Hey I thought I would give Cat and James a break so this chapter will focus mainly on Beth and O'Hara.

Ch 17

Elizabeth had been escorted to her room by Charles and had gotten changed for dinner; they were to dine with General Cornwallis for the third time this week. The older gentleman was a kind fatherly figure to her and she rather enjoyed eating with him and his niece, Caroline. She was thirteen and on her way to becoming a lady in society, Beth thought her to be much like herself at that age.

Beth gave another look in the mirror before Charles came to get her. She was truly happy here with him at Middleton Place everything just felt so right; it was as if she was meant for the eighteenth century. Her blue and green gown really made her blue eyes sparkle even more they normally did. Charles always told her that her eyes reminded him of sapphires and of the stars in the night sky. She hadn't been prepared for a compliment and merely said the three words she felt. He had looked at her and smiled before wrapping his arms around her and whispering the same words in her ear.

Someone knocked sharply on the door and she hurried over and opened it, Charles stood there in his dress uniform with a bouquet of roses and a smile plastered on his slightly tanned face; they had been spending most of their days outside.

" Hello." She said.

" Hello, these are for you." He said handing her the roses.

She blushed and accepted them then gasped and pulled her hand away. She looked at the index finger and saw the small stain of blood and went to fix it.

" Oh I'm so sorry!" He exclaimed setting down the flowers and taking up her hand.

" Thank you Charles," She said as he wrapped it in his handkerchief.

He smiled up at her.

" I forgot to look for thorns." he confessed.

She shook her head and laughed.

" Why did you bring me flowers anyway?" She asked.

" Well, It's been about a month from the time I met you I wanted to celebrate." He said.

" You'd do that?" She asked softly.

" And I just wanted to say, I know it's going so fast, but I do love you, Elizabeth. And nothing would make me happier than if you became my wife." He said.

Beth was utterly shocked she had a feeling this was coming, but she didn't expect this to happen so soon.

" Charles I- I love you but marriage so soon?" She asked, nervously.

He smile began to falter and his confidence fell.

" Well if you're not ready I will wait." He said.

Elizabeth felt horrible for saying anything.

" That's not what I meant-" She tried.

But he merely handed her the flowers and mumbled to her.

" Here."

She took them, as he turned to leave the room.

" Wait, I'm sorry Charles." She said.

" I'll be waiting," Was his muffled reply as he slammed the door behind him.

Beth watched and set the flowers on the table before throwing herself on the bed and crying herself to sleep.

Cat was still in James room trying to sort things out.

" You want to have me as your girlfriend." She asked eagerly.

James wasn't to sure what the term meant but he nodded.

" OMG this is awesome!" She threw her arms around his neck again.

" Yes, I would like to court you." James said.

" Yes!" she squealed.

James hugged her again before giving her a breath-taking kiss.

Cat moaned slightly before giving him a kiss just as powerful.

They pulled away.

" Wow." Was all Cat could say.