Getting a ring

*Zac*
I head to my brother’s library after dressing myself for the day. I had been reluctant to leave Callie. I was wrong, yet once again. It isn't her eyes, her smile, her spirit, or her body that have so enticed me. It is her passion. I have little doubt that comforting her in the hospital had ignited it and I had been helpless to extinguish the blaze. It needs to run its own course. And while it appears that running its course has been a disservice to her, I never places my own pleasure before a woman's; it has resulted in her giving birth to my child. I can’t deny that any longer. Or what I owe her.

This afternoon, I wanted to stay in bed with her and have an opportunity to explore her passions further and rediscover all the pleasures she has to offer. But I have other more urgent matters that require my immediate attention. Again, another first for me because always before, nothing has been more important than pleasure.

I have sought it out, I have nurtured it, I have ensured that it encompasses a great deal of my life. What is the point in breathing if pleasure is not available? The quest for pleasure has always dominated my life. Yet, here I am casting it aside for something that seems more worthwhile. Who is this man striding through the hallways? I wonder if I even know myself any longer.

Entering the library, I am surprised to see Dr. Roberts sitting in a chair near Draco’s desk. The man comes to his feet swiftly, his face flushed. “Major Dragan. Good to see you moving about so freely."

“Without my cane, no less. I didn’t remember having an appointment with you today." I say.

“He's here to see me,” Draco says, standing now, discreetly opening a drawer and sliding a piece of paper into it before quietly closing it. It is not like Draco to be secretive. Although maybe it is, and I have been too consumed with myself to notice.

“What is that?" I ask, stepping nearer.

“Nothing of importance." Draco squints. “What in the Gods’ name happened to your eye?"

I glance between the two men. I recognize guilt when I see it, but I know Draco well enough to know hammering at the truth isn’t the way to gain it. “I had a bit of a mishap last night. Ran into a door.”

Draco scoffs. “No doubt one of the serving girls rebuffed your amorous advances. I’ve told you to leave them alone. I don’t tolerate that sort of behavior toward my staff”.

I hold my tongue. Let him think what he will.

“You needed something?" Draco prods.

“Yes, but it’s a private matter. I didn’t realize you had company. I’ll return later.” I tell him.

“No need,” Dr. Roberts says. “I’m quite done here. Your Grace, a pleasure as always. Major, if you have any other ill effects, do call on me, otherwise, good day to you, sir.”

I watch as the man makes a hasty exit, then turns his attention and his glare on my brother. “Want to tell me what the hell that is about?"

“Private matter.” He simply says.

I give my brother a once over. “Concerning your health?”

“Let it go, Puppy." He says.

“You've not called me that since I returned." I point out.

He gives me a small smile. “Apologies I shouldn't have done so now. Old habit. You earned my admiration with your actions in the War.”

“Actions I don’t even recall.” I mumble.

“But worthy nonetheless. Some were reported in the Dragon Daily and in the Illustrated News. Other accounts I received from the War Office. They’re here if you ever want to read them." He tells me.

“At some point, perhaps." I amble over to the sidebar and splash some whiskey in a glass. “Join me?”

He raises a brow. “Bit early in the day, isn’t it? Even for you.”

“It’s never too early to indulge in pleasures. If Morton and I taught you nothing else, we should have taught you that. Otherwise, what good were we as brothers?" I tell him.

“Something’s up,” Draco says. “You’ve not been this amiable toward me since you were twelve."

Damn Draco's clever mind. I pour whiskey into another glass. Holding both aloft, I stride back to the desk wearing my most innocent smile. “I nearly died. Surely that warrants my taking a kinder regard toward you.”

Draco takes the glass from me and sits in his chair, leaning back. “Perhaps, but I don't trust you”

I open the drawer, snatch the sheaf of paper I had seen Draco slip into it earlier, and dart away before Draco can stop me. “The distrust is reciprocated."

“Damn it!” Draco shouts, coming to his feet. “Hand that over.”

I move to the window where the light is better. It is a list of names. All women. “What is this? Your latest list of conquests?" My gaze falls on a familiar name. “Good Gods. Callie's name is on here." I spin around and glare at my brother. “What is this?”

Draco sits on the edge of his desk and tosses back his whiskey. “You're not going to like it.”

“I don't like it now.” I point out.

“It’s a list of the women who were selected to serve with Mrs Sparrow."

I glare at him. “Why would you have it?"

“I am attempting to verify her story. That she is indeed a nurse, that your paths might have crossed.” He explains.

“You doubt her?” I ask.

He sighs. “I just wanted to be sure."

“It’s not your place." I growl.

“You don’t remember a bloody thing about the past two years. You don't even know if you ever bedded her.” He says.

I shake my head. “I did.”

Draco jerks his head back with surprise. “You remember?”

“No.” I ball up the paper. “But I know.” If I was a romantic, I might have pressed a fist to my heart for emphasis. “The boy is mine. And Callie will be as well. I came here to ask you to help me secure a special license."

“What if you’re wrong?" He asks.

“Then it will be my mistake to live with.” I take a step toward my brother. “Draco, you are three years my junior, yet you’ve always treated me as though I was younger. I'm not your responsibility."

He looks pained. “If I had not purchased you a commission ..."

“You and Morton. I don't remember the time I was in the Krimoa, but I remember all the years before. I needed to be prodded into putting away childish things. I needed something to give my life purpose." Just as Callie has. I have no idea if I have found the purpose satisfying, but I do know that I have acquired a purpose now which I have no intention of casting aside.

“Do you care for the girl, then?" Draco asks.

“As much as I'm able, yes, I believe I do. Which I know seems ludicrous considering that to my present mind she’s only been in my life a few days. But there you are.”

Draco jumps on that argument like a flea on a dog to sway me from the course I have set. But I won’t be dissuaded from doing what I am determined I must do.

Next I go to see my mother. I find her in the north drawing room, curled up in a chair near the window, looking up with a serene expression on her face as though she were gazing into heaven. It startles me to see her so. She has always been strong, formidable, a woman with a reputation for doing as she pleased. In that particular pose, she gives the appearance of being a much younger woman, and I realize for all that she has seen two husbands put in the ground and raised three rambunctious dragon lads to adulthood, and is now the grandmother of two, she has not yet seen half a century.

Leo is standing off to the side, palette in hand, easel before him. It seems my mother is his favorite subject. I have seen countless works he has completed and she is in the center of most of them.

Leo pauses, the brush hovering near the canvas. “Major.”

“Leo. May I have a private word with my mother?” I ask.

She swings her head around, her lips pursed. “You’ve asked the girl to marry you.”

“You disapprove?" I inquire.

“Hardly. It is the proper thing to do for the mother of your child. She could have tossed Zane in the nearest river and we would all be none the wiser. But I expected to have to coerce you. Leo wagered you would do it on your own. Now I will have to pay up.” She sighs.

Leo puts his brush away, saunters over to her, bends down, and kisses her cheek. “I shall leave you to visit with your son, while I scurry off to fantasize about receiving the payment you owe me.”

“Stay away from that young parlor maid. You know the one of which I speak. I don't like the way she looks at you.” My mother mumbles.

“I have noticed nothing amiss, but then I have eyes for only you." He answers.

“Oh, posh,” She says, laughing. “Go on with you, then."

As Leo strides from the room, she never turns her gaze away from him. “He has always had too romantic a bent."

I sit in the chair opposite hers and stretch out my legs. Without the sun catching her just so, she doesn’t look quite so young, but she is still a beautiful woman. “What did you wager?"

She blushes. “That is between Leo and me." Sighing deeply, she studies me. “So you will marry her then."

“If she will have me. I haven't yet asked.” I have hinted, tested the waters, but until she had arrived here, apparently I hadn’t given her the best of myself. I intend to make up for that shortcoming.

“But you want the ring?" The ring Morton's father had given her had gone to Morton’s wife. The ring Draco's father had given her, she will give to Draco's wife. The ring her father had given to her mother will go to Callie.

I nod. “Yes.”

A mist quickly covers her eyes, and she blinks it away. “You have always loved women. So I thought you would be the last to wed, if you wed at all."

“Women, Mother. I have always loved women. Never a woman. Other than you, of course.” I tell her.

Her lips twitch. “Cheeky devil." The amusement fades away. “You don’t love her then?"

“For all practical purposes, I’ve known her for less than a week. How could I?” I respond.

Nodding, she gazes out the window. “Do not, I beg of you, be unfaithful to her.”

“Just as the conditions of your wager are between you and Leo, so my fidelity is between Callie and me.” I tell her.

“An unfaithful husband can shatter a woman's heart, destroy her pride, leave her bitter, make…." She says sadly.

“Mother, ours is a forced marriage and will be one of convenience. I do not think either of us expects more," I say sternly.

She gives me a stern motherly glare. “I raised my sons to be strong, stubborn men with a good deal too much pride. You will follow your own course, I’m well aware of that. But I pray it will be your heart that serves as your compass.”