URL: still-believe. org /coda
DISCLAIMER: Not mine!
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?

PREVIOUSLY:
Eliabeth is attacking coming to Ripper Castle but survives and is rescued by Captain Finn.
Lady Druscilla Ripper, Spike's mother had a agenda and very little sanity.
Our two blondes meet again at Ripper Castle with some unexpected consequenses.
A new day dawns....

Spike spent a restless night trying to get some sleep. The last day's experiences had left him confused and unsatisfied. His involvement into the affairs of the Summerly family had been nothing but trouble to him thus far. He had decided once Lady Summerly was installed in Ripper Castle his obligations would cease to be so much of a bother.

He had arrived home in a foul mood due to the failure of his latest trip to Paris. Again the Republican guards had been sniffing around his ship. Quick action had again prevented any trouble but his journey had been a failure once again.

His bad temper had only increase when he had met the righteous Captain Finn. His possessive stance and closeness to Elizabeth had immediately been apparent to him.

To learn that she had been attacked in such a brazen manner had left him angry and ready to hunt down the person responsible for endangering Elizabeth's life.

"Elizabeth" Spike tasted the name on his lips for the first time. Addressing her by her formal title had seemed to keep her at a distance in his own mind. But any barriers metaphorical or physical had been broken by him yesterday. It was a regal name for the little slip of a girl who had him so disturbed.

'It is stupidity' Spike berated himself as he paced the room. 'He did not want the girl for himself' he reasoned, 'so why did the attentions of another man annoy him so?'

Perhaps it had been his instant dislike of Captain Finn that had spurred his territorial actions. Inspired him to be closer to her, to touch her, to feel if she was a delicious as she looked.

Spike closed his eyes in an effort to clear his head of the memories of their last meeting. But his mind's eye brought forward more vivid images. Glistening with a startled passion her eyes had turned a pure deep green. So large in her small face that they had kept him mesmerized until he could not resist the pull to taste any longer. Taking a deep breath he could almost smell her scent, a touch of wild flowers and a feminine musk. And then the taste of her…

Opening his eyes he wondered at his own self. Infatuated like a young boy. Again. He raked his hands thru his hair in disgust. The usual short neat curls thrown into hapless disarray.

'Hadn't his past taught him that this road only led to pain?' He knew the signs well. First there was the attraction, then infatuation and before long, obsession. With Elizabeth there was already a strong attraction, but there would be no infatuation and certainly no obsession on his part.

Captain Finn and his ilk were far too eager to bypass him for that particular honor. Why had he even brought her to Ripper Castle? He had thought perhaps his mother could take charge of her.

His mother, though, in his absence had apparently not even set eyes on the girl. Her disposition towards the young girl was of no surprise to him considering his childhood. Perhaps he would have to take matters into his own mind.

Snatching up his crop Spike decided to use the early morning to see to his troublesome stallion that was raising hell in the stables. Relieving his frustrations on the beast was preferable to agonizing about the affair.

Buffy awoke early. The gloom of the past few days had cleared to reveal a perfect day and the slight morning chill was made up for by the abundance of sunshine. Her night's rest had been strangely inadequate despite the comfortable rest; her soul yearned for something else.

Buffy dressed quickly, the development of the last day meant that she was no longer a captive invalid and was able to leave the confines of these four walls. She decided it would be a perfect morning to explore the beautiful gardens she could only glimpse from her window.

True enough, the gardens she found were spectacular. They didn't have the simple charm and cheerfulness of her home on the Summerly Estate but there was beauty here all the same. It was of a rougher and wilder beauty, the heather and moors in the distance and the strange exotic flowers that grew within the gardens.

Buffy was deep in her exploration of the strange and wonderful sights that she didn't hear the noises from the stables until she was in full sight of the place. Several groomsmen were running ragged as they tried to subdue the horse which Lord Ripper currently sat riding. More accurately the horse that was doing its utmost to be rid of its noble stead and his foul temper.

It was the first time Buffy had seen Lord William not having full control of the situation. The horse was bounding hard trying to unseat him and while he clutched hard at the pieces of leather he could hold onto. His entire upper body was drenched in perspiration making the thin muslin fabric of his shirt cling to this skin. The outline of his taut and well muscled chest was clearly visible to Buffy as she stopped mid-step. Her eyes unable to tear themselves away from the indecent exposure. Last time Buffy had seen any man in a similar state of undress had been many years before when Xander still saw her as playmate rather than a girl.

Now a girl on the threshold of womanhood, her curiosity and appreciation of the sight in front of her made her forget her upbringing. Her mouth dried as the proud stallion rose on his hind legs and his rider clung impressively and stubbornly on his back. His hair was no longer immaculately coifed, wet like the rest of him, a few stray curls dangled in front of his impatient eyes.

The struggle between man and beast continued for a few more minutes. The groomsmen had handed their master a whip, which was used mercilessly on the horse to make him compliant but the horse had too much spirit.

'Trapped he may be but he's not going to give in without a fight', Buffy thought. 'In fact the horse was rather like her, sold to this man and being groomed for obedience and servitude for her entire life.' Her mouth was now bitter as she watched they horse tire and give into torturous treatment

"Excellent work, my Lord"

"You achieve the impossible, my Lord"

The sycophantic praise of his servants was ignored by Lord Ripper but his arrogant smirk bore evidence of his satisfaction.

No longer distracted his sharp gaze landed on Buffy watching him with a disgruntled look on her countenance. 'Now what?' he thought.

Buffy seeing that she had been noticed knew that it would be wise to turn away and not bring attention to the fact she had been watching all this while but her anger by now was beyond simmering.

She walked up of the fence and instead of her usual lowered stance she glared up at her guardian. "When one doesn't know how to ride a horse, does one usually resort to punishing the poor animal?"

Spike raised a single eyebrow; this was more fire he'd seen in the girl since that first fateful meeting. She had come to Ripper Castle a more subdued version of her former self. But now the passion he had seen in her eyes was more than evident.

"Is it not enough that you have caged this lovely animal in such a small enclosure but now you assault him so much that there is no life left in him? If it is a toy that you want, I'm sure you can buy plenty of those. Why punish this poor beast?"

Spike dismounted and set the horse free, "Do you believe you could have managed any better with this little hellion that you are showering such pity on?" he mocked, inciting smattering of laughter from those watching, shocked at the nerve of this girl.

She was surprised at his response, she had expected defence of his methods not a challenge. "I believe I would have calmed the horse without any physical implements." Buffy spoke up proudly. She had always had a strong connection with the horses at Summerly before they had to sell them.

She confidently extended her hand towards the animal and the horse approached her curious rather than scared or angry. Buffy gave him some quiet murmurs and rewarded him with a little treat she had with her. So much so the 'hellion' was soon nuzzling his nose in her hands.

Lost in their mutual approval of each other Buffy failed to notice Lord Ripper behind her until he sharply drew her away and around to face himself. In fact his face and those blue eyes were directly in front on her now.

"Careful, Lady Summerly, these creatures may appear grateful for your little favours and soft words but they won't hesitate to attack at any sign of weakness." He drew his face closer to hers as if to make the words spoken more forceful.

He cupped her hand seductively, tracing the soft skin. "And we wouldn't want anything to happen to your sweet self, now would we?" The arrogant half-smirk was back. Buffy felt herself blush furiously and was reminded why she shouldn't be in close proximity to this man. He was a rake and as he had demonstrated before was without any gentlemanly boundaries.

Yet as she tensed to scurry away from his mockery unsure of the little quivers in her stomach and the ache in her breast. She was reminded of the scene just a few moments earlier. This man's brutal subjugation of the horse proving himself the master. She was no dumb creature she was stronger and could fight for herself.

"You needn't worry Sir; I can lick my own wounds clean". She snatched her hand away and stalked away angrily. He watched her leave not moving an inch, 'The kitten had claws.'

The days passed slowly, he rarely saw her except at the occasional meals he took with the others when she had not excused herself to her room. From the information his valet gave him she seemed to remain content in her own company. Her sat sipping his drink thinking of his little enigma when Cordelia's shrill voice distracted him from his thoughts.

"Spike! Where are you lost? Why did we have to come to this gloomy old ruin of yours when its miles from any society or any culture?" She whined.

Spike smiled and pursued his lips wickedly, "Perhaps the isolation is what is to be desired in your company my dear", he extended his arm to his mistress. She rose and clung to his arm, using her considerable experience and skilled fingers to find the spots on his body to excite him.

"Well in that case why is that that I have not had the pleasure of your company in my chambers of this past week." Cordelia was not to be so easily distracted.
Spike gave her an indulgent smile, relaxing into her seductive embrace, "I apologise my dear. I have been neglecting you for my business matter." Cordelia's belief in her own charms satisfied her that was all there was to the matter and focussed on giving her lover maximum enjoyment and enjoy he did the attentions of her lovely hands and mouth.

Sated Spike stroked the lush curves of the woman before him, 'Why did they seem too bountiful somehow? A more petite figure seemed to occupy his fantasies lately. A waist that he could wrap his hands around completely, lift up and kiss the slight swell of her abdomen. Breasts that fit perfectly in each hand, begging to be kissed.

"Spike!"

He snapped his attention back to this pouting mistress. "You seem very distracted of late?" Cordelia's dark eyes narrowed on him. "Perhaps it's that new charge of yours that's been bothering you? She flits around the Castle like a little ghost silent and gloomy."

"Gloomy?" Spike asked curiously.

"Yes gloomy", Cordelia's smiled cunningly. "Perhaps she is lovesick?" She arched her brow with mock wonder, "Or perhaps she is hoping for a beau? A young girl like her should be out in society mingling, she is of age to be married you know."

"You should marry her off and be done with her." Cordelia's smile was now venomous.

Spike instantly took a dislike to the idea but refused to think of reasons why this was so and changed the subject so to focus his clever mistress and his wandering mind elsewhere.

"Well I am more concerned about your happiness my dear. As you have brought it to my attention that I have been ignoring you while you have done nothing but pay me great," he bit at her lip, "and avid attention."

"What can I do to make up this great injustice," he told her magnanimously, "anything that your heart desires my dear?"

"You mean it Spike?" Cordelia rose excited next to him.

"Name it."

"A ball, a big spectacular ball. I have been dying to wear my seamstress's latest creation before the fashion has past. We can invite the whole ton; those old crows would come if you invited them. An invitation for a ball at Ripper Castle is to be treasured."

"Why not, if that's what you want. You can decide the whole thing."

"Oh Spike," Cordelia kissed him exultantly, whopping with joy. "This will be the event of the season. We will bring this Castle back to its glory days."

She jumped off the bed and was excitedly planning aloud. "So much to prepare, the guests, the entertainments, the preparations………"

Spike smiled at Cordelia, 'This was going to be very convenient', Cordelia was going to be quite busy with this ball and wouldn't be inquisitive in his affairs.'

Dressed and about to leave the room, Cordelia turned and gave him a sweet smile, "Spike, I believe this Ball would be the solution for both our problems."

Spike frowned, "Both our problems?"

"If all goes well that girl could be betrothed before the end of the evening and you shall no longer be her caretaker." With that she smiled and made a flourish of her hand as if to indicate her genius. She left still excited about her preparations.

Spike's frown deepened. Now why was it that he didn't like this idea?

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