Tenderly touching Lance's cheek, Joseph whispered, "Good morning my Angel. Did you sleep well?"

Lance slowly nodded his head. "Y...yes Joseph," he whispered. "I slept well because you were he...here beside me."

Smiling at his words, Joseph leaned up and dropped a light kiss upon Lance's lips. "Perhaps today, if you feel up to it, we can go out in the gardens for a while?"

"That would be wonderful," Lance whispered, as Rebecca knocked on the door.

Turning slightly and looking over his shoulder, Joseph smiled and nodded, acknowledging Rebecca. "Good morning," he said.

"Good morning, M'lord," Rebecca replied, smiling at her son. Kneeling beside the bed, she kissed his cheek.

Running his fingers through Lance's hair, Joseph looked up at Rebecca. "Your son will be stepping out into the sunlight for the first time today, Rebecca," he informed, smiling proudly.

Her smile widening, Rebecca nodded. "That is wonderful news, M'lord. The sun is shining brightly, although it is still a little cold."

Nodding, Joseph assured, "We will not stay out very long. It is just that Lance has not had the sun kiss his cheek in a while. But, if you do not want us going outside, then we shall stay within the walls Rebecca."

"I trust that you will take good care of Lansten, M'lord," Rebecca replied. "Just please make sure he is bundled up well."

Nodding again, Joseph answered, "I will see to it that he wears his heavy coat. The one that he took with him when he visited you and James last."

Nodding, Rebecca agreed. "I can see how much it means to my son. Have a good time."

"Thank you ma --" Joseph started, then realized that Rebecca was talking to her son. "Thank you Rebecca," he whispered, somewhat blushing at the near nameslip.

Looking at her son, Rebecca's eyes filled with tears. "I love you so much, my son," she whispered, dropping a kiss on Lance's cheek. "And I am so happy that you have returned to us."

Feeling a little out of place, Joseph pulled the robe he had laying on the bed close to him and slipped it on. "I shall go find Lance's coat, if you would help him to dress Rebecca? Or would you like me to send for Jason to help?"

"I shall be happy to help my son, M'lord," Rebecca replied.

Smiling and nodding, Joseph left the room, closing the door behind him. Before he did, he turned to Rebecca. "If Joshua attempts to even come into this room, send for me at once. He is under strict orders to stay away from Lance, Christopher, and Blake."

"I shall, M'lord," Rebecca agreed as she helped Lance to sit up. Closing the door behind him, Joseph listened for a moment. He could barely make out Rebecca's light voice as she told him she was going to go draw his bath.

"Y...yes Mama," Lance replied, a smile on his face.

Going into the adjacent bath chamber, Rebecca heated the water for the bath before returning and helping her son. "Take your time Lansten," she instructed, holding his back and hand tightly so he would not fall.

Slowly, with his mother's help, Lance reached the spacious bathtub and settled in the warm water. Sinking down into the tub, Lance closed his eyes. Picking up a washcloth and soaking it with warm water, Rebecca gently ran her hand over her son's chest and arms, humming quietly as she did so.

Once Lance had finished with his bath, Rebecca helped him out of the tub and to dress warmly.

Buttoning up the first of two warm coats, Rebecca looked into Lance's eyes. "Will this be warm enough for you Lasten?"

"Ye...yes, Mama," Lance replied as he sat on the bed, wating for Joseph's return.

Sitting next to her son, Rebecca took his hand in hers. "I understand you have been learning to read better Lansten?"

"Ye...yes, Mama," Lance replied, smiling at his mother. "Lo...Lord Christopher...he has been teaching me."

Smiling and kissing her son on the forehead, Rebecca whispered, "Soon, we will have a scholar for a son. What story have you been reading?"

Lance looked at his mother, a little embarrassed. "Sno...Sno White and the Sev...Seven Dwarfs."

Laughing lightly at the red hue that was creeping up Lance's cheeks, Rebecca smiled and nodded. "A fine story to learn on. Perhaps you could read it to your father and I before we leave going back home. If you feel up to it."

"Oh Mama...I do not know...I am not that good yet," Lance replied softly.

"I am sure your father and I would not mind. We just have always waited for the day which our son would be able to read," Rebecca answered as Joseph walked back in, carrying the jacket he had gone to get with him.

"O...okay," Lance whispered. "I shall try."

"Try what Angel?" Joseph asked, sitting on the other side of his husband.

"Mama wants me to re...read for her and P...Papa tonight after dinner."

Smiling, Joseph replied, "I think it is a wonderful idea Angel. You have come a very long way since starting your lessons with Christopher." Looking around the room quickly, Joseph asked, almost to himself, "Where is the book you were reading?"

"Lo...Lord Christopher has it," Lance replied.

Nodding and standing, Joseph explained, "I better go get it before we go outside. Perhaps you would like to refresh your skills while outside in the gardens."

"O...okay," Lance whispered, watching Joseph leave the room to retreive the book. Walking down the hallway to Christopher and Blake's chambers, Joseph rapped lightly upon the door before entering.

Answering the door, Christopher smiled at his friend. "Come in," Christopher replied, standing aside to let Joseph in.

Smiling, Joseph stepped in and acknowledged both Christopher and Blake. "Good morning Christopher; Blake."

"Good morning, M'lord," Blake whispered, bowing and standing shyly next to Christopher.

"You do not have to bow anymore Blake," Joseph replied. "I cannot stay long. Lance is going outside for the first time today. We were hoping he could refresh his lessons he had with you Christopher."

"That would be wonderful," Christopher replied.

Looking around the room quickly, Joseph added, "Lance said you had the book you were teaching him from?"

Christopher started to search around his room when he remembered. "I almost forgot," he laughed. "Lance has the book, Joseph. I put it into his coat pocket before he left for his parents farm."

Nodding, Joseph explained that Lance had told him he had the book, but understood the mixup. "He was so excited that day. He must not have noticed." Turning to leave the room, he wished his friend and his fiancee a good day and returned to Lance's chambers. "Christopher said he put the book in your coat pocket before you left to visit your parents," he stated, upon walking into the room again.

Lance looked at Joseph, confused. Then slowly, he remembered. "I...I...must have dropped it in the...the cabin," Lance whispered softly, looking down.

Now his turn to look confused, Joseph asked quietly, "What cabin Angel?"

His body shaking slightly, the memories of what Lance endured at the hands of Joshua and Justin came flooding back. Lance lowered his head in shame. "I...I..." Just then the doctor knocked on the door.

Instantly concerned about his Angel, Joseph took Lance into his arms, speaking a quiet, "Come in," as he did so. Looking up momentarily to see who had knocked, Joseph's expression did not soften when he saw the doctor standing in the doorway.

"Good morning, M'lord," the doctor replied, bowing to Joseph. "M'lord? Is it possible I could speak with you?"

"Of course," Joseph answered. "What did you need?" Holding Lance tightly as he started crying softly, Joseph whispered comforting words to him.

"There is something that I did not disclose to you...something about Lord Lance's condition when he was brought back to the estate and I first examined him. Given his condition then, I was not hopeful that he would survive, but now that he has...M'lord you need to know."

Becoming concerned at once again about his Angel's wellbeing, Joseph attempted to keep his voice calm. He succeeded on the most part, but towards the end of his statement, a little ting of fear escaped into his words. "What...what did you forget to...to disclose to us? He...Lance is fi...fine. You can see for your...yourself."

Lance, who had been sitting on the bed, tried to stand up and gasped as a stab of pain went through him. His body began to shake as memories of his ordeal came flooding back. He had been experiencing pain off and on for the past two days, but did not understand what had happened until now. "N...no," he whispered as tears slowly slid down his face.

Instantly supporting Lance, and easing him back onto the bed, Joseph looked nervously up at the doctor, the back to Lance. "Angel, what's wrong? You were doing so fine before. What happened?"

"I...I can't...I..." Lance sobbed, burying his head in his hands.

Taking Lance's hands in his, Joseph looked into his eyes. "Angel, what is wrong? Please, you must tell us so we can make it better. I only want to make you feel better my sweet Angel, if you will let me."

Kneeling beside the sobbing Lance, the doctor spoke gently to him. "M'lord, I have a salve to help ease the pain," he replied softly.

Utterly confused, Joseph looked at the doctor. "But you said nothing of pain before. Only fever. Where did the pain come from?"

Standing up the doctor looked at Joseph. "Begging your pardon, M'lord," he began. "There is something that I did not tell you because I did not want to further add to your worry or that of Lord Lance's parents, but now that he is recovering, you do need to be informed."

"Informed about what?!" Joseph demanded, starting to somewhat loose his calm demenor. "You have told us nothing, only going around in circles. What is wrong with him?"

"When...when Lord Lance was found and I did my initial examination, I found deep bruises on his back that suggests he had been hit with some sort of belt or leather object."

His heart dropping into his legs, Joseph looked to Lance next to him. His voice a very low whisper, perhaps to hide the tears that stung his eyes, he asked, "Is...is this tr...true Lanc...Lance? We...were you...were you beaten?"

Lance's body shook with fear. "I...I...the...they..." the young lord stammered, the tears falling faster.

"There is more, M'lord," the doctor whispered. "There were also signs that Lord Lance...that he had been forced against his will." Dropping his head at the shocked look on Joseph's face, the doctor whispered. "Please forgive me, M'lord. These are the last things I want to reveal to you. You were so worried about Lord Lance, and I did not want to add to that."

Almost as if he did not believe what he was hearing, Joseph felt he needed to be told what was meant, what was being said. Very quietly, like he did not want to even hear his own voice, he asked, "Forced to...what?"

"I believe that Lord Lance was forced to bed against his will," the doctor stated quietly.

"Dear God no," Rebecca whispered quietly, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. "No, it cannot be. Who would want to...to...to bed my son and hurt him so?"

Looking up Lance saw the shocked look on his husband's and his mother's faces. Breaking down, Lance whispered, "Mama."

"Lansten," she whispered through tears. "Tell me what the doctor said is not true. Please."

"I...I...tri...tried to stp...stop them...but I...I could not...they...they hurt me Mama. They...hur...hurt me." Lance got no further as he completely broke down in his mother's arms.

Holding her son in her arms, Rebecca looked up at Lord Joseph. She had a very good feeling who had hurt her son, but until he named them, she knew nothing could be done. "Who hurt you Lansten?"

"I...I am sca...scared, Mama," Lance cried, his gut wrenching sobs breaking Jospeh's heart.

Knowing exactly who had hurt Lance, Joseph stood and left the room, leaving very strict instuctions that no one was to leave, or enter the room until he returned. "Am I fully understood?"

"Y...yes, M'lord," Rebecca whispered, still cradling her son in her arms. James, by this time had joined them and was outraged to learned what had happened to his son.

Without acknowledging James, Joseph marched out of the chamber and right to Justin's. Turning the knob, he let himself in and crossed the room in three strides. Pulling Justin out of bed, he slammed the young lord into the wall with enough force to knock the wind out of the startled blond. "What did you and Joshua do to him?!" he shouted, holding Justin a good five inches off the ground. "What in God's name did you do to Lance!" <>Instantly frightened, Justin started to cry. "I...I...did not...I...I...please Joseph...I...did not..."

"You did!" Joseph shouted again pushing Justin into the wall so that the wind was knocked out of him. "Tell me what you and Joshua did to Lance, or so help me God, I will not be held accountable for my actions!"

Slumping to the floor, Justin sobbed brokenly. His worst fears had come true. He knew Joseph would be upset, but he was not prepared for the force of Joseph's wrath. "Ple...please...ple...you are hurting me..."

"Just like you hurt Lance! What had he ever done to you or Joshua to warrent such crule and unthinkable acts from you both?!" When Justin only continued to cry, Joseph shouthed even louder, "ANSWER ME!"

Hiding his head in his hands, his body shaking with uncontrollable fright, Justin whispered ever so softly. "I...I am sorry."

Knowing he had to find proof before he could do any more with Justin, or with Joshua, Justin called for Edward to come and guard Justin's door. "I do not have time to deal with him," he explained angrily. "If he stepps foot outside his chambers, lock him below in an empty servant chamber until I return."

"Yes, M'lord," Edward replied obediently as Joseph stormed off.

Marching back to Lance's chambers, Joseph entered and went straight for his husband's side. Kneeling down, he took Lance's hand in his and spoke softly, yet his hold was slightly harsh. "Lance, where did they take you? Do you remember?"

"I...I...do not know...I do not remember," Lance whispered shakily, tears still sliding down his face.

"Angel, you must remember," Joseph whispered more insistanly. "I need to know where they took you Angel."

Lance's body shivered with fear at the tone of Joseph's voice. "Ple...please...I...I am sor...sorry."

"M...M'lord?" someone whispered from the doorway. All eyes turned to see who belonged to the voice. It was Blake.

Timidly taking a step into the room, Blake's face was a mask of concern for Lance. He had grown to care a great deal for Lance, because of how kind and gentle he was. He had not deserved what happened to him. "What is it, Blake?" Rebecca asked gently, still trying to calm her son.

Playing with his hem shyly, Blake whispered, "There...there is a small cabin...not that fa...far from he...here..."

Joseph turned to face Blake, his face instantly softening. "Do you know where it is, Blake?" Joseph asked. "Can you take me there?"

Nodding, Blake replied that he would lead Joseph to the cabin. "I...I found it one day...when I...I..."

"When you what, Blake?" Rebecca replied, lightly touching his cheek.

"When I was younger...When I first cam...came to work at...at Herfordshire." Turning to Joseph, he explained that he had not finished his work on that day, yet he wanted to go exploring. So he left his work undone and took one of the horses from the stables without permission. "I had been riding for a while, when I came across the cab...cabin," he whispered, scared that he would incure Joseph's wrath.

"It is all right, Blake," Joseph replied, sighing. "You meant no harm...you were just curious. Let us go...I want you to show me where it is."

Nodding his head, Blake stepped aside, allowing Lord Joseph to go first. "Yes M'lord," he whispered obidently.

Still sobbing, Lance looked at his husband as he left with Blake. "Jo...Joseph?" Lance whispered, his voice barely audible.

"Shh Angel," Joseph whispered, turning back. "We will return as quickly as we can."

"I..I am sorry, my lo..love" Lance sobbed.

"You have nothing to apologize for Angel," Joseph replied, then turned to walk down the hall with Blake.