Chapter 8
William loved going into town. London was constantly buzzing with excitement, the streets filled with people taking care of business or dining with friends and lovers, carrying parcels and tying up horses and he loved being in the middle of it. It was such a different atmosphere than the quiet countryside where he lived, giving him the ability to blend in and feel as if he were a part of something greater, rather than feeling scrutinized and watched over as he was when he was at home. He was reluctant to leave Elizabeth but if he didn’t take care of his business before his mother returned, she’d have his head on a stick. She might have it anyway, should she ever find out what her dearest son did in his library the day before.
God, the library! How could he ever sit in that room without fantasizing about her? Homer would never be the same again; his little Siren! The wondrous sensation of being nestled so intimately between her thighs, his cock enveloped in her warmth, his tongue and teeth on her nipples while she clung to him; the afterglow lasted the remainder of the day. So yes, William did not want to leave her that morning, especially since his mother would return the following day and there wouldn’t be time to indulge in such wanton activities as they had been.
But the little excursion gave him the opportunity to do some shopping for Elizabeth while he finished up his errands in the city, which was why he was in a ladies shop, staring at various accessories without the slightest clue as to what he should purchase. He’d been standing near a glass case, fidgeting, for close to five minutes until a young woman came to his aid.
“Can I help you, sir?”
“Yes, well, I seem to be a bit flummoxed over your fine collection,” he said with a tiny grin, scratching his head.
The woman smiled, anxious to make the easy sale. “Are you looking for something special for your wife or fiancée?”
“Uh,” he laughed nervously, though the prospect of marrying Elizabeth quashed his nerves and soon turned him wistful, “something like that, yes.”
She beamed and raised her eyebrows. “Something for a lady you’re trying to impress, perhaps?”
He cleared his throat, his mouth twitching with her presumptions. “She’s a delicate creature though she has very refined tastes. I noticed she wore a pair of black crystal earrings the other day. Perhaps together we might find an item to accompany those? O-or, do you think that would be too much? Would jewelry be too forward?”
“All women love jewelry, sir. In fact, if she is as refined as you say,” she lured him over to the more expensive case of jewelry, “only the most refined ladies wear something like this.” She pulled out a wooden box and opened it, revealing a gorgeous ring with a square cut faceted piece of onyx, surrounded with diamonds atop a thin band of gold.
“It is lovely, but don’t you think a ring might suggest—”
She held up a hand to silence him. “Sir, forgive me for saying so, but if you care for this woman, a ring would be the perfect gift. Most gentlemen, at least those who have any status, purchase rings just like this one for their special, refined ladies. Are you planning on marrying her?”
William stammered for a moment, feeling as if he was making an oaf of himself. He had a lot to learn about women! “That would be ideal, but—”
“Then this is the piece for your delicate creature. I can read people, sir. Some say it’s a gift but I could tell just as soon as you walked in that this was the item for you.” She watched the inner struggle, the pause as he tried to figure out how much money he had on him when he saw the price tag, how he scrutinized himself should he not follow suit with the other men who’d spoiled their women with such beautiful jewelry and then the calm acceptance when he made his decision. It was a battle she’d seen day in and day out and she had no doubt that this man would fall prey to her tactics. Some might call her a swindler, but at least the ladies on the receiving end were sure to be pleased so she wasn’t all that bad. Oh, she was going to France at the end of the month, for sure!
“Very well then. The ring it is,” he smiled.
“Excellent choice, sir,” she said excitedly and began wrapping his gift for him. “We do carry clothing if you’d—”
“The ring will be all, thank you,” he interrupted, realizing he’d just been hoodwinked. But it was a lovely ring. He smiled as he thought of her expression when he gave it to her. And he’d have to do it tonight. His mother would murder him for daring to give such an extravagant gift to a woman who was not his wife.
* * *
It was late in the evening by the time he returned home. His butler and footman instantly went into action, helping the coachman remove the parcels their master brought and carry them inside.
“Johann, Michael,” he said to them as he quickly walked up the front steps of his home, popping his lapels and adjusting the cuff of his shirt, “see that the parcels are handed over to Henry.” They struggled to keep up with him as he walked through the front door, listening to his orders. “I was unable to eat while I was away. Please alert Judith and Margo that I will be dining in one hour.” He stopped suddenly and turned around, almost knocking them over. “Has Miss Elizabeth had dinner?”
“Yes, sir,” John answered.
“Good,” he nodded. When they continued to stand there, he sighed. “What are you waiting for? Go! Now!”
“Yes, sir,” they both said with a bow and quickly went their separate ways to carry out their orders. William smiled proudly. He was a changed man, after all. Man, being the preferred term of the hour. He turned back around and walked down the hallway. Elizabeth walked out of the parlor and smiled when she was face to face with him, only to gasp when he grasped her hand and pulled her down the hall, walking so fast she almost stumbled and fell. He dashed up the stairs, towing her behind him and once they were on the second level, he yanked her into the library and closed the door behind them. Before her body could rid itself of her dizziness from his caveman behavior, he’d pressed her into the door and attacked her mouth with his, sliding his hands down the door on either side of her as his body pressed her flat against it.
She linked her arms around his shoulders and moaned quietly as his tongue slid over hers. “I missed you,” he said huskily before he kissed her again and brought his hands around her waist to hold her flush against him, kissing her so passionately she had trouble standing. He felt her body go slack and he pressed her into the door again to hold her up, having no intention of stopping his assault on her lips. “I’m sorry I was away for so long,” he uttered before he delicately nipped at her jugular.
Her eyelashes fluttered and she swallowed for air, drunk on his assault, but she managed to gain clarity long enough to share with him what she and Evelyn had been practicing all day. She gently placed her hands on his cheeks and pulled his face towards hers so that he would look her in the eyes. Panting, his eyelids heavy with lust, his gaze finally focused on her excited smile and he furrowed his brow. “What is it?”
Swallowing first, her smile grew and she said, “Welcome home, William.”
He beamed in fascination and shook his head. “You…you can speak?”
She nodded.
“No. No more nodding from you,” he chuckled.
“Sorry. Force of habit. Yes, I can.”
He gasped. “Your dialect, it’s…you’re American!” He took a step back, still grinning, though his head tilted from side to side, studying her as if the fact that she was American changed everything. He brought one hand over his mouth. “Why, this is astonishing!”
“Are you upset?” she asked nervously, wringing her hands together.
That morning when she awoke with a yawn, an audible yawn, Evelyn jerked her head towards her in shock and ran to the bed, dropping Elizabeth’s corset on the floor.
“Miss Elizabeth! Say somethin’ if you can,” she pleaded, eyes wide as she waited for her to speak.
“Good morning?” They both gasped and giggled, clutching one another’s hands. “Good morning, Evelyn!”
“You talk strangely,” she’d said. “Maybe you need more tea.”
But after five cups of hot tea, that strange dialect never went away. Evelyn had apparently never met an American before.
“Am I upset?” William scoffed. Upset? How could he ever be upset that she was speaking? He’d longed to hear her voice for days now and once he had, when the first thing she’d uttered was his name, it was music to his ears. The fact that she was American only made her that more special, unique and perfect and wonderful and he really should stop gushing and set the poor girl’s nerves at ease. “Heavens no,” he grabbed her hands again and brought one to his lips to kiss her palm. “In fact, because you are American it might give us more to go on in finding out your past. There aren’t many Americans that pass through London. Perhaps this will give us a clue.”
She smiled, but he could tell that she’d forced it for his benefit.
“Elizabeth, what’s wrong?”
“I just…I’m afraid of finding out about my past. I’m afraid that you’ll find something bad about me or something you won’t like.”
He was still grinning, unable to hide his mirth at the sound of her voice but she was upset and so he cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, you’re just so…adorable.” The smile returned. So help him, he couldn’t contain himself.
She gasped and swatted his shoulder playfully. “I’m serious, William!”
He sighed and wrapped her in his arms. “There is nothing you could tell me, save being betrothed or married, that would ever change the way I feel about you, Elizabeth.”
She smiled and nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder. “Promise me. Promise me that no matter what, you won’t change your mind.”
“I have another option for you.” He pulled away and reached into his pocket, retrieving the box from the ladies shop. He cradled it in his hand for a moment, furrowing his brow in puzzlement. Why wasn’t he nervous? Why was this something he was so sure of, more so than anything else in his life? He supposed that she was his fate. It was the only explanation for the feelings inside him, for the way he felt pulled towards her, for the simple fact that he just happened to be on the road that day when she was injured…for so many things that involved this woman before him. “The day we find out who you are, or when you get your memories back; whichever comes first…is the day I’ll make you my fiancée.”
She blinked rapidly, feeling the sting of tears in her eyes and her chest constricted in emotion, only to let out a bubbling gasp when he opened the box to show her the beautiful ring inside. She couldn’t speak, and this time it was due to feeling overwhelmed. She fanned her teary eyes with her hands frantically, making a high-pitched squealing noise. William laughed at her antics and smiled beatifically at her.
“I’m not positive, but I think the lady likes the ring.”
She let out a watery giggle and flung her arms around his neck, peppering his face with kisses. “Yes, yes, yes, yes!”
His arms held her tight, burying his nose and mouth in her neck as she carried on with her happy giggling and it was so contagious that he started chuckling, too. His voice was muffled by the column of her throat when he said, “I’ll just hang on to it until then.”
“William?”
God, he loved the way that sounded. “Mmhmm?”
“Remember how a few minutes ago you were pressing me against the door?”
He pulled back slightly and cocked an eyebrow.
She licked her lips and smiled shyly. “Do you think we could—”
He was on her in an instant, swallowing her excited squeal with his lips and pressing her against the door again, chuckling wickedly against her mouth as she sighed and sank into his embrace. He shoved the ring box back in his pocket and with his other hand, he moved from her waist to her derrière and squeezed.
“William!” she gasped with wide eyes.
“My little American,” he said huskily, sucking her lip into his mouth and squeezing her again, this time with both hands.
“Master William?”
William groaned; placated slightly as Elizabeth kissed his neck and he shouted through the door at Judith who’d rudely interrupted him, “What is it?”
“Your dinner is ready, sir,” she replied, quickly walking away.
William sighed, pulling away from her reluctantly. “I’d love to stay and chat, Miss Elizabeth,” he said with a mischievous grin, “but I’m simply famished. Might we continue our conversation at a later time?”
“I suppose,” she pouted as he reached for the door handle. He winked at her and opened the door only to yelp in surprise when she squeezed his ass. He twisted his head over his shoulder to look at her, befuddled and slightly aroused.
She was extremely pleased with herself that she’d made him blush, smiling haughtily at him, but soon she too was blushing when his tongue curled deviously behind his teeth and his dark blue eyes raked over her chest. Happy that he’d gained the upper hand, he quickly dashed out of the room before she grabbed him again, smiling as he heard the beautiful sound of her laughter echo down the hallway.
* * *
At some point while William was eating dinner, Elizabeth started feeling dizzy. She hadn’t done anything particularly taxing, but she was so lightheaded that it was difficult to keep her eyes open. The feeling seemed to come out of nowhere and it took all of her strength to walk out of the library. She alerted the maids that she was going to lay down for a few moments in her bedchambers, planning to take a short nap to regroup before William met with her again. However, as soon as she’d been dressed in her nightgown and lay down, she passed out and fell into a deep slumber.
William asked for her but Evelyn let him know that she’d retired for the evening feeling a bit under the weather. Puzzled by this since she seemed to be fine not an hour ago, but not wanting to disturb her in case she had fallen ill, he finished up his letters and a few documents to send out the following day before he, too, retired for the evening.
* * *
She was dressed in strange looking clothes, which was the first thing she noticed. A black skirt, white top and a sturdy looking jacket. Rubbing her eyes as she scanned her surroundings for something familiar, she found nothing but appeared to be in an alley. It was night; the pavement was wet either from rain or something else. And then he appeared. Her eyes grew wide at his strange apparel and shocking white hair.
“William?”
He tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. “Don’t call me that. Sounds off.”
“What else would I call you?”
He smirked and lit a cigarette and she frowned, never knowing that he smoked. “Can think of a number of things I’d like you to call me, pet.” He was walking closer, raking his eyes over her body, one scarred eyebrow cocked in surprise or curiosity, she didn’t know. “What, nothing to say to that? Not gonna call me a pig?”
She furrowed her brow. “Why would I call you that?”
He stopped moving and sniffed the air, then shrugged his shoulders and took a drag of his cigarette. “We need to talk.”
“Ok, so talk.”
“Buffy, we kissed.”
“I know,” she smiled. “Wait, what did you just call me?”
Confused for a second that she wasn’t running away, he shook his head and said slowly, as if speaking to a child, “Buffy…because that would be your name.”
“No, it isn’t. It’s Elizabeth.”
He chuckled. “Oh, I get it. William, Elizabeth…feel like a little role play?” he said with a smirk and walked closer to her, trying to intimidate her by licking his lips and then staring in wonder when she made no expression of disgust, then smiled as she reached up to run her fingers through his hair and she frowned.
“What did you do to your hair?”
He cast a hand through his precious white locks with a hurt expression, backing away from her. “Didn’ have time to gel it, is all. Don’ have to be a bitch about it. I thought you liked…never mind.”
“No, I mean the color. It’s weird.”
Cigarette dangling from his open mouth, he stared at her for a long moment before he realized something and rolled his eyes. “Is this a sodding dream? Am I in a bloody dream?”
She blinked and rubbed her arms. “I don’t know…maybe? You are dressed funny…”
He tossed his cigarette and shoved his hands in his jeans pockets and shrugged his shoulders. “Yours or mine?” She shook her head. “Definitely yours,” he smiled. “If it were mine, you’d be naked.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened and she blushed, ducking her head. “William…”
This seemed to amuse him a great deal and he placed a hand on her back and started walking with her down the alley. “So, am I roguishly handsome in your dreams? All gentlemanly and with the sweeping off your feet bit?”
“If this was a dream, I guess you would be. Where are we?”
“’bout two miles from your house. Figured you’d want to patrol with that diamond thief out an’ about, so I came looking for you.”
“Patrol?”
There was that head tilt again. “You feelin’ all right, kitten?”
“I feel fine. I was really dizzy earlier and you were eating dinner, so I went to bed and then woke up here.”
“Drinking blood, you mean?” He looked at her with a confused expression.
“Ew! Gross, William! Why would you drink blood? Did Judith make you drink blood?”
He stopped walking and she turned around to face him, gaping at his awed expression, blue eyes tinged with red. He started breathing heavily and he glared at her. “You…who do you think Judith is?”
“She’s one of your maids, William. You really should learn their names. You know you’ve been calling John ‘Johann’?”
He stepped away and shook his head frantically, raising his hands in the air and then fisted his hair. “No, no, no…you’re…no!”
“What’s wrong?” She was afraid now, seeing William in distress like this was worrisome and he was on the verge of tears or something else, something she couldn’t place. And how did he get that scar on his eyebrow?
“This some kind of joke, Slayer? It’s not bloody funny! That never happened! You aren’t her!”
“What are you talking about?”
Before he could answer, she was suddenly walking in a cemetery, holding a hand-carved wooden stake. She looked around and felt tingles in the back of her neck. Quickly turning towards the source, she was suddenly knocked on her back, her arms pinned by a dark haired monster with long teeth and yellow eyes. She screamed and it snarled at her.
“Scared, Slayer?”
“Please don’t kill me! I don’t wanna die!” she cried.
As it leaned forward to drink from her neck, she sobbed, clenching her eyes shut as she was overcome with fear. When the final blow never came, she opened her eyes and started panicking when she realized she was standing on a ledge of some sort, looking at a ball of light that crackled with electricity, wind whipping her hair. She heard a girl shouting behind her but her focus remained on the light. Something in it called to her, and she jumped, hearing that same girl cry out and soon she was enveloped in warmth.
As she passed through the light, she landed against a brick wall and the William look-alike was snarling, wiping his bloody lip after he’d leapt from a chandelier.
“She doesn’t fit in anywhere, she has no one to love,” he said in a mocking tone and she rubbed her jaw where he’d just kicked her, feeling tears in her eyes.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Hello! Vampire! I’m supposed to be treading on the dark side!” He slammed her against the wall and punched a hole in it, then grabbed her shoulders and tossed her to the ground, pinning her beneath him. “What’s your excuse?”
“V-vampire? William, what’s—”
He clenched his jaw and in a menacing tone he snarled over her, “I wasn’t planning to hurt you. Much.”
Tears ran down her cheeks and she stared up at him. “Why would you want to hurt me?”
His eyes twitched and he lifted off of her a fraction. “Thought I’d have to knock you around to get you to see me, Buffy. I’m in love with you.”
“You are?” Even though he’d been kicking and punching her, there was a twinge of hope in her voice when she asked him this. Apparently, it perplexed him just as much as it did her.
“I’m…” he jumped off of her and roared. “What the bloody hell is going on? This wasn’t how it happened!”
She slowly stood up and wiped dust and bits of dry wall off of her. “How was it supposed to happen?”
“We fucked against that wall,” he said pointing angrily to the wall in question. “Then that one, then we fell through the floor and shagged for another five hours. It was bloody brilliant!”
“Why are you being so vulgar?” she asked as she wiped her teary eyes. “I don’t remember any of this, ok? Just leave me alone!” She turned to walk away and once she went through the door of the abandoned house, she came face to face with another monster. It was similar to the one before but it looked far more menacing. Panic, fear, horror…every imaginable emotion rolled through her body, freezing her in place as it raised its claw like hands and backhanded her. She flew in the air and landed against a rock on her back, knocking the wind out of her. There were so many of them, climbing over a ledge of a cliff inside a large cave. There were girls fighting them around her and the white haired man wearing William’s face was there, leaping in the air like a panther in a whirlwind of black leather and metal.
She backed up against a wall, hiding her face and huddling in a ball as hundreds of those things bit and clawed and killed so many of those girls. And then the vampire called out to her as a beam of light shone out of his chest.
Their hands entwined, in flames, and then he disintegrated in front of her eyes, burning with light and laughing at the sky. She sobbed, confused and desperate for answers, scared to death as the floor rumbled and quaked beneath her. She fell as the ground gave out, screaming as a monster grabbed her leg before it turned to dust.
* * *
Elizabeth woke up with a start, sitting up in her bed and breathing heavy. Her cheeks were wet with tears and she was still feeling the fear from the end of her dream. It wasn’t real, she knew, but it felt so real, as if she’d been there before, but how was that possible? Monsters weren’t real, William certainly would never act that way, but it still terrified her. The bedroom was dark now as her fire had gone out hours before and she gasped as she heard it crackle and hiss, barely casting a red glow as the charred remains of wood fought with the embers. Frightened from the noises in the darkened room, she leapt out of bed in search of the candle that she kept on the table and with shaking hands, lit it and felt a small amount of comfort from the flickering light.
She couldn’t stay in that room any longer and was too afraid to sleep again. She needed William. He’d be asleep, for certain, but if she were able to peek in on him, see his sweet face as she remembered it, slightly tanned and his curly brown hair, not that shocking white from her dream, perhaps she’d feel more at ease. Then she’d know it was just a dream.
She quietly opened his bedroom door and shut it silently behind her and padded across his large room to the bed. She set her candle next to him on a table and smiled at his sleeping form, sprawled out on his back with his arms flung haphazardly as if he’d fallen onto the mattress, blankets bunched up and twisted around his legs and barely covering his bare chest. She gasped, feeling a tingling sensation in her womb as she looked at his figure for the first time. She blinked her eyes and quickly looked away from the temptation of his muscles and crawled into bed beside him, sighing contentedly when he wrapped an arm around her waist and mumbled something in his sleep before he fell silent again. She placed a kiss on his chest and snuggled up against him, listening to the soft thrumming of his heart, letting his warmth surround her and lull her back to a pleasant, dreamless sleep.