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Following Bordon's lead, the pair stepped off the porch and worked their way around the edge of the assembly toward the front, where a section had apparently been reserved for officers. A handful of Mrs. Middleton's wooden chairs had been pulled from the porch and were now occupied by General O'Hara and the other senior officers. As they neared, O'Hara looked up and smiled.
"Ah, miss Durnham! How are we this morning? I trust your night passed well?" O'Hara spoke in a hushed tone as he quickly stood and bowed with a flourish, offering the young woman his chair.
Emily beamed at the gesture. "Quite well, General, thank you. I hope you don't mind my intrusion upon your services this morning. I'm afraid my curiosity got the best of me."
"You are more than welcome, miss. I'm pleased you could join us!" O'Hara accepted a new chair carried over by another of his staff and placed it next to Emily's while Bordon settled himself on the grass nearby.
They quieted once more and listened as the service continued. The subject of the sermon was a dry passage from Colossians, and it wasn't long before Emily found her mind wandering. She took the opportunity to survey the vast assembly of men and officers. Most of the soldiers, like her, seemed bored to their wits end and stared into space, fiddling absently with blades of grass or conducting whispered conversations with their neighbors.
The officers on the other hand made every attempt to appear interested and attentive so as to set a good example, sitting silently with eyes resolutely fixed upon the chaplain. Bordon seemed lost in thought, his brow furrowed in a rather serious manner. Emily quirked an eyebrow and looked down the rest of the front row, absently wondering if Colonel Tavington bothered to show up. Finally she spotted him- at the far end of the congregation sitting at the base of a tree, well distanced from his fellow officers. Unlike the others, he made no attempt to concern himself with the observance and was quite focused on the process of cleaning a pistol.
'Honestly, bringing a gun to church?' Emily scowled and bit her lip. The man truly was infuriating! She watched as another officer joined him by the tree and casually sat down with a flop. He was considerably shorter than Tavington, his hair glinting red in the morning sun. Emily squinted. There was something familiar about him... Slowly but surely her scowl turned into an all-out gape.
"Surely not..."
"Miss?"
Bordon tapped her shoulder gently and Emily was suddenly aware that the service had ended and the men were getting up to leave. She accepted his offered hand and rose from the chair quickly, but by the time she glanced back toward the tree, Tavington and his strange companion were gone.
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Tarleton whistled cheerfully on his way back up to the house, Tavington treading silently at his side.
Since returning from patrol the night before, neither had spoken on the matter- but there was nothing unusual about that. Tavington had a habit of claming up after patrols and Tarleton was growing accustomed to his comrade's quirks.
"So, Tav.. finished your report yet?" Tarleton pulled a red apple out of a pocket in his coat and bit into it noisily.
Tavington glared. "Yes, I have. I would ask you the same question, but I think I very well know the answer already."
Tarleton grinned mischievously, "Why Colonel, you're smarter than you look!"
"And you're not. Is it any wonder we work so well together?" Tavington beamed triumphantly as Tarleton's smirk twisted into a childish pout. Neither noticed the sound of swiftly approaching feet closing in behind them, pattering softly across the grass and nearly inaudible over the normal day-time commotion of the camp.
"Excuse me.. Sirs?"
Both officers turned to the female voice as Emily completed her dash across the lawn and came to a stop in front of the startled men, flushed and gasping as she attempted to catch her breath through the suffocating tightness of her corset. Bordon trotted up closely behind her, shooting a pointed look to his fellow officers, which only Tavington noticed. Tarleton's eyes were fixed on the young woman in front of them, his face pale as a sheet as he made every attempt to appear calm and aloof.
Tavington smiled icily. "Why Ms. Durnham.. to what honor do we have the pleasure of your company this fine morning?"
"The pleasure is entirely mine, Colonel. I have no wish to impose upon your obviously valuable time unnecessarily, and was merely hoping I might have a word with your companion here-"
She gestured to Tarleton, whilst fixing an equally cold expression on her face, tinged with a hint of self-satisfaction as Tavington's false smile melted. Without pausing, she quickly turned toward Tarleton.
"I do hope you will pardon my forwardness, but I couldn't help noticing you bear a strong resemblance to someone I was acquainted with many years ago..." Emily donned her best society-smile. "But first, I suppose I should introduce myself! My name is Emily.. Emily Durnham.. And you, if my recollection serves me, are Banastre Tarleton- correct?"
Tarleton smiled sweetly. "It is a pleasure to meet you, miss, but I'm afraid you're mistaken- I know of the gentleman you seek, but alas- am not him. Though I must say, I quite wish I were- I hear Ban Tarleton has quite a way with the ladies!" Sweet smile quickly changed to roguish smirk as he dipped into a low bow. "My name, on the other hand, is George Hanger. I do hope you aren't too terribly disappointed?"
"Ah, I see.." Emily allowed a tiny sigh before her smile returned, beamingly. "I do appologise then, Mister Hanger, for interrupting your conversation. I'm sure you gentlemen must be quite busy with so much activity going on here. Why it's almost enough to make my head spin! On that note, if you will be kind enough to excuse me, I think I'd best return to the house.. Good day to you, Mister Hanger.. and you, Colonel Tavington."
She fixed Tavington with a victorious glance before bobbing politely and turning toward back up the wide lawn and onto the front path leading up to the great manor. Bordon smiled at Tarleton, raising his eyebrow and shaking his head in amused disbelief before silently following in Emily's wake. Tavington's angry gaze followed their progress a moment before the sound of Tarleton's self-satisfied chuckle drew his attention.
"By God, has she ever grown up!" Ban's tone was carefully hushed but no less pointed.
"Grown into what, exactly, is the question. Vile little beast."
"Vile? Look at her! I think you must be spending too much time around the camp followers if you can't appreciate a nice little flower like that." Tarleton winked.
"Ha! Look who's talking, 'Hanger'... Besides which, she obviously isn't particularly bright if she believes that little act you just put on."
Tarletonfrowned and puffed up defensively. "Why, that's a mighty low-blow, Tav.. you know the pride I take in my glorious acting ability!"
"Perhaps, but then all blowswould have to be rather low on you now, wouldn't they?"Tavington looked down at his diminutive compatriot with an imperious smirk.
"Ah, too right..."
Emily paused behind the first of many bushes that lined the garden path and watched the pair of officers continue on their way, talking amongst themselves. 'Honestly...' she thought, her grin turning mischevious.
"Miss?" Bordon paused as well but Emily paid him no mind, her attention focused.
Gathering in as deep a breath as her restrictive clothing would allow she peeked around the bush and shouted.
"BANANA!"
The outburst drew a number of curious looks, as was to be expected, but Tarleton nearly jumped clear out of his boots. Emily ducked back behind the garden shrubs as the startled officer turned, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Bordon sprang behind the bush as well and out of view and swallowed audibly before turning his attention back to Emily, who was by now well involved in a fit of heavy giggles. It was infectious and within a moment Bordon was chuckling as well.