If you be my bodyguard, I can be your long-lost pal.

[syl_thorn]

Late November, 1889
The Thornton Estate

Lord Carnarvon should be here any time now, and everyone is in a complete flurry. The servants are nattering about attending an actual Lord again, and my parents are fussing about everything, from the polish on the floor to the sear on the steak.

"Isn't it exciting?" Lizzie says as she bustles about my

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[syl_thorn]

Dinner is, as usual, a miserable affair. When I come down, Mother immediately narrows her eyes, "Really, Sylvie, your hair. You could put some effort into this."

"He's not marrying me for my looks, Mother." I snap as I take my seat.

"Thank God for that, or we'd never be shut of you." She mutters into her drink. Thankfully Lord Carnarvon comes in at that moment, and the rest of the meal passes in relative silence. Whenever he and I try to talk politics or books, my parents loudly interrupt and steer the conversation elsewhere. I pick at my food, my stomach in knots. How I hate this.

Finally, Mother and I head off to the drawing room, while Father and Lord Carnarvon retreat to the study. Mother is drunk enough that I can get away with reading until the men return.

Finally, Lord Carnarvon says, "Miss Thornton, would you do me the kindness of speaking with me for a moment in private? Your father has said we may speak in his study."

"Of course, my Lord," I say, rising from my chair. As I pass him, my father glowers significantly at me and gives my arm a vicious pinch. I know better than to flinch.

The study reeks of my father's loathesome cigars, but better here alone than with them. I sigh as Lord Carnarvon closes the door. "Well, I hope he didn't drive too hard a bargain." I say.

[al_shairan]

"Hard enough," I say with a little smile, "but for your benefit, at least."

Now it comes to it, I find it strangely hard to say. I clear my throat a little, and rummage in my pocket for the ring box.

"Miss Thornton," I say, "as you know, I admire and like you. I would be very happy if you did me the honour of becoming my wife, in token of which I have this ring." I open the box. "It's a family heirloom, although if you preferred another stone we can find something else to suit." Although I know she'll say yes, my heart's beating hard.

[syl_thorn]

"Hard enough, but for your benefit, at least." And I suppose that's true, but for now I feel rather like a filly on the auction block.

It surprises me, really, when I see him fumble in his pocket and glance away from me at the bookshelves. I do believe that he's nervous, and it's rather touching, in an odd way. But then, he and I are rather in this together, aren't we? This will change his life as much as it will change my own.

<"Miss Thornton," he finally says, drawing the small, velvet box out of his pocket, "as you know, I admire and like you. I would be very happy if you did me the honour of becoming my wife, in token of which I have this ring."

It's quite a large ring, larger than my usual taste, but the center stone is a flawless garnet, the deepest red I have ever seen. Heart's blood. "It's a family heirloom, although if you preferred another stone we can find something else to suit."

"Nonsense, it's lovely." I say, more quietly than I intend. And then I step forward, lay my hand on his, and kiss his cheek. "Yes."

[al_shairan]

I like the way her voice goes soft; it's a surprise, but a pleasant one. Her mouth is warm against my cheek.

"I'm very glad," I say sincerely, and take her hand. After a moment I raise it to my lips. "I will do my very best to be a good husband to you."

I suppose we should go back to her parents, but I've no particular wish to do so.

"When would you like to set the date?" I say. It's the bride's prerogative to choose that. "And would you want to get married here? I'm happy to host the party, but you might rather get married from your childhood home." That is the tradition, after all.

[syl_thorn]

"I'm very glad," he says, and then kisses my hand. "I will do my very best to be a good husband to you."

"I'll try to be a good wife to you, though I fear my talents lie elsewhere." I smirk.

I'm very glad when he doesn't immediately suggest we go back to the drawing room. The last thing I want is my parents fussing over me, dribbling over the ring. "When would you like to set the date? And would you want to get married here? I'm happy to host the party, but you might rather get married from your childhood home."

"Oh, good Lord, not here." The very thought makes me shudder. I want to be shut of this place as soon as I can. "Your home is far more suited, anyway. And perhaps just after the New Year?" I look at him and smile. "It seems an auspicious way to begin."

[al_shairan]

"That soon?" I say, surprised. I'm glad she's eager, but it makes me think she must want to get away. "Yes, that would suit me very well. You must pick the date, of course. And I'd be happy for the party to be at our estate. It seems right, that you start your married life in your new home." I smile at her. "I think you'll like Excolo Abbey; it's a grand house, but it's a cosy one, too. It's not full of chilly marble halls."

[syl_thorn]

He looks startled, "That soon?" But then his face clears, "Yes, that would suit me very well. You must pick the date, of course. And I'd be happy for the party to be at our estate. It seems right, that you start your married life in your new home." He smiles again, that true smile that brings warmth to his face. "I think you'll like Excolo Abbey; it's a grand house, but it's a cosy one, too. It's not full of chilly marble halls."

"It sounds marvellous," I say, and indeed it does, though just about anywhere would in comparison. "Do you live there alone?" Aside from the servants, of course. "And you mentioned a hunt...you must have your own stables?" I hope that my Father will let me take my horse with me, though I wouldn't be surprised if he refuses. She's a valuable mare.

[al_shairan]

"Alone, yes... I've not been Lord Carnarvon very long, you know. My brother died, quite unexpectedly, and so I inherited... It has been an interesting year." I smile a little. "Of course we have stables. Do you have a horse you'd like to bring with you?"

[syl_thorn]

"Alone, yes... I've not been Lord Carnarvon very long, you know. My brother died, quite unexpectedly, and so I inherited... It has been an interesting year."

"I'm sorry," I'd heard that his brother died, of course...it made the news in social circles that suddenly the younger Sherrard brother was a much more desirable catch, but I hadn't given it much thought until now. "Were you close?"

"Of course we have stables. Do you have a horse you'd like to bring with you?"

"I have my hunter," I smile. Juno's a wonderful mare, and I treasure her. "Of course, she's legally my father's. Hopefully I'll be able to bring her when I...move in."

My heart is beginning to beat harder, and I feel faintly light-headed. It's starting to become real to me now. I am getting away from here. Finally, finally, I am going to escape.

[al_shairan]

"Were you close?"

I shake my head.

"No, Bertram was ten years older than me, and we had little in common... It was a shock when he died, though. Mostly because I never thought I'd be in charge of the estate. And I had to seek release from the army, too... They may request my services again one day," I add, "though I don't think that's a great risk..."

"Of course, she's legally my father's. Hopefully I'll be able to bring her when I...move in."

"I'd be happy to buy her for you as a wedding gift, if your father would rather not lose the value of the mare." Any loving father would let his daughter take her horse, but I have my doubts about Mr Thornton's loving heart. And while the estate may have debt problems at the moment, I can afford a horse.

[syl_thorn]

"No, Bertram was ten years older than me, and we had little in common... It was a shock when he died, though. Mostly because I never thought I'd be in charge of the estate. And I had to seek release from the army, too... They may request my services again one day, though I don't think that's a great risk..."

"I hope not," I agree. It's strange, to think of being forced into service. It's not something I've ever had to worry about, of course, but to be forced by your family into an environment where you could be injured or killed...but, then, at least it's temporary. A girl can be forced into a cruel marriage and be trapped there for life, with no escape.

"I'd be happy to buy her for you as a wedding gift, if your father would rather not lose the value of the mare."

That honestly startles me more than his shyness when he proposed. I was expecting many things from him and from this experience...but not kindness. I like him, and he seems a decent man, so I had hoped for decency, for understanding...not this. "I...thank you." I finally say. Honestly, I don't know how else to react to this.

Well. I turn and move to my father's sideboard. "We should celebrate. On our own, I mean." I doubt either of us is much looking forward to rejoining my parents. My father, I know, keeps some very fine whisky hidden here, and I have absolutely no qualms about claiming a few measures. "Here." I say, fishing out a pair of glasses and the decanter. "Some fortification, and a toast. For luck."

[al_shairan]

She seems surprised by my offer, and I raise my eyebrows gently. They go up again when she offers me whisky, but I take her glass.

"To us, then," I say, chinking my glass against hers. "May we do a better job of this than our parents did."

*

The next few weeks pass quickly. Apparently much of the responsibility of the wedding falls to me, and so I have various things to do. As well as continuing to sort out the mess my brother managed to make of the estate in the five years he ran it... Although it turns out my father wasn't as good a manager as he pretended, either.

The grounds aren't at their best at this time of year, but hopefully Miss Thornton - I suppose I should call her Sylvia now - won't mind that. At least there are roses in the hot house.

[syl_thorn]

I was quite happy when Lord Carnarvon...Alex...invited me to come and stay for a few days before Christmas. Life at home has been growing insufferable. My mother's taken to sneeringly calling me "My Lady," whenever we argue, and my father...

...well, I don't want to think about my father. Suffice it to say that the tension has been rising, and a respite from it is deeply welcome. Of course, my mother has to accompany me as chaperone, but so long as there's a full bottle, she'll be kept occupied.

The carriage rattles along the road, and turns up the drive towards the Abbey, and I lean over to look out the window. Oh, my. Father purchased quite a large old home when he came into money, but this...

"Well, not going to lack for space, are you?" Mother chortles.