Tooth and Claw

by Jo Walton

60. THE NARRATOR IS FORCED TO CONFESS TO HAVING LOST COUNT OF BOTH PROPOSALS AND CONFESSIONS

We were partners, that’s what I told my father. That’s what I’d want now, not to be a wife like a thing, to be owned by you, I want to go on being your partner, to make my own decisions.” “It’s almost as if I’d be your wife,” Avan said, hesitant. “Why not? Partnership. Two wives sounds as if it would work better than two husbands.