Title: Unwilling Bride

Author: Neamh1

Disclaimer: not Mine

Warnings: NC17

AN: Thanks for the great feedback please keep it all coming it's much appreciated :)

Buffy, so exhausted, actually slept that night, the first night she had gotten decent rest since it happened. When she woke up, she was surprised to find that it was nearly lunchtime. Molly informed her that 'the master had let her sleep' saying that she needed the rest. It was so strange having a stranger come in and take control over her and her home. She didn't know a thing about him; her father rarely talked about him
and she had never before met him, she wondered for a scant second what he was like. He wasn't unattractive and would make any normal woman a fine husband, any woman but Buffy.
She knew that this was something her father had placed on both their shoulders and that he was as unwilling to wed as she was. Perhaps she could convince him to call off the marriage, the thought had some prospect; maybe if she were polite to him today she could broach the subject at dinner tonight. 'Yes' she thought, 'this is the way to go about it'.
Angelus requested her presence for lunch on the patio , as it was such a warm day; perhaps the sunlight would brighten Elizabeth's mood, he could only hope.

Buffy chose her favorite gown for lunch, hoping to please Mr. O'Connor with her appearance as well as her attitude. The gown was a deep purple, appropriate for her mourning period. A modest neckline with lace trimming the edges, she wore her hair pulled back from her face with a small clip and let it flow down her back to her waist. She looked better if not as well as she looked six months ago. Her gown didn't fit properly though. It was too loose due to her loss of weight and her skin didn't hold the same glow it used to; plus the dark color made her look even paler and more vulnerable.
Well, there was little she could do about that, she had done the best she could. Lifting her chin she headed from her room down and out onto the patio. Angelus stood and pulled out her chair for her as she took a seat next to him; he handed her a glass of white wine and rang the bell for the servants to serve their lunch.
"I wanted to thank you for your intervention yesterday, had it not been for you I would still be unmoving from my bed." she said quietly to him before the servants arrived.
For a moment Angelus was at a loss for words, this was something completely unexpected, he concealed his surprise before she could see the effect she had on him. "You look slightly better today," he stated as their meals were placed before them.
"I feel terrible." she replied honestly, "The very thought of eating this meal makes me feel ill but I know that I have to eat."
"You do. I can tell from your gown that you never used to be so thin; it will do you good to put some weight on. I have arranged for a carriage ride for us this afternoon to take us into the city so that you might purchase a new dress for this evening. The seamstress can also take your measurements and ready a few gowns to fit you properly until you regain you regular weight. It isn't fitting for you to walk around in oversized gowns. We'll be leaving at two pm; I'll wait for you in the parlor. Please don't keep me waiting," he said, trying not to sound too imposing.
"No My Lord." She replied, unsuccessfully trying to hold back some of the anger from her voice.
"Please Elizabeth, I'd prefer for you to call me by my given name, Angelus. It only seems fitting as we're to be wed shortly."
After that their meal was eaten in silence, Buffy didn't trust herself to speak politely to him and so she kept quiet. Angelus spoke briefly about some things that she wasn't paying any mind to. She was too busy planning in her mind how to go about dinner tonight. She'd have to start controlling her temper if she were to wrap 'Angelus' around her little finger and persuade him not to wed her.
This afternoon, this afternoon she would begin her mission...

TBC..