The Butchers Love

Chapter 54

William sighed as he attempted to tie his queue, with a small giggle I ushered his hands away and finished tieing the cloth around the braid "There, handsome" in response he smiled slightly before coughing "Will, we don't have to go, you look awful"

"Thank you for the compliment" he joked before picking up his black coat "I'll be alright"

"Promise?"

"Well we are going to Charlestown, I did threaten half of the people who live there" He muttered and took both of my hands into his "But I'd do anything for you" And that he did, once we were at the theatre I held onto his hand the entire time. Although William ended up falling asleep, afterwards we both enjoyed our walk back to the carriage.

"This was a beautiful night, oh, you're the best Will" I beamed and kissed his cheek "I love, love, love you"

William let out a small laugh and enclosed me in his arms "Oh you 'love, love, love me'?" he smirked and lifted me up into his arms "I guess I love you, although you woke me up in the theatre"

"you were snoring!" I lied as William laid me on our bed. Truth be told, he was always silent when he was asleep.

"I don't snore, I'm a light sleeper and it would wake me up" He muttered before tickling my face with kisses.

"Well you huff, Tavy" I stuck my tongue out before pursuing my lips. William took the opportunity to kiss me.

"No, you huff, I sleep like I'm dead apparently" he muttered before looking over to his bedside table "I have one other thing for you" With those words, he got up and took out a box from his bedside table "It's something that I've been thinking about for a long time, but I need your approval" he opened the box and revealed a gold signet "It's our family crest, my old one was outdated to say the least"

William put the ring in my hand and I brought it up to my eyes for a closer look. It was beautiful. There was a shield in the middle and two sabres crossing behind it "Oh, William it's perfect"

"I'm glad you like it because it'll be yours when I'm gone"

"No you should give it to Edward, he's your heir"

William nodded slightly before smiling "Then I want you to have this" as he spoke, he took off his rosary and put it in my hand "if I died in the war, James would've given you this along with a letter I wrote"

"but your mother gave you this"

"And now I'm giving it to the woman who is most dear to me"

"But William..." I tried to think of an answer but failed miserably "and what letter?"

William smiled slightly and got a letter from his bedside table "He gave it me back when I retired, here, you deserve to read it" He, quite literally, threw the letter onto the bed and jumped onto it "Or I could read it"

"please you read it"

He nodded and picked up the letter "My dearest Mable. Honestly if I could be there I would, my dearest love. I'm sorry that I can't hold you in my arms, kiss you or even look into your eyes. Everyday we spent together was a treasure, if I don't meet our future children tell them that I fought every battle so I could hopefully see them and yourself of course. I love you so much my darling, I'll wait for you. Forever yours, William (Willy)"

Tears were streaming down my face by this point, he would've sent that to me if he died.

"don't cry my love, I had an even soppier one prepared that I decided to burn" he muttered and brushed away a few tears with his thumb "princesses don't cry darling" William mumbled and laid on his back "Come on, you need a hug" he sweetly smiled and opened his arms "I'm sorry, I'm a little tired"

"Don't apologise, I have a little something planned for you"

"Well as you know, I have an extraordinarily fifthly thoughts, would you care to elaborate before I become blinded with passion?"

I nipped my lip and smirked to myself "Well I wasn't exactly thinking of that" with those words, I tapped his thigh "Now you've muddled my thoughts"

"my apologies darling-" Much to his surprise, I straddled his waist "well, now I'm certainly wondering what you're thinking"

I took both of his hands and smiled "whatever you want this to be"

William's lips formed into a smirk "Oh really?" he sat up and pecked my lips before laying back down.

I playfully pressed his hands up above his head "Well at the moment, I just want to kiss you and the rest we can figure out"

"My lady, I'm happy to oblige" He murmured and gently pulled me down to his chest. I smiled to myself as William stroked through my hair "You're hair smells different"

"A new almond oil, it keeps it soft"

William let out a small chuckle and kissed the top of my head "You're beautiful, bloody beautiful"

"Shh, you're being adorable again"

"I know" he mumbled and gently stroked his hand down my back "I love you"

"I love you too" I rested my chin on his chest and pecked his lips and brushed some hair from his face "my handsome man"

"my beautiful girl" he mumbled and closed his eyes for a few moments "did I mention the part when I love you"

"Yes you did"

"You're perfect my love" He whispered before wrapping his arms around me. When he was talking, I noticed a slight rattle sort of noise in his chest, that was his ailment...

"Stay with me? Even when you're gone alright, keep me safe?"

William nodded and kissed the tip of my nose "I'll be there, I'll always be there, although you can't see me" he mumbled before brushing some hair out of my face "I love only you, it will only ever be you"

A/N
This is the second to last chapter excluding the epilogue. I definitely didn't tear up while writing this chapter. If you are affected by these sort of illnesses, I'm sorry that you've got to go through that. I love you all ❤️