Title: Unwilling Bride

Author: Neamh1

Warnings: NC-17

Disclaimer: not mine

AN: Thanks for the great emails, this story has already been written and i know the first few chapters are really short but they get longer as the story goes on, sorry about that but thanks for all the great reviews and here's the next chapter, enjoy!

Buffy made sure that she was descending the stairs as the large clock in the hallway struck precisely 2pm. As he had said, Angelus was waiting in the parlor for her.
"Are you ready?" he asked, at her nod he took her arm and escorted her outside to the carriage. Helping her inside, he took the seat across form her and closed the door then banged on the ceiling signaling to the driver that he could go.
"Is there anything that you had wished to purchase for yourself today?" she asked him as they headed from the estates grounds and toward the city center.
"No, I only need to find a suitable tailor who will make home visits. If you weren't in such dire need of some decent clothing then I would have the same done for you today but we haven't time to wait for someone to come to us. You may choose two day dresses and we shall agree upon one evening dress for you to wear tonight at dinner. Then we can arrange for the seamstress to come to the house and fit you properly for some more gowns as soon as possible."
Just the way he said it made her itch to slap him again and if the challenging look in his eyes was any indication he was expecting just as much from her. Counting slowly to ten, she forced a smile to her lips and nodded. This was going to be harder than she thought, he was so arrogant and commanding, how was she supposed to be nice to him?
They sat in silence then until they approached the city. As they drove along, she began pointing out to him certain shops that she often used along with some places that he might be interested in. The driver stopped them next to the most expensive dress store in the city. Angelus got out first and helped her from the carriage. As he lifted her down with considerable ease, his hands on her waist were a little too familiar for her liking. She saw no one that she recognized around them so they entered the store without stopping. Buffy had only before had several gowns from this shop; she considered them overpriced and too delicate for her
normal pastimes. She had always preferred more Saturday dresses, fit for horseback ridding and walks through the countryside around their estate; things that she hadn't done in a long time. It had been her father that had insisted she have the dresses from here when he had thrown balls and elaborate parties hosting the most wealthy barons and lords in the area.
She stood back observing the various gowns and materials displayed around the shop while Angelus marched up to the lady behind the desk and asked to speak with the store owner. The woman disappeared into
the back and shortly came out following a small plump lady dressed in the finest of dresses.
"How can I be of service my Lord? I'm Lady Catherine, my husband and I own this store." the lady said with a small curtsey.
"Good day my Lady. We're to purchase some dresses for my fiance Miss Summers." Angelus began but didn't get chance to continue as the woman butted in.
"Oh, I had heard about Mr. Summers untimely passing; my condolences to you both. I wasn't aware that Miss Summers was affianced though, you'll forgive my surprise Lord...?"
"O'Connor, My Lady, Lord Angelus O'Connor. It is only a recent engagement and I made my way here as soon as I heard Hank was ill but unfortunately I was too late. We haven't yet had a chance to announce our engagement. I believe it will be printed in the newspaper on Thursday." He said with a smile. Buffy started at that information, she had been standing off to the side while Angelus spoke with Lady Catherine; content to let them get the banter out of the way before including herself in their conversation. She hadn't realized that he would go ahead with the plans so soon and she thought he might have at least mentioned it to her what he had done, she didn't hope as much that he might have asked her about it.

"You have already contacted the paper Angelus?" she asked and he turned to her with a devilish smile.
"Yes, as your father wanted us not to wait until after the mourning period I thought it a better time than any to get the proceedings moving. Lady Catherine, would you be so kind as to prepare my fiance's wedding gown for her. I've been informed your gowns are of the highest quality for miles, is this accurate?" Angelus asked turning back to the plump rosy cheeked lady.
"It would be my pleasure, My Lord." she replied and he could practically see the money signs fitting through her eyes.
"For the time being we require two day dresses and one evening gown, I would be most obliged if you could have the evening gown readied this afternoon while we wait. The day dresses can be delivered to our estate
tomorrow, then your seamstress can spend some time while my fiance chooses some more day dresses and other accessories, if that will be acceptable?" he asked, knowing that she would not refuse.
"Of course, I'll send my best seamstress to your estate tomorrow at noon and she will see to all your requirements. When would you like the wedding gown fitting?" she asked, her voice several pitches higher from excitement.
"Perhaps next week on Friday would be suitable. I'll be busy that day with some business and I'm sure the seamstress will keep my fiance busy until I return."
"Very well, I'll instruct Miss Leyton to display for you the day dresses and evening dresses we have in the store now that we can easily adjust for Miss Summers. Would you like some refreshments? A glass of wine perhaps?" she asked.
Angelus nodded and two glasses of wine were brought out for them while the shop assistant, Miss Leyton, went through a number of dresses suitable for Buffy. Buffy chose two day dresses, one in a very dark blue satin and the other in dark purple, Angelus stated that there was no use showing them any black dresses as he detested the color on women. Although she riled at this, she did agree that the color made her look ill and so made no protest. As they were being shown the evening gowns, Angelus made more frequent comments and her temper was again raised to boiling point at having to reason with a stranger over what she would wear. There was a particular dress that she found stunning and they soon
found them selves in a heated argument with poor Miss Leyton attempting to avert her attention while they went off at each other.
"I'll take that one, it's beautiful and when pulled in it will look very elegant." Buffy stated as the dress was displayed.
"Out of the question, next." Angelus said dismissing anything she had to say.
"Why? I like that one, you have to admit that it is stunning, isn't it?" Buffy asked, unsure as to why he had refused the beautiful dark green silk gown.

"We'll take it Miss Leyton."
"No we will not, for starters the dress bodice is too low cut, I'll not have you displaying so much flesh in front of other men Elizabeth, as my fiance and soon to be wife, you are for my eyes only. I'll not be expected
to sit by while you wear that dress and watch other men and their wandering eyes. Besides, I'm paying for the dresses so you have little say in the matter, this dress is out of the question."
"And who's money are you paying for the dress with darling?" She asked in the sickliest sweet, false voice ever.
He smirked at her question, knowing it would be a sore subject between them but at this point he had the upper hand. "Mine of course my dear, you're dowry doesn't become mine until after the wedding. I should
think you'd be grateful to me for such expensive beautiful gifts. Any other woman would be delighted and most thankful for anything I brought them from this store let alone the amount of gowns I'm purchasing for you. Isn't that right Miss Leyton?" Angelus said, trying to tone down the argument and remind her that they were not alone.
"Well, I'm not any other woman." Buffy said stubbornly.

Finally they choose an evening gown and Angelus left her in the shop while she was measured and the dress was altered, returning for her two hours later when the dresses were ready and she was waiting.
They rode back to the estate in silence, Angelus seemed happy to simply look out the window at the other estates they passed on the way. It seemed they had three neighbors before the outskirts of the city. Buffy had dutifully told him who lived at which estate but he already had inquired with the housekeeper and she had told him everything. He'd allowed Buffy to tell him again, pleased that she was being more agreeable but not taking it for granted, she had something up that little sleeve of hers and he was just waiting for her to pull it out.

On reaching the estate they had gone straight to their rooms to bathe and get ready for the evening meal. Buffy had not noticed the finery that had been set out in the dinning room for their meal that night, nor did she pay much attention to the servants rushing around the house.
Molly prepared her bath quickly and then helped her to dress and styled her hair atop her head in ringlets. That alone should have alerted her to something as she rarely wore her hair up, only for formal occasions. She was too busy going through the conversation she hoped to have with Angelus after their meal. In her mind it went her way perfectly but she knew she was hoping for too much, she'd just have to be her most charming tonight.
The day had been a disaster, not how she had intended for things to work out at all, it was just that every time she tried to be civil with the man he would say or do something so pigheaded she couldn't control her temper. It was a lost cause unless she managed to control her biting remarks toward him. Taking a deep breath she prepared herself; tonight was not going to be easy.

Angelus waited at the top of the stairs for her and had to look twice at her when she came from her room, she looked stunning in the burgundy velvet dress that they had brought that afternoon. The waistline hugged
her figure completely, which was still too thin for his liking but God she looked so good. He frowned when he saw the neckline; surely it hadn't been that low when they'd shown them the dress in the shop. It showed off perfectly the still plump breasts that seemed to be straining against the confines of the bodice giving a hint of the woman that lay inside. He opened his mouth to demand that she put something else on but thought
better of it. Why should he care how much of her body she showed off to others, he may be marrying her but it didn't mean that he wanted her. Damn it! He would have to speak with the seamstress who came to prepare the other dresses and make sure she didn't allow for such a low cut neckline in any other dresses. Elizabeth was to be his wife! He had the right to control what she wore, her body was for him only as her husband whether he wanted it or not! She shouldn't be parading around like that showing off her assets to other men. The dress would have to be put away after tonight; it would be her first and last time of wearing it.
"Is everything all right?" she asked, trying to hide the smile from her face, she had specifically asked the seamstress to lower the neckline on the bodice, hoping that it would work in her favor tonight when she began her work. She could see now that it had worked.
"Yes, shall we go to dinner?" He asked tightly, holding out his arm to her.
They started down the stairs and toward the dinning room. When the butler stood at the double doors leading to the dinning room, Buffy glanced a questioning look at Angelus who only smiled and nodded for the butler to open the door.
The Butler stepped inside and announced "Lord O'Connor and Lady Summers." then stepped back and allowed them to enter.
Buffy felt lightheaded as she stared at the people sat around the table, all of whom she knew and had been close friends with since she was a child. Her best friend Willow Osbourne was there with her new husband and she looked radiant. What was everyone doing there? Her eyes narrowed as she looked to her left at Angelus who was leading her toward her place at the table.
When dinning with company, she was required to take the seat at the opposite end of the table, which is where he led her. Being so far away plus with company would make it difficult if not impossible, for her to have any kind of meaningful discussion with him tonight.
She pursed her lips together so as not to say anything in front of their guests, she didn't wish to offend anyone, but this seriously put a damper of her plans for the evening.

After seating her Angelus left Buffy's side and went to his seat and sat; everyone else took their seats after the lord and lady of the house had taken to theirs.
Buffy was pleased that Willow had been sat next to her, at least she would be able to catch up with her old friend.
Conversations struck up as the meal was served and she found herself relaxing a little and even enjoying the evening.
"How are you Buffy? It's been a while since we last sat down together for tea and I have missed you greatly." Willow said, worried for her friend.
"I am faring much better now thank you." Buffy replied, her gaze trained on Angelus at the other end of the table who seemed to be impressing the Linton family and the Gaileys from the city.
"I'm so sorry about your father; he was a good man. We were so surprised when we got an invite to dine with Lord O'Connor and yourself, who is he?" Willow asked inquisitively.
Buffy didn't have chance to answer her friend, Angelus stood up and walked around to Buffy, pulling her up from her seat to stand with him and gaining everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentleman, I'd like to thank you all for joining us tonight. The past week has been distressingly sad for both Miss Summers and myself with the passing of her father and my long time friend. As Hank wished, I have gathered you all together tonight for a happier occasion, Elizabeth and I would like to announce our engagement to you all before it is announced in the newspaper on Thursday. Hank wrote me a letter saying that you were his dearest friends and that he wanted our engagement to be known by you all before it was announced." Angelus said.
Derrick Linton stood up at that point and raised his glass saying, "To the future Mr. and Mrs. Angelus O'Connor." Everyone else followed in the toast.

Angelus felt how stiff Elizabeth was at his side as he placed his arm around her and brought his glass to his lips, he imagined she might scream and start throwing a tantrum at any moment, she was fast turning the color of a bright red apple and it didn't look good.
"Excuse me everyone, I feel quite ill all of a sudden." she said tightly and quickly slipped from Angelus' arm before anyone could ask any questions.
Angelus felt highly embarrassed by her swift departure and apologized to everyone saying that he would be back as soon as he'd checked his fiance was alright.
"Don't worry my boy, young love and all that." Exclaimed old Mr. Gailey as Angelus left them to continue their meal.
As he closed the dinning room door behind him he heard her bedroom door close upstairs with a loud bang and he ran up to her room and barged in without an invite.
"What the hell are you playing at? You don't feel ill at all do you, you just wanted to embarrass me!"
"Oh get over yourself Angelus! It was nothing of the sort, although if that's what it achieved then I'm glad." she said from her dressing table where she sat pulling the pins from her hair.
"I wondered when you were going to let your claws out, I knew you'd been too agreeable today."
"Yes well, it was harder than I'd thought but that performance downstairs was as much as I could take of your arrogant attitude. I had hoped that we would be alone tonight - and not for the reason that your thinking." she said when she saw his lips begin to twist in a smile. "I hoped that we could come to an agreement, neither of us wants to get married so why
put ourselves through all this. I don't hold you to any obligation regarding my welfare. You are free to go; in fact you could leave right now, just pack your things and I'll think of something to tell everyone. I know my father might have tried to bribe you into taking me for a wife but we're not compatible."
"Shut up woman." Angelus boomed, he'd had enough of her going on, she needed to know the way things were going to be, "Listen to me and listen to me well, you will marry me whether either of us want it or not. I
have warned you not to fight me Elizabeth; you will not win so there is little point. When we have guests you will act respectfully toward me and them and not run out like a child throwing a tantrum, or you will be banned from leaving the estate and seeing any guests until I see fit to allow you that privilege. Now, I'm going to go back down and finish my meal, you will straighten yourself out and join the ladies in the parlor for tea in thirty minutes are we clear?"
"And if I don't?" she asked, wondering what punishment he would dare serve her.
"Then I'll put you across my knee and spank you like the child you are acting." Angelus said and walked from the room, either way, whatever she chose he would win.

tbc...