Overheard

Jillian was trying to keep her two 'contestants' at bay for as long asshe possibly could. O'Hara was starting to catch on, and went to the Lord General to complain.

"She's stalling, sir," O'Hara said," She knows you wont approve until she picks, and she's stalling now."

"Come now O'Hara," Cornwallis said, not bothering to hide his annoyance," If you want my neice, and love her like you are always saying you do, then give her all the time she wants. Besides, you don't see Colonel Tavington complaining."

"That is because he doesn't care," O'Hara said," He only asked to court Jillian because he favors her, and he feels I'm not good enough for her."

"O'Hara that is the most rediculous thing I everheard you accuse the colonel of," Cornwallis said," Now, if you are this much in a hurry to hear the decision thenI will talk to Jillian about speeding it up, but for right now just be patient with her. This is a rather tight spot you two have put her in."

"Yes," O'Hara said," I didn't think about that."

"Well," Cornwallis said," You go and enjoy Sunday while it's still here, and I will go and speak with Jillian. Do you know where she is?"

"She's locked herself up in her quarters," O'Hara said," Hasn't come out for hours."

Cornwallis sighed and went to go talk to Jillian.

"Oh Tavy," Jillian said," What on earth am I going to do?"

Tavy tilted his black and white face up to her and stared at her. He then reached up with his little paw, and swatted at the curls of hair hanging off of Jillian's bun. She laughed.

"You are so easily distracted," Jillian said.

"Jillian," said a voice through the door," Jillian are you sleeping?"

"No I'm not," Jillian said. She went to the door and opened it," Hello uncle."

"Really on a day as fine as this I expected to have Tavington in my office complaining to me that you were giving him trouble again," Cornwallis said.

Jillian laughed," Well I feel that my quarters are the safest place right now. I wish to enjoy Sunday without the same question ringing in my head all day."

"Ah, well," Cornwallis said," You know you can't keep them waiting forever."

"I know," Jillian sighed.

"Which is why I have come to tell you that I am giving you a due date," Cornwallis said.

"Oh Uncle please don't," Jillian said.

"I'm sorry Jillian, but I cannot have O'Hara coming to me every day and asking about your decision. You have until the day after your birthday. If by then you haven't decided, I will decide for you. Agreed?"

"Yes," Jillian sighed," It's not like I would have had a choice anyway."

"Oh come now," Cornwallis said," You will figure out who you are most comfortable with in time, and the decision you make will make you happy. I know it will."

He kissed Jillian on the top of her head and left. Tavy was growling very low. Jillian looked at him.

"You watch your mouth," Jillian told him. Tavy meowed lightly.

It was almost eleven o'clock at night, and most of the officers were in the ballroom, spending the last couple of hours of their free day drinking. Though many were drunk and talking in very loud voices, none could drown out the voice of O'Hara, who was just downing his tenth mug of beer. Tavington was quite amused at seeing his superior being more drunk then he was. In fact, for the first time in a while, Tavington was completely sober. O'Hara was sitting there among a small group of officers, and talking loudly about how stupid it was to try to take someone when someone else had already asked for that persons hand. Tavington laughed to himself. He didn't mind that O'Hara was trying to make him mad, because he didn't plan on giving in, but then...

"That Jillian," O'Hara said," She's a pretty girl, oh yes."

He gulped the rest of his beer down, and was handed another.

"I can't wait to get her in bed with me," O'Hara said," She knows she wants some from me. The little slut."

"Now just a damn moment," Tavington said," Don't you dare speak about Jillian that way."

Captain Bordon pulled him back down," Don't make him do worse then he already is."

"I could have saved her that day," O'Hara said," Then I wouldn't be here with you fine gentlemen. I'd be in my quarters with Jillian."

Tavington made another move to get up but Bordon held him down," Don't. He's just drunk."

"Just wait," Tavington growled," I'll get himgood.''

"Oh my," Bordon said," You're not the only one."

"What are you talking about," Tavington asked. Bordon pointed to the door, where a green dress was disappearing around the corner. There was only one person Tavington knew who had a dress that green.

"Jillian," Tavington called. He ran out of the ballroom.

A door slammed above him. Tavington reached the landing on the second floor and went straight to Jillian's door.

"Jillian," he said as he knocked on the door," Jillian let me in."

The lock on the door clicked, and Tavington opened it. Jillian was laying down on her bed, and Tavy was sitting on her stomache, purring with his eyes closed as Jillian absentmindedly scratched his ears.

"Jillian,"Tavington said," Im sorry you had to hear that."

"I'm not," Jillian said," It made my choice so much easier."

Tavington stared at her.

"Colonel Tavington," Jillian said," Do you really want to court me, or did you just do that to help me with O'Hara."

"I don't really know," Tavington said," Both now that I think about it."

Jillian nodded," I appreciate it. My uncle gave me a due date. I have til after my birthday to decide you know. I think I know who I am going to pick."

Tavington sat down next to her, and looked into her eyes," Do you know how strange it's going to be, if I get married to you?"

Jillian laughed," That's the only thing I could ever thibk about. We used to despise each other. I think this war is a tie."

"I agree," Tavington said," Now I think you should go to sleep, and once again I apologize for what you heard down there."

"It's alright," Jillian said," I'm not the one who should be worried about it."

"Nor I," Tavington said as he went to the door.

"Thank you for sticking up for me," Jillian said. Tavington left the room. If anything, he just saved Jillian from having to do anything with O'Hara, and that's exactly what he had been trying to do.