I do not own the Patriot,
"Can't we come with you mother?" Kimberly sighed as Margaret packed a small suit case for her trip to South Caroline in an attempt to right her husband's wrong. "Charleston is hundreds of miles away, said she will watch you while I'm gone." Margaret repeated for the fifth time that day.
Out side a carriage waited for her as she gathered her children in the parlor, "Be good, mind , I will be home in a few days." She embraced each child. "I love you all."
She carried her bag out to the carriage where the driver lifted it into the back. "It's a two day journey to Charleston missus" the driver informed her. "We best get going then." She nodded and climbed up next to the driver.
The drive went smoothly, with little events. The driver insisted Margaret sleeping in the carriage while He kept watch for thieves, halfway through the first night she awoke and took the Musket from him. "Climb in back and get some sleep, I will watch the rest of the night." She insisted. The driver had little complaints as he snored in the back of the cart.
On the second day, Margaret snoozed in the back as the cart jerked to a stop. She leaned peered out the back of the cart. "This road is in the custody of the United States Militia. You're goods and cart now belong to us." A man demanded.
"We are just humble travelers, please." Margaret hopped out of the back to face what ever blockage there was.
"What is going on out here?" she asking in a no nonsense tone. She nearly gasped when she saw the man from the market place backed by five other colonial soldiers armed with muskets. "You?" she marched forward. "You're the man from the Market place. Please I am just going to visit my Mother in Charleston."
The man eyed her almost sympathetically, suddenly the troops raised their gun and Marmee shot around to see the driver holding his musket, "Please we don't what any trouble."
"Let them pass." He ordered, with reluctant mutters the men moved to the side of the rode. Margaret nodded her thanks and returned to the cart, now sitting in the front, no longer tired.
As the cart rattled down the dirt road, the driver shot her nervous glances every so often until finally he spoke up. "Did you know that man Missus?" Margaret shrugged, "We have been acquainted but I wouldn't say I know him"
"Not that it is any of my business Ma'am but does your husband know that you are acquainted with Militia troops?" Margaret glared, "If you must know, My husband has very little to do with who I associate with, and at any rate, I don't even know the man's name." she snapped and looked straight forward in an irritated silence .
Taking it as a sign not to talk anymore the rest of the ride was spend in awkward silence. Was nigh began to fall, they reached the outskirts of Charleston. The letter she had received from William said that General Cornwallis had agreed to meet her, half out of curiosity for who would be married to the infamous Butcher, and Half out of shock that a woman from Ohio would ask for an audience with him. She would sleep at an inn for the night then first thing in the morning she would meet William at the address on in the letter.
Grabbing her small bag containing only a week's worth of clothes and emergency money, she paid the driver and walked the rest of the way to a small inn.
As she settled in she repeated to herself her plan with conviction. Defend the boy, take him home. Soon the sun rose as it was time to put her plan into action. Dressed in her best dress and her hair pulled away from her face which was highlighted with the smallest amount of make up, just to make her cheek bones sharp and her lips red.
Outside the in stood William with his large brown stallion, Mercury. "Are you sure about this?" he asked as she sat side saddle behind him, "Sure as I am that you will ask me that five more times before we get there." She responded as they took off at a steady trot.
Soon they reached the gargantuan manor where General Cornwallis resided. Straightening her dress, smoothing her hair and making herself seem as confident as possible, Margaret followed William in, A man in a powdered wig and red coat stopped William, "Lord Cornwallis would like to see you wife alone actually."
William seemed ready to start a fight before Margaret nodded and followed the man, giving William a look he had seen many times, it said "behave yourself".
"wait here please." The man stopped her in a lavish parlor. She fiddled with her hair and dress until the man walked back out and she instantly straightened up. "Lord Cornwallis will see you now."
With a stiff back and high chin Margaret walked modestly into Cornwallis's office. "Lord Cornwallis?" she asked the fifty something man bent over his desk in a powdered wig and red jacket. "Yes, you must be ."
"Yes, sir, you know why I am here?" she assumed, "Yes, a young boy who worked on your farm, you've come to plead his case and take him back yes?" Cornwallis leaned back in his chair. "That is my intention yes."
"Very well, what's the boy's name again?" the general asked, "Johnathan Kibbit."
"alright, I will make you a deal, you convince me to release the boy and then I will ask my questions." He offered, "Seem fair?" she nodded.
"Come, sit." Margaret awkwardly sat in one of the chairs, "Now, tell me about this boy and why you should take him back."
Margaret sighed, "He was simply trying to protect his family,"
"My reports say that while raiding a house of a militia solider, a young man threatened my men with a gun." Cornwallis read from a paper.
"He is only twelve years old, from a poor family, very thin and underfed, I'd be surprised if he could even lift a gun." Margaret down played Johnathan's actions. "He was simply protecting those he loves, if anything he has shown the makings of a brave man."
She formed a plan in her head, "Maybe even a brave solider, imagine a new generation of brave British troops, full of young men who hold the same values and principles as yourself my lord"
Now she had his attention, "if one could show such loyalty to his family, imagine the loyalty he could hold for his country and the one who rules over it. The way I see it, it that these children are not disloyal, it is that they have never been taught what good the Colonies do to England a vice versa. Show this boy Mercy and he will go on to tell other young people of the mercy show to him by you. The way to a better tomorrow it through the children, but the only way to that is to convince a single child."
The general stared at her intently, the gear in his head turned and cranked until he nodded. "You are absolutely right. I will have the boy released into your care."
Margaret contained her joy and curtsied out, the General told a man at the door to Release Johnathan Kibbit. Margaret met William who asked her fifty thousand questions. "Colonel Tavington if I may have a word with you please." Cornwallis called him back.
"My Lord?" Cornwallis lock the door behind them, "That is some woman you have there Colonel, I believe she may be of use to us"
"I'm afraid I don't follow." William stated, "Tavington when you wife tried convincing me of letting that boy go, for a split second I fell for what she saying, because she found what she knew would convince me and she used it, I believe that we can use that for hostage negotiations when Violence is not an option." Cornwallis stated.
"My Lord with all due respect I do not feel comfortable with my Wife handling Hostage negotiations" William protested, "That's all good and well but I'm afraid it is your wife's choice." Cornwallis shrugged and sent of Margret who walked in quickly.
"My Dear, you should know that the little game you play in here only work for a moment, but it was in that moment that I realized you could be of use to the British army. I believe that you would be perfect for working in hostage situations and occasionally gathering information from prisoners. You have a gift my dear, and it would be a damn shame to see it go to waste."
Margaret was silent before letting loose a small smile, "My Lord it would be an honor and a privilege to assist the British army in such a way."
"You can't be serious." William Protested. "Margaret you can't do this!"
"I can, I am, and I will" Margaret shot back, "What about the children."
"Your children will be welcome where ever their mother stays for the remainder of the war, I can send word for them to be brought as soon as possible" Cornwallis cut in, happy to see that while the Colonel scared the hell out of every one here, his wife seemed see straight past his cold hard shell.
"Welcome to the British Army Mrs. Tavington" Cornwallis offered his hand. "Please." She shook his hand gently, "Call me Margaret"
"well I have to take Johnathan to the cart." She sighed and curtsied, "Good Day."
She walked out leaving William standing with his mouth agape, Lord Cornwallis stood beside him with a smile, "The flower that blooms in adversity, is the most rare and beautiful of all" he said wisely
"Sir?"
Cornwallis pointed a finger at Margaret's retreating back, "You don't meet a girl like that every dynasty"
Margaret led young Johnathan Kibbit back to the inn to be taken home by the driver. "Margaret have you completely lost your mind?!" William bellowed behind her, "It's possible." She shrugged.
"Have you ever thought about what this could do you our marriage?" He asked roughly. "William the only thing this has done to our marriage is challenge the way you think it should be."
"Mr. Gibbs" she called to the sleeping driver, "Take this boy back to the farm for me will you?"
"What about you Ma'am?"
"I have a previous engagement." She stated.
Soon the cart as off and rattleing over the horizon. "William I know you don't like this, but I'm afraid it will happen anyway." She shrugged and made her way back to the manor.
"And if I refuse to let it happen?" he challenged
She sighed and turned around, "I have gone four years without the touch of a man, and I assure you I can go a whole lot longer." She quirked and eye brow and started off again, "Can you say the same?"
Ah yes, it's never marriage until someone threatens to withhold sex, Update soon!