A/N: Yay another chapter! I am actually getting back into this story and am enjoying writing again. I am bumping this up to an M rating to be on the safe side lol. Thanks again to my readers I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 10

Elizabeth woke up the next day to an empty bed. She was actually thankful that he was not in the room with her. After last night she now had a rather large problem with her new husband. Her body ached from him man handling her last night. He was not gentle in the slightest bit with her. She felt so helpless and scared last night. Every time she tried to fight him off her he would just restrain her painfully. Her wrists had the bruises to show just how cruel he was. Maybe James was not so wrong about Beckett after all.

She glanced at the clock to find that it was eleven o'clock in the morning. She could not believe that she had been asleep for so long. Slowly she began to crawl out of the bed. She glanced at the sheets and saw blood; her blood from him taking her so hard last night. All she wanted to do was cry. Her heart was broken because the man she thought was going to take care of her caused her harm. She pulled the covers over the blood spot; she did not want to see it anymore. 'James, you would be so mad right now. So disappointed that I didn't listen to your warnings,' Elizabeth thought to herself and felt a hot tear roll down her cheek. She missed James so much, even more than ever now.

Suddenly there was a gentle knock on the door. Elizabeth felt her heart speed up in anxiety. She hoped it was not Beckett. "Lady Beckett? May I enter?" she heard Regina's kind voice. Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief.

"Yes," Elizabeth said. Regina entered the room and quietly closed the door behind her.

"Are you feeling well, Milady?" Regina asked as she was approaching Elizabeth. Elizabeth attempted a smile.

"I am fine, Regina," Elizabeth said softly. Regina looked at the younger woman before her and had a slight sadness in her eyes. It was almost as if she could read Elizabeth's thoughts.

"Well that's good to hear," said Regina as she went to Elizabeth's wardrobe to pick out a dress for her to wear. "This one looks nice?" she held up a dark blue dress, one of Elizabeth's favorites.

"My favorite actually," Elizabeth glanced up at it and looked back down at her hands. She did not want to look Regina in the eyes. Elizabeth felt ashamed that she was practically raped last night by her husband.

"Dear, would you like a bath?" Regina asked. Elizabeth nodded trying her best not to cry. Regina sat the dress down on the bed. "Give me a few minutes to get another maid to bring some warm water for your bath," Regina said and excused herself from the room.

Elizabeth looked at the dress lying on the bed. James loved that dress as well. He always said she looked "rather handsome" in that dress. Elizabeth chuckled slightly. James had to always be so damn proper. Regina came back into the room with a large bucket and another two maids followed with buckets. All of them left after they dumped the buckets in the tub except Regina.

"There we are dear. Come now I will help you get your gown off," Regina said. Elizabeth blushed; she must have noticed it was torn quite a bit. They walked into the washroom and Regina helped her out of the gown and helped her into the tub.

"Thank you, Regina," Elizabeth said softly. Regina smiled and excused herself so that she could straighten the bedroom.

Regina went to the bed first and pulled back the blankets. She saw the blood there and felt awful for Elizabeth. "Poor girl," she thought. She could not help but get a little upset about it. She knew that Beckett had been rough with her last night. She heard them fighting from outside the door. The bruises on her body only made her feel sicker. He could be a cruel man when he felt it necessary and him drinking last night only made matters worse. She shook her head and took the sheets off the bed and began tidying the room.

Elizabeth finished her bath and had Regina help her get dressed and ready for the day. She really liked Regina; she was a very sweet woman. She reminded Elizabeth of her mother. After she got dressed and Regina left, Elizabeth sat on the bed for a moment. She mentally prepared herself for the day ahead of her. She prayed that Beckett was out of the house doing business or something. He was definitely the last person she wished to see.

Elizabeth finally summoned the courage to get up and leave the room. She quietly made her way down the stairs and found the dining room. There was a plate of food already there waiting for her. Her stomach rumbled slightly. Food sounded so good right now. She ate her breakfast quickly and left the dining area to explore the house. She hoped that there was a garden area for her to retreat to, fresh air would do her some good.

Without too much trouble she found a back entrance that did in fact lead to a garden. It was magnificent. Roses were everywhere and various English flowers adorned the garden. She almost felt like she was a little girl again and back home in London. Her mother kept a beautiful garden very similar to this one. It was much smaller of course but still quaint. She walked around the garden and eventually found a beautiful fountain with a bench nearby and she sat down. She just wanted to enjoy the scenery for as long as possible, perhaps she would bring a book out to read. She hoped that this would be the last place Beckett would be interested in visiting. Her new goal was to avoid him whenever possible. She actually hoped that he would allow her a different room to sleep in.

Caught up in her thoughts she failed to notice someone approach her. Her eyes were closed, lost in her own world. When she opened them she saw the one person she did not want to see, Beckett. He stood with his hands behind his back watching her intently. Elizabeth swallowed hard, her heart rate accelerated, and she became very tense.

"Elizabeth…" Beckett said quietly. Suddenly much to her surprise he dropped to one knee before her. "I am so sorry for my behavior last night, it was unacceptable." Elizabeth did not even know what to say. She was caught completely off guard so she remained silent and just stared at him. "I know you are upset with me, as you should be, but please know that I never meant you any harm," he took one of her hands gently. "You have to forgive me," he dropped his head.

"I…just don't know what to say," Elizabeth finally found her voice.

"Say you forgive me," Beckett looked her in the eyes pleadingly. Elizabeth just stared at him again. "Nothing like that will ever happen again, you have my word," he said. Elizabeth did not know what to say or do. She felt like screaming or maybe even felt like slapping him. He wanted her to forgive him? She really wanted to forgive him but it was difficult.

"You hurt me last night," she held out her wrists to show him the evidence. He briefly glanced at them and looked away as if he was ashamed.

"I love you, Elizabeth. I am so sorry; I can't take back my actions. I wish I could but I cannot," Beckett said. Elizabeth looked into his ice blue eyes. They looked very remorseful. Perhaps it was just the alcohol that made him act that way last night.

"Were you drunk then?" Elizabeth said. She so wanted that to be the answer. He looked away again seeming to be embarrassed.

"Yes, I had a little too much to drink last night. That will never happen again Elizabeth. All I want to do is love you and take care of you not make you hate me. It seems I have managed to make you hate me though," he suddenly stood up and in a fit of rage punched the fountain. "Fuck!" he yelled. His fist was now bleeding profusely. Elizabeth gasped and went to him.

"Let me see it," she said trying to grab his wounded hand. He reluctantly held it out to her cringing when she barely even touched it. "Oh Cutler, I think you broke your knuckles," she examined the now increasingly swelling hand. "We need to get you to a doctor." Beckett shook his head stubbornly and pulled his hand away.

"It's fine, don't worry about it," he turned away and dropped his hurt hand by his side.

"No its not, please let me help you," Elizabeth said. Despite how angry she was with him she could not help but feel bad for him. She did love him and only wanted to help. She moved in front of him. "Please, let me get you a doctor." Finally he nodded.

"Why do you want to help me? I deserve it, I am a horrible man and…" he started but Elizabeth cut him off.

"You are not horrible, you were just drunk. Now come on we should not prolong getting you a doctor," she took his good hand and began leading him back inside.