LADY CATHERINE CORNWALLIS
She watched them ride towards the house. Her father's men, the Green Dragoons. And at the head of this elite group...
She stared at him in awe, wondering if everything she had heard, was true.
Colonel William Tavington.
The Butcher.
She felt a tingling spread throughout her body, blushed slightly, and continued staring straight ahead.
The women behind her, servants all, whimpered and fidgeted. She turned a bit, stared them into silence, and returned her gaze to the man who now, sat his horse in front of her.
"Lady Cornwallis." he bowed from his saddle.
"Colonel Tavington." her tone cool and unafraid.
The women again, whimpered behind her.
"Hold your tongues!" she growled without turning around.
Silence fell once more.
Tavington eyed her for a moment.
Then, he smiled.
Catherine felt the tingling again...
What she could do to this man.
What HE could do to her...
Colonel Tavington.
"Why are you here?" she asked him.
He smiled again.
Tingling.
"Your father, Lord General Cornwallis, seems to think you need protection. Which, is why we have been sent here." he looked passed her at the servants, "Perhaps, he is right in that consideration?"
Catherine grinned.
"Perhaps, Colonel."
"I, and my men, are at your disposal. We will garrison here, until such time as your father sees fit to remove us."
She nodded.
"As you wish, Colonel."
He stared at her for a long while, then turned to his men.
"Set camp! Wilkins? See to it that the men keep well enough away from the house, and her Ladyship," Wilkins nodded, and Tavington continued, "Make certain the watch is set."
Wilkins jumped to attention, saluted and moved off.
"Now, Lady Cornwallis..."
"Catherine." she smiled at him.
"Catherine, yes I should think that being Mistress of this house, you will have suitable room for whomever I choose to place inside, yes?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"And, just to make myself quite clear, I will be staying in this house with you."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"On your father's orders."
Again, the tingleing.
He would be so close...
"My father knows what is best, I'm sure."
Tavington nodded, dismounted from his horse, and came to stand on the steps. His eyes moved over her in wonder.
"But, as to where I shall be sleeping..."
Catherine felt the tingling heighten. He was so close...
The title of the head...the smile...the way he demanded from her...
"I have several bedrooms, Colonel. It is a rather large house, as you can see."
He nodded.
"And you sleep in which one of those bedrooms, Catherine?"
"It is the master bedroom. The largest of the rooms."
Again, he nodded.
"I will have that one, then."
Catherine could feel herself blushing. Could feel the heat rising over her body...
So close.
Wilkins reappeared at this moment. Tavington turned away from her.
So close.
"The men have been garrisoned, Sir."
"And the watch?"
"Two at the back of the house, and four will be in the front."
Tavington nodded his approval.
"Good, see to it then, that they are fed and made comfortable for the night."
"Yes, Sir!" Wilkins saluted him and left.
Catherine studied the Colonel's back. What she would do, just to run her hands down it...
The tingling grew.
He turned back to her.
"I shall need a place for an office of some kind..."
"The study will be made available to you, Colonel."
He nodded.
"And your servants?"
"Also yours to command."
He smiled slowly at her.
"And, yourself?"
The tingling threatened to take her over...
She stared at him silently.
He watched her. She could see the look...knew the look...had seen it often from other men.
But...
She had never given in to them.
Never.
But...
For this man?
She would give in.
Tavington titled his head, fixed her with a curious stare, and waited for her to answer.
"Myself?"
"Yes, if your servants are mine to command, what of yourself?"
"Colonel, I do not know what you mean by that."
He laughed softly. He moved closer to where she stood. So close she could feel his body...feel his own pulsating heat...
"I will command the servants...but, I will also command you, Catherine. You should know, that when I see something I want, I do not hesitate to take it."
She blushed at this.
"Yes, Colonel."
His smile was slow and hungry looking.
"I do hope, you will say yes?"
The tingling inside Catherine was now feverish...
What he could do to her.
When she spoke, it was in a whisper.
"For you, Colonel Tavington, there is no other answer."
His blue eyes moved over her slowly, deliberately.
"Tonight we shall get to know each other over dinner, and perhaps...well, perhaps later, we shall talk?"
"As you wish."
She wanted him.
Needed him.
Desired him.
What would her father say to this?
She laughed to herself.
What did it matter?
It did not.
And by the end of the evening...
She would see to it, that Tavington got what he wanted.
As for herself?
She was what he wanted.
He would have her.
The feel of his hands carassing her...touching her...
She quivered.
Tavington waited.
"Yes, Colonel, that would be lovely."
He bowed to her.
"Until this evening, my Lady Catherine."
She nodded at him as he mounted his horse, he sat there watching her, then nodded at the servants behind her.
"And see to it, that they are not here, when I come back."
She eyed him curiously.
"Why?"
"I want to be alone with the Mistress of this house."
The tingling grew more intense.
His mouth seeking hers...his fingertips brushing over nipples...
"Yes, of course. I will send them away."
Tavington nodded.
"Good, I want us to be alone...to get to," he motioned to the men surrounding him to move forward, "Know you."
Catherine let the heat engulf her this time.
"I shall await your return, Colonel Tavington."
His body over hers...holding her down...commanding her...
"Good, I look forward to my stay here."
One of the women whimpered loudly at this.
Without turning around, Catherine backhanded the woman, sending her staggering into the woman nearest her.
"That will teach you to hold your tongue!"
The woman stared wide eyed at her mistress.
Tavington smiled coolly at this.
"You are made of fire, Catherine," his eyes once again, moved over her, "I do hope, that you will display that later...for me."
"As you command, Colonel."
He nodded and rode away.
Catherine watched him leaving. The tingling spread to a new area now...
Tingling.
Heat rising.
His body crushing hers into the mattress.
She quivered.
She laughed abruptly.
If he could leave a path of destruction...death...
She could only pray he left her whole.
And if he did not?
Even that would be a delicious pleasure.