Author's Note: Yay! I think I may have finally conquered the writer's block that has been plaguing me for so many chapters! This is my longest chapter in such a long time! I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter Twenty-Three: Engagement

William stayed with me in my quarters until the early morning hours. We talked about everything, from the uncomfortable situation with Nathan, to our wedding plans. We decided that, for now, we would not announce out engagement. I had wanted, more than anything, to tell the whole world that this amazing man wanted to marry me, but William refused to let anyone know until he had given me a ring. Unfortunately, in this particular situation, I was unable to overcome his stubbornness.

Had I not insisted, William probably would have stayed the entire night through in my room. However, we both had reputations to protect, and could not risk an early morning sighting of the colonel leaving my quarters. Finally, he left me alone.

I lay down on my bed, not feeling the least bit tired. My room was cold, but I did not feel it. It was as though my own happiness had created a shield around me, protecting me from all the unpleasant things that the world had to offer. I had even come to peace with what had happened with Nathan. I would always miss my family, but I understood now that I was part of a different world. And now that I was engaged to perhaps the most notorious British Dragoon, there was no turning back. And somehow, this did not bother me as I had expected it to. Falling in love had helped me set aside all of my previous worries, and I could at last set my sights on the future.

At some point, though I'm not sure how, I managed to fall asleep. I awoke a few hours later to a cold, pale light pouring through my windows. I had never shut the curtains. I sat up and rose from my large four-poster bed. There were large flakes of snow falling gracefully from the clouds above. I looked down and saw that they were forming a pure white blanket on the grounds. There had been snow flying in the breeze for some time, but it had never stuck before. I wondered for the first time in what seemed like months, what the date was.

Finally surrendering to the daylight, I forced myself to prepare to greet the day. I went to the pile of clothes that Abigail had given me and selected a warm, green dress that went well with my bluish-green colored eyes. I also grabbed an ivory colored knit shawl, that had also once belonged to Abigail. (She had given it to me, saying that she had plenty to spare.)

I made my way out of my quarters and into the washroom. Somehow I felt that a good scrubbing would help me wash away all of the sadness of my recent past. I rubbed all of the dirt that accumulated itself on my pale skin, and scrubbed my long, slightly curled locks, which had changed from a golden red to a darker shade of crimson, most likely because of my not being in the sun everyday for so long.

When I was done cleaning myself and had dried and dressed, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I had lost a good deal of weight since my capture, which, I suppose, was to be expected, considering how many meals I had missed. My cheekbones could be seen poking gently out. I did not look malnourished at all, but made a silent promise to myself to try and live a more healthy lifestyle. I pulled the top half of my long hair, which had now reached my waist, back into a braid, and a few short, curly pieces fell gracefully across my forehead. The woman I saw looking back at me was not beautiful, but she was not ugly either, and I felt a strange sense of confidence.

I left the washroom, and continued on my way down the stairs and into the hall. There were a few other women and several soldiers milling about, no doubt trying their best to avoid the cold camps, where so many men were freezing right now. I continued on into the banquet hall, where some breakfast was still being served, and I got myself a plate.

I took the first empty seat I saw and began nibbling at my food, feeling somewhat out of place among the several soldiers who were also there. There was a particularly large group sitting near me, discussing raids, and other war tactics. I did my best to tune them out, still not feeling ready to hear about the effects the war was having on others. I knew that it was probably wrong to let myself be blind to what was happening in the world, but for some reason I did not wish to know. I did not want my happiness to be spoiled by the war that had already devastated my family.

Suddenly, one of the soldiers broke apart from the rest of the group and took a seat next to me. I looked up, and nearly choked on the bite of food in my mouth. It was Captain Williams, the man whom I had so feared when I had first been captured. The look on his face was grave, and I wondered what on earth he was thinking as he watched me cough and choke down my food with a glass of water.

Somehow I mustered enough courage to speak to him. I did not know why I was so terrified in his presence, but something about him made me terribly uneasy, and I did not like the feeling.

"May I help you?" I asked, boldly. I was not sure what his reply would be, but I could not bear it any longer to sit there staring at him.

"I need to speak with you," he said, seriously. His dark chocolate colored eyes glinted somewhat mischievously, which only increased my nervousness.

"Well, go on then," I said simply. I was forcing myself to act bravely, but I knew that he could tell I was on edge around him.

"I think it would be easier for both of us if we had this discussion in private," continued the captain, nodding his head towards the door.

I could not imagine why Captain Williams would want to make anything easy for me, but something about the look in his eyes told me that I needed to hear what he was about to say.

"Very well," I agreed, abandoning my breakfast plate to go and speak with the man whom I had so hated for so long.

We walked out of the banquet hall and into the long hallway. The few women who were there scattered at the mere sight of Captain Williams. He nodded curtly at a few low ranking soldiers, who left the room immediately.

"What is this about?" I asked, wanting to get out of his presence as soon as possible.

"I saw you outside late last night," he began. A coy smile formed on his lips, and I had never seen anyone look so malicious in my entire life.

Suddenly, my mind was racing. I could feel the color drain from my already pale cheeks as I wondered what he had seen. If he had simply seen me talking with William than perhaps things would be alright, but if he had glimpsed me with Nathan…

"And?" I asked, pretending as if there was nothing disturbing about his statement. "I have permission to wander the grounds freely, and therefore I see no need to continue this discussion." I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm. I pulled away, taking a step back. I did not trust Captain Williams to treat me respectively, and there was no one there to help me.

The evil glint in his eyes returned and he grinned at me. "I think you and I both know what I saw. And it may take a little convincing to stop me from reporting it."

I stared at him in horror. I still had no idea if he had really seen anything or if he had simply seen me with William and was trying to get to me. All I knew was that this was blackmail, and that I would not give him what he undoubtedly wanted.

He took a step nearer to me and placed a hand on my cheek. "It's alright," he said in a soft voice. "I won't tell your precious Colonel about us."

"There is no us, Captain Williams," I said harshly, backing away once again. "And I ask that you keep your hands and your nasty thoughts to yourself." Without letting him say anything else, I hurried away and went up the stairs. I hurried to Abigail's room and knocked sharply on the door.

"Abigail, please let me in!" I called, urgently.

She quickly came to the door and opened it. "Come in, come in," she said, pulling me into the room by the arm. "And be quiet, you'll wake Josephine!"

"I'm sorry," I apologized hurriedly.

"I see you're still here," she said, looking me up and down.

"Yes, obviously," I told her, smiling as I thought of the previous night.

"Well, tell me what happened!" urged Abigail, plopping down on her bed. I joined her and we sat side by side as I told her all that had happened the previous night up to the disturbing encounter with Captain Williams.

"You think he really knows something?" I asked her, nervously. Of course, there was no way that Abigail could either confirm or soothe my fears away, but I felt I needed some reassurance.

"Well, to be very honest," she began carefully. "There is no way of knowing exactly what he knows. He may have just seen you out there with the colonel, or he could have seen your brother."

"Yes, but what should I do about it?" I asked. Abigail, of course, knew no more than I did, but she had given me advice so many times before that I had come to rely on her to know how to solve everything.

"Charlotte, honey, this is one problem that I do not know how to get you out of," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "I do think though, that if I were you, I would tell Colonel Tavington what happened. He is, after all, Captain William's superior officer, and perhaps he could get things sorted out."

"Yes, I suppose that's true," I said, reasoning things out in my head.

"And," Abigail continued, "he could probably stop Captain Williams from harassing you like he did this morning. You are a respectable lady and you can't let him take that away from you, especially not when you don't even know for sure what he saw."

I nodded my head furiously. "Of course not! I would never, ever, give that man what I'm sure he wants."

"Well, good," said Abigail, sternly. Then, shaking her head, "You know, Charlotte, you're a wonderful person, but you sure do seem to attract a lot of trouble."

"I don't go looking for trouble," I said, defensively. Suddenly, I felt as though Abigail were trying to attack me and make me feel guilty. "It does seem to find me often enough, though."

Abigail nodded. "Well, for better or for worse, you are my dearest friend," she said, squeezing my hand. "And I wanted you to know that."

I grinned at her, feeling instantly better. "Thank you, Abigail."

The two of us sat in her quarters for some time afterward, discussing basic things. Abigail told me about her marriage with Peter, and how things had changed since she had had Josephine, and how wonderful it was that I was getting married.

"Yes, but remember, you mustn't tell a soul!" I said seriously. "We don't want anyone to know for a while yet."

Abigail laughed. "Charlotte, who would I tell?" she asked me.

I thought for a second. "I don't know," I admitted. "Peter?"

"And who would Peter tell? The boy who washes the dishes?" She laughed. "Don't worry, honey, your secret's safe with me."

"Thank you."

We continued our conversations for a while longer, until Josephine woke up. Abigail let me hold her for a while, until she settled down again, but soon she was once again awake. This time Abigail asked me politely to leave, saying that she had to feed little Josephine.

I rose to do so and, just before I left the room, I heard Abigail say quietly, "Congratulations on your engagement."

I returned to my quarters feeling, despite the confrontation with Captain Williams, as happy as I had ever felt in my life.