Title: Unwilling Bride
Autor: Neamh1
Disclaimer: Not mine, wish they were
AN: Thanks for all the great reviews i've been receiving, you guys are the best and i hope you enjoy the next chapter.
Chapter 15
Buffy sat on her bed staring at the letter in her hands; she recognized the hand writing on the front of the envelope, it was Angelus' scrawled words. She remembered his distinct writing from their wedding papers that they had both signed. She remembered thinking at the time how beautifully he signed his name.
Mrs. Elizabeth O'Connor
The letter read simply on the front and she ran her fingers over the letters. She debated with herself over whether or not she should open it. On one hand she wanted to know why he had disappeared without a word to her but on the other hand she couldn't take it if this letter was one of rejection, filled with his regrets over the night he spent in her arms.
She desperately wanted to hope that it was business that had taken him away from her but she dared not to; she wouldn't let herself believe that his leaving had nothing to do with her. If she did that and found out otherwise it would break her heart. She reflected on the time she had spent with Angelus since he'd arrived; she'd changed her mind about him so many times that she couldn't count but she knew where her heart lay now. She loved him, without a doubt. She loved him inside and out and she had been a fool not to see it in the first place. Sure he was headstrong and sometimes pigheaded but he cared about her, he had wanted to take care of her and that night she had spent with him...their first kiss in the stables...
She felt like she was floating on air when he touched her. Everything and everyone else slipped away and they were the only two people alive. She craved him, he was like an unquenchable thirst within her and the longer she spent apart from him caused her more pain from deep within, like someone was slowly stealing a piece of her heart each day and she was powerless to stop it. But this letter in front of her could stop that pain, it could end her heartache, it could be his gentle words telling her that he would be home soon and that he loved her and couldn't wait to be with her again. She slid her finger into the parchment and prepared to tear open the seal but she paused and that was her undoing.
"I can't." she whispered to herself shaking her head and standing from the bed, letter in hand. Walking over to the dressing table she opened the drawer and placed the letter carefully inside. She would wait, that way she wouldn't be hurt by anything written in the letter. If Angelus came back then they could perhaps talk things through; if he didn't then she would know what was in the letter and there would be no need to read the hurtful words.
Taking a last look she closed the drawer and returned to her bed and to the blissful unconsciousness that was sleep; where her heart controlled her mind and allowed her to dream of things she might never have again.
Molly had been waiting outside for half an hour when she gave up, she had heard nothing from inside and so she went down planning on checking on Buffy before she retired herself for the night. When she returned around ten o'clock Buffy was still
asleep and so rather than disturb her Molly left her to her rest. She noticed that the letter was nowhere in sight and she dared not look for it to see what was contained in the pages. Buffy was a good Mistress but she would not take kindly to having her privacy invaded. She would just have to ask the next morning and hope that it had been good news.
Buffy woke several times through the night and considered opening the letter, as she knew that Molly would quiz her on it when she came with breakfast. Despite the amount of times she had taken it out of the drawer and held it, staring at his writing and the seal on the back, she had not opened the letter and when Molly did arrive with her breakfast - extra early - the letter was tucked away safely in her locked jewelry box. She had moved it from the drawer knowing that Molly would go in there to put away anything that Buffy might leave out and she didn't want the maid finding the unopened letter.
"Good morning Miss." Molly said with a bright and cheery smile.
"Morning." Buffy replied simply and took the coffee that Molly passed her in a cup.
"Hope you don't mind my asking...but was your letter of good news? Did it say when the Master is coming home?" Molly asked, she noticed how Buffy wouldn't meet her gaze.
"No it did not, and if you don't mind Molly it's kind of private." Buffy replied, silencing any other questions the maid might have had.
"Of course Miss, I'll leave you in peace." Molly said, trying not to feel hurt that Buffy wouldn't share with her the news. She was only glad that she didn't seem to be any worse than yesterday so whatever was in the letter must have been not bad news but she also doubted that it had been good.
The whole household had noticed that something was going on, what with the Master suddenly disappearing and Buffy not leaving her room, eating all her meals there. They pestered Molly continuously for any news but Molly had nothing to tell them and even if she had she wouldn't have said anything to the gossip mongers. She knew that before long people from town would be calling on Buffy, her close friends. Things never stayed quiet for long and with most of the servants living in the city outskirts news was bound to travel soon that Angelus had left and Buffy had not left her room in days. Molly feared the first person to visit, she worried that Buffy wouldn't receive them and that it would get out that she wouldn't accept any guests.
Scandals were easily started and Molly knew the vicious lies they would spread about her mistress. She wondered if there was a way to send word to Master Angelus and find out for herself what was going on. If he indeed intended on staying away for a long amount of time then she would have to contact Miss Willow and see if she could help with Buffy. She would first need an excuse to contact the master so that Buffy was not suspicious; and money was always an acceptable subject. Of course it couldn't be something little, they would have plenty of money for that, no...Something big needed to be bought so they would need permission for the purchase. Perhaps Toby would have a solution. Then maybe she could ask Buffy if there was a return address on her letter. Molly rushed off to the stables to speak with Toby, and with her plan seemingly brilliant in her mind, she would fix everything.
One Week Later...
Molly was in despair; her plan to contact the Master had fell through completely. They had found a reasonable excuse but Buffy had told her that there was no address on the letter and since no one else knew anything she could not contact Angelus. Buffy had still yet to come from her room and Molly was beginning to believe that she would never come out again. She had tried coaxing her with everything, problems with the staff, problems with stables and even gone as far as to say that her younger sister was ill and had asked to see Buffy but nothing had pulled her from her room. Three days after the first letter
came another and again Buffy asked Molly to leave her alone and her behavior later that day had been the same. This time Molly had missed the messenger but made it clear to all the staff that should another letter arrive she wanted to speak with the bringer before he left.
And so she waited...
Another week later...
The messenger arrived first thing in the morning and Molly was roused from her sleep before dawn to speak with him.
"Sir, will you be returning to Master O'Connor? I have an urgent message I need you to pass along." Molly asked in a rush of breath as she tried to breath deeply from her run to the front of the house.
"I'm not at liberty to say Miss, if you have a message I could deliver it if I were to see him again." The man said, Molly could barely make out his face; there was a lot of mist that morning, making it seem darker than it should be at that time.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the note she had prepared days earlier, handing it to the man she watched as he placed it in his cloak and rode away without another word, she hoped that it would reach Angelus soon and that he would return to put things straight.
Miles away Angelus waited patiently for three days for his messenger to return, hoping that with him he would bring a letter from Buffy. As he heard hoof beats approaching, the bunker where he and Spike where hiding he held his breath until the messenger made his way inside.
"I have a letter for you, one of the maids passed it to me and said it was urgent that you received it." he said and Angelus practically ripped the parchment from his hand.
He moved over to his makeshift cot on the floor and sat down to read the letter. He didn't recognize the handwriting and soon realized that it was from Buffy's maid Molly.
Master O'Connor,
I write to you with urgent news of you're wife, my
Mistress, as I fear she is not well, she is far from
happy at best. She will not speak with anyone or leave
her room, she is barely eating and I worry that people
will soon start calling on her and she will refuse to
see them. If you are able, if beseech you to return to
the estate and speak with her.
She has received your previous two letters, I have
handed them to her personally but she will not speak
of them and her mood stays the same after each letter.
Come to think of it, I'm not even sure she has read
them.
If you cannot return please send word of what you
would like me to do. I have tried everything I can
think of to lure her from her room but she refuses,
I'm afraid for her.
Molly.
Angelus read the letter over and over, why wouldn't she read his letters? It didn't make sense, he wanted badly to return and speak with Buffy and to find out what was wrong but he couldn't leave until his mission was completed. One thing was for sure; this would be his last mission. He had decided that the night she had allowed him into her heart, if Wesley hadn't come
that morning and begged him to help then he wouldn't be here now, but he had told Wesley that this was the first and last time he would leave his wife. Angelus quickly scrawled two more letters, one for the maid Molly and another for Buffy. It took around three days for the messenger to travel each way with his letters and so he would only send Buffy one letter a
week. He wished he were closer but he hoped that these letters would help until his return. Handing them to the messenger he got back to work, trying not to think of what was going through his wife's head and just counting the days until he could see her again.
Three weeks after Angelus had left, the messenger arrived again. This time he handed Molly two letters, one for Buffy and one for her.
"I'll return some time within the next week with news, you may reply to him then, I have to leave now." he said mysteriously and rode away from her. Molly looked at the names on the letters and placed Buffy's letter into her pocket then proceeded into the parlor where she sat and opened her letter.
Molly,
Thank you for informing me of the situation with Buffy.
I am at a loss to understand her behavior; though I have
written her another letter and ask that you give it to
her. If she refuses to open it in front of you I wish
for you to read aloud your letter to her. Please read
the following words:
'I am sorry for my sudden departure and if it were not
urgent I would not have left you.
I was dismayed to hear of your condition and beseech
you to allow Molly to care for you
and to leave your room and get some fresh air.
Unfortunately I cannot return just yet, I’m
not sure how much longer I will be needed here but I
promise that at the first opportunity I will return to
you and we will talk about everything. I want you to
know that I miss you greatly and I can't wait to be in
your presence again.
Love, your husband,
Angelus'
I am praying that this will placate her until I
return; I will await your next letter in a week's time.
Take care of her and if anything goes wrong please see
to it that she is taken care of. If all else fails
send for her friend, the redhead... Miss Willow,
perhaps Buffy would me more receptive to her approach.
Thank you Molly.
Master Angelus O'Connor.
Folding the letter up Molly headed up to Buffy's room, her finger twisting tightly at her sides as she prepared herself. She felt like she was disobeying her mistress by contacting Angelus but she had given Molly no choice and now she must face the consequences.
Taking a deep breath Molly knocked on the door and waited until Buffy bid her entrance. Molly walked to the balcony where she was sitting and stood beside her pulling the letter from her pocket.
"The Master has sent us letters, one for me and one for you this time." Molly said and handed Buffy her letter.
Buffy turned the paper over in her hands and examined the scrawled writing on the front, she wanted to laugh at the beautifully written words that sounded like such a mockery to her, Mrs. Elizabeth O'Connor Who was that? It couldn't be her; she didn't feel like anyone's wife. "You can leave now Molly." Buffy said, she paid no more attention to the maid until she noticed Molly shifting through her apron and pulling out another letter which she began reading out loud.
"What are you doing? Stop!" Buffy shouted and jumped from her chair, rushing back inside her room to get away from the words that Molly spoke. "It's lies, all of it, stop right now Molly!" Buffy screamed and covered her ears. When Molly ignored her and continued to read, her voice rising as Buffy mumbled about anything to drown out her words, Buffy grabbed her maid by the arm and all but threw her out of the room slamming the door closed behind her. In the hall outside Buffy's room stood a shocked Toby and several other staff members, whom upon having heard the commotion through the open balcony windows, had come to see what was wrong.
"Is everything all right Molly?" Toby asked. Molly shook her head, her eyes filling with tears as she rubbed her arm where Buffy had grabbed her and dragged her from the room.
"I think we should leave her for a while; let her calm down." Molly said as she led Toby and the others away from Buffy's room. Perhaps if they gave Buffy time to calm down she might speak with Molly; surely she had heard some of what Molly had read and it made a bigger impact than she could have predicted.
Inside her bedroom Buffy threw herself on her bed and cried. Molly's voice echoing in her head, the words she had read, were they a joke or did he really mean them? He missed her? She thought about it until she cried herself to sleep, only the knocking on the door waking her an hour later as Molly called through the now locked door had roused her from a potentially long sleep. Buffy didn't answer and she covered her head with a pillow as Molly read the letter again.
Later she heard Molly come back again with some food for her but she wouldn't open the door and so Molly left the tray outside feeling as though they had taken five steps back to when Buffy had locked herself in her room before Angelus left.
Molly waited for the next visit from the messenger and this time he took her letter from her and handed her a letter from Angelus for Buffy.
"Mr. O'Connor says that he will reply to this letter as soon as possible; please give this letter to Mrs. O'Connor. I guess I'll be seeing you again." He said as he rode away from her.
Molly placed the letter under Buffy's door that morning when she left her breakfast outside her door. She still refused to come from her room and already one of her friends from the city had called for her. Molly had been forced to lie and say that Buffy wasn't in the household, and that she had gone out for the day in the carriage and would not be returning until late.
Luckily they had believed her and so they were safe from scandal for another day. Molly had no doubt that Angelus would be distressed at the news in her letter regarding Buffy. She told him that Buffy had locked herself in her room again and was refusing to let anyone in. She also told him of her outburst when Molly began reading her letter out loud and how she had thrown her from the room, mentioning that as Molly and the others had walked away, they had heard her crying behind the locked door. She begged Angelus again to come home and take care of Buffy. After all, what could be more important than the happiness of his wife?
TBC... soon
