A/N: Uh, my brain's a bit fried right now, so if this chapter actually makes sense we're in luck. Note on Toby Fife: I made him up. If you saw the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth as Darcy), for Toby, think along the lines of Bingley's whacked-outness (?) but Iaon Gruffudd (*slobber*) way-major-omigosh-sexy.
Tavington seated his sister across from him. His desk had been hastily cleared to perform the offices of a dinner table. The colonel smiled at Constance before setting the places.
"I'm sorry it is nothing reminiscent of our old dinner parties, dear, but as you see, no one is rolling in the lap of luxury right now."
His sister nodded with perfect understanding. "No matter, brother. I am thankful for anything and everything."
"Then you shall get along just fine, though if I take you to the fort, that pretty face of yours may get us invitations to dine with the generals."
Constance 'hmphed' over her wine. "Thank you, Will. So good to know I am whoring myself for dinner invites now. What a sad state I'm in…."
A smile quirked the right side of his face. "You are worse than when I last saw you." Tavington served her a piece of some sort of foul rubbed with herbs, along with potatoes and some stringy beans that no one would have dared touch had they not been under the great privation induced by war time. He sat and stared quizzically at his sister as she stretched her hands out to him.
"Grace, brother?"
"Oh…" he said. "Yeah…."
Narrowing her eyes, she grabbed his hands. "You say Grace."
William bowed his head obediently and mumbled a prayer, making doubly sure to accent the 'Amen' in hopes his sister would brush off his lack of faith. Constance shook her head at him.
"Oh, William! You have not been saying Grace…probably not even your prayers? My, my, my…." She shook her head disapprovingly.
"All right, enough, Mum."
"Bunny's going to Hell," she sat back in her chair with a heavy sigh.
William snorted and began to eat. Constance watched him with a frown before setting quietly in on her vegetables. They dined in silence. The brassy glow of the firelight made a cheery attempt at giving a sense of comfort, but it failed. There was just something wrong between them.
Bordon burst in and bowed to them. "Sir, we have a new member."
Constance turned and smiled at her friend. He returned her smile and a coy little wave before snapping back to attention before the colonel.
"Bring him in," Tavington said irately, dropping his utensils to the plate. Bordon turned and ushered in a young man of no great height. The man made a ludicrously ceremonious bow, and Tavington 'hmphed' and threw his napkin into his lap.
"I am Lieutenant Tobias Fife, formerly of the Loya—"
"Damn it all, Bordon! What is your fixation with Loyalists? If this man turns out to be another Wilkins, I will have your head!" The colonel got to his feet and drew himself up to a height the seemed to soar over Fife's head. The lieutenant looked up at him with sparkling deep amber eyes and a broad grin.
"William!" Constance hissed. "Have you no manners?"
Tavington ignored her. Lieutenant Fife chuckled. "I've heard of this Wilkins fellow. And very well, you may have my head as well if I am anything like him, but please give my heart to this lady to keep if you have a tender bone in your body, sir." He bowed to Constance and tickled her fingertips. "She is your sister, sir?"
"Yes, and what of it?" Tavington grumbled.
"Well, sir, with your reputation and the illustrious appearance of your sister, you both must do an immense honor to your family."
The colonel was a little strained. "Perhaps."
"Forgive us, then, sir and miss, for intruding on your supper. The captain and I will take our leave with our most humble apologies." Fife bowed again and started backing toward the exit. He bumped into Bordon. The captain jumped and toppled into Constance's lap.
She laughed and embraced poor Captain Bordon for the horrified look burning on his face in the form of a blush. He took hold of her hand as he got up to steady himself, but quickly relinquished it in fear.
"Lieutenant Fife," Constance chirped, "I would like it very much if you, and you as well Captain Bordon, would join my brother and me for a few hands of cards." She beamed sweetly, then shot her brother a glare as malicious as the one he sent her.
"It would be a pleasure, Miss Tavington." Fife nodded with a stunning smile that brought an amiable glow to his features. Bordon bowed and exited warily, so as to avoid another fall into the arms of Constance.
"He seems to be an excellent young man," she chirred, tucking into her food.
"Good, and if he's an excellent young man, maybe I can pawn you off in marriage to him," Tavington glowered. His sister gasped.
"Am I that much of a burden to you?"
He began to back pedal. "Constance, Kitty, dearie: you are six-and-twenty, beautiful, talented, and unmarried. You, my dear, are a walking paradox! Oh, come, he's probably the best you can get around here. With the way he struts about, he was probably a lawyer or maybe even a doctor, of some well-to-do family from Charleston. Unless…unless you'd rather have Bordon. Choose which you would prefer—life of decadence or the life of a farmer. I am only trying to help you, Constance. I want the best for my beloved baby sister, and why can't that be through seeing her through to a fine marriage? He seemed to be quite taken with you."
"Yah, providing for the best by selling me off. Perhaps if I were bovine! William, admit it! I am a pest to you. You have got your esteem and honor going for you and to have me in the picture, socializing with the common soldiery, also known as Bordon in your eyes, I ruin it for you. Fine, I shall go change back into my cavalry clothes and do what I promised I would do—watch out for you!" She rose up abruptly, felling her chair. She flung her napkin at him. Constance stormed out into the night.
Next chapter: Constance learns the "truth" about her brother.