Author's note: Sorry it's taken a while to get this updated. I've got two others going. And a ton of reading that I should probably do. Thanks for all the reviews and adding this to favorites and alerts. I hope you enjoy reading it. Don't hate me forever. Everything will work out.
Happy reading!
Chapter Thirteen
Brittany had been lying awake for a while when she heard the door open behind her. She figured it was Santana since her mother and sister always knocked. When she felt the arms wrap around her, she knew it was Santana.
She kissed Brittany just below her ear and whispered, "You awake?"
She kissed brought Santana's palm to her lips and kissed it softly. She rolled to her back. "Yes. I have been for a while, actually."
"Then get up, sleepy-head. You have a big day ahead of you."
"I don't want to go to this picnic, Santana."
She brushed her fingers down Brittany's face. "Come on, dear, everyone will be there. You will never be alone. Your sister will see to it." She kissed her cheek. "And I'm going to be watching from the sidelines with Kurt. If he tries anything…"
She rolled into Santana and kissed her softly. "Thank you." She sat up and stretched. "I miss you. When you're gone from me."
Santana sat up with her and wrapped her arms around Brittany's waist. She rested her head on her shoulder. "I know. But we can't be together all night."
"I keep dreaming about running away with you." She turned and rested a hand on the side of Santana's face. "But I still worry about hurting my mother."
"Brittany—"
"Britt, are you decent?" Penny called as she rapped on the door.
"Just a moment, Penny." She called to her sister. She kissed Santana once more and then both got up from the bed, Brittany pulling on a dressing gown as Santana opened the door.
"Sorry for interrupting." Penny said as she plopped down on a chair. She chuckled, "I suppose I always am."
"What are you doing here, Penn?" Brittany walked into her dressing room and started rummaging through her clothes.
"Just wanted to make sure you're all right."
She stuck her head out of the dressing room. "You're just being evil. I'm going to follow you the next time you sneak away with Noah Puckerman so you know how it feels."
Penny laughed again. "Noah will be coming on the picnic today, actually."
"Does Papa know?"
"Yes. And he's not very happy about it."
Brittany shook her head. "Santana, could you please...?"
She nodded and followed Brittany into her dressing room. Brittany closed the door and draped her robe over a chair. "I'm thinking this blue. What do you think?"
Santana nodded. "It's the same shade as your eyes. It will make them shine even more than they already do." She brushed a kiss against her lips and then went about helping her dress.
Penny called through the door, "So are you ready for today?"
"I'll try to keep Blaine and Rachel close. You can make eyes at Noah."
"If that's all you think happens, I think I should have a talk with your Santana." She giggled.
Brittany turned red. "We don't do those things in public." She scolded.
Santana brushed her fingers down Brittany's face. She whispered, "I would if I could."
Brittany turned her head and kissed her hand. "I know."
Penny called, "Okay, it's too quiet in there. Would you like me to leave you alone?"
"Yes." Santana called.
Brittany put her hand over her mouth. "Don't listen to her. It's my room. Stay of you want."
"No, I'll go. But remember, you don't have long."
They were both quiet as they listened for the door to close. When it did, Brittany stuck her head out the dressing room door.
"She's really gone." Brittany said with disbelief.
"And lacking in subtlety."
"Help me finish, please." She said, dragging her back into the dressing room.
The sun was bright. Thankfully there were plenty of shady trees to sit under. Brittany positioned herself under one as she surveyed the crowd. Sebastian and Sugar alighted from their carriage.
Sebastian leaned over and whispered something to his sister. She looked uncertainly at him for a moment before she nodded and then walked a short distance away to sit beside David Karofsky-Stroud. Sebastian sat close to Brittany.
"You're looking quite pretty today." He said softly.
"Thank you." She said, craning her neck to find Santana.
He took her hand and brought it to his lips. "I must apologize for what happened last time we were together. But I really couldn't help myself. You're just too beautiful and I had to have you."
"So it's my fault?"
"Of course it is." He said dismissively. "Now, when would you like to be married? I was thinking winter. You'd look perfect with snow in your hair."
"Next winter?"
"This winter."
"It's already September."
"It won't be a problem to get a marriage together in just a few months. Late January?"
"Someone might think I'm pregnant." She hissed.
He laughed, "And why would they think that? We wouldn't plan a wedding to hide pregnancy for four months away."
"Well, they might think something."
"They'll think nothing other than us being so completely in love we just had to be married."
"I barely know you."
"You know me enough."
"You're mad."
He smiled brilliantly. "Maybe a little."
Lord Blaine and Lady Rachel sat down suddenly with their basket.
"Mind if we join you?" Blaine asked.
"No, not at all." Sebastian said smoothly, clearly annoyed. He turned back to Brittany. "Of course, if you want to wait until after Lord Blaine and Lady Rachel marry, I'd understand."
"Wait for us to marry for what?" Rachel asked.
"Oh, that's right." Sebastian said. "It's not been announced yet." He stood and looked around the clearing. "Ladies and gentlemen," he called. "I would like to announce to you lovely few gathered her that Miss Brittany Pierce and I are engaged to be married. And we'd like for all of you to attend." He smirked down at Brittany who smiled kindly at him. Everyone applauded. He wandered off to speak to a friend of his who was waving him over.
She hoped her soft expression hid the fear coursing through her veins. A hand landed on her shoulder, making her jump.
"It's me." Santana said softly. "Are you all right?"
She smiled and nodded. "Yes."
"Brittany, you don't have to marry him." Rachel said.
"But I do, actually. My father would disown me if I didn't."
"Surely not."
"You don't know my father."
"But your mother—"
"Doesn't love me any more than my father does. They only had children because it was expected, I'm sure." She looked over her shoulder at Santana. "I'll be fine."
"As long as you're sure."
She nodded and watched as Santana walked away to sit with the rest of the servants. She turned back to her friends.
Sebastian returned and sat close to Brittany. Too close. He played with her fingers as he chatted kindly with the small group. She tried to remove her hand from his, but he held it tight.
"Don't." He warned softly.
The tone made Brittany cringe. She had to find a way out of this before it went too much farther. But how?
Penny and Noah joined them after a while. They'd gone off on their own almost as soon as they had all arrived. So much for having their help, Brittany thought. Penny sat beside her sister and Noah sat on her other side. He smiled around the circle.
Rachel had an angry set to her face and stood abruptly. She walked away, shaking her head.
"Rachel." Blaine called wandering off after her.
Everyone watched as the pair argued quietly in the shadows.
"She's just angry because you've got the man you actually love here despite his class and she's marrying someone she doesn't love because the man she actually does is a blacksmith and her father wouldn't allow the marriage." Sebastian said to Penny. "Oops, did I say that out loud?" He smiled and pushed a strand of hair behind Brittany's ear. "Finn Hudson." He said softly.
"What?" Penny said, staring daggers at him as he touched her sister.
"The name of the man Rachel is actually sleeping with." His smile widened. "Didn't you know? I thought everyone did by now. Not like they're really keeping it a secret. Nor the fact that Blaine is having an affair with his butler, Kurt."
"It's not really anyone's business." Brittany said.
"It's my business. I don't want you associating with them anymore. They're not good people."
"We're not married. You can't tell me who I can and cannot associate with."
"We're engaged, Brittany." His voice was sweet, but dripped with warning. "You will do as I say from this day forward. Or I'll tell everyone what I told you I would. Remember?" He leaned close and whispered in her ear. "I own you, Brittany. And if you fuck with me, I fuck with you. And I don't mean in a fun way." He kissed her cheek. "Understand?"
She swallowed and nodded shallowly.
"Say it, Brittany."
"I understand, my lord."
He sneered. "Good." He brushed a finger down her arm. "This will work out just fine, I think." He murmured.
Penny and Noah both stared him down for a while before Noah turned to Penny and smiled. He kissed her cheek. Then he stretched out and rested his head on her lap.
She combed her fingers through his hair and smiled down at him.
Brittany looked over her shoulder at Santana. She stood, brushing off Sebastian's touch. She walked into the trees several yards until the hum of conversation was almost completely gone. She could still find her way back if she needed, but she was far enough away for anyone to see her. She leaned against a tree.
"Brittany?" Santana said.
"Santana." She sighed. She reached out and touched her arm.
"Are you really all right?" She stepped closer and touched her cheek lightly for a moment.
"I'm fine. But now I'm more stuck. Everyone here knows. All of London will know by tonight." She looked away. "Santana, I think… I think he's hurting his sister."
"What makes you think that?"
"It's just what I noticed about how he treats her. He may not be physically harming her, he at least puts her down and controls her every move." She kissed Santana's knuckles. "I need to go back."
Santana nodded and leaned in for a soft kiss.
"Oh, my god." Someone spoke from a few feet away.
They both looked in the direction of the voice. It was Sebastian.
He was grinning. "Well, well, well." He said. "What do we have here?"
"Sebastian, I—" Brittany began.
He held up his hand. "No need. Just another thing I have against you, dear Brittany." He looked Santana from head to toe. "You look lovely. And you look like you could be fun. Is she, Brittany."
"I'm sorry?"
He gave his betrothed a disparaging look. "Is she any good in bed? You know, better than you at any rate?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." She grabbed Santana's hand and tried to walk past him.
He grabbed her arm roughly. "Don't you dare walk away from me."
"You don't own me, Sebastian." She said meekly.
"But I do." He smiled. He let go of her arm. "Get back to the group, love. I'm going to have a conversation with your maid."
"Don't." She begged softly.
"Jealous?" He asked cockily.
"Not at all." She said. "I just…" She raised a shaky hand and placed it on his arm. "Come back with me. Leave her alone."
"You're the only one who can touch her, then?"
"That would be up to her." She smiled, "I want everyone to see us together so they can bring the news back to town. I want my father to hear good things. I want him to know I actually want this."
"But you don't." He looked down at her.
"You do. And I think I could learn to want it. I just have one condition."
"Oh?"
"Spring wedding. Early May. I don't want to rush it. Let's get to know each other a little better before the wedding."
He smiled. "All right."
She suffered through the rest of the picnic. They all played a few rounds of charades before the party started breaking up.
"I hope you and your sister can join us for supper sometime soon." Brittany said to Sebastian as they stood outside her carriage.
"Of course. Send me a note."
"I will." He kissed her cheek and then bid them all farewell.
"I don't believe you're doing it." Noah said from across the carriage. He had an arm draped carelessly over Penny's shoulders. "Marrying him, I mean."
"Who said I was actually going to go through with it?" She said softly, slipping an arm through Santana's. She kept her gaze averted, but she could feel everyone staring at her. "I'll think of something, even if it means running away."
"I'll still help you." Penny said. "You know I will."
She nodded and rested her head against the window. She dozed off.