James smiled at Joshua's gesture. He was happy to see that Joshua and Justin seemed to be kinder to Lance now. "Thank you, M'lord. Perhaps you are right." Leading Lance to his room, James and Joshua helped him to get comfortable in bed. "I will have your mother bring your dinner in here to you, my son."

"We'll keep Lance company until then if you'd like Justin offered, following them into the room and assisting them with tucking Lance in. "Would you like that Lance?" Lance looked down and nodded, frightened to say no.

Moving to stoke the small fire that was kept lit in Lances' room, Joshua turned and smiled back at James. "We'll stay with him then. Perhaps we could work on his reading skill before dinner is ready."

"That will be fine," James replied. "Well since my son is in good hands, I'll go help my wife with dinner. It should be ready soon."

Smiling and sitting next to Lance on the bed, Joshua nodded and ran his hand lightly through Lances' hair, smirking once they were alone and he felt the young lord pull away from him. "Now, do not tell us you are not happy to see us Lance?" he cooed, running his finger down the smoothness of his cheek.

Remembering the encounter he had with Joshua before he left the estate, Lance was frightened to be alone with him. "Ple...please Joshua...don...don't," he whispered, his voice laced with fear.

"Why Joshua," Justin said, coming to stand behind his secret love. Resting his hands lightly upon Joshua's shoulders, he smirked as well. "I do believe he is scared of you."

"Mama," Lance called, his voice barely audible.

"She cannot hear you Lance," Joshua whispered. "She will not be able to help you either." Pulling back the covers slightly, his fingers began running over the thin material.

Lance whimpered and tried to move away from Joshua's touch, but in his weakened condition, Lance couldn't break his hold. Smirking, Joshua reached inside Lance's pajamas and began stroking him, the smirk on his face widening as the tears slid down Lance's face.

"Hush Angel," Joshua whispered, his voice hinting with the evilness within him and Justin. "We would not want dear Mother and Father to find out just how unloyal you are to your husband, now would we?"

Lance whimpered again, as he tried once more to move Joshua's hand. "Jo...Joshua...please..." the frightened lord whispered. "Please don't..."

Slapping his hand away, Joshua motioned for Justin to hold Lance down. "We never did finish your lessons," Joshua replied, the wickedness behind his eyes growing with each passing moment.

An evil smirk on his face, Justin grabbed Lance's wrists, as Joshua positioned himself between Lance's legs, removing the thin pajama pants he wore. Leaning down, he took Lance in his mouth, working his tongue expertly up and down the shaft. Justin looked on, knowing that it didn't mean anything; that Joshua truly loved him. He was just trying to teach Lance a lesson.

Hearing Lance whimper again, somewhat louder then before, Justin pulled Lances' hands together so he could hold them with one hand; leaving the other free to cover Lances' mouth with. "What is wrong Angel?" he asked sweetly. "Do not like what you are learning?"

Lance's head fell back against the pillow as Joshua began to stir up raging emotions in the young lord. In a few minutes, Lance climaxed, leaving him physically and emotionally drained...and Joshua extremely satisfied.

Smirking as he pulled away, Joshua looked down at Lance as the tears continued to fall from his eyes. "There now," he stated quietly once Justin pulled his hand back. "That lesson is completed, and you passed with flying colors, my dear Lance." Returning the material over Lances' hips, Joshua added, "You should be very proud of yourself."

Weakly turning over, Lance sobbed into his pillow.

Standing and walking towards the door, Joshua held his hand out for Justin to take. "Come on Love, we should leave him alone, to reflect on his experince."

Smiling, Justin looked at the crying lord. "Get some rest, dear Angel," he hissed. "My lesson with you comes later."

Reaching his other hand for the doorknob, Joshua was about to exit the room when he turned around and saw Lance looking up at them from the pillows. "Now remember Lance, this is to be our secret. If we find out you revealed our lessons to anyone, well..." he paused, thinking over his many options on how they would 'pay back' Lance if he decided to rat them out. "Now that we know where your parents live..."

"N...no...please," Lance squeaked, truly frightened of them and what they might do. "I...I won't te...tell."

"See to it that you do not," Joshua replied before turning the knob. "Sleep well Lance. We will be around."

Weakly falling back on the bed again, Lance sobbed into his pillow until he thoroughly exhausted himself. He didn't notice his mother when she walked into the room. Instantly concerned, Rebecca set down Lance's tray and went to cradle her son in her arms. Feeling his mother's protective arms around him, Lance broke down.

Unsure as to why her son was crying, she rubbed his back and tried to calm him down. "Shh Lansten," she whispered. "What happened? What made you cry so?"

"Mama, will...will you stay with me tonight, please?" Lance whispered, frightened at the thought of being left alone with Justin and Joshua.

Rocking him gently, Rebecca nodded. "Of course Lansten. I will not leave the room any more tonight. I am sure your father will not mind doing the evening chores. I will stay with you."

"Than...thank you," Lance whispered as he settled in his mother's arms. Presently, James came in to check on his son.

Looking up at her husband, Rebeccas' eyes showed the concern hidden in her voice. "He has not touched his dinner," she whispered. "He will not even let me let go of him long enough to get his plate."

Bringing the tray over to the bed, James sat down on the end and tried to get Lance to eat. He managed to eat half the bowl of soup before falling weakly back in his mother's arms.

"Lansten?" Rebecca asked quietly. "We both know something is upsetting you. Will you not please tell us?" When Lance remained quiet, she ventured forth. "Does it have anything to do with Lord Joshua and Lord Justin?"

"I...I just want you to stay with me tonight," Lance whispered softly.

Sighing deeply, Rebecca hugged her son close. "It does have to do with them doesn't it Lansten?"

"N...no," Lance lied, as he closed his eyes.

Lifting his chin up, Rebecca whispered, "Look at me Lansten." Looking at his mother, Lance's green eyes clouded over. "I told you the first time you were here with Lord Joseph, that you had not lied to me in the 21 years you have been alive. I pray that you are not starting now?"

"No Mama...honest," Lance replied softly. "They did nothing to upset me. It's...it's just that...I'm tired and I miss Joseph."

Knowing that Lance was not telling her the complete truth, Rebecca asked that James go find the two lords, explaining to Lance that they had gone exploring the farm; which to her did not sound like something a nobel would do. "I do not care if they say they are lords and do not have to come," Rebecca said to her husband. "This is still our house, they will come when they are called."

"Mama...ple...please," Lance replied weakly, his energy quickly fading. "They...they did nothing to upset me. I...I'm really tired and I just want you to stay with me...like...like you did when I was little."

Nodding her head, Rebecca promised she would stay with Lance until the sun rose the next morning. Turning to James, she said that everything was ready for the evening meal, it just had to be warmed over the fire.

"Okay, sweetheart," James replied. "I will take care of Lords Justin and Joshua. You stay here with Lansten and keep him calm."

"Thank you James," she answered, helping Lance get comfortable under the covers again. "Do you need anything Lansten?"

Starting to cry, Lance buried his head in his mother's lap. "Just hold me, Mama," he whispered, his body starting to shake. Obliging with her sons' request, Rebecca, stroked his hair, humming a quiet song. His sobs stating to quiet, Lance closed his eyes, sleep overtaking him. In a few minutes, he was asleep in his mother's arms.

Presently, James walked in the room with a plate for his wife and a bowl of soup for Lance. Seeing that he was asleep, he put down the food on the small table by the bed and sat down next to his wife.

"Something is troubling him James," Rebecca whispered, twisting her finger around Lances' hair. "He just will not tell us."

"I can tell," James replied. "I am worried about him. He seemed to be nervous around Lords Justin and Joshua...but especially Lord Joshua."

Sighing, Rebecca looked down at her sleeping son and shook her head. "I have noticed that too. In just the short time they have been here, Lance has completly changed."

"I know...I know," James replied, sighing.

They remained silent for most of the night, only moving when Lance shifted in his sleep. When it was late, Rebecca whispered that she would stay with Lance that night. "He asked me to not leave him. I do not blame him."

"All right, sweetheart," James said as he prepaerd to leave his son's room. "I shall miss you. Have a good night," he added kissing his wife.

"You too darling," she whispered as Lance stirred in her lap. "Hush Lansten," Rebecca cooed. "Rest easy. No one will harm you tonight." Murmuring, Lance settled down, his breathing even again. Easing him gently off her lap, Rebecca covered her son with a blanket before going about fixing a bed for herself that night.

Laying down next to her son, Rebecca stoked his hair, much like she did when he was little. "My Angel," she whispered. "How anyone could hurt you is beyond me."

Whimpering, Lance's head tossed from side to side. "N...no...no...ple...please don't...please..."

"Lance," Rebecca whispered. "Lansten, wake up. It's okay. It's only a dream. Wake up."

"No...No! Mama...mama!" Lance screammed, tears streamming down his cheeks. "Mama...Mama, please...make him stop."

"Lance, I'm right here," she answered, taking hold of Lances' hand tightly. "I'm right here Lansten. Wake up. Wake up, you're safe."

"Mama!" Lance whimpered, sitting up and looking around the room, not recognizing where he was at first.

"Baby, I'm right here," Rebecca whispered. "You're safe. No is going to hurt you." Wipping the sweat from his forehead, she moved to kneel next to the bed, where the pan of cool water still sat. Dipping the washcloth in, she went about drying Lances' face. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I...I just want you to hold me, Mama," Lance whispered, holding on to his mother tightly.

Holding him close, she whispered, "You know we cannot help you if you do not tell us what is bothering you Lance."

Looking at his mother, Rebecca was instantly frightened by the look in his eyes. "I...I don't know, Mama. I dreamed that someone was hurting me...but...but I couldn't see who it was."

Having a nagging feeling in the back of her mind, Rebecca ventured forth with her thought. "Was it Lord Joshua, Lansten? Was he the one hurting you?"

His body shaking, Lance shook his head. "I...I don...don't know. I...I couldn't...couldn't see his fa...face. I...I'm scared, Mama."

"About what?" a new voice asked from the doorway. Looking up, both Rebecca and Lance saw Lord Joshua and Lord Justin standing there, robes tied tightly around them. "We heard you scream. What's wrong?"

Lance nervously glanced at them and quickly turned his head. "Noth...nothing," he whispered.

Stepping into the room, Joshua asked again, "Why did you scream? You don't scream just because, let alone in the middle of the night."

"Som...something was trying to hurt...hurt me and I...I couldn't get away."

"What was trying to hurt you Lance?" Joshua asked, walking closer to him. "Maybe if you tell us, we can make it safe for you."

A chill going through him, Lance clung to Rebecca. "I...I don't know...I couldn't...couldn't see hi...thei...the face."

"Did you hear any voices?" Justin asked, walking up behind Joshua. "Anything to give you a clue as to who or what was hurting you?"

"N...no..." Lance lied. "Please...can we not talk about anymore?"

"If you keep your feelings bottled up Lance," Joshua spoke, kneeling down next to him again. "You'll only make yourself sicker." Resting a hand lightly on Lances' knee, he once again began massaging the muscles, much like he had done that afternoon. "We're only here to help."

"I...I just...just...don...don't wan...want to talk...talk about it," Lance replied, stuttering.

Seeing what Joshua was doing, Rebecca pushed his hand away. "With all due respect M'lord," she stated, her voice harsh. "If Lance does not wish to discuss it, then he will not be forced to talk about it under this roof."

Undaunted, Joshua smirked as he stood up and walked to the bedroom door. "Very well. I certainly do not wish to upset Lance or be disrespectful to our hosts. I do apologize."

It was obvious by her tone of voice that Rebecca did not care any for Lord Joshua or Lord Justin. "Your horses will be ready in the morning for your return to Herfordshire M'lords," she stated bluntly.

"Rebecca, they are our guests," James said, walking into the room. He had overheard the exchange of words. "We cannot be rude."

"They are our guests James, yet they take advantage of our sons' kindness while at Herfordshire. I was only paying back their debt," she bit.

"Rebecca, we brought Lance up not to do wrong with another wrong. We cannot in turn, do it. "

Looking down at Lance, Rebecca kissed his temple lightly and whispered, "Their horses will be ready in the morning James, then Lord Joshua and Lord Justin will get on them, and leave us be with our son. He is in no condition to travel."

Forming an idea, Justin walked up to Rebecca and kneeled down. "M'am, I know that you must think badly of us for the way we treated Lance when he first arrived at Herfordshire. I...I was jealous...I admit that. I didn't get the chance to know what a special person Lance is. Please, m'am...please accept our humblest apologies for our behavior. We do accept Lance into our family and we do care about him."

"Your apologize now M'lord," she answered. "But that cannot undo the memories of what you both have done to Lance in the past."

Hanging their heads, Justin and Joshua both nodded. "Rebecca, we treated Lance horribly," Joshua replied quietly. "I know we cannot erase what we did, but please give us the chance to make amends. We do sincerely care about Lance and we want the opportunity to become friends."

"As I said before M'lords," Rebecca replied, looking at her son. "Your horses will be ready in the morning. Weather or not Lance forgives you is up to him and him alone."

"Rebecca, please," James whispered. "They are trying to apologize and make amends. I know it cannot full eradicate what has happened, but they are sorry for the way they treated Lansten. We taught Lance to forgive; we must set the example and do the same. They are a part of our family because of Lance's marriage to Lord Joseph. We must treat them as such."

"Fine James," Rebecca huffed. "They are part of the family now, but I will not accept it."

"Mama" Lance whispered as he slowly woke up.

"Right here Angel," Rebecca whispered, taking hold of his hand. "Mama's right here."

"Mama, please," Lance whispered. "Please don't be upset with Justin and Joshua. They did nothing to hurt me...they are my friends now. They have apologized for their treatment of me when I first arrived at Herfordshire. Please give them a chance to make amends. I wan...want so much for us to be friends."

Sighing, Rebecca brushed the hair from Lances' forehead. "If that is what you want Lance. But it will not be easy for them to regain my trust. Not after what they did to you."

"I...I know, Mama," Lance replied weakly. "But please...please give them a chance."

Sighing, Rebecca nodded finally. "Alright Lance. I will give them a chance, but I still will have my doubts about them."

"Than...thank you, Mama," Lance whispered weakly as he looked at Joshua, who smirked.