Bickering Officers:
A day after the Simms had received Beth's warning and William's pleasure had already begun to fade. He'd barely been able to sleep since his argument with Beth at the Simms ball, and her departure from Charles Town certainly did not help matters. The pressures of his duty, sleepless nights caused by his difficulties with Beth, even Colin Ferguson's pending wedding were enough put him in an ugly mood indeed.
He had suspected for some time now that Miss Mary Tisdale had informed Beth of Banastre and William's bid for her virginity, and later of Tavington's continued affair with Linda. He had not had the opportunity to confront the girl thus far but if she was to reside in the British Legion camp, then Tavington knew he must do so, and soon.
After yet another sleepless night, early Monday morning shortly after breakfast, Tavington stopped by the Tisdale residence on his way to the Assembly Hall. After assuring a servant that he was merely there to collect his remaining belongings, he was allowed entry. He trotted up the stairs and strode down the hall toward his former bed chamber. However, instead of letting himself into his room, he knocked on Miss Mary Tisdale's door a little further down the hall.
"Come," her voice called and Tavington strode in, shutting the door tightly behind him.
Mary, who had been sitting at her desk penning a letter, gasped with shock at seeing the Officer stride into her chamber. Tavington was the last person in the Colonies she would've expected to enter!
"Sir!" She rose quickly to confront the Officer. "What is the meaning of this?"
Tavington, in no mood to suffer any foolishness, advanced on her at once. He strode forward until he loomed over the young woman, his face a thunderhead. Mary's eyes widened and she took several hesitant steps back until she was against the wall.
"Miss Tisdale," he addressed her cold, crisp tones. "Did you or did you not inform Miss Martin of the wager that Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton and I had contrived between the two of us?"
No more was needed, Mary - of course - knew exactly what wager William spoke of.
"I… Ah…" She stuttered fearfully, her fingers clutching her silk skirts tight. "Sir, I…"
"Did you tell her or not!" Tavington grated, his shoulders stiff with fury.
Quailing, Mary shrank back against the wall, her hands trembled and tears sprang to her eyes. She nodded wordlessly, confirming William's suspicions.
He glared down at her for several long and tense filled moments, watching her fidget under his gaze.
"And were you the one who informed Miss Martin of my continued involvement with Miss Stokes?" He ground out ominously.
Mary was innocent there. Sort of. She had told Cilla that Linda was visiting Tavington at Mary's home and Cilla had, in turn, told Beth. However, Cilla was in enough trouble with Tavington - being under house arrest as she was! Mary could not reveal her captive friend's involvement now.
Her heart pounding with fear, Mary nodded wordlessly again.
His facade of control snapped. William's face contorted with rage, his nostrils flared and his eyes became narrowed slits.
Terrified, Mary crouched away from the enraged Officer but she could not escape his hard gaze, his fury. William's fists curled at his sides, that this woman, this chit cowering before him was at the root of his and Beth's division. He uncurled his fists and forced himself to turn and take several steps back from her, lest he strike her.
"You are at the heart of all this!" He bellowed, whirling to face her once more. Mary swallowed, her hands pressed to her stomach. He strode suddenly forward again and Mary shrank away, breathing an 'oh' of fear.
"Were you eavesdropping then?" He asked in a deadly tone. "Listening in on my private conversations while I was living here?"
"I didn't mean to!" She gasped as her tears spilled over, blurring her vision. "Your door was open and you were talking to the other Officers and I heard Beth's name. I didn't mean to hear but…"
William's hard face blazed above hers, his pale eyes flashing. Mary swallowed, her heart pounding as she waited for the livid Officer to strike her in his fury.
"You dare to gossip about me?" he said finally, his voice now quiet and deadly.
"I-I'm s-sorry!" Mary choked. "I-I didn't m-mean… B-Beth's my friend!"
Mary lowered her head and sobbed. William tightened his lips as he glared down at the wretched girl.
"I know she is your friend," he said coldly. His shoulders were tight with tension, his face set cold and hard. "At any other time I would applaud your stead fast loyalty to the woman I love." He drew a ragged breath, striving for calm. The girl still wept before him but he was unmoved by her misery. Not when her actions were the cause of his and Beth's misery! "But under no circumstances are you to ever meddle in my affairs."
"I - I'm sorry," she rasped through her tears, seeking to mollify the enraged Officer. Her shoulders shook with the force of her weeping, but still Tavington was unmoved.
"It appears I must explain a few things to you, Miss Tisdale," he continued softly, dangerously. "Very soon you will be marrying one of my own Dragoons. You will be coming away to live in camp along with the other Officer's wives. I will not suffer any person under my Command to speak out of turn or spread malicious gossip." He pinned her with his cold gaze. "Officer's wives are very much under my Command as my troopers, do you understand?"
Mary flushed crimson. She wondered what the penalty would be if she did gossip about Tavington? Her mouth went dry as she imagined the worst - a flogging or being put in the stocks.
"I… I understand," she whispered and gulped hard.
"It gladdens me to hear it," William replied cynically. "I would hate to have to punish the wife of one of my Dragoons. I shall forgive you in this instance, for Beth is your close friend and you have shown her Loyalty, no matter how misplaced. In future, you will transfer that Loyalty to me."
"Yes, Sir," Mary said softly. Mary, sensing the worst was over, raised her flushed face to his. Though her lip trembled, she managed to stop crying.
"Now," he said, suddenly brisk. "I have a task for you."
"A… A task, Sir?" Mary blinked up at him in confusion. He had her so unsettled, confronting her and scaring her half to death and now he was asking her to perform a task for him? She licked her lips and hoped against hope that it was something within her ability to accomplish. Tavington terrified her and she did not want to earn any more of his fury by failing him now.
William pulled an envelop out of his coat pocket.
"You will deliver this to Beth."
"What?" Mary gasped, utterly astounded.
William took a single step closer, looming over her once more. Mary huddled against the wall, gazing up at the Officer with her eyes as wide as they would go.
"I know the two of you are close, Miss Tisdale. You betrayed me to her, after all," a not so subtle reminder that he was none to pleased with her just then. "I am certain you have plans to write to her. You will do so today and you will conceal this letter in the packet along with yours. You will give instructions to Beth to write back to me through you."
"Sir," Mary said finally. "What if she doesn't write back?"
"You will not be held to blame," William assured her primly. "But I promise you, if you mention one word of Linda Stokes… One word, Miss Tisdale and I vow you will regret it."
"No.. I won't," she rushed to assure the fury filled Officer.
Mary's fingers shook as she took the letter from his hands. She was certain Tavington must know how much trouble she could get into, in entering this conspiracy with him. Benjamin would be furious, not to mention Mary's own father..!
William did not seem to care, indeed, he had not given it a moment's thought.
"You will do this," he said now, leaning in close to her, his cold eyes filled with threat.
Then he drew a deep breath and seemed to calm. His fury faded and his expression became earnest. Tense still, but earnest.
"Miss Tisdale," his voice became impassioned. Her eyes widened, she had never heard such a tone from him. "I am in love with her. She does not believe me but I am and I must convince her! You don't know what…" He stopped, momentarily overcome. Drawing a ragged breath, he continued. "What her absence... What it is doing to me. I can't think, I can't eat. I can barely sleep since our argument and its worse now that she is gone. I can find no enjoyment in anything I do." He swallowed and seemed at a loss for a moment, his eyes locked on hers. He finally continued, more quietly than before.
"She loves me - I know she does. She must be in the pits of despair, whiling away on that farm! I can't stand to think of it - with her so far away. Surely you will be willing to help me? You will be helping her as well!"
Mary hesitated, her eyes lowering to the letter in her hands. Colin had kept her informed of all of Tavington's goings on over the last few days. She knew he was still dallying with that Linda Stokes. And yet he was professing love for Beth? Still, she was caught - well and truly. Whether she believed him or not was neither here nor there. She had to do as he bid her, Mary was too fearful to defy him.
"Yes Sir, of course I will send it," she said.
"Thank you, Miss Tisdale," he said formally, assuming his commanding disposition. Mary saw the relief flare in his eyes, however, and his tension ease before his countenance changed. "As I said, you will be residing in camp soon enough. Sending this letter will go a long way in restoring my regard for you."
Mary was not a foolish woman, she heard the threat in his words. If she did not co-operate, he would make her life in camp a living hell.
"You will send word to me at once, when she writes back to you. Instruct her to conceal her correspondence to me within yours."
"Yes, Sir, I will do as you say."
"Thank you," he nodded curtly and with that, he had strode from her bedchamber and marched from the house.
Tavington had been quite correct in assuming Mary would write to Beth. Rebecca was going to as well, and Sarah Wilkins also. Mary herself had been half way through her letter when Tavington had arrived. She resumed her seat now to continue her correspondence, but was suddenly over come.
Placing her head in her hands, she began to cry. She feared Tavington too much to disobey him, but she hated betraying Beth by not revealing what she knew of his continued affair with Linda Stokes. The woman was bedding Tavington even now - at the Putman's, in Beth's own bed! And Mary could not tell her closest friend this terrible truth - she had no doubt that Tavington would, indeed, make her regret it!
Still sniffling, she picked up the parchment - her half written letter to Beth and tore it in half, then again into quarters. She couldn't send the letter as it was, not with the information she had given Beth regarding Tavington and Linda.
With a heavy heart, Mary began her letter afresh, this time avoiding all mention of Miss Stokes.
When Mary finished writing the letter, she read it through with a heavy heart. It bothered her, she felt a traitor. A coward and a traitor for not revealing what she knew of Tavington and Miss Stokes. Fearing her friend would believe Tavington's love letter, Mary bravely wrote a Post Script at the end of her letter, informing Beth that she could not believe anything the Officer wrote to her. She explained she was unable to go into details - sweet Lord - the post script alone could earn her the Officer's wrath!
All she could do was hope it was enough.
::::::::::::::::::::
As the day progressed the mid-Summer heat became increasingly oppressive.
Cilla strolled through the gardens to the rear of the manor house. With its over hanging trees it was the most ideal place on the property to cool off.
These past few days had been pure hell for her and her mother, harrowing and downright scary. On the first day of her captivity she had half expected one of the Redcoats to force themselves on her but so far they had been Gentlemen - or their version of it.
It had been so very frightening but as the days wore on they settled into a routine and she had thus far remained untouched. She and her mother were even allowed to leave their chamber and could move about the house and grounds but they both had guards on them at all times. Cilla did her level best to avoid Lieutenant Colonel Tavington, who was inside in manor at that moment in the dining room pouring over reports. She hated to admit it but that man frightened her most of all. She felt she could hold her own against the other Officers, especially those of her acquaintance - the Loyalist men she had all but grown up with.
Tavington was an entirely different matter.
He was stern and cold - Cilla simply could not imagination how her cousin could be so deeply in love with him! Beth was such a sensible lass usually! And for him to be continuing on with that woman - Linda - in Beth's bedchamber! Cilla bristled with fury. She wished she was brave enough to march into her home, into the dining hall and give that man a piece of her mind! She used to be brave, once. Outspoken. Head strong. Thats what people used to call her. She had enjoyed being defined that way - she was not some soft Gentle Lady!
But Tavington…
No, she could not bring herself to confront that Officer… Not after he had punched her father in the stomach over the slightest provocation. Not after he had taken her father to the cells and seized their home. She could feel his eyes on her sometimes, watching her with a dark expression.
"Too much like her cousin," Tavington had said. Cilla and Beth were both aware of their resemblance, it was how Beth was able to slip by Tavington's guards all those days ago. For Tavington to watch her the way he did… Cilla wondered if her resemblance to Beth provoked and stirred the British Officer. Perhaps she was not safe from his attentions after all. She shivered as though the day had suddenly turned cold.
Two Redcoats trailed her just then, Corporal Arthur Simms and Private Michael Middleton. She had danced with both of them at the ball hosted by the Simms family only a short time ago! These were two of her long time friends who she had grown up with. Picnicked with. They had dined in one another's homes! Cilla's mother was from Middleton stock - Miss Mage Middleton as she was before she married Cilla's father! Michael Middleton was Cilla's cousin! Sort of… The connection was a little obscure but it was there! They were bound by blood and marriage ties, but not too close. Her own father had considered Michael and Marcus as options for Cilla - she could have been married to one or the other of the Middleton twins.
But now one of them guarded her, prevented her from escaping captivity. Not that she would try to escape, not when it meant leaving he mother behind. Even if she was offered the opportunity at that very moment, she would remain captive unless her mother was freed also.
She could not see how that would be possible, in any case. Looking around her right then, she saw nothing but Green Dragoons in their hated Redcoats. So many of them - she sometimes wondered if Tavington had managed to find room for his entire troop on her property. That would be impossible of course, there were at least two hundred Dragoons in the unit. But they came and went from the manor frequently, as Tavington was using it as his head quarters. Their constant presence made the large manor house seem small, giving the appearance of more Redcoats than there actually were. Fifty perhaps, at any given time. No more. And only twenty or so were living there.
Her footsteps crunched through the gravel as she past the rose bushes. A memory flashed through her mind, of the night Tavington had come to visit and the family had gone for a walk. When they returned here Tavington and Beth had fallen behind the rest of the family and Tavington had picked Beth a rose from one of these rose bushes. He had presented it to her, charming her into falling in love with him. Beth had dried and pressed the flower, keeping it as a memento in her diary.
If only Beth could see him now. If only she could hear him! In her own bed chamber doing only The Lord knew what with that... that... loose woman! That doxy! At least Beth was far from here now, far from the Butcher's clutches.
Not so her father. Cilla worried for him every moment of every day. There was nothing she could do for him, not a single damned thing and it made her want to howl with grief and frustration and futility. She did weep, every night into her pillow. During the day however, she would not give the Lobster back bastards the satisfaction.
"How can you do this?" She cried, suddenly. Her thoughts had pushed her beyond her endurance and she rounded on Arthur Simms and Michael Middleton.
They stared at her, startled.
"Do what, Miss Putman?" Arthur replied finally.
"This!" she snapped, waving her arm around. "How can you participate in this - how can you be a part of it? I grew up with you, Mr. Simms!"
"Corporal Simms," Private Middleton corrected her sharply.
"I grew up with you too, Mr. Middleton!" She shouted, denying her 'cousin' his rank of Private.
"I am sorry that this is difficult for you to understand," Arthur replied steadily. "But we are at war, Miss Putman and we each had to choose a side. Those who stand against King and Country are traitors and are not to be treated lightly. Your family, Miss Putman, made the wrong choice."
Cilla felt like screaming. She threw her arms up, whirled and stomped away down the path. She did not get far. Her arm was gripped by Arthur Simms, and she was whirled back to face him.
"Now, listen here," he said quietly and very seriously. "Your father has committed treason, Miss Putman. If there is one person in a single family who is a traitor, Tavington almost always assumes the rest of the family are traitors also. The only exception to this rule are the Middleton's; whose family is so clearly split down the middle. Your position is precarious at best so take my advice and keep a tight rein on that notoriously sharp tongue of yours because if Tavington hears you speaking out, a spanking will be the least of your concerns!"
Cilla stared up at Arthur a little wild eyed.
"Why, what will happen to me?" She asked quietly.
"Nothing good, Cilla," Arthur replied. "Nothing good. So for our friendship, I beg of you, keep your bloody temper!"
Cilla lowered her eyes with defeat and nodded. Arthur loosened his grip on her arm but did not release her entirely. His grasp was reassuring now, rather than forceful.
"All will be well, I'm certain of it," he replied, though he was certain of no such thing. The most likely scenario was that Cilla and Mage would eventually be freed. Nevertheless, he could not promise that Mark Putman would be released. So while the women folk would be fine, chances were, Putman would hang.
She sniffled and reached into her skirts pockets for a handkerchief. When she was more composed, she turned the conversation to safer waters.
"How is Rebecca?" She asked Michael. "I've been cooped up here for days, I haven't seen anyone - any of my friends," Cilla choked a little and the two Loyalist Dragoons assumed sympathetic expressions.
"My sister is fine," Michael assured her. "She misses you."
Cilla, Beth, Rebecca Middleton, Sarah Wilkins and Mary Tisdale had been inseparable in happier days.
"And I her!" Cilla said, unable to hold back her tears now. "And Sarah. And Mary - I'll miss her wedding! Can't you talk to Tavington, about at least letting me attend the wedding? You'll both be there, I could sit in between you and I won't try and talk to anyone, I swear! Please? I want to go!"
"I'll speak to Tavington," Arthur promised. "Though I have no control over his answer. Perhaps he'll allow it, perhaps not..."
"Thank you," Cilla whimpered.
Arthur exchanged a troubled glance with Michael.
Arthur had made his promise and he would not break it, but he was apprehensive. Miss Mary Tisdale had become a touchy subject for the Lieutenant Colonel. The young Officers only had a vague understanding of what had caused the contention. What they understood was that Mary had confided to Beth something about Tavington, which in turn had caused difficulties between Beth and the Commander.
Colin Ferguson, Mary's fiancé, had joined the Green Dragoons and so for Colin's sake, Tavington had not unleashed his full rage at the young woman. He had sat her down and told her in no uncertain terms was she never to gossip about him again, but he was very cool toward her, barely polite.
Further to that, Tavington had been bedding Mrs. Vera Tisdale, Mary's mother. Mrs. Tisdale had been sent away from Charles Town to visit with relatives, though the two Loyalist Officers were well aware that she was being kept out of sight for she was carrying Tavington's by blow.
"It'll be tricky..." Michael murmured, seeing the doubt in Arthur's eyes. Cilla was crestfallen and Arthur sighed heavily. Then he perked up as an idea struck him.
"I know - I'll ask Colin to ask! It's his wedding after all, he should be able to invite who he wises and you are friends with Miss Tisdale and Colin both! Also, Tavington seems to like Colin."
"Oh, thats a wonderful idea!" Cilla almost clapped her hands with relief and excitement. "Oh, please - will you go and speak to him now? Where is he?"
"Soon, Cilla," Arthur rolled his eyes. "Do you want to continue your walk or go inside?"
"Say you want to continue your walk," Michael moaned. "Its so much cooler under these trees."
"Alright," Cilla smiled and turned to continue her walk, feeling positively buoyant for the first time in days.
::::::::
"Damned reports," Tavington muttered as he put his signature on yet another. Bordon picked up another from his own pile and sighed heavily.
"Aye," he agreed. "At least its cool in here."
"Hmm." The two men sat alone at the dining hall - Bordon with a small smirk on his face as he remembered rogering Mage Putman against the wall the other morning. Mage had avoided him for the entire day, much to Bordon's amusement. At that moment, she was with her daughter in their chamber upstairs. If Cilla had not been there with her mother, Bordon might have been tempted to pay Mage a visit and see if she wished to repeat their tryst.
Tavington began to read through another report. Though a few would need to be presented to Clinton, most of the reports were fairly standard and the two were getting through them quickly.
"Are you coming to the tavern tonight?" Bordon asked as they worked.
"Hmm, I think I will. For a short while, in any case. I will play a few rounds before bringing Linda back here."
Bordon smirked. "Make certain you're nice and loud. I believe it makes Mrs. Putman quite hot and bothered."
"I'll be sure to remember that," Tavington snorted. "I'm still livid with you by the way, that you managed to get beneath Mrs. Putman's skirts instead of I."
A sharp indrawn breath at the door way caused both men to glance up. Colin Ferguson stood staring down at Bordon wide eyed, his face flushed with shock.
Careless tongue, Tavington cursed himself. It was too late, however. Colin had heard the Officer's speaking of Bordon bedding Mage.
"Forgive me, Private - I didn't hear you knock," William gave Colin a pointed look of rebuke and the young man's flush deepened.
"I... I'm sorry, Sir, the door was open and.. I didn't mean to eavesdrop."
Tavington sighed heavily. "Is there something I can do for you?" He asked a little harshly.
"I have something I wish to speak with you about, Sir," Colin ventured and waited to be invited to sit. Tavington nodded toward a chair and Colin came deeper into the room, sitting at the table across from Bordon with Tavington in between them at the head of the table.
"Well?" Tavington asked crisply. "The suspense is killing me."
Colin had been staring at Bordon with astonishment, no doubt from hearing that the Captain had rogered Mage.
"Oh, yes... Sir, it's in regard to Cilla Putman."
Tavington stiffened, his eyes became instantly cold.
"What of her?" He assumed an indifferent tone. Pulling his field diary toward him, he began making notations.
"Well, Sir, as you know I am getting married tomorrow," Colin began. Mary and Colin - with their father's consents and their Reverend's, were getting married quickly - without any of the banns being read. "Sir, I understand that Miss Putman is being held in custody but I came to beg of you - please, Sir - will you allow her to attend my wedding?"
Tavington gazed at Colin steadily, his quill poised over the page. Miss Cilla Putman at the wedding. As if the wedding would not be unpleasant enough, now Colin wanted Cilla there. Beth's cousin - who resembled Beth so much that Tavington found it painful to look at her.
"No," he said shortly, coldly. Shifting his gaze back to his task, he began writing again - for him, the discussion was closed.
Colin's jaw dropped.
"Sir..." he protested softly - carefully. Tavington's temper was infamous. Even with that small protest, lines began to form around Tavington's cold eyes, his lips tightening. Carefully... And don't push too far... "Sir, its just that Cilla has been friends with Mary for so long and I know how pleased Mary would be to have her there especially since she can't have Be-" Colin cut off sharply. Mentioning Beth now would be a mistake of major proportions. "Ah, that is, her mother," he said, instead.
Tavington's face darkened.
"Do not lie to me, boy," he growled low in his throat. "You were about to say 'since she can't have Beth'."
Colin pulled his eyes away from Tavington's disconcerting gaze. Everyone - not just Colin but everyone - walked on eggshells to not mention Beth's name in front of the Lieutenant Colonel.
"I'm sorry, Sir. Yes, I was about to say that seeing that Mary can not have Beth, she would be ever so grateful if she could at least have Cilla attend her wedding."
Tavington's scowl deepened.
"There will be enough women there," Bordon interjected before the Commander could unleash his fury. "There should be no need for her to have Miss Putman, for she will have Miss Wilkins, Miss Middleton, Miss Mason and Miss Jutland. And others, I dare say."
"Miss Jutland?" Colin frowned with consternation. He was so shocked, he continued without thought, "your mistress at my wedding?"
Bordon bristled.
"Yes, Private," he said in a dangerous tone. "Miss Jutland. My mistress. At your wedding."
Colin was astonished. It was bad enough they were denying him and Mary their actual friends, the women that deserved to be there, now he was expected to invite strumpets? No. He had to draw the line somewhere - and this was his wedding after all. His and Mary's. No one should expect them to invite doxies!
It was an insult! And disrespectful to Mary!
"With respect, Sir," Colin said firmly. "Many from our peerage will be in attendance. I believe that Miss Jutland may feel out of place with the society Miss Tisdale and I have invited to our wedding."
There. It was said, as respectfully as Colin could. He did not come right out and say that Harmony was base born and a strumpet, but he did make it clear she would not be welcome among the gentry who would be attending his wedding.
Bordon curled his hands into fists, his entire body was thwart with tension.
"I will suffer no insult to Miss Jutland," Bordon said softly.
"And you have received none."
Surprisingly, it was Tavington who spoke. His frown was directed at Captain Bordon. "I am surprised at you Bordon, why in the world would you expect your mistress to be invited to a wedding of one of Charles Towns patricians? I will certainly not be bringing mine!"
Bordon turned to Tavington, his face wide with shock.
"William!" He protested hotly. "With respect - Harmony can hardly be compared to Linda who, up until a week ago, sold her wares to whoever desired them!"
Tavington snorted - he was not offended in the least. Half of his Dragoons had bedded Linda - Bordon included. And they could continue bedding her, as long as she saw to his own needs first.
"Be that as it may, Miss Jutland is an unmarried woman who is openly sharing your bed. You were not even her first - this we both know! Ladies of the Aristocracy should not be subjected to her presence! As a Gentleman born of the nobility yourself, I would have expected you to understand this!"
"I do understand!" Bordon growled, his face twisted with rage.
"You wouldn't take Miss Jutland to your sister's wedding would you?" Tavington pressed his point.
"Of course not!" Bordon snapped. "My mother would have apoplexy! But we are far from home and we are speaking of the Colonial Aristocracy!"
Richard cut short, realising his mistake at once - he had given away too much of his true opinion, that Colonial Aristocracy was merely an imitation of England's nobility.
"Oh! I see!" Colin raised his voice, hearing the insult at once. "Of course! You conduct yourself at a lesser standard because you are in the Colonies!" His voice was thick with sarcasm and outrage.
Captain Wilkins, who had been passing by, came into the dining hall to listen as Colin continued to rage.
"Because our women are not as noble. Our aristocracy is merely a facade - you certainly don't have to conduct yourself as a Gentleman among us! Our women are not proper Ladies!"
"Private, you forget yourself!" Bordon raged but Colin was too furious to be stalled so easily.
"By all means - bring your mistress! And Colonel - you bring yours too!" Colin rose from his chair. "Hell, I'll just head on down to the slave docks now and invite the strumpets that ply their trade there! Mary won't mind! Because she's not a real noblewoman - she's just a Colonial imitation!"
"You are very close to insubordination, Ferguson!" Bordon shouted, rising also. His face was blotched with red, his knuckles were white - his fists clenched so tight. "And you sound just like a Patriot!"
"What the Devil?" Colin cried incredulously, throwing his arms up in the air. It was damned lucky for them both that the table was between them, or the two may well have gone for one another's throats. "You call me a Patriot because I am protesting this outrage? It astounds me that you would conduct yourself in a less Gentlemanlike manner with my Colonial fiancé than you would your English born sister!"
"He's right," Wilkins interjected, in a very serious tone. "Colonial women of society should not be treated any differently to the peerage of Britain," he pinned Bordon with an arched stare. "Now, do you care to suggest that I might be a Patriot for holding such an opinion?" He challenged while standing at Colin's side.
Wilkins expression dared his fellow Captain to do just that. There was not a man in the army who questioned Wilkins Loyalty.
Bordon pressed his lips tightly and said nothing.
"Care to tell me what this is about?" James asked Colin. Colin was still staring balefully at Bordon and the look was being returned with interest. There might be bloodshed soon, despite the table between them! Tavington gazed at them both, allowing them time to sort this between themselves before intervening.
"He wishes to bring Miss Jutland to my wedding," Colin ground out. Wilkins drew in a sharp breath.
"Captain Bordon!" Wilkins voice rose in astonishment. "My wife and mother will be at that wedding! Impossible! You can't be serious!"
"Why isn't it possible?!" Bordon shouted at James. "Because she is a 'loose woman'? A 'strumpet'?"
"Yes," William said clearly.
Bordon froze. He turned slowly to stare down at Tavington, his eyes wide with shock.
"Bordon, as fond as I am of Miss Jutland, Wilkins and Ferguson are entirely correct," William continued crisply. "What do you think Clinton would say? Mrs. Simms will be at the wedding! We shall do nothing to insult the Loyalist aristocracy of South Carolina. Every single one of them support the war to some degree or another in ways too numerous to count. Clinton would be none to impressed to hear complaints from patricians, who were forced to associate with women of more dubious character."
Bordon bristled, momentarily at a loss for words.
"And yet Ferguson wants Patriot Cilla Putman to attend the damned wedding?" He ground out finally. "A traitor!"
"Patriot she might be, but she is still a noblewoman!" Colin cried. "She has committed no treason!"
"Come to think of it," Wilkins said calmly. "Most of the Patriot leaders are from the Colonies elite. Being a Patriot does not mean a person is lowly born," he curled his lip. "It merely means they are deluded fools who all deserve to hang."
The men fell quiet and as expected, they all turned to Tavington for his judgement. As he had known they would.
"What will I tell Harmony?" Bordon asked before Tavington could speak. "I've allowed her to believe she would be attending - if she suddenly can't, I'll have to tell her why - it will crush her!"
"Then you should have chosen your mistress more wisely," William snapped, frustrated now with his Captain. "Or better yet - not taken a mistress at all seeing that you are so clearly inexperienced!A Gentlemen who keeps a mistress lives two lives. He takes his wife to formal, high society affairs," he placed his two hands on one side of the table, then shifted them over an imaginary line to the other side of the table. "And his mistress, to affairs of the more common type, such as gaming houses!"
He held Bordon's glare and continued, "unless the woman herself is of the nobility - which Miss Jutland most certainly is not - Gentlemen do not take their mistresses to mingle among the peerage. End of story."
Bordon stood tall, his face blanked of emotion, one arm looped behind his back. Seeking to control his anger and offence in the age old military stance. Tavington sighed heavily.
"I believe I have a solution," he murmured and all eyes turned to him. He held Colin's gaze. "Private, Miss Jutland is not well known amongst the peerage. I believe she could pass off for one of them - she has done so twice already. As long as they do not know she is Bordon's mistress, you will not be disgraced by inviting her."
"Mary knows," Colin frowned. "Is that not enough?"
"No it is not," Tavington snapped. "You fiancé is not entirely in my good graces, as you damned well know! I hardly care if she knows Miss Jutland is bedding Bordon, nor do I care if she is distressed by Miss Jutland's presence!"
Colin held his silence but his face was blotched red and his body tight with anger. Mary had been in the right to tell Beth of Tarleton and Tavington's intentions toward her - of their disgraceful wager. For Colin, it served as another example of how little these 'Gentlemen' thought of South Carolina's aristocracy, that they could treat so disgracefully with Beth!
"I was not speaking of Miss Tisdale, Private. I was speaking of the other guests," William ground out. "It will not be common knowledge amongst them all, only a handful will know the truth. Most of them will simply believe Miss Jutland to be a woman Bordon is courting - much as they assumed when he took her to the ball. Her presence there will not reflect poorly on you or your bride."
"You want me to allow this." Colin said, flatly and furious.
"Yes and in exchange I will allow Miss Putman to attend."
Tavington held Colin's gaze, he saw the Private's indecision. Bordon shifted beside him and slowly resumed his seat.
"A bargain. Take it or leave it, Private Ferguson," Tavington snapped, out of patience. He had more pressing matters to attend to, than who attends Colin's bloody wedding! "If Miss Jutland does not attend, nor does Miss Putman."
Colin tightened his lips, damned near shaking with rage. This was his wedding! His and Mary's! He was bargaining for Cilla Putman to attend - a close friend and a woman of quality at the price of suffering the presence of a strumpet!
Still, he was left with little choice. Cilla herself would be extremely disappointed if she could not attend and Mary - Hell, Mary would be in tears! And so Colin's decision was made for him.
"So be it," Colin grated. Then he turned to Bordon, noting that some of the Captain's tension had eased with Colin's acceptance. Swallowing a sharp retort, he nodded curtly and strode from the room.
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A/N: To Ms A - thanks again for the lovely review! Haha - yeah, Benjamin's protective of his kids - and Burwell was speaking of Ben's daughter after all!