Fic: Proclivities, Part Three
Jan. 12th, 2011 12:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sabinetzinTitle: Proclivities, Part Three
Summary: Through a series of unfortunate events, Elizabeth Weir finds herself as the latest Lady Caldwell. How ever will she manage?
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Word Count: 1236
Rating/Contents: R (this chapter), NC-17 (story); airships, etc
Pairing: Weir/Caldwell, background John/Rodney
Policies: Read my archiving, feedback, and warnings policies here.
A/N: Everything's better with airships, yo. This chapter is a little short, but only because the other ones are so long. *_*
Part One | Part Two
PART THREE
It was another busy day at Atlantis Trading. John and Ronon were engaged in making minor repairs to one of John's favorite little high-speed craft; it barely qualified as a puddlejumper, but John adored it. Radek and Rodney were deep in argument over the designs for the new full-sized ship, scribbling on their plans and talking over each other. Elizabeth moved back and forth between them, holding a wrench for Ronon or keeping Zelenka from hitting Rodney with the same.
In the office, Teyla was reviewing her maps and keeping a covert eye on Lord Caldwell. He insisted on auditing Atlantis's finances; Elizabeth knew there was nothing to worry about, but Caldwell and his accountant had been hovering all day, asking pointed questions and colluding quietly.
Truth be told, Caldwell's presence by itself was enough to drive her to distraction. They'd both been in foul moods since the incident in his study; Elizabeth could only guess what the cause of his was, but she hadn't been able to stop brooding on his words. They'd been tip-toeing around each other, which was no mean feat in a townhouse, but there was no place to hide from one another in the airy environs of the shop.
Elizabeth only realized she'd become distracted again when she heard Teyla call her name. "We may have trouble," she was saying. "Mister Cowen is here."
Caldwell looked up from his paperwork. "Trouble?"
"You've heard of Genii Limited?" Elizabeth said, untying her apron and tossing it onto a chair. "Cowen is the owner."
"He's been snooping around here for months trying to steal my designs," Rodney added.
"Our designs," Zelenka corrected.
"Are Kolya and Radim with him?" Elizabeth asked.
"Are they ever not?" Rodney returned.
"Acastus Kolya is Cowen's personal bodyguard," Elizabeth explained as she made her way to the front door, followed closely by Caldwell. "Ladon Radim is his son-in-law and heir apparent. Neither of them are particularly welcome here."
"And you're going to let them in?" Caldwell asked in disbelief.
"What will people say of us if we can't provide the barest civility to our competitors?" Elizabeth said, and Caldwell only snorted in response.
They intercepted Cowen and his cronies before they could get anywhere near the hangar. Flanked by Kolya and Radim, Cowen was looking around and whistling appreciatively. "You've got quite a place here," he told Caldwell.
"I believe you meant to address the owner of this facility," Caldwell said stiffly.
Cowen huffed a laugh. "I am, aren't I?" When Caldwell refused to respond, he turned to Elizabeth. "Lady Caldwell."
"Mister Cowen," she replied, smiling in a way that didn't quite reach her eyes. "How can I help you today?"
"Just a friendly visit," he assured her. "Just wanted to see what you were up to here."
"We're doing quite well, thank you," Elizabeth said, deliberately not offering any further hospitality.
John and Ronon chose that inopportune moment to emerge from the hangar, talking amongst themselves. Ronon recognized what was happening immediately; he blocked the door to the hangar with his body, staring daggers at Kolya.
"You know what I'd really like to see?" Cowen said, leaning forward. "I'd love to take a look at those ships of yours."
"We are quite busy at the moment," Elizabeth said, fake smile plastered to her face. "We regret that we cannot offer tours of our facilities to anyone."
"Nonsense," Cowen chuckled. "You don't need to give us a tour. I'm certain we can find our way on our own."
He stepped forward, only to be blocked by Caldwell. "The Lady Caldwell no longer requires your presence," he said, drawing himself up to his full height, "and neither do I."
"Well," Cowen said, and there was more mockery in that one word than Elizabeth could bear. "We'll just let ourselves out, then, but I'm certain we'll see each other again very soon. Come on, friends," he said to Kolya and Radim, and finally, mercifully, they left.
When the door had closed behind them, Elizabeth turned to Caldwell. "I am perfectly capable of defending myself."
Caldwell looked unhappy. "Just because you can doesn't mean I shouldn't."
Elizabeth's heart swelled a little at that, but she pushed the feeling away. She turned back towards her staff, who were pointedly not looking at the two of them. "I think we have a problem here."
"That was not the most subtle threat I have ever heard," Teyla agreed.
"We need night guards," Ronon said. "At least two."
"And we're going to have to start hiring new people to work on the big ship," Rodney pointed out. "They could easily sneak someone in to spy for them."
"Then we'll have to examine their backgrounds carefully," Elizabeth told him.
"I also want to vet any new employees," Caldwell said.
Elizabeth frowned. "I'm not sure that's necessary."
"In this case, I don't think it would be a bad idea," John said grudgingly. "Having more eyes can't hurt."
"Very well," she said. "Any other suggestions?"
"Start locking the front door during business hours," Zelenka said. "I do not care if we are not civil."
"That's good," Rodney said. "I'd hate to think you'd undergone some massive personality change in the last ten minutes." He looked thoughtful. "Although-"
"Anyway," Elizabeth said. "We shall all keep our eyes and ears open for the foreseeable future."
"And don't open the door for anyone," Zelenka added.
--
Elizabeth went to her bedchamber early that night, exhausted by the events and tension of the day. As she undressed, there was a knock at the door; it was on the tip of her tongue to ask who it could be, but then she realized with a start that it could only be one person.
She nodded at her lady's maid, who went over and peeked through the crack in the door before opening it.
"Steven," Elizabeth said, trying not to sound surprised at his visit. "Please come in."
Laura gave her a knowing look, curtseying before she took her leave, shutting the door behind her.
Elizabeth scarcely knew the protocol for these situations. Was she to offer him a chair? To wait patiently for his demands? Even though she was still wearing her underthings, and even though she was standing in front of her lawful husband, she felt the urge to cover herself.
Before she could decide what to do, he began speaking.
"I came to apologize," he said gruffly. "I have been unaccustomed to dealing with women. I am especially unaccustomed to being married to one." She started to speak, but he raised a hand. "I didn't consider that my actions would affect you so. But, you are my wife, and you do have certain rights."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "So you're not stopping because of what the neighbors will say?"
"I'm stopping," he told her, "because you care what the neighbors will say."
She turned her back on him, pondering his words. "You've sent my dresser away."
"Here," he said, reaching for the laces of her corset. "Allow me."
When he had undressed her, he lay her down in her bed, covering her with his body. He was exceedingly gentle with her; her pain was intense, but momentary. He achieved his satisfaction in due course, then took his leave.
Elizabeth lay awake and tried to feel pleased. It was a necessary job adequately performed.
On to Part Four
Summary: Through a series of unfortunate events, Elizabeth Weir finds herself as the latest Lady Caldwell. How ever will she manage?
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Word Count: 1236
Rating/Contents: R (this chapter), NC-17 (story); airships, etc
Pairing: Weir/Caldwell, background John/Rodney
Policies: Read my archiving, feedback, and warnings policies here.
A/N: Everything's better with airships, yo. This chapter is a little short, but only because the other ones are so long. *_*
Part One | Part Two
PART THREE
It was another busy day at Atlantis Trading. John and Ronon were engaged in making minor repairs to one of John's favorite little high-speed craft; it barely qualified as a puddlejumper, but John adored it. Radek and Rodney were deep in argument over the designs for the new full-sized ship, scribbling on their plans and talking over each other. Elizabeth moved back and forth between them, holding a wrench for Ronon or keeping Zelenka from hitting Rodney with the same.
In the office, Teyla was reviewing her maps and keeping a covert eye on Lord Caldwell. He insisted on auditing Atlantis's finances; Elizabeth knew there was nothing to worry about, but Caldwell and his accountant had been hovering all day, asking pointed questions and colluding quietly.
Truth be told, Caldwell's presence by itself was enough to drive her to distraction. They'd both been in foul moods since the incident in his study; Elizabeth could only guess what the cause of his was, but she hadn't been able to stop brooding on his words. They'd been tip-toeing around each other, which was no mean feat in a townhouse, but there was no place to hide from one another in the airy environs of the shop.
Elizabeth only realized she'd become distracted again when she heard Teyla call her name. "We may have trouble," she was saying. "Mister Cowen is here."
Caldwell looked up from his paperwork. "Trouble?"
"You've heard of Genii Limited?" Elizabeth said, untying her apron and tossing it onto a chair. "Cowen is the owner."
"He's been snooping around here for months trying to steal my designs," Rodney added.
"Our designs," Zelenka corrected.
"Are Kolya and Radim with him?" Elizabeth asked.
"Are they ever not?" Rodney returned.
"Acastus Kolya is Cowen's personal bodyguard," Elizabeth explained as she made her way to the front door, followed closely by Caldwell. "Ladon Radim is his son-in-law and heir apparent. Neither of them are particularly welcome here."
"And you're going to let them in?" Caldwell asked in disbelief.
"What will people say of us if we can't provide the barest civility to our competitors?" Elizabeth said, and Caldwell only snorted in response.
They intercepted Cowen and his cronies before they could get anywhere near the hangar. Flanked by Kolya and Radim, Cowen was looking around and whistling appreciatively. "You've got quite a place here," he told Caldwell.
"I believe you meant to address the owner of this facility," Caldwell said stiffly.
Cowen huffed a laugh. "I am, aren't I?" When Caldwell refused to respond, he turned to Elizabeth. "Lady Caldwell."
"Mister Cowen," she replied, smiling in a way that didn't quite reach her eyes. "How can I help you today?"
"Just a friendly visit," he assured her. "Just wanted to see what you were up to here."
"We're doing quite well, thank you," Elizabeth said, deliberately not offering any further hospitality.
John and Ronon chose that inopportune moment to emerge from the hangar, talking amongst themselves. Ronon recognized what was happening immediately; he blocked the door to the hangar with his body, staring daggers at Kolya.
"You know what I'd really like to see?" Cowen said, leaning forward. "I'd love to take a look at those ships of yours."
"We are quite busy at the moment," Elizabeth said, fake smile plastered to her face. "We regret that we cannot offer tours of our facilities to anyone."
"Nonsense," Cowen chuckled. "You don't need to give us a tour. I'm certain we can find our way on our own."
He stepped forward, only to be blocked by Caldwell. "The Lady Caldwell no longer requires your presence," he said, drawing himself up to his full height, "and neither do I."
"Well," Cowen said, and there was more mockery in that one word than Elizabeth could bear. "We'll just let ourselves out, then, but I'm certain we'll see each other again very soon. Come on, friends," he said to Kolya and Radim, and finally, mercifully, they left.
When the door had closed behind them, Elizabeth turned to Caldwell. "I am perfectly capable of defending myself."
Caldwell looked unhappy. "Just because you can doesn't mean I shouldn't."
Elizabeth's heart swelled a little at that, but she pushed the feeling away. She turned back towards her staff, who were pointedly not looking at the two of them. "I think we have a problem here."
"That was not the most subtle threat I have ever heard," Teyla agreed.
"We need night guards," Ronon said. "At least two."
"And we're going to have to start hiring new people to work on the big ship," Rodney pointed out. "They could easily sneak someone in to spy for them."
"Then we'll have to examine their backgrounds carefully," Elizabeth told him.
"I also want to vet any new employees," Caldwell said.
Elizabeth frowned. "I'm not sure that's necessary."
"In this case, I don't think it would be a bad idea," John said grudgingly. "Having more eyes can't hurt."
"Very well," she said. "Any other suggestions?"
"Start locking the front door during business hours," Zelenka said. "I do not care if we are not civil."
"That's good," Rodney said. "I'd hate to think you'd undergone some massive personality change in the last ten minutes." He looked thoughtful. "Although-"
"Anyway," Elizabeth said. "We shall all keep our eyes and ears open for the foreseeable future."
"And don't open the door for anyone," Zelenka added.
--
Elizabeth went to her bedchamber early that night, exhausted by the events and tension of the day. As she undressed, there was a knock at the door; it was on the tip of her tongue to ask who it could be, but then she realized with a start that it could only be one person.
She nodded at her lady's maid, who went over and peeked through the crack in the door before opening it.
"Steven," Elizabeth said, trying not to sound surprised at his visit. "Please come in."
Laura gave her a knowing look, curtseying before she took her leave, shutting the door behind her.
Elizabeth scarcely knew the protocol for these situations. Was she to offer him a chair? To wait patiently for his demands? Even though she was still wearing her underthings, and even though she was standing in front of her lawful husband, she felt the urge to cover herself.
Before she could decide what to do, he began speaking.
"I came to apologize," he said gruffly. "I have been unaccustomed to dealing with women. I am especially unaccustomed to being married to one." She started to speak, but he raised a hand. "I didn't consider that my actions would affect you so. But, you are my wife, and you do have certain rights."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "So you're not stopping because of what the neighbors will say?"
"I'm stopping," he told her, "because you care what the neighbors will say."
She turned her back on him, pondering his words. "You've sent my dresser away."
"Here," he said, reaching for the laces of her corset. "Allow me."
When he had undressed her, he lay her down in her bed, covering her with his body. He was exceedingly gentle with her; her pain was intense, but momentary. He achieved his satisfaction in due course, then took his leave.
Elizabeth lay awake and tried to feel pleased. It was a necessary job adequately performed.
On to Part Four
(no subject)
Date: 2011-01-12 11:24 pm (UTC)That decorous last scene is awesome, since I can only anticipate how it's going to contrast with the hottt kinky sex coming up. :D :D :D
(no subject)
Date: 2011-01-13 04:59 am (UTC)