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Author's Chapter Notes:
William fights for Elisabeth's affections.
“Elisabeth, I thought….you loved me,” he mumbled.

“I do love you and I want to marry you but I’m not allowed.”

William put his arms around her. “I will talk to your cousins. I should have talked to them first. I will alleviate their objections.”

“It's not them. I’m not supposed to marry, have children or have a career because I’m going to die young. I’m supposed to fight demons. That’s all I’m meant for.” Elisabeth blurted the words before she had to chance to think how crazy she must sound. These were images from her dreams that she knew them to be true but how?

“Is this part of the nightmares you have?” He started rubbing gentle circles on her back.

“Yeah, crazy huh?” she asked. She looked up to find him studying her. “You deserve a not crazy wife.” The thought of him with someone else made her sob harder.

“I don’t think you’re crazy. I think your fears are manifesting themselves in your dreams. As a result of the hit you took to your head months ago, they’re more vivid and frightening.” He tilted her chin up and looked directly into her eyes. “Elisabeth, what do you want?”

She thought a moment. “I like working with fashion at Leveaus and I want a career doing that.” She looked deep inside her heart. “Most of all, I want to marry you.”

William beamed. “Marriage to me won’t mean that you can’t have the career you want. I’ll support you in anything you want to do. You know that.” He removed his handkerchief and dabbed the tears on her cheeks. “Maybe your nightmares will go away now that you know that I won’t prevent you from following your dreams.”

“Maybe,” she agreed. “I don’t think I can have children.” His nurturing nature and huge house indicated his want of a family. She worried how he would feel in a few years once he realized she couldn’t have children. “You deserve a family.”

For a moment, he contemplated that but more than a family he wanted Elisabeth. “If we can’t have children, there is a bright side. I get to keep you all to myself.” His lips caressed hers in a gentle kiss that deepened until her knees shook. “Now Elisabeth will you marry me?”

“Oh yes,” she whispered. Then he slipped the ring onto her finger. “I love you.” Time for some major kissage. She launched herself at him causing them to tumble to the ground.

His tongue danced in her mouth until they were breathless. Then he unbuttoned her blouse. “You shouldn’t let me do this to you. This is so improper.” His fingertips caressed her breast

“But it feels so good,” she countered. As he lowered his lips to kiss her breasts, she gently ran her fingers through his wavy locks. Feeling her heart pounding, she arched her back eager for more. The tingling warmth between her legs drove her wild.

Once his arousal became obvious and too much to contain, he broke away and lay down on the grass. “You’re too tempting.”

“So are you,” she whispered. Elisabeth unbuttoned his shirt and trailed kisses down William’s chest. Her hardened nipples brushed against him. Several times she saw his knuckles whiten from pleasure while several moans escaped his lips.

Later, they both relaxed next to each other happy, breathless and eager for their wedding night. William reluctantly buttoned her blouse for her while she did his. “We must maintain an air of respectability.”

“No more kissage and other stuff,” she replied with a pout.

“I didn’t say that.” He offered his arm. “We must be careful. You need to hide that ring until I can formally ask your guardians for permission to marry you.”

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Two days later, Elisabeth received a love note from William letting her know that he would be talking to her guardians the following evening and that he thought of a little poem during their last date.

**And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

**Lyrics from Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls

*I have such a wonderful boyfriend….fiancé, definitely a keeper.*

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The next evening Elisabeth tip toed down the stairs when she heard William’s dulcet tones as he spoke to Heath and Rose. “My reason for marriage is that we love each other,” he said.

“Though Elisabeth’s family was wealthy, that wealth waned. They left her with very little.” Heath cleared his throat. “She has no dowry to speak of but is used to being kept in a certain manner.”

“A dowry means nothing to me,” William countered. “I earn five thousand pounds per year. Also, I own a home in Knightsbridge and a cottage in the country.”

“That is more than suitable,” Heath replied.

“You’ve only known each other a few weeks if that. You can’t possibly be in love. You’re both young, especially Elisabeth. I’m sure it is only an infatuation on her part. Could you live with yourself if that is the case?”

That statement infuriated Elisabeth. *She wants me to improve her social status by marrying Wellington.* After Rose said what she did, Elisabeth heard nothing so she opened the parlor door and looked directly at William.

Rose’s statement stunned William. At that moment, he looked up to see Elisabeth standing in the doorway gazing at him with smiling eyes. That look said: I accept everything that you are. I’m proud of you. I believe in you. Most of all, I love you. She always looked at him like that. It empowered him. This was more than an infatuation.

William stood up. “We love each other and we will marry…even without your blessing.” He extended his hand to Elisabeth.

Disregarding propriety, she took his hand and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I’ll only marry William because I love him and no one else.” Then she extended her hand so that Rose and Heath could see her butterfly engagement ring.

Rose left the room in a huff while Heath poured a glass of sherry. “I have a few stipulations young man.” William cocked his head to listen to Heath’s words. “Give her a proper engagement and wedding since women live for that sort of thing. Treat her well. Last but not least, there better not be any surprises until at least nine months after your wedding date.”

“Of course sir,” William replied.

“Young lady there better not be any more mysterious ailments every Sunday. You need to attend church.”

Elisabeth gasped in shock. Heath has always been such a quiet man. She didn’t think he noticed her comings and goings. “I will.”

After looking pointedly at her, Heath’s eyes rested on William. “I take it you will be attending church as well.”

“I suppose I will but afterwards I like to relax in the park.” William’s hand tightened around Elisabeth’s. There was no way he would give up his private time with her.

Heath frowned and sipped his sherry. Now that the couple were engaged and obviously shared a passion for each other, he wouldn’t let them give in to temptation. Many girls were disgraced by their young men during their engagement only to have the young man end it once he had his desires met. Elisabeth needed to be properly escorted by a married woman during her sojourns with William. “Rose and I could use more fresh air. Can you recommend a suitable park?”

“Battersea Park,” William replied. “Are you sure your wife would care for the park?”

“I’ll make sure of it.”

“Thank you,” he replied. “My mother will be back tomorrow. I would like for her to meet Elisabeth. Perhaps on Saturday, you and your wife would come to dinner.”

“You asked for Elisabeth’s hand without your mother’s approval or even knowledge?” The inappropriateness and boldness shocked Heath. From what he understood of William, the young man lacked any form of audacity but now he seemed to have it in spades.

“While I’m sure my mother will love Elisabeth, I am the man of the house. My marriage to Elisabeth is my decision.” William patted Elisabeth’s hand in assurance.

Heath’s eyebrows rose at his rather defiant attitude and wondered if this was a suitable match. “You might be the man of your house but you realize that Elisabeth has a very spirited and independent attitude.” He nodded towards her.

“Those are the qualities that I admire most about her. While I will always be the man of the house, she will be treated with equality and respect. I plan to teach her how to manage our finances and even about the family business. She may even keep her job at the dress shop if she wishes.”

While he agreed with the respect part, Heath couldn’t imagine a woman caring about business or finances. “That is something you may wish to reconsider. I’m sure no woman would care for such matters.”

No one ever taught her any of that but it made sense that she should know something about it to help if needed. “I’m interested.” The look Heath gave her made her feel inadequate.

William squeezed her hand and grinned wickedly at Heath. “I’m a member of both the Reform Club and the Athenaeum Club. I think women should be allowed in both.”

Heath’s drink spilled. The thought that women should join a political club such as the Reform club was abhorrent. Moreover, the thought of them joining a club reserved for scientists and artists was utterly ridiculous. As if a woman could ever be either! “Next you’ll suggest they be allowed to vote!”

“Actually, I think they should as well as non land owners should be allowed to vote as well.”

“Obviously, you both are suited to each other.” Heath stood up flustered from all the insane notions the young man had. “We will see you on Saturday. You may bid each other farewell.”

Elisabeth had sat quietly next to William listening to the exchange. All of his ideas would be normal someday. Somehow she just knew. For now, he was a visionary. As soon as the door closed behind Heath, she launched herself at William pinning him to the couch. “You are the most wonderful man on the planet. I’m so proud of you.” She kissed him over and over. “You’re like future man or something.”

*Future man…huh….well I’ll just enjoy her affections before Heath comes back.* William found he couldn’t move. Considering the position they were in, he really didn’t want to.


Chapter End Notes:
I hope you like the interlude between William and Heath. Spike is so punk and it seemed that was his era. My theory is that William was a 'punk' of the Victorian era but too afraid to express it. His ideas were considered insane during that time.



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