Beth stood in front of the full-length mirror; the red silk gown fell gracefully around her slender body.

"You look like a dream."

She spun around to face a young man standing in her door way.

"Daniel!" She ran to him, letting him pick her up. At last her older brother set her down laughing. She looked up at him, as he grinned. "I can't believe I am seeing you in the flesh!"

Daniel nodded, loosing a bit of his smile. "I am glad to be here Beth." He looked past her into the bedroom, noticing her pile of books being covered by a half finished sampler. "I see you still can not part with your books."

Beth smiled, "No. But did you expect anything else?" She tucked her hand threw his arm, "I believe we are anticipated in the dinning room?"

Daniel nodded, "And I am the lucky bloke to escort you." He led her slowly down the hall of the large mansion. The two had grown up running down the halls. That was before Daniel had left of Oxford when he was only 17. Beth has been only 10, now that she was 16; she noticed that he was in fact quite handsome.

"You have grown up Beth." Daniel whispered.

Beth laughed, "I was only 14 the last time I saw you. That was before I came out, and was able to dance."

"In Bath, correct?" Daniel was holding the door open for his sister.

Beth nodded, floating into the room. Her quick eyes caught that there was more then her parents in the room.

"Ah, Miss Elisabeth!"

She smiled, though she knew it looked more like a grimace then a smile, "Cornel Tavington." She let him take her hand as he bowed, but had to swallow the bile that came to her mouth as his eyes traveled her body and came to rest upon the lace of her bodice.

"So sit Daniel, Elisabeth." Their father boomed from his spot at the head of the table. The siblings obeyed, though Beth was bothered to see that her spot was sitting next to the Tavington.

The food was brought, prayer was said, and the meal began. Beth ate, very conscious of the fact that the man was watching her the entire time. The conversation flowed mainly on the war with the "blasted Rebels" of which Beth really did not care much about. It was not until the conversation turned to her, and all of her accomplishments.

"You know William," her father has boomed in his deep voice, "Our little Beth is very accomplished in both music and art."

Beth has sat a bit stiffer, feeling Tavington's eyes again crawl over her.

"And," Margot, her mother added, "She is very gifted in dealing with people, but especially children, she shall be a wonderful mother."

Beth blushed, "Please mama…" She whispered. "I am sure that Mr. Tavington does not really care about how I behave around children."
"In fact Beth," Tavington replied, "I can call you Beth? I do care about your talents and accomplishments." He reached under the table and patted her knee, "And no need to stand on formalities, William works well between friends."

Beth nodded, while removing his hand from her knee.

"You know Beth, William and I were just disusing the issue of marriage before you came into the room." He father explained, poring himself another glass of wine.

Daniel, who had remained silently talking to his mother looked up, "Surely father, it is a bit soon to be talking of marriage?" He looked at his sister, seeing the pail look of horror on her face.

"Of course not!" Margot replied, "Why I was married at 16! Besides times are uneasy right now and we never know when Dear William shall be taken from us."

Beth pailed more. "Then I should be a widow at 17?"

"Nay of course not!" William replied, "I do not plan of dying any time soon."

Beth looked from her mother to her father to her brother, "But there was no proper courtship."

"We are in a war love." Her father said, then looking from his daughter to William said, "Then it is settled, Beth's hand is yours."

Beth nearly choked on her own wine. "Papa?"

But William had taken her shaking hand kissing it. "You shall be my hope while I am in the service to the king."

Beth then did the only thing a proper young lady should do in her position, she fainted.

When she woke, she was lying on her bed, her gown was draped over a chair in the corner, and her stays loosened.

"Quite a fall you took from you chair Miss." Olivia whispered, dabbing her forehead with a cold cloth. "You shall have a smart spot by morning."

Beth groaned, gingerly touching her forehead. She must have hit it when she fell from her chair.

"I suppose so." She replied at last. "Has William left yet?"

Olivia looked at her sadly, "Aye, about half an hour ago. He said he would be back in the morning."

Beth covered her aching head with a pillow. "I don't what to see him!"

Olivia patted her hand gently. "I know miss, I know." There was a knock on the door, and Olivia jumped to get it.

"I don't want to see anyone!" Beth moaned from her bed, but Olivia was already opening the door for Daniel. He walked confidently across the room to Beth's side and gently took the pillow from her head. "Please go away." Beth whimpered. But Daniel gently brushed her hair from her forehead his fingertips touching the bruise.

"Are you alright Beth love?" He whispered.

Beth nodded, "Yeah."

Daniel smiled, his deep blue eyes looked soft. "I am sorry about Tavington, it was not my idea, and you know that right?" Beth nodded, "Good, you know Beth, we are going to be deployed again to try to find that Ghost."

Beth at last looked at her brother, "Yeah?"

Daniel smiled, "yeah." Daniel looked sad for a moment; "you know there are so many things that I missed being away like I was and I fear that I am missing more being gone all the time now."

Beth smiled sadly, "I guess so." She looked at her brother fully; he was gently stroking the small cat that had curled up on the bed next to them.

"Daniel, about that girl you were engaged too, Alexandria, she passed away." Beth whispered, "Sorry."

Daniel looked dark, running his left hand threw his curly dark blond hair while still petted the black and white cat. Beth watched his hand, his fingers were long and slender, fit more for his piano not for holding a gun and killing.

"It's fine." He said at last. "I am sure she was a nice girl, but we did not know each other well." Daniel looked fondly at his sister, "I need to go, but I'll be back to see you in the morning."

Beth nodded, watching him walk to the door, "when do you leave again?"

He glanced back, "In three days."

Beth watched him close the door behind him, and then and only then did she crawl from bed.

"Olivia?" She called and the maid, who had slipped from the room to the side room.

"Yes Miss?" The Irish maid asked.

Beth smiled sadly, "you can go home now." Olivia bobbed a quick curtsy then left the room. Beth wrapped her robe over her shoulders, and stood by the window. Moonlight spilled over the garden. Beth could see that just beyond the garden wall, life, though it was night but life continued to go on, even though her life was coming to a complete end. As she stared over the garden, something caught her attention. A figure was falling over the fence. Beth stared farther into the night, as the figure ran across the garden then jumped over the lowest point of the wall. Beth shook her head surely she was dreaming, then turned back to her room, crawled into bed, and fell asleep dreaming of Tavington chasing her across the garden.