#( this was amde with the beta text editor as well btw )

[sharp-teeth-and-archived]

( E.dmund H.ewlett ; continued )

        𝐄𝐝𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞. It was her eyes that held it the most and he looked onward with a frown pulling on his lips as she moved to the bed, sinking into the cot as if she hadn't had a chance to sit down in months.

        His inquiry was a soft one, a touch above a whisper but not high enough to extinguish a candle’s flame. At first, he assumed maybe it was a consequence of Richard nagging her again that made her look so beaten down, but then he realized from her attire that it was another matter entirely. She wasn’t dressed in her fine gowns, a few skinny wisps of hair were loosened from her pinned-up hair, and her hands were redder than usual. Then, his accusatory thoughts pointed to another man.

        ❝ Is it Simcoe? ❞

        He drew away from the loosened clothing chest and crossed the bedroom floor, allowing his body to sink into a spot next to her on the bed. He didn’t reach out to touch her even if he wanted nothing more than to cradle her face, push back the strands of hair, and really behold her. He feared that if he touched her, she would shatter like glass. ❝ Has he… has he visited you? Simcoe? ❞ Edmund couldn’t dial back the way his voice quickened at the mere thought of it. He could imagine Simcoe standing in her doorway, ordering her to stay put and not return to Whitehall. To him. Edmund knew that John was capable of killing DeJong or anyone he wanted to get to corner what he desired most. With his men trying to control the town under Hewlett’s hold, the killing of DeJong would be nothing more than an accident. A man like him was destined to have enemies, he could hear his shrill voice in the night.

        A relieved sigh left his lips at the fact DeJong was very much still alive. Not so much for his sake, but for Anna’s. Even if the tavern belonged to DeJong now, it was still a relief that Anna still had her position in his tavern with the tensions brewing in town upon the devil in green’s return. It was until Edmund noticed she was looking at him that her inquiry reached him.

        ❝ I’m fine, thank you. ❞ His voice softened then and he got to his feet, extending a hand if she needed help to stand. ❝ Aberdeen should still be in the kitchen at this hour. She should be able to make a meal for you there. Please, Anna, you can’t go to bed on an empty stomach. ❞

@annastrxng