A young girl sat in the corner of a great room, bright blue eyes and long wavy black hair. Rain trickled down the pain of the high windows, England's final farewell, and the girl's family was leaving for the Americas. Her blue eyes watched a young boy about 13 in a British Army Uniform, "William," escaped her lips. His eyes caught hers and he smiled but continued his conversation.
The girl still sat in the corner as the Soirée came to a slow end William walked over to her and sat next to her. "No worries, I will come for you and bring you home. We are only five years apart." She smiled and relaxed. "Do you promise me William?" "That I do."
----------------------------------13 Years Later-----------------------------------
A young woman stood on the outskirts of a Soirée thrown for Lord General Cornwallis. Her bright blue eyes had hardened and lost their sparkle of youth years ago; her black hair grew longer and swung freely at her waist on a good day. She had grown up and now was the most sought after woman on the Santee River. Even now, at a soirée were she was to enjoy herself, she couldn't escape.
"Miss Whitten, would you do me the honor of this dance?"
"Of course general," O'Hara gently took her hand and led her out to the dance floor. He had been trying to court her since he saw her. She was a bit annoyed by it. She looked around for an escape but found none until-
"Where the hell is he!" A tall lean man said angrily to his subordinate
"Please forgive me," O'Hara said taking of to quell the officer. "Colonel please calm down or leave. This is not the place for your unfashionable outbursts."
"If you listen to me-"
"Colonel Tavington," General Cornwallis said coming to stand next to O'Hara. "Leave or calm down, when we are done here you will have your time to talk."
"My lord," he said bowing stiffly.
"Miss Whitten." General Cornwallis said surprised.
"My lord," she curtseyed. Colonel Tavington perked up at her voice. "Thank you for having me; I am enjoying my time here, my lord."
"Good I am glad to hear that."
"Charity?" Tavington asked stepping forward.
"That is Miss Whitten to you," O'Hara said proudly as if she had taken his name. Charity's eyes widened and softened. She touched the chain that hung around her neck. "Miss Whitten?"
"Please excuse me, General, My lord." She headed for the open doors and out into the gardens, Tavington followed her. She sat on one of the small benches and was playing with a ring. Tavington knew the ring; it once belonged to his mother. He gave it to her the night before she left England.
"Charity," Tavington called when he came into view. "Do you remember me?"
"How could I forget you? You promised to take me home to England, and now it is too late."
"What are you saying?"
"O'Hara has cast his eye upon me," She looked away. "There is nothing I can do."
"Trust me, your father had promised you to me back in England. I still carry the papers with me."
"An arranged marriage!" She was shocked, "My father died two winters ago."
"I will talk to your mother," he aid hopeful.
"She is too busy for such things. She had remarried last spring and my step father would never allow me to marry you. He doesn't believe-"
"Calm down, everything should be fine. Trust me."
"I do but you're the "butcher". That is hard to look past. I know you, my mother knows, but it is still hard to see the real you under that uniformed solider."
"Charity, trust me, trust the William you know."
"Charity!" Her mother yelled worried, she didn't recognize Tavington. "Get away- William? Good God it has been so long, how have you been all of these years?"
"Wonderful for being a Colonel Mrs. Whitten."
"It is Mrs. Sampson now," she said proudly.
"Any relation to Sergeant Thomas Sampson?"
"He is my husband."
"Brilliant," he said remembering how oddly happy Sampson was just after arriving in South Carolina. "I wish we could stay here and chat, but I do have some pressing business to attend to."
"Very well then, the chat shall wait," Charity's mother said with a wave of her glove clad hand.
"DO you still have your late husband's paper?"
"You've come for Charity," she said lowering her hand. "I am sorry William."
"What is it?" He asked preparing for the worst but hoping for the best. "Please tell me."
"Tom has already promised her to O'Hara." She saw his shocked face, "I thought you wouldn't come back. I am sorry."
"I hate General O'Hara, you know that."
"I know. But what am I going to do?"
"Find the papers and let me marry charity like promised in England."
"I will, come and visit us and we will settle this." She took charity's hand, "We must rejoin our group. It is almost time to depart."
"My lacy," he bowed and kissed Charity's mothers hand. He turned to Charity, "Mae Domina1," He let his lips linger on her hand.
"Good night William."
1 Mae Domina- Latin for my lady
