Falling as the tears intensified, Joseph broke down into the sobs. "Lance," he called. "I have to find him Christopher. Do you not know how much I care for him?!"

"I know, Joseph...I know," Christopher whispered, comforting his upset friend. "He will be found. You have to believe that."

Closing his eyes again, Joseph whispered another pray that the searchers would be swift in finding what they sought. "Dear God, let the Angel you sent me be alright."

Christopher nodded as he called for Jason who responded promptly. "All the men are assembled and ready, M'lord," Jason informed Christopher. "We will find Lord Lance and bring him safely home."

Nodding, Joseph walked over to the window again and just gazed out over the blanketed land. "Hurry and bring him back Jason," he whispered.

"We will, M'lord," Jason promised, putting on his hat. "We will," Turning to the men that had assembled, Jason nodded to them. "Let us be on our way and bring Lord Lance home."

Watching the search party ride to find his Angel, Joseph waited until they were out of sight before walking over to Lances' bed. Laying down, his back to Christopher, he clung tightly to the pillow, enhaling Lances' scent.

Christopher came up quietly and touched Joseph's shoulder. "They will find him, Joseph," he assured his friend. Joseph said nothing; he only shook his head and enhaled again.

Nodding, Christopher quietly left Lance's chambers and walked down the hall. As he passed the guest room, he heard the sounds of sobbing and gently knocked on the door.

Quickly drying their tears, James and Rebecca both went to open the door. Upon seeing Christopher there, they lowered the eyes. "Lo...Lord Christopher," James whispered in acknowledgement.

Putting an arm on James' shoulder, he looked at Lance's worried parents. "Is...is there anything I can do?" Christopher inquierd.

Shaking his head, James' mind was swimming with questions, but none he thought were appropriate to ask. "N...no thank you M'l...M'lord..." he whispered instead. "We will be fi...fine."

Walking in and tenderly touching Rebecca's arm, Christopher kneeled in front of her. "Rebecca...James, I want you to know something. In the short time that Lance has been here, he has brought much joy to this household. As Joseph mentioned, I have been working with him on his reading and I must say that he is doing quite well. You have much to be proud of...your son is a very compassionate, loving and sensitive young man and I have grown quite fond of him."

Not making eye contact with Lord Christopher, Rebecca nodded and wipped away a few tears that slid down her cheek. "Th...thank you M'lord," she replied, her voice hushed. "We...we did the best we cou...could raising him."

"You did an excellent job," Christopher replied softly. "He is a wonferful young man. And please do not give up hope...Lance will be found and brought home."

Closing her eyes to fight back the tears, Rebecca simply nodded, the cries choking her voice. She was taking it hard upon herself for letting her son out of her sights to return to Herfordshire with Lords Justin and Joshua. If she had only insisted that he wait out the storm while he was ill, then this would not have happened. If only she had been more persistant with her son.

Sensing her feelings, James moved to put an arm around her. "Rebecca it is not your fault," James whispered, holding his wife. "You must not blame youself. The doctor said it was all right for Lance to travel providing he was bundled up warmly and they got him home right away."

"But that was hours ago James," Rebecca replied, holding her husband close. "And he still has not returned to Herfordshire. Where is he?"

James looked down, his eyes filling with tears that he tried hard to fight so he could remain strong for his wife. "I do not know, my love," James replied, "But I know that he will be found." The cries of angish finally became too much for Rebecca to hold back. Buring her face in James' shoulder, she cried for her son; forgetting Lord Christopher was in the room with them.

Silent tears also slid down James' face as he and Rebecca held each other, desperately praying that their missing son would be found alive. Christopher nodded and slowly crept from the room, leaving Lance's parents alone for a while.

Turning around, he saw his intended staring worriedly up at him. "Hello my angel," Christopher whispered, kissing Blake gently.

Returning the kiss, Blake steadied his still slightly wobbily legs against the doorframe. "Are...are the rumors true M'l...Christopher? Lord Lance is missing?"

Tenderly touching his young husband-to be's cheek, Christopher sadly nodded his head. "Yes, Blake it is true," the older lord whispered. "But do not worry...the search party is out in full force and they will find Lance"

Looking down at the carpet, Blake nodded, his thoughts full of worry for his young ex-charge. Looking back up at Christopher, he looked towards the freshly made bed. "I...I changed the bed linens M'lo...Christopher," Blake whispered, changing the subject.

"Blake you did not have to do that," Christopher whispered, kissing the top of his head.

Stepping away a little, Blake nodded. "I...I know. I just wanted to keep myself bu...busy."

"Blake, Lance will be found. Please try not to worry. I do not want you getting upset. Besides, you need to be resting."

"I...I am worried about Lor...Lance," Blake confided as he bent down to pick up the soiled sheets to take them to be washed. "It...it is just..."

Walking over to Blake and hugging him, Christopher tried to comfort him. "Do not worry, angel," Christopher replied. "We will find Lance and bring him home."

"It...it is not that...well, I mean it is that, but...there is more," Blake whispered.

"What is it, my love?" Christopher inquired.

Moving to sit on the edge of the bed, Blake looked up at Christopher and whispered, "I...I heard some...some people talking. Before Lord Lance left to visit his parents."

His brow wrinkled, Christopher sat next to Blake. "What do you mean, my love? What people?"

Shaking his head, Blake explained, "I heard them talking...about how they did not want Lord Lance to return. That...that they were going to make sure he stayed away."

"Blake, who did you hear say these things?" Christopher demanded. "If someone deliberately set out to hurt Lance, Joseph must be told."

Shaking his head more, the younger one replied, "I...I...it was..." Looking up at Christopher, Blake lost his composure and fell forward, crying hysterically. "I heard Lord Joshua and Lord Justin talking a few days before Lord Lance was to leave. I should have told someone then, but I did not want Lord Joshua to find out. I am sorry M'lord. This never would have happened had I not been so scared of Lord Joshua."

Holding Blake, Christopher comforted him. "It is not your fault, Blake. Tell me exactly what you heard Justin and Joshua say."

"They...they said that they were tired of Lance. Of the time he spent with Lord Joseph. They...they wanted life here to be as it was before he came to live at Herfordshire. That they..." Looking up, Blakes' face lost all color as he saw the two figures of whom he was just speaking of standing in the doorway.

Turning, Cristopher looked at Justin and Joshua. Narrowing his eyes, Christopher stood up. "You better pray that Lance is found alive and unhurt or you will feel Joseph's wrath."

Furrowing an eyebrow, Joshua asked innocently, "Christopher, may I ask what you are talking about?"

"What do you two know about Lance's disappearance?" Christopher demanded, his anger growing by the minute.

"We know the same as you. He never made it back to his parents farm, nor did he make it back to Herfordshire." Realizing what Christopher was implying, Joshua asked, "Are you in the frame of mind that Justin or I had something to do with this?"

Narrowing his eyes, Christopher stared at Joshua. "For your sakes, I pray that you did not or you will incure Joseph's wrath."

"We did not do anything to Dear Lance," Joshua hissed through gritted teeth. "We were out on our ride and saw no body."

"Are you absolutely sure?" Christopher inquired, looking from Joshua to Justin. A nagging feeling plagued the brown-haired lord, but he did not want to accuse them falsely.

Crossing his heart and holding up his left hand, Joshua nodded. "We are absolutely sure. We were coming home from our daily ride, after going to see Lance and his family. They invited us to stay the night and we did. Then we left the house, just as we have told you before."

"I hope that is the truth for your sakes," Christopher replied again. "Come Blake, we need to see Joseph and give him our news."

"Just a moment," Joshua said, stepping in front of Christopher and Blake. "If I remember correctly, Blake is still my servant. He will go no where unless I say so."

"And I asked Blake to come with me. Joseph wants to see him...and I do believe what Joseph says is more important."

Nodding his head, Joshua glared at the elder lord. "Fine, go see what it is Joseph wants, then I expect to see Blake in my chambers directly afterwards. I have some tasks for him to perform. Understand?"

"Come along Blake," Christopher replied, taking the young servant's hand, ignoring Joshua's words. Once they left Christopher's chambers, Joshua stormed back to his own chambers, Justin at his heels.

"Joshua," Justin whispered once within the safety of his bedchamber. "They know something is not right. What will we do?" It was obvious that the younger one was having second thoughts about what they had done to Lance.

"We do nothing," Joshua replied, sitting on the bed. "We have already explained what happened; we just stick to it. They cannot prove that we had anything to do with Lance's disappearance." Seeing his lover still concerned, Joshua got up and walked over to him. Taking Justin in his arms Joshua kisses him. "Do not worry my love. Everything will be fine."

"But if they do find him," Justin whispered. "Joseph knows how much we do not care for Lance. He is not stupid Joshua. He will figure it out."

"Joseph thinks that we have befriended Lance, Justin, remember? That we were sorry for the way we have treated him. He will not suspect us."

In a very timid voice, Justin questioned, "Ar...are you su...sure?"

"I am sure, my love," Joshua whispered, kissing Justin. "Besides...there are a lot of things more important for you to worry about," he added, his lips moving to Justin's neck.

Closing his eyes, Justin whispered, "Li...like wh...what Ang...Joshu...Joshua?"

"Like being with me," Joshua whispered, laying Justin down on the bed and slowly removing his clothes. Locking eyes with Joshua, Justin looked towards the door nervously. With all that was going on with the walls of Herfordshire, he knew they could be caught; just as they had been caught before by their husband. "It's locked, Justin...I made sure," Joshua whispered, covering Justin with kisses.

Closing his eyes and gasping for breath, Justin wrapped his arms around Joshua. He knew that his love would take every precaution he could think of in order to make sure that their love for each other was not discovered. "I...I...oh Joshua," Justin whispered, tangling his fingers in the brown hair of his love. "What will...I do without you?"

"You will never have to...to fin...find out my love," Joshua choked. "We...we will alw...always be...be together."

"Pr...promise?" Justin asked, holding his hand up.

"For...forever and al...always."

Tears forming in Justin's blue eyes, he whispered, "Joshua, let us leave Herfordshire. Let us leave and never come back. We can purchase an estate of our own with our dowlries combine. We can be together with no one to stop us."

Sitting up, Joshua ran his hand through his hair. "That would be wonderful, my love. I would love nothing more than to be with you every day and night like this. However there is one problem..."

His face falling, Justin lowered his eyes. "Wh...what pro...problem?"

"Lance," Joshua answered, his anger rising to the surface. "We will never be completely free as long as he is in the picture. But," Joshua added, a wicked gleam in his eye. "By tonight, that little problem will be no more."

"But if they were to find out we were behind his...his accident," Justin whispered. "Would they not try to seperate us? Why wait and see if they try to tear us apart when we can leave now and be miles from here within the next few hours? Providing the storm is not bad."

Looking out of the window, Joshua saw that the snow that had lightened up was now starting to fall heavily again. "We cannot go anywhere yet; the snow has started up again."

Sighing, Justin nodded. "I...I understand. I...I was just hoping we could be together...in our own estate with no one to bothe...bother us."

Cradling Justin in his arms, Joshua kissed him passionately. "Nothing would make me happier than to be in our own estate with you, my love...but we cannot leave now. They would be too suspicious. We just have to wait and see what happens."

Closing his eyes tightly, Justin held Joshua close as a cold breeze whipped through the room. Shivering a little, Justin snuggled in as close as he could. "Will we leave Joshua? Someday?"

Smiling, Joshua kissed the shivering Justin again. "Yes, my love...we will leave...as soon as things die down with Lance. That is a promise."

Opening the door, Blake's body started shaking as Joseph and Christopher eneterd the room. Blake looked at the smile on Christopher's face and hoped that the news he brought was good.

"Blake," Christopher began, taking a seat next to his fiance. "Joseph would like to know what you overheard about Lance." Placing a hand lightly on Blake's shoulder, Christopher added, "Whenever you are ready."

His eyes filling with tears that slowly slipped down his face, Blake hung his head. "Ple...please forgive me, M'lor...M'lord," the frightened boy whispered fearfully. "I...I did...did not kno...know that they would..."

Lifting his chin up gently, Joseph dabbed a few tears away. "Blake, you are to marry my best friend. There is no need to address me as M'lord anymore," he whispered, trying to calm the boy down. "Take your time and tell me what it is you need to say. What did you not know?"

Looking at Christopher, Blake again turned to Joseph. "I...I ov...overheard Lor...Lord Josh...Joshua and...and Lord Jus...Justin say that they would...would not re... rest until they got...got rid of...Lor...Lord Lance."

Tilting his head to the side, Joseph examined Blake's eyes for any sign that he was lying. He had found out early in his life that whenever a servent was lying, usually, they would look away from him. Blake, however did not. He looked him straight in the eyes. "And how exactly would they get rid of Lance?" Joseph asked quietly, digesting all of what Blake had said so far.

"They...they di...did not say exa...exactly, M'lord," the nervous servant replied. "Bu...but they...they said that they had a pla...plan."

"And you are positive you heard them correctly?" Joseph questioned. "You know I cannot accuse Joshua and Justin of these accuastions unless you are one hundred percent sure."

Blake nodded, his body shaking with fear. "Lor...Lord Josh..Joshua sai...said that they were going...going to make...make sure that Lor...Lord Lance would nev...never ret...return to Herfordshire."

"Will you sign a statement, swearing you heard this Blake?" Joseph asked easily.

Blake's face instantly lost all color. "But...but wha...what if the try to...to hurt me?" the young servant replied.

"Do not worry my love," Christopher replied, cupping Blake's cheek in his hand and turning his face to look at him. "I will be staying with you at all times. You will not be left alone until Lance is found and Joshua and Justin are punished for what they did. They will not have a chance to hurt you."

Looking at Joseph fearfully, Blake's tears increased. "M'lor...M'lord...please...please forgive me. I...I should have to...told some...someone sooner. If...if anything hap...happens to Lor...Lord Lance, I shall...shall never forgive myself."

"It is not your fault Blake," Joseph whispered. "I understand that you were scared of what might happen to you had you said anything. It is not your fault."

"Bu...but if...if I had sai...said something bef...before...then Lor...Lord Lance would not be...be missing." Hanging his head, Blake burst into tears. "I shall never forgive myself if something happen...happens to him."

Cradling Blake in his arms, Christopher gently began rocking him back and forth. "It is alright Blake," he whispered. "You are not at fault for any of this. Lance will be found and brought home safely. He is probably keep himself warm in a house or shelter he was able to find. He will be brought home soon. Stop your tears now."

Looking up at his husband-to-be, Blake wiped his eyes. "Ye...yes, Christopher," he replied. "I...I hope so."

Smiling a little, Christopher leaned down and gently placed a kiss on Blake's temple. Looking up at Joseph, Christopher said, "My friend, it is late and we are doing nothing for Lance by staying up and worrying over him. Why do you not go to bed. The morning will come soon enough and you will be back in Lance's arm then."

Joseph nodded and went to his quarters, passing the guest room where James and Rebecca were praying quietly. Reaching his quarters, Joseph lay across the bed, tears streamming down his face. Almost two days had passed and still no word of his missing angel. Holding Lance's tunic in his arms, Joseph finally drifted off to sleep only to be awakened by Christopher several hours later.