Author's note: I know, I know, it's been awhile, but I haven't been feeling the love. Please read and review to keep me going.

Chapter 14

Sarah looked at herself in the full length mirror. She was almost unrecognizable. Abigail was right; the teal dress was beautiful on her. All that time in the dragoon camp and Sarah never really cared what she looked like. Of course, she kept herself clean and tidy, but that was the extent of it. It wasn't as if she were trying to impress anyone. But now with her hair scrubbed and set up in a fashionable coif along with properly fitting clothes, she had to admit she liked the look.

"You look beautiful Miss." Abigail said smoothing out the back of the gown. "Your hair is such a pretty shade."

"It's the red in it." Sarah sighed looking at her reflection. "I've always hated the color."

"I don't know why you would hate it. Many women would kill for it."

Sarah wasn't sure why she was harping on the subject but issued a polite thank you.

"Colonel Tavington will be pleased." Abigail said with a smile on her face as she appraised her.

"I'm thrilled," Sarah muttered rolling her eyes. "I live for pleasing the bastard," she said a little softer.

Abigail didn't seem to hear as she continued fussing over her until finally Sarah walked away from her probing fingers that were continually picking at her dress.

"Is it time?" she asked a bit hastily wanting it to be over already. She knew this was just something for her to pass the time until she could go home, and it was better than performing surgery on poor souls. However, spending time with Tavington made her uneasy and she really didn't like the feeling.

A knock on the door answered her question and Abigail opened it to find Tavington on the other side. He walked in only two steps before his jaw dropped open. She was striking and he couldn't do much more than gape. Sarah raised an eyebrow.

"Is there a problem Colonel?" she asked.

"Yes, there is," he said coming to his senses and walking closer to her, "You are absolutely riveting."

"Really?" she drawled. "I must say Colonel, you are quick with flattery."

"I am completely sincere in my compliment my dear. I don't believe I have ever seen anything more beautiful."

Sarah's sarcasm quickly diminished at his seemingly heartfelt words. She blushed slightly and looked down from his probing gaze. Abigail shifted her feet nervously causing Tavington to give her a backward glance.

"Leave us" he ordered.

She hesitated only briefly giving Sarah an encouraging smile before taking her leave. Tavington moved closer yet picking up her hand and kissing the back of it.

"May I have the pleasure of escorting you down to the dining area?" he asked.

Sarah nodded her head slowly. This was all too confusing for her. The colonel was being…well…charming. His arrogance seemed like it shrunk too. What the hell was going on?

They walked down the spiral staircase together. A small legion of officers were conversing at the bottom and it seemed that almost instantaneously six pairs of eyes were upon them. Tavington led her through, giving the men a glare as if daring them to interpose on his territory.

"Miss Ferguson, so nice to see you again," General Cornwallis said meeting them as soon as they entered the dining area. "I must thank you for your care to his majesty's soldiers. I understand you have worked admirably matching that of any man who would be in a position such as yours. Your efforts should be commended and I hope a dragoons camp life has not left you too put out."

"What has left me put out General is being away from my family. I once again must request you allow me to return to them."

Cornwallis looked at her at what only seemed to be pity and possibly regret leaving Sarah somewhat hopeful that he would comply. However, Tavington was soon to speak up.

"If I may say so my lord, I believe Miss Ferguson has already proved her value to his majesty's army. Allowing her to return would be detrimental to this army as well as its wounded."

Sarah stiffened, so much for charming.

"I regret to say that I do agree with Colonel Tavington Miss Ferguson. Your skills are priceless to this army. It would be foolish to let you go; however I am sympathetic in nature and would not object to reevaluating this matter at a later period in time."

Sarah relaxed slightly at his words, although they weren't exactly what she preferred to hear, there was a tinge of hope echoed in them. She managed to murmur a thank you before sitting down to dinner. The meal was heavenly consisting of mutton and potatoes, something that she hadn't seen in a long time. She ate quietly careful not to return the stare that pierced her from across the table. Tavington sat across the way relaxingly in his chair engaging in polite conversation with several of the other officers. She purposefully did not look his way still steaming from his abrupt rebuttal of her plea to the General. She stabbed a potato roughly thinking of it.

"I don't think it will get away from you," whispered the officer to her right.

She looked at him stunned at her show of anger but returned his warm smile.

"No, I suppose it won't. Forgive me; something else was on my mind."

"Obviously, I hope you don't mind me saying that you are quite a striking woman. I don't believe I have ever seen hair the color of yours. And rumor has it you are a medical doctor treating our wounded. I must thank you for being so generous with your skills."

"Miss Ferguson is a prisoner of war," Tavington said stiffly glaring at the man.

Sarah looked over at him for the first time and fixed a fierce look his way. How dare he interrupt her conversation.

"Well then, that is even more impressive. I realized you were a colonist, but a prisoner of war…that is commendable treating the enemies wounded."

"A human life is valuable no matter what side it fights on," Sarah said, "most of the time," she muttered looking at Tavington meaningfully.

He quirked his lip up in a small smirk but immediately frowned again at the soldier's continued praises.

"I do hope you will grant me the privilege of dancing with me at the upcoming ball."

"Ball?" Sarah asked confused.

"Yes, two days from now, surely you will be in attendance."

"Oh, I don't know," Sarah said eyeing Tavington with suspicion. "I'm not sure a prisoner of war is welcome at such an event."

"Surely you don't mean to keep the lady locked up while she is here Colonel," he asked pointedly at Tavington, "After all she has given to the British recently; I would think a little play would be in order."

"She will be there…under my supervision."

Sarah made a face and turned to smile at the man beside her. She examined his uniform before speaking.

"May I ask your name Colonel?" she asked sweetly.

"How rude of me not to introduce myself; Colonel Banastre Tarleton at your service," he said picking up her hand and kissing the top of it gently.

"Charmed," Sarah said noting with deep satisfaction the reddening of Tavington's face. "And rest assured Colonel, there will be a dance saved for someone as gentlemanly as you."

Tavington fumed at her flirtatiousness and stabbed a piece of meat from his plate. He had lapsed in his tactics and it had cost him what little trust he had gained from her recently. He had better be more careful.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You're angry with me aren't you?"

"And you're jealous."

Tavington inclined his head but gave no denial to the accusation.

"For whatever reason, I don't know. I haven't given you any indication that I am remotely interested in you. In fact, I believe I have gone out of my way to show you how much I truly loathe you. You are a vile, overbearing, pompous…"

"Now, now, let's not say things that you may regret later," Tavington said placing two fingers over her lips. His voice was soft yet filled with an authority that compelled her to listen and remain quiet. He moved two steps closer to her, "I sense I have placed you in a predicament where you are questioning how you truly feelabout me. There is a fine line between love and hate; one that is easily confused. If I have caused you any anguish I am genuinely sorry, for my feelings for you have left me in a type of soundless turmoil. I feel utterly bewildered by you and my instincts tell me that you feel the same."

His voice was raspy and she could feel the warmth of it on her face. Closing her eyes, she fought the feeling that was rising in her. She recognized it instantly; it was the need to be wanted. All the lonely months she spent away from her family, away from Ben were taking a toll on her. It was difficult to give so much of oneself to others, to her patients; to give so much caring to them and invest so much time into them and yet not have the same given to her. It was overwhelming. Yet here was a man who in the past forty-eight hours showed such untypical kindness to her, who seemed to show a genuine interest in her, that she felt drawn to him despite the common sense that screamed in her head. His lips brushed ever so slightly against hers and she shuddered at the sheer intensity of it. There was a knot at the pit of her stomach that was screaming to be released and she put her hand against his chest to brace herself.

"Please don't," she whispered, although whether it was to him or more to herself she couldn't be sure.

To her surprise however, he stopped his advancement and placed his forehead on hers. He rested it there for a moment before pulling reluctantly away. He lifted her hand and kissed the back gently.

"I will leave you to retire and send Abigail in to assist to your needs." He smiled feebly before taking his leave.

Sarah watched him go with an anxiousness that cornered on relief and disappointment. Exactly what was going on with her she did not know, but knew her memories of Ben were becoming fewer and far between being replaced with more recent ones centering on a blue-eyed colonel. Feeling utterly shaken, she sank to the floor where she stood and began to cry.