I awoke early the next morning. Sunlight was streaming in from the window across from William's four-poster. I looked over at William. He was sound asleep. I leaned over and kissed William softly on the lips. He stirred and his eyes opened.
"Good morning, William."
"And good morning to you, Mary." Said William sleepily. "I trust you slept well."
"Once I relaxed I did."
William Smiled.
"I thought so."
I laughed lightly and caressed the side of William's face.
"Well Mary, we'd best get out of bed so we can begin our day. However, before you go to your quarters, your bandages need changing."
After William changed my bandages, I returned to my quarters and got dressed. Then I met William in the dining hall and we ate breakfast.
After breakfast, William led me to the stables where Asmodeus stood, groomed and saddled, awaiting our arrival.
"William, where are you taking me?"
"You'll see when we arrive there."
William led the horse out of its stall and helped me into the saddle. Then, he mounted in the saddle behind me, taking the reins in his left hand, and urged the stallion into a full gallop toward the woods.
We rode through the woods at a full out gallop for about an hour. William urged his horse into an even faster gallop, making the scenery around us blur together, until we came to the edge of the woods, to a sandy secluded stretch of beach.
"So this is where you were taking me isn't it?"
William nodded, grinning.
"How did you know I love the ocean?"
"I didn't." William replied. "However, I am quite accurate at guessing what people like."
We dismounted and William tethered Asmodeus to a nearby tree. Then, William and I walked along the beach.
"It's beautiful out here." I said, taking in the salty air and the scenic view.
"Yes, it is." Replied William. "However, you are even more beautiful."
"Oh William." I said, shoving him playfully.
"Yes?"
"You flatter me."
"I am not giving insincere praise, however, yes, I realise that I flatter you."
"You're quite amusing when you try to explain yourself, William."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is so." I replied, scooping up water from a wave breaking on the shore and splashed it all over William's front.
"Mary Katherine! You ruined my waistcoat and vest!" Shouted William, trying to act affronted, but his playful smirk gave him away.
"Oh relax; I didn't splash you that much; your waistcoat and vest are fine."
"Really, is that so?" Asked William, pulling me to the ground and pinning me.
"Yes, it is so. Now why don't you remove your waistcoat and vest before they get any more wet."
William got off of me and removed his waistcoat and vest.
"Come Mary, let's continue on walking."
As we continued on walking, I noticed that William's eyes looked glazed over and he appeared to be deep in thought.
"William?" I asked, pulling him from his reverie.
"Yes?"
"May I ask what you are thinking about?"
"Our future plans."
"Does this include our wedding plans?"
"Yes, it does."
"Well then, when were you planning on having the wedding?"
"As soon as you are ready."
"Well William, seeing as you are a soldier in war, I would hope that the wedding would be soon."
"So, you want to be my wife so much that you can't wait?"
"William, you are such an egomaniac. I want the wedding to be soon so you don't cancel it yourself by going off to battle and getting yourself killed."
"Well then, let's set it a week from today."
"Are you sure we can have everything ready by then?"
"If we work hard enough, we can."
I smiled at William.
"I can't believe this is happening. Who would have thought that when you captured me, I would go from being Miss Mary Katherine Selton to Lady Mary Katherine Tavington?"
William smiled, swept an arm under my knees, and picked me up.
"Certainly not I." He replied, kissing me tenderly on the lips.
I pulled away and caressed William's cheek.
"I wish this moment could last forever." I said softly, resting my head on William's right shoulder, looking out at the vast expanse of the blue ocean in front of us.
"So do I." William replied softly, kissing me gently on my forehead.
We finished our walk on the beach, returned to Asmodeus, and rode back to the estate.
Once at the estate, we each went to separate washrooms to freshen up. Then, I met William outside of his quarters.
"So, William, what do you have planned for us now?"
"Well, how about a ride through the fields on the estate?"
"How about a race?"
"Ah, so you enjoy competition do you? Well then, let's go."
So, we went to the stables and saddled Asmodeus again, and another horse, Blade. Then we rode our horses to the fields. Once we reached the fields, we halted them.
"These fields are larger than any I have ever seen before." I said, staring at the seemingly endless stretches of land in front of me.
"Yes, they are quite large aren't they?"
"So, when shall we race?"
"How about now, from one end of the fields to the other?"
"Alright then, let's go."
I pressed my heels to my mount's flanks, urging him into a gallop and William did the same to Asmodeus with his spurs.
We raced across the fields, our horses' speed mounting every few paces. I felt a surge of excitement, like that of a child about to receive a gift, race through me as the wind blew across my face, loosening my hair from its bun, making it fly behind me as I rode.
We neared the other end of the fields, the horses' hooves pounding the ground furiously as we drew nearer and nearer. William's horse was just behind me, but then he urged him even faster and within seconds, he was several paces ahead of me. I urged my horse faster and just as William was about to cross to the other end of the fields, my horse bested his stallion by a nose.
We halted our horses and dismounted.
"I bested you William." I said walking up to him.
"Oh, is that so? How about another race?"
"Can't have your ego getting battered, can you?"
William gave me an indignant look.
"What do you think? I'm a colonel."
I laughed.
"I thought so; now let's race."
We raced eachother back to the other end of the fields. I was almost to the other end when William pulled ahead, beating me by a nose.
"Now, it's a draw." He commented.
"Why don't we just keep it that way?"
"Alright."
We dismounted, leaving the horses to graze as we walked around in the fields. I stopped walking and looked around at the wide expanse of land surrounding me. William walked up and pulled me to him, resting his left hand on my middle and his right against the side of my neck. I placed my left hand on top of his.
"Such small hands have you." Said William softly.
"Indeed, I have." I replied.
William kissed me on the cheek and whispered into my ear, "I love you, Mary."
"I love you too, William." I replied.
"And what were the chances of that ever occurring?"
"I'm not sure, however, being the brutal "butcher" that you are, I would say not very likely."
"Pardon me!" Replied William in mock anger, pinning me on my back in the grassy field.
"Well I am correct, aren't I?"
"I suppose so." Replied William, pretending to sound defeated.
"At least I still have you."
"Yes William Garrick Camden Tavington, I shall be yours forever."
William smiled, running his right index finger along the side of my jaw, down my throat and rested his right hand at the base of my throat. I smiled up at William and he smiled back, lowered is head and kissed me passionately, burning me with the intense fire of his being. After a few minutes, William pulled away and rested his head at the base of my throat. I caressed the side of William's face, tracing a pathway with my fingers along his jaw line and up to his lips, briefly resting my fingers on them and then entangled them in his thick hair, slowly unqueuing it.
"Relax." I whispered. "Just close your eyes, don't speak, and don't move, William. You're safe here."
William brought his right hand up to the side of my face and gently caressed it.
I smiled tenderly at William and whispered, "Rest William; I see you are tired."
"Mary, I can't; I've too much on my mind."
"Close your eyes, William, and release your burdens."
William closed his eyes. I felt the warmth of his breath against my skin as he began to relax against me until he was sound asleep.
I stroked William's face and then closed my eyes and rested lightly as William slept.