Page 34 of Duty and Desire
“But you’ve given everything for it. Worked your whole life to get where you are now. Surely you can’t just throw that all away.”
“It won’t be throwing it away. Besides, we’ve no idea what Talbot will say.”
“Are you sure about this? There might be other options.”
“Honestly, no, I’m not sure. I know Talbot, and he is fair. I think he’ll hear me out. But I can never be sure. I do think this is our best chance, though. He’s far more likely to be lenient if he hears it from us rather than Hale.”
“Fine, if you think so.”
“You’d best get dressed, though. Somehow I don’t think it will help us make a good impression if you turn up dressed in my PJs.” Ros laughed, kissing Scarlett’s cheek, now tinged with pink at the thought.
14
SCARLETT
The walk to General Talbot’s temporary office felt like the longest hike Scarlett had ever done, each corridor never ending. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breath felt tight. She trusted Ros—she really did—but why did this feel like she was walking to her doom? Unlike Ros, she wasn’t worried about her career. If this was the end of the line for her in the military, she at least had her engineering work to fall back on. But Ros? Ros had known nothing but the army her whole life. What would she do if her entire life was upended? Ros had said that she would give up everything to stay with her. One part of her believed it, But the other whispered doubts. If it came to it, would Ros really choose her?
The door loomed large in the corridor. It was no different from the doors on either side of it. And yet at the sight of their destination, Scarlett felt an overwhelming urge to turn tail and run. Maybe she was scared.
Her heart stopped as Ros stepped forward and knocked on the door. Each pound felt like a nail in her coffin.
Her mind went blank as the call to enter came, and she shuffled in behind Ros as she opened the door. A dead woman walking.
Having only arrived a couple days ago, General Talbot had made himself very much at home. Ornate curtains hung over the windows, and commemorations and pictures lined the walls. A sturdy wooden desk stood in the center of the room. Behind it sat the general himself. He looked a few years older than Ros—late fifties, maybe early sixties. Clean-shaven with dark-gray hair at his temples, though the rest of his head was balding. Scarlett saw his slight smile as Ros entered, but it was quickly replaced by confusion as Scarlett trailed after her.
“Ros, I hope you’re recovering well from all these recent ordeals. Who’d have known you’d be having this much excitement so soon in your new assignment?”
“Ha, indeed, Marcus. It’s been an interesting few weeks.”
“How can I help you? And your shadow.”
“General Talbot, meet Captain Scarlett Bennett. Scarlett, meet General Marcus Talbot.”
Scarlett snapped to a salute, which was promptly returned by the general.
“Good to meet you, Captain.” He turned back to Ros. “Now then, on to business, I presume.”
“Yes. Business. I’ve found myself in a tricky situation, Marcus. We’ve worked together for many years, so you know my reputation, I’m sure. Hard line, rule abiding, by the book. Well, I’ve found myself in a circumstance where I can’t do that any longer. Captain Bennett and I have started a relationship.”
“That’s certainly not what I was expecting to hear from you, Carson.”
“Please, Marcus. I’ll explain best I can, but please listen. Obviously, I know such things are prohibited. And we did our best to stay apart. That didn’t work, and being distracted meantI could not fulfill my role to the best of my ability. So, we’re at an impasse. I take full responsibility for it, of course, and as the senior rank, I should have put a stop to it, but I didn’t, so now we’re here.”
“I think it’s safe to say I’m not impressed. As a general, you should know better. You have responsibilities to uphold. An example to set for younger officers. You, too, Captain. You’re stubborn, Carson. I know once you’ve got it set in your head, there’s nothing I or anyone else can say that will shift you. So I won’t bother. Nothing I can say will convince you that this is a terrible idea.”
“I believe your assessment is accurate there, Talbot.”
“The way I see it, the pair of you have three options. Option one, I wouldn’t recommend, is that you continue on as you have, and I will have to conduct a formal investigation. It’s not something I’d enjoy having to do, and you certainly wouldn’t like it either. Almost definitely at least one of you would be facing dishonorable discharge.” His face was stoic, checking their expressions to ensure they understood.
“Option two: Captain Bennett here is reassigned. Probably somewhere fairly far away. It would keep the two of you apart, and while you could communicate and visit during leave, it would keep your relationship from interfering with your work. Finally, option three. Ros, you could take retirement. You’re at the age for it anyway. I won’t sway your choices for you. It’s for the pair of you to decide. I’ll step out and leave you to talk it through. Just knock when you’re ready to give me your answer.”
With that, he stood, giving them a terse nod as he left the room.
A stream of breath left Scarlett as she deflated, her nerves slowly leaving now that the general had gone. A hand gripped hers and she looked up to see Ros staring at her intently.
“Are you okay?” Ros asked.
“I should be the one asking you that, I think. You were the one who had to face him. I just stood there.”