Chapter 37-2

“Aye,” William nodded his smirking grin seeming to become a permanent fixture upon his lips as he spoke “Though seeing it on you makes it all the more adorable.” William purred with a pleasant smirk as he swept forward wrapping his arms about Nan’s waist, pulling her to him with a self-satisfied grin as he stared down at her in his arms. “Adorable?” Nan echoed, rolling her eyes at the endearment. “You’ve had me, Sir. You needn’t continue to flatter for my favor, especially when I am merely adorable.” She remarked, the last word rolling off her tongue with a thick coating of disdain. “Flatter?” William replied, his smirk widening into a board smile. “How is stating fact, flattery?” William queried, cocking his head as he continued to stare down her, his arms tighten their hold about her waist forcing her eyes back to him and not their irritated scan of the room at large.  “And you’re not merely adorable. You’re stubborn, argumentative, contrary and I can’t believe you’re smiling for this list of faults rather than the praise I was giving you before.” William remarked flabbergasted by the large happy smile that had spread across his lips when he stopped flattering her and started insulting her. “You are truly the most confounding creature.” William shook his disbelievingly. “And you Sir, can be quite silver tongued devil when you wish.” Nan replied teasingly. “Pray, did you fashion such skills for all the ladies, or only those who pleased your eye?” she questioned with cocked brow as she waited for his answer. “Oh my Love.” William winced at her words, “The day has yet to begin and already you seek to end me. Had I known causing you blush would lead to such folly on my person I’d have waited until you left to seek my relief.” William stated, false pain fluttering across his features as he throw his eyes skyward as if in prayer for a heavenly savior to aid him. “Might I pray that you have mercy on this poor creature?” William pleaded, making his eyes as large as a puppy’s and pressing out his bottom lip in a most ridiculous and unbecoming pout. “It seeks nothing more than to please its lady.” William added, leaning into kiss her with that awkward pouting face. “Oh God, poor creature indeed.” Nan scoffed, placing her hands over his mouth as she pushed back his head “And what do you call my loving you last eve if not mercy?” Nan remarked, sharply. “The act of a mad woman.” William replied cheekily after straightening to his full height and removing her hands from his mouth.  Almost instantly his words provoked high pitched shriek from the lady before she began to push at his chest and free herself of his embrace. “Oh you foul odious man!” she bit, striking at his chest only twice, before William twined one arm about her two and pinned them back behind her back, the act pressing their fronts together far more intimately then William’s previous hold about her waist. “Aye, Love. And all yours.” William grinned before crushing his lips to hers. --- It was odd Nan thought, though at the same time not, that twice she would share a bed with a man who was not her husband, but whom she loved so much they might as well have been. Over and over she recalled the tales she’d been told of women being damned for sure acts, but what she had never understood was why women were damned while men could sire a line of bastards and they were oft times celebrated for it. Shaking her head, Nan threw off the troubling thoughts, if she was damned she’d suffer for it when God deemed it was time to exact his vengeance upon her. Unlike most women who feared God and at one time Nan had been among them, she no longer held any particular care for the omnipotent being that had first taken her father and then her mother all before she’d turned twelve, and all well before she had committed any sin worthy of such hardly retribution. Now she’d committed the same sin again, and again Eli had appeared with a friendly smile to greet her. But this time Nan would not allow him the chance the take the man she loved away from her. This time… “Miss Harris.” A male voice happily exclaimed, causing Nan’s concentration to shatter and the basket in her arms to jump as she did at the sound of the unexpected voice. Like a demon summoned by her thoughts Eli Waters hastily made his way to her side, tipping his hat as he bowed to her and curtsied in return, merely because they were in public and she had enough eyes on her all ready. In the months Nan had been with William, Nan’s title as the beggar girl with a basket of cures had been quickly turned into the Black Knight’s mistress and where she had readily expected scorn for the title, she was met instead with kindness, pity, and in some cases depending on who her escort was, Hoss or the Black Knight himself, fear. She cared little for the last but was thankful not to be spat on or have rubbish thrown at her all the same. Now she was walking the town’s market helping cook and Mrs. Barginer collect items for the house and seeing to several of her patients; Tom Banger’s cantankerous mother-in-law being the last for the day. “Mr. Waters,” Nan replied stiffly, wishing beyond reason that William, or Hoss, or even Mr. Barginer would show up and give the man a stare that made him wish to be elsewhere, which was where he should have been. “I had thought you would have returned home by now.” Nan stated crisply, turning her eyes from him to the fresh caught fish that filled the bin before her. It had been two days since his apology, and while she had known him simply leaving was not likely to happen, the thought of such had not stopped her from hoping, even praying it might.