Banner by Vampkiss

Chapter 11

Elizabeth had never dressed so fast in her life. William helped a little, having buckets of warm water brought up almost as soon as she had reached her room. And, there was no way she was meeting her chaperone without having a thorough bathing – as it was, she was going to be blushing uncontrollably because of all the wicked things she had been doing without the presence of a chaperone.

She sighed wistfully as she sank her naked body beneath the heated water that lapped near the top of the tub. No more lovemaking, no more cuddling, no more being alone in the same room – for that matter. She’d probably miss that most of all; she’d come to enjoy their time alone together…even though the total time they’d spent alone doing absolutely nothing could be counted on one hand. But still. The strictures of society were bearing their full weight down around her shoulders and a small part of her just wanted to rebel…say to hell with what society thought.

She belonged to William, and secretly she believed that he belonged to her…

~*~*~*~*~

Mrs. Rothworth swept into the drawing room, carrying herself like the aged duenna she was. For the benefit of the servants, she hemmed and hawed over the unsuitableness of her charge staying secluded until even Spike had to raise a scarred eyebrow at her. She just winked back at him, mindful of the servants loitering about as they waited for just the slightest hint of a request from their lord, and continued her tirade.

Finally, she winded down, and seated herself with aplomb as she waited for her charge to appear.

“Can I get you a drink while you wait, madam?”

“Heavens no, don’t touch the stuff…hardly proper being as I am now responsible for the lady…must stay on my toes, and such.”

Spike smirked back, knowing that she was dying for a drink...maybe later, when the three of them retired to his study to discuss their plans of returning to the city for the season. The two talked about mundane topics, Spike slipping easily into the role of the bored nobleman, as they waited for the Slayer to make an appearance.

He was slightly nervous. True, the Slayer had no idea who exactly she was at the moment. He just hoped that loss of recognition went a long way towards concealing her identity from the other vamp…at least for now. He really didn’t want to have to see about finding another chaperone this late in the day, and he didn’t want the “family” getting their knickers in a twist because he had to defend his “ward” from her new chaperone. Although…his claim on her would prevent the other vampire from actually doing the girl any harm. Still, it would just be easier all around.

~*~*~*~*~

Elizabeth slipped into the formal dress her servant had laid out upon the bed. Now that they had company, she was sure that they would have a formal dinner in the dining room. The soft pink color did much to confirm her ward status, but that was about it. The gown itself was a dream, and if the dressmaker hadn’t assured her that it looked stunning on her frame, Elizabeth would have refused to wear it.

The dress was the first of its kind. Rather than the full voluminous skirts that seemed to be all the rage and would most assuredly swallow her petite frame whole, the dress was simplicity itself. Made of long sleeves, the dress was fitted under her breast, then fell in a straight line to the floor. The plunging neckline made her blush, and she wished, yet again, that she had a handkerchief of some sort to cover up her exposed bosom. Really! The cut of the dress practically showed her nipples!

With her hair twisted up on top of her head, a few wisps allowed to dangle and frame her face, Elizabeth left her room to the exclamations of her servant ringing in her ear. She was nervous, eager to make a good impression – and a small part of her hoped that William would like her gown. He’d yet to really see her in anything this formal. She paused at the top of the stairs to take a steadying breath, and hopefully slow her racing heart, before gliding down the staircase.

~*~*~*~*~

Spike felt her nearing the door, and he glanced sharply to see if the matronly vampire sensed that a Slayer was in the vicinity. Either she was a very good actor – which he doubted given her age – or she had no clue that their enemy was just about to step into their midst.

The door opened to reveal his butler as he announced his ward.

Spike stepped away from where he leaned against the wall, idly sipping from the tumbler held casually in his hand. Mrs. Rothworth rose from the couch and turned towards the door.

Elizabeth glided into the room, stopping just inside the door. She was nervous, no doubt about it, and her hand slipped unselfconsciously to the marks on her neck…as if rubbing them would soothe the butterflies that had taken up residence in her stomach. The action was telling, to both of the vampires.

Spike discarded his glass on a table as he stepped forward, towards the Slayer – his legs quickly ate up the distance that separated them. He watched as she sunk into a formal curtsy as he neared, and he ground his teeth in frustration as the tight bodice squeezed her chest even tighter so that the gown almost spilled their precious bounty to his gaze. He wanted nothing more than to rip the garment from her body and ravage her right there – and to hell with who may be watching.

Instead, he just reached out his hand and helped her to stand. His eyes bore into hers, his heated gaze causing her to blush at the promise they held.

Behind them, Mrs. Rothworth discreetly cleared her throat. She could smell the arousal coming in waves off the two, and she clenched her legs together to prevent her own answering arousal from reaching the other vampire’s nose. She’d have to see about finding herself a plaything if she was going to be in the constant vicinity of these two…the sexual tension was enough to drive a vamp crazy.

Spike turned and affected the manners of a gracious host.

“Mrs. Rothworth, may I present my ward, Lady Summers. Elizabeth is a guest in my home while her parents are out of the country.”

“Hmmm…yes, Lady Summers…a pleasure, my dear.” Literally, she might add. Lord Thornton sure knew how to pick them. If he hadn’t gotten to her first, she’d be half tempted to keep her for herself. But, she liked her head just where it was, thank you very much, so she contented herself to the role of chaperone.

Elizabeth greeted the older woman, her hand returning to the marks on her neck – only this time to hide them.

Mrs. Rothworth smiled indulgently before responding.

“Don’t worry about your marks, Elizabeth. For those of us that need to, we understand exactly what they are. They’re something that should be worn with pride. You wear the markings of a master, my dear.”

Then she leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “And a handsome one at that.”

“Erm, thank you,” she replied, gifting the woman with a shy smile even as her face flamed red at the implied words. “So, that means you’re like him?”

“Yes,” she responded, not saying anything more. The young girl would learn about them in time, especially if she was going to be attending all the functions put on by the ton.

Mrs. Rothworth smiled wide as she led the younger woman back towards the couch so the two could talk – steering the conversation towards other mundane subjects. Spike moved to retrieve his glass as he retreated to his position against the wall. Assured that the Slayer was relaxing in the other woman’s company as the two continued to talk and plan, he allowed his mind to wander as he continued to sip at the amber liquid.

Before long, dinner was announced and the trio made their way to the dining room.

~*~*~*~*~

Conversation was stilted at first – the formal setting slightly intimidating Elizabeth – until the older woman mentioned all the parties, soirees, and theater events they would be attending. Soon the talk became much more animated between the two women, and they began speaking like old friends instead of in the stilted manner normally reserved for their separate stations.

“Lord Thornton, you mentioned that the Duke of Sevring’s ball would be the first social engagement you plan on attending with your ward,” Mrs. Rothworth commented, trying to draw the male vampire into the conversation.

“Yes, and I’m only attending that because I’ve obligated myself,” Spike grumbled.

“I assume you’ll have some informal gathering beforehand at your residence to introduce Elizabeth to a few people…”

“I hadn’t thought about that, but if you feel it’s necessary…”

“Oh, most definitely…just a few select families…maybe an afternoon tea with the ladies, a small dinner party. When were we going to be returning to London?”

“I had planned on staying here until the last moment…” he started.

“No, we can’t do that…we’ve got so much to do before then. I’d say a day, two at the most, can be spent here, then we’ve got to get back to London to prepare.”

“Bloody hell,” he muttered to no one in particular.

“Two days,” Elizabeth squeaked. “But, it’ll take that long just to get all my stuff packed!”

“Well, I guess we’re just going to have to hurry, then, won’t we. She does have something suitable to wear to the Duke’s ball.”

“Uhh…” He turned towards the Slayer. She just nodded back at him. “Er, right…that’s all taken care of.”

“But,” Elizabeth began, “The seamstress hasn’t finished all of the things we selected. Just a few things here and there.”

“That will be no trouble. We’ll instruct her to forward everything to the London address. In the meantime, we can get a few things made for you there.”

“Oh but, surely I can’t! Lord Thornton has already spent way too much as it is…” her voice trailed off weakly.

Mrs. Rothworth just pinned her with a look that said not to object now that she was on a roll. Elizabeth sighed and nodded. Spike had to agree with her; she was a freight train and it was just better to get on than stand in front of it. Besides, it wasn’t like he didn’t have the money to spare. And, if more of the dresses were in the style she currently sported, he’d be one happy vamp.

He zoned out to thoughts of peeling the delectable garment off the Slayer’s body as the older woman continued her monologue about everything that needed to be accomplished in the two short weeks they had.

~*~*~*~*~

Spike was all for adjourning to his study to spend some quiet time, but one look at Mrs. Rothworth quickly changed his mind. Apparently, she had a lot to get accomplished in the next few days and wanted to get started right now, and she quickly dragged Elizabeth off to the younger woman’s room.

Annoyed, Spike stalked off to his study, missing the parting glance the Slayer shot over her shoulders as she was led away.

~*~*~*~*~

After several more hours spent plotting with her chaperone – Elizabeth was quickly adapting to being up at all hours of the night and spending the good portion of her morning asleep in bed – she finally had her room to herself. She’d just rung for her servant to help her undress. A few moments later, there was a knock at her door just before Heather slipped inside.

“Help me out of this, would you, Heather?” she asked the young girl, presenting her back to the girl.

Just as the girl started across the room, Elizabeth gasped as she felt the intense tingling radiate out from the marks on her neck. The heat that enveloped her body nearly brought her to her knees.

Twirling around, she stammered out, “Never mind. I…I just forgot something…in…in Mrs. Rothworth’s room. You…uh…go on to bed, I’ll get her to help me when I’m done.”

The girl shrugged and left the room. Elizabeth rushed after her, locking the door behind the girl just as the connecting door opened. She leaned against the door for a moment, grateful that she’d managed to get the girl out of there before her knees buckled from the desire snaking its way through her body.

Then he was there, leaning up against her back as she braced herself against the door. She moaned softly as he inhaled her scent before he lightly nibbled along the exposed length of her neck.

“You know what I wanted to do the moment I saw you in this dress, pet?” he whispered in her ear before tugging the lobe into his cool mouth.

She shook her head slightly, unable to say anything – the feel of his cool mouth on her overheated skin had the blood rushing in her veins.

“I wanted to rip it right off your delectable little body, shove you up against the wall, and fuck you until neither one of us could stand the pleasure anymore,” he growled. “I still do.”

Elizabeth whimpered. She felt him undo the stays holding her gown in place and silently urged him to hurry.

“Do you want it, Slayer? Do you want me to rip this gown off your body and take you up against the wall…fuck you till we want to die from the pleasure of it all?”

He knew her body wanted it, could smell her arousal as it pooled between her legs, but he wanted to hear her say the words. He continued to undo the lacing on her gown until the last one was undone. Slowly, the gown slid down her body to land in a heap at her feet.

He ground his erection into her back, showing her that he was more than willing to take her to paradise. Leaning in towards her neck, he ran his fangs back and forth along her neck, pausing momentarily to nick her flesh.

She hissed as she felt the cut on her skin, not from pain, but in anticipation of him wrapping his lips around it and sucking at the slight cut he'd made. It did strange things, him sipping from her body. Almost as if the spot was linked directly to her womb.

“Do you?” he asked again, his lips hovering over the cut on her skin. His fingers went to work on her corset and undergarments until she stood before him in all her naked glory. The scent of her blood washed over him as he’d left it to pool on her shoulder.

Elizabeth stood, still facing the door, her hand against the hard wood as if it would help support her. The cool air washed over her bare, fevered skin, but it did nothing to relieve the tension coiling through her body. Only he could…the man who stood behind her waiting for an answer to his question. She wished he’d just take her…ease the ache he had built within her body.

Instead, she just barely felt as lips as they ghosted over her bare skin, promising delights, but withholding the pleasure of his touch until she responded. Unable to bear it any more, she finally answered him.

“Yes,” she whispered, hanging her head as she waited for him to finally touch her.

next

REVIEW ME!!