The Inquisition: Leap Year Proposal

[k_a_webb]

Written for livejournal user skjam’s leap year prompt.

Laura wrapped an arm around herself. She didn’t want to do it, but she had to. Keeping herself, and her baby, safe was more important than her feelings. Maybe he would know why she had come to him. Anything was possible. He had been the one to arrest her parents and she knew it wouldn’t be long before someone came to question her. Part of her was glad that she had met him before the arrest, so she had time to get to know him. Even though she didn’t like him he knew how he felt about her, which was why he’d told her about the arrests before they happened, and she felt a tiny bit guilty because she was just using him.

Swallowing, Laura knocked on the door to his office. With her free hand she checked that the box was still in her pocket. To give herself more time before she had to do it she waited until he called out and then opened the door. He was, as usual, sat behind his desk with a pen in his hand. She didn’t know whether he was ready for her to speak or not, so she slipped silently into the room, pulling the door closed behind her, and waited until he spoke to her. There was a smudge of ink on his cheek that reminded her that she didn’t actually hate him. People did, because he was an Inquisitor, but she could see beyond his job to the man he was.

“Laura?” His voice dragged her out of her thoughts. “Did you want something?”

For a few seconds all Laura could do was stare at him. “I…” she trailed off, biting her lip. He could turn her down and that thought terrified her. “It’s the 29^th of February.”

Curiosity filled his eyes. “I know what the date is, Laura.”

“There was a custom.” She bit her lip again, this time harder as she tried to find the right words. “Women could propose to their lover on the 29^th of February and…” Her hand slipped into her pocket again. “Will you marry me?”

Their eyes met. Seconds passed, Laura could hear the clock in the other room ticking, and she was terrified that he would say no. If he said no she knew what would happen to her. If he said yes there was a chance it could still happen but she had to believe that he would keep her safe, because he loved her. When the time came she would tell him the baby was his and he would keep it safe too, even if something happened to her later on.

“Laura, are you sure this is what you want?”

All Laura could do was nod. It was what she had to do. For her unborn child, because her parents were witches and they would hang. She would hang with them if anyone found out that she was the same as them.

“You know I love you,” he said, “no matter what you are or what you do.” She nodded again. “I want to marry you, but I don’t know if I should.”

Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.