Fall had barely begun. William awoke with a groan just before dawn, a headache pounding in his temples. He looked to his left, where a woman with straight, dark brown hair slept soundly next to him, her clothes discarded carelessly at the foot of his cot.

So that is what happened last night… he thought, shivering as a draft blew through the only window in his room. Feeling in the darkness for his breeches, William bumped the woman beside him and she moaned softly, turning in her sleep. Once he had his breeches on, William left the woman lying in his bed and walked soundlessly downstairs and just out of the pub to where his white linen shirt hung. Pulling it down from the clothesline, he pressed it to his face, inhaling the fresh scent. Tavington shrugged the shirt over his head and shoulders and walked back inside to his room. The woman was still asleep. To his own fault, William did not know her name. He only knew that he had been drinking the night before and the woman had offered to keep him entertained for the night if he paid her some coin. She smelled like wood-smoke and musk, and had a buxom figure. Their night of coupling lasted for hours, with an endless rise and fall in climax. She worked him into a ragged furor and he pushed her until she screamed in ecstasy. Her intimate parts tasted like fine red wine to his eager tongue. When they had finished, William let her sleep with him, should he find use for her in the morning.

Leaning over to the woman, William nipped her ear, sliding his tongue over her earlobe.

"You should get up. Aaron does not like women staying late here," he whispered. The woman stirred and opened her hazel eyes, blinking up at him with a hazy look on her lightly freckled face.

"Can I not sleep just a little longer," she asked, caressing William's face, noting the light shadow on his cheeks.

William took her hand and gave it a light kiss.

"No."

"You know, it isn't like a gentleman tell a lady to leave on her own after a night of entertainment," the woman spoke in a sly tone as she pulled him down onto the cot next to her.

The corners of Tavington's mouth turned upwards in a mischievous smirk.

"Well, I am not a gentleman. I work in a pub."

The woman laughed and leaned over, mocking him with a kiss. William responded by exploring her inviting mouth with his tongue. He was pleased.

"You didn't even ask for my name," she pouted.

"Ah, that I did not. Forgive me," he feigned indifference.

"My name is Katrina. I was born a short block away from this pub."

"Oh? Is that so? You don't come here often," William spoke, leaning into her.

Katrina sighed, tangling her long, pale fingers in his hair.

"You don't call for me. And it is my understanding that Aaron is to be married soon."

"Yes, and then I leave," William replied, burning a trail of hot kisses from her neck to her belly. Katrina shivered and moaned.

"Where will you go," Katrina asked, gasping as William unbuttoned his breeches.

"I don't know," Tavington replied, entering her slowly. Katrina bucked beneath him and whimpered in pleasure. William looked down at her smugly and began biting and sucking on her neck, continuing slow, rhythmic thrusts. The woman rose and fell with him, digging her fingernails into his shoulders as she kissed him greedily.

"Faster…"

William complied until she was moaning so loudly, he had to cover her mouth as he released his seed within her. Shuddering, he rested on top of her for a few moments and allowed his breath to steady before pulling out of her.

"You should go, Katrina," He said, sitting up on the cot, buttoning his breeches. "I have work to do."

Katrina smiled and gave him a lingering kiss, flicking her tongue across his lips. Then, she got up from the cot, dressed quickly and took her pay before leaving. William finished dressing before going downstairs to mop the pub floors. Aaron came downstairs shortly after William begun his work.

"Sounds like you had a good night," he spoke with a yawn.

"I was drunk," William replied simply.

"I see. Well, don't let it get to you. Pour me a drink when you're done with the floors."

William finished work late that night and took Asmodeus with him out on the town to another pub. He wasn't meeting anyone in particular; he wanted to be alone with a good drink and food. He might even read the newsprint.

Ordering a pint of brandy, he took a seat at the back of the pub and looked at the newsprint while waiting for bangers and mash. An article caught his eye; it was about the American colonies. They had been trying to declare their independence from England and were now refusing their taxes. The British Army was enlisting those who were willing to travel to the colonies to fight for the Crown. William set down the newsprint and looked up as the cook brought his meal to him.

"Here you are, sir," The cook, a young man of about fifteen said.

William nodded distractedly, took a bite of mash and then turned back to the newsprint. Something in him had stirred. There was opportunity in the articles he had read. Not to mention, he, like many of his British fellows, had a certain dislike of the colonials' rebellious, embarrassing manners, and believed they needed to be quelled at all costs. A place in the military would grant him that opportunity, as well as a new start in the colonies if the British were able to stamp out the rabble. Of this, he was sure. And, he could build up a name of himself, forgetting the besmirching of his father and grandfather.

Tearing out the articles, he folded them up and pocked them before finishing his meal and drink. Then he set out on Asmodeus back to Aaron's pub, putting the horse up in his stall for the night before he returned to his room. William took out the articles and stared at them. A commission was expensive, but he reasoned that he could save up within a year if he worked extra shifts.

William was so caught up with the possibilities of traveling abroad that he hardly noticed Aaron standing in his doorway, running a hand through short, greying hair.

"You are a dreamer, aren't you," he inquired. "What is it this time?"

"I'm thinking of going to America. It's just a thought for now. Really, it would take some saving up," William replied.

"Let me see those," Aaron gestured to the articles. William handed them to him and he looked them over.

"The military? Fancy yourself a soldier, do you? You'll get yourself killed."

William snorted.

"What rank were you thinking, anyway," Aaron asked, handing him back the scraps of newsprint.

"Well, I don't want to grovel at anyone's ass," he replied shortly. "I will see about buying an officer's commission. Then, I'll take Asmodeus with me and we'll destroy those rabbles," William spoke with a childlike air, his eyes flickering.

Aaron shrugged.

"You reach high, Tavington. Care for a drink? I won't take it from your wages."

"I have to work tomorrow; I should not."

"All right. Just think about it first. It's God's will if you should go or not."

"God doesn't answer prayers, Aaron," William said caustically, "He has abandoned me."

Aaron sighed.

"Good night, Tavington."

With that, he left William alone with the newsprint. Getting up to open his trunk, William stuck the newsprint at the bottom right corner. Then, he went to bed, dreaming of a red coat and adventures in America.