the difference

Chapter Twelve

"What the actual fuck..." Johan muttered before looking at the pair, Evelyn quickly jumped from his lap and covered herself with the coverlet "Is that why you were defending him? Because you were secretly sleeping with him?!"

"you will not speak to her like that! Only address me not her!" William got out of bed and walked over towards him.

"Oh hush your mouth butcher!"

Evelyn looked over at William "What does he mean by that?" he just looked down at the floor and swallowed roughly "Did you kill that child?"

"He's a killer and a rake"

"Evelyn, I regret what I did-"

"so killing children is a duty?" Johan asked before scoffing "and shagging the mistress is?"

Unexpectedly, William wrapped his hand around Johan's neck and forced him to the nearest wall,causing a few paintings to shake "How dare you?!" he roared and squeezed a little tighter.

"Stop it!" Evelyn cried and pulled at his hand "please!" she looked into his eyes and for a moment saw nothing but coldness "William please!" He loosened his grip and looked towards Evelyn, Johan rubbed his neck and she instantly knelt down "God are you alright?!"

"I'm fine..." he looked up at William and frowned "Perfectly fine"

Evelyn glanced towards William and scowled "get out!"

"Eila..."

"No don't call me that, get out Colonel!"

William quickly gathered his clothes and pulled his shirt on before looking back at Evelyn "I'm sorry-"

"get out!" she cried and looked towards Johan "You were right...I'm sorry..." Evelyn mumbled and moved some hair out of his face "I'm sorry that I didn't believe you" Johan took in a shaky breath and nuzzled into her embrace "Shh, it's alright" she glanced up at William and shook her head, he gritted his teeth before storming out of the room "There, there, I'm here"

William made his way through the halls at an alarming rate, until he barged into Stephen "Good god what's wrong with you!"

"she cares for that whelp more than me" William growled and carried on walking down the hall "What else do I do..."

~~~

Johan looked up at Evelyn and smiled slightly as she ran her fingers through his hair "So you were laying with him..."

She let out a small sigh and shook her head "He made me feel cherished, don't be upset..."

"I'm not upset with you, I'm disappointed in him" he sat up and lightly scratched at his jaw "He shouldn't have done that to you"

"He never took advantage of me, he always asked and made sure I was comfortable" Evelyn mumbled and divided his hair into three before plaiting it "Did he really, you know, Caroline"

"I wouldn't lie to you, I never would"

"But he came to me again after, he wasn't acting himself, do you think that's why?" She murmured and looked down at her hands, silently wishing she'd believed him prior. William made her feel like a real woman for a change instead of a rat on the streets, she couldn't exactly let go that quickly "anyway, that doesn't matter now..."

Johan pulled her onto his lap and tilted her chin up "I once knew a girl who feared nothing, not even her evil stepfather, now she has grown up to be a princess. Do you still need a Prince Charming?"

She thought about it for a moment "Is that you suggesting a courtship?"

"Yes" Johan smiled and brushed some hair behind her ear "I can love you in the way he isn't capable, you deserve the world and more"

~~~

No matter how hard he tried, William couldn't shake the vision of Evelyn helping that whelp. He cringed at the mere thought of her merely snogging him. William let out a frustrated groan and clenched his jaw. What Johan said was true, he had bedded Caroline and he had killed children.

That's when he swore then that he would never bed another woman, only Evelyn...until their time together finished. He looked to the side and watched the door, silently hoping that Evelyn would walk in saying that she'd forgiven him. One could only hope at this point.

With a grunt, he got out of bed and walked down to the drawing room "Colonel, what are you doing here?" asked a familiar female voice.

"Caroline. no." He growled and continued his pace down the hall, only for hef to catch up and hold onto his arm "Get off of me this instant!" William scorned and pulled his arm away "I can't risk losing Evelyn over you!"

~~~

Johan smiled and tilted her chin up "I have a fortune, I know you haven't a dowry and I do not care" he stroked her cheek gently before looking at his lap "If you'll do me the honour...that is I wish to court you"

"Maybe" Evelyn smiled and he, much to her surprise, pecked her lips. She just rested her chin on his shoulder.

What about William...

~~~

Stephen looked up at his commander and shook his head. He handed him a glass of whiskey and sat back in his chair "Surely you cannot be this distraught, you barely know her"

William shook his head and took a sip of his drink "she means more than you could know...I'm betrothed to Penny...I don't love her as I love Evelyn"

His second nodded and looked down at his glass "maybe try and apologise? Flowers? Or something"

"I'm to leave for two days, she said she'd come with me...now I'm not too sure..."

Stephen sighed and patted his friends shoulder "I'll watch over her while you're gone"

"I'll write as soon as I arrive there, give it to her for me?" William mumbled and looked to the side "I'm going at daybreak"

"yes sir"