The Butchers Love

Chapter 46

On the day of the battle of Cowpens William was on edge, he informed Borden via letter that he wouldn't be going but he still felt that he needed to fight. By evening when he was asleep, he awoke when I accidentally nudged his arm. In the days afterwards was when we got the news that the British were defeated. William hated himself because he didn't do anything. It was now March 21th 1781, William had retired from the military and he spent every second with me. He looked across the room from me and smirked before placing his knife on the table. William stood up and almost instantly started coughing "Will?" I asked and rushed to his side.

"That hurt..." he muttered before coughing up some blood "That's far from normal"

I held onto his arm and helped him sit back down "Maybe you should see the physician?"

William wiped his hand on a handkerchief and shook his head "If it isn't gone within a week, I'll go"

I cracked a small smile and wiped the blood away from his lips with a tissue "please? You should go"

He nodded and brushed some hair from my face "Alright, I'll go tomorrow" William mumbled before smiling slightly "I'll be alright though, I always am"

"You've been coughing for a few days, it might just be the flu"

"I did plough the field, didn't I?" I nodded and wrapped an arm around my belly "Is your sickness back?" he asked and glanced down at my stomach.

"Not at all, they've learnt how to kick and they're good at it"

William smiled and stood up "So they unfortunately take after me?"

"Not unfortunately, they'll be perfect" I smiled and kissed his forehead gently "Just like their father"

As I started to pull away, William took my hand and tilted his head to the side "Please don't leave..." those words surprised me more than anything "I'm sorry, I just want to spend time with you"

"Come on, why don't you lay down? James is coming around later isn't he?" I asked and William nodded "Well, we'll get you to the physician tomorrow"

He looked down at my belly and smiled "To meet our child would be a blessing"

"You will" William coughed once again before covering his mouth "by August, you'll have your child in your arms"

He held onto his side before hugging me tightly, I clutched onto his coat and took in a deep breath "I love you darling, I love you so much"

"Come" I took his hand and sat on the sette, he closely followed and rested his head on my lap "You haven't done this since our wedding night"

"I don't know why, it's rather comfortable" He murmured and I brushed my fingers through his hair "And that is heavenly"

"I know" I smiled to myself and leant forwards to kiss his temple "anyway, I need to do some housework, why don't you go to our bedchamber and I'll join you soon"

"No I'll help you, I always do"

"Do you care to fold the laundry?"

"If it helps you"

I smiled as he sat up "I love you darling"

"I love you too" I mumbled before kissing his forehead sweetly "Come on then, I just need to get the washing"

"have I been banished to the kitchen then?"

"Yes" I mused before walking outside to fetch the washing, William actually listened and went to the kitchen. I gathered all the clothes and piled them into a basket before making my way back to the kitchen "I wasn't expecting you to listen"

"I know, I do listen"

"rarely" I quipped and looked up at him before folding one of his shirts and noticed a hole "How in the name of God did you do that?"

"I haven't a clue, moths maybe?" he smirked and leant against the table before picking up one of his waistcoats "Why is there so many of my clothes?"

"because you live in squalor?"

"I wash my hair and body almost every day"

"Well tonight go to the bathhouse, you smell"

"I do not, I smell like lavender because of the many bouquets in our bedroom"

"That's your fault for being adorable" I smiled as I paired his stockings together and William just pouted slightly "Like I said, adorable"

"I promised that I would bring you flowers everyday"

"That was around 4 months ago"

"Well I promised to do a lot of things, like see the birth of our child"

"And now you will" I pecked his cheek before placing the last folded shirt in the basket.

William took the basket from the table and looked towards me "well I'm not going to let you carry it twice" he smirked before walking out of the room "Are you coming sweetheart?" He shouted from the staircase causing me to smile and rush after him "Come on slow poke " William mumbled before running up the stairs.

I shook my head before climbing one stair at a time "Very funny, I'm the on who's carrying the child" William smiled from the top of the stairs and leant against the wall "You're such an ass"

"I know, I have a reasonably nice one as well" he mumbled and placed the basket on the landing before walking back down towards me "And I'm strong" William lifted me into his arms and carried me up the stairs "I love you"

"I know you do, I'm still in love with you" He carried us to our room before laying me on our bed "Anyway, the washing is still on the floorboards"

"Nope, you're staying here, I shall get it"

"Why are you treating me like royalty Will?"

"Because you are a queen in my eyes and I shall treat you as such" William dipped his head down before walking out our room, he came back with the basket and placed it on a chair "I'll put that away in a short while, I just need to catch my breath"

"Here, come lay down, you're as exhausted as I"