(William's POV)

It was half past nine in the evening when I was finally able to go to my study to read the letter I had received from Lord General Cornwallis. It was dated and read

5 October, 1784

Colonel William Tavington,

I have received your answer to return to active duty, as well as your conditions for doing so. I am willing to give you one month to be with your family when Mary's time comes. I will be visiting New Brunswick one month from the date on this letter, and I'm expecting to visit you and your family when I arrive; then, when the time comes, you'll board ship with me back to England, where you'll stay here for one month, training recruits. And, as requested, Captain Fredrick Bordon will be accompanying you under your command.

Signed

Lord Gen. Charles Earl Cornwallis

I folded the letter back up, tossing it almost in a careless manner upon my desk.

'Lovely… India… So, Will, why did you do this again?' I thought bitterly. 'It could be worse; you could always be there for a year. You're lucky you only got six months. Yes, lucky indeed; now all you have to do is convince Mary of that luck.'

Leaving the letter on my desk, I left the spare room and went to the master bedchamber to see my wife.

"You're a little early to bed." She said as I entered the room.

"Not quite yet." I replied. "I just needed to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Well, I just received another letter from Lord Gen. Cornwallis."

"I'm assuming he told you where you'll be headed then."

"Yes he did. He's giving me a month with you and the children when the twins are born. Then, because he's arriving in New Brunswick five days from now to visit, when it's time, I'll leave with him back to England; Bordon will be coming with me as well, under my command; we'll be in England for a month training recruits. Then we'll be deported to India for six months."

Mary was silent for a moment and then replied, "Well, it could be worse. You could be in India for a year instead of just six months."

"Mary I'm sorry."

"No no, William, it's fine. Just come back home alive and in one piece." She said with a wan smile. "As long as you do that, I'll be satisfied."

"I'll do more than that."

"I know you will." Mary replied. "I n the meantime, we should probably prepare the house for the lord general's arrival."

"Peter and I can do that tomorrow."

"Very well." Mary replied. "Then please, put Braden and Brielle to bed."

I walked a little ways down the hall to my son's room. To my surprise, he was already in bed and asleep. Brielle, on the other hand, was wide awake in her room, playing with her brother's soldiers.

"Brielle, it's time for bed." I said softly. "Put the soldier's away."

"But papa I'm not sleepy." She replied.

"I know that, but you still need to go to bed."

"Can I sleep with you and Mama tonight?"

"No angel. Not tonight."

"Then I'm not going to bed." She replied defiantly.

"Well then, if you won't go to bed, then you'll spend all of tomorrow up here in your room, without your brother."

Brielle sighed in exasperation.

"You're mean, Papa."

"I laughed softly and replied, "I wouldn't have to be if you didn't argue with me so often. So, are you going to go to bed?"

"Yes, but I'm not sleepy."

"I never said you had to be sleepy. You just have to be in bed."

"Then can I look at a book while I'm in bed?"

"No. Just lay there until you fall asleep."

"That's no fun Papa."

"Brielle, I know it isn't, but do it anyway. Now pick up your brother's soldiers and go to bed."

Brielle nodded reluctantly and picked up the soldiers. Then she crawled carefully into bed.

"How is your ankle?"

"It still hurts."

"I'll get something cold to put on it. Just remember to be extra careful when going up and down stairs."

I left Brielle's room and returned momentarily with a cold wet cloth and placed it around my daughter's ankle.

"Good night, angel." I said softly, and turned to leave.

"Wait, Papa, what about my kiss?"

I grinned and walked over to my daughter.

"I'll see you in the morning." I whispered, gently kissing Brielle's cheek.

"I love you Papa."
"I love you too angel."