Lance looked up at Lord Christopher, the embarrassment evident. "I...I...maybe I should start with something easier," Lance replied quietly.

Nodding, Christopher sat the book down and walked over to a bookshelf next to Lance. Fingering the bindings of the various books kept there, he smiled and pulled one down, then handed it to the blond. "This one is about a beautiful princess who runs away into the woods and is rescued by seven little people. It should be fairly simple for you to start off on. We can work our way up to 'Hamlet' and soon, you will be able to recite his sillioque from the heart."

Lowering his head, Lance tried to fight back the tears. "Than...thank you for helping me, M'lord," Lance whispered, his voice shaky. "I...I am so embarassed about my lack of reading ability...but I wasn't allowed to attend school because of my training. My mother did the best she could, but there is so much I still need to learn."

Smiling and lifting Lances' chin to look up at him, Christopher replied, "You are very welcome Lance. I know what it is like, to not be able to enjoy the wonders of reading and writing. But, with help, you will be reading and writing just as well as any noble here. And there is no need to be so formal when we are alone, 'Christopher' will be fine."

"Y...yes, M'lor...Christopher," Lance replied. "Thank you so much for helping me."

Nodding his head once more, Christopher took Lances' hand and led him over to the couch in which he was sitting the night before. Opening the book which he held in his lap, he read the title for Lance. " 'Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs' by the Brothers Grimm." Turning the page, he pointed to the first word that would start the story off. "Take your time. Do not worry if you stumble on the words or do not know what they are. I will help you."

Looking up at Christopher, Lance smiled. "Than...thank you, sir" he replied quietly. Returning his eyes to the book he began to read. "On...once up...upon a time...there lived a...a prin...prin...I...I don't know this word," Lance admitted.

"Princess," Christopher said. "It is a rather hard word for someone who is learning to read. But you did sound out most of it."

"Princess," Lance repeated. "in a beau...beautiful castle." Lord Christopher smiled as watched the young lord, thinking of how much Lance reminded him of himself when he first entered his deceased husband's home, although, Lance was a lot shyer than he was. Lord Christopher worked with Lance for about and hour and a half, helping him pronounced the more difficult words he didn't know. Presently, Lord Joseph joined them.

"I do believe we have a future scholar on our hands Christopher," Joseph replied, smiling as he listened to his husband finish the last sentence, only stumbling on a word once. "How are you enjoying the story so far Lance?"

"It...it is very good," Lance replied, a shy smile crossing his face. "The queen is very wicked, but I am glad that the huntsman did not kill Snow White."

"I remember that story very well," Joseph replied. "It was one of my favorite stories when I was growing up. It was the only thing that would send me to sleep peacefully. If I cannot fall asleep one of these nights, may I call on you to read me the story?"

Lance looked up quickly from Joseph to Christopher, who smiled at him. "Oh M'lord I...I couldn't," Lance stuttered. "I...I don't read that well yet."

"But like with everything else, the more you practice, the better at it you will become," Joseph countered. "I am sure that soon, you will be reading as well as Justin and Joshua."

"Y...yes, M'lord," Lance answered meekly. "I am sure I will. Lord Christopher is a wonderful teacher," he added, turning to smile at him.

Shaking his head, Lord Christopher replied, "I am only finishing what your mother started when you were younger. She did most of the work, teaching you the sounds the letters make, and how to put them together."

Lance looked at both of them as a blush crept across his face. Just as quickly, he lowered his head, tears beginning to fill his eyes at the mention of his mother. How he missed her so.

Noticing the change in Lances' expression, Joseph motioned quietly for Christopher to leave them for the time being. When they were alone, Joseph lifted Lances' chin, so that he looked up at him. As if he knew what his husband was crying about, he whispered, "You will see them again. I promise you, you will see your parents again."

"I...I miss her so much," Lance replied in a choked voice as the tears he'd been fighting so hard spilled over.

Holding him close, Joseph rubbed his back lightly. "I know you miss her Lance. It is hard to leave someone you love, especially your mother."

"I...I...am sor...sorry, M'lord," Lance sobbed as he buried his head in Joseph's chest. "I...I wouldn't bla...blame you if you wanted to send me ba...back to my parents' farm."

"Would you like to go back Lance?" Joseph asked, his voice somewhat sadden. "If you are not happy within the family, you only have to say so, and you may return to your mother and father."

Looking at Joseph, Lance's heart broke to see the sad look on his face, and he realized for the very first time the depths of Joseph's love for him. "I..I...I can't go back," he whispered. "I belong to you now...my mother made me realize that when we visited them. I...I love them dearly but...but..."

"How long would you have to visit with them, each month, for you to not miss your parents?" Joseph asked, lowering his eyes for the first time since he and Lance married. Fiddling with his fingers, he kept his eyes locked on the carpet below his boots.

"You...you don't understand, M'lord," Lance whispered, sensing the sadness in Joseph's voice. "I...I love them dearly but..." Tenderly touching Joseph's cheek, he added the words that Joseph had longed to hear. "I...I love you, too. I...I want to stay with you...if you still want me."

"Of course I still want you Lance," Joseph whispered. "But I also want you to be happy, and I do not know how to do that."

"I am happy...happy being with you," Lance replied softly as he leaned over and kissed Joseph's lips gently.

Kissing him back gently, Joseph cupped Lances' cheek in his hand, hold him a little closer. Pulling back after a moment or so, Joseph looked deep into Lances' eyes and whispered, "Are you truely happy here Lance? One hundred percent happy?"

Lance looked up at Joseph shyly. "I...I am honored that you chose me, M'lord. I am happy being here with you. I just wish that..."

"That..." Joseph coaxed. He was beginning to realize that he was willing to do just about anything for his green-eyed angel; including giving up his title and land, if needbe.

"That Joshua and Justin would like me," Lance answered sadly. "I want so much to be friends with them, but I don't think they'll ever accept me."

"Perhaps if you all had something in common," Joseph ventured. "You all are excellent riders. And I know they both have an ear for music, even though Joshua told you otherwise." Smiling, he added, "I am also willing to wagor that you have a voice well enough to be one of the most well-known singers in the land. I know the people would turn to putty if they heard you sing. At least, I would."

"An excellent idea, Joseph," replied Christopher, peeking his head in the door. "Why don't we have a gathering tonight...you and me, Joshua, Justin and Lance and have each one sing us something."

Lance's body went rigid. "Oh M'lord I...I couldn't..." he tried to protest.

"And why not?" Joseph asked. "You must know at least one song that your mother has taught you. What with your angelic voice, she would have been crazy to not teach you at least a simple song. And I mean no disrespect to your mother in anyway Lance." Seeing the unsureness in his husbands' eyes, Joseph moved for where he sat next to Lance, so that he was kneeling in front of him. "Please Lance," he stated, taking Lances' shaking hands into his own. "Would you do us all the pleasure of teaching us a song. Or at least hearing what your beautiful voice sounds like in song?"

Looking quickly from Joseph to Christopher, Lance looked down. "But I...I..." Seeing the look in Joseph's eye, Lance agreed. "All right. I will sing for you, M'lord," he whispered, hoping that this might be the night that he would be accepted by Justin and Joshua.

Smiling, Joseph cupped Lances' cheek in his hand and kissed his lips gingerly; hoping to do away with the nervousness he heard in his angels' voice. "You will make us all very happy dear Lance," he whispered as he gazed into the green eyes that had captured him from the start. "Thank you."

Lance smiled at Joseph, but inside he was extremely nervous. What if he made a mistake, he thought. Justin and Joshua wouldn't hesitate to tease him about it. He sighed deeply and hoped for the best.

"You have nothing to fear," Joseph said, trying to calm Lance. "Joshua and Justin will not say anything, not with Christopher and myself there." Still seeing that Lance was unsure of this, he added, "Besides, I am sure they will be entranced by your beautiful voice to tease you anymore."

"I...I hope so," Lance replied, his voice a little shaky.

Seeing Lance on the verge of tears, Christopher took him aside for a moment and voiced loud enough for the two other husbands to hear, "Whatever you have chosen Lance, I am sure that you will be the best of the three tonight. Your voice is so untrained, so natural. Unlike Joshua and and Justins', who have trained their voices to match each others, yours will add a very unique sound to the room."

Lance looked at Christopher, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to fall. "Than...thank you, M'lord" Lance replied as he took his place in front of the others, his nervousness evident. However, once he began to sing, you could hear a pin drop as the others were mesmerized by his deep sweet voice.

As Lance sang, Josephs' smile grew until it could grow no more. Lances' voice was as he said it would be, like that of an angel. He was sure now, that was exactly what he had been blessed with; and angel. The only thing missing were his wings, but everything else, from his eyes, to his voice, to his very heart, Joseph swore he married an angel.

Filled with emotion, Lance ended the song softly, getting a huge standing ovation from Christopher, Joseph, even Joshua. Justin, however, just sat staring at Lance, his face full of intense jealousy.

With shouts for encores filling the room, Justins' attitude towards Lance went unnoticed by everyone but themselves. Joseph and Christopher were both proud that Lance had, in a way, conquored one of his fears; added to that Joshua joining them in praising Lance. "I second that," replied Lord Christopher. "I have heard some truly wonderful voices in my travels, but I have never heard one this angelic. I will say it once again, Joseph...you are truly a blessed man to have such someone as special as Lance."

"I do not see what is so special about him," Justin mumbled to himself as he leaned back into the couch, his arms folded in front of him as he sulked. "He's meerly a third husband, and there's nothing special about him, he's just a farmboy."

Lance returned to his seat next to Joseph and folded his hands in his lap. Looking up to see Joseph smiling at him, he smiled back. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Lance turned to face Joshua. "You did wonderfully," Joshua admitted. "Your voice is unlike anything I've ever heard. Good job."

Hoping that at least Joshua was coming around, Joseph asked if he would take Lance under his wing, much like he had done for Justin the year before. "Teach him what he will need to know when it comes to guests, social gatherings, and such. Christopher will continue to help with his reading and writing when he can, and I will teach him the rest."

"Yes, M'lord, I will," Joshua replied, stealing a glance at Justin, whose sour mood increased. How could Joshua turn on him like this, Justin sulked. "Lance I...I am sorry for the way I behaved toward you when you first arrived. I hope you will give me the chance to make amends."

Before Lance could reply, Justin had had enough. Standing and storming out of the room, he let the spoiled child that lived within him out as he slammed the door upon his exit.

Looking at the door that Justin had stormed out of, Lance's heart sank. Justin would never accept him, he thought, as he held his head in his hands, tears slowly spilling from his eyes. He was happy that Joshua had seemed to come around, but he really wanted he and Justin to be friends, since Justin was closer to his own age. But it looked like that would never happen.

Exchanging glances, Joseph and Christopher excused themselves and went after Justin; Joseph to demand that Justin 'grow up' and Christopher to keep his friend in check, as much as possible. Joshua stood and quetly sat next to the still crying Lance. Putting an arm around him, he spoke to him gently.

"He will come around Lance," Joshua whispered soothingly. "He is just needing time to adjust to you and the time you take with Joseph."

"I...I don't mean to take up Joseph's time," Lance whispered in a shaky voice. "It's...it's just that I...I never...I mean I hadn't...I...I mean..."

"Well, what can Joseph expect from a farmboy," Joshua asked, his voice never changing from the soothing tone it was. "Can't even read or write. No wonder Justin is disgusted with you."

Lance looked at Joshua, his face a mask of total confusion at Joshua's sudden shift of attitude. "I...I don't understand. You...you said you would help me...you..you said you were sorry..."

Laughing and moving to shut the heavy door, Joshua turned and glared at Lance. Lowering his voice, he hissed, "I only said I would help you because Joseph order that I do. I'll still teach you the things he told me to, but I will not like it. And as for my being sorry, do you think I want to be on the receiving end of Josephs' wrath like Justin is this very moment? Ha! I have been here for 3 years and I have learned my lesson. Believe me, I have learned my lesson."

Realizing that Joshua's attitude toward him had not changed, Lance broke down, the tears flowing down his face. Joshua stood and watched him, an evil smirk crossing his face. Lance looked up at him, his face a combination of hurt and fear. "Wh...why?" Lance choked. "I only wan...want to be fri...friends with y..you and Just...Justin. Wh..why? Why do you and Jus..Justin hate me so?"

"Because," Joshua started, his voice now dripping with the hatred he and Justin had for the blond. "You're compitition. Something else that Justin and I have to fight against, just so we can get one moment of Josephs' attention. You see how much he idles you, how he praises every little thing you do. That used to be me, Lance. Me! His first husband. Then, when he married Justin, I could live with it. I just had one other to contend with. Then, when he informed us that he was taking another husband, I was furious. But of course, I could not show it, but oh I was furious. Now, instead of just having Justin to contend with for Josephs' love, I have you too. And it seems to both Justin and myself, that in Josephs' eyes, you can do no wrong, but every step we make, we get blamed, or belittled by him. Why? Because of you farmboy! Everything was just fine until you put on that robe and married Joseph!" By now, Lance was in tears, each of Joshuas' words cutting through him like a dagger. Cutting him into little peices and littler pieces still. "You don't even belong here! You are nothing but a farmboy, a commoner. You're beneath everyone in this house. No matter what Joseph tells you, you will never be a noble like us. Never."

Blinded by tears, Lance ran out of the study and down the hall. He bumped into Blake, but didn't realize it as he continued on to his room. Finally reaching it, he fell on the bed and cried until his throat was hoarse.