The Last Marigold

~XIV~

Banastre let out a breath he hadn't know he'd been holding when he knocked on Marigold's door. His back was ramrod straight and in his left hand he was holding a rather small bouquet of white roses. Once the door opened, his breath caught again when he saw Marigold smiling up at him "Banny! It's so good to see you well!"

"M-Maribel, it's been a long time since I last saw you" he dipped his head down before feeling her pull him into an embrace "I've missed you, it's been rather lonely at the camp" as he spoke, he wrapped his arms around her and let out a rather content sigh.

"I've missed you too, would you like to come in for something to eat?" She asked before resting her chin on his chest so she could look up at him.

"I'm afraid that I cannot, I'm travelling to New York in just an hour" He took a step back, mostly for modesty but also because he couldn't trust himself. Banastre offered her the bouquet before smiling slightly "I should've bought you marigolds, it would've been more fitting"

She took the flowers and brought them to her nose, inhaling the sweet sent and closing her eyes "I will think of you when I see roses now...I've missed you Banny"

"I-I missed you more...your letters gave me all the comfort I needed" He wanted to kiss her! He knew that he wouldn't but the way she smiled so sweetly made him feel Alive. Banastre sighed and looked down at his boots "will you still write to me? It was nice to receive some good news other than bad from the General"

Marigold nodded before looking down at the bouquet in her hands "oh please, come for something to eat before you go, William will probably want to see you"

"I came to see you to be honest, The General has become distant since his promotion" She tipped her head to the side and raised a brow "in my eyes anyway..." Banastre shook his head and pursed his lips "but I'm afraid that I cannot stay for tea...as much as I want to"

Marigold's smile faded "when will I see you again?"

"August, I'm away until then"

"Oh Banny must you go?" She asked before staring into his turquoise eyes, only for her cheeks to turn a slight pink. Marigold swallowed and shook her head "I mean, you've only just come back"

"It's my duty to the crown Maribel..."

"Well, Willie and I will be moving to my parents summer house soon, he then said that he'd be applying for marriage quarters so I could go with him"

"Ah so when I return, I'll see you at the fort, you'll be married to him then won't you"

"I'll still be the same woman just with a different name" She beamed and reached up to brush some hair from his face "If you must go, leave now so you will return quicker" Marigold felt her stomach flip when he reached forward to untie one of braids "What are you doing?"

"Keeping something to remember you by..." he smiled before gently tugging her hair to release the ribbon "I'm sorry if that hurt..." Banastre freed the ribbon and gently brushed his fingertips over her jaw when he pulled away from her "I'll give this to you when I return" he muttered just as Marigold closed the distance between the two and enveloped her arms around his.

"Come back soon and visit me" She mumbled into his green coat before looking up at him. Banastre pouted for a moment, only smiling when he saw her lip twitch upwards "Do you plan on making me ugly cry?"

"You are far from ugly Maribel"  he murmured and glanced down at her "in fact, you are the most beautiful of women"

"Oh Banny..."

Banastre took her hand into his before pressing his lips to hers, causing her to stiffen in surprise. Once he pulled away, he turned on his heel and walked down the path, away from her. Marigold's heart raced but soon guilt overwhelmed her. She was frozen in place for a long while until she heard a someone walking up to her "marigold?" She let out a sharp gasp when she heard William's voice "my love who was at the door?"