Surprise

William Tavington paused at the bottom of the stairs to check his reflection in a mirror before entering the common room. Satisfied with it, he casually strolled into the room to find Ban Tarleton and James Bordon seated at a table playing chess. They'd decided not to play faro after James Wilkins had declined to join them that evening.

"I told you to watch out for Bordon, Ban," Tavington said as he noticed the large pile of money in front of his second in command. "As you can see, he is quite an accomplished chess player."

The two men exchanged glances as Tavington approached the table. They'd both heard the sounds of Caroline struggling with him earlier and her pitiful cries for help.

"Would you care to join us for a drink?" Tarleton asked. "This is probably as good a time as any to take a break."

"I'd enjoy that," Tavington replied, pulling up a chair. "I can't stay long, though. If you remember, Ban, I've got plans for tonight."

"Ah, yes, the comely wench of the auburn tresses," Tarleton said, " But if you don't mind my asking....."

"What about my new bride upstairs, you mean?" Tavington said. "Ahh....just another of the complications of war, you might say." He sighed loudly.

"That's why I always make sure the women I bed are willing to be there," the younger man said earnestly. "There are so many agreeably eager young ladies to pick from, Will." Taking a sip of his drink, he continued, "I always leave the faint-hearted ones alone. Being led to the altar with a musket at one's back can seriously put a damper on one's social life."

"I don't intend for it to put a damper on my social life," Tavington snapped, his tone testy. "Cornwallis may have been able to order me to marry the girl, but he can't make me be faithful to her. I promised Jane I'd visit her tonight and I have no intention of disappointing her."

"Sir, you might want to know that Benjamin Martin and his sister in law are still at the fort," Bordon told him. "Wilkins offered to put them up for the night."

"Wilkins," Tavington said, his lip curled in scorn. "I'm not surprised; I've always suspected that he has conflicting loyalties."

"Undoubtedly," Tarleton agreed. "I'm glad he's not in my legion."

"I also heard Martin saying that he would attempt to see his daughter to make sure she was all right," Bordon reported.

"Help her to escape, you mean," Tavington retorted. "Well, that just isn't going to happen. I may not have wanted to marry his daughter, but now that I have, I intend to use her to my advantage." With a nasty laugh, he continued, "He'll be so worried about his precious little girl having to live with 'the Butcher', that he'll be so off-balance to the point where he won't be able to properly concentrate on fighting us." Laughing again, he said, "And he has only himself to blame."

Rising to leave, he said to Bordon, "Do not allow Martin to see his daughter tonight. Post a guard, if you have to, to keep him away from her. If I am not back by the time he is ready to see her in the morning, let him see her, but supervise their visit closely."

"Yes, sir," Bordon replied. "I'll take care of it."

"I will leave you gentlemen to your game of chess," Tavington said as he headed to the door. "The lady awaits and I don't care to keep her waiting any longer than necessary."

After taking a leisurely walk across the fort compound, William Tavington headed directly to the area where the camp followers had their tents. Jane Thompson's tent was the first of the row. Without hesitation, Tavington lifted the flap to enter.

Blinking his eyes to adjust to the dim light within, he found his lover sprawled across her bed in tears, clad only in her shift. Tavington sat down gently beside her on the edge of the bed. He leaned toward her and rested one hand tenderly against her cheek. "What's wrong, my sweet?"

"You're here," she said, sitting up to face him, her face streaked with tears. "I didn't think you'd come."

"I promised you I'd come, didn't I?" he said.

"But I heard that you were m-married today," Jane said, trying to choke back her tears.

Tavington sighed loudly. "News travels fast around here."

"So it's true, then?"

"I'm afraid so," he reluctantly admitted. "Just what exactly did you hear about it?" After a pause, he said, "Tell me everything."

"Captain Bordon came down here to reserve Phyllis for later tonight and I overheard him telling her that you'd ravished some rebel girl while out on patrol one day and that General Cornwallis ordered you to marry her because she's now with child."

Disengaging herself from him, she got up from the bed and stood silently, facing away from him.

He rose from the bed to join her, wrapping his arms around her from behind and drawing her against him. "This doesn't have to change anything between us, you know," he said quietly, leaning over to kiss the top of her head. "You must know that this marriage is not a love match. I only entered into it under duress. Lord Cornwallis made it quite clear that I would marry this girl if I cared to retain command of the dragoons."

Jane did not speak for a long interval. Finally, gathering her courage, she said, "Do you remember me telling you earlier today that I had something I had to tell you?"

"Yes, I was just about to ask you what it was."

She took his hands from her waist and guided them slightly lower to cup her belly. "What do you feel?" she murmured.

Tavington felt a distinct roundness that he had not noticed before when making love to her. Turning her around to face him, he took her face gently in his hands. "You're with child?"

The young woman nodded shyly, then looked away.

"And this child is mine?" Tavington was shocked.

"Yes," she said firmly. "I have not lain with anyone but you for at least six months now."

He did not protest, knowing that his lover spoke the truth. "Oh, Jane," he murmured, gathering her into his arms. "I promise you that our child will be taken care of. I will not abandon you, even though I cannot marry you."

I know you won't," she said, hoping he was telling her the truth.

Neither spoke for several moments as they clung to one another, almost desperately.

"Please don't leave me," Jane whispered after a few minutes. "I want you to hold me all night long."

"There is no place I would rather be tonight," he said as he guided her back to the bed. She sat on the edge of the bed watching him as he quickly shed his uniform, unbound his hair, then crawled into bed beside her.

"You won't be needing this," Tavington said as he helped her to remove her shift. "I will keep you warm." He tossed the garment onto the ground, then drew the bedspread up to cover them both.

Pulling her close, he began kissing his lover as he gently caressed her body. Jane held him tightly, never wanting to let go. When they eventually made love, it was almost as if they were doing so for the first time. Afterward, they remained contently in one another's arms, almost forgetting about the world outside the tent.

"I love you, William," Jane whispered some time later when she realized he'd fallen asleep in her arms. Snuggling closer, she soon joined him in slumber.

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A/N Next chapter: Parting