Alright, here you go with just a couple of hours of Valentine's Day left (US time Eastern Standard). A wedding, fitting for the Valentine holiday! Enjoy.

Chapter 53 A Fitting Union

How long had it been since she'd slipped into her bed? Two hours? Three hours? Miss Prescott lay in bed looking up at the dark ceiling unable to sleep. The nerves of her impending wedding kept her awake tossing and turning. Melanie could take no more of this and finally got up.

The girl didn't know what to do with herself. She paced about her room for a few minutes before seating herself at her vanity. The young woman lit the candle nearby as she sighed, looking around the dimly lit room.

Melanie looked at her jewelry box for a moment, then reluctantly opened it. She found Alexander Bordon's lock of cinnamon red hair tied with one of the black ribbons he'd used to wrap his queue. In another compartment tucked neatly away was the ruby "wedding" ring he had given her, off her finger and residing in the jewel box just where William had promised to put it after he'd slipped it off her finger two weeks ago.

The young woman brought the ginger colored tress of Alex's hair to her nose and breathed in his scent—she still remembered what he smelled like. Then her fingers traced the ring, touching it lightly. She had willed herself not to look at these relics from her dead lover since she'd become engaged to General Tavington days ago. And now, just had she had done recently, she willed herself to put them back away, telling herself it was ridiculous to look at items from the past when she was starting a new life of marriage in just hours.

The girl decided to tuck them into the bottom drawer of her jewelry box. After she placed them gently into the drawer, she found that she could not shut the drawer all the way. Obviously something had become lodged or jammed into the back of the compartment. Miss Prescott pulled the drawer all the way out and placed it aside on the dresser, then slipped her fingers in all the way to the back of the box. They felt a piece of wadded material and puzzled, Melanie pulled it from the box.

It the light, she unfolded the material and found it was one of her handkerchiefs. She studied the delicate white material and the red stains upon it. Her pulse began to race and her breathing labor as she held the thing.

Then, memories flooded back to her. She remembered holding Major Bordon in her arms just after she'd found him lying on the ground that morning at the creek when the dragoons were ambushed. The girl recalled wiping the coughed up blood off his mouth and chin with this handkerchief. After Alex died and once Melanie had returned to the fort, she recollected finding the kerchief shoved into the pocket of her blood stained dress, falling to her knees in tears as she did.

Miss Prescott thought about the last time she'd seen the item: Bridget handing it to her after she'd washed it a couple of times, apologizing to Melanie that she could not get all of the blood stains out of it. She recalled asking Miss Kilpatrick to hide it away from her as she could not bear to discard it yet. Obviously, the young woman had stumbled upon the place the Irish servant had hidden it.

Melanie looked at the blood stains again, then fell apart. She laid her head upon her folded arms on her dresser and wept for a moment. Then the girl scooped up the ring, ribbon, and the lock of hair, and folded them into the stained handkerchief. The young woman then deposited herself back in bed, holding Bordon's items close to her in both her hands.

"Oh God, Alex…I still miss you so much," she sobbed. "I'm sorry. I still love you and I am marrying William tomorrow."

After a couple of deep breaths, she continued to cry. "I feel like I'm betraying you."

The girl rolled over in bed to the other side. After another moment of weeping, she sat up. "Oh God, what am I doing? I can't marry William—I still love you, Alex."

Melanie laid back down, lifting the handkerchief to her lips and kissing it gently. "Oh Alexander, please forgive me!" With that, Miss Prescott pulled the covers up around her chin. She was awake a while longer, nerves and sorrow not giving her any peace. Then mercifully, after some unknown amount of time had passed, she cried herself to sleep, still clutching Major Bordon's mementos in her hand tightly.


The mid May day was warm, but thankfully not humid. Melanie had caught a glimpse of the wedding guests milling about in the shade of the large trees by the gazebo and sucked in a deep breath when she saw that there were so many of them. From another window, she saw all the many carriages and wagons from the guests parked to and fro up and down the lane and the lawn that she could not even begin to count them. And now, just moments before the wedding, her housemaids Diedre and Alice were helping her to finish dressing when there was a knock at the door.

The door opened admitting Mrs. Wilkins through and into the room. "I'll help Miss Prescott finish up. Thank you," she said, dismissing the servants.

Bridget spied a half drunk cup of tea on the dresser, then spoke to the servants as they were leaving. "Would you please send up a glass of wine?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Diedre answered.

"Oh, Melanie, you look beautiful!"

"I do?"

"Yes!"

Miss Prescott's dress had been made fairly quickly but turned out wonderfully. It was ivory and silver satin, trimmed with ivory lace and a bit of blue gathers and small ruffles of silk. The sleeves fell to just below her elbows and the dress scooped in front, revealing ample cleavage. The bodice boasted a very long row of small, material covered buttons closing it in front, enough to frustrate her new husband should his fingers take on the task of unfastening the dress later this evening. Her blonde hair had been swept up with a few tendrils of curls escaping and cascading down her neck.

"Here," Bridget said, handing a pretty bouquet of fresh flowers to the bride, "The General sent these up for you to carry today."

Melanie brought the beautiful bunch of assorted flowers in different shades to her nose. They smelled lovely and were tied with ribbons of blue and lace. There was a knock at the door as the two friends were looking over the nosegay.

Bridget answered the door, careful to make sure it wasn't General Tavington trying to sneak a quick glance at his bride prior to the ceremony. Instead, the maid Alice passed the glass of wine through the door that Mrs. Wilkins had ordered to be sent up.

"Thank you," she said. The Irish woman set the glass on a nearby table and turner her attentions back to Miss Prescott. She watched for a moment as Melanie tried to put her veil on, but her hands were too shaky to place it straight and neat.

"Here, let me do that," offered Bridget.

"Thanks," answered Melanie softly.

Mrs. Wilkins took the wreath of vine and colorful flowers, complete with veil and ribbon strands attached, and placed it gently on the bride - to- be's head. She adjusted it slightly, straightening it, then pinned it securely in place. The wreath crowned the bridal outfit, the flowers and vine reminding all that the bride grew up on a country plantation.

Bridget turned Miss Prescott around so that she could look at herself in the full length mirror. "Oh, Melanie, you look beautiful," she fawned over her. "The General will want to be naughty with you right away instead of attending his own wedding reception."

"Bridget!" gasped the bride in shock.

"Well, he won't be able to keep his hands away from you," she affirmed.

Melanie rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Very well, then. I will come back in a few moments when they are ready for you," the Irish woman informed as she headed toward the door. As she placed her hand on the doorknob, she glanced back at the bride-to-be, who was staring back at her with a look of desperation on her face.

"Bridget, can you think of any reason why I shouldn't get married today?" Melanie asked with total fear in her voice. The bride had a thoroughly panicked look about her. " Any reason at all why I shouldn't marry William?"

Miss Prescott was near tears, desperately trying to find a reason to run away from her own wedding. Nerves had obviously gotten to the young woman.

"Oh, Melanie," exclaimed a worried Mrs. Wilkins as she rushed back to her friend's side. She sat Miss Prescott gently down on the bed and grabbed her handkerchief as it looked like the girl would burst into tears at any second.

"You're just having a bit of wedding day nerves," soothed Bridget. She took Melanie's hands, sandwiching them between her own. "You know, even though Jim and I were deeply in love on our wedding day, I was still very nervous."

Mrs. Wilkins continued. "It's only natural to feel afraid," she assured. "Your life will be changing, but I think for the better. I believe you will enjoy having a husband securely at your side. It will be a blessing for him to help run the plantation."

Melanie said nothing, still visibly trembling. She shook her head 'yes', but still seemed unsure.

"Here, take a drink of wine," Bridget said, handing Melanie the goblet, "It will help calm your nerves."

After Miss Prescott sipped some wine, her friend got up to leave again. "Melanie, I am confident that you and the general will grow to love each other."

Melanie looked resigned and calm with Bridget's words, so the Irish woman took her leave of the girl. Now alone in her room, waiting to be married, Miss Prescott sat back down at her dresser. She found Bordon's blood stained handkerchief, his ring, ribbon and tress of ginger colored hair and pulled them from her jewelry box again, after having slept holding them in her hand last night. The young bride-to-be touched each item lovingly, then wrapped them all back up on the lacy handkerchief. She slipped it down the front of her bodice, where it would reside discreetly in her bountiful cleavage, so that she could carry her dead lover close to her heart as she married his former commander.


The main door of the house opened allowing Miss Prescott to step out onto the veranda. Major Wilkins quickly ascended the steps up to meet the bride. He had been asked by her to escort her down the aisle to William at the ceremony, and the man, her childhood friend and neighbor, was glad to oblige. Melanie took his arm and the two headed down the steps.

As they crossed the lawn, they neared the small chamber group of musicians from Camden, who were playing 'Bach's Orchestra Suite Number 3 Air On the G String' as they walked toward the pavilion. Melanie held tightly to Jim's hand, as they neared the large gathering of friends, fighting back her own tears of fear and nerves.

The two stopped at the edge of the congregation of people where the pathway to the gazebo began. Melanie looked up from her bouquet of flowers and caught her first close look at William and sucked in a deep breath. The young woman thought that he had never looked more handsome. He was dressed in his red, long coated general's uniform complete with blue trim. The skirt of the long coat had not yet been buttoned back and fell below his knees onto his finely polished black leather boots. The gold buttons of his uniform and the gold gorget that hung just below his neck stock seemed to glitter brightly in the sun. Even the epaulets on his shoulders seemed brighter and crisper than usual. He held his hat below his arm.

Next to him stood one of his closest friends, Colonel Banastre Tarleton. He wore his red and green dragoon uniform which never looked more stunning and clean. Of course, Miss Prescott had been used to seeing the men in everyday situations, in which the uniforms would become stained with the red dirt of the Carolinas, as well as brown dust and mud.

Jim looked down at Miss Prescott, who was visibly scared and nervous. He whispered down into her ear, "You will be fine," then smiled at her. She forced a smile back up at him as the two began the walk to the pavilion steps, where her groom awaited.

William was taken aback with just how beautiful his bride looked. He always thought Miss Prescott was pretty, but she was exceptionally so today. And when she reached the steps of the gazebo, Tavington winked at her, giving her a gentle smile as well.

"Friends, although a war is raging about us, happiness can still be found," the minister began. "And so, we are gathered here today to witness the union of a man and woman into the estate of holy matrimony: the marriage of this woman, Miss Melanie Worthe Prescott, to this man, Brigadier General William Caldwell Tavington."

Melanie seemed to hear only every other word said for her heart was beating loudly in her ears. Her knee was shaking beneath her skirt making her wonder if it would give out and down she'd go. The girl tried to slow her breathing down to calm herself, only able to suck in a half breath at a time.

The minister continued on. "Who gives this woman for marriage?"

"I do, in the stead of her late father," Jim Wilkins answered. With that he presented the bride to the groom, putting Melanie's hand into General Tavington's. Wilkins then smiled at his pretty Irish wife, Bridget, before moving to stand with the rest of the congregation.

With that, Melanie handed her bouquet to Mrs. Wilkins, her matron of honor, to hold for her as William passed his hat to Ban to hold for him. Will securely took hold of Miss Prescott and helped her up the steps of the gazebo to where the pastor was awaiting them. Once in front of the minister, under the cover of the pavilion, Melanie's mind went blank. The drumming of her nervous heart in her ears seemed to obscure anything the minister said, and nerves filled her head, leaving it swimming in confusion. Afterward, she would remember hardly anything of the ceremony.

William must have felt Melanie trembling for he bent his tall frame downwards and murmured something reassuring in her ear as the minister spoke, though Melanie could not hear him for the loud pounding of her heart. Her arm was hooked tightly though his, but he reached across his body and took her hand that rested on his arm in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Before she knew it, she was turned facing William, speaking the marital vows. She would also later not be able to recall these due to her nerves.

Next she knew, Will had slipped the wedding ring on to her finger. Then the two turned to kiss each other, keeping the kiss romantic yet respectable. Then she thought she heard the minister speaking again.

"Friends, please allow me to present to you General and Mrs. William Tavington."

Melanie looked out from the gazebo over the people gathered to see them applauding the union politely. Then she felt William holding her arm securely, escorting her safely back down the stairway. At the bottom, Mrs. Wilkins and Colonel Tarleton waited for them, where they would be the first to congratulate the new couple.

Melanie took the bouquet back from Bridget as they hugged. Ban handed William his tricornered hat after shaking his fellow commander's hand. Will put his hat on his head before offering his arm again to his new bride. From there, the newlyweds made their way down the path through the crowd toward the garden for the reception where they would receive their guests. The chamber musicians played Handel's 'Largo from Xerxes' as the couple left.

The reception was filled with music, wine, much food, and dancing. Melanie was reunited with many friends of her family that she had not seen in years. She stayed stoic as throughout the course of the reception many different people made toasts to the couple, almost always including a wish for many children. General Tavington squeezed her hand a couple of times and whispered, "Be brave. Remember that they don't know the situation," referring to the young woman's inability to conceive, a fact only known by a handful of their friends.

William spent the time moving through the crowd, meeting the plantation's customers and business associates as well as other neighbors in the area, charming them all, doing his best to start repairing the damage of Melanie's reputation and what it had done to the business. Will, although at his wedding, knew that business ever loomed even amidst pleasure. He knew that the future of the plantation affected the future of the new marriage.

The new Mrs. Tavington watched her husband as he moved through the large group using his charm. She also watched with apprehension as he seemed so much in control on the business level. The girl had only witnessed his control in a military situation. The general's security and confidence strangely seemed something for her to fear.

During the course of the reception, a few rather fierce card games had developed at the behest of Banastre. For once, he was winning money and playing conservatively, knowing that he not dare ask William to cover his losses at the groom's own wedding!

Colonel Tarleton worked the crowd as hard as his newly married friend had, but catered to the women present. The charming young cavalry commander soon had a bevy of young ladies gathered about him, laughing heartily at everything he said. When the women dispersed for the meal, a particularly beautiful girl stayed behind the rest, lingering with the officer. Ban was only too happy to lavish the girl with the meal, Colonel Tarleton and the girl managed to slip away from the reception.

After the meal, guests called for a formal toast to be made by the best man, who had mysteriously his presence needed, several of the servants were dispatched to find the dragoon commander. General Tavington went as well, having a sneaking suspicion just where his friend might be and what he may be doing.

After a few minutes of searching, it was William who located his friend. He found Ban in the barn, inside a secluded horse stall. The erratic breathing and whispering of lovers led the groom right to the pen.

"Uh….Ban…..," William said as he knocked softly on the wood of the enclosure.

"Come back later, Tav," Banastre grunted from within the booth, "I'm indisposed right now."

The high wood of the stall obscured the view, but the general didn't need a view to know what was going on in there. Commander Tarleton had a pretty young brunette up against a wall, her skirts hiked up and her legs wrapped tightly about Ban's waist. They kissed deeply as the red haired colonel thrust away within the girl, the wall helping to hold and steady the girl.

"Well then, when you are no longer indisposed," Will began, "would you please grace us with your presence and perform a toast for my new wife and myself?"

"Yes……..I'd be delighted," Ban called back, not missing a stroke with the young beauty impaled on his hardened manhood.

"Oh….colonel…..OH!," the unknown young woman's voice rang out from within, her voice laced with lust.

"Uh……oohh…..ah…..mmmm…..," stammered Ban in the throes of passion, "I'll be there momentarily, Tav!"

William rolled his eyes and gave a frustrated sigh. Although it didn't surprise him that his womanizing friend could bag a girl at a friend's wedding in just a short amount of time and have a roll in the hay with her equally as quickly.

In a few moments after Tavington had rejoined the wedding guests, Banastre strolled in, his uniform in immaculate condition—nothing out of place. None of the crowd—save for William—would have guessed that the young officer had just been caught with his breeches down.

Colonel Tarleton sauntered up to the main table where General and Mrs. Tavington were seated. He picked up the full wine glass in front of his empty spot, then deftly climbed up to a spot on a decorative brick wall in the garden.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my fellow officers, friends, family, and of course, William and Melanie," he began with a grin on his face. "Tav has been a close friend of mine the last few years as we've served together in his Majesty's cavalry. He and the new missus have been through much already for both their young lives, which makes this a fitting union."

Ban looked out over the faces in the crowd as he spoke, then turned back to look at the newlyweds. "I believe that my friend here is the luckiest man in the world. He has caught the prettiest, kindest, and most loving lass in South Carolina, as well as from one of the most esteemed families in the area. With that said, would everyone please raise a glass with me?"

The dragoon colonel looked out over the sea of wine glasses now raised high, and went on, with all turning their attention to the newly married couple. "To William and Melanie, may you two have many happy and prosperous years together, and may there be a few miracles along the way."


Author's notes: Gazebo and Pavilion mean same thing in 18th century.

Gorget: A part of an oficer's uniform. For more details, please look up the meaning yourself--too much/detailed for me to write it here.

Melanie's and William's middle names: The bridal couple's middle names may seem a bit unusual. Since both were oldest children in their respective families both bear (at least for the purpose of this story) their mother's maiden names as middle names. This was a common practice of the time. Sometimes the middle name may also have been a family surname from an ancestor. Sometimes even a surname from an ancestor or the mother's maiden name could have been given to a male child as a first name.

Wedding dress colors: In the 18th century, blue and silver were popular wedding dress colors. Even red was worn, as red symbolized a woman's new independence from her family. White wasn't the "typical" wedding dress color until the middle of the 19th century. This info obtained from a couple of different websites specializing in historical clothing and 18th century weddings.