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*)
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?

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Thank you to all readers for the very kind words and encouragement. The reviews do inspire me a lot so keep them coming.

CHAPTER 3

Spike slowed his ride to a slow trot as he approached Summerly Court. The journey had been pleasant in the late spring weather and the countryside awash in wild flowers. The lands surrounding the estate looked well maintained; however, the lack of funds could clearly be seen in the area. It seemed that Sir Summerly had for a long time been living dangerously close to the edge of doom. Perhaps it explained his willingness to begin gambling that fateful night.

In the distance, the slow gallop of Clem could be heard. His friend was making the best of it, but he was still painfully slow in his progress. Spike sighed, then grinned, glad to have Clem with him. Today might prove to be an unpleasant task but something had to be done about the girl. He was not willing to be married off to a country spinster.

With a final look back to make sure that Clem was still astride his ride, Spike kicked his horse Taranta and continued on towards Summerly Court.

"Buffy! Buffy!!" Anya's shouts filtered from below to Buffy's room. "He's here, he's here!!!" Pounding on the staircase was followed by Anya scurrying through her doorway. "Oh heavens, Buffy, he's here! The gardener saw him from the Surry Hill and told cook who told Mrs Keller. Oh lord he's here and so early in the morn too."

Buffy in the midst of putting her hair up was exasperated by her hair's inability to stay neatly pinned and now with Anya's wild remarks, Buffy was thoroughly irritated. "Who is here Anya? Mr Snyder for his money again? That little dwarf is going to tempt me to murder. I have told him to wait for the months' end but he insists on tormenting me. His harassment has gotten worse now that he knows my dear father is no longer with us."

"Mr Snyder would be alright at this time, but it's HIM!" Anya's eyes widened with worry as she spoke.

"Who Anya? Am I to be surrounded by people talking in riddles?" Buffy stood up in order to try calm Anya.

"Lord Ripper, he's here. He passed Surry Hill not an hour ago. He should be here any moment. Is this a time to be calling unannounced I ask you? And you're not even dressed. Hurry, I'll send Mrs Keller to help you." Anya had barely left the room before she shouted for Mrs Keller.

Buffy winced at the shrill tones of her companion, having been struck dumb since his name had been uttered. 'What was he doing here? Why had he arrived unannounced? Was he here to...'

There was no time for thought as Mrs Keller came in and proceeded to comb, plait and pin her hair into submission. Afterwards the maids came into to dress her in the dress Anya had laid out for her. It was her pink silk dress made for the ball before tragedy had hit them. Buffy had never liked it so much as it made her look younger than her years, and unbeknownst to her, brought forward her purity to all those who observed. So in half the normal time Buffy was dressed and ready to face their visitor. However, she was barely halfway down the stairs when she heard the horses arriving outside. The smell of the strange animals made Mr Gordo aggravated so much so that he escaped his handler and was creating a ruckus downstairs.

"Mr Travers, please let go of his leash!" Buffy commanded.

"Come here Mr Gordo!" Her faithful protector bounded up the stairs and came to rest next to her just as the door was opened by Mrs Keller to the visitors.

Spike entered the house, welcomed by the housekeeper. Without the presence of his valet the woman was quite at a loss to address him directly.

"Lord Ripper and Mr Clement Feline to see Lady Summerly" He tossed his hat and gloves, proceeding to take in the entry of the once grand home.

The furnishings were dilapidated, but well maintained and glowed with a dull shine. The entry was dominated by a large graceful staircase ascending into the upper quarters. Spike's eyes travelled up and came to an abrupt stop when they landed on a Great Dane growling. Next to the monster was perhaps the loveliest creature Spike had ever laid eyes on.

Golden ringlets framed a perfect sweetheart face with a rosebud mouth that was moist and succulent. Eyes of gleaming emerald that sparkled in the sunlight, showing their chameleon nature sat huge in the tiny face.

Her small frame was encased in a rosy shade too; the simplicity of the gown enhanced her beautiful figure with its fulsome bust.

It seemed as if only a mere instance had passed when Clem pointedly cleared his throat. Distractedly, Spike glanced back at Clem, wondering what was wrong. But unable to take his eyes away from the vision above, he turned back again.

Clem coughed embarrassedly, and after finding that his friend was not going to tear himself from his contemplation of the lovely girl he had seen, Clem apologetically introduced himself and Spike.

"Clement Feline and this is Lord Ripper your ladyship"

"I am Anya Jenkins and this is Lady Summerly." Spike finally noticed the brunette also standing beside the girl who made the introductions complete.

Both parties bowed and curtsied despite the distance that was both physical and emotional.

The ladies made their way down the steps with the Dane following protectively beside his mistress. Buffy's eyes were suitably lowered as obligatory of a lady but she shot little looks in the direction of their handsome blonde visitor.

Spike too was keenly regarding her, the usual mantle of polite manners that he reluctantly observed were forgotten. His consideration was interrupted only to answer in short sentences the curious enquires of Miss Jenkins.

They took tea in the sitting room with the conversation being conducted by Anya and Clem with the minimal input from Spike and Buffy.

"I believe the weather in these parts has been unseasonably pleasant Lady Summerly?" Clem commented.

Anya looked towards her companion who seemed to be finding the pattern in the threadbare rug underneath their feets uncommonly fascinating.

"Yes, Lady Summerly was just commenting on the very fact." Anya returned with extra cheer and a discreet nudge towards Buffy. "Our rose garden is blooming and was the pride and joy of … the Late Earl." The name of her father brought slight tears to Buffy's eyes as the true nature of the situation was brought to light.

"Yes, it was." This was the first non-monosyllabic thing that Buffy had said all morning. "Now it is your rose garden."

Spike watched as the beautiful girl's face raised and she gazed at him with glittering hate filled eyes. 'So much passion in one so young?' He wondered how they would look if they glittered in the passion of a different light. That golden hair undone and spread out in all its glory. In his bed, on his pillow-

Spike was horrified at his vivid imagination. Nothing could come of his attraction to this girl.. She was too innocent for him. Or was she? Was he imagining the innocence? He was a man of the world and knew the fairest of maidens hid the hearts of hussies. Could there be a shrew hidden underneath?

Buffy watched as Lord Ripper seemed to measure her with his eyes. What was he looking for? Measuring her head for his trophy room? Or was he trying to decide how to tell her she was free to go?

Spike stood up abruptly, leaving Clem sputtering mid-sentence in his conversation with Miss Jenkins.

"I'm afraid ladies we have to take your leave. I have just remembered I have urgent business to attend to in London."

"Surely you can stay for lunch, my Lord, and see the grounds." Anya enquired.

"No, it will be impossible." Spike paused and looked once again towards Buffy. His eyes roamed her face taking his fill as if it was his last breath. "However, I didn't come to the point of this visit in that I wish to restore the Summerly Estate."

Buffy's eyes lit up in the sudden knowledge that her home would be brought back to its former glory.

"I would like to dispose of it as soon as possible, but it won't be easy in its current state."

Just as soon as the hope has flared it extinguished. Buffy's eyes dulled and Spike felt a strange pain in his heart. Never affected by others, he was puzzled that such small signs of displeasure in an unfamiliar girl could instigate such feelings in him.

"Lady Summerly, I send the invitation of my mother Lady Ripper to join her as a companion at my estate in Ripper Castle." Spike knew very well that his mother would welcome no companion but if it was his wish she would have to comply.

"The carriage will be sent next week on the Sunday. I trust you shall be ready." Spike headed towards the front door without waiting for any protest.

Buffy remained seated, shocked by the news. Anya looked at her face once and rushed to see out the visitors.

"Lord Ripper, your invitation to Lady Summerly is too kind but it seems so hurried. Our dear Elizabeth has never been far for the Summerly Estate. It would be hard for her to tear herself away from the ancestral home."

"Life is made for change Miss Jenkins. Lady Summerly is young and I'm sure she will enjoy the company of my mother who is quite the society hostess. The parties at Ripper Castle are the best of the season so it should be a welcome change." Spike smiled a wryly at Anya as he took his hat and gloves.

"Don't worry Miss Jenkins, arrangements for you shall also be made. You will not be left without a place."

"Oh, oohh. Thankyou Lord Ripper" Anya, despite her worries for her young companion, appreciated the assurances for herself. A widow with no income was not an envied person in this society.

With that, Spike left, followed by a confused Clem. Anya watched as the men rode away, then turning back to the sitting room to find Buffy still in the same position.

Anya kneeled down next to Buffy taking her ice cold hands in her own warmer ones. "Buffy, Buffy! It will be alright. You always wanted to travel, see the country. Now is your chance. It is not the best of circumstances I admit but Lord Ripper seems a …" Anya searched for the most polite adjective she could find, "reasonable gentleman. He assured me the life in Castle will be filled with society balls and his mother is best mentor for a girl such as you-"

"I don't want the society balls if the mother is anything like him, I would be better off befriending Lady Macbeth. I just want my life to be like it was before." Buffy snatched back her hands and walked to the window.

Anya looked at her friend's proud profile. "But it can't be Buffy. It will never be the same again. You are a strong woman. I believe your mother taught you that life brings with it many challenges, and this is one you have to face too."

"Well, as challenges go, I would have preferred scaling the Himalayas." Buffy turned and smiled ruefully at her friend.

Anya smiled back, "Wrestling a tiger in India?"

"Ok, I guess balls and castles don't sound so bad," Buffy conceded.

"Also I dare say Lord Ripper shall be a nice relief to the eyes as compared to Mr Snyder." Anya joked and the two friends laughed as the tense emotion of the day eased.

"Yes, I must admit Lord Ripper, despite his arrogance and bad manners, was extraordinarily handsome. But his friend seemed the kinder of the two."

"One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it," Anya commented with a smile. "Now, enough gossiping. We have many preparations to be completed before Sunday."

"Yes," Buffy mood again darkened at the thought of the approaching date scared her. "There is a new chapter of my life beginning."


TBC