January 16, 1781

With the help of a Loyalist colonial named Captain Wilkins, Colonel Tavington was able to identify the name of the Ghost - Benjamin Martin. Now that he knew who this "ghost" really was, Tavington decided to take drastic measures. Because Benjamin made a fool out of him with the "prisoner" exchange", General Cornwallis allowed Tavington to continue using brutal tactics to hunt him down by any means necessary, though he was reluctant to grant him his request. One by one, Tavington and his British Green Dragoons began tracking down the names and families of the militia, torturing them for information on Benjamin Martin's whereabouts. Those who refused, were instantly killed and had their houses burned down, as they were believed to be traitors. But the worse was yet to come, for both William and his lover.

Henriette woke up early one morning before any of the other maids did. The first thing she did was gather all her modern day clothing, except for her pale pink T-shirt, and went down to the kitchen. She stoked a fire in the fireplace and burned her all her clothes. She gave up a long time ago about ever going back to her modern day time period, but now she was finally letting go of her past. Or present. Or future. Or however it went. All she wanted was to stay in the 18th Century with Colonel Tavington. Henriette didn't know why, but she felt like she belonged with him. She had always been faithful to him and never questioned his motives. So, she decided to dedicate herself to him, even if it meant she practically sold her soul to the Devil.

Later that same day, Henriette brought a tray of tea to General Cornwallis, who was looking out the window with his hands behind his back.

"Good afternoon, General", said Henriette, setting the tray on his desk. She turned and was about to leave, until General Cornwallis spoke to her.

"There's no use trying to pretend anymore, Henriette", he said.

Henriette stopped dead in her tracks, her shoulders tensed up and her eyes widened. She thought General Cornwallis had finally discovered her true identity, but there was no possible way he could have known that. "Sir?" She said over her right shoulder.

General Cornwallis walked over to his desk and poured himself a cup of tea as he said to Henriette, "It's no surprise to me that Colonel Tavington has grown very attached to you."

Henriette turned around and blinked in confusion. "William, sir?"

General Cornwallis shot his eyes at her and answered, "Yes", before taking a sip of his tea.

Henriette looked down, relieved but still concerned. "Oh."

General Cornwallis set the teacup on a saucer and said to Henriette, "But you have to understand that Colonel Tavington is a soldier first."

Henriette looked back up and said, "Pardon?"

"I cannot afford to have my men be tempted by any distractions that will cost us this war", said Cornwallis.

Henriette raised an eyebrow at him. "Distractions?"

General Cornwallis walked over to Henriette. "We fight tomorrow at Cowspen and Colonel Tavington will wait for my command on when to attack. I will not have you putting ideas into his head, just so he can please you."

Henriette was offended by this. She knew he knew there was something obviously up between her and William, but she thought it was none of his business. She took a step forward and said in defense, "Everything Colonel Tavington has done is try to please you. I play no part in this war, nor do I intend to be. But if I'm causing a problem-"

"My dear, that is precisely the point. As long as you continue to encourage him using these brutal tactics of his-"

"You were the one who gave him that permission in the first place!"

"Oh, enough, enough", said Cornwallis. "A fine help, you've been", he said, walking away from Henriette and back over to his desk.

Henriette crossed her arms and walked over to the window. There was a cloud of black smoke coming from somewhere far off in the distance, but she thought nothing of it. "Just say it."

General Cornwallis turned back to her. "What?"

Henriette let her arms drop to the side and turned around to face Cornwallis. "Diana thinks that I'm a loose woman. I do love him, but I know he has more important things to worry about. This stupid war, for example. Forgive me, sir, but that's just how I feel."

Henriette sat down in a chair and kept her head down. "Colonel Tavington is the bravest man I've ever known. He's always telling me how you're like his mentor and that he only wishes to be your equal. I'm not trying to get in the way of him or his duty to you. I'm just trying to be strong for his sake. Is it not a woman's job to encourage her lover to be strong in battle?"

General Cornwallis thought Henriette was so naive in what she was saying, but knew she had a good point. These were difficult times, after all. And there was no shame in a woman encouraging her man to fight for what he believed in. Although Colonel Tavington had never lost a battle, he still failed him in capturing the Ghost. General Cornwallis knew he would try anything to achieve victory for himself, which made him feel even more sorry for Henriette. Should anything happen to William, General Cornwallis would not be held responsible. William's actions in the final outcome of this war would either cost him his commission or his life.

Henriette heard General Cornwallis walk over to her and looked up at him with watery eyes. She thought she was in big trouble now.

"Come here, child", said Cornwallis, offering his hand to her. Henriette put her hand into his and stood up. Cornwallis placed his other hand over hers in a comforting matter. "Colonel Tavington is, indeed, a very brave man. Brutal as his tactic may be-"

General Cornwallis was just about to explain this delicate situation to Henriette, but just at that moment, Wilkins entered the room, looking rather worrisome.

"My lord, something has happened", he said.

"What is it?" Cornwallis asked him.

"Colonel Tavington has been wounded."

Henriette's eyes widened at this unexpected news.

"WHAT!?" Henriette shouted.

"Calm yourself", Cornwallis ordered her. He walked over to Wilkins and asked him, "What happened?"

"He and his men were attacked by the militia. He and Captain Bordon were-"

"Where is Captain Bordon?" General Cornwallis asked him.

"Captain Bordon is dead, sir", said Wilkins.

Henriette was shocked at what she had just heard. "Dead?" She whispered to herself. Even though she was never really fond of him, she still thought he was a good soldier.

General Cornwallis looked over to one side and stroked his chin. He then walked out of the room and left.

Henriette shot her eyes at Wilkins, who looked as though he were in despair. "Something's wrong, isn't it?" She asked him.

Wilkins looked at her, and for a minute, there was a disturbing silence. Reluctantly, he walked over to Henriette and said, "I tried to talk him out of it, miss, but he..." Wilkins hesitated on revealing anything, seeing how he had something to do with the recent event that would haunt him for the rest of his life. Henriette took hold of his hand, hoping he would answer her.

"Just tell me what happened", said Henriette, her eyes softening a bit.

Wilkins told Henriette everything that happened at a small town called Pembroke. About how Colonel Tavington forced all the townspeople into a church and locked them inside as they were burned alive. Henriette could not believe a word of it. How could one man, especially William, commit such a horrifying act? Burning the Father's house and trapping all those civilians inside, leaving them to die? Henriette felt her heart being split into two.

"Please don't think ill of me, miss", said Wilkins. "I swear, I never meant for any of this to happen."

Wilkins sat down in a chair and put his head into his hands. Henriette placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and said, "I forgive you." She knew Wilkins was innocent. She just couldn't believe what Tavington had done. She looked towards the doorway, before she picked up the skirts of her dress, and walked out of the room.

Henriette ran outside of Fort Carolina and down towards the British encampment. She searched for Tavington, hoping to confront him. She figured she check the infirmary first. She was about to enter, when she saw General Cornwallis exist from there. She hid herself behind a barrel. She barely peeked out and saw General O'Hara approach him and say something, but she could not hear their conversation. After they had left, Henriette removed herself from her hiding place and ran over to the tent.

She entered the infirmary and saw Tavington. His hair was loose and his white shirt gave Henriette a peek at his chest, but that little distraction was short lived, as Henriette's eyes widened at the sight of the blood on his shirt. She did not see the bandages underneath.

"William, you're bleeding!"

Tavington placed a hand over his wound. "It's nothing", he said, turning away from Henriette, who walked over to him and placed her right hand on his right shoulder.

"Are you hurt-"

"It's nothing!" Tavington yelled at her. She backed away from him at once. That was the first time Henriette ever heard him raise his voice at her. And it frightened her. Tavington saw the hurt in her eyes and reached his hand out to her, but Henriette took a step back from him.

"So it's true", said Henriette. "You did do it."

"I don't know what you're talking about", said Tavington.

Henriette shook her head in disbelief. "How could you burn a house of God?"

Tavington scoffed and turned his back on her, reaching for his red coat and putting it back on. He was not about to let a flesh wound bring him down, no matter how much it hurt.

"You killed all those people. You forced your men to do all your dirty work for you."

"I had good reasons for doing it."

"You could get damned for this!"

It happened in a flash, as Tavington finally reached his breaking point, and slapped Henriette hard, right across her face. She put a hand to her face and pulled it back, only to discover her fingers were stained red with her own blood. William had given her a nosebleed!

He regretted his actions immediately, seeing the blood dripping from her nose and onto the front of her dress.

"Henriette, I didn't mean it-"

William put his hands on her, but Henriette pushed him away, causing him to fall back onto a cot.

"NO!" Henriette screamed. "Don't touch me! Don't you understand now? This is your fault! I'm leaving here and I'm never coming back!"

And with that, Henriette ran out of the tent. William stood up and walked outside, as he watched her disappear pass the crowd of British soldiers and into the forest. He wanted to run after her, but for some reason, he held himself back.

Henriette ran deep into the woods, hoping to get as far away from Tavington as she could. Her hair had become loose somewhere in the process, as the silver ribbon in her hair got caught on a tree branch, letting it flow in the breeze. Henriette ran until she came to a small creek. She sat down on her legs and cupped her hand into the water. She brought it to her nose and washed away the blood. It stung her badly, but it was nothing compared to the pain she felt in her heart. How could Colonel Tavington have done this to her? After all that she had done to try and support him, this was how he thanked her? Henriette felt confused about the man she loved so much. Tears were beginning to fill her eyes. She closed her eyes and started crying. Henriette rose up and walked over to a tree. She lied under it and cried to herself until she fell asleep.