The celebrating went late into the evening. William and I didn't get to bed until close to one; I didn't wake until half past seven and when I did, William wasn't there; he had left a not in his place.
Mary,
I was called early to rise this morning for battle. Hopefully I can see you within a month, as I have other duties to attend to after the battle. I love you.
-William
I sighed, walked over to William's desk, and placed the note in one of the drawers. Then I read a book for about fifteen minutes until it was time to get ready for breakfast.
The banquet hall was nearly empty that morning; only the servants and a few soldiers milled around or sat at the banquet table eating. I spotted the servant Martha dusting one of the windows in the far corner of the banquet hall and went over to her.
"Good morning." I said, coming up beside Martha.
She jumped in surprise, but quickly recovered and replied, "Good morning my lady. I apologise, you just startled me."
Martha's gaze was averted downward as she spoke.
"You may look at me when speaking." I said.
"My lady, it is not proper for servants to look at their superiors."
"It is also not proper to disobey, so look at me." I said gently.
Martha looked up at me.
"Thank you, my lady." She said in a grateful tone.
"I enjoy conversation better when I can see who I am conversing with." I said.
"I agree, but I am usually not allowed that luxury, as I am only a servant." Replied Martha.
"Come with me Martha, come sit with me at the banquet table for breakfast."
Martha nodded hesitantly and followed me over to the table. Then we began to converse while eating.
"How long have you worked here?" I asked.
"Almost two years, my lady."
"Do you like it here?"
"I guess so; the working conditions are more than satisfactory, as is the pay. Not to mention, there is a lot of gossip." She added with a small smile.
I laughed.
"About the soldiers I suppose?"
"Always about the soldiers." Replied Martha smiling.
"They can't resist a man in a uniform, can they?" I said smiling.
"No, I'm afraid not." Replied Martha laughing. "They seem so fascinated by the soldiers, especially Col. Tavington, if it isn't too bold of me to say so."
I smiled.
"You're not being too bold, don't worry. It's obvious I couldn't resist him."
"Honestly my lady, I myself think him to be highly attractive and the unpredictable air about him only adds to it, but I don't like to think of those things very often; it is sinful to lust after a married man, especially one who is superior to you."
"I agree." I replied. "Sinful is the least I can say of it."
"Morality has decreased much among the women, mostly the soldiers' wives. It's only gotten worse since Col. Tavington erased his bachelor status when he married you."
"Why?" I asked. "Aren't there better things to do than to pine after someone who is forbidden?"
"Yes, but apparently they can't see that yet. They're too busy being jealous of you; after all, you married the man every loyalist and British woman wanted. Not to mention your looks are extremely attractive; I've seen you enter the banquet hall many times with the colonel, and the moment you set foot in the room, all eyes are commanded upon you. The other women don't have that effect and that is another reason why they are jealous."
"I see; is there not a woman here that doesn't feel that way?" I asked.
"There are a few, but I haven't seen them very much. They can usually be spotted at balls or celebrations when the women are gossiping heavily about the colonel. They make themselves known by their defensive comments about you. Many of the women don't believe that you should have married the colonel for obvious reasons, but those who think otherwise say that he is free to choose whomever he wants to marry. I myself agree with that; it isn't my business to choose a wife for the colonel."
"Thank you Martha. It's comforting to know that not all of the women here harbour feelings of hostility toward me."
Part 2. Scents of ComfortAfter breakfast I went up to my quarters and wrote William and Bordon each a letter.
William,
I read your note this morning and I thank you for it. Being as it is still morning, not much has happened since you left, so my next letter promises to be longer. I hope you are fairing well and are not causing the captain any trouble. I love you.
-M.K.T.
Captain,
I decided to write you a letter while I was replying to William's note he left me this morning. He told me that he would be gone for about a month. I suppose that that also means you will also be gone for a month as well. At any rate, keep out of trouble, though it is probably in vain for me to say so, as you are obviously traveling with William and, knowing you two, there will be trouble. Please at least return with William to me alive and if you could both be in good health that would be good as well.
-M.K.T.
I quickly sealed the letters and gave them to a post rider to deliver. Then I went to the stables. There, I saddled one of the horses and rode out into the fields.
It was hot outside; a light breeze blew, giving me some relief from the heat as I galloped in the fields. I dismounted an allowed the horse to graze while I relaxed in the lush green grass.
Later that evening around half past eleven, I climbed into bed, closing the curtains around the four-poster. I looked over at William's side of the bed and frowned. Before I met William, I never imagined myself a soldier's wife; at the time it seemed I was the only one in my family who wasn't concerned about me getting courted and married. How did they do it? How did the soldiers' wives say good-bye to their husbands knowing that they may never see them again, with only their letters as comforts? And now, I found myself doing the same thing and still did not know how they, or even I, did it.
I moved over to William's side of the bed. Even though he wasn't there, his enticing scent still lingered on his pillow; I breathed it in, taking comfort in the small part of my husband that had been left behind, and fell into a restful sleep.