Author's Note: Once again a short chapter, and for that I am sorry! These last few chapters have sort of been filler chapters, helping me build up to what I consider to be a major event. It should be picking up again though, within the next couple of chapters! Oh, and if you hadn't heard about my "missing chapter" yet, the correct chapter thirteen is now up, followed by chapter fourteen, which you may have already read! Once again, my sincerest apologies for any confusion that mistake may have created ( know I was confused!)!

Chapter Fifteen: The Colonel's Problem

I awoke early the next morning and dressed quickly. After tying my long hair into a haphazard braid, I hurried downstairs. I found Abigail in the hall, but she was not working.

She smiled when she saw me.

"They've finally let me take some time off," she informed me. "At the request of my husband." She looked pleased at this.

"How long?" I asked her, taking a seat next to her in one of the chairs. She was sitting on a small love seat with large, overstuffed cushions.

"Well, I'm not sure, exactly. After the baby is born I will have to take care of it…" She glanced up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "There's going to be so much to do…sometimes I feel overwhelmed just thinking about it."

I put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure everything will be fine, Abigail," I told her, reassuringly.

She nodded. "I hope so."

After chatting for a while in the hall, I convinced Abigail, who still looked horribly tired, to go up to her room and get some rest. Reluctantly, she trudged slowly up the stairs, and I did not take my eyes off her until I had made sure that she was safely inside her room.

After that I did not know what to do. I walked back to the hall, but it was busy and stuffy. I felt very uncomfortable there, and several soldiers were always lurking about, giving the women longing glances.

I resolved to go outside and walked out through the back door that the colonel and I had left through the previous evening. When I got outside, I was surprised to see William sitting on the ground, looking tired and annoyed.

I walked over to him, not sure whether or not I should say anything.

He turned and looked at me. "What?" he asked, angrily.

"Nothing," I answered. "I was just going for a walk."

"You've not been given permission to wander the estate on your own," he stated simply.

"Nor have I been ordered not to," I pointed out, boldly.

He nodded. "No, I suppose not." He stood up, looking me up and down. I could tell from the look in his eyes that something was troubling him.

"What is it?" I asked, hoping that I wasn't overstepping our boundaries by making inquiries into what were probably personal affairs.

However, instead of yelling at me, or getting upset, the colonel simply said, "I am having a bad day."

"Oh," I answered, not really sure how to react. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I'm not sure," he answered, shrugging. He seemed to be trying to decide whether to tell me what was wrong or not. "You see, I've sort of been, well, worried about something lately."

"Well, do you want to talk about it?" I asked him, curiously.

He said nothing for a moment, just stared at me. I had never seen him look at me in such a way, his blue eyes sparkling, and a small smile forming on his lips. Perhaps Abigail was right about Colonel Tavington. Perhaps there really was a decent man beneath all of his anger and brutality.

Finally, he spoke again. "Charlotte, I want you to know that this is very difficult for me to say."

I nodded. "I understand, Col-"

He cut me off. "William," he corrected. "And let me say this, or I may never try to again."

I almost said something, but then caught my self, allowing him to speak.

"You see, I have a problem. A few weeks back, I captured this girl from a plantation. And…well, right off, we didn't exactly get along, because she had been taken from her family, and her brother had died. But I never saw a woman so strong. Then, later, I had to tell her that her brother had deserted and fled north, which was like telling her that her only hope of escape was gone. And once again, she handled the situation better than anyone I could ever imagine. And, well, the longer I am around this woman, the more I am finding myself attracted to her." He paused and took a deep breath. He eyed, me, as though trying to sense my reaction.

My reaction was shock. I could feel my eyes filling with tears, but I wasn't sure if it was because of remembering all of my recent hardships, or if it was because of the colonel's admitting that he was attracted to me.

He continued on, bringing me out of my shock briefly. "Anyway, Charlotte, I haven't really been sure what to do about this, because I did, after all, capture this girl. But after going to dinner and for a walk with her last night, I realize that I have to do something about these feelings. And so, I was wondering if you knew if this girl would allow me to court her."

I stood there, still in shock. What could I say to this? Everything in me wanted to say yes, and fling myself into his arms. I was just realizing in this moment, how much I had wanted to hear these exact words from William Tavington. And yet, he was a loyal British soldier. His men had killed my brother, and he had taken me from my mother and sisters. He had held me against my will, and still was. But then, if he had told me right that instant, that I could leave, I very much doubt that I would have.

I could feel the tears that had been brimming my eyes falling down my cheeks now.

Colonel Tavington lifted a hand and wiped a tear from my cheek. "I am sorry to have upset you so," he said, his face somewhat downcast. "I should never have said anything."

He turned and began walking away. After he had gone about ten feet, I regained my composure.

"William!" I cried.

He turned and looked at me, hopefully.

"Yes!" That was all I said, and I only had to say it once.

He walked back to me, beaming, and, just as I had wanted to, I flung myself into his arms and he held me as I sobbed, though I never did know why.