A/N - While I am enjoying this story a great deal, it's impossible to tell if ANYONE else is if no one reviews! I'll probably only post a few more chapters and then stop until I get a review or two. Yeah yea, pity party I know but really! I could write this for myself and skip the whole process of fighting with ff to get it uploaded and yada yada. But I'd much rather share - so let me know what you think!

William DeGent was nothing if not decisive. He had deposited a very generous sum into Nicholas' palm, and then tattered off a list of places they would visit. Nicholas obliged, steering the comfortable hansom through the streets until they arrived first at a rather fine diner. Nicholas watched with a stab of longing as the handsome suitor led Elizabeth from the coach and toward the building. He settled to wait.

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Elizabeth pulled her hand from William's grasp, yet again. She wondered how many times she would have to repeat the same gesture before he would give up. They stepped from the bright street into the dimly lit building, and even Elizabeth felt more at ease. This was her favorite diner, and her father had brought her here often when she was younger. The decor was warm and inviting, and even in mid-day it was dim and seemed secretive inside. A waiter escorted them to a table, and William pulled the chair out for her.

"Thank you," she offered softly, settling. The waiter offered them both a menu, but before Elizabeth could take it - William had ordered for both of them. The waiter was taken aback at first, but then simply consented with a nod and a smile. He turned to fetch their drinks.

"I hope you don't mind, I'm sure you will like it." William smiled arrogantly.

Elizabeth clenched her teeth. Her disgust with this young man was only increasing. Her mother's plan was backfiring. "Really, William.." she began in careful tones. "I may be a woman, but I am quite capable of ordering for myself. Thank you, though."

William seemed to ignore her comment. "A new show opens in three weeks, at the Opera Populair. I've always found the opera a bit drab, but Mother says you would enjoy it thoroughly. Would you accompany me?"

It was infuriating how this man could insult her with every word! Her mind stumbled over the possibility of going to the opera. It had always been shrouded in mystery. Her parents would never let her attend any of the showings, and the idea of them taking her was ludicrous. She had longed to go, and if Elizabeth DeChagny had ever been denied anything in her lifetime - this would be it. How could her mother say no, if she was accompanied by the fool they wanted her to marry?

"I would love to." Elizabeth flashed one of her brilliant smiles, and seen William relax a bit. The waiter returned with a bottle of wine, carefully pouring a glass for each of them. Elizabeth allowed slender fingers to curl loosely about the stem of her goblet, toying with the dark liquid within her glass more than drinking it. William, obviously, had a taste for alcohol as he was on his second glass within moments.

Silence lulled. William had absolutely nothing to say that was of interest to Elizabeth, and she doubted she could entertain him either. They were too different, quite polar opposites. Grasping for filler, William began to speak of business - of how the merger between his family and her own would benefit them both. He spoke of the money it would undoubtedly bring in, and nearly every other detail except for one. He failed to mention that her hand in marriage was the price, the turn key. The conversation lasted through most of dinner and the entire bottle of wine that William single-handedly finished. He had a good start on another, by the time the pair left the quiet diner.

Elizabeth squinted at the onslaught of sunlight as they stepped back into the street. She could hardly see for a moment, and could not locate her hansom. William, quite drunk already, was slurring something to a passerby. The quiet control of horses hooves caught her attention, and their hansom arrived. The driver stepped down from his perch and opened the door, offering his hand to Elizabeth. William teetered precariously off balance, and was of little assistance. Instead, Elizabeth allowed the man who was still, despite the warmth, shrouded in that cloak - to help her in. She settled onto the seat, and the stench of alcohol followed.

"To the park!" William demanded of Nicholas, who easily took the reins. The man was vile and did not deserve such a beauty at his side. Disgusted, he urged the horse onward toward the park in the center of the city.

The park was well-known and never without patronage. The city had spent a considerable sum only years before to invest in it, having declared that it would only bolster tourism. A large pond graced the very center of it, surrounded by an expanse of green lawn that hosted all sorts of colored flowers, benches, walking paths, and even a gazebo that overlooked the water. It had always been a favorite place for Elizabeth to visit as a child, as well. As they approached this day, the grounds were teeming with people. William spoke to Nicholas when they stopped. They would prefer a ride instead. Judging by the disdain obvious in the young woman's countenance, Nicholas was willing to wager that she'd rather be rid of her companion entirely.

Nicholas wound about the park, and through the city streets until he rounded the DeChagny mansion. A few miles beyond were the slums, but between this place and that was a most beautiful ride - large trees heavy with flowers bent over the road until their branches entwined. It was the same road where he had first met Elizabeth, the night before. He wondered if she had thought of him since.

"Stop!" William barked.

Nicholas obliged, hopping down from his perch to inquire as to the problem.

"We'll walk for a while, wait here." The young man clumsily helped Elizabeth from the carriage.

"William, really. It is getting late in the afternoon and I have things to help mother with. Couldn't we just return?" Elizabeth seemed uneasy, and Nicholas glanced warily to the inebriated man beside of her.

"Just a stroll, little Beth. Then we'll go." He looped his arm about the feisty girls waist in an indecent manner, whisking her off toward the path that traced the treeline along the road. Nicholas suppressed a growl and turned from the sight, moving to stroke the noble nose of the horse whom he had driven hard for part of the day. He was lost in angry thoughts, the murderous part of him that he struggled so much to quell had tasted his anger at William and forced itself to the surface. These thoughts often frightened Nicholas, as he felt he had precious little control over them - and this battle waged within him now, thoroughly distracting him from the couple who walked away.

Before he had realized what was happening, Elizabeth and William were in some sort of scuffle. Nicholas turned just in time to see Elizabeth turn in anger from the young man, and run back towards the hansom.

William followed, tackling the girls form to the ground. He rolled her roughly beneath him, from belly to back. With spirit, Elizabeth clawed at his face. William's eyes shone viciously. He lifted his hand to strike her, and dealt a blow that sent her head reeling to one side.

"You're to be my wife, little Beth. Your father has already agreed to it. Like me, or not - you will belong to me. Now, I will have you.."

The smell of alcohol on his breath was nauseating, and as he roughly thrust his weight between her thighs and struggled with the layers of skirt that separated him from her, Elizabeth thought she may vomit.

"Help!" She whimpered, teary eyes cast toward the hansom. The driver, however, was gone.

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