(Mary's Point of View)
"There's a good girl," I murmured as I slowly brushed the tangles from Ember's mane. The mare nickered and turned her head to look at me, studying me with large brown eyes. I had time to spare so I decided to take her for a ride; still, I brushed her to a shine before saddling her and leading her out of the stables.
I had been warned to stay away from the deer-paths, so I took Ember to the gardens. The mare pulled at her bit, straining to eat some weeds.
"Oh no you don't," I spoke, pulling her head up. Ember's ears pricked back and she eased into a trot at my request. We had only gone a few paces when she stumbled over a loose rock and I pulled her up, dismounting.
Ember whimpered, picking up her left front foot; I frowned, noticing that the shoe had come loose.
"Let's get you back to your stall."
I began to lead the mare out of the gardens when I heard a voice from the nearby woods call, "Mary?"
Looking toward the woods, I saw nothing and pressed Ember on, but the voice called again, "Mary? Mary Webb?"
The voice sounded familiar now, but I could not place it. Hesitantly, I ordered Ember to halt and stepped cautiously toward the woods, where the owner of the voice stepped out from behind tall brambles, dressed in a Colonial soldier's uniform.
"David!" I gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I should ask the same of you," my brother replied, pulling me into a tight embrace. "I thought the Redcoats would have done away with you! Are you all right?"
"Yes yes, but you mustn't be here," I spoke urgently.
"But what of you? Don't you want to get away from here? These men… these…dogs! And that colonel!"
"Really, David, I am all right. And that colonel has not harmed me."
"But won't you come with me?" he asked.
"David, I-"
"Mary?," another voice called from behind me.
I started and David melded into the greenery.
Gen. O'Hara stood nearby, holding Ember's reins.
"General; I'm sorry; you caught me off guard." I replied as O'Hara stepped toward me.
"Were you talking to someone?" he asked.
"No; I was just thinking aloud; Ember's shoe is loose. She tripped over a stray rock."
O'Hara frowned, wrapping his arm absentmindedly around my waist.
"We should get her back to the stables then."
"One moment; I believe I dropped something near the bushes. Please, take her ahead of me?"
"Very well. But do be quick. There's rabble in the woods," he replied, kissing me intently. "Tonight, and please, don't make me wait…"
As soon as the general was out of sight, I crept back toward the woods.
"David?" I whispered. "David, are you still here?"
A grunt came from behind a tree, where my brother was hidden, a look of anger and deep disappointment on his face.
"Mary, what have you done? Why has that man got his arms around you?"
"David, don't. Please…"
"Are you his plaything? His whore?" he hissed. "Do you go to his bed?"
"David!"
"Have you learned nothing?!"
"David…" Tears stung at the corners of my eyes.
"Damn you!" he shot. "You're naught but spoiled goods behind a pretty face!"
"Stop! Stop it!" I screamed, sobbing.
My brother stared at me wordlessly, his grey eyes cold and unyielding before he turned away, disappearing silently into the woods.