the difference

Chapter Six

Later that same evening, William had paid for the seamstress and Evelyn's dresses had just been made. He made his way up to her room and knocked on the door "it's William, may I come in?"

"of course" Evelyn spoke and quickly made herself look presentable, she had had a bath and was dressed in one of her new nightdresses. It was fine white silk, with a singular pink ribbon in the centre of the clavicle. She favoured this one above her red one, although that one did hug her figure nicely.

Once William opened the door, he was gobsmacked at how beautiful she looked. He eyed her up and down, swallowing hard when his eyes made contact with hers "hello Eila..."

"good evening muffin" she blushed and looked down at her feet.

William closed the door and walked up to her, tilting her chin upwards so he could examine her features "money well spent, you look gorgeous" he smiled and pecked her lips "and I can't believe that I'm in your presence"

"it feels like I'm living in a dream" she mumbled and gently kissed his cheek "I wouldn't have thought that I'd be in a house as grand as this" she smiled and turned towards the bed "I haven't been on a bed like this for years!"

William let out a soft chuckle and brushed some of her hair over her shoulder, realising how soft it had gotten "have you put almond oil in your hair by any chance?"

"of course" Evelyn beamed and turned to face him once again "how did you know?

"It's made your hair wonderfully soft" he dreamily smiled and looked at the new dresses in the wardrobe "what colours did you pick?"

"pale pink, baby blue, light purple and white"

"I'm willing to wager that you will look beautiful in all of them" William charmed and brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek. Evelyn smiled and leant into his touch "a woman like you should be society's standard for beauty"

"Stop flirting, it doesn't suit you" she flushed a slight pink and looked down at her hands "I'm sorry, it's been a long time since someone called me beautiful"

"Do you prefer gorgeous?"

"muffin!" she giggled and gently nudged his arm. All he did in response was cutely tilt his head to the side "you look so innocent when you do that"

William raised a brow before cupping her cheek "I'm far from innocent"

She weakly smiled and sat on her bed "likewise..."

He felt rage bubble in his stomach, not because she wasn't pure but she felt ashamed by it. Something that was out of her control "Don't you dare be anchored down by your lack of virtue, society makes such a fuss about it"

"You don't mind?"

"I like you as a person" he smiled and sat beside her "and your incredible smile" William twirled his finger around a lock of her hair "Christ, it's like touching a cloud, so soft and silky"

"Stop" she blushed and looked down at her lap "You're making me all hot and bothered" Evelyn smiled and shook her head.

"What? I'm only telling the truth, you're perfect!" William smiled and wrapped an arm around her "In every way"

"You're too kind to me" she looked up at him and nuzzled his shoulder.

"No...you intrigue me, you've suffered a lot and still you keep smiling"

"Well I've never the privilege of meeting a fancy British man such as yourself"

"Oh, I'm posh?" William asked and glanced down at her "I'm far from it" He muttered and playfully fell backwards on the bed "for starters, I'm not even from London, I'm from Liverpool"