The Proper Husband

[Lovely]

Sept 23, Year 1


Having his ways of finding out information about town, usually through the cleverest means of his small sister, Patrick found himself arriving a little too early at the party being held primarily for his wife. The very fact that she was his wife made it all the more important for him to attend the get-together and inform her father that one husband, the one she already had, was enough. Finding himself in such an unusual situation with such an unreasonable man had him on the floor beneath the tip of a very sharp rapier that was to be part of the ceremony with Young Mister Resher...

The blade clipped the air over Patrick's chest with a 'snick'. "Tell me what you said again. You're WHAT?!?!" Westgate was not pleased at all for having this ruffian in attendance at what was to be a private, short and very necessary ceremony.

Patrick watches, unarmed, as the buttons of his shirt get sliced off one by one...

Lily stands by, getting all excited and watches as the blade slices, slowly exposing his chest, distracting her thoughts. She let out a dreamy sigh..

"Darling... I do hope you realize, this isn't a game and he truly intends to kill me slowly," he grinned up at her from the floor, looking for a little help.

"Oohhh you called me darling?" She murmurs, flashing a sweet adoring smile, then jumps daddy and knocks the blade from his hand as she tackles him to the floor.

"Absolutely darling," he chuckles, rolling himself upward to stand and picking up the blade himself. "I believe the word was 'wed'... 'already married'... if it please you sir."

Lily smiled at Patrick as she untangled herself from her father and got to her feet. "I tried to tell you.." She muttered softly to the man, then scooted closer to her husband.

"It absolutely does not please me, you wretch," Westgate growled at the boy. "Lilian, step away from that heathen this instant. You WILL marry Young Mister Resher and I will have no more of this nonsense."

She shook her head slowly, licking her lips as she once again defied her father. He was already angry about her condition and now she would not marry the man he wished her to. "No. I won't marry mister Resher... " She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders a bit. "I've been trying to tell you.. I love Patrick.. and I can't marry someone else, since I am already married to him."

"What idiocy is this?" He dusted off the indignation of having been bowled to the floor by his daughter and turned his anger on Patrick. "Have you charmed her? Is she drunk? Drugged? Married... what joke is this and whose idea, Lilian? I shall have them thrown in jail for such scandal and gratuitous fable. You are no more married to him than... than....," he stammered, gesturing with his hand in search of a retort.

The boy continued to stare and not back down."She is, sir and I to her," Patrick insisted softly, though his gaze was as sharp and severe as the blade he'd taken from the man. "She is not lying nor joking. She is my wife."

Lily edged closer to Patrick, taking a step back so that she was behind him a little. Moving closer to be 'at his side' but not in his way, should her father decide to resort to physical altercation again. "Nor am I drunk or drugged... it is the truth... we are married."

Westgate chuckled, "The truth, you say? With him? He is a known braggart and swindler, Lilian. Half this town knows that and the other half falls victim to his amusements. Have you no sense, girl? I hear complaints about this boy and his brothers on the occassion of nearly twice weekly, but in truth, you say you are married? Where then is your license? Your papers?"

"Filed with the magistrate of course." She said in a matter of fact way. She turned towards Patrick, unsure whether or not he'd brought them as there was not much warning that this 'ceremony' was going to take place.

"With the magistrate...," he chuckled again, disbelieving the story. "And tell me, who gave the permission for her to be wed? Certainly not her mother... certainly I did not and will not, not to you."

"Ah, but Mister Westgate, guardian and -brother- did, sir. As he is her legal protector when you are away from home, he gave his signature without so much as a blink... didn't you, Cody?"

"He did what?!?" The fury reeled from the man as he spun on a heel to face his son, pushing Resher out of the way to reach for the boy's collar. "You signed?"

Resher, though aghast at being duped himself and angry at not getting his bride.. had to chuckle. He found great humor in the predicament and in Lily's sure spitfire rebelliousness. Of course he was properly sore in that she might not be his... his eyes cast coldly over Patrick and possesively over Lily. "Mister Westgate.. I'm sure this is a simple ruse, by a vicious man who wants to get his undeserving hands on our sweet Lily.. Perhaps a trip to the magistrate's office so we can clear this up and send him on his way, once and for all?" His smiled tipped slightly towards Patrick in a cool twist. "And then the proper wedding can take place, and -my wife- and I can be off to our honeymoon."

"She's had her honeymoon... and we have a child on the way, or didn't she tell you?"

The slap that met his son's face echoed in the small hall, spinning Cody halfway around as he cringed and held his hands up in defense to no avail. "Signed her away, did you? I'll deal with you later. A trip to the magistrate's office will not be necessary. It's a hoax, I assure you."

"It is no such thing." She spoke in a soft but firm voice. "I am sorry mister Resher.. But I can not marry you."

[Lovely]

He turned his attention to Mr. Westgate after hearing the loud slap that spun Cody. "It seems as though Mister Carlisle claims to be her husband, to have bedded her and to be the father of Lilian's child." His eyes cast to Patrick again, a slight rage burning there, at the thought that this man had had the girl, who was supposed to be for him.

"Claim? I am her husband and her child is mine," he seethed at Resher quietly, not wishing to make the situation more uncomfortable for Lily. "I need not say anymore or less to please you Resher. She is my wife and you have no right to believe otherwise."

"The fact that her father promised her to me and brought her here this day to become my wife, gives me every right to believe otherwise and to question the validity of your claims Mister Carlisle. Since you do not have her father's blessing, nor does he appear to know anything of what you claim.. nor does he seem to believe you.. it would appear we have a dilemia."

"Father.. please.. Patrick is my husband and he is without a doubt, the father of my child." She again spoke in a soft voice, though now a bit louder as it seemed no one would hear the truth. She turned searching eyes on Patrick, reaching for his arm or hand, to bring herself closer into his 'circle' of 'protective space' and comfort.

"Lilian, be quiet. You've done more than enough and I will not hear your lies. Come here and stand by the man I have chosen for you to marry. Come now," he insisted, refusing to hear her words.

Patrick's hand held her beside him, "It's alright, Lily. The man won't see reason until he sees proof as he doesn't see fit to hear his own daughter or believe the behavior of his son who says nothing in his own defense, quite aware that his sister is telling the truth. How much more of a man he is for giving her that grace, sir, meaning no disrespect... of course."

"You insolent... LILIAN... come here now. I will not have you delay this any longer."

"No!" Her voice rose now, above her normal speaking volume, but nowhere near a shout. "What is it going to take, to make you hear me? For you to believe the truth.. Patrick is my husband. I can not marry another man, when I am married already!"

It was becoming clear by his expression and stance that he was displeased and annoyed at the situation. His patience was wearing thin and his gaze on Patrick grew colder and sharper, more menacing. When his eyes moved to Lily, the gaze remained menacing but in a different way, wanting, raw, possesive, though angry as well. He awaited Mr. Westgate's response to the girl's words before he would say any thing further.

"This is preposterous! What you've done is bewitched her with your conniving ways, Carlisle. Let her go and be on your way. She is to be married and I will not let you interfere. Go now or I will have you arrested!"

Her fingers tightened their grip on his and he would feel the slight tremor that ran through her. Her father was not listening and she feared that he would tear Patrick away from her. Though the sheriff was his brother, it would not stop him from arresting Pat, if Lily's father pressed things, would it? If he were hauled off, she was again at the mercy of her father and Resher..

"Begging your forgiveness, Mister Westgate, sorry I'm la... Patrick? Michael?" Gully looked up at the pairing, seeing the separation of the gathering and the expressions. "I'm sorry, have I interrupted?"

"Not anymore than they have already," Cody muttered, finally speaking up from his corner as the preacher strode in. "Seems your brother's gone all funny in thinkin' he's married my sister. Only one man in town'd do that and have it be real, right preacher?"

"Yes, please let us put an end to this farce and get on with the wedding." He turned to Gully and extended his hand. "I apologise but it appears we have a situation."

"Ah, I see. So the bride is late as well?" Gully looked around, only seeing Mrs. Westgate and Lily in attendance.

"Begging your pardon, but the bride is right there." He motioned to Lily. "Miss Westgate, she is the one I am here to marry."

"Miss Westgate? No, begging your pardon, I'm sorry, Missus Carlisle. I thought you'd heard. Patrick?" He turned to his brother, confused but saw the expression and that of the infuriated Mister Westgate as he followed Pat's gaze. "Ah, that would be a situation. Yes, well, you see... it would be quite impossible, or quite illegal for you to marry her as I married her to Patrick a few weeks ago."

"You married her to Patrick.. a few weeks ago?" His exhale, was partly whistled out as he shook his head. Infuriated, but a proper gentleman he turned to Patrick and extended his hand. "My apologies to you, then... it appears as though my doubt was misplaced. Congratulations, to you both."

"What are you doing? No... this... this is an outrage! He is the boy's brother and he's in on this farce. Mister Resher, you will be married to my daughter. I've had enough of this! Lilian, I said come over here now."

He nodded to Lily and turned to Westgate. "If you'll pardon me sir, but I feel I can believe the preacher's word.. brother or not." He lifted his hat off the table and leaned to kiss Mrs. Westgate's hand. "Good day.." He gave a polite nod and warm look to Gully, he had respect for the man and his vocation and would not think him a liar. "I'll see you on Sunday." He gave another nod to Patrick and Lily and one to Cody as he headed for the door. "Cody." He gave a slight parting and shake of his head, his expression saying 'good luck'. Cody was going to be in for it, no doubt as Mr Westgate had been set on Lily marrying him.

Patrick watched Cody's expression and smiled darkly as Resher conceded. Now if only Lilian's father would do the same. Wanted... a new brother to replace the mangled mess that's about to be left behind, he mused, shaking his head a Cody's misfortune.

Lily did not move from Patrick's side, when her father insisted, she was surprised that he questioned even Gully telling him that she and Patrick had wed.