In the Lion's Den

A Hopeless Kiss

Simon had watched in silent agony as Caldwell took Bess out of the room.

Just right now he couldn't bear not being with her.

How would he ever be able to bear that?

How had he ever been able to bear being far from her?

It had been differently then, he told himself.

They had not shared the kind of intimacy they shared now - although they had cared deeply for one another as friends.

They had been off on their respective duties and had known very well that when they met again, everything would be as it had always been.

It had been an illusion, of course.

Every one of his missions could have been fatal, with only the slightest error or bad luck.

And as a frontline nurse, Bess was far from being safe either.

There had been close calls, for both of them.

But in some strange way, they had become accustomed to the danger and uncertainty.

Now, rather than uncertainty, there was the cruel and relentless certainty that they would never be together again.

At least not after tomorrow afternoon.

He didn't think he could bear that.

But he had to.

This one last time he had to make sure that Bess was safe.

And he had to keep a sober head for this.

When Caldwell had come back, closing the office door behind him, the old man spoke.

"Well, Simon, the deal is easy. As soon as you say your vows tomorrow, your little nurse will be free to go. You may do as you please until then, as long as you don't make any further attempts of involving other entities into our little secrets. Caldwell here will stay by your side and make sure of that, won't you?"

Caldwell nodded curtly.

"Do we have an understanding, Son?"

Simon clenched his fists, but he nodded as well.

He could not risk anything happening to Bess.

Then the old man proceeded to explain what had been arranged for the wedding, but Simon listened with only half an ear.

"Anything else that might need clearing up?" the old man finally asked, and Simon shook his head no.

But Caldwell seemed uneasy, trying to gather courage.

"Sir, may I ask something?" he finally inquired.

"Go ahead."

"Why is it that he and I are so... similar. We are cousins, yes, but not by any blood relation."

"Is that what you've been asking yourself all this time? Has that been distracting you from taking proper care?"

"No, Sir, I..."

Caldwell's skin was turning red with embarrassment.

"Are you asking me if your mother was a whore?"

"No, Sir, please, you misunderstand."

"Or his mother, for that? Don't you dare insult my deceased daughter!"

Simon thought it interesting to see a shred of concern for his mother coming from the old man.

As far as Simon remembered, he had never done anything but talk of her foolishness.

"Well," the old man continued, "all I can say is that both of you were born legitimately, well into wedlock, although I did not feel either of your parent's unions to be particularly appropriate."