Wow, when I started the story I expected it to be long but never to become THAT long!
Up to chapter 50 now and we still have a long way to go! I thank you all my dear readers for your immense support since I started off writing this and I hope you will stay with me a bit longer :)

Disclaimer: I only own my OC's.

January 1804

Amant-amis and other troubles

Laura Roslin

Starting this kind of relationship with the Commander had never been her intention, but Laura found she really didn't mind it when found herself pinned against her library wall. Well, actually she had started calling him "Bill" now, which was somehow a bit more appropriate for a man who tended to have his hands all over her body. Although she had to admit that she had stuck to more formal approaches in the past with other men if it seemed fitting, even when things had ventured far beyond what she and Bill were currently doing. They were quite harmless, there was nothing more than kisses and (inappropriate) carresses. Somehow she found that she did not mind, it rather hightened her anticipation for more to come. Also, it wasn't always just physical. They still had their witty chit-chat and card games, their friendship just as they had before. So far, it had all worked out very well.

What was troubling Laura more and more was something that was actually not her business at all: Kara, or rather Kara's growing attachment to Samuel Anders. The young, attractive and wealthy man seemed to put the notion in her head that she meant something to him (which could, potentially, be true) and that there might be a future in the cards fot them (which would, very certainly, not be true). In fact, the lady had heard through the grapevine of at least three young and rich women that Mr Anders was supposedly engaged to. Even though none of these rumors were probably true, it still highlighted that people of far more money than Kara had as a dowry were interested in him. Sure, Anders was the head of his family, he had nobody dictating him whom to marry, but society still had expectations and Kara - well, Kara simply did not fit in there. Laura found she didn't want the girl to get hurt, even though it might be a valuable lesson to learn for the little spitfire.

He musing was pushed to the farest corners of her mind however when Bill started to kiss her neck up to her ear and she gripped his shoulders tighter. He knew exactly what he was doing and she also knew that he would be horribly smug about her reaction afterwards but still she could not stop herself from moaning at the sensation. Suddenly the man pulled away but took her hand, tugging to make her come with him. She willingly complied, letting herself be led over to a little recliner where Bill pulled her down on his lap. Laura cursed the volume of her skirt, it kept her from being able to stradle him easily, that would be something for another day. Instead, she looped her arms around his neck, leaning in to kiss him deeply.

"Nice to have you here," she wispered when they pulled apart.
"Indeed my dear, indeed," he responded while playing with her hair. For some reason, he had a fascination with her locks.
"Laura..."he began, his serious tone making her become alert in an instant, "I need your opinion on a social matter. As usual."
"Alright," she replied.
"Kara and Lord Anders - what do you think? WHere is this going and what should I do?"
The older woman sighed. "Bill, I am afraid he is leading her on, whether deliberatedly or not, I can't say. I suspect the latter, that he is simply not thinking everything through at the moment. But he will notice at some point that despite all her qualities, Kara is not what the society deems appropriate for him. I believe a union could never make the two of them happy, as sad as it is."
The man looked at her for a long time. "So you believe love alone is not enough?"
"No, I don't. If love exists, finding it in a partner is the best one can wish for, to be sure. But if the circumstances are wrong, any feeling can be crushed under pressure."
"This sounds very cynical indeed."
"Maybe Bill, but I believe it is also realistic."

He was silent.

"So you disapprove."
"Well, it is not - I do not disapprove as such," Laura tried to explain, "I simply doubt that this relationship has a chance to survive. And I don't want Kara to get hurt."
"Neither do I", the man responded, "but what would you have me do?"
"You could wait a few weeks and see how things develop. If they do not change or even intensify, you will need to have a word with her. I doubt you can talk to him about this matter without causing a huge public scandal."
"But do you think I have the right to tell her what to do on such matters?"
"I think as a father you have the duty to protect her from doing something very stupid, Bill," Laura concluded.
He frowned. "Aren't we a bit hypocrytical, arguing about this while I have you on my lap?"
Laura shrugged.
"People might say so. But firstly, you could marry me in terms of status. Secondly," she went on, "we are older and we would know what we would get ourselves into. The gossip and talk that would still spread about me seducing the honorable military officer or you marrying me only because of my money. Thirdly, I am most likely too old to have children." She saw him look at her in surprise when admitting this so freely. "And I can't be particularly bothered about continuing the family line just for the name's sake. So there would be no children that had to live with our decisions. Only Lee and Kara and I think they would be able to deal with it. And fourthly," Laura made a pause for emphasis, "we are not intending to wed so the whole argument is pointless from the beginning."

She thought she saw something flash over Bill's face. Was it disappointment? But then she brushed the thought aside. That could not be, they were friends and nothing more.

Thank you for reading, stay safe!