The Ball

The day before the ball was to take place Tavington was wandering around trying to find Jillian. She was supposed to be waiting for him outside his quarters half an hour ago. It was eerily silent today. No one seemed to want to speak at all.

"Jillian," Tavington called," Jillian where have you got to this time."

"Nowhere special," said Jillian's voice behind him. Tavington turned around quickly.

"Would you please stop sneaking up behind me," he asked.

"Colonel Tavington," Jillian said in false astonishment," I can't believe you would accuse me of such a thing. You saved my life and I repay you by sneaking up on you? Rediculous."

She walked past him giggling. Tavinvgton followed her.

"You were supposed to wait for me outside my quarters," he said," Why did you disobey me?"

"I was waiting for you outside your quarters," Jillian said," I ended up having to follow you becuase you didn't seem to want to look down."

"Why would I want to look on the floor," Tavington asked," The floor has nothing but filth on it."

"Colonel use your common sense," Jillian said," I was waiting for you like you said, but you took so long, so I sat down on the floor. You should really think about looking down once in a while."

Tavington stared at her. Now he felt rather foolish. How could he not think of looking down? She had been sittingthere the whole time.

"Why did you not say anything?" Tavington said," I thought you had run off somewhere."

"I'm sorry Colonel," Jillian said innocently," You just looked so funny. There you were, shouting my name, and I was standing behind you the whole time."

She giggled again.

"Next time you say something, understood?"

"Sir, yes sir," Jillian said.

"Don't do that," Tavington said.

"Jillian," came a voice by the manor house. Jillian and Tavington turned around to see O'Hara running towards them.

"What does he want now," Tavington asked.

"Now,now Colonel be nice to the poor fellow," Jillian said. She wa obviously amused by this whole thing.

"Jillian," O'Hara said once he reached them,"Would you like to go for a ride with me?"

"Jillian does not have permission from her uncle, nor did he inform me that she would be going with anyone today except me," Tavington said.

"Colonel Tavington I have permission from the Lord General himself to take Jillian riding," O'Hara said," Whether you like it or not she will come with me. Come Jillian."

As she walked by, Tavington heard her muttering under her breath," What am I a hound?"

Colonel Tavington arrived at the ball ten minutes after it began. He walked in, grabbed a glass of champagne, and began searching around for Jillian and O'Hara.

"Ah Tavington," said Cornwallis's voice behind him," You're here at last. I have some peoeple who have been waiting to meet you."

"Where is Jillian and O'Hara," Tavington asked as Cornwallis steered him into the chattering crowd.

"They're around here somewhere," Cornwallis said happily," Ladies and gentlemen may I introduce the Colonel of the Green Dragoons, and rescuer of my niece, William Tavington."

The group of people around him clapped politely and then squeezed into a tighter circle to shake his hand. After about five minutes of having his hand sqeezed by complete strangers, Tavington moved away to grab a new glass, this time of wine. He took a quick sip and then looked around. People on the dance floor were staring at him as they twirled by. One of the couples didn't seem to be paying any attention to him. That couple was none other then Jillian and O'Hara. Tavington put his glass down slowly as he watched their progress across the floor.The music stopped and O'Hara bowed to Jillian and she gave a little curtsy.Tavington saw the orchestra getting ready to start playing again. Quickly making up his mind, he walked swiftly across the room to Jillian and O'Hara. They both stopped talking and stared at him.

"Jillian would you give me the honor of having this dance," Tavington said.

Jillian smiled," Yes." She handed O'Hara her wine glass, told him she'd be right back, and headed onto the dance floor with Colonel Tavington. The music started, and everyone began to dance again. Tavington didn't think that he would enjoy dancing with Jillian as much as he was at the moment. Unlike so many women he had danced with before, Jillian was letting Tavington lead, which made everything easier for him. For a few minutes the two glided across the floor, not taking their eyes off each other.

"Have you had dance lessons at all in your life," Tavington asked.

"No," Jillian said witha smirk," I picked it up from watching my mother."

"You dance divinely," Tavington said.

"You flatter me," Jillian said," Really."

The music stopped and Jillian and Tavington stared at each other until O'Hara came and got Jillian.

"Would you allow me to dance with you one more time before this night is through," Tavington asked.

"Of course," Jillian said. O'Hara whisked her off into the crowd.

About half an hour later, Tavington had just come back off the dance floor, when he saw O'Hara and Jillian going out into the gardens. He followed at a distnce so that he wouldn't be seen. Jillian and O'Hara were sitting on a bench with their backs to the ballroom. Tavington ducked down behind a rose bush to listen.

"You're going to be sixteen soon," O'Hara said," There was something I wanted to ask you."

"Yes?" Jillian said. Tavington could have sworn he caught a note of discomfort in her voice. There was silence between the two.

"Jillian," O'Hara said," Ho do you feel about me?"

"Uh...," Said Jillian," Well..You're very kind and polite. It is a good quality for anyone to be polite."

If I wasn't eaves dropping I would openly laugh,Tavington said.

"I am not afraid to admit that I think you are very beautiful," O'Hara said," And if your uncle gives his permission, would you allow me to court you?"

There was a stunned silence. Tavington had frozen to the spot with the shock of the question.

"I'm flattered to hear that you...respect me enough to want to court me," Jillian said.

"But," O'Hara urged.

"But I would like some time to think things over, and you need to get my uncles permission."

Good girl. Smart girl, Tavington said. He got up slowly and hid behind a group of chattering women.

"Jillian," came Cornwallis's voice from the doorway," Ah there you are. The ball ends in and hour and I can't let you do anything else until you dance with me."

Tavington headed back inside through a side door. He watched as Jillian and her uncle began dancing, and then ,to his delight, O'Hara come in looking slightly disappointed. This ball had turned out to be a good one, but now he knew he would be keeping a closer eye on Jillian.