The Butchers Love

Chapter 38

Throughout the day, William was permanently at my side, however he did let me finish my embroidery. Later that evening, I was knelt on the floor in front of the fire, trying to sew a few holes in one of William's shirts while he sat in a chair and watched me with utter awe

"You're staring is pretty prominent this evening, Colonel" I glanced to the side and he just poured himself a dram of whiskey. I smiled to myself before tieing a knot in the thread and finishing the shirt "Could you try this on just to see if it still fits, please?"

He nodded and took his current shirt off before standing "You amaze me" William smiled before putting the fixed shirt on.

"Wait here, don't move" I beamed and took his scarlet coat from his desk. He raised an eyebrow once he saw his jacket in my hands "put this on, don't worry, It's clean"

William took the coat from my arms and wrapped it around his shoulders "Does this please you, dearest?"

I adjusted the frills at the front of his shirt and rearranged the cuffs on his jacket "You need a better tailored coat young man, this one is way too small for you"

He rolled his eyes and took my hands into his "I haven't enough charisma to persuade Quartermaster Rutland, he despises me" William mumbled before kissing my forehead sweetly "But I can say that you're more beautiful than his wife"

"I'm flattered truly" I eased the coat from his shoulders and laid it on the opposite chair to his "does the shirt still fit?"

"Perfectly" he smiled and tenderly stroked my cheek "it's almost as perfect as you"

"good, I just need to sew the gaping hole in your cravat and then I'm going to bed" I eagerly spoke and rushed to get his cravat from his bedside table before kneeling on the floor once again.

William sat back down in his chair and rested his elbow on the arm of it "You're too good for me" he smiled and brought his fingers to his lips "On the contrary, you're so far away"

"Well, dear William, I'm rather comfortable where I am"

He stood up, walked towards me and knelt down at my side "vermin" William joked and knelt down beside me.

"such a lovely complement" I finished sewing and tied the thread before loosely wrapping the material around his neck "here, don't go poking more holes in your uniform"

"You are aware that I will make it my sole purpose to do so now, aren't you?"

"I'm starting to regret that decision already"

"Well my stockings have a few minor holes" He chuckled and in response I nudged his shoulder before resting my head against it "I love you" William rested a hand on my stomach "And I love the little one"

"Our family" I mumbled before kissing his cheek gently "Just you wait until we hear a few pairs of feet rushing into our room at the crack of dawn"

"I can't wait to teach them to ride horses and shoot, marksmanship runs in my blood"

"No, I think you held a gun a little too early in your life"

"I was 4, that's the usual age, I think"

"4?! Peter wasn't allowed to touch one until he was 12!"

"That's only an 8 year difference"

"At least wait until they are 10"

"5"

"7"

"Deal" William quirked an eyebrow and wrapped his arm around me before laughing softly "We just bargained on the age of when our child is allowed to touch a musket"

"No, 9 for a musket, 7 for a flintlock"

"Alright" he muttered and rested his chin on my shoulder "As long as I can teach them to ride at 4"

"6"

"Why not 4?"

"Because they could brake their neck"

"I could fall off at any time or even get thrown off, you're alright with me riding a horse"

"Yes, well you're 27 and the commander of the cavalry"

"Fair enough" William mused before kissing my temple softly "But I could  still fall off and break my neck"

"When that happens you'll have my sympathy"

"I Love you too" he muttered and nuzzled into my hair "my gorgeous wife"

"Alright, what are you trying to achieve?"

"Nothing but your affection"

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing else" he mumbled before kissing my cheek gently. After a short while William stood up and lifted me into his arms "You look knackered my darling"

"I am"

He hitched me up slightly before walking me over to the bed. William laid me down and pressed his lips to my forehead before covering me up in one of the many blankets that were strewn across the bed. He sat on my bedside and stared at me for a while "You deserve so much more than what the world can offer, I wish I had met you sooner"

"not as much as I"

"Shh, go to sleep my dear, I need to pray"

"Will you pray for me as well?"

"I always do"

"I love you" I mumbled and burrowed into my pillow.

He smiled sweetly and ran his fingers down my cheek "I love you more" William snapped his fingers and pointed towards me "Sleep"

"Love you"

Tavington's POV
Once her head his that pillow, I walked to my side of the bed and got undressed for the evening before sitting down.

"Thy table I approach, Dear Savior, hear my pray’r, O let no unrepented sin prove hurtful to me there. Lo, I confess my sins, And mourn their wretched bands: A contrite heart is ever won't to find grace at Thy hands. Thy body and Thy blood, Once slain and shed for me, Are taken at Thy table here–O wondrous mystery! Here I with mouth and soul, Incomprehensibly, Shall eat the precious flesh of Christ in blest reality. Search not how this takes place, Nor whether it can be; God can accomplish vastly more than seemeth plain to thee. Vouchsafe, O blessed Lord, That earth and hell combined, May ne’er about this Sacrament a doubt raise in my mind. And may I never fail, To thank Thee day and night, For Thy true body and true blood, O God, my peace and light"

Once I finished praying, I turned towards my wife and laid down next to her. She is the picture of beauty. I am indeed the luckiest man on earth.

"Watch over her for me, I beg of you, if I perish please protect her in the way I cannot. I pray for her health and happiness. Amen"

With those words I pulled her a little closer and kissed her forehead "I love you"