Not sure I'm happy with this chapter. :/ Kinda boring imo, but couldn't resist the philosophical points. Meh.
Master of the House
Chapter 15 - Civil Conversations
Breaking the night’s fast was a tense matter the following morning and dissipated the good mood Charles had woken up with. James’s Omega would not stop glaring at him balefully.
Oh, to be sure, the man did not speak of anything untoward and remained polite, if only just, throughout the meal. But, nevertheless, Charles began to feel quite...uncomfortable.
Whether it was because of the Omega’s spending the entire time glaring at him rather than eating or the bare civility Ronald and Mary had greeted him with earlier when no apology was forthcoming, he did not know. But he was the master of the household, and he would not let either servants (even such longstanding and respected ones such as Ronald and Mary) or his own guest dictate his actions.
And so, discomfort or not, he nibbled his bread, took a few small bites of his beef and sipped his tea in silence.
When a few of his servants announced that Matthew had just arrived and was in the parlor waiting for him, he found he could not leave the table fast enough.
“Matthew,” he greeted, shaking the man’s hand enthusiastically. “It is good of you to come!”
The man looked at him askance, clearly contemplating the possibility of his having gotten dementia or some other illness in the short time that he had last seen him.
“Charles.”
Matthew then looked behind Charles, a sneer on his face.
“And James’s little pet, I see.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Charles could see James’s Omega bristling in anger.
“Now, now, Matthew. I believe that Clipper, here, can help me with my wife’s problem.”
Strangely enough, that didn’t seem to calm the Omega.
“Oh?” Matthew looked vaguely interested. He turned to James’s Omega. “And what do you know of medicine?”
The Omega glared at them both. “What Mr. Lee really meant is that I am here to provide moral support in Connor’s time of need.” Then, muttering, “But how useful that will be since a certain personage keeps mucking things up, I don’t know.”
They both ignored him.
“Really, Charles. I know I spoke about the importance of bonds, but, really? James’s toy? I did not mean—“
Charles held up a weary hand. “You will still be paid the same amount for your services.”
Matthew looked at him in consideration and glanced at the Omega.
“With a little extra to have him underfoot,” Charles conceded.
Matthew smiled, a smug, satisfied smile.
“Excellent! I’ve brought the books, as you’ve requested, and I’m sure that your guest will be utterly delightful to collaborate with.”
With that, Matthew strode towards the main rooms of the manor, servants following with boxes full of books.
Charles stared at Matthew, wishing, as he so often did, that the man’s knowledge and skills did not make him invaluable. Because Charles would gladly dispense with him if he could.
Just before he made to follow the man, he noticed that James’s Omega, too, had a similar look on his face, no doubt wishing to enact his own brand of...collaboration...with the man.
He leaned down, next to the Omega’s ear. “He may be an opportunistic fool, but he is one of the best of his trade. And very professional once he’s been paid. He will do Connor no ill.”
-----
Clipper ground his teeth in frustration. No ill? Ill had already been done!
“I am familiar with him and his ilk and know his full measure. It is not him I worry about doing ill to my friend.”
Lee backed off, his expression rapidly cooling.
“If you’re implying I would hurt him now when he is like this...”
Clipper cut him off, still infuriated by the events of the night before.
“I imply nothing.”
The man pursed his lips, clearly agitated by the statement.
“Listen,” he grabbed Clipper’s arm roughly. “You may be here to help him, but this is my house, my estate, my property and...”
“Exactly. I am here to help him. But it is difficult with you jeopardizing my efforts.”
Lee exploded at that.
“I care for his wellbeing too! I want him to wake up too!”
“Then why do you continue to hurt him?”
For a moment, Clipper thought that the man was going to strike him. He trembled so with fury and rage, and he balled his hands into fists.
The moment passed.
Lee swallowed, hard.
“I admit I was remiss in my actions towards you last night.”
Oh?
“It has been pointed out to me that I behaved childishly and unbefitting my station.”
Was he truly hearing this? Clipper’s eyes flew wide open, disbelieving.
“As such, I believe an...apology...is in order.”
Clipper pinched himself. He must be dreaming. He must.
Though why he would dream of Lee, he did not know.
“It was unworthy of me to mock you so, when you have been doing nothing but trying to help my wife.”
Lee stopped. Then snarled at the wide-eyed look on Clipper’s face.
“You needn’t act so surprised,” the man bit out. “I have occasionally made mistakes in the past before.”
Clipper stared at him.
It was, stunning, to say the least, but not the least bit helpful. While it was true that the man had brought to mind some unpleasant memories, that wasn’t what frustrated Clipper so.
“I,” Clipper began, “am not the one you need make amends to.”
The man shook his head.
“Despite your arguments, unless Matthew tells me I am bringing harm to either Connor or the baby, I will not keep from my husbandly rights.”
He frowned at Clipper.
“I don’t understand how you, who have been married to James, can fail to understand this. While I do admit that we haven’t had the same aims and our marriage did not start the best of ways, Connor is my wife. Society allows my conjugal rights and applauds me for my fidelity to him when I could have had many more Omegas as mistresses. What, about this arrangement, upsets you so?”
Lee seemed genuinely puzzled.
Clipper felt genuinely appalled.
“Choice.” As if it were not obvious. “Even if it were his duty to submit to you for the sake of society,” Clipper tried not to spit out the word but rather suspected he failed, “which I am not sure it is, it was never his choice to wed you, to be your wife in the first place! Can you not see that by continually forcing the matter, by giving him no reprieve, you are harming him and, through him, your unborn child?”
Lee looked at him as if he might an unusual creature.
“On the contrary, it teaches him to submit to me, to, once he wakes, accept his role and place in this house. The faster he learns not to strain at the bit, the less he’ll hurt himself.”
Clipper shook in frustration.
“He is not a thing you can order to be what you will.”
“I fear society and law disagrees with you.”
Clipper took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
“Do I at least have your word that, if it proves harmful to him, you will cease your activities?”
Lee bowed, gracefully, courteously, gentlemanlike.
Clipper has never been more disgusted in his life.
Master of the House - part 17
Master of the House
Chapter 15 - Civil Conversations
Breaking the night’s fast was a tense matter the following morning and dissipated the good mood Charles had woken up with. James’s Omega would not stop glaring at him balefully.
Oh, to be sure, the man did not speak of anything untoward and remained polite, if only just, throughout the meal. But, nevertheless, Charles began to feel quite...uncomfortable.
Whether it was because of the Omega’s spending the entire time glaring at him rather than eating or the bare civility Ronald and Mary had greeted him with earlier when no apology was forthcoming, he did not know. But he was the master of the household, and he would not let either servants (even such longstanding and respected ones such as Ronald and Mary) or his own guest dictate his actions.
And so, discomfort or not, he nibbled his bread, took a few small bites of his beef and sipped his tea in silence.
When a few of his servants announced that Matthew had just arrived and was in the parlor waiting for him, he found he could not leave the table fast enough.
“Matthew,” he greeted, shaking the man’s hand enthusiastically. “It is good of you to come!”
The man looked at him askance, clearly contemplating the possibility of his having gotten dementia or some other illness in the short time that he had last seen him.
“Charles.”
Matthew then looked behind Charles, a sneer on his face.
“And James’s little pet, I see.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Charles could see James’s Omega bristling in anger.
“Now, now, Matthew. I believe that Clipper, here, can help me with my wife’s problem.”
Strangely enough, that didn’t seem to calm the Omega.
“Oh?” Matthew looked vaguely interested. He turned to James’s Omega. “And what do you know of medicine?”
The Omega glared at them both. “What Mr. Lee really meant is that I am here to provide moral support in Connor’s time of need.” Then, muttering, “But how useful that will be since a certain personage keeps mucking things up, I don’t know.”
They both ignored him.
“Really, Charles. I know I spoke about the importance of bonds, but, really? James’s toy? I did not mean—“
Charles held up a weary hand. “You will still be paid the same amount for your services.”
Matthew looked at him in consideration and glanced at the Omega.
“With a little extra to have him underfoot,” Charles conceded.
Matthew smiled, a smug, satisfied smile.
“Excellent! I’ve brought the books, as you’ve requested, and I’m sure that your guest will be utterly delightful to collaborate with.”
With that, Matthew strode towards the main rooms of the manor, servants following with boxes full of books.
Charles stared at Matthew, wishing, as he so often did, that the man’s knowledge and skills did not make him invaluable. Because Charles would gladly dispense with him if he could.
Just before he made to follow the man, he noticed that James’s Omega, too, had a similar look on his face, no doubt wishing to enact his own brand of...collaboration...with the man.
He leaned down, next to the Omega’s ear. “He may be an opportunistic fool, but he is one of the best of his trade. And very professional once he’s been paid. He will do Connor no ill.”
-----
Clipper ground his teeth in frustration. No ill? Ill had already been done!
“I am familiar with him and his ilk and know his full measure. It is not him I worry about doing ill to my friend.”
Lee backed off, his expression rapidly cooling.
“If you’re implying I would hurt him now when he is like this...”
Clipper cut him off, still infuriated by the events of the night before.
“I imply nothing.”
The man pursed his lips, clearly agitated by the statement.
“Listen,” he grabbed Clipper’s arm roughly. “You may be here to help him, but this is my house, my estate, my property and...”
“Exactly. I am here to help him. But it is difficult with you jeopardizing my efforts.”
Lee exploded at that.
“I care for his wellbeing too! I want him to wake up too!”
“Then why do you continue to hurt him?”
For a moment, Clipper thought that the man was going to strike him. He trembled so with fury and rage, and he balled his hands into fists.
The moment passed.
Lee swallowed, hard.
“I admit I was remiss in my actions towards you last night.”
Oh?
“It has been pointed out to me that I behaved childishly and unbefitting my station.”
Was he truly hearing this? Clipper’s eyes flew wide open, disbelieving.
“As such, I believe an...apology...is in order.”
Clipper pinched himself. He must be dreaming. He must.
Though why he would dream of Lee, he did not know.
“It was unworthy of me to mock you so, when you have been doing nothing but trying to help my wife.”
Lee stopped. Then snarled at the wide-eyed look on Clipper’s face.
“You needn’t act so surprised,” the man bit out. “I have occasionally made mistakes in the past before.”
Clipper stared at him.
It was, stunning, to say the least, but not the least bit helpful. While it was true that the man had brought to mind some unpleasant memories, that wasn’t what frustrated Clipper so.
“I,” Clipper began, “am not the one you need make amends to.”
The man shook his head.
“Despite your arguments, unless Matthew tells me I am bringing harm to either Connor or the baby, I will not keep from my husbandly rights.”
He frowned at Clipper.
“I don’t understand how you, who have been married to James, can fail to understand this. While I do admit that we haven’t had the same aims and our marriage did not start the best of ways, Connor is my wife. Society allows my conjugal rights and applauds me for my fidelity to him when I could have had many more Omegas as mistresses. What, about this arrangement, upsets you so?”
Lee seemed genuinely puzzled.
Clipper felt genuinely appalled.
“Choice.” As if it were not obvious. “Even if it were his duty to submit to you for the sake of society,” Clipper tried not to spit out the word but rather suspected he failed, “which I am not sure it is, it was never his choice to wed you, to be your wife in the first place! Can you not see that by continually forcing the matter, by giving him no reprieve, you are harming him and, through him, your unborn child?”
Lee looked at him as if he might an unusual creature.
“On the contrary, it teaches him to submit to me, to, once he wakes, accept his role and place in this house. The faster he learns not to strain at the bit, the less he’ll hurt himself.”
Clipper shook in frustration.
“He is not a thing you can order to be what you will.”
“I fear society and law disagrees with you.”
Clipper took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
“Do I at least have your word that, if it proves harmful to him, you will cease your activities?”
Lee bowed, gracefully, courteously, gentlemanlike.
Clipper has never been more disgusted in his life.
“But of course. He is my wife.”
How he wished he were not.