Several weeks later:
Rebecca lay in bed waiting for the waves of nausea to pass. She felt tired and dizzy her head was throbbing. Tavington had to leave for the day and told the surgeon to check on her 'I fear she may have eaten something that disagreed with her.' Before he left he checked on Rebecca, she was just climbing out of bed. On entering the room he saw her pitch forward in a dead faint. Rushing forward he caught her before she hit the ground. Calling for assistance he sat on the bedroom floor with Rebecca in his arms. Seeing her eyes flutter open 'I thought I had ordered you to remain abed today' he admonished. She smiled weakly 'whenever I ever done as you ordered?'
Once Rebecca was back in bed with a cold compressed on her forehead 'please humour me, rest today!' He took her hand 'I will be back later today and have requested the surgeon to pay you a visit.'
'Really I am only fatigued, all this fuss is quite unnecessary' as he stood he turned sternly towards her 'you will obey me madam!' Rebecca did not argue as yet another wave of nausea hit her.
When the Surgeon called in to see her she looked much better and was dressed. At first she was reluctant to be examined. When she finally agreed the Surgeon spoke with her 'I believe you already know that you are not actually sick, am I correct?' Rebecca nodded 'I had my suspicions' she whispered. The surgeon looked concerned 'I'm unsure whether this would be good news the you, but I can confirm that you are with child.' Rebecca thanked him and should and he warned her that she must inform the Colonel as soon as he arrived back that evening 'you and your child are his responsibility I believe?' When she blushed and did not and answer the doctor just nodded and turned to leave. 'When he returns this evening I will be expected to update him on your condition, you might wish to break this news before I do.'
As soon as he left Rebecca grabbed her cloak, without even thinking what she planned to do she walked down the stairs and out of the house. One of the guards spoke to her 'is everything all right Miss?'
'Yes, I just wish to take the air, but am feeling much relieved, thank you.'
The guard was unsure about letting her go out alone 'I will walk with you or ask one of the maidservants.'
Deliberately misinterpreting his words she placed her and on his and smiled sweetly 'with you here and all of these other fine soldiers what harm could possibly come to me?'
The guard looked bemused, should he point out that he was afraid of the Colonel's reaction should anything happen to her? Or heaven forbid she ran away …
'I only intend to stroll around the house' she said reassuringly 'if there is a problem I will call for assistance' she smiled again and flashed her green eyes innocently and he was drawn in, 'make sure you rest if you need Miss' he said as she walked away.
'Thank you' she said 'I will ensure I tell the Colonel how helpful you've been' she smiled inwardly as she saw him stand taller and push back his shoulders proudly.
Reminding herself to slow down she strolled away, stopping to smell a flower or to warm her face with the sun. Once she rounded the corner of the house she quickened her pace and headed for the stables. Checking she was not observed she sneaked into the stable block. Quickly she reigned and saddled the nearest horse and led it out into the cover nearby trees before mounting and riding away swiftly.
She was unsure where to go. If she returned to her home he would know where to search for her and she knew that someone from the town would aid him. Not for one moment did she believe he would search because he cared, she knew her escape would have merely wounded his pride and when the Surgeon informed him of her – she placed her palm onto her flat stomach – condition, she knew he would want to find his child and she had to prevent that happening. Then she remembered several miles from her own home the forest got denser, so much so that it was thought to be un-inhabitable, 'no-one would come into there' she reasoned. Also from there she would be able to slip back to her own home to collect some of her possessions and she knew of a small cottage that had been empty for many years … it would be perfect!
So she made a new home for herself and settled into a new life and a new routine whilst she readied things for the birth of her child.
Tavington returned back to camp later than planned, it was the following morning and he arrived to find his men and household in a state of disarray. As he entered the house he bellowed 'what in the hell is going on here?' Everyone stopped moving at the sound of his voice, one of the young maids looked like she might faint. Captain Borden then walked into the hallway 'welcome back Sir.'
'What is happening here?' Tavington scowled, as everyone appeared to run for cover.
'Sir, it's Reb… the female prisoner' Borden looked uncomfortable.
'What about her?' Tavington enquired as he removed his helmet and gloves, placing them onto the hallway table.
'Sir, she's …'
'For god's sake man, what is it?' Tavington snapped irritably.
'She's gone Sir …'
'Gone!' Tavington glanced towards the stairs and then ran up them taking two steps at a time. He burst into the rooms he had shared with Rebecca and he knew she was not there, he could feel it. 'What happened here?' he asked quietly 'I knew she was unwell, but this?'
Borden realised what Tavington was thinking 'no, Sir, you misunderstand, she is not dead, she, ran away.'
Tavington realised that he was both relieved and annoyed at this news 'where is she?'
'We're not sure Sir.'
'Not sure? What the hell kind of army do I have when they cannot hold a female prisoner?' he snarled 'bring me the surgeon and the guard who let her leave this house!'
Tavington spoke to the young guard first 'how did she get past you?'
'Sir, I am sorry, she said that she felt in better spirits and that she wished to take the air.'
'Oh really?' Tavington hissed with a vicious curl to his lip. 'And so you let her out alone?'
'Sir, she said …'
'Get out of my sight you pathetic fool … you would so well to ensure you remain well away from me in future!' with that the young soldier was dismissed.
The surgeon came then to speak with the Colonel 'you saw her yesterday morning as I requested? How is it that after she saw you she escaped?'
'Colonel I do not know how she escaped but I might be aware of her reasons for doing so …'
Tavington walked over to the windows 'go on man' he urged.
'The young lady Sir was not sick.'
'Ah, so she was pretending in order to make good her escape?'
'No Sir, she was not sick, she is … with child.'
Tavington who had been looking out of the window spun around to face the Surgeon 'what?'
'I said she was with child.'
'How can that be?'
'Come now colonel I am sure from your reputation that you know how these things work' the Surgeon glanced at Tavington with barely hidden contempt.
'Yes, yes man, of course I know how, I just do not know why. I have had plenty of women, but none of ever fallen …'
'Then Colonel it would appear to be fate' he turned to leave 'Colonel, why don you not let her go? She can mean nothing to you, surely, have you not done enough to the poor girl?' The surgeon then left.
Turning back to the window Tavington answered the surgeon's question, but he was not there to hear this answer 'I will get her back, because I want her, and that makes her mine. She also has my child inside her belly and I will have my child here with me!'
Tavington sent out scouts to look for her, but they came back without her. There was no news of her and no information; he had to wonder she was still alive. He had even gone back to the town where he had found her and had them show him her home, but he found nothing.
As the weeks passed there was no sign of her. He tried to forget, to put her out of his mind, but he could still see her in his dreams, she would defy him still, or he would see her lay naked on his bed. He longed to hold her, touch her, and taste her. He also wondered about the child within her.