the difference

Chapter Twenty-six

Evelyn gently brushed through William's hair before braiding it "Maybe later we can take a bath together?" she suggested before he leant his head back.

William smiled sweetly and nodded "that would be nice" he mumbled and leant into her embrace "I've received news from Lord Cornwallis, I'm to help aid the upcoming conflicts"

She nodded slightly and kissed the top of his head "How long?"

"I have two weeks, then I shall be gone for a few months"

She sadly nodded before asking "Can I go?"

"No...I'm sorry but no, it's too dangerous, I cannot lose you"

"Oh alright, write me everyday or else"

"I'll write as soon as I arrive"

"so we have two weeks?"

"And I plan on spending every night and day with you" William spoke softly and tapped her nose "A lot can happen in two weeks, for example marriage"

Evelyn smiled and brushed his cheek "We can arrange our wedding if you wish, better now than later" she said, gently running her fingers over his hairline.

"You'll wait for me, won't you?"

"of course I will, it's only a few months, after this war we'll have forever"

"are you sure that you can deal with me that long?" William murmured and turned to face her fully "The maximum was three years"

"I plan on staying married to you"

"good, I think I'd enjoy having a wife"

"and I a husband" she mumbled and kissed the bride of his nose "who is undeniably handsome, definitely not you then"

"Oh you wound me" William fake gasped and lifted her onto his lap "cheeky little girl" he lustfully growled and claimed her lips.

"I am not little!"

"I'm nine years older than you"

"And? Your point being?"

"When you were in leading strings, I was probably learning how to shoot"

"I'd still win in a fight"

"I weigh two of you"

"And?" she smiled innocently and kissed his forehead "You wouldn't hurt me, you're secretly a softy"

"I'd never hurt you" but the truth was he had hurt her. He'd hurt her more times than he dared to admit "Not again..."

Evelyn shook her head and tilted his chin up "Muffin you couldn't hurt me, not ever"

"Marry me..." he smiled and kissed her cheek "in two days"

"two days?" Evelyn mumbled and William nodded "Yes, I'll marry you in two days!"

"Then tonight we cannot be in the same room"

"What? Why?" Evelyn quickly asked.

"tradition?"

"Screw tradition!"

William let out a hearty laugh fell backwards on the bed "how about, we have our bath and make it one to remember?"

"But sir, how scandalous to take your fiancé's virtue the night before our wedding night, heaven forbid someone finds out"

~~~

"My darling granddaughter is getting married morrow?" Serena beamed and looked up at William "How many of your men will be joining us?"

"All together there is one hundred in Charlestown, I intend to invite them all, if they come or not is their choice" William said simply before glancing over at Evelyn gossiping with Gabrielle "Will anyone from your family be in attendance?" he asked before looking back over at Serena.

"Unfortunately I only had Evelyn's mother, she hasn't any aunts or uncles"

William nodded slightly before smiling "have you met my son?"

"Oh little Theo? He looks like you" She smiled at him "You're brilliant father" Serena tapped his shoulder and shook her head "You remind me of Evelyn's father, a determined soldier who is about to be wed"

"are you alright with it being tomorrow? My regimental Chaplain said he'd conduct the ceremony"

"Has Evelyn agreed?"

"Yes" he nodded and looked over his shoulder at Evelyn "If that is alright with you?"

"Of course it is"

~~~

Later that night the couple were sitting in the metal bathtub with Evelyn resting her head on William's shoulder, he was gently massaging his fiancé's shoulders. She let out a quiet moan in contentment and huddled into his embrace.

"You are really good at this, oh muffin..." she praised him causing his face to heat up a little "Who would have thought that with these dangerous hands of yours you can do other things than hold a sabre and flintlock," Evelyn said, but it was nothing more than teasing. William let out a growl which made her shiver.

"Would you like to know what else my hands are capable of?" William did not even try to hide the seduction in his voice as his hands trailed down on Evelyn's arms, pulling her impossibility closer to him.

Evelyn moved so she was straddling him, and went back to kissing his jaw and neck as he began to grind his hips a little. Being this close to William, kissing him and touching him, this was all she needed...

After they had coupled, they both were leaning against each other, holding onto each other as if it were the last night in earth "How has your grandmother not found us...well intertwined yet?" William mumbled before resting his head against the rim of the bath.

"a matter of luck or she knows, one or the other"

William smiled sweetly before gently running his hands over her shoulders "I can't wait to make you my wife" he mumbled before kissing her "then we could do this more often without the fear of being caught"

"I could get used to that"

"two nights in a row, this is amazing"

Evelyn brushed some of his hair from his face and pecked his cheek "Come on, we must part this evening"

"tomorrow we shall be husband and wife, my dream come true"