Prompt from Hades Lord of the Dead: Revelations during dinner.
Holmes sat back in his chair, placing his silverware by the side of his plate. He had eaten uncharacteristically heartily, as his clean plate showed. "The dinner was delicious, my dear brother, but what is the occasion that caused you to invite Watson and myself to join you for dinner?"
Mycroft took a sip of wine, and calmly announced, "I'm getting married."
Holmes' silverware clattered as he dropped it. Watson, taking his own sip of wine, spluttered.
"Married?" Holmes asked, astounded. "To who? And why?"
"To a longtime friend of mine. She suggested it, and I had no cause to disagree, so I agreed and proposed to her immediately."
Watson twisted his own wedding ring, the one he still wore even years after Mary's death, and asked, "Do you mean to say you do not love her?"
Holmes was visibly uncomfortable with the turn towards the emotional, but Mycroft maintained his equanimity. "I have no particular affection towards her, but I have no objection either, and her logic was quite unassailable."
"Does the young lady know you don't return her feelings?" Watson persisted.
"Oh, yes. She maintains that it does not bother her, and though she hopes such affection will grow in time, she wishes to be my wife regardless."
"And her wish has no connection to the advantages that could come from being the wife of a rather important government official?" This came from Holmes, grey eyes sharp as he turned the conversation back towards the more familiar concepts of motivations and power.
Mycroft cast his brother a scornful look. "You should know better than to ever think I would fall for such an elementary scheme, Sherlock. My fiancée, though quite aware of the advantages, has no need of them. She is herself in a position of some influence. Now, have you finished with your interrogation, so we can have dessert?"
Holmes and Watson were unable to think of a response.
Watson was the first to rally, giving Mycroft a rueful smile and saying, "I can't say I understand, but congratulations on your engagement. I hope you're both very happy." He lifted a glass to Mycroft.
Holmes lifted his as well. "I look forward to meeting my sister-in-law."
Finally, Mycroft lifted his as well, and the clinking of glasses rang out across the table.