Thank you for all that interest in my story, this makes me so happy!
In this chapter I put some more interaction between Bill and Laura as there was less of it in the former chapter than I had intended. (Kara just came in and messed up my plans.) I hope you like this slight insight in the backstory I built up for the characters.
Laura, Bill, Lee and Kara are all slightly younger than in BSG which just has to do with society at those times and also with what I have planned for the characters in further chapters. However I kept the 5 year gap between Laura and Bill. In my version Kara and Lee have only 4 years of age difference.

I also decided to add a certain date to the story - it takes place in 1803.

Disclaimer: Only the storyline and my OC's belong to me. The characters unfortunately not...

May 1803

Talking and Listening

William Adama

Laura Roslin was intriguing, he could not deny that. Just a few minutes before, Kara had hurried towards him, glowing from excitement of having made a new aquaintance. It had surprised him when she had pointed out that her new "friend" was indeed Ms Roslin and that, according to his daughter, this well-bred lady had taken no offense but happily engaged in conversation. Standing closer to her, his former ideas were confirmed: She was poised, confident and attractive. While Ellen Tigh had described her as old, the Commander could not find it in him to agree. She must have been a couple of years younger than himself, maybe around forty, but it was hard to say. In a way he found the fine lines around her eyes gorgeous, they were of the kind that a person got from smiling a lot. One of those smiles had already been given to him and it had reminded him of the sun coming out after the rain. Breathtaking. Simply breathtaking.

He should not let the horses run away with him, he scolded himself, he did not even know her. If only half of what Ellen had said was true, she was far out of his league and she knew that. Also the rumours of her connection to Adar were unfortunate. It wasn't the impropriety that annoyed Adama most, it was the mystery of how somebody could choose this man as a lover at all. However, getting to know her might not be the worst idea. At least it would let the evening pass by a bit quicker, he pondered.

"Commander, I have never seen you or your children at any kind of function or soirée here in London", she suddenly started, "pray, tell me, are you new in town?"

"No, but we live a bit outside of London", he responded.

"And I take it you don't really care for big social gatherings", she added with a small smile.

How did she figure that out in such a short time? It was exceptional.

"What makes you say that?", he wanted to know, not backing down so easily.

"Well, let me think. You are a Commander, which would grant you and your family entrance to most of the parties around London, but I have never seen you at any. Also your children are definitely not used to balls like this one, or at least don't take them for granted."

It was said so friendly and without any judgement, that he could not be mad at her for delicately pointing out the flaws in Kara's behaviour.

"Remarkable Ms Roslin", he complimented her, "are you sure you really are a London lady and not a detective in disguise?"

"You would like to know that, wouldn't you Commander?", she answered, looking up at him from under her lashes.

There was something teasing and slightly flirty in her tone that made him smile back at her.

"And what about you, are you staying in town for the whole year?"

That was a question that had bothered him since Ellen had pointed her out in the beginning: What did a woman who had no husband nor children do with all her free time? He was sure that making and receiving social calls must occupy a lot of her time and the rest was probably used for shopping, evening parties of any sort and to indulge in her own accomplishments.

"Oh no!", she objected, shaking her head delicately.

Her amethyst and diamond earrings were swaying slightly, catching the light. They were matching her necklace and the light violet dress she was wearing, expensive, but in an classy understatement kind of way. She knew she had the money and so did everybody else, Ms Roslin did not have to wear a gold bar around her neck.

"I am only staying in town for the season", she explained, "usually from around October to around June. And even then I sometimes take breaks. You know, even I find London society sometimes a bit…" She vaguely moved her hand, looking for the right word. "- much", Ms Roslin finally concluded.

The Commander nodded in understanding, that was what he had felt like after ten minutes in this room. Strangely enough, her company seemed to make it better. Probably because she was distracting him.

"Anyway, the rest of the year, I am usually in Hertfordshire, an estate is not running itself. It also often requires me to drive over for a couple of weeks, especially in spring when all the repairs have to be done."

William was genuinely impressed, that woman actually seemd to hold her life in her own hands.

"Why not employ somebody who would do all this for you?", he asked curiously.

From the way her jaw tensed just for a moment he had the impression that she had heard this question far too often already.

"Commander Adama, those people in Hertfordshire are my tennants, I want to know how they are doing, that they are okay. I have a certain responsibility for their wellbeing I am afraid. I also want to have control over my fortune and I consider myself educated and reasonable enough to look after my own finances. That does not only mean how I spend my money but also where it comes from."

"Forgive me Ms Roslin, I was not intending to doubt your ability to handle finances and your tennants. I was merely curious", he apologized.

He felt as if he had unintenionally vexed her and that had not been his intention. The woman nodded curtly, but the faint smile returned to her lips.

"So you are not of the opinion that women as members of the weaker sex require male guidance in any bigger aspect of life?", she wanted to know, definitely challenging him.

"I know that a lot of men do say this, but I can't agree. Intelligence, resiliance and courage have nothing to do with their sex but with the person themself. However it is true that there are many paths that a woman can't access, though not because of her own lack of abilities but because of the restrains that society puts on her."

The woman flashed him another of her incredible smiles before putting her glass on one of the little tables at the side.

"Do you dance Commander?", she asked, her voice dripping with mirth.

"I don't dance at balls Ms Roslin", he answered.

"Neither do I", she remarked in return, but her eyes lost none of their sparkle.

Bill was not entirely sure whether she was being serious or ironic. Something like boldness suddenly swapped over him, making Adama hold out his hand to her.

"Would you grant me the next dance then?"

Thank you for reading!

More Recency facts: Town Season for the high society was during the parliament season, so from around October/November to May/June.

Up next: The dance