Chapter Eleven: A Morning at the Mansion
I awoke late the next morning. The sunlight was pouring in through my window, and in the light, the room look somewhat cheerful.
I got out of bed and looked around for something to wear. I found, at the foot of the bed, a dark green dress, simpler than the red one that Abigail had given me, but still beautiful. Attached to the dress was a small note, which read:
"Dear Charlotte,
Here is yet another dress that won't fit my growing belly! Please wear it. I have tons of dresses like it that won't fit around me anymore, and I am more than willing to share!
Abigail"
I smiled and quickly put on my undergarments. Then I slipped into the dress, which fit quite well. I put on my shoes and braided my hair. After dressing, I quickly made my bed and left the room. I wanted to see Abigail. I needed someone to confide in, or the events of the previous night would surely drive me mad!
I went down the stairs and into the hall. The hall was a large room with fluffy British made couches and chairs and intricately carven tables. There were a few high ranking officers milling about, but they paid me no mind. I probably assumed I was just another servant girl.
I walked through the hall, gazing about for Abigail. Finally, I spotted a woman with a somewhat large midriff and hurried over. Abigail was wearing a scarf over her messy hair and looked incredibly tired.
"Oh, Charlotte, you're up," she said. She sighed, putting a hand on her lower back.
"Are you alright?" I asked her.
"Oh, of course," she said, waving her hand. "I'm just a little tired. Working and being with child at the same time is not as easy as it looks." She chuckled a little.
"I'm sure it not," I said. I couldn't imagine doing all that hard work and carrying another little person inside of me all at once. "How far along are you?"
"Oh," she said, thoughtfully. "I've still got about two months to go." She patted her stomach and sighed. "Only two months…"
"You know, I would never have known it when I first met you," I said. I still could not believe that this petite little woman was going to have a baby.
"Well, the doc says the baby's going to be small, because I'm small," she said, sighing.
"Abigail, why don't you go rest in my room?" I asked. "Surely you don't need to be doing all of this work. I can do it."
"No, no," she said, shaking her head. Then, as though rethinking my offer, she asked, "Do you really think I could?"
"Of course," I answered. "Go ahead. I'll see you later." So much for talking about my situation.
"Thank you so much," Abigail said. She handed me her apron and her dust cloth and began to walk away. Then she turned, and said, "Oh by the way, Colonel Tavington has been complaining about that muscle he hurt a couple days back. He said you looked at it, so if you get a chance, try and go check on him."
I nodded. "I'll go see him as soon as I finish dusting in here. Now go rest."
She gave me one last smile and left the hall.
I went through the hall with Abigail's dust cloth, cleaning around everything. I was not really trying that hard. Really, I just wanted to get the job done. Besides, these were soldiers. Somehow I doubted that cleanliness was all that important to them.
When I was finished, I stuffed the dust cloth into the pocket in the apron Abigail had given me, and took off for the medical tents outside. Just as I had suspected, Colonel Tavington was sitting on one of the cots.
"What took you so long?" he asked. "I told Abigail to send you out here."
"Well, I was doing some other work," I said, more harshly than I had meant to.
He threw up his hands. "Alright, alright. You kept me waiting, though."
"I'm sure you'll live," I said.
"Well," said Colonel Tavington. "You're in a fine mood this morning."
I ignored his comment. "What's wrong, anyway?"
"It's that damned muscle thing again," he said. "I can't ride because the movement hurts."
"Well then don't ride," I said.
"Charlotte, I don't have an hour to go round with you about this! Just look at it!" He yelled.
"Fine," I said. "Lift your shirt up."
He did, and I looked at the area where he was complaining of pain. There was a large bruised area, which was now visible. I thought of what could be wrong with the muscle now.
"Did you injure it again after the first time?" I asked him.
"Not that I know of," he answered, no longer angry.
I nodded. "Well, my diagnosis hasn't changed at all, but the prognosis has," I said. "I don't want you riding for at least a week. You need to take it easy."
Colonel Tavington let out a heavy sigh as he lowered his shirt back over his toned stomach. "Damn," he stated simply.
"Don't shoot the messenger," I said simply.
"Perhaps you should take your own advice," he retorted.
I glared at him.
"Anyway," he said, as though he were leading up to something.
"What?" I asked.
"There's a stupid dinner this evening. A bunch of the high ranking officers thought it was a good idea to bring their wives over. Damned if I know why." He chuckled.
"Stop cursing," I scolded. Then, rethinking it, I said, "Sorry. I'm used to telling my brothers not to curse."
He shrugged. "Don't worry about it," he said. "Anyway, the point was that I have no one to go with to this dinner, but I am supposed to bring a date, according to Lord General Cornwallis. Lord only knows why he cares if we arrive in pairs, but he does. So, would you be interested in going?"
I thought about it for a moment. I started to say no, but then thought better of it. What would I be doing otherwise? Sulking in my room? Besides, if I played my cards right, Colonel Tavington could be me escape from captivity.
"Yes," I conceded. "I will go with you."
I couldn't help but notice as he left the tent, that Colonel Tavington was positively glowing.
