Title: Unwilling Bride
Author: Neamh1
Disclamier: Not mine
Warnings: NC17
AN: Thanks for all the great reviews, here's an early chapter for those of you who couldn't wait. The last chapter was late cause i went away on holiday for a week but i'm back now and updates will be regular again. Please let me know what you think, thanks.
The day of the wedding was upon them and Angelus stood in his room, dressed and ready, as the guests were arriving downstairs and William was escorting people to their seats. He would soon be required to go down and take his place as he waited for Elizabeth; the thought of his bride to be made him release a huge sigh. The past two weeks had been awful, she'd been trying so hard to insinuate herself into his life, to get to know him but he rebuffed her attempts at every turn. He couldn't wait to be away from her and not have to worry that William might leave them to dine alone and he'd have to keep steering the conversation away from himself. He didn't enjoy being mean and cold and distant with her but there was no use getting friendly, he told himself. They could never have a loving marriage and he wouldn't even be around after today so why bother to get to know one another. All he needed to know was that Hank's daughter was taken care of and then his conscience could rest.
A knock on the door alerted him to William's presence only a second before his friend invaded his room, "Everyone is ready and waiting, time to go my friend." William said with a smirk. He'd seen the way that Angelus had been acting around Elizabeth and despite what thoughts his behavior gave to her, he knew more than ever that his friend was developing feelings for the young blonde.
"Okay." Angelus said and followed him from the room, downstairs and into the dinning room, which had been cleared for the ceremony. He took his place at the front and waited beside William for his bride.
Buffy had been staring at herself in the mirror for the past ten minutes. The gown, the flowers, the maid of honor, everything was how she had pictured it would be. The only things wrong were herself and her groom, she wanted more than anything to run, right there and then. Sneak down the servants' staircase; take a horse from the stable and ride away; would anyone notice until it was too late? She was alone, Mr. Linton was waiting for her in the main hallway and all the servants had been gathered into the back of the dinning room to witness the marriage.
She grabbed her money pouch from her dressing table and walked to her door. She opened it a crack to see if there was anyone outside in the hallway and it was clear. She moved quickly to the servants staircase, not letting herself think about what she was doing; just concentrating on the movement of her feet as they took one step at a time.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs she dashed through the empty kitchen and out the back door, relieved to see that the back of the house was clear. Over to the stables she slipped inside and checked for any of the stable hands. When all was clear she struggled with one of the saddles to get it upon one of the horses. Usually she would have no problem but the wedding dress was very confining.
"Need some help there pet?"
Her whole body froze at the sound of the voice and she turned slowly to find William leaning against the stable door, he looked angry.
"Yeah, you could go back inside and pretend everything is fine." She replied and quickly returned to saddling the horse.
"Yeah, well somehow I don't think that's going to happen. What are you thinking? Running away isn't the answer, I told you what you should do with Angelus. I told you he needed time; do you always give up so easily?" He said as he approached her.
"Easily? William, I've been trying so hard, how much time does he need? Maybe by the time we're both old and wrinkled he might be able to say that he finds me amiable? Well I want more than that...I want love. I want to look forward to my husband's return, not dread it. Angelus will never care about me; all I am to him is an obligation. I'm doing us both a favor by going now before this goes any further, now would you prefer for your friend to be stuck in an unwanted marriage or are you going to help me saddle this damn horse?" she shouted at him.
"Yes Will, are you going to help her?"
Both William and Buffy turned to the stable door where a mightily pissed off Angelus was standing. He looked as though he was going to tear them both apart. "So what, you two have been talking about me behind my
back, constructing plans to have me house trained?"
"Angelus it's not like that, the girl simply got cold feet. I was trying to talk her into coming back nside. I thought it would be best if you didn't find
out about this. Not to mention all the guests." Will said trying to calm down his friend before things got out of hand.
"Don't give me that crap Will, you've been trying to set me up with a woman for years now and it's never worked, no reason now should be any different. Were you going to help her?" Angelus asked, looking for any
signs that his friend was going to lie to him.
"No. Never." Will replied and Angelus nodded, knowing that Will wasn't lying, he would have dragged Elizabeth back inside by her hair before letting her escape.
"Fine, you're forgiven for the matchmaking, but I'll never forgive you." he spat at Elizabeth. "You were going to make a fool of me for your own selfish reasons. You think this is what I wanted?" He shouted at her as he approached, not really noticing that William stood his ground in between them. "I didn't want to marry you, my life was great before I got your father's letter, but did I run away like an idiotic child? No, I faced up to my responsibilities and I honored your father's last wishes. This is what he
wanted for you; do you care so little for his wishes that you would go ahead and do this, if so then go now. Get on your horse and go, hell IĆ¢'ll help you!" he shouted and grabbed some reins fitting them swiftly to the horse and placing them roughly into her hands. "Go." He said and walked away.
Buffy stood there shaking from his anger. She'd seen him be mean and annoyed but never seen him this angry before. She jumped when William placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?" He asked, seeing her shaking from fright.
"Ye-yes, I'll be fine, thank you." She replied shakily but slowly gaining some strength.
"What are you going to do, are you leaving?" William asked, knowing that whatever she chose he wouldn't get involved with now that Angelus knew.
"No, I'll stay and do as my father asked, as Angelus pointed out, I'm just being selfish." she said bitterly walking toward the stable doors. "Tell Angelus I'll be ready in ten minutes." she said before slipping through the doors and back into the house the way she'd come.
Angelus stood at the front of the room waiting for her. He had half hoped that she had gone, rode away and never came back, but another part of him was glad that she had come back. Would he have forgiven himself
if she had run away and been hurt? He knew he wouldn't have and he knew that as soon as she had been found missing he would have sent out search parties for her to bring her home. He had given her the choice and she had agreed to the marriage; not for herself or for him but for her father, their only mutual reason for this charade. The wedding march began and he straightened his back and looked straight at the vicar not willing to give her the satisfaction of turning to see her walk up the aisle. 'God I hope it rains' he thought.
Buffy stood at the top of the stairs, she took a deep breath and walked down to Mr. Linton who was waiting for her, as he was going to give her away to Angelus in her father's place.
She felt as though she was being led to her deathrather than her future husband. The music she heard was not the wedding march being played on her father's piano but the sad dreary tune played at funerals. They
reached the dinning room doors and she looked inside at the guests assembled on either side of the makeshift aisle. Looking up further she saw Angelus staring straight ahead at the vicar, he couldn't even be polite enough to make an effort for their guests and turn to watch her walk up the aisle; and he had the nerve to accuse her of trying to embarrass him!
Oh, she'd make him pay. Proceeding down the aisle she smiled at the guests as they watched her with love and envy, holding in the tears when she met Willow's worried eyes. When they reached the front, Mr. Linton gave her to Angelus and not once through the ceremony did he look her in the eyes. His vows were spoken as if read from a sheet of paper, no meaning behind them as were hers.
She felt numb and went suddenly pale when Angelus produced a beautiful gold, emerald and diamond ring from his pocket, placing it on her finger at the appropriate time. When her time came he placed a matching ring in her hand and she put it on his ring finger. She wondered how he had known what size ring to get but it mattered little, she could still read nothing from his eyes and felt as thought the ring was searing her flesh. It would forever be a reminder that she belonged to a man who did not want her.
Angelus stood in front of her trying to look anywhere but into her eyes, he was too angry to make that contact with her right now, he feared he might sear her with one look. He knew from her conversation with Will in the stable what she wanted from him. He had no room in his life for love, he'd never loved a woman in his life, and he was incapable of the emotion. Elizabeth would never look into his eyes and see love, the most
she could hope for was lust and right now he was too angry for any thoughts of lust toward her. He was leaving early in the morning before she woke, he had no need for goodbyes, and he would see her again, hopefully not too soon and would keep in touch. Blocking all his emotions out he returned to the surrounding world just as the vicar announced them husband and wife and told him that he could kiss the
bride.
She barely heard the vicar pronounce them man and wife as she studied him, looking for something, anything that would give her a little hope that the rest of her life wasn't doomed to be alone. He leaned in toward her and softly pressed his lips to hers in such a bittersweet kiss that she couldn't hold back the single tear from slipping from her eye. She had never been kissed before and wondered if all kisses felt so, so...full of despair and pent up passion that they made a woman's knees weak and their lips tremble, begging for more.
He looked at her then, into her eyes and God how he wanted to kiss her again, to slide his fingers through her hair that looked so silky today it shone even out of the sun's bright rays. Her skin looked so smooth and soft he wanted badly to place his hands against it and take comfort in her.
The audience cheered and clapped, breaking them both from their reverie and bringing them back to the room full of people, bringing back Angelus' sudden forgotten anger with them. They walked down the aisle together and outside to the gardens where the picnic food and blankets had been arranged, Buffy and Angelus had been placed away from the crowd to give them privacy. They headed toward their blanket and Buffy
unpacked the basket that had been arranged for them, mainly to keep herself busy so that they didn't have to talk. She feared any talk might start a war.
William approached and stood in front of them, "Listen, you two are supposed to be happy newlyweds, you could try acting like it, people are starting to ask questions after that performance inside." he said and
walked away.
Buffy sighed and Angelus frowned at his friend's back as he walked away.
"The rings are beautiful, when did you get them?" she asked to break the silence with what seemed a neutral topic.
"I went to collect them last night but I had them ordered when William and I went into the city on Monday." he replied. He'd been dreading this part and unfortunately the weather had held out despite the number of clouds in the sky.
"William was teasing me that you might have gone somewhere else, to perhaps enjoy yourself on your last night of freedom." she said quietly.
"This may not be the ideal marriage Beth, and I may have had my share of women in the past, but I don't plan on being unfaithful to you. Besides your father asked me not to." he knew it was a nasty thing to say but couldn't help the remark.
"It's Buffy." she replied choosing to ignore his jab at her. He frowned, not understanding what she meant.
"The shortened version of my name, everyone calls me Buffy, not Beth. And thank you, if it means anything; I'll be faithful too, no matter how pigheaded and mean you are to me."
"Well if you didn't want to face the repercussions of being caught you shouldn't have tried to sneak away in the first place. Or at least you should have been smart about it. I mean trying to do it on the day is a
disaster, you should have gone last night, I wouldn't have even known until this morning; by that time you could have been long gone." he said.
"You could have left too you know; I needn't have been this burden in your life, you should have just never come."
"I'm starting to think you're right." he replied and stood up from the blanket intending on walking away.
"Hey you two lovebirds. The servants spent a lot of time working to prepare that dance floor for you so you'd better get up there and have your first dance before I steal your bride away." he said with a devilish
smile to Angelus.
"You're welcome to her." Angelus spat bitterly.
"Gladly mate - after the first dance, you don't want people talking more than they already are, do you?" Will asked his friend.
Angelus stood still for a few moments before grudgingly holding out his hand to help Buffy up from the floor, and then he led her to the dance floor and took her into his arms as the small band began playing some
soft music.
Despite the resentment and anger she felt radiating from him she felt...safe and secure as he held her, one strong arm wrapped around her tiny waist, the other holding her hand gently in his. She fit perfectly in his arms and it seemed so strange considering they couldn't even get along for one full
day together.
He held her as they moved around the dance floor, they had little time for talk as other couples joined them and they had to keep their remarks to a minimum so that no one could hear them argue. Despite the words
that passed between she felt so perfect in his arms like that was where she was meant to be. She smelled like vanilla and fresh flowers and her hand in his was so soft and delicate that he thought he might break it if he held it too tightly. Was this song ever going to end?
The afternoon had become evening and everyone was still thoroughly enjoying himself or herself when the heavens opened and let down a river of rain. They all rushed indoors but everyone was soaked to the bone by the time they were in the shelter of the house. The guests bid Buffy and Angelus goodbye and left for their own homes. Buffy, Angelus and William went to their rooms to bathe before they caught a chill.
All Buffy's bones ached from the over exertion of the days activities; she hadn't been so active in a long time and now she was paying for it. The bath oils helped to ease some of the aches but she still couldn't help lying down on the bed after she'd dried and dressed for dinner. She was so tired she could sleep for a week and still be exhausted! She would have to get up soon and head downstairs for dinner but in the meantime she planned on not moving a muscle and definitely not thinking about what she was going to say to Angelus at dinner.
Angelus took his bath quickly and got dressed then headed for some courage in the form on an amber liquid, throwing back the whole glass as he reveled in the burning sensation that took over. He'd had around half the bottle when he was interrupted.
"Boy, must be something serious going on if your throwing back so much whiskey. Want to tell me what's on your mind?" William asked as he came into the room and took a seat.
"No." Angelus said throwing back another glass.
"Well, my guess is that it's that pretty little wife of yours making you have second thoughts about going away." Angelus sent a menacing glare his way but Will shrugged it off. He'd seen it plenty of times and it had little effect on him anymore. "Not that I blame you, even heart broken as she is, anyone can see that she is exquisite, if I'd met her first I would have taken her; maybe not for a wife, but you know what I mean."
William was on the floor before he could say anymore, "Don't ever talk about her that way again." Angelus said in a deathly quiet voice.
Will held his hands up in defeat, "Look I'm sorry, didn't realize you were so protective." he said with the slight raise of his eyebrows indicating to Angelus that he had planned for this and was trying to make a point.
"Bastard! What are you getting at this time Will?" Angelus asked, knowing that he would never hear the end of it unless William said his piece.
Getting up from the floor, William poured himself a glass of the whiskey. "You've changed lately. I think that you care for her more than you are willing to admit and I think she's good for you. Also, I don't think you really want to go away tomorrow and leave her."
"That's nonsense; she drives me mad to the point that I want to smash the whole house up. I hate her and she hates me...but when I touch her it's like bang! She fits so well but she's such a brat, I could never love her." Angelus said on a sigh.
"You two were doing great at first. The horse ride, reading in the library, why did you push her away?"
"Because, we're too different, I love my work, I don't want to be stuck here for the rest of my life. Everything is so screwed up between us now anyway. And you having this conversation with me when I'm drunk is unfair and you know it."
"Yeah well, it's the only time I can get you to tell the truth." Will smiled to his friend. "Go and apologize to her for shouting at her; tell her you
were just upset when you found she was going to sneak away. Hell, tell her everything from the beginning, tell her why you pushed her away when you two started to connect."
"Why? So she can laugh in my face? No thanks, I'll be out of here tomorrow morning and I won't have to worry about her again." Angelus slurred and raised his glass to Will before emptying it's contents.
"And who are you going to have looking out for her while you're gone, you know so you won't worry?" Will asked, knowing the answer.
"You of course!" Angelus said with a cheer.
Will shook his head and walked from the room leaving Angelus to his whiskey, neither Buffy nor Angelus joined him for dinner and so he ate alone and then went into the town to find the nearest ale house for some much needed unwinding. Tomorrow was not going to be a good day!
tbc...
