Part 1. Insulting Camp Followers and Embarrassing Captains
Later that evening, as Cornwallis had announced earlier, there was to be a celebration in the banquet hall in honour of William's victory. I got dressed in an emerald coloured dress and wore the necklace William had given me the night he asked to court me. William wore black dress-breeches along with the silk dress shirt, cravat, and dark blue waistcoat and ice blue vest that I had given him for Christmas.
As William and I came to the entrance of the banquet hall we were greeted by the captain.
"Good evening, Colonel. And Mary, good evening to you as well."
I smiled.
"Thank you, Captain."
As we proceeded into the banquet hall, the captain whispered in my ear, "Well he doesn't look so sour anymore."
I glanced up at William. His face wasn't as tight as before and he no longer had an irate look in his eyes; indeed, he was relaxed. Well, as relaxed as a man with his personality and circumstances was going to get.
"Indeed; he does look rather relaxed." I replied.
Bordon smiled.
William, Bordon and I made our way to the banquet table and were just setting into our chairs when Cornwallis spotted us and announced, "A toast to Col. Tavington."
"To Col. Tavington!" Said everyone raising their glasses.
After we ate, the ballroom was opened for dancing.
"William, would you like to dance?" I asked.
"Mary, I don't enjoy being on display like this."
"Oh come on William, don't think about the people in the room. Concentrate on something else…me perhaps?" I finished silkily in his ear.
William smiled diabolically at me and replied, "Good idea, my sweet."
"Now, let's dance."
William nodded and led me onto the dance floor.
"Well, for not enjoying social activities, you certainly are a skilled dancer; I don't know why I didn't speak of it before." I said.
"It runs in my bloodlines, Mary; you're quite excellent yourself."
"Why, thank you William." I replied.
After William and I finished dancing, I began to make my way over to one of the servants who was holding a tray with full wine glasses on it. Just as I was getting to the tray, I accidentally ran into a woman who was also trying to get a glass of wine.
"Dirty American whore!" Said the woman under her breath.
"I beg you pardon?" I said in surprise.
"You have no right to be here!" She shot.
"And on what ground, may I ask, do you make this statement!" I said in an affronted tone.
"You're a bloody patriot! You're probably a spy for the Continentals!"
"Pardon me, but I am not…"
"Don't try to deny me; just because you're married to Col. Tavington doesn't mean you belong here; you probably just use that as a cover. I know who you are, you're the daughter of Charles Selton; he would be disgraced to see you married to Col. Tavington, so why don't you go back home where you belong! Our officers don't need you around to disrupt their duties!"
"Madam you are out of order!" I said through clenched teeth.
"I'm out of order! Rubbish! I'm not the one who is married to someone who has different beliefs about the war than I! It is you who is…"
The woman looked up above me fearfully.
"Out of order?" Finished a crisp English voice behind me.
I felt a hand upon my shoulder and didn't need to look up, for I knew that it was my husband who stood behind me.
"Sir I…" Started the woman but William cut her off.
"I would strongly advise you not to speak in an offensive tongue to my wife. She has every right to be here."
"Sir, she's a patriot and a traitor!" Said the woman.
William's eyes glittered with anger and he stepped towards the woman so that they were only inches apart, and spoke in a deadly voice, "I will not tolerate any offenses to my wife and if your insolent behaviour continues, I'll have you thrown out on the streets! My wife has more rights to be here than you; don't think I haven't seen you before; I know your occupation; you're a camp follower and are probably here with one of the soldiers who was desperate to find a woman to bring to the festivities, otherwise you would be back at camp, providing your services to a soldier foolish enough to pay for them!"
The woman opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again, her face red with anger and embarrassment. William smirked and said smoothly, "It would be wise of you to leave before I cut your tongue from your mouth."
The woman gasped in horror.
"Sir you wouldn't…"
"Oh I wouldn't be so sure about that." I replied, a wicked smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
William curled his lips into a diabolic smile.
"Madam, they call me The Butcher."
The woman's eyes widened and she looked as if she were about to burst; she immediately turned around and hurried off into the crowd.
"Are you alright?" Asked William.
"I'm fine; my family name has been exposed, I was called a disgrace and told that I didn't belong here because of my patriotic upbringing, but I'm fine." I replied in a surprisingly light tone.
"Filthy whore!" William growled.
"Now now William, mind your tongue." I said smiling up at him in a teasing manor.
"Well she is." Replied William.
I kissed William on the cheek and said, "Well at least you were civil about it."
"Thank you." Replied William smirking. "Now why don't you get yourself the glass of wine that got you here in the first place and let's get some dessert."
I nodded taking a glass off the tray.
"Aren't you having any?" I asked William.
"I believe I shall." He replied, also taking a glass.
William and I were about to make our way over to the banquet table when a very drunk Capt. Bordon staggered over to us and said quite loudly, "How about a victory kiss for Will, Mary?"
William turned a bright shade of red and hissed, "Hush your mouth! And I told you not to drink!"
"But Will that's what you do at celebrations." Said Bordon, slurring some of his words.
"You get drunk way to easily, and don't call me Will!"
"Relax, this is a time for celebration; so, kiss him Mary!"
William turned even redder and grabbed Bordon by the collar, hissing, "Damn you Bordon, be quiet…"
But it was too late; a whole bunch of soldiers, including Cornwallis had heard what Bordon had said, and were now chanting, "Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss…"
William released Bordon and looked at me helplessly as the captain joined in the chanting.
"I'm not getting out of this, am I?"
"I don't think so." I replied.
"Well then Mary, you heard the captain; kiss me."
I smiled mischievously, stood almost on the tips of my toes, and kissed William passionately.
Everyone in the banquet hall cheered and some even yelled, "Here, here!"
"So much for not wanting to be on display." I said pulling away from William.
William rolled his eyes and replied, "Indeed."
I kissed William tenderly on the cheek.
"Congratulations on your victory, Colonel."