Chapter 1
THE NEW ARRIVAL
The carriage bounced along the way.
She tried to sleep, but the bumpy ride prevented that. She looked about the interior. A young man sat across from her. He was a lieutenant. He was a very young lieutenant who was maybe in his mid-twenties. His name was Lieutenant Robinson. His uniform was spotless. From his boots to his collar he was perfect, the vision of an officer. He had not even spoken to her except to introduce himself. That had made for a long boring ride.
She smiled to herself as she thought of the first time that she had seen her brother in uniform. Tall and handsome in his Calvary uniform. She had only been 11. Her 20-year-old brother was a handsome rogue. Many women fawned over him, but he spent most of the ball watching out for her since their parents had not come.
The carriage lurched to the side roughly and caused her to be launched from her seat. The lieutenant caught her against him as she fell to the side and forward.
"Are you alright Miss?" he asked. He was very close. He helped her up to her seat.
She sat back. This man annoyed her without even doing anything. It was just his outward persona. He had instantly returned to his relaxed position in front of her. Men, she thought with a shake of her head.
An hour later she heard calls before them. They were going more slowly and they passed several men on foot. They entered a gate and the driver halted the wagon.
The young officer got to his feet and pulled down the glass window so he could open the door. He stepped down and held the door open as he offered his gloved hand to her. She looked about and took his hand as she stepped down on the stairs with her lace-covered hand lightly on his own.
"Welcome to Fort Carolina Miss." The man said softly as she looked in amazement at the large building before the carriage to her right. He still had her hand on his as he shut the door. A black man came to them in civilian clothes. He bowed to her.
"Welcome. My name is Matthew. May I bring you anything?" He asked the lady.
"Take the lady's things to a guest chamber," The young officer ordered. The man bowed again and snapped his fingers. More men came and began to unload her things.
"This way Miss." The officer said. She looked at him and realized she was staring at his shoulder. She was of normal height for a woman of the day, but very small next to most men. He walked with her up the stairs. He gripped her hand with his left and her elbow with his right. His arm was about her as if he thought her too frail to walk on her own.
They entered a large entry hall and he took her to the left and down a hall. He knocked on the last door to the left. The door opened to reveal another man in a staff officer's uniform.
"I must return to my duties Miss, but I am sure I leave you in good hands with Captain Simmons." Robinson said. He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles before he turned on his heel and left.
"Welcome. I am one of Lord General Cornwallis' aides. May I be of service?" He asked.
She eyed him. He was a beanpole with a head on top. She smiled coyly. "I would like to meet the Lord General, if I may."
His eyes looked her up and down. They rested longest on the visible cleavage her could see from her low-neck dress.
"This way." He said as he led her to another door. He knocked and then opened the heavy door. A man was seated behind a desk. It was littered with paperwork and maps. His eyes looked up from his work and focused on her. His wig was powder white. His uniform was perfect. His eyes clouded in irritation at an intrusion, but mellowed when he saw his visitor was a woman. He had a kind round face and smiled at her as he rose to his feet. He straightened his uniform and walked from around his desk.
"And to what do I owe this pleasure?" he asked. He motioned to her to come to him. She tried to calm herself. This man had a commanding presence. There was no doubt who he was. "Don't be shy my dear. I don't bite."
She smiled softly at him as she came forward and curtsied deeply and elegantly to him. "My Lord." She dropped her head in a sign of humility to him.
She watched his boots move slowly to her. "The formal greeting of court. I have not seen that in years." He said softly. "I am honored." He extended his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her to her feet. He smiled at her.
"Forgive my rude entry my Lord. I could return at a better time?"
He chuckled lightly. "No now is the best time. I could use a break. Join me for tea?" He bowed to her and kissed her hand gently. "Welcome to Fort Carolina"
"I would be honored to join you my Lord." She said softly. He smiled. He offered his arm and they walked out together. He led her to a door and they walked out into the sunny gardens beyond. He called for tea to be brought to the small table under the great oak tree. It stood as a monument. She looked up. She could not see its top.
Cornwallis pulled out a chair and brushed off the leaves. "This will not do." He snapped his fingers. A man came running. "Bring a cushion for her Miss…" He faltered and turned to her. "I'm dreadfully sorry, but I do not know who you are."
"Amanda Janeen Tavington." She said.
The general's eyes widened slightly as she said her last name, but he turned to the man. "A cushion for Miss Tavington."
"Yes, sir."
The General remained standing until the cushion was brought from the house. He helped her sit noting that she sat gracefully and straight backed like a lady.
He sat down and looked at her as the tea was served. "It has been some time since we have had anyone so beautiful in our midst."
"You flatter me my Lord." She said blushing.
"No I'm being honest."
She chuckled at him softly. He was the perfect gentleman. Well he was a Lord, but he put compliments on thick. She liked that.
They sipped tea and talked about nonsense things as people always did in formal situations. They were both chuckling at a pun she had just said when she heard footfalls behind her. Heavy boots. Something sounded against them as well. They stopped just to the side and behind her. "My Lord. Forgive my intrusion…"
"Ahh Colonel. There is someone I would like you to meet." Cornwallis said as he rose to his feet.
Amanda turned her head and saw the tall man beside her. He had not changed much in the two years he had been absent from her life. He had risen in the ranks, however. In his last letter he had said he was a Major in the Green Dragoons. He looked very nice in his riding uniform. He most likely stole every woman in the colony's heart looking like that. His helmet was under his arm and his gloves were off. He held them with his right hand that was at his side.
She laughed, jumped up and into his arms. This took both men by surprise. The Colonel was nearly knocked off his feet with the impact, but he somehow caught her and kept himself upright at the same time.
"I've missed you William." She said softly. "Two years…"
His eyes widened as he pulled her from him to look into her face.
"Mandy." He said softly. He hugged her fiercely to him and kissed her forehead.
"I take it we don't need introductions." Cornwallis remarked. He had never seen such joy in his Colonel's gaze.
"No my Lord. I see you have met my sister." The Colonel said.
"Yes. We were having some tea." She said hugging his middle. She barely came to his shoulder.
Cornwallis smiled to himself. He would have never guessed they were blood relatives. She looked nothing like him. His hair was dark and past his shoulders when it was loose. It was bound in a regulation queue now. From the wisps that escaped her hat her hair was red or auburn. He was tall and muscular, and yet slender. She was very slight and petite with narrow shapely hips.
"You look more like mum every day." Tavington remarked to her.
She smiled. "And you are still a handsome rogue."
Cornwallis dreaded returning to his work, but he knew they would want to catch up. "If you two would excuse me, I must return to my work." He rolled his eyes comically. She smiled and turned to him.
"Must you go my Lord?"
"I must." He bowed and kissed her hand. "You two will join me for dinner won't you."
"Of course my Lord." Tavington said.
Cornwallis nodded and walked off leaving them alone.
"Why did you come?" He demanded when he noted Cornwallis was out of earshot. "This is no place for a girl like you."
She laughed. "Girl? I'm not going to be your baby sister forever William."
"Oh yes you are." He said. "Soldiers get drunk and cause problems for ladies of virtue. You should go right back to England and…"
"And live in shame another day more?" She snapped back cutting him off.
He was quite taken aback that she would dare to stand up to him. He was in no mood for this, but she was his sister, not his betrothed or lover. He would have to listen to her.
"You think that you were the only one who was affected by father's habits?"
His temper was flaring. They were both half-Irish from their mother's side. Both had famous tempers that appeared quite regularly. She had never been this temperamental before.
"In England you were safe. I had you live with the Richards for a reason." He growled.
"So I could be at court and be a lovely lady for His Majesty?" she said.
"Yes a lady."
"They all knew William." She said. She sat heavily down. "They held it against me. I could not take it anymore. I needed to feel love again. I needed you."
He suddenly was shocked by that confession. She had felt persecuted and had come to him for comfort and help. He shook his head. He had hoped to shield her from that pain.
He knelt before her sighing aloud and putting his arms about her. "I really am glad to see you." He said softly to her.
"And I you." She said.