Elizabeth led the men through the hallways of the estate. Even if you didn't know her that well you could tell she was upset by something. She kept smiling though. Tavington would stare at her endlessly. Elizabeth would act like she didn't see him doing that.
Now they had finished and were standing in the hall. "What about that room?" Tavington pointed to the room at the end of the hall.
"That's my room and my father's next to it." Elizabeth was lying about her father's room next to hers. She had, pretty much, her own wing of the house. And now being the owner of the estate, she deserved it.
"I see Miss Watson." Tavington turned around to his men. "Bordon and I will take the east wing, the rest of you choose your rooms." The men walked off and Tavington and Bordon turned back to Elizabeth. "If you please, show us the servant's quarters." Tavington smiled at her. Elizabeth cringed but tried her hardest not to show it.
"It's a little bit of a hike Colonel; it'd be better to take horses."
"That'll be fine." Tavington straitened him self.
"But sir you do have paper work to finish and send to the Lord General." Tavington sighed.
"Your right Captain Bordon. You go with Miss Watson." And with that Tavington left.
Bordon turned to Elizabeth. "Shall we, Miss Watson?" Elizabeth only nodded. And together they walked down the stairs. Elizabeth went to George, their stable boy. Though he was about Elizabeth's age, 18 or maybe even 20.
"Elizabeth, what may I help you with?" He was obviously sweet on her.
"My horse, just bridle please."
"Yes, anything for you Elizabeth." He disappeared and soon reappeared with a dapple gray. "Here you go Elizabeth. Have a fun ride." Elizabeth didn't answer, but instead flung her self up on top of her horse and joined Bordon.
"Miss Watson, I would have offered my horse."
"Captain, I would never take a horse from someone." She said as the began at a walk down behind the house.
"You wouldn't have taken my horse from me; I would allow you to ride double."
"That would have made a fine offer, but I'm sorry I still would have taken my own horse." Elizabeth gave him a smile.
When they reached the servants quarters Elizabeth led him in. "Its not that far from the main house, but if it keeps a roof over the soldiers heads I'm sure it will work."
"Yes it will, thank you Miss Watson."
"Oh and Caption, one more thing."
"Yes?" Elizabeth moved closer to him.
"Its Elizabeth, Miss Watson was married off three years ago." Elizabeth smiled and went back out to mount her horse. Bordon came up to her.
"Elizabeth?" He stumbled over her name.
"Ye-" She was cut off by a kiss. Bordon so boldly kissed her. But there were no witness about. Elizabeth was stunned and a little taken back. "May I ask as to where that came from?"
"I've loved you Elizabeth, since I first saw you."
"Back at the house?"
"No two months ago at the ball. Your beautiful chestnut brown hair, you sparkling green and blue eyes. Everything about you captivated me." Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something but Bordon held a finger to her lips. "Don't talk. I just wanted to say that, it has weighed heavily on me during the past two months."
Elizabeth opened her mouth again, and this time Bordon tried to silences her. Elizabeth's will to talk over powered him. She pushed his hand away to stare him in the eye. "Captain, I am a loyal woman. I have always been. But when you love someone else you must crush those who stand in your way. I know it's the same during war. So if you please let us go back to the main house."
The rest of the ride home was a quiet one. Bordon kept trying to figure out who she loved. But it was on use, no one but the stable boy came to mind. When they arrived back to the main house, Elizabeth seemed eager to run to her room. She ran pass the butler, a group of Dragoons, even the Colonel and her father.
"Lizzie?" A rather large, colored woman appeared. "Mr. Watson what happened to Lizzie?" Mr. Watson only surged an answer, for he too was at a lost for words. The woman made her way to follow Elizabeth.
"No Gabbie, you need to finish your work." Gabbie puffed at Mr. Watson and muttered to her self.
"You sold the other one, now you gonna sell my Lizzie...." Her voice disappeared as she made her way back to the kitchen.
Elizabeth flung her self onto the bed and began to cry. Her whole life was about being ready to marry, produce heirs, and work to her husband's expatiations. Everything was to come down to the next couple of years.
There was a knock and her father's voice came floating in. "Elizabeth are you alright?"
"Fine!" Elizabeth said as fast as she could.
"Elizabeth, don't hold your feelings in," Her father said walking in.
"GET OUT!" She screeched but her father kept making his way in. "GET OUT! I DON'T WANT TO TALK!" She began to throw things at him. First pillows, then small glass bottles and what ever else she could get her hands on. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" Just then Elizabeth fell on her bed into a pile of hair, skin, silk, and sobs. Her father backed out of her room and left her there.
The next morning Elizabeth woke early to hear the sound of spurred boots across the landing, then down the stairs and soon disappearing all together. Elizabeth waited until she heard the sound of hoof beats moving away from the estate. She then watched to make sure all of them were gone. Once she knew it was safe she changed and headed down to the kitchen. Gabbie had saved a plate of food from breakfast.
"I was wondering when you would wake up." Gabbie said not looking up from her work. She was kneading bread. "My dear Lizzie, come over here." She wiped her hands on her apron and pulled Elizabeth into a hug.
"Oh Gabbie." Elizabeth gave her a hug and sat down at the small table in the middle of the room.
"Here." Gabbie gave her a plate of food that was left over. Elizabeth smiled.
"Thank you." She started to eat when the neighbor's son came over. He liked Elizabeth.
"Thomas. So nice to see you."
"And it's nice to see you this beautiful afternoon." He smiled at her. "May I ask if Elizabeth is home?"
"She is, she is. Come this way." Gabbie led him in to the kitchen.
"Good day Elizabeth."
"The same Thomas. May I ask as to why you're here?"
"I would like to have you accompany me in a ride."
Elizabeth looked at Gabbie. "Yes Thomas I will accompany you." Elizabeth smiled at him and thought about how mad her father will be when he found out. "Will you excuse me while a change in to more a proper attire."
She smiled at Gabbie and the two of them walked up to her room. Gabbie helped her tie her bodice. As soon as she was done Elizabeth went to meet Thomas and ready her horse.
A carriage and a lone rider pulled up in front of the estate. Gabbie noticed Mr. Watson's figure. But who was in the carriage, she didn't know nor did she have an idea. Gabbie watched as two Slaves walked out. The slaves brought the one trunk in the house as Mr. Watson helped the person from the carriage. Gabbie gasped and covered her mouth when she saw who it was.
The whole afternoon Elizabeth and Thomas had been ridding around the fields that connected their estates. Thomas was young; he was tall and also had a handsome face. Brown eyes, a tanned face framed by shoulder length black hair.
Soon they stopped at the river that divided the two lands. Thomas had his arm around her shoulders and they just watched the water as if flowed.
"Where was your father this morning?"
"I'm not sure. I had just woke up when you came." She looked up at him. Her eyes sparkling in the late afternoon sunlight.
"It's getting late, you should be getting home." He helped her up and on to her horse. Everything felt right that day, that nothing could go wrong.
When they got to the estate it was just starting to get dark. Thomas helped her off her horse, gave it to George to and walked her to the porch.
"Thank you for such a fun day, Thomas."
"It was only made fun from your company," He smiled at her then down at the ground. "Elizabeth there is something I would like to ask you." He drew a deep breath.
"GET OUT OF HERE!" Elizabeth's father came running out. He chased Thomas away. He then turned to face his daughter. "What your mother would say if she saw you now."
"What she would say if she saw you chase my only suitor away!" Elizabeth screamed at him. Then the sound of horses hooves could be heard, the dragoons had returned.
Elizabeth ran off as she saw them approach and dismount. They made there way up to the house.
"Elizabeth! Stop!" He grabbed her arm and dragged her into the library.
"Leave me alone!" She screamed. Her father then shut and locked the door.
"Stop this!"
"NO!"
The dragoons had now assembled out side the doors listing to the fighting.
"You need to stop running away with that Libby boy!"
"I'll do what I want! I'm 18 and now I own the estate! If I do not want to be taken advantage of then I need a husband! And Thomas is the best you could ever hope for!"
She went to open the door when her mother voice came from the dark corner of the room.
"Elizabeth, please calm down. You will find a husband soon enough."
"What are you doing here?"
"I arrived to day."
"You so post to be somewhere in Europe, Ireland or England. Not here."
"You're not happy to see me?"
"No when you got up and left when I turned ten! Then you expect me to be all happy that you came back? I think not!" Elizabeth flung open the door to see the group of dragoons in the hall way. She rolled her eyes and pushed through them.
As she was going she was looking at the different faces. When she got to Borden's her heart skipped a beat. The memories of the night before came up and she felt all warm and fuzz. But she pushed pass him too. Not sparing a moment. She descended the stairs to her room when her father yelled after her.
"Be ready for dinner in half an hour!"
"Yes, Elizabeth, We will have lots to catch up on!" Her mother yelled.
"We have nothing to catch up on!" Elizabeth yelled just before she slammed her door.
Elizabeth leaned against the door and buried her face in her hands. Her mother had returned after 8 years of not caring about her daughter. And worst of all she wanted to be like they were. That would never happen. She left her and her sister, who was married off and never heard from again. There was no way a mending old ties. Elizabeth had Gabbie and Gabbie taught her everything she needed to know. Elizabeth was not going to let her become part of her life again, only to have her walk back out when she got bored.
Elizabeth had been so deep in though that she jumped when someone knocked on the door. All of her old memories of being hurt and wishes were pushed from her mind. She straighten her self out, took a deep breath and opened the door. She found one of the maids there.
"Elizabeth are you alright?"
"Charity, come in." Elizabeth said as she saw the Colonel and his Captain watching her.
Once the door was shut Elizabeth opened up to her. "Did you know she was coming back?"
"No I didn't, or at least I didn't until I saw her coming in around mid afternoon. I'm sorry Elizabeth. I know what you and your sister had to go through when she left." She sighed heavily. "If there's anything I can do, let me know."
"A person to confided in or vent to would be nice."
"Consider it done." Charity smiled at her. "Now let's get you ready for dinner."