Three weeks later, William and the captain took Braden and I to camp so the men could finally see their superior's newborn son. The men were very courteous to me and took a quick liking to Braden; by the end of the visit to camp, I was trying to keep from laughing at William's futile attempts at not rolling his eyes because the men kept saying how much Braden resembled his father. Even the captain had to try to restrain himself from laughing at William's strained politeness.
Later that evening, around ten, after Braden had finally gone to sleep William and I got dressed for bed.
I walked over to Braden's cradle and rocked it gently as he slept. William walked up behind me and pulled me to him, wrapping his left arm diagonally across my left shoulder and my chest, and his right arm around my waist. I looked up at William and smiled.
"He really does look like you, my love." I said softly.
"I noticed." Replied William. "That's all I've heard today."
I laughed softly.
"It's true though William."
"Well, he may look like me, but he sleeps like you."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes, I have trained my self to be a light sleeper." Replied William, gathering me in his arms.
"Then how come I have to sometimes wake you in the morning?"
"I don't always sleep lightly and usually I rise before you anyway, so it is usually I who wakes you." Replied William.
I smiled, kissing William tenderly. William smiled and placed me on the four-poster.
"To bed with you, my love; it's late and Braden will want to be fed in a few hours."
Around half past one the next morning, I was gently shaken awake by William; he was in uniform and looked very much awake and alert.
"I have to leave. I'm not sure when I'll return. But I will be sure to write you this evening. I am leaving one of my men, Aric Dryden, here as a guard for you. He's not very useful on raids but there will be no danger of him doing anything to you, or letting anything happen to you or Braden; he obeys me because he fears me, and God knows he should. Well anyway, I have to be at camp in fifteen minutes. Upon my arrival, I will send Dryden back to the estate."
William leaned forward and kissed me softly.
"I love you."
"I love you too William, and so does your son." I replied, kissing William's cheek.
William leaned over Braden's cradle, gently kissing his sleeping son and whispered, "I love you Braden."
Then he got up and turned to leave. But before he could get out the door, I said, "Be careful William. I will not raise a fatherless son."
William nodded and smiled.
"I shall return. That is a promise."
And with that William left, closing the door soundlessly behind him.
Part 2. Brielle
The next evening around half past eight, after the guard had left and Braden had been sleeping for an hour, there was a soft knock at the door. I opened it and found Martha framed in the entrance.
"Well good evening Martha. What brings you here?"
"You've a letter, my lady." She said, handing me the letter.
"Thank you." I replied. "You're welcome to stay for a little while."
"I'm sorry, but I really must decline; I have to clean some of the rooms in the estate."
"Very well, I shall see you later."
I closed the door, sat down in the armchair and began to read the letter.
My dearest Mary,
It feels so strange to be away from you after spending so much time away from military life with you and Braden. Even Bordon, who received slightly less time off than I, for he only conducted raids and did paperwork while I was off duty, said that he felt a bit off balance, and had to get back into military routine. I miss you and Braden terribly. The captain may be returning in a week, but only for a few days; he'll help you with any thing you need then. I should return within the next month or two, but I'm not exactly sure of an accurate date. Until then you shall remain in my thoughts. I love you both very much.
-William
A week later, just as William had written to me, Bordon arrived. It was raining so hard outside that when Bordon arrived in my quarters, I could literally wring out his waistcoat.
"You're soaked!" I exclaimed when Bordon entered my quarters.
"I know. I was going to change, but I wanted to see how you and Braden were doing." Replied Bordon, lowering his gaze to Braden, who was in my arms staring up at the captain, his lips curled into a tiny smile.
"To answer your question, I am doing well. Tired yes, but well. And Braden is quite content; he just finished being fed."
"I'm glad to hear that." Replied Bordon smiling.
"Well, Uncle Bordon, why don't you get cleaned up and then we can converse."
Bordon laughed and said, "I must resemble a rag."
"A sopping rag." I added, chuckling.
Twenty minutes later, after Bordon had cleaned himself up, he returned to my quarters.
"Now that I'm no longer a rag, I can greet you properly." Said the captain, kissing my cheek.
"Thank you captain." I replied smiling.
"May I hold my nephew?"
I handed Braden to the captain who cradled him in his arms.
"The colonel told me that he had left Aric Dryden here as a guard for you; is he doing his job well?"
"He certainly is watchful. However, he does leave the room to give me private time, which I am thankful for. But he is never far away; his quarters are my old quarters, across the hall."
"That is good to know. Has he treated you well?"
"Yes. He's a bit shy, but very polite."
Bordon nodded.
"How have you and William been fairing?"
"Well, I suppose. He thinks that we're quite close to catching Martin and it's nearly driving him mad that we haven't caught him yet. But on the whole, he's been in a decent mood, which means the rest of us can relax and breathe easily. He misses you though."
"I miss him as well." I replied. "It was good to have William here when Braden was born, and for several weeks after."
Our conversation was abruptly cut short by someone knocking at the door. I stood up to go to the door, but Bordon stopped me.
"You sit down. I'll get it."
Bordon got up and opened the door.
"I'm told that Lady Tavington resides in these quarters; is…is she here?" Asked a female voice.
"I am here." I replied. "Show her in."
Bordon stepped out of the doorway. In stepped a woman of about her early twenties with long brown hair pulled back in a braid and a soft, innocent looking face; she was of medium height and had warm honey-coloured eyes.
"I'm sorry, I thought…" She said casting a confused look at Bordon, who was still holding my son in his arms.
"He's just a friend of the family. He works with my husband."
"I see; so you must be Captain Fredrick Thomas Bordon. Forgive me for not introducing myself; I am Brielle Jayden."
I nodded at Brielle.
"Well Captain, how come you never mentioned your full name to me?" I asked.
Bordon turned red and replied, "No one asks, and I'm so used to being addressed by my surname or my rank that I don't even use my first or full name anymore."
I smiled at Bordon, shaking my head, and then turned my attention to Brielle.
"May I ask why you are here?" I asked.
"Col. Tavington sent me to help you with your son."
"Thank you." I replied.
I glanced over at the captain; he was staring at Brielle with a sort of glazed expression on his face.
"Captain," I said, breaking his trance; "are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh, um, I'm fine. I'll just…I'll just be going."
Bordon handed Braden back to me and left the room.
"Sit down, Miss Jayden." I said.
"Thank you, Lady Tavington." She replied, taking a seat in a chair across form the armchair.
"You've an accent; where are you from?"
"My mother was French, my father an Englishman. I was raised in France until I was sixteen. Then my mother died and my father joined the British Army, and I came with him to help in the camps while he fought for the crown against the Colonials."
"Interesting." I replied.
"How old is your son?" She asked.
"Braden is a month old now."
"He's quite a charming baby." Said Miss Jayden.
I smiled.
"He doesn't get that from me. His father, on the other hand, wouldn't need a flute to charm a cobra out of a basket."
"Really? He seems like a stern man."
"He is, but he sure can charm people when he wants to."
Miss Jayden laughed.
"Well, Miss Jayden, since the captain is going to be here, why don't you take a few days to enjoy yourself and get used to your surroundings. Then you can help me when he leaves. However, I don't believe I shall be needing much from you."
She laughed.
"Col. Tavington told me you might say that."
I smiled.
"Well even if I don't have you do much, it's nice to have someone to converse with."
"Indeed."
Part 3. I'm Not Interested
Later that evening after supper, Bordon came to my quarters.
"Good evening, Captain."
Bordon nodded.
"Good evening."
"Is something bothering you?" I asked.
Bordon cast me a confused look.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You were staring at Miss Jayden when she arrived in my quarters and this evening during supper, I noticed your gaze was fixed upon her once more." I said, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Bordon went bright red.
"I…it's not like…I'm not interested!" He finished indignantly.
"All right Captain, but I'm not convinced." I replied, shaking my head.
"Mary!"
"I know you're lying Captain. Now quiet down; I don't need Braden to have a fit."
"Sorry." Replied Bordon. "Oh, this is for you."
"Thank you Captain." I replied.
Bordon turned to leave.
"Good night Mary."
"Good night. And Captain?"
"Yes."
"Since it is a little more than obvious that you are interested in Miss Jayden, why don't you try to get to know her and then, if you want to, ask her permission to write to her?"
"Perhaps. But I've no idea how she feels."
"Well, you weren't the only one staring; whenever you actually tore your gaze away from her to eat, she was looking at you. Why don't you take some time to get to know her? She seems interesting enough."
Bordon gave me a small smile.
"Thank you Mary. I'll think about it."
"Yes do that, Captain, and I'll see you in the morning."
Two days passed. Brielle had helped me very little since she arrived, but I didn't complain. I had little for her to do, and she was spending time with the captain.
I was sitting in my quarters holding Braden while he was sleeping when Bordon entered the room.
"I have to leave." He said, a slight air of excitement in his voice.
"What are you so elated about?" I asked.
"She said I could write to her! Brielle said I could write to her!"
The captain's sudden burst of excitement startled Braden awake and he began crying.
I tossed the captain a stern look as I tried to comfort Braden.
"Sorry." Said the captain apologetically. "Here, let me calm him."
"I thought you had to leave."
"I still have some time. Please let me see him."
I handed Braden to the captain who gently rocked him back and forth in his arms until he had calmed down. Then he handed him back to me.
"Thank you Bordon."
"You're welcome." He replied, gently stroking the top of Braden's head.
"Well, good bye then. I'll be sure to tell the colonel how you and Braden are fairing."
"Thank you." I replied nodding.
With that, Bordon strode out of the room.
Part 4. Good Night Col. Tavington
A month had passed. But it wasn't so hard waiting for the return of the dragoons as it had been. Brielle hand I had grown close and Braden kept us both busy.
One evening around half past eight, Brielle and I were sitting in my quarters conversing after Braden had gone to sleep when there was the sound of heavy footsteps just outside the door; the doorknob turned and William stood framed in the doorway. He looked quite disheveled; his hair was unqueued and snarled, his waistcoat and vest were undone; his shirt was also undone. He was slightly bent in pain, his hands pressed to a spot on his left side.
"William what happened? Where's the captain?" I asked walking over to him, placing my hands on his arms.
William slowly removed his hands from his side, revealing a splatter of dried blood surrounding a hole in his shirt.
"William"
"It's only a flesh wound. Bordon received much worse." Said William, a twinge of pain in his voice.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Brielle go pale.
"He's in one of the tents at camp, Miss Jayden." Said William, noticing Brielle's distress.
"Th-thank you...I'll see you later." She replied numbly.
"Take off your shirt, William." I said after Brielle had left.
William did as I said and removed his upper clothing without hesitation.
"It's already been treated."
"I know, but I want to see it anyway." I replied unwrapping the bandage around the wound. "Lie down on your back."
William lay down on the four-poster as I carefully ran my fingers over the stitched bullet wound. He winced but said nothing.
"They cleaned it out well." I said. "What happened?"
"Just an ambush." Replied William shortly.
Something about the tone of his voice said that he wasn't telling me the whole truth, and he knew it.
"Just an ambush? Why then?"
"Mary, they're rebels."
"There's still got to be a reason as to why you were ambushed."
"Mary why is it any of your concern?" Asked William beginning to sound irritated.
"Because you're keeping something from me." I replied calmly.
William closed his eyes and sighed, muttering to himself; the only words I could make out were "damn" and "hell".
"So" I asked; "what happened?"
William glared at me defiantly but then relented.
"We burned the town of Pembroke. Well not necessarily the town; all of the people were killed.
I had been given permission from Cornwallis to use whatever means necessary to capture Martin and his men.
I got a lead on the town of Pembroke; it appears that they were supplying Martin and his men. So I took the dragoons to Pembroke to question them about the whole matter. Things got out of order when one of the men spoke up and gave me the information I wanted and the church was burned with the people inside."
(William's POV)
I looked at Mary to see her reaction and when I did, I immediately wished that I hadn't. Her face was cold and hard; I had never seen that expression from her projected towards me except for one other time and that was when I had first captured her.
Mary was silent the rest of the evening. I felt horrible.
As we got into bed I turned to her.
"Mary I"
But she turned her back to me and said chillingly, "Good night, Col. Tavington."