The Butchers Love

Chapter 15

My hair was done up in a low, elegant chignon. I patted it softly to make sure it was all in place. With one last look in the mirror I took in a deep breath before leaving the room. I was nervous, excited and for some reason even worried. I knew that Daniel would be there and I also knew that William would be too. Eventually I made it to the ballroom and met with the Captain.

"Miss Smith you look absolutely beautiful this evening" Daniel smiled and offered me his arm "Might I escort you to the ball this evening"

"Certainly Captain" I tilted my head forward and met with his eyes once again "You look dashing this evening I must say" as I spoke I took his arm and he lead me towards a small group of people.

"Henry, Ryan, this is the woman I've been talking about" he introduced me and put his hand on the bottom of my back. This made me feel highly uncomfortable and I took a small step to the side, much to his disappointment.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both" I smiled and looked around the rest of the huge ballroom seeing people everywhere. Couples were dancing gracefully with their partners and the singles were watching them. Then I spotted William, he was leaning against a wall looking down at the glass of champagne in his hands.

"Miss Smith, am I correct?" Ryan snapped me out of my trance "You're right, she is quite beautiful" he spoke directly to Daniel.

"Agreed, quite the woman you have there" Henry smirked and looked towards Daniel "Have you proposed yet?"

"I told you not to talk of that" he smirked and looked down at the floor "I was going to do it this evening" The fact that he was talking like I wasn't there hurt me the most, he wasn't the man I thought I knew. I couldn't marry him, I didn't want to for starters.

I looked around the room once again and noticed a door that led to the gardens "Please, excuse me a moment"

"Of course" Daniel smiled and turned back to face his comrades.

As fast as I could I rushed out into the gardens and leant against a wall. It felt like I couldn't breath, in reality I didn't want to marry him. I couldn't do that.

"Miss Smith?" The Colonel's familiar voice sounded from behind me "You shouldn't be out here alone, come back inside"

I turned towards him and scowled "your not to tell me what I can and what I cannot do" William walked up to me and tilted his head to the side "just leave me alone please"

"And we both know I can't do that" he muttered and stood up straight "Come on, please?"

"Stop acting like you care" in response William gave me a questionable look "One moment your kind and then the next your blocking me out" I put my hand to my forehead and looked over the gardens once again "You had no idea on how you made me feel" tears were burning the rims of my eyes at this point "So unless your going to say anything, leave"

"And we both know that I won't" all I could hear were his boots hitting the stone pavement "I cannot let you go, again"

"What are you talking about?" I asked and turned towards him "Why are you even here?"

William smiled shyly and walked up to me, taking my hand into his as he did so "To tell you how I truly feel" he looked into my eyes once again before dipping his head down and capturing my lips with his. His hand moved to the back of my head and I couldn't help but cup his cheek with my hand. We spent a few minutes like that until he pulled away "I love you Mable Smith" he mumbled and gently ran his fingers down my cheek "I love you my darling"

"I thought your position was too important..." I muttered and looked to the side "You don't mean what you say..."

"Mable, if I didn't love you I wouldn't be here" he tilted my chin back up and wiped a stray tear away with his thumb "screw my position and screw my reputation, I want you, Mable, because I love you"