(Back to Mary's point of view)
"Oh William, I'm so sorry." I said softly.
I moved closer to him and kissed him softly on the cheek. He said nothing but tightened his hold on me.
"Don't leave me, Mary." Said William softly. "No matter what happens or what others may say, don't leave me."
"I won't leave you, William." I answered. "You may seem like the son of Satan at times but you will always have my trust and confidence."
"Thank you, Mary." Replied William softly.
He kissed me ardently, caressing the left side of my face and neck with his hand. Suddenly, William and I pulled away from each other, startled as the door to William's quarters burst open and Capt. Bordon stepped in.
"Sir it's… it's time for…uh…um… I uh…. I'll just be … door… leaving… supper…"
I leaned against William, smiled at Bordon and said, "See you later, Captain."
William chuckled, trying to hide a smirk and the captain's face turned a bright shade of red and he left the room.
William looked at the place where Bordon had been and smiled, shaking his head.
"So, William, you can smile without being malicious or without having me provoke you into doing so."
"Pardon me; I didn't smile." Answered William.
"Yes, you did."
"I did not; I was merely smirking."
I gave William a disbelieving look and said, "Alright, you smirked."
William was just about to say something when I kissed him on the lips and pulled away, smiling sweetly. He smiled back at me and I said, "William, you're smiling again."
"Damn." He replied. "You bested me."
"Oh William, is it really so hard on your ego to be bested by me?" I asked in mock concern.
"Just don't tell anyone about it. I don't need anyone, especially my men, knowing of this; they'll think that I'm loosing my bearings to a woman."
"Well, perhaps you are. In any case, I shall tell no one on one condition."
"And what, pray tell, is that?"
"Kiss me, William."
William traced a pathway with his finger from the corner of my left eye down my cheek and to my lips, briefly resting his finger on them. He then traced over the pathway with his lips, searing me with his intensity until his lips blazed upon mine with intense fiery passion, searing away at every inch of my being, melting everything in the world around me, except for him, into oblivion. Then pulled away and smiled down at me.
"Now that was most certainly enough to keep you quiet." Said William.
"That was more than enough to keep me quiet. By the way, how did Bordon get in here?"
"He has a key to my quarters as do I to his. Anyway, I'd best be going to the banquet hall. I'll bring you some supper when I'm finished."
William left me in his quarters his footsteps echoing down the hall and downstairs toward the banquet hall.
I rested on William's four-poster until he returned, closely followed by the captain, about three quarters of an hour later, carrying a small tray of food.
From the way William was looking and smirking at Bordon and the way Bordon's face turned bright red when he did so, William must have been teasing the captain about something.
"William, were you harassing Bordon?" I asked.
"No, not really." Replied William beginning to turn red.
"Then why is Bordon redder than you?"
"I haven't the slightest idea." Said William in an unconvincing tone of voice.
"William, don't try lying to me, you're horrible at it; you were harassing the captain."
"I only harassed him once and that was as we were coming up to my quarters and no one was in the hall while we were on our way up here."
"Pardon me, Colonel you only harassed me all through supper; my face was so red that I could feel the heat radiating off of it and two dragoons asked if something was wrong with me." Shot Bordon indignantly.
William's face reddened even more.
"William!" I said in mock anger.
"Now look what you did, Bordon; you got me in trouble with Mary." Said William in mock disappointment.
"I apologize Sir." Stated Bordon smirking.
"Oh well, I couldn't resist. You're so amusing when you're embarrassed."
"What was I supposed to think when I caught you kissing Mary on your four poster; that's very improper."
"So, it's not like I'm a proper person anyway. They don't call me The Butcher for nothing."
"If you two keep arguing, I'm going to starve to death!"
"Sorry." Replied William, carrying the tray of food over to me so I could eat.
"I'll just leave you two alone." Said Bordon smirking and he left the room.
William sat on the four-poster next to me while I ate.
"The lock to your quarters has been changed and O'Hara will be moved off the estate and into camp tomorrow. Anyway, right after you're finished eating, I shall change your bandages and then I want you to sleep."
"William it isn't even very dark yet; how am I..."
"It doesn't matter whether it's dark or not, Mary; you need your rest or you won't recover quickly. If it takes me staying here to make sure you are sleeping, I will."
I sighed heavily, handing the tray to William who walked over and set the tray on his desk. Then he walked over to the small set of drawers next to the four-poster and took from them clean bandages and ointment. He sat next to me on the four- poster and removed my bandages. Then, he poured some ointment into his right hand.
"Lean back."
William carefully applied the ointment to my wound and when he was finished, he wrapped it in clean bandages.
"Now sleep." Said William softly, kissing my forehead.
William closed the curtains on the four-poster and walked over to his desk.
Hours later, I was only dimly aware of William climbing onto the four-poster next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, causing the sleeves of my dress to slip, exposing my back and shoulders. Within about two minutes, fatigue finally overpowered me and I fell into a deep sleep.
I awoke around six the next morning and turned to see if William was still asleep. He wasn't there; in his place was a neatly folded piece of parchment. I unfolded it and read it. A look of concern crossed my face when I read the contents of the parchment.
My Dearest Mary,
I apologize for not being here to see you rise this morning. Captain Bordon entered my quarters early this morning around three to wake me. When I awoke, he informed me that I needed to be at camp and have my men assembled and ready for battle within an hour at the most. I have give specific orders to one of the servants at the estate about your care requirements. Hopefully, this battle won't last very long and I can return in a few days. Until then, please try not to worry too often; I don't see the possibility of me getting killed, as that would mean leaving you behind. I have planned my future after this war with you in mind, so please don't fret; I'll return as soon as I can.
-William.