"You've thanked me enough," he says firmly. 

He opens his mouth to apologize and then closes it and nods. 

Ashley kisses his forehead again. "Marrying a beautiful submissive is not such a terrible fate."

"I could do much worse than a handsome dominant who knows exactly how to kiss me to make me stop thinking," he agrees. "Shall we tell my parents?" 

"Let's."

Lindsay's mother is so relieved. She thanks Ashley and welcomes him to the family in a polite formulaic way and her face is so relieved and so, so grateful.

The engagement ceremony is set for that evening and the wedding for a week from today.

A week is enough time to tell the Society why he might not be coming back. (Some of their members were married. It isn't impossible. It's just.) A day is enough time to tell Leo. It feels a little bit unreal. He stands at Ashley's side and lets none of this show on his face. 

He has a little time to write to Leo and the members of the society while Ashley and his parents negotiate the marriage contract. 

(If he eavesdrops, he'll discover it's not a very complicated set of negotiations. Ashley's honor demands that he marry Lindsay no matter what, and Lindsay's parents are glad to get rid of him.)

He ignores the negotiations in favor of 

My dearest, Leo, 

I am to be married next Sunday; you are the first to be told, though by the time this letter reaches you, you may not be the first to hear. 

In spite of this there remains a part of me for the world and a part for you; I am 

Forever yours, 

Lindsay 

It isn't long enough. He doesn't know what else to say. 

Downstairs, his parents are very politely inquiring about whether Captain Burton is going to want a larger dowry to account for the... situation. Captain Burton thinks that, since the... situation... was entirely his fault, a token dowry would be fine. 

He's not listening. He isn't. (He is.) 

He sends the letter and goes back to trying to read. 

Leo's mail comes with the last round of mail of the day. 

My dearest, Lindsay,

This is the sort of message that fills me with worry. Who are you marrying? Will they be kind to you? Do you know if they will allow you to go to meetings of the Society, or to see me? Do they gamble or drink to excess? Will you have children? (As you can imagine, I have a particular interest in the last question!)

Please eat. I will tell your new spouse to make sure you eat. I have heard Publicus is working on a very interesting monograph about the necessity of food to sustain human life. 

Stephen wishes you to know that if he is not invited to the wedding then he shall storm the wedding in a mask and transform it into a veritable Bacchanalian revel. I do not wish to presume on the graciousness of your new spouse, but I too wish for an invite.  

Remember the poem I read at the society three weeks ago, and the one I read the second time you came to the Society, and my own poor attempts at writing. I love you. I am, as always,

Forever yours,

Your Leo

There are tear spots on it.

He'll have to wait to send it, but he writes anyway. 

My dearest, Leo, 

I am marrying Captain Burton. 

I don't know him, except that his honour demands he marry me. He tells me he will often be at sea; I can see you and the Society then, even if at no other time. He says he will try not to make demands. I do not anticipate children, although to have you in the house I am tempted to arrange for some. 

I promise you I will eat. 

Tell Stephen that, while I have no objection to Bacchanalian revels, he need not storm my wedding, and nor do you. Remember the last three poems I read, and the last five that I translated, and know that I love you, as I ever have and ever will. 

Forever yours, 

Lindsay 

He's always careful with Leo's letters, but he takes special care with this one. 

The engagement requires three adult dominant witnesses unrelated to and unemployed by the bride and the groom. Captain Burton could engage those on short notice. It does not require a priest.

Incense and wine are offered to Janus and Juno, Vesta and Venus, Minerva and the two families' household gods. (Minerva is not a normal deity to invoke in a marriage ceremony, but it appears that Captain Burton has a special devotion.) Prayers are made to the gods to bless their union. 

Ashley signs the contract.

Lindsay signs the contract. He'll make his own offering later. 

Ashley places a ring on Lindsay's finger, and Lindsay's mother joins their hands. 

"Nubo," he says. I veil myself. 

And the ceremony is over. 

Normally there would be a celebratory dinner, with speeches in praise of Eros and Matrimonium and Hymen, but, well. 

Yes. Well. 

He sends the letter to Leo. 

And not long after Leo appears at his front door. 

When they're alone, he says, "I'm glad I didn't have to sneak in through the window."

"I am too," Lindsay says, and hugs him tight. 

"I've been your closest friend for years, Lindsay, I know 'I will eat' means 'I will have an apple for breakfast and nothing else all day.' Please eat an ordinary amount of food for a submissive of your age and size. For me?"

He holds Leo tighter. "I promise I'll try. For you. 

Five days shouldn't be long enough to miss you this much." 

"I leave you alone for five days and when I come back you're a fallen submissive and getting married to a complete stranger!"

"Maybe you'll just have to keep a closer eye on me."