Author's note: Again, I have written this quickly and posted it. I tried to hastily proofread it, so please excuse any errors you may find. I will try to get back soon and correct

Chapter 52 Nuptial Nerves

Major Wilkins and General Tavington stood on the porch as they watched their women walk away, laughing and smiling at each other as they did, obviously talking about silly girlish things. Jim seated himself in a comfortable rocking chair as William sat on the porch railing, leaning up against a column.

The two officers were civil and polite to each other, realizing they had better find a way to smooth the friction between them since their women were best friends. As well, too, that Tavington realized that the Wilkins' winery was the biggest customer of the Prescott plantation.

The men talked a little about business, but mostly of the army. William took the opportunity to get caught up on the latest gossip from the fort and within the now fractured dragoon unit, which had been folded into Tarleton's legion. Tavington was glad to hear of the latest happenings at the fort from someone who resided there most of the time.

There was a silence as a servant came out to refill their snifters with more brandy. With this, Wilkins took the opportunity to change the subject.

"Bridget is with child," he announced.

"Well, hear hear!," Tavington replied with a slight smiled. He stretched from where he was to clank his glass against Jim's in an impromptu toast. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you. We're happy…..and excited."

"As well you should be," William commented.

"The baby should be here at the beginning of November," informed Jim. "I hope I'm back by then."

"Back?", queried Will.

"Yes. There are rumors that we will be moving as far north as Virginia," he stated. "The Lord General wants to take back as much as he can. I assume they will send the cavalry with them."

"Yes, Commander Tarleton had alluded to as much lately," commented William. Tavington thought to himself that with his health getting better each day, that he may be called upon to move north with them, as well.

The general changed the subject. He began, slowly, measuring his words. "Major….Jim… I'd like to thank you for helping me away from the field at that battle at those Cowpens in the winter."

"You're welcome," Major Wilkins answered, "but there is no need to thank me. I was just doing my duty. I could not leave my commander behind to fall into enemy hands."

Jim tried hard to sound sincere and humble because he wasn't telling the whole truth. When he'd seen Tavington injured on the field that day, he had been inclined to leave him there to die as Wilkins detested many of the 'methods' his dragoon commander used on the colonials. Jim also had never been able to forgive or excuse Tavington for ordering him to throw the first torch at Pembroke Village, which burned the church and the entire population within it.

But, it was this very thought that flashed across Jim's mind as he left the field. Always able to keep his mind and not let adrenaline overtake all his thinking, Wilkins made the decision to help Tavington for his own selfish motive. He reasoned how damaging it might be to his business if the colonel fell into rebel hands. Wilkins could only guess what secrets Tavington might give up amidst a torture session or in bargaining for freedom as he knew the man to sometimes be ruthless. Jim couldn't risk the damning information of his actions at Pembroke making its way across the countryside—he would be shunned and no one would want to do any business with him.

"I'm sure you've heard that some people are refusing to do business with Melanie—well, and now with us—because they think of her as a fallen woman since she was Bordon's mistress," Tavington probed.

"Yes, I was distressed to hear of it," Jim answered.

"I adore Melanie and hate to see her so upset over a possible failure of a business that her beloved father worked so hard to build," Tavington commented. "I know that becoming a married woman will help repair some of that damage."

"Yes, I'm sure it will," agreed Jim.

"However, there remains the matter of my own…..uh….reputation," Tavington began, "which is why I'd like to ask a favor of you."

"Of course."

"Might I ask you to 'whitewash' my reputation….uh…sort of….diminish…some of the things I did or ordered as a dragoon commander?," Tavington asked humbly, yet with dignity. "While it helps Melanie that she is getting married, the fact that she is marrying 'Tavington the Butcher' won't help things."

Jim Wilkins said nothing, instead listening intently to the favor being requested of him.

"Maybe you could say that many of the things I did or ordered were just rumor or propaganda spread by the rebels," Will suggested. "Perhaps you could blame some of our actions on the Lord General?"

"Sir?" Jim spoke up in a puzzled tone. Again, he could not believe he was being asked to participate in a lie. However, he quickly remembered how he saved the colonel for his own selfish intentions, so he could not cast any stones.

"Anything that you could do to help Melanie and I become a….favorable…couple would help," William requested. "It would help our plantation. Melanie loved her father so much and wishes the farm to succeed. My late father-in-law worked so hard to make it profitable."

Jim said nothing, trying to keep a poker face. Inside, he was secretly aghast that he was being asked nicely to lie.

"Think of it as a favor for Melanie more so than me," Tavington advised. "I know the two of you are close and grew up together, and I know you care for her and this plantation."

"Yes, I do," Jim admitted. "I understand. I will write to our mutual associates and assuage their fears and doubts right away."

"Thank you…..for Melanie's sake," Tavington said, mustering some humility. Inside he was relieved, secretly not wanting to start married life with a failing business. He knew Major Wilkins' reputation and word to be good throughout the countryside and with commerce in the area.

Jim took this opportunity to help himself and his plantation out, as well. "Might I ask a favor of you as well, William," he asked. He found it hard to call his former commander, and current upper echelon officer by his first name, but knew it necessary to try to have a friendship and business relationship with his wife's bestfriend's fiancé.

"Would you do the same for me?," Wilkins requested, continuing on. "Would you ….diffuse….dome of the things I did as a dragoon? In particular, never to reveal what I did at Pembroke."

"That was not your fault," Tavington pointed out. "You were acting under my orders against your own morals and judgment."

"Yes, but the countryside and my customers do not know that," Wilkins stated. "There would be severe consequences to my plantation if they knew of my actions at Pembroke village."

William rose from where he sat on the porch railing. "Should anyone ever speak of it, I will deny your participation in it. I will blame the whole incident on Lord Cornwallis—by his order. I will say that you were only there because we were in the vicinity at the time; that we could do nothing and were helpless to standby and watch."

Major Wilkins rose from his seat. With that, the two officers shook hands on their mutual deal each agreeing to shield or diminish one another's misdeed and reputations. About this time the women appeared, again laughing and smiling, making their way back to the veranda to join the men.

Hours later, the Wilkins' bid goodbye to their neighbor and the newly engaged couple, satisfied that both were entering freely into the decision to marry. They were happy that Miss Prescott seemed to be getting the best that she could for a husband in the short time frame that she had to do it in. Bridget and Jim hoped that the future General and Mrs. Tavington would eventually find love and understanding.


A few nights later, William, feeling in a rather randy mood, tried to find some sort of excuse to get Melanie into a compromising position, hoping she would relent and let him get under her skirt before the wedding night. Having her in a bedroom down the hall did nothing to quell his arousal. After a moment of pacing his lonely room, an idea finally came to him. The general recalled how vulnerable to girl had been upon awaking from a horrid nightmare about Bordon, so he'd use that as the ruse to get into her bed.

The officer padded down the hallway to Melanie's room. He crept through the door and inside to her bedside, where he gazed at her sleeping soundly. William took a breath, then shook his fiancée awake.

"Melanie? Melanie? Are you alright?"

The girl opened her eyes sleepily, trying to orient herself. When she realized it was er fiancé standing over her, she sat bolt upright, worried that something had happened.

"William? What is it?"

"I thought I heard you scream," he lied. "I was worried that you had another nightmare."

"You must be hearing things," Melanie replied. "I'm fine. I was sleeping well."

"I'm sorry, darling, that I woke you," he apologized. An awkward moment of silence passed between the general and Miss Prescott.

After a minute, William broke the quiet with a request. "May I sit with you for a few minutes?" He took Melanie's hand and kissed it softly, looking lovingly at her as he did.

That look of his always melted the young woman. How could she refuse him? "Of course you may," she answered.

The two remained still, quietly sitting in each other's company. During the stillness, Melanie suddenly felt playful and impish. She decided she would like to 'test' her fiancé and his will.

Miss Prescott pushed back the coverlet, exposing her nightgown clad body. She pulled her legs out from beneath the sheets and up close to her body, folding her legs under her. William shot her a puzzled look as she did this, but said nothing. He cocked his head to the side as he continued to watch her actions.

The young woman moved slowly toward her fiancé and cautiously slid one of her legs across his legs where he sat on her bed. In a moment, she had climbed onto his lap and was seated astride him, facing the man with a demure look of innocence on her face. She reached down and slowly pulled her gown up her legs as she shifted upon his lap. As she moved, Melanie felt his arousal against her through his night shirt. The two remained quiet as they stared intently at one another in this sensuous position.

After a moment of this quiet torture from his betrothed, the general could no longer stand it. His lips met Melanie's, kissing her slowly as he threaded his fingers into the blonde waves of her hair. She did not push him away, but kissed him back. Soon her wet mouth outlined his jaw with kisses, blazing a trail to his neck.

He sighed as the young woman kissed his neck and nibbled his ear. Will's hands found Melanie's, where he took them in his. The officer guided her hands up to her bodice and put her fingers on the drawstring of it.

"Show me that you want me," he whispered first in her ear, then kissed it.

Miss Prescott let out a light, nearly inaudible breath, then pulled slowly on the string. William rewarded her action with a soft, sensual kiss as the string came loose. His lips found their way to her other ear where he murmured, "I want you to take it off."

Melanie sighed. She looked into William's lust filled eyes as she pushed the delicate garment down off her shoulders. The young woman heard her fiancé release a tension filled breath just before he kissed her again.

As they kissed, his hands cupped her bare breasts, eliciting a sigh from Melanie. She let his hands do as they pleased and she soon began to feel a soft heat building on her skin, making it flushed. His fingers rolled and gently pinched her nipples, making her want him.

William kissed at her neck as his fingers worked her breasts. In turn, Melanie kissed his neck and nibbled his ears, firing the officer with even more excitement. After another moment, Will pushed his fiancé down onto her back on her bed. His knees pushed her legs apart as his head dipped to her chest.

"Oh…..mmm….," she sighed as she felt William's mouth on her nipple. He sucked one gently, then moved to the other one, taking his time teasing it with his lips and tongue. And though this felt good to the girl, she came to her senses, stopping her fiance's actions.

"Will….we have to stop," she whispered as she gently pushed a stunned Tavington off of her. The girl sat up and looked at him. "We can't. What if we are caught together in my bed before we are married?"

A sexually frustrated William spoke up. "Melanie, I do not see what this matters. We have had relations once before….in your room at the fort…..you seduced me."

"Yes, I remember," Melanie said, "but I was angry with Alex when that happened—"

"That doesn't matter," an irritated Tavington shot back. "All that matters is that we did have relations once, and just days ago I had my hands under your skirts and my fingers inside you, pleasuring you before we were interrupted. As I recall, you were enjoying it."

"Yes, Will….but—"

"Then why stop now? So we aren't married yet. We will be in just days."

"Can't you wait until then?", asked Melanie.

"No. As a man, I do have needs," William informed.

There was a silence between the two. Will spoke up, breaking the quiet.

"The next time this happens, I am not going to stop," he warned.

Melanie knew he was frustrated. The girl feared he would end up in the tents of the whores down in the camp if she did not find a way to pacify him.

After a moment, she put her hand on his cheek, then kissed him softly. She kissed him a little harder with no resistance from the officer, then she pushed him down onto the bed on his back. William smiled to himself as they kissed, pleased now thinking his fiancée would soon be straddling him, ready to ride him on to satisfaction.

Instead, William felt Melanie push his nightshirt up to his belly. Then he let out a stunned breath as he felt her hand caressing his hardened member. Her fingers outlined and explored it, nearly driving he officer mad. When he could take it no more, he reached downwards and found her hand, where he closed it around the shaft. Her fist gently squeezed the hardness, eliciting a deep groan from the man.

The young woman began to move her fist up and down his cock slowly, as he relaxed on his back. As she kissed his neck, her lips soon found his ear where she murmured, "Will this do for now, darling?"

"Yes….oh Melanie….oh…" he moaned as her kisses and the action of hand incited so much passion within him. After a moment, she tightened her grip a bit and moved his hand a little faster upon his hardness. The girl kissed his mouth again as she felt his body going rigid, and she knew he was getting close to the edge. Her fist moved in long fast strokes on his member, finally bringing the man to completion.

Tavington groaned as he came, semen spilling out in spurts onto his belly and over Melanie's fist. She loosened her grip on him as she felt the throbbing beneath her fingers, and soothed it with soft strokes.

"Ah…thank you darling," he murmured in a satisfied whisper. They kissed again passionately as she deftly reached for her handkerchief on the nightstand. She lovingly wiped Will clean as they continued to kiss.

In a moment, the couple kissed goodnight, and William left her room, satisfied for the moment. Melanie laid back in bed, relieved that her fiancé did not resort to visiting the whores tents to obtain his relief.


It was the morning of the day before the wedding. In the small formal parlor of the manor house, General Tavington and his good friend Colonel Banastre Tarleton were sprawled out crazily, both passed out from a 'last night' of bachelorhood.

William opened his eyes slowly, then clamped them shut again, the morning light feeling like pins and needles in his eyeballs. He raised his hand to shield his eyes and opened them again. The officer looked about and realized he was at home now. The general moved his yes to the side and caught sight of Ban, face down on the floor, his limbs twisted into crazy positions. Then he became aware of his head pounding, feeling like it would split open.

Tavington closed his eyes again and tried to clear his head of the loud pounding, wanting to remember the previous evening. After taking a couple of breaths, he kept his eyes closed, and gritty memories came back. He recalled riding off to Devington Mills last night with Banastre to have a boys-about-town evening before his wedding in two days. The general recollected that they'd found a card game, and as usual, Banastre ended losing more money than he'd intended to lose, leaving William to cover the loss. Then they went to the local brothel, where Tarleton purchased the two prettiest doxies for the night for William.

At the bawdy house, Will recalled being alone with the two whores. He watched them pleasure each other in turn, then they satisfied him the rest of the evening. During the gambling and the whoring, great amounts of alcohol flowed freely. Somehow, the two made it back to the estate, where both promptly blacked out after a night of gambling, drinking, and whoring.

Will kept his eyes closed and hoped that Melanie would not find out what had transpired. He tried to go back to sleep when he thought he heard the rustle of a skirt. Indeed, Miss Prescott had padded into the room quietly to check on the men after knowing they'd spent the evening out.

Melanie raised her skirt slightly and stepped over a prostrate Tarleton on the floor. Once she made it to the couch, she sighed as she gazed down at her hungover fiancé. Taking pity on his condition, she placed a cool, damp rag on his forehead. As she turned to leave, William barely caught her hand, urging her back to him.

"Thank you, Melanie," he said in a quiet, hoarse voice.

"Good morning, William," she said as she sat on the very edge of the divan next to him. He shifted slightly to allow her to room. "Before you say anything else," she whispered, "I don't even want to know what you did last night."

"I don't remember," Tavington lied, preferring her not to know.

"Well, whatever it was, I forgive you," she said, thinking his horrid hangover was hard enough on him. The girl leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Would you like me to help you up to your bedroom?"

"Yes, please," he answered. "I think I will recover much better there."

Melanie gently helped her fiancé up off the couch. She took his arm over her shoulder, placed hers around his waist to steady him, and helped him walk.

"Careful. Lift you feet here," she said as they stepped over a sleeping Banastre Tarleton.

They stopped before just before the door. "Um…Will…what would you like me to do with him," she asked, referring to his blacked out fellow officer.

"Nothing. Leave him be," said Tavington. "He will recover. He always does."

From there, the Miss Prescott carefully helped the general up the stairs to his room, where she sweetly tucked him in bed. She pulled the drapes shut in the room, allowing his eyes a much needed respite from the light. "I'll wake you later," she said, giving him another delicate kiss on the cheek and placing a cool wet rag over his eyes.

With that, Melanie left the room, closing the door behind her, leaving her fiancé to recover from his night of revelry.


Miss Prescott woke General Tavington late in the afternoon, allowing him time to wash up and change for dinner. The two enjoyed a lovely dinner alone, their last before they would marry tomorrow. Soon afterwards, it was time for the couple to part, unable to see each other until the wedding.

As the two stood enjoying glasses of wine after dinner in the small parlor, they were interrupted by one of the servants.

"The carriage is ready for the General, Miss," he said as he stood in the doorway.

"Thank you. I'll be there momentarily," William answered.

The officer walked to the door of the parlor and closed it. He made his way back to Melanie, took her in his arms and gave her a long, sensual kiss.

"I can't believe you are sending me away tonight," he teased as he held her against his body.

It had been planned ahead of time that Will and Banastre would be spend the night on the neighbouring Wilkins' plantation, so as not to see each other prior to the wedding ceremony. Tavington had asked Colonel Tarleton to stand up with him as his best man.

"You are not allowed to see me before we get married," she cooed. "Just don't get into any trouble this evening with Commander Tarleton."

"I won't," Tavington said. "I'm sure he will want to play some cards. But if I see a glass of Ale or hard spirits again tonight after last evening, I am sure I will become sick!"

"Well, just to make sure you don't decide to wander this evening," she said is a seductive voice, "I shall give you something to remember me, and hope that after this, you will have no excuse to carouse."

Melanie kissed her fiancé deeply, caressing his manhood through the material of his breeches. Will reached downward and kneaded her bottom through her skirts as she did.

After a moment, his fiancée pulled away and knelt on her knees before him. She reached up and slowly unbuttoned his breeches, freeing his hardened member.

"Oh…..you are a vixen," said Tavington as he smiled down at her.

The young woman teased his member with her hand at first, then took his hardness into her mouth. She teased it sensually with her lips and tongue, making Will groan with pleasure.

The officer reached downward and wove his fingers into Melanie's blonde curls, holding her head. "Oh…..Melanie….darling…..I won't stray," he gasped, "I promise."

The girl continued to orally pleasure the man, bringing him ever closer to satisfaction. And he went about urging her on. "Oh, that's it, darling. Take it down your throat."

Melanie was glad to be pleasing her future husband, and hoped this would satisfy him for the evening. And in just a moment, she felt his legs go rigid and his hands woven into her hair tighten and she knew he was close.

In an instant, he came, calling her name, and loosing his seed down her throat. The girl reached over and took a swig of wine, erasing the pungent taste of his semen as William closed his trousers back up.

"I will remember that all night long, my dear," he said as he kissed her.

The two then walked hand in hand to the front door, to find Ban waiting for William at the coach, flirting with one of the camp followers.

"Its about time, Tav," Ban jeered, "I thought I'd be waiting the rest of the evening on you!"

"Please try to find some patience as I tell my fiancée goodbye, Ban," Will called back.

"Yeah, yeah," Tarleton replied as he went back to his amorous flirtations.

Tavington took Melanie in his arms on the veranda, not caring who saw them. The two kissed for a moment, then held each other in an embrace.

"I will miss your company this evening, Will," Melanie said as she laid her head on his chest.

The officer reached down, cupped her chin, gently pulling her head upwards to look into his eyes. He placed his forehead against hers. "I cannot wait to see you tomorrow in your wedding dress. I am sure you will be the most beautiful sight I have ever seen."

With that, the two kissed passionately again, not wanting to part.

"Ah, c'mon and get it over with!" Colonel Tarleton exclaimed. "You two will have time enough for romance tomorrow evening! The cards await us, Tav!"

Melanie broke away from the kiss with a small chuckle. "You'd better go," she said.

They kissed one last time before walking to the coach together. Melanie looked nervous and apprehensive. The two men got in, with William opening the window, craning his head out, and kissing Melanie another time before leaving. He took her hand, which was soon ripped away as the coach jolted forward, on to the Wilkins' farm.

Will waved at his fiancee and called back to her. "Do not worry yourself about anything," he shouted. "We will be fine!"

Melanie Prescott hoped he was right.

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Author's note: Alright, faithful readers, the moment you have been patiently waiting for is near. Next chapter......The wedding and wedding night!