"Just a moment," Joshuas' voice called from within. Justin could hear him shuffling around the room, and mumbling to himself. "I will be right there." Justin waited quietly until his love finally opened the door, beaming at the sight of Joshua. "Right on time Darling," Joshua whispered, stepping back and opening the door wider so Justin could enter. "I hope you like the new decor." Watching Justins' expression change as he saw the baby blue bedding and baby blue flowers scattered around the room, he came up behind his love and dropped a light kiss on the back of his neck.

Justin's eyes filled with tears at Joshua's tender gesture. "I...I guess this means you do love me," the young lord whispered.

"Did you ever have to question my love for you?" Joshua whispered, his arms wrapping around Justin from behind. "I thought you knew me better then that Love?"

Turning to face the man who had captured his heart, Justin kissed him with a passion that surprised him and Joshua. Soon, they had fallen on the bed, clothes discarded everywhere as they made passionate love.

Shaking Justins' legs off his shoulders as beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, Joshua spoke huskily and out of breath; "Ba...baby, tur...turn over..." Looking at Joshua, Justin did as he was told. Straddling Justins' legs, but not reentering him, Joshua leaned forward and massaged his loves' shoulders, allowing for the heat within them both to rise once again.

Leaning down, Joshua was about to kiss Justin's neck when he heard a sound behind him. Turning around, both were shocked to see Joseph standing there, glaring at them.

Fire behind his brown eyes, Joseph took a few steps into the room and slammed the door shut; though that would help very little to hold his shouts within the room. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!?"

Jumping slightly, Joshua slid off the bed making sure to cover Justin in the process. "Good evening, Joseph," Joshua replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "Justin came to me, crying because his back was hurting him badly and I offered to give him a massage. That's all."

Eyeing Joshua, and the pile of clothes that lay on the floor, Joseph anger only increased. "And I suppose you had to remove both your clothing to give Justin a back massage!?"

"You can't give a proper back massage unless the person disrobes, Joseph," Joshua replied quietly. "I was almost finished with him and then, he offered to give me one in return. That is why I disrobed, too."

Glaring at Justin, Joseph nodded his head towards the door behind him. "Get your robe and return to your chambers Justin," he ordered harshly. "I never want to hear word of you spending time in Joshuas' chambers at night. If you wish to see him in here, then it must be in the daytime from now on, with the doors open. Am I making myself clear?"

Quickly putting on his robe, Justin scampered out of Joshua's room and returned to his own chambers.

Waiting until Justin was gone, Joseph glared at Joshua while he pointed a finger at him. "If I am told by anyone that my orders have been neglected, both you and Justin will be kept away from each other by force. I do not believe that you were giving him a massage Joshua. That does not call for both of you to be under the covers together. I have been quite leanient with you and him lately, allowing you both to get away with nothing short of murder in my house. But no more. You are to follow my orders to the letter. Am I understood?"

Wincing at the fire in Joseph's eye, Joshua lowered his head, realizing he had really pushed Joseph too far. "Ye...yes, M'lord," he replied, a tinge of fear in his voice.

Turning on his heals without so much as a 'goodnight', Joseph closed the door and stormed down to Justins' chambers. Upon entering, he crossed his arms over his chest. "Well," he started, glaring at his youngest husband, "I know you two weren't giving massages. Would you care to tell me the truth Justin?"

HIs body beginning to tremble, Justin was frightened by what he saw on Joseph's face. "It...it's the tru...truth, Jo...Joseph," Justin squeaked out. "He...he was just...just giving me a massage."

"With you both under the covers without your robes on? And I also noticed that Joshua had his bed linens changed to your favorite color Justin." Taking a few steps forward, he again asked, "Tell me the truth."

"He...he...I...I said how...how much I li...liked the color," Justin replied in a small voice. "He...he said it did it as a sup...suprise."

"A surprise for what Justin? Your anniversary for when he gave you your first back massage?" Joseph wasn't believing the story one bit. He knew something was up between Justin and Joshua, but until he was told directly, he could not come out and accuse either one of them.

"Joseph, please," Justin whispered, tears starting to fall. "I...I have been up...upset lately and Joshua...Joshua was just trying to hel...help."

Sighing, seeing that he would not get a 'confession' this night, Joseph shook his head and calmed his voice. "Very well Justin." Turning to leave the chambers, he stopped before reaching the door. Without turning around, he stated, "I had come to call on you tonight, but since you are upset and needed a back massage, I think it best that I skip your turn and return to Joshua, or Lance. I do hope you feel better upon my return."

"Joseph...Joseph, please," Justin sobbed. "All right, I'll tell...tell you the truth."

Turning back around, the elder lord against crossed his arms in front of him. Glaring at Justin, he said simply, "I'm listening. Choose your words very carefully Justin, for the next bed you find yourself in might be one in the servants quarters."

Lowering his head, Justin continued to sob. "I...I've been upset because of...of La...Lance," he whispered. "Ever since he came to Herfordshire, you have no...not called on me. I went to Joshua and asked him for a massage just to feel a human touch."

Josephs' expression lightened slightly when he noticed the hurt in his youngest husbands' eyes. He forgot that Justin was still the baby of the family, and needed to be told at times that he was special. But that still did not allow him to be found disrobed, under the covers, in Joshuas' chambers.

"I...I am sorry, Joseph," Justin sobbed, his head in his hands. "I...I just needed to feel loved...to feel like someone cared about me."

"So you go to Joshua instead of coming to find me and talk it out Justin?" Joseph asked, not moving closer to the young lord. Looking down, Justin burst into tears. Shaking his head, Joseph turned to once again leave the room. "As you know, I am leaving early tomorrow morning for business. I do hope that before I return, you think about what you have done Justin. Maybe next time, you will think your actions more clearly through."

"Jo...Joseph, please don't leave me," Justin cried, touching Joesph's arm.

Stopping just before reaching the door for the second time, Joseph asked, his back still to Justin, "Why? Want me to give you a massage too so you can feel more of the human touch?"

"Pl...please Joseph," Justin whispered. "Please don't leave."

"I have work to do before I leave tomorrow Justin," Joseph replied. "If you do not wish to be alone, then send for Kenneth to keep you company." Turning around, Justin laid down on his bed and sobbed, broken-heartedly. Turning to look over his shoulder, Josephs' heart hurt for his husband. He fought the urge to go to him and take Justin in his arms; but what would that teach him? That he could get away with anything? No, Joseph thought. Stay strong and keep to your word. "Good night Justin," he stated simply.

Justin didn't answer, he only cried harder.

Walking down the hallway, Joseph went to Kenneths' door and tapped upon it lightly, waiting for the servant within to answer.

Opening his door, Kenneth looked at his lord as he bowed. "M'lord," he replied quietly.

"I apologize for calling on you this late Kenneth," Joseph said. "But Justin feels as though no one in the family cares for him. I do not wish for him to spend time with Joshua right now. Would you be so kind as to help Justin through this time?"

"As you wish, M'lord," Kenneth replied, as he closed his door and walked down the hallway to his charge's quarters.

Tapping lightly upon the door to Justins' chambers, Kenneth heard the light sobs that still filtered through the thick door. "M'lord?" he called quietly.

Justin continued to sob. "Go aw...away," he replied.

Not wanting to disobey orders, Kenneth tried again. "M'lord, is everything alright?"

"N...no," Justin cried. "Ev...everything is not...not all right. No...no body loves me."

Opening the door quietly and walking in, Kenneth bit his lip at the sight before him. He had never seen his charge crying openly, as he was doing now. "M...M'lord?" he whispered, unsure as to what he was expected to do to help Justin.

"Why?" Justin sobbed. "Why did he have to wed...wed that...that blond-haired farm boy?"

Lowering his head, the young servant answered, "Begging M'lords' parden, but Lord Joseph did not have a say when the union was arranged."

Looking up at Kenneth, Justin's face was streaked with tears. "Kenneth, I don't mean to be rude, but I wan...want to be alone."

"If you would like to talk about it M'lord..." Kenneth started, taking the tiniest step forward.

Justins shook his head. "I...I...I just want to be loved," he whispered.

"But Lord Joseph loves you Sir," whispered Kenneth. His expression showed planly that he was confused and didn't understand what had happened in the room only minutes before.

"No...no he does...doesn't," Justin choked. "He...he love...loves Lance and Lance only."

Taking another step forward, the young servant said, "That is not true M'lord. He loves you, Lord Joshua, and Lord Lance equally."

"I...I hate him, Kenneth," Justin sobbed. "I hate Lance for taking Joseph away from me." Seeing his charge hurting, Kenneth moved and took Justin into his arms, trying to sooth him as best he knew how. Feeling Kenneth's arms around him, Justin broke down completely, crying for everything he felt he lost.

"Remember M'lord," Kenneth began to whisper. "When you first came into the family?" Justin looked up and nodded. "And how upset Lord Joshua became when he was not called upon during you first month within the family?"

Again, Justin nodded. "Ye...yes."

"He thought that you had taken away Lord Joseph as well, but then he realized that Joseph was only training you; just as he is training Lord Lance now."

"Bu...but he nev...never calls on me anymore," Justin wailed.

"Perhaps if you give him time M'lord? He will start calling on you again."

Justin looked down again. "I ho...hope so," he whispered.

"He will M'lord." Looking down at Justin, Kenneth wiped away a tear. "Would you like me to draw you a hot bath M'lord? That may help you relax and get some sleep?"

"Yes, than...thank you, Kenneth" Justin replied, feeling a little better.

Smiling, Kenneth stood and went to the adjoining bathchamber to draw his charges' bath. "Any oils tonight M'lord?" he asked from the doorway.

"No thank you," the young lord replied softly. Nodding and turning back into the chamber, Kenneth poured the warm water into the tub, filling it half way. Returning to the bedchamber, he helped Justin into his bath.

After bathing, Just returned to his room where Kenneth helped him into his night clothes and into bed. "Than...thank you," replied a grateful Justin.

"You're welcome M'lord," Kenneth replied. "Would you like me to stay with you until you fall asleep?"

"No that's okay," Justin replied, yawning.

Bowing, Kenneth said his good nights, and left to return to his chambers. He felt for his charge; he was 100% loyal to him, and if Lord Joseph was treating him differently now because there was a new husband in the house, he knew it wasn't fair, but there was nothing he could do about it. After all, he was only a servant.

"Good night, Kenneth," Justin replied as he drifted off to sleep.

"Who is it?" asked Joshua.

Gulping, the young servant whispered, "M'lord, it...it's Bl...Blake...Si...Sir..." Smiling, Joshua opened the door, grabbing Blake by the arm and pulling him into the room. Tripping over himself, Blake looked up at Joshua with tired eyes. "I...I'm sorry I...I took so lon...long M'lord," he apologized. "I...I had to clean the kitchen alone..."

"Do not worry, Blake," Joshua whispered, taking a step toward the frightened servant. "You'll have plenty of time to rest." Grabbing Blake, he threw him across the bed, yanking off his trousers and undergarment.

No, oh God, please not again, Blake thought as he tried to scramble off the bed. Turning onto his back and slidding away from Joshua, he began begging him not to hurt him. "Please M'lord, don't do this. I...I've learned my place...please M'lord..."

Dropping his own clothing, Joshua yanked Blake's legs apart and forcefully entered him.

"NO!!" the servant shouted at the top of his lungs, hoping for any help. "Please M'lord! Stop! It hurts!" Wrapping his hand around Blake's mouth, Joshua continued to thrust painfully into the crying servant.

His cries muffled by Joshuas' hand, Blake did the only thing he knew to do that might stop his charge. Biting down onto the soft flesh of the lords' palm, Blake dug his teeth in until the salty taste of blood touched his lips.

"You miserable...." Joshua yelled, slapping him, causing the young servant to cry out.

"HELP!" Blake shouted, trying to get up from under Joshua. "Someone! Please! Help! Lord Lance! Anyone!"

As he passed by Joshua's cahmber he heard shouting from within. Tiptoeing up to the door he saw that it was opened a crack. As he peered in, his heart dropped at the sight of Blake being violated by Joshua. Walking away quickly, Lance couldn't get the sight out of his mind. Returning to his own chamber, he decided to wait and confront Joshua.

Tears now cascading from Blakes' eyes, and another pool of blood seeping from between his legs, he had cried and shouted himself hoarse. Now, the only sounds coming from the 18 year old were muffled moans as he fought to stay concious.

Grunting, Joshua finally climaxed deep within Blake. Pulling out, a slight smile crossed his lips as he looked down at the crying servant. "Get dressed and go to your room," Joshua ordered.

"M...M'lord," Blake cried. "I...I...it hurts..." Looking over his shoulder, even that proved to be too much for his body to take. Crying out again in pain, he begged Joshua to let him stay where he was, at least until the pain subsided enough for him to move.

"I said get dressed and get out" Joshua hisssed, slapping Blake across his sore backside. Shouting once more, he tried to move, to do as he was told, but it still proved very difficult, if not impossible for him at the moment.

"I will tell you once more," Joshua hissed, grabbing Blake's arm and yanking him off the bed. "Get dressed and go to your chamber...unless you wish to spend the night with me bedding you."

Shaking his head in fear, Blake tried explaining that he couldn't move without his entire body shaking. "Please M'lord...I...I..."

Grabbing the young servant, Joshua stood him against the wall and handed him his tattered clothing. "Now get dressed."

Crying out yet another time, Blake shivered as he felt a river of blood start to run down his leg. "I...I..." he cried.

Joshua had had enough of Blake's disobedience. Helping him to dress, Joshua practically dragged him down the hallway and the three flights to the servant's quarters. Opening his door, he pushed Blake into his room. "Get pleanty of rest tonight, dear Blake. I will see you in the morning." Laughing, Joshua left the room, returning to his own quarters.