Chapter Twenty-Eight: Saving Nathan
I did not awake until two days later. This time, I felt more awake and alert, and remained conscious. William was at my side, just as he had been the first time I awoke.
"Charlotte," he said, looking at me lovingly. He cupped my chin in his hand.
I smiled a little, and then I remembered what he had told me about Nathan and the death sentence that may have had already taken him.
"Nathan?" I asked, sitting up in bed, eagerly awaiting the knowledge of my brother's fate.
Then William told me what had happened:
"You lost consciousness just as I left the room, and I got Dr. Stanton, just as I had told you I would. He said that you would be alright, that you just had to rest up and let your wounds heal." At this point William broke off and told me how Abigail had spent the majority of the past few days in my room, cleaning my wounds and dressing them carefully. I made a metal note to thank Abigail. It seemed I was always thanking Abigail for something, but she certainly deserved my gratitude!
William continued, "I hurried to Cornwallis's quarters and woke him. He had the pistol that Captain Williams had used against you in his possession as evidence, along with Nathan's pistol. Needless to say, the napping general was not overjoyed at my presence, but he got up and allowed me into his quarters, with much negotiating on my part.
"Once inside his quarters, I looked at each of the guns. And, just as you had said, Charlotte, there was one shot fired from each. I was sure that your brother would not have shot you, so I had only to assume that the shot fired against you had come from the captain's gun."
Once again, William broke off, this time shaking his head and pacing the room, furiously muttering profanities about Captain Williams. Although I too, was angry, the captain was dead, and cursing him would make no difference in the situation. I was too interested in learning what had happened to Nathan to listen to William's ranting at the time, so I shushed him, and he continued explaining what had happened.
"I explained the situation, including your account of what had happened, to Cornwallis, but he didn't want to listen. The damn fool was too excited at the prospect of hanging a continental to listen to reason, and there was nothing I could do to convince him of your brother's innocence in it all."
At this point, my eyes began to fill with tears. I was sure that my brother must be hanging in the gallows, his body on display, as we spoke.
"It's alright, it's alright," William reassured me. A mischievous smile crept over his face, and his blue eyes sparkled.
"William Tavington, what did you do?" I asked, pushing myself up in bed even further, showing that I was at attention.
"I took care of things, that's all," William said casually.
"Tell me what happened!" I demanded.
"Alright," William said, sitting down at my bedside once again. "And don't get yourself all worked up; you're supposed to be taking it easy!"
"Then tell me what happened!" I demanded once again.
"Very well," William said, still smiling at my obvious irritation. "Well, I went down to camp, where Nathan was being held, and put on my angry face-" his lips curved downward into their characteristic frown, the one that so frightened and intimidated the soldiers he commanded. "This, of course, helped scare the cowards who were guarding the door enough to let me into their little makeshift dungeon."
"And?" I asked, eagerly.
"Well, when I went in, I asked your brother what had happened the night of the incident. And, as sure as I'm a British colonel, he gave me the same exact story as you had. This was enough proof for me, so the two of us devised a plan."
"What was it? What did you do, William?" I had now moved past my fear that Nathan could have been executed, or otherwise killed, and instead I just wanted to know about Nathan's apparent escape.
"It was quite simple, really. The dullards didn't even think to guard the back of the tent they were holding your brother in. So I simply untied his bonds, and sent him on his way, our the back of the tent and into the woods." He grinned, proudly. "And then, I stormed angrily out of the tent and screamed at the guards that they hadn't watched the prisoner properly, and that he had escaped, which I of course, proceeded to blame them for."
"William Tavington, you are amazing!" I gushed. I had never loved William more than I did in that moment.
"And, just to put your mind at ease," William continued. "Your eldest brother has given us his blessing on our engagement. He wanted me to tell you that even though he would not be able to be there at our wedding, he was incredibly proud of you, and wished us every happiness."
My eyes were once again filling with tears, but this time they were tears of joy. William leaned over me and kissed me, and I finally felt at peace with my world.
