Cold All the Way Through, But Warming

Departure

The tickets had been booked, the trunks packed and already taken to the ship, and Will and I were curled up in bed together in the early morning light on the day of our departure. Kate was more than happy to know that she was not going to have a heavy set of duties for awhile, simply handling Will's mail until it could get sent off to New York and cleaning. Will was trailing his fingers through my hair while I looked around, finding I would miss this plain bedroom quite a bit. The brass bed frame that squeaked when you moved to quickly, the lace runner on the dresser. I'd even miss the wardrobe filled with Will's uniforms, which I had made him model for me last night.

He really did look a fool in his bicorne hat, even as he had fussed with it in the mirror to try and find an angle where it didn't look ridiculous. The rest of his Reserves formal uniform did look well on him though, similar to the frock coat I had seen him in before. The only changes were the elaborate epaulettes that had fringe curling over his shoulders as opposed to his plain ones, and the trim on the cuffs. Instead of the plain gold lace simply circling the cuff, this gold wire wound its way around almost in a chain, a star replacing the loop. With the straight sword against his leg and the white cotton gloves on his hands, he had looked extremely handsome and I gladly told him so. "Except for the hat, my love. I'm afraid it's hopeless."

He had chuckled as I had lifted it off his head, looking down. "And that is quite becoming on you."

While he had been changing I had slipped out, finding the greatcoat he had worn the night of the sinking and slipping into it. There had been a cold snap, and I had wanted something warmer than my nightgown and my dressing gown had already been packed. The black silk lining had been slick against my skin, and the weight comforting. Will had been looking even further down though, to where my bare leg had slipped through the skirt of it. I had pointed my toe, tracing a pattern on the floor. "Well, perhaps we should get these off so they can be packed then. If that would please you?"

"Seeing you wearing nothing but my coat is already quite pleasing," Will had gripped me through the coat, the brass buttons digging into his palms. "But I would gladly see you in it again." All of his uniforms had been packed into an extra valise, even the poor hat which Will had roughly shoved to the bottom of it before tumbling me into the bed and moving on top of me. Our last night in his bed had been spent in furtive moments in the dark, crying out our pleasure before slinking off into slumber, only to wake and find the the other awake as well, and the whole cycle would repeat.

I looked over to Will, his face slightly gray in the morning light. His eyes were bright though as he turned to me, "We should get moving."

"I suppose," I stretched out, laying across his chest and propping my head up. "Although you'll have to help me get dressed." He snorted at that, and we slowly began moving about the room. I had left out my traveling suit to wear, and Will was already dressed when I turned to him with my corset in hand. "You're going to need to tie it tight." I quickly hooked the busk around the front of me, pulling my hair up and out of the way of the laces.

Will tugged it a bit, his hands strong. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, it's fine. Just tie it when I tell you." I smirked, feeling him begin to pull the laces tighter.

"Now?"

"Tighter."

"Ana, I can't even slip my finger under it." He did flick his finger against the edge of the corset, tight on my skin. "How can you even breathe in this?"

"It's really not bad," I felt him tug it a bit more, "There, that's good. Tie it off."

I could hear the laces being quickly knotted, and he came around. His brow was furrowed, and he tipped my chin up. "That's too tight Ana, it can't be healthy. Why do you insist on lacing it so tight?"