"Lance?" Joshua called as he finished brushing Ares and turned around, the smile disappearing quickly when he saw the young servant.

Looking quickly behind him, hopeful that there was someone there, Blake gulped when he turned back to Joshua. He knew of Joshuas' temper and he hated to be the bearer of bad news. "N...no M...M'lord," he whispered, falling over the words. "Lord...Lord Lance...is busy..."

His blue eyes narrowing into slits, Joshua glared at the frightened servant. "I know he is busy, you nitwit," the brown-haired lord hissed. "He has a reading lesson with Lord Christopher and then he and I are going riding."

"Your forgiveness M'lord," Blake whispered, lowering his eyes to examine the dirt below his feet. "But...I do not think Lord Lance will be...be joining you on your ri...ride..."

Walking up to the young servant, Joshua grabbed his arm. "And what makes you think Lance won't be joining me on our ride?"

His fright increasing 10 fold, Blake looked up at Joshua, only to have fire shoot back at him from behind the lords' blue eyes. "He...he...is wi...with Lord Joseph...M'lord..."

The thought of Joseph again bedding Lance sent the blue-eyed lord into a frenzy. Picking up a bucket of feed, he threw it in Blake's direction, narrowly missing the frightened servant's head. "Joseph! He is with Joseph again?!!"

Making a stupid move and ducking into an empty stall, Blake realized he was cornered after it was too late. "He...he wan...wanted to...to be with him...M'lord," the servant tried to explain as Joshua crept closer to him. "He was onl...only doin...doing what you and Lord Justin taug..." Clapping his hand over his mouth, Blake pressed his body against the cool wall, trying to make himself as small as possible.

Advancing toward Blake, his fists balled up, "You...you...miserable sneak!" Joshua screamed. "Were you listening outside the door?! You had no right!!"

Tears starting to spring forth from his hazel eyes, Blake tried to explain what he was doing, but it only seemed to get him into hotter water. "Ple...please Lor...Lord Joshua," he stammered. "I...I was onl...only curious. I meant no...no harm..."

His anger boiling over, Joshua stepped up and slapped the young servant across the face. "You...you...how dare you!" he yelled, grabbing Blake and slapping him again. Tightening his grip on Blake's arm, ignoring the servant's whimpers of pain, Joshua glared at him. "Let me make myself perfectly clear, Blake," Joshua hissed. "You are to keep your nosy mouth shut and not utter a word of what happened here or what you heard, am I understood?"

Fearful for what Joshua would do if he didn't comply with his demands, Blake nodded his head slightly yes. "M'lord...please, yo...you're hurting me...I am sorry..." he cried, trying to pull away from Joshua.

"The pain you feel now is mild compared to what I will do to you if you speak about what happened earlier to anyone, is that in any way not clear?"

"No M'lord...I...I mean y...yes M'lord...I...I under...understand..."

"You'd better," Joshua warned. "Beacuse if you utter one word...well you know what will happen."

Thoroughly frightened, Blake looked around, hopeing someone was there to help him, but finding he was still alone with Joshua, he only nodded and swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. "I...I'm sorry M'lord," he whispered again. "I...I was onl...only curious." Hanging his head in shame, he scolded himself for letting his curiosity get the better of him.

"Well you'd just better..." Joshua stopped as he looked at the young servant. An evil smile crossing his face, he took a step toward Blake. "Curious are you? Well, Blake," Joshua hissed. "Let me help you to satisfy your curiosity." Grabbing the frightened Blake,Joshua dragged him toward the end of the stables and threw him on a pile of hay.

Scrambling up the pile, only to have it fall beneath him and slidding him back towards Joshua, Blake shook his head and continued trying to back away. "M...M'lord...plea...please...no..."

"You are curious as to what it's like...let me demonstrate," Joshua spit as he flipped the frightened servant on his stomach. Yanking down his pants, Joshua forced his legs apart and brutally entered him, Blake's screams echoing off the stable walls.

The pain being like nothing he had ever felt before, Blake attempted to grab onto anything that would aide him in pulling away from Joshua, but the only thing his fingers found were handfuls of hay. Tears now cascading down his cheek, the 18 year old servant did anything he could think of to escape Joshuas' grasps. He nearly had a rake in his hands, but the force of Joshuas' thrusting sent him on an unbalanced jolt forward, knocking the rake handle to the ground, out of reach.

Quickly reaching his climax, Joshua grabbed Blake's shouders as he thrusted faster. With a groan, Joshua climaxed deep into Blake, then pulled out, savoring the whimpers of pain and the trail of blood he saw. Cleaning himself up, Joshua stood and smirked at the sobbing Blake. "Hoped that helped you satisfy you curiosity," Joshua cooed, laughing evily as he mounted Ares and rode out of the stables.

Looking up as best he could over his shoulder as Joshua left, Blake reached for his torn trousers and tried to dress himself, but the pain inflicted by the lord was too much. Falling back onto the pile of hay, Blake lay there for an unknown amount of time, until he heard footsteps enter the stables.

Walking into the stables, Jason picked up a bucket of water and a brush, and started toward Midnight's stall. He had been told that Lord Lance would be going to visit with his parents the next day and went to prepair Midnight for the journey. As he neared the stall, he stopped short at the sight of Blake lying on the pile of hay bleeding, his torn trousers next to him. Kneeling down, Jason gently put a hand on Blake's shoulder, startling the frightened boy.

Shooting his eyes up to look at Jason, then wincing as he did so, Blake remained quiet, embarrassed at the fact that Jason had found him in the state he was in. Then again, he was also releived that the footsteps weren't Joshua returning to make sure his curiosity had been satisfied.

"Blake, what happened?" asked the stable hand, instantly concerned. "Who did this to you?"

Knowing he couldn't tell Jason the truth, Blake thought of the only thing he could. "I...I guess I came up too fast behind Midnight. She...she reared up and I...I got in the way..."

Jason looked at Blake, concern all over his face. "Are you sure? That does not sound like Midnight. She is usually very gentle."

Knowing nothing about the horses, Blake lowered his eyes and rested his head on his arm. "I...I don't know what scared her. I...I didn't mean to do anything Jason. Honest." Scared that Jason would tell Lance about what Midnight supposidly had done, he whispered, "Please...don't tell anyone? I...I don't want to get in trouble, or have Lord Lance think badly of Midnight."

"Blake, are you sure you are all right?" asked a concerned Jason. Something was not right, but Jason could not figure out what. Sighing, Jason helped Blake up. "I won't say anything to Lord Lance...for now," Jason replied. "Just know that I am here if you want to talk."

Jason remembered when the young servant first came to work at Herfordshire. He was very shy, but a diligent worker and learned his way around rather quickly.

"Th...thank you Jason," Blake whispered, wincing as a lightning bolt of pain surged throughout his body. Looking up as they exited the stables, the young servants' face lost its color as he saw Joshua staring at him from across the courtyard. Quickly diverting his eyes back to the ground, he fought to keep the tears from falling.

"Good afternoon, M'lord," Jason called, greeting the blue-eyed lord. "Are you going out on a ride or just returning?"

"I am heading out for a ride," Joshua called back. "Have Blake find me when I return. I shouldn't be more then a few hours or so."

"Very good, M'lord," replied Jason. "Enjoy your ride."

"Thank you Jason," the lord called back, as he reared up on Ares then galloped from the courtyard.

"Lord Joshua has a beautiful day to go riding, don't you thi..." Jason got no further as he looked at Blake. THe color was drained from his face and he looked like he was about to faint. Silent tears slid down his face as he lowered his head. "Blake?" Jason called softly. "Blake, what is it? What is wrong?"

Thinking quickly, Blake voiced, "Nothing...it...it just hurts from wh...where Midnight hit me..."

"Would you like to go and rest in your room for a bit?" Jason asked the young servant. "I will go and tell Edward that you are not feeling well and went to rest." Edward was in charge of all the servants who worked in the estate and was very kind, but firm when he had to be.

"I...I have not finished my chores yet," Blake answered. "I...I was look...looking for something in the...the stables." Shaking his head, he added, "I still have too much work to finish, and the dinner to help prepair for tonight."

"If you are sure you will be all right," Jason replied. Putting a hand on the young servant's shoulder, Jason smiled at him. "Remember, I am here if you want to talk."

Nodding, Blake so badly wanted to tell Jason what Lord Joshua had done to him, but he knew that if Joshua were to find out, then there was no telling what he would do to the young servant. So, for the time being, Blake had to bear that secret alone. "Th...thank you Jas...Jason. I...I think I will be alright."

Jason nodded his head as Blake walked back to the main house. He noticed that Blake walked very slow. He must be in quite a bit of pain, the stable hand thought. Turning back to the stable, Jason went about his task of preparing Midnight for the journey. Brushing Midnight, he patted the sleek black mare. "What happened here, Midnight?" Jason asked her, a whinny the only response. "I know you didn't hurt Blake. The question is...who or what did?"

Instantly frightened that Joseph would find out about what happened earlier with Justin and Joshua, Lance tried to think of an answer that would please Joseph. "You...you told me to experi...experiment, M'lord," the young lord replied softly. "I trie...tried to think of something that would make you happy. Have I pleased you, M'lord?"

His face growing stern again, Joseph replied, "No Angel, you haven't."

His body beginning to tremble, Lance's eyes filled with tears. "Bu...but I...I...what did I do wrong? I...I only want to please you."

Looking over his shoulder, then over Lances', Joseph returned his eyes to his blond angels' and asked simply, "M'lord?" with an eyebrow raised.

The confused look on Lance's face slowly began to disappear as he realized what Joseph meant. "I...I am sorry...Joseph," Lance corrected himself, bring a smile to his husband's face.

"Apology excepted," the elder one whispered. "And yes Lance, other then you addressing me as M'lord, I was thoroughly pleased with you."

Smiling up at Joseph, Lance laid his head on Joseph's chest. "I...I love you so much," the young lord replied softly. "Sometimes I...I..."

At the pause, Joseph laughed. "You must really think I am a mind reader if you keep doing that Angel," he said, a laugh now escaping into the world. "You sometimes what?"

Joseph's manner instantly became serious as he saw the tears in Lance's eyes. "Some...sometimes I...I can't believe everything that has happened to me," Lance whispered. "Being here...being a par...part of your family. It's all so overwhelming at times and I...I...sometimes I think I'm going to wake up and it'll all have been a dream."

Wiping away a tear, Joseph replied, "If this were a dream Angel, then when you wake up, for me it would be a nightmare. I don't know what I would do without you in my life now. I don't even want to consider that possiblity. You're my life, you're my everything. I love you so much Angel."

"Oh Joseph," Lance cried, the tears now beginning to flow down his face as Joseph wrapped him in his arms. "I...I love you, too." Leaning down, Jospeh kissed Lance, a kiss that quickly turned so passionate that it threatened to take Lance's breath away. Lance's quiet moans only served to increase Joseph's desire for his blond angel, as he slowly turned Lance on his stomach, listening carefully for any sign of pain or discomfort.

"You will tell me if you feel even the slightest pain, won't you Angel?" Joseph asked as he lay at Lances' side. "I don't want a repeat of the last time we bed together and you did not tell me it hurt." Looking back at Joseph, Lance nodded his head, trying to mentally prepare himself. Moving so that he hovered over his husband, Joseph spread Lances' leg gently and prepaired to enter him, when he stopped. "L...Lance," he whispered, his voice shaky. "Wh...why is th...there blood on the ba...back of your leg?"

Lance's body went rigid as the memories of Justin's actions flooded his mind. "I...I was in the bathing chamber and I...I fell and hurt myself," Lance replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Why didn't Blake inform me? Or anyone else?" Joseph demanded, his prior anger with the young servant returning. "What if something were to have happened to you Lance and no one knew of it until it was too late?"

"Ple...please do not be angry with Blake," Lance begged. "It was not his fault. He had gone for some of the musk-scented oil that you like and I tried to get out of the tub by myself. Blake was very concerned when he returned and...and..." Lance stopped as he broke down in Joseph's arms. He had never told a lie to mother and father, and he could not do so with Joseph. Instantly concerned, Jospeh began to rub Lance's back, hoping to calm him down.

"Shh," he cooed, holding Lance close again and continuing to rub his back. "You don't have to worry about Blakes' inability to serve you. He will be released of his services the next time I see him. And you shall have a better servant; one who does not make such foolish mistakes and has a better sense of judgement."

"Joseph, please," Lance sobbed. "Blake has been nothing but loy...loyal to me. It is I who made a foo...foolish mistake. I...I...I did something that you will certainly hate me for."

"You did nothing I could hate you for Angel," Joseph countered. "You did nothing wrong. Blake should have stayed with you until you were safely in your chambers. He knows the rules and he still neglects them."

"Joseph, please," Lance begged. He had grown quite fond of Blake and didn't want him taken away. "I asked him to get the oil. He was doing what he was supposed to do. He did nothing wrong. Please don't take him away. He has been very loyal to me."

Shaking his head, Joseph pulled the covers over both Lance and himself as he called for Devin. While they waited, the elder one explained, "That makes twice today Blake has broken rules he knows by heart Lance. I know you are quiet fond of him, but he has to be disiplined."

"Then let me discipline him since he is my servant," Lance begged. "Ple...please...I like Blake...he's very loyal to me, Jospeh. Please let me keep him."

Shaking his head again, Joseph set his foot down. "Joshua has always been the one to train the new servants, or to teach them the ways of things done within my home." When Devin walked into the room a moment later, Joseph said, "Devin, as of this moment, you will serve Lance. Blake will serve Joshua. Understand?"

Looking from Jospeh to his new charge, Devin lowered his eyes. "Y...yes, M'lord...as you wish."

"I know you will serve Lance just as well as you have served Joshua, am I correct Devin?" Joseph asked.

Looking at Lance, Devin smiled at him. "Yes, M'lord," the dark haired servant replied. "It will be an honor to be of service to you, Lord Lanc...um I mean, M'lord."

Smiling and nodding his head, Joseph dismissed Devin with orders to inform Joshua of the change. "Blake still must clear the eveing meal dishes and clean the kitchen tonight as well Devin," he had said before the servant left the room. "Along with anything else Joshua has him do."

"I will inform him, M'lord," Devin replied quietly as he turned to leave the room. Turning around once more, he smiled at Lance again. "I look forward to serving you, M'lord," he bowed as he left the room.

The mood having been spoiled for the time being, Joseph turned to lay on his back, drawing Lance near. "I am going to miss you when I leave tomorrow," he confided. "A week away from you will be like an eternity."

Tears filled Lance's eyes at the thought of being without his beloved Joseph for a whole week. "I...I...shall miss you, too," Lance whispered, his voice shaky.

Kissing his forehead, Joseph sighed deeply before closing his eyes for a nap. "The week will go by fast Angel," he prayed. "Two days with your parents, and three days here at Herfordshire. And now that you, Joshua, and Justin are getting along, you three will have a lot to do to keep you occupided."

Lance fought hard not to shed the tears in his eyes, but to no avail. "I...I kn...know...but...but...it's not the same," the young lord replied. "I...I love you so much."

"Oh Angel," the elder one cooed. "Please don't cry. I don't want our last hours together to start off with your tears. I want to be able to remember your bright smile, and brighter eyes when I leave tomorrow. Not your tears and choked voice."

"Y...yes Joseph," Lance whispered as he looked up at Joseph, a smile crossing his face. Leaning over, Lance tenderly kissed his husband's lips.

Deepening the kiss, Joseph wrapped Lance in his arms as they both fell asleep, Joseph already dreaming of when he would return to Herfordshire and his beloved angel. Little did either one realize how quickly those dreams would turn into nightmares.