The Last Spartan – Chapter Twenty-Five

All previous disclaimers still apply

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“So all preparations are made, and the guest list has been updated,” Inara informed Jayne. “All invitations have been delivered by hand courier, and most have already RSVP’d. You’re very popular, it seems, Jayne.”

“It’s not me,” Jayne snorted. “It’s the money this place represents. All they crave is connection to the ‘elusive’ Lord Janos.” His face and tone of voice showed what he thought of that.

“Whatever the reason, the estate will be running over come Saturday,” Inara chided. “A good time to announce your. . .well, what are you going to announce, to do with you and River?”

“I don’t know,” Jayne admitted. “We haven’t. . .I mean I haven’t. . .” Jayne broke off in frustration. “I haven’t exactly asked her to marry me. I’ve never been in this situation before, Inara, and I don’t know what to do. I’ve never had a wife, lover, or anything else that was. . .like me.”

“Does it mean that much to you, Jayne?” Inara asked softly. “Is it River that confuses you, or the situation?”

“I don’t know that either,” Jayne grumbled. “I know what I want to do, Inara. But I don’t know how she will react, and I can’t stand another ‘misunderstanding’ like the one we had the day we arrived. I don’t know what she wants, and all my attempts to find out have failed. Utterly.”

“She’s forcing your hand, Jayne,” Inara smiled softly. “She’s making you work for it by making you sweat. You’ll have to come right out and ask her.”

“What if she says no?” Jayne asked, looking horrified at the idea. Inara had to fight the urge to giggle. Here was a man, or perhaps more than a man, who had faced countless enemies in battle, slain Bhudda only knew how many men in his accumulated years, afraid of a one hundred pound woman. It gave her hope for the future of mankind that men still feared a woman’s answer that much.

“I really don’t think that’s going to happen, Jayne,” Inara smiled indulgently. “Granted, had you asked her while she was st