d'enanigans: is calling it "the climax" too on point?

[nothing_to_fear]

This house has a very pleasant room for receiving honored guests.

In the fashion of House Shahrizai, the walls are richly tapestried (though not in identifying colors) and the couches are soft, finely upholstered. He has ordered the servants to stand ready with wine and light refreshment, and readier still to act should negotiations sour.

Jonathan sent a man to wait for Brix; he himself went upstairs to check on Matthieu. Finding him asleep, but well enough and in no danger, he returned to this room to wait.

He is reading a book of plants and their uses as they come in to light the torches.

Comments

[nothing_to_fear]

He begins for the stairs.

"Ah, my lady, provided we manage to come to an agreement, he shall remain well."

[gothamsheiress]

"De Agen--" she starts, following him.

[nothing_to_fear]

"My lady nó Balm de Marsilikos."

[gothamsheiress]

"What agreement? Why did you take him?"

[nothing_to_fear]

"Because," he says mildly, stopping on the stairwell to look back at her.

"I had to be sure you would come."

[gothamsheiress]

She stares at him.

After a moment: "Surely a letter would have sufficed."

[nothing_to_fear]

"After our last meeting, that was not my impression."

[gothamsheiress]

"Did you think compounding the hurt you caused him with abduction would--"

She breaks off.

Would make her more charitably inclined?

She blinks again, suddenly feeling cold.

"Is this about your . . . proposal?"

[nothing_to_fear]

"Ah."

He smiles.

"Best to continue this downstairs, I think."

[gothamsheiress]

Brix stands for a moment longer, bracing herself with a hand on the banister.

Then the immediate situation -- getting Grue de Agen away from Matthieu's room, to give Havelock room to maneuver -- comes into focus again, and she nods.

"Downstairs."

[nothing_to_fear]

Back to the receiving room, then. Jonathan murmurs a request for wine, and the servant pours.

"Repeating a proposal is tiresome, I'm aware," he says, taking up his goblet.

"Nevertheless, I hope you will indulge me."

[gothamsheiress]

"You have my full attention," she replies, reclaiming her seat and accepting a goblet of wine automatically.

[nothing_to_fear]

"The terms are marriage," he says, with a quirk of his lips that could not really be called a smile.

"And in return, Matthieu's safety is ensured for life." He doesn't mention whose life, although doubtless the boy will please well enough-- better, perhaps, for not being one of Valerian's. "There is a lady who's taken an interest."

[gothamsheiress]

"An interest?"

[nothing_to_fear]

Jonathan considers the possible phrasings.

"Oh, anyone of a certain temperament would, I expect. A Servant of Naamah, trained in the Night Court, visited by mysterious visions."

[gothamsheiress]

"What sort of interest is this?" she asks. "The sort you have in me?"

[nothing_to_fear]

"I did say he'd be safe for life, didn't I."

He takes a delicate sip of his wine.

"Marriage, I suppose, is up to them. The official deal is to serve much as he does now, but on a more ... exclusive basis. He'll have to accede, naturally; however, without you, he has no choice at all."

[gothamsheiress]

She realizes she's stopped breathing for a moment.

"He's to be somebody's slave. That, or die."

[nothing_to_fear]

Jonathan tsks.

"You make it sound dreadful."

[gothamsheiress]

"You're despicable," she says, with dawning horror.

[nothing_to_fear]

Now Jonathan does smile.

"That's beside the point."

[gothamsheiress]

Her fingers are white on the goblet.

(She must not, must not, she reminds herself, brain him with the goblet. Not yet.)

"And you leave me very little choice as well."

[nothing_to_fear]

Jonathan makes a faint sound, a hmm or a hn, and regards her steadily.

His gaze is appraising, and very cool.

[gothamsheiress]

Brix ducks her head, staring into her untouched wine, so that he won't see the rage in her eyes.

"Why me?" softly. "Why do you wish to marry me?"

[nothing_to_fear]

He laughs softly.

"I'm told we'll make a very smart match."