EMAIL: spikez_me@hotmail.com
URL: www.geocities.c o m/coda_spikez/
DISCLAIMER: Amazing to think that we can play with some characters owned by Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy/Fox with just the inclusion of this little line. Yay!
RATING: R
PAIRINGS: B/S (*sigh*)
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Inspired by an OLD B-Grade flick that's still one of my favourites of the same name starring Helena Bonham-Carter. Only remember the beginning so the movie of where this leads is anyone's guess. 
TEASER: AU, Earl Summerly a compulsive gambler wagers the hand in marriage of his daughter Elizabeth Summerly to the evil Lord Angelus. Can Lord William Ripper rescue Elizabeth?

CHAPTER 2

Lady Elizabeth Summerly stared unseeingly out into the lovely rose garden beside Summerly Court. Her loyal companion, the great Dane, Mr Gordo walked beside his mistress. How much life had changed for her since that fateful February night. Anya and she had been chatting beside the fireside when her cousin Alexander had burst into the house past Mrs Keller the housekeeper.

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"Buffy…Buffy….Buffy! Where are you?" Alexander's shouts echoed throughout the main hall and staircase.

Elizabeth sighed. 'What was wrong with him now. As much as she loved her cousin, she was not always as understanding of his excitability as she should be.' She got up, putting her book away and hurried out the room.

"I'm here, Xander, what is the matter?" Buffy looked to her harried cousin. In her worry, Buffy also lapsed into their childhood names for each other.

"Buffy," Xander came onto her and clutched her hands. His expression of pity and sorrow striking fear into Buffy's heart. "Buffy," he began again, but broke off unable to continue.

Buffy lost her patience. "What happened Xander? For god's sake, please tell me." She snapped. Upon hearing her own harsh tone, she cringed. Years of her mother's instruction on the behaviour expected of a lady came back to her like a reprimand from the grave. She took a deep breath, knowing from past experience she would need a softer approach with Xander.

Buffy tugged Xander into her father's study. Although she was very fond of her companion Anya Jenkins, she was not, however, known for her discretion, and this looked to be a discreet matter.

Shutting the door she sat Xander down and poured him some of father's best brandy. After urging him to swallow half the glass down, she pushed Xander for further explanation. "Xander, please tell me what happened," Buffy's hazel eyes sparkled with appeal.

Xander looked at his childhood companion, and was again filled with pity at her situation. Loving her as much as he did, and having so much gratitude for her father, whom had taken his poor nephew into his care and taken upon himself the burden of his education, Xander loathed being the bearer of such bad news.

"Marry me Buffy!" It was a trial to determine who was the most surprised of the pair at this announcement.

Xander, having opened his mouth, was determined to swallow as much of his appendage as possible. "Buffy will you marry me and we can have the minister here before dawn?"

Buffy's expression firmed and she decided unladylike or not some situations demanded to be taken into hand.

"Stop this melodrama at once Xander and tell me what is the matter!" Buffy's tone was strict and demanded to be obeyed. Xander, for once, abandoned his instincts to bury his head, and slowly ,with much application of brandy, narrated the terrible events of the night. After he had finished Buffy slumped down next to him.

"Wagered at a throw of the die," Buffy remarked bitterly.

Xander looked sorrowfully to his friend. "You mustn't blame your poor father. He was surrounded by the well wishers of Lord Angelus. He believed them to be his friends and heeded their advice. The weight of blame lies squarely on myself. I was the one who left his side knowing full well of his vices, his weaknesses. I allowed myself to be diverted to the pursuit of my obsession. I should have been there to intervene in this tragedy." Xander, if possible, sat even more dejected than before.

Drawing breath as if to give himself courage, he stood. "But I can solve this product of my mistakes. Marry me Buffy and you won't have to face the shadow of that beast upon your person?"

Upon the repeated words of the proposal, Buffy roused herself from the stupor of misery she had succumbed too. Drawing from the strength of her departed mother, Buffy comforted herself. Even as a young child, Buffy had known that she had to find inner strength against the challenges of life. Her situation in life had blessed her with comfort and even luxuries, yet with it were also the responsibilities of such a position. She had submitted herself to study in the arts of a lady, the devotion of a daughter to her parents, the example of a lady to society. Yet her heart craved adventure, the freedom to seek out her own destiny. To have the luxury not of silk and champagne, but autonomy and enterprise. Buffy had not rebelled then, and even now, in the face of abject despair, promised to the man she despised most in the world, the man responsible for the death of her dearest friend, she would not back down. Certainly not hide behind her cousin Xander. As dear as he was to her, she could not marry him.

"No Xander, I'm not going to give that fiend the satisfaction of knowing that I am scared of him. He may have won his battle to win me ,but he can never possess me in full. No one can do that; I won't be bartered as a possession. He may have forced my father into a corner, but I won't back down." Buffy spoke with a strength of character and a maturity beyond her one and seven years.

"Buffy –" Xander was cut off from his approaching plea.

"Don't try to convince me anymore Xander, and any marriage with you would be a crowded affair. I may be naïve Xander, but I'm not blind, deaf and dumb. I know that you are entirely obsessed with Lady Chase. In fact, most of London is most probably aware of your love, even if the object of your affection is not."

Xander had the grace to look embarrassed, but still he tried once more. "Buffy, please think carefully as the time to act is short? Remember in this case, it is better to marry in haste rather than to repent in leisure."

Buffy smiled sadly at Xander, "My dear cousin, I fear no one save me from my fate."

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However, despite her pessimistic words, there had been a savior for Buffy. An unknown knight who had saved her from the clutches of Lord Angelus, but she had yet to find out whether she had been plunged from the stove into the fire or not.

It had been three months, and where sharp sorrows had surrounded her life, Xander's announcement had been quickly followed by news of her father's death. Unable to face giving her the news, her father had taken his own life. As she was barely recovering from her grief and her shock, it was declared that her guardian and victor of the wager was in fact Lord Ripper. The mysterious noble, who shunned courtly activities and was an enigma in society, was the man to whom she was now promised. Buffy didn't know what to think nor was she able to process anything for many weeks as the rituals of her father's funeral were completed.

After that life existed in a strange limbo, as they waited for news from the silent Lord Ripper. A brief letter arrived from his secretary that Lord Ripper was sorry to hear of her loss and offered his condolences. Further than that there was no news. As the weeks had passed, Buffy became angrier at the situation. He had won her as a whim and once victorious had no use for her and had decided to ignore her. 'What was to become of her?' More than the dangers of being at Lord Angelus's whims, Buffy feared nothing more than having to spend the rest of her days locked in the prison of her stately home. For all its beauty, it was to her an ivory tower from which she wanted to escape, even if it was to face tougher challenges ahead. But to struggle was preferable than the apathy of her present state.

She sighed and turned back to the house, hoping that today would bet the day of news, any news.

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"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune
must be in want of a wife. He requires her taste, her direction and her progeny."

William rolled his eyes and moved away from the chatter of the annoying Lady Bennett. Again he wondered what had possessed him to come to this ball tonight? He had little patience for these people or the conversation.

"Spike you have to stop sulking in shadows or legends like that of that unfortunate European Count will also circulate about you."

William sighed in relief at finally finding a welcome face among the throng. "Well for what do we live for Clem, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?

Clement Feline his lumbering, large friend was the only reason he favoured such company these days. There were times long forgotten that William had been happier in such gatherings but duration of time had hardened him and such frivolities as dancing and gossiping were long gone. The warm nature of Clem, though, still appealed to William, and he couldn't refuse an invitation from his old friend.

"Spike, it has been too long," Clem, like an over-friendly puppy, embraced his friend, grinning happily.

"Clem, I have told you not to call me that in public." Spike's stern voice subdued Clem's warm nature until he noticed the twinkle in his friend's eye.

"Spike, you shouldn't be so serious all the time. Besides, it is so rare these days for me to meet you." Clem put his arm around Spike and led him to a quiet alcove in the room.

"Now tell me my friend, where have you been? Last I heard was that you were headed to France."

"The political situation is a little sensitive especially for those among us who are blessed with a noble title so …" Spike eluded Clem's questions, secretly he had been back and forth across the Channel frequently in the past month. The last trip had been too hazardous even for his liking, so he was currently cooling his heels in present company.

However, Clem was not to be distracted from his interrogation, "And I hear that congratulations are in order. I hear that you are engaged of late. To royalty no less."

 "Engaged, royalty!?!" Spike frowned, "does no one in this town have any business to attend. They seem to find extreme delight in meddling and talking about things that are none of their concern!"

Clem laughed, "Well Spike when you come out of the shadows so spectacularly like you did this past winter there is bound to be talk. There are some who are suspicious of your motives, but I know that there is a kind heart under that gruff exterior you show the world."

Spike grimaced, his instincts usually didn't fail him, but that night he seemed to have been too hasty and now he was faced with being the object of scrutiny. It didn't suit his purposes to have people pay attention to him.

"However, I do commend you, Spike. Saving the poor girl from the fate of marriage to Lord Angelus is surely to be cheered. I hear the girl is quite a beauty in her own right. There are some spirited debates occurring around town comparing her to Helen of Troy and Aphrodite."

Spike poured himself another drink disinterestedly. "The girl is most probably a country bumpkin with no more beauty than Helen of Oxley or Anne Golightly. Speculation by people who have never laid eyes on her should not be paid attention to."

"Spike, I would not be as fastidious as you for a kingdom. You saw yourself the efforts Angel put into getting the girl. Now Angel is no Prince Regent, however, given his wealth and position, he is not short of female companionship. What possible reason would he have to do what he did to Summerly if the prize was not worth it?" Clem argued, sipping from his own glass.

Spike mused unseeingly into the distance, picturing the face of Lord Angelus at that final wager with Sir Summerly. His eyes had gleamed with pure evil it seemed, an all-consuming need to possess.

"I cannot comment in detail on Lord Angelus's motives, but he is a snob as much as the rest of these people. Summerly's connections with the crown does make a match with his daughter, a more attractive prospect." Clem nodded agreeing to the valid point.

Spike continued with a wry smile. "Imagine the fate of the country if the heirs to the throne were the victims of a fatal illness, and the responsibility of the throne had led to Summerly's door. We have still to overcome the burden of an insane king, only to have had a drunk and a gambler as the new King." Spike laughed at his own joke.

Clem looked around worriedly, hoping no one had heard the musings of his friend Humour about the King's underdressed dashes across the garden had become commonplace of late, but still to address the King as insane was still a blasphemous act in more royalist circles.

"Spike!" At Spike's questioning glance, Clem softened. "Well I don't think we have anything of the sort to fear, especially as the poor man put an end to himself and his shame."

Spike's mood darkened. "Hmmm, it is a shame the man didn't wait a few more minutes to see the outcome of my little wager. I could have saved him the anguish. I was going to return him all his losses as they are useless to me. The man was hasty in his wagers of property and life. Now there is no one to take over management of the Summerly Estate, and there is that girl still to be dealt with. However, she is still young I hear, in a few years, when it is unavoidable, I shall have to deal with it myself I fear."

Clem was outraged for the fate of the unseen girl. "Spike, that is a cruel fate for the girl. Without any decision the girl must wait for your whims and fancies until something is decided for her. She is a young girl, Spike, leaving her in the back waters of that estate when she should be at Court like all the others of her age would be as cruel as anything Angelus had planned for her."

Spike sighed and unintentionally allowed the seeds of pity to grow in his mind for the girl. She had already caused him enough bother for the kindness that he had shown her. Was it not enough all that he had done for her already? Deep inside, Spike realised that he could not be so cruel to the girl, however, he was still at a loss to find a solution to the problem.

"How did you find her in correspondence? Is she bright or a simple girl?" Clem continued questioning.

Spike shifted uncomfortably. He found it hard now to tell his friend that he had in fact never written to the girl or to her charge or even tried to find out the specifics of her situation.

"You haven't even bothered have you?" Clem accused.

"Clem stop acting like my nagging wife. I understand now that something has to be done. I will not be made to feel more guilty about this subject"

"Fine." Clem said, inwardly smiling as he realised he had gotten through to his friend. It would not be long now till the cracks appeared.

"At least have a look at the girl. She is promised to you in marriage. Having a look at the… er… merchandise is good business practice, isn't that correct?"

Spike grimaced distastefully, "She's hardly a cargo of goods for me to see, but perhaps you are right. Perhaps we should go have a look at this great beauty."

"We?" Clem asked innocently.

"Yes we!" Spike grinned at his friend. "I know that you are intensely curious to see her too, so you might as well come with me. It is only a two hour ride on horseback from here. We can be there before nine in the morn."

"Nine! Horseback!!" Clem squeaked. "We can begin later perhaps in the afternoon, and take your carriage."

Spike's grin widened into a full blown smile. He knew of his chubby friend's dislike for early starts and exercise. However, if he was going to be blackmailed into action over the girl, he didn't see why Clem shouldn't suffer some too.

"No, I prefer morning. So I think it is time for us to retire my friend, we have an early start tomorrow."

Clem sighed and resigned himself to his fate.

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Chapter 3 ...>