The Last Marigold

~XXI~

Marigold smiled slightly as she got out of bed and walked over towards the window, donned in only her thin blue silk nightgown. She felt a rather harsh kick to her stomach "shh, there there..." She muttered as she gently stroked her belly "Come now, I need rest little one..." as she spoke, she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her, causing her to gasp in surprise "William!" Marigold squeaked.

"My beauty" William mumbled before gently kissing her cheek "Come back to sleep" he whispered as she turned around to face him "My love?"

"Your child is restless" She sighed as he gently stroked her back before resting her head on his chest "but I know that it'll be worth it when I finally see you smile" After a few moments, he tipped her chin up and pecked her lips, shooting her a cheeky smile before biting his lip "what?"

"Nothing, I'm just admiring your beauty" William leaned forwards and nuzzled his nose against hers "and also wondering how such a gorgeous woman could find me attractive"

"The truth is that you made me laugh, you were far too adorable to say no to..." Marigold winced slightly when she felt another kick on her belly "they just keep kicking me in the stomach..."

"According to my mother, boys kick a lot in comparison to girls"

"You said that you only had sisters"

"My mother bore my father two sons, me and my deceased brother" Ge subtly cleared his throat and leaned forwards to gently peck her cheek "I was three when Alexander was born, when I was eight he contracted yellow fever and perished"

"Oh...I'm sorry William, after such a brief courtship we rarely spoke of each other's families"

"It broke my father, then he turned to drink to soothe his pain. It turns out that I'm just like him" William took her hands into his and guided her towards the bed, allowing her to sit on his knees "hmm, my beautiful girl" he gently pushed some hair over her shoulder before furrowing his brow "have your breasts got bigger?"

"Considering that I'm heavily pregnant, I think that they are" she smiled softly as he looked up at her "is it a problem..."

"I liked them more when they were less swollen"

Marigold swallowed thickly and nodded her head "W-Well when I start feeding them, they'll go down, I'm sure" she looked into William's eyes and lightly scratched his jaw "and if you wish...you can find comfort-"

"-I still love you" He uttered before scoffing "Do you think me that much of a villain that I do not love you? Or that I'd be unfaithful?"

"of course not, I know that I've changed a little due to child bearing, I was only suggesting-"

"Well don't. Keep your mouth shut" She was truly hurt by his words, marigold just nodded and walked towards the other side of the bed. William laid back down and covered himself in the coverlet. Marigold tried to stay away from him though he just wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to him "Goodnight"

"I love you Willie" She mumbled and all he did was tighten his arm around her waist "Goodnight..."

The next morning when Marigold eventually woke up, she heard shouting from outside. What confused her most was when she didn't feel William by her side. Her wish to see him soon came true when her bedroom door shot open and her husband stormed in with a look of thunder on his features. She smiled slightly before getting out of bed and walking towards him as he sat down on the window seat

"Good morning my love" Marigold beamed as she made her way towards him. He just hummed and leaned forwards to rest his head on her swollen belly "What troubles you?" She asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I am Colonel Tavington once again..." William mumbled into her negligee before looking up at her "I failed you and our child by not having enough control over my own actions, I apologise my beauty"

"Well it's their loss, you were by far the best General at any table" Marigold spoke before tipping his chin up and leaning down to kiss him. The colonel smiled slightly and took her hands into his "You are by far the most handsome too"

"I'm sorry for my attitude last evening...you are such a good woman, never let anyone silence you" William stood up and smouldered his eyes, his lips breaking into a small smile when he noticed her cheeks setting on fire "and, being a colonel again means that I have less duties and more time to spend with my wife in the camp, I will be in your bed most nights to comfort you"

"When will we visit Charles Towne again? it's just that I miss my mother, my father...even my friends" Marigold muttered before glancing up at her husband, who looked back at her with a raised eyebrow "I love you, by the lord I do, I just wish to see my family..."

William hummed slightly and walked over towards their bed, sitting down with a slight huff before leaning forwards and burying his face in his hands "Maybe I can find time somewhere...James has enough experience to man my dragoons-"

Marigold bit her lip and practically skipped over towards her "-or maybe I can go on my own?" William's facial expression made it look like he was just stabbed by a bayonet, a slight furrow in his brow made her guilty for even asking in the first place "I mean...I am a fully grown woman, I can survive a little journey on my own"

"and if something should happen to you I will never forgive myself, there are rebels patrolling the areas around Charles Towne, if they knew that you were married to a British officer they would use that to their advantage- and if they capture you, mindless of your condition, they will take you for their pleasure. If you are to go to Charles Towne then a band of my dragoons will go too-"

"But-"

"-No buts Marigold, I love you too much to risk you and our child's safety"

"And what am I supposed to do while you're away? I resent listening to the mindless chatter of the officers wives, they secretly hate me. Vivian is the only person here who truly understands me but she is too busy making new friends. Meanwhile my mamma and papa haven't heard from me for almost a month as all the post riders don't usually come here unless its for something to do with the war effort"

William growled low in his throat before falling backwards onto the bed "And if I lose you? what will I do then?"

"you won't lose me" She smiled before perching herself on the edge of the bed before laying down next to him. He leaned on his side and rested his hand on her belly "And we won't lose our child, I promise you" Marigold rested her hand above his and squeezed it softly "Please let me go? I'll be back before you know I'm gone"

With a soft sigh, he nodded and looked into her eyes "very well, I'll give you written permission to travel, though you will have an escort and chaperone"

"Willie-"

"Don't 'Willie' me, Marigold, I will not lose you because of the war" William raised his hand to her cheek and gently cupped it, smiling brightly when she tipped her head t o the side and kissed his palm "What did I do in a past life do deserve you, hmm? The most gorgeous woman in all of Charles Towne" Marigold pushed his arm back and straddled his waist, though within a matter of moments before being flipped over by William "Ah, ah, ah, did you forget that I'm a little bit strong than you?"

Marigold held back a giggle as she reached up to unbind his chestnut locks from its tight queue, tossing the wrap onto the bedside table. With a slight bite of her lip, she ran her fingers through his locks before resting her hand on the back of his head. William leaned down and gently kissed her before pulling away, only to be stopped when she leaned up to kiss him again.

Within a few moments their kisses grew increasingly passionate "This is not how you win arguments Maribel" William mumbled before taking her hands and pinning them above her head "since when did you become so- hmm -passionately inflamed?"

"I guess that I've missed your presence" Marigold freed one of her hands, slowly dragging it down to the slight bulge in his breeches. He let out a soft grunt and moved his hips forwards, trying to gain any sort of friction "But alas-" she took her hand away and moved it back up to his shoulder "-As you previously stated, this is not how I win arguments"

"oh no, you've started it, now you've got to finish it"