Fic: The Old Building 8/?
A/N: Okay, there isn’t a lot of plot development in this chapter straight away. I figure I’ve got one or two chapters left. And I may do a sequel if people want it! Just so every one is away I don’t own Romeo or Mr Darcy… Although… if I did, it’d be one hell of a party! I hope this chapter satisfies!
Chapter 8
Ianto woke to a cold compress being pressed against his forehead. It felt wonderful and he found himself sighing deep into the silk pillows. Wait a minute, I don’t have silk pillows, he thought and that’s when the memories bombarded his mind. The last thing he remembered was pacing in on of the vast rooms of the wood household. Through the fog of his thoughts he heard a voice.
“Ianto dear can you hear me?” Mary’s melodic voice ran in his ears and he let out a loud groan. He’d almost forgotten his concussion, with all the dancing and kissing. “Oh thank the lord! I was so worried for you; I was just about to send for a doctor!” The last statement finally roused Ianto from his mind and fully into awareness.
“I really don’t think I need a doctor.” He managed to cough out. “I think it was just a funny turn.” I really don’t need a doctor from the 1800’s messing me up even more than I am. He sat up, not realizing how dizzy he was and felt straight into Mary’s awaiting arms, with a groan.
“Are you sure you’re alright darling?” We’ve only known each other 5 minutes and she’s calling me darling? Well I suppose I am her fiancé. He cringed and nodded. Mary guided Ianto back down and covered him with the pale green throw. “Well, you can just take it easy here. The party is almost over now, so I’ll be back up shortly.” She gave him a peck on the lips and hurried out of the room, her golden blond hair had fallen out of her elegant up do and flowed behind her. Ianto frowned; maybe he was starting to understand how people could fall in love so easily and quickly. He knew that he already felt extreme attraction towards Mary, no man would be able top resist her, but was he in love? Maybe it’s some sort of love of convenience. I’ve only been here a day and I have no way of knowing whether I’ll get back to Jack and Gwen. He sighed; he had a lot of thinking to do.
Before he could get into any serious thinking, Mr Wood sauntered into his room. “Ahh Ianto, I’ve been meaning to have a word with you. My daughter said you had a nasty turn. Are you okay?” Ianto could only nod in response. “Well then, on to the serious business!” Maybe he’ll scream at me and tell me I can’t marry his precious daughter, but of course I can stay here with him. Ahh a perfect world. “I won’t be too long; I know you’ll need your rest as the wedding draws near. I just wanted to know if you had anybody invitations need to be sent out to.”
“I, uhm… No, no I don’t sir.” Not in this time period anyway.
“Oh good! Well then, because all of the guests have been invited-” At Ianto’s look of confusion Mr Wood, felt the need to clarify. “Tonight at the party, I invited all of our friends and acquaintances, now the wedding can proceed tomorrow.” He patted Ianto on the back and smiled. Ianto was in shock. I’m not even sure if I want to marry this woman, I’ve only known her a day! What can I say? Okay I’m in the 1800’s, think about those books Lisa made you read. Pride and something… Prejudice that’s it! Okay, so Darcy won’t marry her because of money? Hmm... I don’t think so; anyway that’s what I’ll go for. Maybe they won’t want this marriage to continue if they think I’m poor.
“Sir, before you go, I have a confession to make. I have no money, not a single penny.” Ianto thought it was best to just blurt it out. Damn the consequences!
Mr Wood hesitated for a moment, and then continued to speak. “That’s fine. My daughter shall marry who she wants! You can work for me. I’m sure I’ll find something suitable to a man of your… Stature.” Mr Wood, then stood ad strolled out of the room. Ianto frowned and rose from the bed. His head was already feeling a lot clearer. Maybe I could go to Mary and explain that I’m not from this time and I can’t marry her. He shook his head. That would just get me a one way ticket to the doctor. He sighed and suddenly felt tires again. I’ll just get some sleep and see what tomorrow brings.
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“Who are you and what have you done with Ianto!”
Jack peered into the darkness, his gun still out in front of him. Behind him Gwen was poised and ready to strike.
“I said, who are you?!” Jack shouted. At first there was silence and then a cold chill swept through the room. Gwen shivered and rubbed her arm.
“I’ve not got a good feeling about this Jack.” She whispered. Jack shushed her.
“Well?” He shouted once again into the darkness. A figure started to materialise in front of them. At first it was just a bright light, but the colder it got the more defined the lines of the figure became. Jack could tell that they were dealing with a woman, because of the figures fantastic shape.
Gwen squinted through the light. She gasped as the woman in front of her became more defined. The woman/ghost was beautiful. Dressed elegantly and with long golden, blonde hair, she was the most attractive woman she’d ever seen. The woman smiled sadly and Gwen looked into her eyes. Pain. That’s all that Gwen could see. Pain coupled with sadness, she hoped to never feel like that in her life. She didn’t even think losing Owen and Tosh brought her the amount of pain that she could see in the woman’s eyes. The pain that she could see, Gwen decided, could only be caused by the death of somebody’s soul mate. The one person in the world who could make that person complete. Gwen instantly felt sorry for the woman. She’d obviously lost her Mr Darcy, her Romeo, her Rhys. She looked away from the woman’s eyes and to Jack.
Jack had also been looking at the woman. He also saw the pain and he also felt for the woman. He’d felt pain like that twice, once when his wife Estelle had died and once when he’d seen Rose’s name on the list of the dead at Canary Wharf. He sighed, he didn’t want to feel that pain again and so levelled his gun. “Where. Is. Ianto?”
A lone tear fell from the woman’s eye. “Ianto.” She said. “Has gone.”
Silence followed her statement and Gwen gasped. What does she mean gone? Is he…Dead? Or gone somewhere else. We need more information! Since Jack doesn’t seem up to talking, I’ll take the plunge. “What do you mean gone? Gone where? How do you even know him?”
The young woman looked at them both in pity. “Ianto Jones caused my death.”