Authors Note--

Sorry for the delay, I've been really busy but I won't bore you now with the details. This chapter is for Shawna… I hope you haven't gone into that coma yet ;)

I think Amy got out of character for a bit (bad, Amy) but I'm not sure… oh well.

Review!

Steph

Disclaimer: Lauren Brooke owns everything recognizable to the Heartland series and I also don't own the lines in the beginning that are from Pirates of the Caribbean.

The Unbreakable Pact

Chapter Three—The Party

May 24, 1850

"You are so pale, miss! I shall have to bring some color to those cheeks before the Missus Fleming should get after me!" Clair pinched my cheeks and they turned faintly pink. "Quit a memorable birthday this has been for you today, aye, miss?" Clair said with a smile and she fiddled with my hair.

"I suppose," I said softly.

"Just imagine," Clair said, "I will be living in the Baldwin's home." She looked awed; I wished I could feel even a bit of her excitement. "Imagine that," she said as my hair was twisted up in the back of my head, "Tyler Baldwin proposed! Now that's a smart match, miss, if it's not too bold to say."

I stared at my reflection in the mirror before me. "It is a smart match," I said softly.

"Many girls would kill for what you have."

Wasn't that the truth. It made my eyes narrow. "Yes."

"The young Mister Baldwin is a fine man, miss," Clair continued. "So handsome and wealthy," I had the growing feeling that she wasn't even talking to me anymore. "You are lucky to be paired with such a fine gentleman, miss."

I glared into the mirror and the image of my face was distorted. "That is too bold."

Clair blushed and looked down at the floor and my snippy tone and I felt guilty. Clair and I had always been on good terms. "Begging your pardon miss," she said and finished up my hair, "it was not my place."

She was finished several minutes later and patted a final hair in place on top of my head. "There you go, miss."

"Thank you, Clair," I said as I stood up.

Clair bowed her head modestly. "I'm just doing my job, miss."

"Have a good night, Clair," I said to apologize for my early tone with her.

"Aye, thank you, miss. Enjoy your party."

I offered her a small and forced smile. "I will try," I said with a bow of my head before I swept out of the room.

My shoes made a soft tapping noise on the tiled floors as I walked down that dimly lit hallway, candles flickering on the walls as I passed.

I paused at the top of the grand stair case and looked down on the party that I had been so looking forwards to for months. There were many well dressed men and women moving in and out of the ballroom off the main hall. There was a small string quartet playing in the ballroom and the light music filtered up to me.

Mama and papa were standing at the foot of the stairs with Mister and Missus Baldwin by their sides. Tyler was standing off the side with his arms crossed over chest and, for once, not looking too pleased with himself.

I took a deep breath and cleared my face before I started down the stairs, one hand sliding gracefully along the railing and the other clutching a bit of the deep, rose pink silk of my skirts. I help my head high and kept my back straight, just the way mama had taught me to do.

My presence was noticed when I was on the second landing. I did not look at anyone as I walked down even though everyone was watching me. I surveyed the crowd once and caught people whispering to their partners and looking at me and at Tyler in turn.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as the senior Mister Baldwin placed a hand on Tyler's shoulder. Tyler's shoulders, back and chest momentarily stiffened before he took several tense steps forwards.

He offered me his arm without looking at me as I stepped onto the floor and my hand slid off of the railing. I briefly considered walking away but then I saw mama and papa's and not to mention Mister and Missus Baldwin's proud expressions. I placed my gloved hand gently on Tyler's, keeping the actual contact to a minimum. Nevertheless, I blushed as I felt the muscles of his arm tense beneath my hand; did he really find me that repulsive?

It didn't matter. I knew he did not care for me at all. And I felt the same about him. It really was mutual. Just the thought of… of doing… of doing what normally happens between a man his wife after they are married made me nauseous. I'd sooner throw myself in front of a rouge horse then do that with him.

My head spun as Tyler lead me into the ballroom, mama, papa and the Mister and Missus Baldwin following behind us. It felt like everyone was watching us and I just wished that they would stop. Happy birthdays and congratulations flew towards me—and Tyler, too—from all sides and I quickly gave up trying to think about who said what.

It felt like I was walking through a dream. Except this wasn't a good dream… it wasn't even a nightmare… it was worse. It was my life and all my worst nightmares were coming true and there wasn't anything I could do to stop it.

&

I couldn't get a second to myself to talk to someone I wanted to talk to or to do something that I wanted to do.

After I had filled my required dance with Tyler, he had escorted me off the dance floor and bowed once before disappearing into the crowd. He was probably off sulking somewhere since that seemed to be all he could do anyway.

It took a bit longer then I would have liked to find Soraya in the crowd. I knew mama was watching me carefully and she had raised me better then to ignore someone at my own party. It did not take long to loose count of the amount of women who approached me and, after birthday wishes and congratulations were given, asked to see the ring. That stupid ring. It was pretty. But I was growing to hate the shinning stones that glittered under the lights. Mama had requested I wear it atop my gloves so it was free for everyone to see. Undoubtedly her way of flaunting the fact that her daughter was engaged to the wealthiest and most eligible bachelor in town, probably even the whole state.

I spotted Soraya standing off to the side of the dance floor, conversing with several other young ladies our age from town.

Soraya gave me an enthusiastic smile when I approached and kissed me on the cheek. "Happy birthday, Amy!" she said brightly.

The misses Ashley, Jade and Brittany were standing nearby and turned to face us.

Jade and Brittany gave me pleasant enough birthday wishes but they weren't nearly as friendly as Soraya.

But it wasn't them that I had a problem with. Jade and Brittany had been my friends when we were younger but when Ashley had moved into town, they flocked to her, exclaiming over her gowns from Paris and her hairstyles and her stories of the young gentlemen she'd met. Ashley's family owned a ranch in town, too, it was a bit smaller then my families and she seemed to resent me for it.

"Ah, Miss Amy," she cooed in her falsely exaggerated voice, "I do not believe that I have wished you a happy birthday yet… how very rude of me." She tittered behind her dainty, gloved hand, not seeming too upset at all about it and I noticed that she did not offer a 'happy birthday' now. "Nor have I given my congratulations on your engagement…" she trailed off but I could clearly see her blue eyes narrow the slightest bit. She'd always claimed Tyler as hers.

I was determined to remain pleasant. If I acted out in a rash manner then I would be viewed as unacceptable to be Tyler Baldwin's wife and the new mistress of his home. People would start rumors as to… other reason why I was engaged to the young Mister Baldwin.

I folded my hands in front of my skirts and gave the most genuine smile I could. "I'm so glad that you could attend my party this evening," I said in my politest voice. "I hope you are enjoying yourself."

Ashley glanced around the room, making a show of it. "I suppose it is a fair gathering," she consented eventually with a hint of disdain in her voice.

"I am glad that everything is to your liking. Come, Soraya, I have much to tell you."

Soraya giggled as she hurried wordlessly to my side. We walked away as briskly as would be deemed appropriate.

"My, that was rather a bold thing to say to Miss Ashley!"

I sniffed and slipped my arm through Soraya's as we walked around party guests. "I know Miss Ashley's games by now," I said, "and I will not let them get to me. Besides, I could not even think of bringing disrespect to Mister Baldwin's name." I added the last bit with a bit of sarcasm but Soraya must not have caught it.

"Oh!" she gasped. "Do tell me all about it, Amy! It was rather a shock to find you engaged to him when not four days ago you claimed to dislike him so, a pleasant shock, mind you. You must tell me how he proposed," she begged. "Was it terribly romantic?" Soraya was a bit of a romantic and got a faraway look in her eyes. She looked back at me. "Was it just like all of the stories?"

I was silent for a moment as I recalled the proposal. It was not romantic or gallant. It was not like it was in the books, there was no moonlight or flowers or a magnificent horse, there was no passionate speech and there were no tears.

"I do not care for Mister Tyler in the slightest," I said in indignation without thinking.

"But you are engaged to him!" Soraya exclaimed in a low voice. I was silent and she gasped as realization finally dawned on her. "No. Your parents didn't do that did they?" I nodded my head solemnly. Soraya took a moment to recollect her thoughts. "I suppose it explains why the junior Mister Baldwin looked so tense all evening," she said softly.

"He is most unpleasant of a gentleman," I said. "An arranged marriage would not be nearly as bad if it was to a man that had a bit of a sense of humor and good will about him."

"But I thought you said…" Soraya trailed off and stared ahead.

I knew what she was talking about. "I will not marry him," I said firmly. She stared up at me in astonishment. "I will announce it to my parents when I have figured an adequate way to get out of this engagement."

"But—"

"I did make that pact, did I not?"

Soraya was silent another moment. "Oh. Yes. But that was silly. Not something that can govern your life. Mister Baldwin shall not be so horrible. You will have many pretty things to keep yourself contented with. Perhaps you shall learn to love him."

I scowled. "You sound like my sister."

"Your sister is right," Soraya said bravely.

I could think of nothing else to say to that. No one believed me. I would not marry Tyler Baldwin. I'd sooner strip to my undergarments and go for a swim in the fountain then promise under God's eye to love, honor and obey that man for the rest of my life.

"Good evening, ladies," the voice of the aforementioned gentleman startled me out of my thoughts. "Miss Martin, you look rather flattering this evening."

Soraya dipped her head as she curtsied to hide the pretty pink blush that tinted her cheeks. "Good evening, Mister Baldwin. I offer my congratulations on your engagement to Miss Fleming."

"Why thank you." Tyler glanced at me, his cheeks were flushed slightly from spirits but his eyes still held that steely glint. "Would you mind excusing my fiancée and me for a few moments?"

Soraya looked momentarily startled and glanced at me. "Why certainly, sir," she said politely to him before turning to me. "I shall see you later, Amy," she said and kissed my cheek again.

I watched her depart and was suddenly left alone with Tyler.

He offered me his arm and I had no choice but to take it willingly. He led me out of the ballroom and past all the guests and down a hallway before I was dragged into my father's library, the door shutting behind us. Tyler slid the lock into place with a soft clock and I stared at it, shocked.

"Mister Baldwin, what is the meaning of this?" I demanded hotly, eyeing him. I swore that if he took one more step towards me then I would show him that not all ladies were afraid to get their hands dirty.

"Do not worry your pretty little head off," he said drawly. "Your mother and my mother alike have granted me permission to speak with you in private for several minutes. You may remember, Amy, that I am a gentleman, despite your claims, and you need not worry your virtue."

"It's Miss Fleming," I snapped back at him.

"Fine then, Miss Fleming, if that is the way you want it then that is the way it shall be."

He turned his back on me then and looked out the window that viewed the grounds of our ranch.

"Well I suggest you get on with it then," I said imprudently. "People shall talk of this no matter happens."

Tyler whirled back around on his heel to face me once again. My breath caught at the anger on his face. "You will not speak to me, Miss Fleming," he said. "I shan't give a damn about your reputation if you were not to become my wife."

I opened my mouth with a sharp retort on my tongue but Tyler took a step closer to me and interrupted me.

"I said that you will not speak to me like that, Miss Fleming," he repeated. I clamped my mouth shut and settled for glaring death itself at the foul man before me. "That's better. I've decided that we need to set things straight between us," he said in his business voice. "And I speak of how things will be after our marriage." He paused and I waited expectantly to hear what he had to say. "Do not delude yourself into thinking that this is what I want," he said harshly, "for it is not. I learned only of this engagement on yesterday eve and I daresay that I am as pleased about it as you."

"I will not marry you," I said boldly in a clear voice to be sure he heard me.

"You speak my desires as well, Miss Fleming," Tyler said. "But there is naught you can do to stop this without tainting your reputation and making you undesirable to other men. There is nothing I can do about it either and so we shall live with it."

I realized my hands were shaking and clamped them tightly behind my back so Tyler would not see their movement.

"The way I see it," Tyler continued, "you shall keep to yourself most of time. You shall have your own set of room adjacent to mine but you shall have everything you need in your rooms. You may have your friends' visit you and you may go into town several times a week for you will be given a weekly allowance. But you will keep appearance as my wife in public and you will attend all balls with me, as any other event I deem acceptable, too. It will be your job to run the house and Missus Crana shall help you in learning your way."

"I shan't do anything with you," I said more out of anger then anything else.

"You shall have to produce a son for me, so I suppose you will have to do some things with me."

My legs felt weak and I trembled in anger. My cheeks flushed scarlet in embarrassment and I wanted to take a step forwards but I could only step back. Now my back was brushing up against a stack of books.

"How dare you," I said, my voice shakier and weaker then I wanted. "You…" I couldn't think of a strong enough word.

"You cannot doubt me," he said simply. "My father had already started on about how, after our marriage, my land and yours will be combined together, creating the largest farm in Virginia and the neighboring states as well. No suitable, wealthy landowner does not have an heir."

"You may pick another wife then," I said boldly, my voice now steadier and braver then I myself felt. Tyler's expression gave me the courage to continue. "There are plenty of young women just down the hall that would readily consent to be your wife."

"You should feel honored to be marrying me."

I met his gaze. "Good looks, wealth and material possessions do not sway me in a husband, Mister Baldwin," I said.

"There is no argument, Miss Fleming. We have no choice on the matter. This is not how I thought I would live my life and I doubt it is how you thought yours would go either. You will have your own chambers, and money enough to purchase whatever you desire and all of your clothes will be new and the proper styles for a Baldwin. I shall leave you to yourself to do as you please with your days. All I ask for in return is that you keep your appearances out in the public eyes, give me an heir and content my mother."

I stared over his shoulder at the wall, refusing to let my fear and intimidation at having my back against the bookcase show.

"I thank you for your time, Miss Fleming," he concluded in previous voice that was all business. "I believe I have kept my word and not lain a hand on you. I am not so barbaric as you like to fancy me," he said. "I would never touch a woman and you have my word that I will never lay a hand on you with the intent of harming you." His emerald eyes were smoldering and his voice was a bit kinder. "Though this arrangement is not ideal to either of us, I will offer you a life where you may live comfortably and peacefully."

My cheeks grew hot again and I lifted a hand to my face with the intent of pushing a stray hair back into place with the rest of the carefully laid pieces. My hand never got that far, though. Tyler's hand shot out and caught mine by the wrist. I froze.

"You said you would not touch me, Mister Baldwin," I said after he'd gone a minute of just staring at the ring he'd earlier placed on my finger. "I believe you are breaking your promise after all."

"That ring had been in my family for generations. Every mother gives it to her eldest son when he is of age so that he may present it to the young lady that he wishes to spend his life with." His gaze was heavy when he looked into my face, his strong fingers still clamped around my small wrist. "The Baldwin name holds nothing but respect in these eastern lands and, starting this moment, you shall do nothing to bring disrespect to it. My family is important to me, Miss Fleming, and I will entrust upon you the fact that they are why I am doing this. It has been decided that this is right for me and, even if I think differently, there is nothing I can do. And nothing you can do either. You will do well to learn that." I watched as his expression drained f all emotion and until it was once again the emotionless mask I'd seen the rest of the day.

"Good evening, Miss Fleming," he said formally, dropping my hand. He turned to exit the room. He stopped halfway through the doorframe and turned to look back at me. "And happy birthday," he said. And then he was gone.

I stared at the spot he'd last stood in shock. My thoughts were a buzz and my wrist burned hotly from where his fingers had held.

After a moment, I regained myself enough to reenter my party.

I slipped out of the library and walked slowly down the hall. My eyes were focused on the never ending tile of the floor until a pair of polished, black boots appeared in the frame. My eyes traveled up to see Tyler looking down on me.

I was silent as I waited for him to say something as to why he was still here.

He offered me his arm and I took it hesitatingly. He began to move off down the hall in the direction of the ballroom with me walking quietly by his side.

He caught my confused expression and chuckled softly, apparently his mood was not so sore as it had been.

"It would not do for me to abandon my fiancée in the halls now, would it, Miss Fleming? You may not believe me a gentleman, but I am. I do not expect miracles, but perhaps you shall learn that for yourself one day."

a/n: sorry, I haven't got time for editing but I hope it's okay anyways. So I hope the end KIND OF proves that Ty isn't completely a bad guy. I can see things getting better between them in a chapter or two… so, to get those chapters I'm gonna need lots 'o reviews so… review! -Steph