Ellie and Margo stayed silent for days. Tavington barely saw them at any meals, and now he was starting to worry.

"Not to worry," said Tabitha," They have been eating in Ellie's room."


Tavington recieved word from his superior that he was to depart immediately to continue raiding. He had not seen the manor, or Ellie for two weeks. He wondered what she was doing, and whether her controling air had returned. He would soon be finding out, for the British Green Dragoons was headed back to the Rodkin Plantation. Tavington turned the small army onto the estate and up towards the porch.

"Reset your tents those of you who were posted outside," Tavington called.

The front door opened, and Tavington turned around.

"Ah Ellie," Tavington said.

"John I told you to be ready to take the horses to the stables," Margo shouted,"Listen next time."

Tavington was astounded," Margo?"

"I prefer Miss Margo," she said," If you adress Ellie that way you will do the same for me."

Tavington stared at her," forgive me, Miss Margo."

Ellie came out the front door smiling as she approached Tavington.

"Miss Ellie," Tavington said. He planted a kiss on her hand," You're looking lovely. How are you feeling?"

"Never better and thank you for asking." Ellie said. Margo whispered something in her ear, and the two laughed. Margo then went over to speak with Captain Wilkins.

"My,my,my," Tavington said," That's not the Margo I remember when I left."

Ellie giggled," She and I had plenty of time to work on it."

"Oh," Tavington said," Well that's a wonderful improvement. She seems more outgoing now."

There was silence between the two.

"So," Ellie said," How was the raid?"

"Hell as usual," Tavington said," How was everything here."

"Hell," Ellie said," We had some continentals drop by. Margo and I took care of them."

"I see," Tavington said.

"Well you must be hungry after the trip," Ellie said," We have some food ready for you and the officers."

She turned and walked into the house. Tavington stared after her. He was looking at her totally differently now. Before he just thought that she was a spirited girl, and he was amused by it. Now, he felt something more. Tavington wanted Ellie.

"You know," Margo said behind him," Ellie meant for you to follow her. I think you should go or she might think you're not going to eat."

Tavington chuckled slightly and went after Ellie.


The dinner that night was more like a feast, and Tavington wanted to know why everything was so festive. To answer his question, Ellie stood up and clinked her glass lightly for silence.

"Now," she said," I would like to take this time to say welcome back to the officers, and I hope your journey was safe."

The officers clapped politely.

"Second," Ellie went on," I would like you all to raise your glasses to my dear sister Margo, who's nineteenth birthday is today."

Many of the soldiers looked at Margo in a surprised manner. Margo smiled down the table at Ellie.

"Nineteen,eh?" Wilkins said.

Margo giggled. Tavington didn't really care that it was Margo's birthday. If she had acted as brave as she was now on the day she came face-to-face with him, he would have liked her a little more. He felt it was alittle too late for her now to get a better impression on him. His focus was more on Ellie anyway. How could he have such feelings for her? He couldn't stand women. He was so used to them being trashy and ugly, like the ones that he was usually waking up next to in the morning after a night of having way too much alcohol. He shuddered thinking about those nights, and if Ellie ever became a part of his life, that was one thing she would never hear about.

"Colonel Tavington," Ellie said," Are you ill?"

Tavington looked up. Everyone was staring at him," what are you talking about? I'm in perfect health."

"Then why haven't you taken your elbow out of the potatoes yet," Ellie asked. It was then as a few scattered laughs went around the table, that Tavington noticed his elbow in the potatoes. He couldn't halp but laugh at himself for not noticing.

Ellie smiled as he wiped his arm with his napkin.

"Come with me Colonel," Ellie said," We'll take care of that jacket for you."

He followed Ellie out of the dining room. Behind him, the officers continued to converse with Margo. They seemed to like her more now that she wasn't so afraid of them anymore.

"Can the servants do this for you?" Tavington asked as Ellie pulled his jacket off him.

"I told them to go tend to the horses in the stables," Ellie said," I thought it would be much quicker if they all did it together. Then they could turn in on time for once."

Tavington watched as Ellie dipped his jacket in a barrel full of hot water, and scrubbed it with a small brush.

"You have had experience with cleaning I see," Tavington said, though it wasn't really her hands he was watching.

"Yes," Ellie said. She seemed to have her mind elsewhere," I used to watch the servants when I was young, and I thought that sometimes it was fun to do the washing myself-whoa!"

She slipped in some water that escaped the barrel, and Tavington, out of instinct, caught her. Ellie stared at him, admiring his strength. Tavington felt hypnotized by her eyes, and he suddenly didn't want to let her go.

"Thank you for breaking my fall," Ellie said. She blushed, and Tavington thought it made her look even prettier. Then, without thinking, Tavington pressed his lips to hers. He was afraid that Ellie was going to hit him, but the blow never came. Instead, Ellie's hands moved up around his back, and she held on to him as she kissed him back. Tavington drew back for a moment. Ellie looked stunned by her own actions.

"I-I don't want to ruin your uniform," she said quietly. She turned around, but Tavington grabbed her arm, turned her back around, and (trying his luck) kissed her again, this time more deeply then the first. She did not make any struggle or attempt to stop him. It was all coming out now. Tavington knew that she had been aching to have a moment like this with him. She loved him, and he knew that he loved her, and there was no point denying it now. Footsteps coming towards the door caused Ellie to jerk backwards and run back to the barrel. Tavington smirked at her. She was blushing uncontrollably.

"Ellie I won't allow you to stay out here all night," Margo said. Ellie was surprised to see Margo looking and sounding a but tipsy.

"We'll be there in a moment, Margo," Ellie said," And no more wine tonight you hear? I can already hear you going drunk."

Margo laughed," Alright." With a last hiccup she disappeared behind the door. Ellie laughed as she hung Tavington's jacket on a clothesline. Tavington watched her carefully.

"I didn't mean to be so sudden," he said.

"I'm not worried about it," Ellie said," I rather enjoyed it, and I'm sure you did too."

"I don't deny it," Tavington said," And I'd do it again if I wasn't so worried about what your sister would do to you."

Ellie laughed," I helped Margo get the courage she has now, and i bet that one wrong move from you could take it all away."

This gave Tavington and idea. He knew it would be very cruel on Margo's behalf, but he wanted Ellie so bad that he was just desparate enough to do it.

"Let's go inside colonel," Ellie said.

"Yes," Tavington said," Let's."

He orffered her his arm and together they went into the house.