One week had passed since O'Hara had last tried to ravish me, and it was now the night before William and I were to be married; the date was delayed one day to give me time for my dagger wound to heal and to allow more time for planning. All of my dresses, except for a nightdress and the dress I would wear for the wedding, had already been moved to William's quarters, along with the few personal belongings that I possessed.
I was standing by the window in William's quarters, when William walked up behind me and rested his hand on my shoulders.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" He asked.
"Physically, yes; everything is in place. Mentally however, I'm far from it."
William laughed lightly.
"I feel the same way as you do."
"Tomorrow will forever change our lives, from two separate paths to one path that we shall walk together."
William smiled.
"I certainly captured more than I knew on that July evening when I led the dragoons on a raid to your plantation."
I smiled up at William.
"You certainly did."
"Well Mary, it's late and we both need sleep; we've a big day ahead of us tomorrow."
William kissed me on the cheek and I returned to my quarters where I would sleep for the last time.
I don't know how long I lay awake in bed thinking about the events that would occur the coming day, but I eventually got up and left my quarters. Not wanting to wake William, I decided to go downstairs. On the way down the hall, I bumped into Lord General Cornwallis.
"Miss Selton, what are you doing awake at these ungodly hours?" Inquired Cornwallis.
"I couldn't sleep Sir."
"Ah, I see. Nervous about tomorrow, are you?"
"A little, yes."
"You've nothing to worry about. It's obvious that Col. Tavington and I don't get along well, and I also know quite well of his brutality and nasty reputation. Yet, underneath The Butcher there is a good man, William Tavington; even I have see past his exterior, rare as it is to do so, and when you do, you don't always even see very much of who he really is. You and the captain are probably the only people here who really know him, as even I don't know him that well on a personal basis."
I nodded.
"He's been quite fond of you ever since you first arrived and though it is rare, I believe you are his true match."
I smiled.
"Thank you Sir."
"You're welcome."
"If it is not to bold of me to ask, I would like to inquire as to why you and the colonel don't get along."
"It's the stress of the military, Miss Selton, along with class status and personality differences."
"I see. Pardon me; I should probably be going to sleep. I was going to go downstairs but I am getting tired now."
"Yes, do go now; Col. Tavington will not want you tired tomorrow." Replied Cornwallis smiling.
"Good night Sir." I said.
"And good night to you, Miss Selton."
With that, I returned to my quarters, and finally fell asleep.
I awoke the next morning around nine and ate breakfast that was served to me in my quarters. Just as I was finishing my breakfast, there was a knock at the door. It was Capt. Bordon.
"Good morning, Miss Selton."
"And good morning to you, Captain."
"I just wanted to wish you well on this exciting day; are you nervous?"
"A little, but I'm more excited than anything else."
Bordon smiled.
"Well, I'd best be going but I shall see you later."
I nodded.
"See you then."
After the captain left, it was time for me to get dressed for the wedding. I pulled out a silky, dark green dress that was white in the middle and had long sleeves that ended in points just above my middle finger. I quickly put it on and then brushed through my hair and twisted it into a tight bun.
Almost an hour later, Capt. Bordon and a small group of dragoons came and escorted me downstairs to the ballroom, where a crowd was beginning to assemble. The dragoons had me stand just behind the crowd, being careful not to let anyone, including William, who was standing up in front on the right side of the crowd, see me.
I looked between the soldiers, who were hiding me from view, at William. He was wearing black riding breeches, polished black boots, and a white shirt with a laced cravat under a crimson vest; his hair was queued back and slicked with apple pomade; a sheathed dress saber hung at his side. He appeared to be muttering nervously to himself about something.
As soon as everyone was assembled, Capt. Bordon made his way up to the front of the crowd. As he was a judge in the colonies before he became a Dragoon, and because he was William's closest friend and William had asked him to do so, Capt. Bordon was the person chosen to preside over the vows.
Once he reached the front of the crowd, Capt. Bordon cleared his throat loudly for silence. Then he spoke in a loud, clear voice, " Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the marriage of William Tavington and Mary Selton, so, without further delay, because we all know how patient Col. Tavington is, I would like to call Mary Selton forward so we can proceed."
I proceeded to the front of the crowd and stood to the left of William, who was now standing towards the center of the crowd, in front of the captain.
"Are you two ready?" Whispered Bordon.
I nodded and gave William a small smile, which he returned.
"Let us proceed.
Mary Katherine Selton, will you take this man, William Tavington, to be your husband? Will you love and honor him, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death do you part?"
"I will." I answered smiling at William.
"William Garrick Camden Tavington, will you take this woman, Mary, to be your wife? Will you love and honor her, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death do you part?"
"I will."
"Ladies gentlemen, it is my privilege to present to you Sir and Lady Tavington."
The crowd clapped and cheered. Even Cornwallis was smiling and William positively glowed with happiness.
"Go on and kiss her; you know you want to, so stop restraining yourself." Said Bordon smirking.
"Hush up you dolt." Replied William teasingly. "I will and believe me, I won't hold back on anything."
William bent down and kissed me passionately and the crowd clapped and cheered even more, but I took no heed of them as my lips continued to burn from William's fire.
We pulled away from eachother and William, smiling down at me, whispered, "I love you."
"I love you too, William Garrick Camden Tavington."
The reception was held in the banquet hall and began with a waltz. Capt. Bordon stepped into the middle of the banquet hall and said, "Let us have Col. Tavington and his new bride begin this waltz."
So, William and I stepped out into the middle of the banquet hall and began to waltz as the musicians began to play. As we danced, I stared into William's eyes I beheld in them love and adoration that I knew was reflected in my own eyes as well and as we continued to dance, his gaze upon me grew more intense and unwavering, and my own eyes dared not avert their gaze, for it was lost in his.
As the reception progressed, there was feasting, still more dancing, and in some cases, drinking. About an hour before the reception was to end, late that evening, Capt. Bordon was so red in the face and acting so oddly, that I walked up to him and asked in a flat tone, "Are you drunk?"
He looked dumbly at me and replied, "Huh?"
I looked over at William who was standing a few feet away, sipping a glass of wine and said, "He's drunk, isn't he?"
"Hopelessly, I'm afraid." Replied William.
"I'm getting tired." I said walking over to William.
"Well, why don't you go to our quarters and I'll be there when the reception is over."
I kissed William on the cheek and headed to our quarters.
Once there, I rested on the four-poster until William returned, closing and locking the door behind him.
"Feeling less tired?" He asked, sitting next to me on the four-poster.
"Yes."
"I should hope so." Said William.
He kissed me ardently burning a pathway from my lips down the flesh of my throat to the neckline of my dress. I felt his hands on the back of my head as he undid the bun in my hair, and then I felt them slide down my back as he undid my dress, slowly sliding it down my shoulders and arms.
I gave William a sly smile and he kissed me again, stroking my face and neck. I looked up at William, who was now on top of me and smiled.
"I am yours William."