Tavington was walking back and forth in the parlor in Fort Carolina. Darkness has fallen and Charlotte was nowhere to be seen. Finally, he saw the gates open but only one dragoon entered the fort. He met him outside; his jaw was tighten, his fists clenched to his side, waiting for an explanation.
"Sir, Captain Bordon sent me here to explain to you the plan. The ship arrived later than planned and they would have travel into darkness. They all stayed in Charleston for the night, Sir" The private nervously explained.
"Where are they staying?"
"Captain Wilkins' house, sir"
"Thank you, that will be all," was all the Colonel was able to say, before turning around and coming in the Fort.
Patience was not was he was known for. He would have to wait yet again. He tried to calm himself down. They had been apart already two years, one more night would not be so bad. He came back to his room and pored himself a glass of wine. He surveyed the room; the bed was neatly made, piles of reports were on the desk. The room was larger than other in the house and could easily lodge the couple. He took his jacket off and placed it on the back of the chair. He sat by the fire and thought about her. Her auburn hair always falling down her updo. Her blue eyes full of kindness. Her light complexion and the softness of her skin.
The first time he saw her, in the ballroom, she was entering the room on her father's arm. She took his breath away for a second. He knew he had to talk to her, but she was surrounded by lords every second. She seemed to be looking for a way out when he saw her look around and not be able to leave the circle of men she was trapped in. Her father was nowhere to be seen. He had to do something. His approach was foolish, but he could not think of something else; he would talk to her as if he knew her already. Those gentlemen could not interfere. When she looked at him, her eyes staring in his; he knew she was the one. The way she placed her delicate hand in his. The way she took his arm after the dance, she stood close to him and looked at ease. Every day they spent together after this encounter confirmed him that she would be his wife.
He would follow her some days, making sure they would meet "randomly" saying to her it must be a sign if they met up around town like this. When he heard other gentlemen talked about their interest in Charlotte, he would reaffirm his interest by sending flowers and taking her out, making sure they would be seen together as much as he could. When he asked her father, he has never been this nervous before. He had recently been promoted to colonel at the time. Her father was a very well established general, his superior, but they knew each other for quite sometimes. Tavington was a very promising officer and the general had taken him under his wing a few years ago, seeing all of his potential. Yet, his hands were shaking. Normally, he was always in control but Charlotte, she was making him a different man. When her father agreed, he went straight to her. She smiled, and jumped into his arms. He lifted her and made her spin around. When he put her feet to the ground, he cupped her chin with his hand and kissed her.
During the day, he would command hundreds of men, but at home, she would command him. He would have given her the moon if she would have asked for it. She was perfect for him, always calm and reassuring. When he would lose his temper for any reasons, she would put her hand on his arm or hold his hand and he would set himself straight. Other women would probably have been scared when he would be yelling, but not her. She always knew she wasn't the reason of his spontaneous rage; either the house servants made any mistakes, his dragoons had a bad day or he had news from his father. She always had the right words to calm him down. He was the luckiest man on earth with her by his side. So when she wrote about coming to the colonies, he was ecstatic. At the same time, he knew he earn the nickname "The Butcher" by the colonials, because of his unorthodox tactics, quite brutal. He wanted to win this war, win every battle, at any cost. He was a good soldier, an even better officer. He always knew how to plan ambushes, and was not afraid of blood. The end of the war would mean he would be reunited with Charlotte. But what would a soldier do without a war? Cornwallis told him to break the new to his wife. Gosh, how he hated when the man introduce himself in his family business. Surely he meant well, but how could he told such a thing to his wife? If there was only one thing in the world he was afraid, it was to lose her.
Tomorrow, he'll have his wife in his bed.