CHAPTER 3 - The Meeting
AN:
Thank you to all readers for the very kind words and encouragement. The reviews do inspire me a lot so keep them coming.
Spike slowed his ride to a slow trot as he
approached Summerly Court. The journey had been pleasant in the late spring
weather and the countryside awash in wild flowers. The lands surrounding the
estate looked well maintained; however, the lack of
funds could clearly be seen in the area. It seemed that Sir Summerly had for a
long time been living dangerously close to the edge of doom. Perhaps it
explained his willingness to begin gambling that fateful night.
In the distance, the slow gallop of Clem
could be heard. His friend was making the best of it, but he was still
painfully slow in his progress. Spike sighed, then grinned,
glad to have Clem with him. Today might prove to be an unpleasant task
but something had to be done about the girl. He was not willing to be married
off to a country spinster.
With a final look back to make sure that
Clem was still astride his ride, Spike kicked his horse Taranta and continued
on towards Summerly Court.
“Buffy! Buffy!!”
Anya’s shouts filtered from below to Buffy’s room. “He’s here, he’s here!!!”
Pounding on the staircase was followed by Anya scurrying through her doorway.
“Oh heavens, Buffy, he’s here! The gardener saw him
from the Surry Hill and told cook who told Mrs Keller. Oh lord he’s here and so
early in the morn too.”
Buffy in the midst of putting her hair up
was exasperated by her hair’s inability to stay neatly pinned and now with
Anya’s wild remarks, Buffy was thoroughly irritated. “Who is here Anya? Mr Snyder for his money again? That little dwarf is going to
tempt me to murder. I have told him to wait for the months’ end but he insists
on tormenting me. His harassment has gotten worse now that he knows my dear
father is no longer with us.”
“Mr Snyder would be alright at this time,
but it’s HIM!” Anya’s eyes widened with worry as she spoke.
“Who Anya? Am I to be surrounded by people talking in riddles?” Buffy stood up
in order to try calm Anya.
“Lord Ripper, he’s here. He passed Surry
Hill not an hour ago. He should be here any moment. Is this a time to be
calling unannounced I ask you? And you’re not even dressed. Hurry, I’ll send
Mrs Keller to help you.” Anya had barely left the room before she shouted for
Mrs Keller.
Buffy winced at the shrill tones of her
companion, having been struck dumb since his name had been uttered. ‘What was
he doing here? Why had he arrived unannounced? Was he here to...’
There was no time for thought as Mrs Keller
came in and proceeded to comb, plait and pin her hair into submission. Afterwards
the maids came into to dress her in the dress Anya had laid out for her. It was
her pink silk dress made for the ball before tragedy had hit them. Buffy had
never liked it so much as it made her look younger than her years, and
unbeknownst to her, brought forward her purity to all those who observed. So in
half the normal time Buffy was dressed and ready to face their visitor.
However, she was barely halfway down the stairs when she heard the horses
arriving outside. The smell of the strange animals made Mr Gordo aggravated so
much so that he escaped his handler and was creating a ruckus downstairs.
“Mr Travers, please let go of his leash!”
Buffy commanded.
“Come here Mr Gordo!” Her faithful
protector bounded up the stairs and came to rest next to her just as the door
was opened by Mrs Keller to the visitors.
Spike entered the house, welcomed by the
housekeeper. Without the presence of his valet the woman was quite at a loss to
address him directly.
“Lord Ripper and Mr Clement Feline to see
Lady Summerly” He tossed his hat and gloves, proceeding to take in the entry of
the once grand home.
The furnishings were dilapidated, but well
maintained and glowed with a dull shine. The entry was dominated by a large
graceful staircase ascending into the upper quarters. Spike’s eyes travelled up
and came to an abrupt stop when they landed on a Great Dane growling. Next to the monster was perhaps the
loveliest creature Spike had ever laid eyes on.
Golden ringlets framed a perfect sweetheart
face with a rosebud mouth that was moist and succulent. Eyes of gleaming
emerald that sparkled in the sunlight, showing their chameleon nature sat huge
in the tiny face.
Her small frame was encased in a rosy shade
too; the simplicity of the gown enhanced her beautiful figure with its fulsome
bust.
It seemed as if only a mere instance had
passed when Clem pointedly cleared his throat. Distractedly, Spike glanced back
at Clem, wondering what was wrong. But unable to take his eyes away from the
vision above, he turned back again.
Clem coughed embarrassedly, and after
finding that his friend was not going to tear himself from his contemplation of
the lovely girl he had seen, Clem apologetically introduced himself and Spike.
“Clement Feline and this is Lord Ripper your
ladyship”
“I am Anya Jenkins and this is Lady Summerly.” Spike finally noticed the brunette also standing
beside the girl who made the introductions complete.
Both parties bowed and curtsied despite the
distance that was both physical and emotional.
The ladies made their way down the steps
with the Dane following protectively beside his mistress. Buffy’s eyes were
suitably lowered as obligatory of a lady but she shot little looks in the
direction of their handsome blonde visitor.
Spike too was keenly regarding her, the
usual mantle of polite manners that he reluctantly observed were forgotten. His
consideration was interrupted only to answer in short sentences the curious
enquires of Miss Jenkins.
They took tea in the sitting room with the
conversation being conducted by Anya and Clem with the minimal input from Spike
and Buffy.
“I believe the weather in these parts has
been unseasonably pleasant Lady Summerly?” Clem commented.
Anya looked towards her companion who seemed to be finding the pattern
in the threadbare rug underneath their feets uncommonly fascinating.
“Yes, Lady Summerly was just commenting on
the very fact.” Anya returned with extra cheer and a discreet nudge towards
Buffy. “Our rose garden is blooming and
was the pride and joy of … the Late Earl.” The name of her father brought
slight tears to Buffy’s eyes as the true nature of the situation was brought to
light.
“Yes, it was.” This was the first
non-monosyllabic thing that Buffy had said all morning. “Now it is your rose
garden.”
Spike watched as the beautiful girl’s face
raised and she gazed at him with glittering hate filled eyes. ‘So much passion in one so young?’ He wondered how they
would look if they glittered in the passion of a different light. That golden hair undone and spread out in all its glory. In his bed, on his pillow-
Spike was horrified at his vivid
imagination. Nothing could come of his attraction to this girl.. She was too innocent for him. Or was she? Was he
imagining the innocence? He was a man of the world and knew the fairest of
maidens hid the hearts of hussies. Could there be a shrew hidden underneath?
Buffy watched as Lord Ripper seemed to
measure her with his eyes. What was he looking for? Measuring her head for his
trophy room? Or was he trying to decide how to tell her she was free to go?
Spike stood up abruptly, leaving Clem
sputtering mid-sentence in his conversation with Miss Jenkins.
“I’m afraid ladies
we have to take your leave. I have just remembered I have urgent business to
attend to in London.”
“Surely you can stay for lunch, my Lord,
and see the grounds.” Anya enquired.
“No, it will be impossible.” Spike paused
and looked once again towards Buffy. His eyes roamed her face taking his fill
as if it was his last breath. “However, I didn’t come to the point of this
visit in that I wish to restore the Summerly Estate.”
Buffy’s eyes lit up in the sudden knowledge
that her home would be brought back to its former glory.
“I would like to dispose of it as soon as
possible, but it won’t be easy in its current state.”
Just as soon as the hope has flared it
extinguished. Buffy’s eyes dulled and Spike felt a strange pain in his heart.
Never affected by others, he was puzzled that such small signs of displeasure
in an unfamiliar girl could instigate such feelings in him.
“Lady Summerly, I
send the invitation of my mother Lady Ripper to join her as a companion at my
estate in Ripper Castle.” Spike knew very well that his mother would welcome no companion
but if it was his wish she would have to comply.
“The carriage will be sent next week on the
Sunday. I trust you shall be ready.” Spike headed towards the front door
without waiting for any protest.
Buffy remained seated, shocked by the
news. Anya looked at her face once and rushed to see out the visitors.
“Lord Ripper, your invitation to Lady
Summerly is too kind but it seems so hurried. Our dear Elizabeth has never
been far for the Summerly Estate. It would be hard for her to tear herself away
from the ancestral home.”
“Life is made for change Miss Jenkins. Lady
Summerly is young and I’m sure she will enjoy the company of my mother who is
quite the society hostess. The parties at Ripper Castle are the
best of the season so it should be a welcome change.” Spike smiled a wryly at
Anya as he took his hat and gloves.
“Don’t worry Miss Jenkins, arrangements for
you shall also be made. You will not be left without a place.”
“Oh, oohh. Thankyou Lord Ripper” Anya, despite her
worries for her young companion, appreciated the assurances for herself. A
widow with no income was not an envied person in this society.
With that, Spike left,
followed by a confused Clem. Anya watched as the
men rode away, then turning back to the sitting room to find Buffy still in the
same position.
Anya kneeled down next to Buffy taking her
ice cold hands in her own warmer ones. “Buffy, Buffy!
It will be alright. You always wanted to travel, see the country. Now is your
chance. It is not the best of circumstances I admit but Lord Ripper seems a …”
Anya searched for the most polite adjective she could find, “reasonable
gentleman. He assured me the life in Castle will be
filled with society balls and his mother is best mentor for a girl such as
you-”
“I
don’t want the society balls if the mother is anything like him, I would be
better off befriending Lady Macbeth. I just want my life to be like it was
before.” Buffy snatched back her hands and walked to the window.
Anya looked at her friend’s proud profile.
“But it can’t be Buffy. It will never be the same again. You are a strong
woman. I believe your mother taught you that life brings with it many
challenges, and this is one you have to face too.”
“Well, as challenges go, I would have
preferred scaling the Himalayas.” Buffy turned and smiled ruefully at her friend.
Anya smiled back, “Wrestling a tiger in India?”
“Ok, I guess balls and castles don’t sound
so bad,” Buffy conceded.
“Also I dare say Lord Ripper shall be a
nice relief to the eyes as compared to Mr Snyder.” Anya joked and the two
friends laughed as the tense emotion of the day eased.
“Yes, I must admit Lord Ripper, despite his
arrogance and bad manners, was extraordinarily handsome. But his friend seemed
the kinder of the two.”
“One has got all the goodness, and the
other all the appearance of it,” Anya commented with a smile. “Now, enough gossiping. We have many preparations to be
completed before Sunday.”
“Yes,” Buffy mood again darkened at the
thought of the approaching date scared her. “There is a new chapter of my life
beginning.”
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