Chapter Ten

"This is all rather odd, don't you think?" Reggie asked curiously, gloved fingers touching her lips as she looked around the room. "But, not appalling…"

"Well, knowing they haven't assigned seats… Or rather, Greenwich hasn't due how unconventional this is all is… where do you want to sit? It looks to be me as though she worked it out to where there would be spare tables and chairs," William replied to her.

"I dare say we should sit with the Blackwoods," Lilith chimed in and motioned politely. "They look to be sitting by themselves." She smiled over at Reggie. "What do you think, dear?"

"Fantastic idea; especially before anyone else takes a liking to their empty seating."

William sighed as his sisters hidden agenda; though, he couldn't be upset. Finding a husband was her whole purpose in this flurry of parties and satin. The sooner she did so, the better off she would be. And truth be told, he held no objections about Dare; as his mother said, she couldn't do much better; which was all the more reason why the tug in gut needed to be gone about the whole affair. There was nothing wrong with the man and he could presume such a thing had everything to do with seeing his darling sister finally growing up. Perhaps he just wasn't ready for it.

When had he ever been so protective?

Lilith steadily led the way, confident woman that she was with her shoulders squared and her hips swaying. She maneuvered cleanly through the throngs of people all settling down whilst servants held out seats and assisted in people finding their place. Despite the small amount of chaos, everyone appeared in good spirits and took the oddness of it all stride. Granted, there were a few sour faces that likely didn't approve of the break in tradition; however, it wasn't enough to matter very much.

"Lord Blackwood, Mr. Clarke," she said as she stopped at the table. "It appears you are without company. Do you mind my forwardness on behalf of my sister, Lady Regina, and my brother, Lord Broderick?"

William watched as both men stood immediately.

"Not at all," Blackwood said. "Please join us. I hear dinner will arrive soon and it would do well to have some pleasant company.

"Can't have my nephew named a wallflower, can I?" He smiled at her.

"How very gracious," she appraised him, smiling as well. "Though, my lord, I doubt you or your nephew would be without company for long." She held at her hand as he took it. "I know you've met my brother, William, but it would very rude of me not to—."

"Lady Maclay, I am very honored to make your acquaintance," he interrupted softly, leaning over her hand to press a kiss.

William noted the faint blush that peppered Lilith's cheeks and hid a smile of his own as he helped seat his sister after better introductions were made. Lilith took the seat next to Blackwood and he found himself between Blackwood and Dare, while Reggie took the seat on the other side of his newest… friend.

"I must thank you for befriending my brother," Reggie said immediately to him, not wasting any time.

He watched as the man's hazel-green eyes lit up curiously and a smile curled ever so. "It seems as though you think it was some sort of… trouble to do so?"

Reggie chuckled. "Not at all, I imagine. But… William has a hard time… socializing."

"I can't really figure out why," he countered, smirking, much to William's amusement.

"People can be cruel," Regina said plainly.

"Bullies, really," he heard Dare say. "I can't stand them. Never have been able to."

"So then, you're a bit of a champion, Mr. Clarke, are you?"

Sideswiping the question, he said to her instead, "I also can't stand formalities, Lady Regina—Dare; I'd feel much better if you just called me Dare. I'm friends with your brother, aren't I?"

She was still beaming as she said, "Indeed you are… Dare."

And that was all it took for his first friend to singlehandedly, and completely, bewitch his sister. And while he was happy for them both he still couldn't shake that… thing that had no name bothering him.

#

Dinner passed on without incident and Buffy found herself continuously drawn into some conversation with Regina—or rather, Reggie as she insisted on Buffy calling her. She thought it fit her better anyway. The teen reminded her a lot of Dawn. She was bright, funny, and seemed easily excited.

"Can I ask you something… off keel?"

"I'm sorry?" Buffy found herself saying as she dabbed her mouth with the cloth napkin.

Reggie frowned. "You seem quite… forward thinking. So, I wonder if I might ask you something… well, two somethings?

"I fear offending you."

"Scaring me off?" Buffy asked, only half lost in translation.

Reggie chuckled. "I suppose that would be one way of putting it. Yes, I'm a little afraid of scaring you off."

Buffy shrugged without thought. "Ask away. I'm not easily scared."

The younger woman bit her lower lip and her hands coiled in her lap. "Well, first, I'd like to task you what your opinion is on women… using a pistol?"

Oh, right, the word for gun. "You shoot?"

"As a hobby," she admitted quietly.

Buffy sighed. She'd never been a huge fan of guns since that first run in with Darla. But, she couldn't say she was against anyone using one for protection, or for sport. She wasn't big on the whole hunting thing either, only because it made her feel icky. But, it wasn't like she was a vegetarian either.

"I guess if you have fun doing it, what does it matter if you're a man or woman?"

At that Reggie's face brightened in much the same way Dawn's probably would if she ever got her license.

"Then, do you think it would be forward of a woman to ask a man to dance?"

"Heck no," she said without thought, feeling just fine about her inner feminist. That was until Lady Regina placed her hand on her forearm.

"Then, will you dance with me?"

Aw… hell.

She felt herself pause for the passing of a second, trying to get her racing mind to come up with something. But, nothing was coming—nothing. If she said no she'd hurt the girl's feelings. If she said yes she would be catering into something she only just realized was happening. She had that look in her eyes; the one Buffy once saw in her own eyes when she'd been puppy-loving Angel.

Fuckfuckfuck!

In the end, all she could really say with some hesitance was, "Sure," and stand, taking Reggie's hand in her own before heading out to the dance floor. Somehow, they fell right into the next dance; however, the melodrama unfolding in her mind while trying to dance was wreaking havoc on her. It was like that weird thing they ask you to do when you're a kid: pat your belly and rub your head at the same time. She'd been so bad at that. And yet, somehow, she managed to move through the steps unscathed.

"I take it you're not used to dancing?"

"Not very," Buffy admitted, trying to look sure of herself.

She smiled at her, only making her more nervous about the whole affair, and said, "You're not doing too badly. Relax a little."

Easy for you to say; you're not a woman masquerading as a man trying to figure out how to sensibly rebuff another woman's …advances! That was the word—advances. Yes, that sounded Gilesey enough.

How was she going to get out of this?

If Buffy knew anything about stuffy old England it was that woman were not supposed to know how to handle a gun, or, ask to dance first. Oh, geeze. And sure, she's thought it was conversation—conversation! Talking! If she'd had any idea Reggie was gearing up to jump on her naughty parts at some later point, probably with a ring on her finger, she would have lied through her teeth. It's not like there were a lot of men running about that would put up with that from her. And Buffy had laid herself out like the male equivalent of a ripe prime rib on BBQ Saturday at the college frat party.

She had to figure out how to get out of this fast, and, without hurting Spike's sister's feelings. Arg! Why did he have sisters!? Husband hunting sisters!

"Are you alright, Dare?"

"Just fine," she replied automatically.

"You look a bit flushed," she said with a smile as they came back to one another in the rows of dancers.

"I think I'm just feeling hot, is all. Perhaps I'll need some fresh air after this dance."

"Very well, though at least guide me back to the table?"

"Certainly." The response was quick as she bowed and Reggie curtsied.

People moved about from one table to another rather informally, talking after the meal as they waited for the announcement of the play to be made. Buffy, for her part, couldn't get back to the table fast enough. She must have looked it because William stood up, face awash in concern.

"Is something the matter?" he asked.

Reggie shook her head with a bright smile. "Not at all. He's merely a bit put out by the heat in the room. Would you walk him out for some fresh air, Will? I would feel better were he accompanied."

Ugh, god, she wasn't going to faint, Buffy thought. She just needed to get away from his sister for a moment and think.

"I would be happy to," William said.

"Well, let's be off then," she muttered, ignoring the look Kit shot her as she walked off towards the exit. She was so not in the mood. And even when William caught up with her she still didn't slow down, barely stopping to ask a servant which way the nearest exit for some fresh air was.

But, when they finally made it outside, William said something.

"Are you quite alright?" It was in a tone that, well… that tone. The one she was used to from Spike that hinted a serious argument was about to begin.

She sighed and she leaned into the railing of a set of stairs that led down to an open, though small, garden. "Hell if I know. I just need a minute."

"Well, I would hope you figure it out quickly. My sister will want some kind of explanation."

"Excuse me?" she reeled around then, eyes narrowed. "I didn't do anything to her. I just needed a breath."

"You left rather rudely."

"Because I'm hot and it's suffocating in here," she snapped. "It wasn't personal." To hell with not using slang. Spike was always a smart guy; he'd figure it out.

William frowned and shut the door behind them as a servant passed by from within. "It may not have been, but it was still highly uncalled for—you're tone.

"Especially for a woman so completely infatuated with you."

"Look," Buffy said, "I'm sorry, I know she's your sister…. But I'm just not interested." She was trying to be nice. Maybe if she could get William to understand he'd tell his sis and she'd be off the hook. No more worries about the girl making a pass at her.

William blinked at her. At first, he looked surprised, and then he looked confused, and then he looked upset. It wasn't hard to see Spike there. It wasn't at all. He was so much like the man she once knew, just more posh. It was the only word she could think of. She knew what he'd been like before, thanks to him. Thanks to that one night in the Bronze. And, she knew the merging might have changed him a little from that bookworm. But, clothes didn't change a person that much; confidence was always just lying beneath the surface. So, really, the expressiveness… it was there. Always had been.

"What in the hell is wrong with my sister?"

Well, she hadn't been expecting that… sort of outburst. "Nothing," she said back immediately, hands up in defense. "Nothing is wrong with her. She's beautiful, funny, and smart. I'm just not…" Oh, god, this was harder than she thought. Way harder.

"You know you're the first man I've ever heard say he didn't give a damn if his wife shot a firearm? If she asked him to dance first?" He all but growled out. "Reggie needs that kind of guy. She beautiful, yes, but a man who doesn't understand her will …ruin her.

"And damn, I've never cared so much. But, you've proven yourself to be a good man thus far, Dare. A lot of eligible men would kill for her to just look at them. Don't think I'm not aware of it. And it's up to her. She could die a spinster for all I care—because I love her enough to expect the man who takes her hand to understand and accept her.

"Do you see? So, excuse me if I don't grasp why someone like you wouldn't be enchanted by a beautiful, amazing, wonderful woman like my sister. You'll need a wife to carry on the name if your uncle doesn't.

"That is why you're in London, is it not?"

For moment she'd been struck by his own use to slang—her breed of slang. How much of Spike was there? And all because he was upset with her—as Dare. All because she wasn't interested in his sister. Oh, but, geeze, she was finally in a corner. What in hell was she going to say? Of course it appeared that way; it appeared like Dare was there to be an emergency backup for his uncle. But, William didn't know about the ruse. He didn't need to and she needed to come up with something—fast.

But, what was more to the point… he really did love his sister. He was practically offering the girl to Dare on a silver platter because, well, god… this was so messed up.

"The only way you couldn't be interested in her," he went on as if joking, "was if you bloody we liked men."

And then Buffy stilled—visibly.

And then William stilled as well.

There was a lengthy pause as he scrutinized Buffy and she felt her insides wiggle and warm. Not now, she scolded herself.

"…You do, don't you?"

Aw hell, was this really the only way she was getting out of this? She offered a tight smile. "You got me…"

And then he blushed. Blushed!

And Buffy realized where this was going. She held up her hands. "Oh! But. No!" she stammered out loudly. "I'm not..! I mean I wouldn't!

"That's not why I wanted to become your friend! I promise."

He just kept staring at her and Buffy was really worried he was going to bolt for the door and out of her life. This could, quite possibly, set things back way farther than she ever imagined. Maybe that hadn't been the best straw to grasp for.

So, again, she said, "I really wasn't angling for that with you. Honestly. I just wanted a friend. I swear."

William finally relaxed and closed his eyes, sighing as he did so—as if relieved.

And somehow Buffy felt affronted by that. Remember, she told herself, you're a guy—duh. Of course he wouldn't be interested anyway. Not was William… no.

"Oh, it's not that," he told her, probably seeing the look on her face. His smile was nervous. "It's not that there's anything wrong with you. I promise. We're I that way I would definitely… but I'm not," she said with obvious emphasis and a raise of a hand on his own part. "I'm sorry. I've suspected it of some men, but, I've never been told outright. And I was jesting. I didn't expect…"

"No, no, it's fine," Buffy said, trying not to feel hurt. She hadn't expected to feel hurt at all, really. It's not like he was her Spike. He didn't know her. Of course he wouldn't want her—especially as a man.

William sighed again. "I'll be discreet."

"I'm sorry?"

"With my sister. I'll talk to her. She'll be disappointed, but she'll understand and won't say a word.

"She doesn't like bullies any more than you do."

"Oh… well, good."

"Does your uncle know?"

She frowned. "Yes, well… he does."

"Then I wonder why he'd want you to carry on the name if you have no interest in at least marrying and trying to produce an heir."

"We're working it out," was all she said with a shrug, not being able to think of anything else. Her brain had done enough work for one night.

"Yes, I imagine so. There are many ways around that."

Buffy didn't even want to know what he meant by that as she walked back towards the door. "I think I might call it an early night, with or without Kit."

"Probably a good idea. I won't be able to talk to Reggie until later."

She nodded and he opened the door for her and they stepped in.

He smiled. "And you certainly don't want her to moon all over you the rest of the evening."

"That would be a big fat no," she agreed as they walked down the hall, deciding the night had earned her some slang. Yes, she was going to go back to the house, curl up in her bed with cookies and milk, and gossip with Isabella if she were still around—slanging it up all around.

AN :: I think this chapter felt short, but oh well. It got the point across. At least I'm writing fairly regularly again. Kinda. Poo. Anyway, hope your enjoyed it. Not much else to say. ^^ Reviews are appreciated, but not require, as always.

—Blade