Summerhaven

Chapter 8

Joyce made good on her promise to her daughter. The next afternoon Joyce found herself in her husband’s library. She knew it was going to be difficult but didn’t think Hank would totally reject what she was saying.

“There is absolutely no way I’m going to let that…that servant be with my daughter!” Hank roared as he went to his liquor cabinet.

It wasn’t a good sign when Hank would turn to liquor for comfort.

Joyce walked to him and put her hand on his shoulder as he poured himself a healthy shot of scotch.

“We promised her she could marry for love. William is a wonderful boy and he loves her and she loves him. It doesn’t matter that he isn’t a man of title or his family is wealthy beyond all means….”

“Yes it does! Damn it, Buffy is the daughter of the Earl of Summerhaven she doesn’t get to marry someone who is beneath her,” he yelled as he threw back his head and downed his shot.

“I think you are being very arrogant in your thinking. William is an excellent choice for Buffy. Get off your pompous ass and get over the fact he doesn’t have a title,” Joyce chided as she placed her hands on her hips.

“And you are right. You are the Earl of Summerhaven, you can give him a title and his own lands.”

Hank almost choked on his scotch.

“Give him his own lands? Are you out of your mind?”

“What is wrong with you? Are you that much of a snob? Your daughter loves him. I thought that would be enough. But instead all you care about is your precious reputation. Did it ever occur to you that everyone follows what you say? That you lead by example,” Joyce yelled, her anger radiating off her body. She looked him straight in the eye disgusted that she had married such a jerk. She shot him a dirty look and turned her heel, her yellow skirt swishing around her.

She stopped when she reached the door and turned to him.

“I remember when you asked my father if you could marry me. You were hardly a man of wealth. You had a title yes but your family was poor. I can’t believe I would ever see the day you would pass judgment on someone else who is almost in the same predicament.”

With that she opened the door and stepped out into the hall.

Please God; help Hank realize the wrongness of his way of thinking before he does something he will regret, She thought as she raised her eyes heavenward.

*~*

“I love this,” William said, Buffy tucked firmly in his grasp. They were leaning against their tree watching the sun play with the water in the creek. He ran his hands through her long blond hair and kissed her forehead.

“Me too,” She sighed snuggling closer to him. She closed her eyes and breathed deep, marking his scent on her person. They had been in their own intimate world for a little over a month. They continually stole time together, sneaking off into their wooded area to be alone.

Buffy sighed again, delicious tingles running up and down her spine. William had made love to her several times since he had taken her virtue. He had taken her by the lake while the sun shone and the birds sang, in the stables amongst the hay and neighing horses, in the rose garden surrounded by the scent of blooming flowers.

“I want to marry you,” William said, his voice breaking through her reverie. Buffy pulled back and looked into his clear blue eyes.

“You want to marry me?”

“You want to marry me?”

“Is there something wrong with your ears?” he asked playfully.

Buffy slapped him against his chest and smiled.

“There’s nothing wrong with my pretty ears. I just want to make sure I heard you right.”

William smiled back and her and got on his knee. He held her left hand in his and looked up into her shining eyes.

“Buffy, we have known each other all our lives. I have never met a woman like you before. I love you with my entire being and with my entire soul. In my heart I know you are my other half. With you I am whole.  I can’t imagine life without you. Will you make an honest man out of me and become my wife?”

Buffy blinked, trying to hold back tears and she sunk to her knees before him. He reached his sun-bronzed hand up to her face and wiped her tears away.

“Yes William I will marry you,” She whispered against his palm.

William gave a shout of yes and kissed her, his mouth cruising possessively against hers.

*~*

Buffy knew she was in trouble the minute her father’s loud voice rumbled her name through the halls. Standing she breathed deep and smoothed her skirt down. She opened the library door carefully and walked inside. Her father sat at his desk in a big leather backed chair. He had his back to her and was looking out the window.

“Buffy please sit down,” he said without turning around.

Buffy fought the urge to gulp and sat down smoothing her skirts as she did so. Her father chose that moment to turn and look at her, his cold blue eyes full of hate and disdain. Buffy almost recoiled from the shock at the depth of hatred his eyes showed.

They had never been overly close and she knew he had some distaste towards her but to see the actual hate resonate in his gaze was un-nerving.

“Your mother has told me some interesting news. Apparently you and the stable boy are in love,” he grumbled.

Buffy didn’t say anything, just continued to look at him.

“You do know I could and would never agree to a marriage with a man who is beneath you. You are better then he is. I will not allow you to make an ass out of me,” he yelled slamming his fist on the hard wood of the desk.

“He is not beneath me father. And yes I do love him. He is everything to me,” she practically yelled as she stood up.

“You will not marry this boy. I have already arranged that he be sent from Summerhaven.”

Buffy gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

“Where are you sending him?”

Hank laughed, a dry mocking laugh.

“What and risk the chance of having you run off to be with him? I am sending him to Mary’s land to become a stable hand of a wealthy family over there.”

“That’s not good enough,” she said, her voice full of anger.

“What do you mean its not good enough? He’s lucky he is getting the chance that I am giving him.”

Buffy stared at him her body tight and rigid. Her hands balled into fists at her sides. Buffy was so filled with hatred that she started to shake.

“Has he taken your virtue?” Hank asked her his body and stance in equal proportions to hers.

Buffy rose her head defiantly. “Yes he has.”

Hank walked over to her and slapped her hard across her face.

“Spread your dainty legs for anything, even the lowest of servants,” He stated walking in a circle around her.

Buffy’s head whipped back and she tasted blood in her mouth.

“I am with child,” she rose her face even higher trying to show him she wasn’t afraid of him.

Hank stopped his circling and stared at her as if the thought had not occurred to him.

“I can make you get rid of it if you were,” he said coldly.

“Not if you don’t want anyone to know your oldest daughter had been with the stable boy you won’t. I’ll tell anyone I come in contact with,” she said raising her eyes to his.

“What is it that you want darling?” his voice dripping venom.

“I want him as more then a stable hand. Secure him a position as an apprentice.”

“What are you going to do in return? I can’t secure him a spot if he is just going to run back to you. He will be leaving tomorrow morning.”

“I will make sure he doesn’t. He won’t leave unless I tell him to,” she said trying not to betray her strength in front of the man they called her father.

“He will be placed on the ‘Forsaken Aerial’ first thing on the morrow. Make sure he is on that boat,” Hank said signally that she could leave now.

Buffy squared her shoulders and stiffly walked out the door and up the stairs to her room. Only then did she shut door and slump against it crying out her frustration for her love.

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