Thank you."
Clark reached into his pocket and pulled out his money.
"No sir, I don't take from handsome young men."
"Sir, would you help me?" Clark asked.
"You look like someone should." He noticed the torn clothing, which was why he had been gracious before and not taken the money.
"This man was trying to carry me off. Would you take me back to Mandrake House?"
The Highway man laughed. "God bless my soul. If I'd known I was going to be doing this I would have come out on my white horse." He reached out a hand and helped Clark climb on the horse behind him. "Up you come then." He handed over a blanket so Clark could rap himself up.
"Are you insane going with a man like that?" Morgan snarled.
The Highwayman pointed his gun straight at Morgan. "Would he be sane staying with a man like you?" He fired the gun and scared the carriage away leaving Morgan stranded all alone in the woods. The two of them rode off.
"I'll see you hanged." Morgan yelled out to the two disappearing figures.
XXXXX
Once they were far enough away the Highwayman slowed the horse to a trot.
"The name is Oliver, I was an innkeeper once. The wife ran off with a villain. I caught up with them but he laughed at me. I just hit him and he died, that's me been on the run ever since. There's Mandrake, sir up yonder. I daren't come any closer."
"I'll never be able to thank you enough for your help." Clark told the other man honestly.
"A good deed in a wicked world and all of that." He grinned at Clark slowing the horse down. "Be lucky." Oliver called out as he rode away.
Clark watched him leave and made his way back to Mandrake. The blanket wrapped tightly around his shoulders he made his way quietly through the house. Standing there at the top of one the staircases was Lex.
His blue eyes narrowed as he saw the blanket wrapped around Clark's shoulders. Moving forward he pulled it away and saw the torn clothes beneath. Jealousy surged through his body.
"What happened?" He demanded.
Clark looked down not wanting to cause more problems. "I can't tell you. You wouldn't believe me."
Lex gripped hold of Clark's arm. "Let me be the judge of that, tell me."
"I can't."
"I see you're just like all the rest. Taking the moonlight, I believe it's called. Was it Chloe?" Lex shook him. "Or Dick Grayson was he your fancy?"
"How dare you, if you must know I was lured outside in your father's name."
"My father?"
"Yes and then I was taken by the man I hate more than anyone else, and then he tried to force himself on me." The night had fallen taken its toll Clark slumped in Lex's arms.
"Lord Edge." Lex muttered coldly.
XXXXX
After Clark was put to bed, Lex went straight to see his father.
"It didn't work."
"What?" Lionel answered innocently.
"Edge and Mr Kent, your nasty little plot. It failed."
"Have you lost your mind?" Lionel stared at his son.
"You arranged to have him abducted."
"What a ridiculous fantasy." Lionel sniffed.
"Mr Kent escaped; he is back in the house." Lex glared at his father and spoke slowly, controlling. "I have spoken to him."
"Whatever happened I played no part in it."
"What did he offer you?" Lex's eyes never strayed from his father.
"I have no idea what you mean."
"Your price?"
"Heaven's above, that simpering creature where would he find such a match?" Lionel fidgeted on his seat aware of his son's gaze. "One day he would have been thankful for it."
"How much?" Lex repeated once more.
"I swear that question is indecent, if Morgan Edge gave me a little present for the introduction."
Lex walked around the table to his father. "I want the truth."
"Very well, the devil take you. He was giving me 10,000 guineas. Which was nothing considering that she was bringing a dowry of 80,000. I will not have that nothing marrying you."
"10,000 that is your price for selling one of MY guests out of MY house to a lecher"
"It was not like that."
"It is a stain on the honour of the name Luthor that we will never live down." Lex leant on the chair shaking his head.
Lionel stood up. "That is all life means to you the Luthor's of Mandrake. The tedium of listening to it my whole life, my family, my wife and now my son. Mandrake maybe your mistress but it is not mine. Well have I silenced you at last?" Lionel laughed at his son.
"Mandrake will be closed, the tunnels will be blocked and you will be sent abroad."
"Lex you can't be serious, you can't banish me, and you cannot.
"But first there is something I must do."
XXXXX
Lex and Morgan stood back to back pistols in their hands. They walked away from each other pacing.
Morgan turned early, as he did so Dick called out. Morgan fired and Lex fell to the ground.
TBC