The Way of Peace

Chapter 8

SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING SOONER. AND THIS IS JUST THE ROUGH DRAFT. EXCUSE ALL THE MISSPELLS AND THE INCONSITENSIES. TRYING TO GET A FLOW TO THIS AND AFTER THIS BOOK IF FINISHED I WILL GO BACK AND UPDATE IT ALL AGAIN. THANKS FOR READING LOVE Y'ALL.

It was in the kitchen late that same night where William sat at the table drinking a cold cup of coffee while Melanie was cleaning the last of the dishes in a pot of water. He looked into the dark liquid and pondered on the days ahead "I've been thinking," He paused and waited for a response. Naturally there came none, She didn't so much as hint that she was listening or would, which tried his patience with her.  Women like her may not know what common courtesy is. "When someone speaks to another person, that person which is being spoken too instinctively turns their ear to hear. It is only considerate to do so." His tone was clipped with irritation. But of course she just went about her business as if she were oblivious to his comments. He took a deep breath and stood up slowly and walked over to her pot of dishes and sat in front of her. "Do you mind?" She looked up and the black circles around her eyes implied lack of rest and her eye lids were drooping as if she were half asleep already.

"Yes, I do mind." Her voice was calm but yet stern which made him feel like a heel.

"Well when can I have a word with you?" This time with some tenderness to his tone so as not to disturb her.

"Tomorrow." She kindly suggested. He started to get up excepting her answer and then remembered what he needed to talk about.

"That won't do. We will talk after you finish. I'll be in my study" He got up and left and the way there he was puzzled by the fact that she was so tired. Women of her conduct stayed up all hours of the night with men from all walks of life. He sat down in his chair and opened the drawer with a letter from Drew he hadn't opened yet. He wrote to Drew that he had collected his items along with Melanie the day after he brought her here. He kept the letter brief and to the point. However from the looks of it, the letter he received back was the polar opposite. He unfolded the thick envelope and pulled the bulk of papers out and a purple and gold jewel fell onto his desk. He picked it up and recognized the Siberian amethyst stone wrapped around a gold band. The gem looked as if it was once attached to a chain to use as a necklace. His mother once told how the Queen had such a desired adornment. "Drew my dear boy, you shouldn't of," William whispered as his mouth grew into a handsome grin. He opened the letter expecting his dearest friend offering this expensive stone as a gift for taking in the woman he so clearly adored and who William did not. 

"Dear sir,

'Tis a fine warm day here in London. I know you must wonder why I am docked early this year for it is only late June, I have fallen ill. Not to worry though for it is only indigestion that is what the doc has assumed. I am well on the road to recovery though I fear my own brother Frederick has taken ill due to a gun shot to his chest. I feel I should put that in the first part of the letter as to not send you off with bad news. On a further note I'm feeling better as each day goes on, and I have had the most glorious time of it. The nurse that has been with me through thick and thin has been an angel. I use the word angel very lightly, although her unusual beauty all speak of an angel from heaven her fiery red hair and temper all suggest she had come from the netherworld. Nevertheless she has bewitched me heart and soul and I am as happy as I have ever been in a woman's company, and I shall pour my heart out to her before this letter reaches you. I know I shall hesitate only because I do not have my long time friends approval, But I will do my principal best to describe this woman I long to spend the rest of my days with...

William skimmed through the letter and each page as Drew explained in detail his hearts desires to settle down and have a family. It seemed that this woman had completely made a fool out of his closest comrade. In all his born days, William would have never imagined Drew getting attached to a woman with so much urgency as to never sail again. Baffling though it may be, William went through five papers filled with adoration of a woman he would most likely never meet.