The Last Marigold

XXVII

The couple were not the same after that night. William emerged early from his room with his wife at his arm though he was dressed in his uniform with his helmet resting in his other hand. He whispered something in her ear before walking towards his waiting horse and attaching his saddlebags. She watched from the stone steps, rather she stared down at her feet as she couldn't bear to look at him. When he made his way back over to her, he lightly pecked her lips and mumbled that he loved her before stating that she was to join him at fort Carolina until he decided that it was time to go home. Marigold simply nodded and returned her gaze to her pumps not wanting to stare into his eyes like she usually did. And that was it, he turned on his heel and mounted his horse, not turning back to see her.

When the couple had made it back to their home, over the course of the next few weeks the pair had taken separate rooms. William had taken Penelope into his chambers a few times but, as marigold noticed, she always left after fifteen minutes with a purse full of coins. Marigold's pregnancy was nearing its end, it was quite clear especially after the Christmas season. Even though she was only nearing eight months. In the late days of the new years, William received word that himself and most of his dragoons were to be dispatched. He scrunched up the letter into a ball and threw it into the fire.

"Not very useful, I gather?" Marigold muttered from her armchair not lifting her head from her knitting. She had softened back up to him, though they put on a show at the Christmas ball and feast, pretending that they still fully loved each other.

"I'm to depart in the new year, on the sixth"

Her head peaked up at those words "what...I thought it was Banastre's dragoons getting sent?"

"His and mine"

"Oh..." Marigold set her knitting down on her lap and looked over towards him "Will she be in your company again this evening?" By 'she' she meant Penelope. William let his head fall back against his armchair before letting out a groan "I take that as a yes"

"You are aware that I ended my affair with her months ago"

"No I was not aware, you kept it a secret remember?" Beckett walked into the room and laid down in front of the fire, letting out a grunt "you see, even the hound agrees"

"Oh the hound I bought for you, on your birthday" William chuckled before standing and walking over towards her, leaning his weight on the armrests. Marigold shook her head when he towered over her small frame "And I miss those days...we were so happy"

"Well you ruined our marriage the day you got her pregnant"

"I want us both to have a loving marriage"

"Have you ever thought that this situation is entirely your fault? Didn't your father do the same?"

William pulled away from her, his once soft face suddenly stern and cold "Do not compare me to that man, I have not shamed my name"

"Haven't you? After what happened at Benjamin Martin's farm and then the invasion on their aunt Charlotte's plantation, you've changed from a loving man to a cruel one. The William I married would never do that! He'd never hurt a fly!"

"I'm a soldier you daft chit!" As soon as those words left his lips, he regretted them. He saw her face contort into one of pure sadness and regret "Maribel...I-I'm sorry"

"The only reason I am here is because I have to be! Otherwise I'd be anyplace but here!"

"Never forget our vow, Till death do us part!"

"Death can not come soon enough it seems!" Marigold screamed back, she too regretting her words when he scrunched his brow "what we need to do is have a grown up discussion about this!"