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Chapter Thirteen

She really hated carriages.

A lot.

This all would have been easier if a bunch of Londoners hadn't decided going to the country was a great idea. But nooooooo, now she was stuck in a wooden death trap bumping along down the road. Even with what the 19th century considered to be comfortable seating it was still very uncomfortable. And to make matters worse, Buffy was only being accompanied by Isabella… or rather Ian; because as a man she couldn't have a female valet. So, Isabella had become Ian in the flash of whatever was needed or done to shapeshift and now she had to get use to calling her Ian.

Kit couldn't come along because he needed to be around when his contact got the books together on the Dijinn. And even after he got the information he still had to wade through it to figure out how to summon the beastie. And that could take as long as the country party lasted—one week. Buffy was told she had to go to keep an eye on William. So, either way, she was stuck without Kit in uncharted waters. This was totally different from London where she could breathe easy being a woman where she was staying.

"My Lord?"

Buffy blinked, pulling her gaze away from the window as 'Ian' addressed her. She smiled tiredly. "Sorry, I'm just not very comfortable is all. And I know we have to go in this death trap for another few hours."

He laughed; and that was so odd because she'd known 'him' as Isabella.

"You don't have to call me that here."

"I have to get used to it; there will be people around and I don't want to slip up. You need to do the same by calling me Ian."

Buffy sighed and shifted so she slouched a bit more. "Yes, I know."

"There's more though."

She didn't like the sound of that, but didn't say so. "I'm guessing you're going to tell me?"

He ignored her and just rolled his eyes. "As I told you before, house parties in the country are breeding grounds for scandal; this isn't always because the man puts the woman in a precarious position. You need to make sure you're always around people if you're with a woman. You need to keep your door locked at night also. I've heard of ladies sneaking in a man's room very late and getting into his bed while he's asleep in order to force the marriage."

"…Are you serious?"

"Deadly," he said with a nod. "I've seen women throw themselves into men's arms just when someone opens the door to make it look scandalous; women who place their reputation second when it comes to securing a husband. I'm telling you, with Kit's assets being as hefty as they are you need to watch out. If you let something like this happen everyone will find out what you are; legal documents will be called into question to prove your relation to Kit… it'll will be awful.

"You need to watch your step. They think you're here to get married, but we all know that can't happen."

"Got it…" Buffy said, trailing off in slight shock. "Victorian England is crazy—understood. Stay away from the ladies to avoid a shotgun wedding."

Ian's eyebrows furrowed.

"…Nevermind." She smiled. "I understand. Be careful and away from women in private—run if I have to."

"A good policy." He nodded. "Also, because Regina—William's sister—knows you're… not interested in women… it might be best if you got seating with her at the dinner events. She won't expect something that won't happen."

"How do I manage that?"

"Talk to Lilith about it. I'm sure she knows by now as well. If people think you're interested in her, it'll garner her more interest from the men going to the party—not that she needs help in that regard—and it will more than likely keep the matrons and ladies off your back. Not a guarantee… but at least you won't have to sit with them. Lilith will likely sit with her and William as well. So, I doubt you'd be stuck around people you don't want to be."

"Lilith will take care of it?"

Ian shrugged. "It's customary for the older women to talk with the hostess about seating. You know Lilith, so it shouldn't be hard. She'll make sure Regina still sits next to an eligible man and thus not ruin her chances too significantly."

"All this really makes my head spin; It's like one giant math problem. How do you they manage it all? The cards, the parties, seating, everything?"

Ian laughed. "I imagine for someone like you it seems… insane? That's how you would put it, I think."

"Every event is like a wedding."

"Weddings are far worse."

"If these are how parties go, then I would guess so… Eash."

"It is one reason why I'm very happy not to be any sort of royalty—even a member of the ton. Working for Kit allows me much freedom as a demon and as a person of the working class."

"Do they all live this way? Kit doesn't seem to."

Ian shrugged. "Not all. Some of the gentry prefer to live in the country and away from all the formalities of the city. But, London is packed with gentry that do this all the time, and more heavily during the London season."

Buffy gave a nod and yawned at the same time.

"You're tired."

"Yeah, I am."

Ian handed her a blanket that was sitting next to him on the seat of the carriage. "Here. Cover yourself and get some sleep. I'll wake you when we arrive."

"If I can sleep…"

He just smiled. "Try. You were up very early and we spent a good portion of the night packing because you insisted on having a say on what you're wearing."

Buffy waved a hand idly, but got comfortable, closing her eyes as she leaned into the wall. "Yeah yeah… I just didn't want to look like a peacock."

Ian snorted and opened his mouth to reply, but she was already asleep… more tired than she'd probably thought.

#

When Buffy woke up next it was to Isa—Ian shaking her. Green eyes opened groggily and slowly. She rubbed them with the palms of her hands and blinked a few times as she sat up. "Huh?"

"We're here, My Lord," Ian told her with a smile. "Come on, I'll help you get to your room while your trunks and bags are brought in."

All she did was nod, vaguely aware of the fact that someone had just opened the door to the vehicle. Carefully, she stepped out and then Ian behind her. Unable to stop herself, she took in the large home before her while men and women were moving about her either walking towards the doors or gathering things for the lords and ladies.

It was an unbelievably large home made of stone and aging wood. There were windows everwhere, some of them large and some of them small. It was hard to gauge it at night, given that there weren't many lights.

"Come on then, we need to get to your room. Enough gawking. We want you to fit in, don't we?"

"Well…" Buffy told him slowly. "I'm from American. Homes aren't really this big there… Not always." She let it go though as she followed Ian up the cobblestone walkway and through the large doors leading in. At once, a man in a servant's uniform greeted them and spoke with Ian. Buffy didn't pay too much attention as she took in the main room, which was decorated with all things decedent; not to mention a handful of people trying to figure out where their room was.

She felt like she was at some convention.

"Eric will lead us to our room. It's one flight up. Lady Aniston has readied everything."

Buffy nodded and followed Eric and Ian up the stairs and down a long hallway. She couldn't help but note all the doors they passed, thinking this felt more like a hotel than a home. Once they got to the door Buffy saw that it was open and a few men were setting down their luggage.

"Thank you," she felt the need to say as they left.

"If you're hungry there's food in the dining room prepared. It's rather impromptu, but Lady Aniston didn't want anyone suffering coming in this late." He glanced over at Ian. "There's also something prepared in the kitchens if you'd like some as well."

Buffy nodded as he shut the door.

Already, Ian was opening up suitcases and what Buffy knew as a wardrobe to put things away. "Aren't you going to eat first?" the blond asked.

Ian shook his head as he glanced at her. "I need to get this done. It won't take me long."

"Need any help?"

Ian laughed. "That won't do at all if someone comes to see us and happens upon you putting your clothes away. That's my job, remember? Your job is to enjoy the gentry experience."

"That hardly seems fair… we just got done traveling all day. Did you get any sleep?" Her arms crossed over her flattened chest.

"I did for a few hours, yes.

"Look, don't worry about me. I'll get something to eat when I'm done." He waved his hands at Buffy. "Now shoo. Go get some food and mingle with the late arrivers."

She gave a long sigh. "Fine. But if you're not done by the time I get back I'm going to ring up for something for you to eat."

"Very well. Now go."

With a bob of her head, Buffy left him to it and shut the door behind her. Making her way back down to the lobby, as she called it, wasn't hard. Though, figuring out where to go from there did have her stopping and wondering. Thankfully, Eric was there again.

The elderly man gave her a smile. "Can I help you, My Lord?"

"I'm looking for the dining room."

He turned and pointed down a short hallway. "Just go that way. It's the last door on the right. If you do get lost though, just ask one the maids."

She nodded. "Thank you." He bowed in return and she left the way he told her to go, straight down the hall until the came to the end and found the door. Both of them, making what she'd call French doors, were open to reveal a rather large dining hall with several tables. It was a rose red color with all sorts of images painted on the walls. Along one of them sat another long table with an array of dishes. Did they call it a buffet in this time?

A handful of people were seated and talking, some were making a plate for themselves, and two male servants walked around refilling glasses with water and wine.

She couldn't help but feel put off without Kit or Ian around, but pushed through it and made her way towards the buffet table. Another servant there handed her a plate and mumbled a polite 'My Lord'. She thanked him softly before she went about filling it.

How was she going to get through with week without Kit? Isabella/Ian couldn't be around all the time, though she wished he could be. At best, she might be able to stick close to William's side, but not all the time. That might look a little odd to most people. Still, she could try. It's not like she was here for any of them but her mischievous vampire.

She looked around the room as she neared the end of the buffet table, wondering if he was here. She couldn't sense him, but then she still wasn't all there from the long trip in the carriage. Her senses might be off.

Her green eyes carefully touched on every face, but in her search she stilled—shock settling in as her gaze settled on two people.

Halfreck… Anya?

What the hell?

She looked away as nonchalantly as she could manage, hoping they hadn't noticed her. What were they doing here? Would they recognize her? No, no, that was stupid. This was the past. They hadn't even met her yet. Deep and slow breaths, Buffy. It's fine. Just avoid them the whole time you're here. It's a big party and it shouldn't be that hard.

But, why were they here…?

Damnit, was something going down? Something she couldn't do anything to prevent because she wasn't supposed to be here?

God, she hoped not. She really hoped not. While logic told her it was a no-no, Buffy would be hard pressed not to stop either of them if they had less-than-noble plans during their stay.

Stupid, stupid Spike and stupid Whistler and the PTB. Why did this happen to her?

UGH!

"Excuse me, I don't mean to be rude. But, ah, I'd like to get some of that you're standing in front of."

Buffy nearly jumped out of her skin; somehow, she managed to just look like a moron who'd been lost in her own thoughts. She forced a smile and turned to the young woman. But, it was then she nearly dropped her plate.

"Are you alright?" Halfreck asked, one brow raised.

Buffy kept the force smile. "Yes, sorry. I just got lost in thought."

"An American!" she said with some emphasis, but not shouting. "You must be Lord Blackwood's nephew. Ah… Darien... Clarke, was it?"

Buffy nodded. "I am… And you are?"

She smiled brightly. "I'm Lady Cecily Addams."

"Forgive me," Buffy told her. "I would take your hand, but…" she trailed off as she held up her plate. She wasn't sure she wanted to touch her anyway.

"It's certainly fine." She gave her a grin. "Would you care to sit with my mother, Lady Warwick, and I?" She gracefully gestured to Anya sitting some distance away at the table.

She wasn't sure what to say, honestly. That was until William decided to walk through the door, his piercing blue gaze that set her on fire finding her across the room.

"Actually, a friend of mine just showed up." She nodded in William's direction, who at that moment had his eyes fixed on Halfreck. While the expression wasn't on his face, Buffy could see something in his eye even from that distance.

"Oh… William is a friend of yours?"

Buffy looked back at her, eyes narrowed. "Yes... why?"

"Nothing." She smiled brightly again and whatever had been readable on her face previously was gone, washed in an expression of submissive womanhood.

Buffy nodded slowly. "Very well…" As she turned to go, however, Halfreck placed a hand on her arm.

"By the way… Mr. Clarke… Be mindful that appearances can be deceiving."

Buffy's eyes narrowed once again as Halfreck's looked at her brightly, as if she knew something. "Indeed, I do all the time."

"I look forward to our next chat… My Lady," she whispered the last before she stepped away.

Buffy watched her return to Anya and take a seat. So, she knew… The blond shouldn't be too surprised. Demons could smell it after all. She supposed she was lucky that whatever had been done to Spike didn't allow him to detect it.

Did it mean she knew she was the Slayer?

That's all she needed right now.

Putting the thought aside she crossed the distance to William, who was now coming towards her.

"You made it," he said with a forced smile.

She nodded. "I'll go sit down and wait for you."

"Sounds wonderful."

Yeah, she mused as he walked away, the whole day was turning out to be wonderful.

Just peachy.