Tavington entered Cornwallis office, with a confident pace.
"You'll be a country onto yourself" O'Hara said, looking at the Colonel, quite happy to leave the room. Although the Colonel was a fine officer, he could barely stand the man. He closed the door behind him.
"Colonel, did you receive Charlotte last letter? It appears she finally is on the way to the colonies, despite the fact I told her otherwise. I guess you told her the same? You know it's not her place here" Cornwallis said.
"Yes, my lord. I've read her and wrote her many times not to do so, but you know her as well as I do. She is still as stubborn as always and won't take no for an answer" Tavington replied.
He would not tell the General, but he was quite looking forward to the arrival of his wife. The ship would land in Charleston, probably in a few days now. She had been talking about joining her husband in the colonies for months now. The first time she wrote about it was when she announced him she had a miscarriage. Her mood was quite low, and he was seriously worried about her, feeling totally helpless. He wrote to many of her friends, trying to make sure she would get the support she needed in this hard moment. The idea of traveling seemed to go away for a while, but came quite stronger last august. Their third wedding anniversary seemed to wake something in her and she did not ask him permission to come. She told him she would. He was out of his mind at the first reading, but after a few glasses of whisky, he was glad he would have his wife by his side. She was always calm, smiling, seeing the good side of everything. She would enlighten his days.
"And speaking of her arrival, have you plan her escort?" the General wondered.
"I was hoping you would give me a day to go and get her with 10 of my dragoons." Tavington dared to ask.
"You may presume too much. You know a battle is around the corner, and I need you up front. You may choose 10 of your men, but you'll have to fight. I don't want her presence here to distract you for your duty. Do you understand Colonel?"
"Perfectly, my lord."
"O'Hara told me you've earn the nickname "The Butcher" by the colonials. Those brutal tactics must stop. If I were you, I would approach the subject to Charlotte. I'm sure she would prefer to hear it from you, than by gossips."
Tavington clenched his jaw, bowed his head and turned around. He went straight to find Captain Bordon to make up a plan for Charlotte arrival. There was a few people he did really trust with his life and his second in command was one of them; Bordon would go in his stead to Charleston. Tavington found him sitting in one of tents, drinking a cup of tea. Old habits die hard. Tea was always a reminder of old England. He was with a couple of other officers, who all stood up when Tavington entered the room.
"As you were. Bordon, I have a task for you. Charlotte is to arrive in a few days in Charleston, and I want you to take a patrol and escort her here."
"Lady Charlotte is coming here?"
"Yes, don't talk to me about it. As much as I want her by my side, I know that war is no place for a woman. So choose 10 men to go with you and stand by for your departure. If anything would happen to her…"
"Don't worry; I take care for her travel. I'll take Wilkins with me. He's from Charleston and he knows the surrounding like no one."
Tavington lifted a brow, looking at Wilkins. He was in the loyalist militia, another colonial. He had difficulties to trust them, always wondering if they were spies infiltrating his elite cavalry unit. But Bordon was right, he knew the area like to other, and he was quite an asset for the dragoons; excellent rider, eager to make his mark and earn respect from his commander.
"Take those you see fit. Whatever she says when she gets down the ship, don't let her ride a horse to get here. I know she will ask for it, but the answer is no. She will ride in the carriage and no other way. Is it clear, Captain"
"Yes, sir."
Tavington stormed out of the tent just as he arrived. Captain Wilkins sat down next to Bordon. He knew that was his chance to change the way the Colonel sees style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEven if he joined the Green Dragoons a few weeks ago, he still felt nervous around his superior.
"Who is Lady Charlotte ?" he asked Bordon, pooring himself another cup of tea.
"His wife." Bordon answered.
"You seemed to know here, since you called her by her first name"
"Yes, we've met on several occasions in London. But probably everyone in the city knows her."
"How so?"
"I could not help but hear you, are you talking about the Colonel's wife? She is just known to be the most beautiful women of all England. I've already seen her at a ball, the year of her launching into society. I remember every eye just turn to look at her when she entered the room. Every man would dream about having her by his arm. She truly is a sight worth the view. The Colonel is a lucky bastard," Major Henderson said. He was sitting at the table next to Wilkins and Bordon.
"Really?" Wilkins was doubtful. He didn't know very well the Colonel but he knew he had such a temper; he wasn't able to picture him with anyone really. Or maybe she was the kind of woman who doesn't speak a lot, the submissive wife who agrees to everything her husband says. He was quite looking forward to meeting her. The most beautiful woman of all England. There was a long time he hadn't met any woman at all. The last weeks where training and battles. No free days so not much time to socialise back in Charleston. He just hoped he will still remember how to talk to a woman when he'll meet her.