What's meant to be will always find a way - Chapter 7 - Forced love
Author: NYWCgirl
Fandom: White collar
Pairing: None
Characters: Neal Caffrey, Peter Burke, Mozzie,
Warning/genre: Historical AU, M/M, friendship, wedding, forced marriage
Spoilers: none
Rating: NC-13
Word Count: ~1100
Summary: Fifty ways Peter and Neal could have met.
‘Dad, you can´t do this!’
‘I can and I have, Peter. Now stop whining and do what is best for this family.’
‘This isn´t right. It is not fair, not to me, but certainly not to him. Why can´t we just meet and see what happens?’
‘Son, you made it clear you didn´t want a wife, so I looked for a boy that could make you a good husband. What more do you want from me?’
‘Dad, you make him sound like a well-trained dog.’
‘Son, we’re done talking about this. The Caffreys come from a very influential family line. They could do some serious damage if they want, except they are willing to marry their son off to us to tighten the relationship between our families. So we’re done here, they boy is arriving today. You will be married tomorrow.’
Peter’s dad leaves the room and Peter starts pacing. He can´t believe his family is doing this to him and yes he knows his parents are joined in the same way as he is to be and he always had the feeling they really loved each other, but that doesn’t mean he has to like it.
* * *
Peter is practicing when he hears the guards announce an approaching party. Peter puts his sword back in its scabbard by his side and wants to make his way to the gate when he’s held back by two guards.
‘Your highness instructed to escort you to your quarters.’
‘I can manage on my own, thank you.’
He pulls himself free and storms off towards his quarters, followed by the guards. Once he slams the door close in front of them, he takes a deep breath. The nerve!
Through a secret passage he escapes his room to climb to the roof where he can see the courtyard. An unconscious man is carried inside. What the…?
He quickly makes his way down. At least it is a brunette, Jack thinks.
* * *
Feeling returns first. He is lying on something soft and it smells nice. The smell is unfamiliar but pleasant. At least he isn´t restrained. Well, now that he comes to think of it, he is not sure, so he pries open his eyes. The room is luxuriously decorated but he is not surprised. His servant told him about the Burke family, they are rich and influential.
Mozzie! Was Mozzie allowed to come with him?
When he raises himself from the bed, he groans. A wave of vertigo hits him. After a couple of deep breaths he feels marginally better. He is hurt that they thought they needed to drug him to get here. He knows his duties and he never shied away from them.
He gets up and walks over to the window. It doesn´t open, as he expected, but he can see the grounds beneath him. People are decorating the courtyard. The place looks lovely, it is clear the Burke family takes this very serious and doesn´t want to ‘get it over with’. He starts when the door is unlocked and opens.
‘Master Neal, good to see you awake. I have some wine and food for you. They have an excellent wine selection and cook.’
Relieve washes over Neal, they allowed Mozzie to come with him. Mozzie puts the food and wine on the table. There is sausage, cheese and bread. He cuts everything in pieces and Neal reluctantly walks up and takes some bread and cheese. It really is delicious, and after a few bites he feels remarkable better.
‘It’s good to have you here Mozzie.’
‘Where would I go without you?’
Neal takes Mozzie in a hug before sitting down and drinking some wine.
‘Have you seen him?’
‘Who? Your soon to be husband?’
Neal nods anxiously.
‘No, I am sorry, but I heard in the grapevine that Peter Burke is guarded in his quarters and he is furious he wasn´t allowed to meet you.’
‘Could you find out something about him?’
‘Well, he is loved by the people, I haven´t heard a bad word about him, so there is that.’
Neal nods. That is good news, he doesn´t know what he would have done if his future husband turned out to be a tyrant. He was told that Peter Burke was a good man and would make him a good husband.
Suddenly there is a knock on the door and the door is almost immediately opened. Mozzie stand between the door and him.
‘Lord Burke!’
Neal immediately looks up and there he is, Lord Peter Burke.
‘Neal? I’m Peter. May I come in?’
‘Well, you may, as you are already inside.’
‘Yeah of course.’
Neal makes a waving gesture welcoming Peter to come further. The man is gorgeous, taller than him, mean and muscular.
‘Peter? Well, nice to meet you. I was told we were not allowed to see each other until the marriage.’
‘I was ordered the same. Look, I just wanted to come and tell you this wasn´t my idea and…’
Neal steps closer, ‘It’s OK. I’m OK with it if you are. I will do my best to make you a good and dedicated partner.’
Peter gives him a smile, ‘I want an equal partner. I see that your servant got you some wine?’
Peter pours himself some and his eyebrows raises, ‘this is from my father’s private collection. How did you get into that room?’
‘Oh, leave that up to Mozzie.’
Peter studies Mozzie for a moment before dismissing it.
‘So tell me more about yourself, Neal. I would like to get to know you.’
And Neal does.
* * *
The next morning Neal is woken by Mozzie. Servants are filling a tub with hot water and a large breakfast is set out for him. Neal takes his bath, enjoying the warmth and luxury before dressing in the clothes that are up out for him. Everything fits perfectly and he feels relaxed. He’s glad Peter broke protocol last night to come and see him and to put him at ease. The learned a little bit about each other.
He can hear people talking in the courtyard knowing that their parents and relatives are already waiting for them. He takes a deep breath and nods to the servant Peter’s family sent. Once they approach the courtyard he can see Peter and smiles. He has a good feeling about this. So he walks up to Peter, his husband in a couple of moments and gives him a brilliant smile.