The Last Marigold

~IX~

"Where is he?" Marigold asked Vivian as she looked over the people funnelling into the dining room, which had been temporarily turned into a ballroom.

"making himself look pretty for you, no doubt, I think he locked himself in his room" Vivian replied with a giggle before spotting her fiancé "Thank you for inviting us this evening Marigold, I can hardly believe how my life has changed in just a week!"

Pretty? Her William wasn't pretty, he was handsome!

"Colonel William Tavington of the green dragoons" A servant announced as he walked into the room, much to his dismay. All he wanted to do was be at his flower's side and wait out the evening until he could give her his own personal send off. Once William spotted Marigold, he smirked and made his way over to her side. The group of women that were surrounding her, gasped once he took Marigold's hand and brought it to his lips.

"Miss Harlow, how are you this evening?" William asked before hearing a sharp intake of breath behind him.

"Quite well, William" Marigold smiled before glancing at her new acquaintances, all of which had their fans out, drawing attention to their bosoms! How dare they tempt her William like that! Somehow they got on to the subject of war, William clearly didn't want to talk about it.

"Fighting on horseback must take a lot of skill sir, you'd need especially strong legs for balance" Miss Penelope Maxwell smiled before looking down at her pumps. She wasn't exactly pretty, though her golden hair certainly highlighted her face and dark blue eyes. William found her rather pretty, but not as gorgeous as Marigold "Wouldn't it make you a bigger target though?"

"I don't think so miss, my stallion is rather swift, throwing off most of the rebel's aim" William muttered before looking to the side at Marigold, she tipped her head to the side when she saw his lip twitch up into a smile "Though, I much prefer being in this ball room surrounded by you fine women" a few simpered while another few sighed, enjoying the sound of the colonel's voice a little bit too much for Marigold's liking.

Marigold felt a wave of uneasiness wash over her when William started chuckling at something that chit, Penelope said. She cleared her throat before looking up at him "I'm rather parched, I will be back in a short while"

In response, William smiled and offered her his arm "Allow me to walk you there?"

She smiled before hooking her arm around his "Of course, sir" Once they made their way to the side lines, William discreetly kissed her temple before venturing to find her something to drink. In the short while he were gone, two soldiers walked over to Marigold and started complimenting her dress and how beautiful she looked. Both of which made her feel uncomfortable as she only wished to hear that from William.

"Alright, clear off you two" She heard a familiar voice speak, the voice belonging to lieutenant-colonel Tarleton "I'm sure the young lady doesn't wish to be bombarded wherever she goes" he smiled as the two admitted defeat and walked away "I don't know a lot about engagements but isn't William supposed to be glued to your side?"

"he went to get me a drink of some sort, he'll be back soon I think"

"Ah, alright, may you spare me a dance this evening? I know he's probably filled your dance card, but if there is any room will you squeeze me in?" Banastre asked as she looked down at the ribbon attached to her wrist, smiling when he saw that it was almost completely empty, except from the first, second and final dance.

"...Willie might be a rake about it though" Marigold muttered and shot him a small smile. After a few moments of debating which dance they might have together before William came back with two glasses of berry cordial, once he saw Banastre, he clenched his jaw and made his way to his flower's side.