the difference

Chapter Seventeen

"that hurt more than usual..." William mumbled and looked at the stitches on his clavicle "A nice scar that will turn out to be"

"Oh muffin your awake!" Evelyn rushed to his side and peppered kisses on his face "Thank you!" she beamed and hugged him tightly.

"Whatever for?" he was confused as he'd just woken up "Dove?"

"Thank you for not shooting Johan, you kept your promise" She smiled and rested a hand on his chest before glancing at his wound "A little closer to the left and downwards, he would've shot your heart, you could've died"

"if you stand for nothing, you fall for nothing" William smiled and put his right hand a top of hers "I took a musket ball for you, if you marry him I swear I'll throw myself from the roof" 

"why would I?" Evelyn offered him a small smile as he lifted her hand to his lips, only to kiss her wrist and palm "William...what are you doing?"

"I'm showing affection" Evelyn shook her head and moved her hand away from his face to his neck to his chest "Alright, that's off the table then" he gritted his teeth and sat up "I'll be alright in a few days"

"typical men, you never rest" She rolled her eyes and pulled a chair to his bedside "Now I've been ordered to give you milk soaked bread and soup"

"Oh God" he faked gagged and looked up at her with a smile "I'd rather eat my rations"

Evelyn smiled and wet a cloth in a bowl of water before ringing it out and cleaning some dry blood off his neck and pectoral "Well not while your under my care"

William kissed his teeth and looked up at her "I'd stretch as far as soup, if you give me that bread I shall murder you" He couldn't take his eyes off her by this point. Her mossy eyes were full of relief and belonging "honestly you've caused so many problems, firstly my emotions played on my heartstrings and secondly I took a bullet for you"

"That's my job as a lady"

"No you're a temptress come to seduce me" he smirked and noticed his bloody shirt on the floor "That won't come out...will it?"

"considering that you lost around a canteens worth of blood, I'd say no"

"damn that cost a day's wage"

"I'll buy you a new one"

"It was made from the finest cotton! And it was fitted to my size" he chuckled before wincing at the pain in his shoulder "Can you stay in here with me tonight?"

"I shall but you need to make me a simple promise" Evelyn smiled and took his hand into hers "is that alright?"

"Anything" William mumbled and gently brushed his thumb across the back of her hand.

"I want you to hold me, even on the days we are fighting or when I'm being difficult"

"such a difficult decision- yes I promise" he smiled and stared into her eyes "as long as you don't marry him"

"I'm not going to...I almost lost you today because of him" William looked down at her chest and then at her eyes once again "easy tiger, your injured"

He tsked and pulled a blanket over himself "How about you go and get a nightdress and get changed in here?"

"Oh you are such a- very well as long as you close your eyes"

"of course dove"

"are you lying?"

"of course dove" William smirked slightly before shaking his head "If you want me to close my eyes, I will"