Viscount (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

26

It had all been planned meticulously - from the music to choice of flower arrangements, the Viscount's annual dinner  was one that was annual and not to be missed. Everyone had responded with their acceptance (aside from Lord Sousa and Peggy who were now days from welcoming their child, and also Tony and Pepper were out of town), knowing that like the Dowager Viscountess, if you received this invitation then you were respected. 

Steve welcomed the guests and spoke with them, everyone asking where the Viscountess was - as if they actually cared. He knew they would make no effort to speak to his wife anyway. "She is here". Is all he replied with, knowing that Jocelyn was upstairs with his mother, Bucky, Sam, Nat and Yelena. 

No. Tonight he was going to ensure that this ended once and for all. 

Dinner was announced and everyone made their way into the ballroom where tables had been set up to make one long dining table, laden with the finest of meats, fruits, cheeses as well as beautiful centrepieces, the guests all in awe of just how luxurious it looked. Napkins at each place were embroidered, the crockery and cutlery perfectly set. Place cards with the name of each guest handwritten. Nothing had been missed. 

When dinner was served the awe continued at the menu, people complimenting Steve on what they claimed was the dinner party of the year.

He simply smiled, but said nothing, waiting until dessert had been eaten, before he stood up and tapped on his glass, the hum of conversation falling quiet. 

"First of all...thank you all for coming tonight". He started and then put his glass down, looking down the table at the faces who sat there. "Many of you have enquired after the Viscountess tonight, where she is, is she well? And I'm surprised that so many of you have bothered, considering that whenever we are present at another event, none of you make the effort to ask or talk to her yourselves? Instead you choose to gossip about her, insult her..." His expression turned to one of annoyance. "You insult me..." 

No one spoke. They simply sat there in shock, but Steve knew that this needed to be said, and it needed to be from him. 

"The food you have eaten tonight, the flowers you've admired, the hand written place cards, the menu...all of those things were carefully planned by my wife. Yet she declined to join us because she knew that she would not get any thanks, or any praise for her efforts. Instead she knew that you would just either ignore her, or make back handed comments about how she is not fit to be in her position as my wife, about how she 'stole' me from her cousin as part of a 'manipulative' plan to marry me". Still there was silence. "She has been subject to ridiculous speculation, humiliated and rejected! She had to leave the Sousa ball a few months ago because of comments about how she had not yet produced me an heir!" His voice was now raised and angered, echoing around the ballroom.
His hands slammed against the table as he braced himself and looked around at the guests. "So let me put a lot of your 'gossip' to rest, because apparently all of you here believe that the woman who was my choice, to marry was the one who had some wicked scheme to do it. I chose my wife because she had all the qualities of a Viscountess over Peggy Carter. I made that choice and I do no regret it, because I didn't want a wife who is only good enough to produce me children. I wanted a woman who I could love dearly and have as a friend, not just a companion with a title. 

Still no one spoke. Good. He needed to put them in their place. 

"She is shy of nature, which is why so many suitors found her to apparently be unsuitable. As a result she found herself feeling unworthy of ever having love or happiness. But I saw the world in her, and I got to know her enough to realise that she was the one who could be wife, my friend, my soulmate". 

He paused and then continued. "As for everyone commenting about an heir. What business is it of yours of just how my wife and I live our lives? She was inconsolable after the Sousa ball, do you not think of just how her feelings were hurt? That we have not been hoping for it to happen? She asked me just why even now, no one would accept her! And I couldn't tell her why, because even I don't know myself". 

Looking around, many were looking guiltily at the table cloth. 

"Everything here tonight, absolutely everything was planned by my wife, and my wife alone. She organised the guest list, wrote every single place card - and yet she felt like she did not deserve a place herself". He straightened himself up and glared down the table. "She told me not to tell you all to leave until after you had eaten, because she did not want to disappoint you all, let her hard work go to waste. If I had my way then you would have all been dismissed and in your carriages before the first course had even finished. So now I am telling you all to leave. From now on, there will be no annual garden party, no dinners, nothing from us - not until you treat my wife with the respect that she is owed. She won't ask for it, but I do".

He nodded to the servants who began to take away the plates, "Your carriages are waiting for you all outside. Goodnight". Was all he finished with as some sat there stunned, others got up and went to follow to offer their apologies. 

Instead they were met with nothing. Steve simply climbed the stairs and went to his wife's private sitting room. Bucky and Sam looked at him as he walked in, Sarah rose from her chair across from Jocelyn who was reading. "Well?" She asked as she walked up to him. 

He glanced over her shoulder to his wife. He had not seen her smile since the Sousa ball. "How is she?" 

Sarah looked back at Jocleyn. "She ate a little, but not much. Natasha and Yelena were telling her about how she should visit them, but she will not. She is worried about going to town again and people still talking". 

"Well maybe after tonight they will rethink their actions". 

"Did you do it?" Sarah asked. 

He nodded, "I did". 

She smiled lightly. "It needed to be said, I am hoping that this will finally stop and Jocelyn can feel like she can enjoy these things". 

He didn't smile. "I don't think that she will attend another ball or dinner again mom. At the same time though? I don't know what else I can do to try and make her smile again". Every month he watched her wait with anticipation, only to be disappointed when her course would arrive. "And in all honesty? It's killing me too..." 

Sarah took him to one side. "Listen to me. Do not attend anything else for the rest of this year. Take time to spend with your wife. Do the things you love, and as for children? Relax, try not to stress that it's a chore that needs to be completed soon. I've told Jocelyn that her stress and constant desire could be taking its toll on her body. Enjoy the act for just that, and not for just making babies". 

He smirked. "Thanks for the wise words, Mom". 

Giving her son a wink, she retired to bed, Nat and the others briefly talking to Steve before doing the same.

His attentions then turned to his wife, and he walked over to her, crouching in front of her before he took the book from her hands and kissed her knuckles. "Did they have a nice evening? I hope that the menu was to their satisfaction". She asked. He hated seeing that the light from her eyes had all but gone. 

"They don't matter, sweetheart. Come on, let's head to bed".