“Master Linden,” Brook moaned, yet again. “Please?”

I hastily apologized as I tried to stop laughing. Luther had complained while he'd sat to have his portrait painted, but I'd purposefully not gotten too close. I'd known he'd be uncomfortable sitting in full Pedigree finery. But, he was insisting on watching as his daughter drew me. I suppose he couldn't help it... his mischievous side insisting on telling the most ludicrous stories while I tried to retain my composure. It was a game to him. How long would I be able to hold my face rigid while he did his best to make me laugh?

He quickly realized that all he had to do was his imitation of Singh and my stoicism would quickly collapse. I'm honestly amazed that Brook hadn't banished him from the room yet, but I could see she was enjoying his stories too. I also got the impression that she honestly liked seeing her father and me together. Ever since she'd learned that he and I were lovers, she'd been surprisingly supportive.

“Luther?” I asked, trying to sound businesslike.

“Yes, you miserable ninnyhammer?” he responded in his best impersonation of the Greyhound.

I bit back the smile, forcing my face to remain passive. “Don't you need to straighten out the problem with the fleet's supplies?”

“Ah...” he answered, still using Singh's voice. “Those poxy curs can all rot!”

Brook had to laugh at that. Every time her father used the term 'poxy curs', she would inevitably break down in laughter. It got so bad that at dinner the first evening after I started sitting for her to draw me, Delilah had forbidden the term from the dining room... since Brook and Klaus seemed determined to use it as frequently as they were able.

As his daughter regained her composure, he looked at me sadly for a few moments. Finally he sighed, “I wish we could have an official portrait of you commissioned.”

“I'm not even a member of the family.” When he began to object, I added, “...officially. It wouldn't be proper.”

At that, he sat watching Brook's pencil move across her paper for a few seconds. The entire family turned to me on matters of propriety and decorum. It was only natural that he'd defer to my judgment in this. After a few moments though, he spoke up again.

“Perhaps... But I can just imagine it: You in your blue suit, sitting there in the parlor... the morning sun highlighting your beautiful fur.” I saw Brook grin. She tried to act as though she'd gotten over her infatuation with me, since she learned about my relationship with her father... but there were still times when I saw hints of it.

“He would have to have a copy of The Winding Path in his hands, wouldn't he, papa?”

At that, my lover chuckled and put a hand on her shoulder. “Of course,” he agreed. “I can just imagine it!”

---

THANK YOU SO MUCH, Rukis! I love it!

I should probably add that Will here is a main character in my books and stories, which can be found in my gallery... in case you didn't know.