William, Bordon and I spent the rest of the night in the woods and by two the next morning, I was so exhausted from the pain and blood loss that I passed out and didn't come around until about three hours later.
I regained consciousness and found myself in William's quarters on his four-poster with the curtains open, surrounded by William, Bordon and Lord Gen. Cornwallis. Both William and the captain were pale with worry and even Cornwallis had a concerned expression on his face. I looked down at my wound, which was now wrapped in bandages, and I could feel the stitches beneath them.
"Come Bordon." Said Cornwallis, leading the captain out of William's quarters, leaving William and I alone.
"What happened after I passed out?" I asked now that the bleeding from my mouth had fully subsided.
"You nearly bled to death. Thankfully, it wasn't too long after you passed out that we were able to staunch the bleeding from your wound, thus stopping the bleeding from your mouth shortly after. Bordon and I were able to get you up here once your bleeding had subsided but were caught by Cornwallis while entering my quarters."
"So, he knows everything now?"
"Yes, well, almost everything anyway."
"What does he know?"
"Well, he knows about my courting you because O'Hara told Cornwallis after he had been shot in the leg; apparently, he had followed us into the woods and had heard and seen everything that went on between us there last evening leading up to the shooting. O'Hara also reported to Cornwallis that I had shot him in the leg, however, given the circumstances, Cornwallis didn't give me any punishments. However, he isn't particularly pleased with my courting you because of our differences in loyalty. He told me that I could look after you until your wound healed and then as soon as you were well enough, you had to leave the estate."
"I have no place to go." I said softly.
"I know you have no place to go, but I don't want you fretting about it; you need your rest, so stay here and I'll discuss this issue with Cornwallis."
William kissed me softly and whispered, "I shall return in about thirty minutes to change your bandages."
He closed the curtains around the four-poster and left the room. Moments later, overcome by exhaustion, I fell into a dreamless sleep.
I awoke about thirty minutes later to voices coming from just outside William's quarters, in the hall. They belonged to William and Lord Gen. Cornwallis.
"Surely there must be a place where she can at least stay other than here." I heard Cornwallis say.
"My Lord, she has no living family and her home was burned during a raid by my men." William answered.
"There must be a family who will take her in." Said Cornwallis.
"She is no longer accepted among the Colonials for the acts of treachery her father committed against his men." Answered William. "My Lord, surely you see that she has no place to go if you force her to leave the estate."
"Alright Colonel, she may stay, but, if your personal life interferes with your military career any more than it is allowed, she is to leave immediately." Said Cornwallis in an exasperated tone of voice.
"Yes my Lord."
William entered his quarters, closing and locking the door behind him. He drew the curtains of the four-poster open and asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Drained of all energy." I replied. "Thank you for convincing Cornwallis to allow me to stay here."
"You heard our conversation?"
I nodded. "I apologize; I couldn't help myself."
William smiled.
"That is quite alright, Mary. I am not angry in the least."
I smiled.
"Well, I need to check your bandages." Said William.
He walked over to a set of drawers next to the four-poster and pulled out some bandages and ointment. William took out his dagger and made another slit in my dress, though this one was larger and went down the back of it. He then reached in the new slit that he had created and carefully removed the bandage. Then, he reached in the smaller slit that he had created earlier and rubbed some ointment carefully between the stitches of my wound. After this, he wrapped it in clean bandages and got up to leave when I said, "William wait."
He turned.
"Please stay with me."
"You need you rest."
I gave William a pleading look and he sighed.
"Alright, I'll stay. Besides, it isn't as if I have anything to do. I have been acquitted of all work, except battles until you're well. Bordon will be seeing to my duties until I return."
William removed his spurred boots, walked over to the four-poster and laid down on the bed, gently pulling me to him.
"How is it that I, the Butcher of the Carolinas, am courting you, the Maiden of the Carolinas?" Asked William softly.
I smiled and replied, "I have all but given up on trying to answer that question."
William kissed me softly, removed his waistcoat and vest, and whispered, "Get some rest."
I leaned my head against William's chest, inhaling his intoxicating scent as he wrapped his arms around me. Within minutes, we were both asleep.
I awoke hours later to sunlight streaming in from a window to the right of William's bed. I looked over at William. He was still asleep and still had his right hand resting on the left side of my ribcage. His left hand was still pressed against the right side of my back. I lay next to him, marveling at how peaceful and relaxed he looked when he was asleep and wondered momentarily how he could be the cold Butcher of the Carolinas. Then, without warning, William went rigid, his right hand squeezing my ribs so hard that I cried out in pain and surprise, fearing that my ribs would most certainly break from the amount of pressure he was exerting on them.
William awoke shaking all over, a horrified expression on his face. He immediately loosened his grip on my ribs, looked down and mumbled, "I apologize; I didn't mean to hurt you."
"You needn't apologize." I answered. "William, you're shaking; are you alright?" I asked caressing the side of his face.
"I'm fine." He replied shakily. "I was just reliving old memories that I thought I had long since forgotten."
"Memories of what?" I asked softly.
"My father."
"We can discuss this later if you like." I said.
"No, It's fine; you have every right to know of my past." Replied William.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
He nodded. So, I laid my head William's shoulder as he began to tell me of his past.