"William, you don't have to be so hard on them." Col. Tavington's wife chided him softly as they left the two girls locked in one of the rooms at Middleton Place. "Can't you see, they're perfectly harmless."
"You know no such thing, Mary. We have no idea who they are; they're not even dressed properly." replied Col. Tavington stiffly. "I'm going to hold them captive, at least until I know more about them. I don't care how lost they may seem, I'm not taking any chances."
"William, they're just two young girls!" Mary said firmly, grabbing a tight hold of the colonel's left forearm.
"I don't care, Mary!" Col. Tavington replied angrily, pulling away from her. "Stay out of this!"
"No, William, I won't! You took a chance with me; a chance that could have ruined your career. And look where we are now. Why can't you take a chance with them?"
"Darling, that was different." replied the colonel quietly. "Yes, you were also my captive, but the circumstances were different."
"William please, just ease up on them." Mary pleaded.
"Mary, how can you be so trusting?"
"Because, William, I was in a similar position; and I don't need to tell you that you are a terrifying enemy. I understand your concerns, but please, don't be so hard on them."
"No, Mary. I will not be lenient. I don't care that they're young girls and that they're frightened. Until I get some form of information on them, they will be treated no differently then they are now." Col. Tavington replied, glaring slightly at his wife.
Mary fixed the colonel with an icy stare, her emerald eyes glowing brightly in anger.
"Very well, sir, have it your way."
With that, she swept soundlessly away from the Col. Tavington's side, descending down a flight of stairs at breakneck pace.
The colonel stared after, wondering if he should follow, but decided to wait until Mary's temper cooled.
Women...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Man, I gotta go!"
Jae lay in a corner of the room, curled up in a ball.
"You okay Jae?" Jula asked.
"No, it's been way over an hour, and I have to pee!"
"Isn't there a chamber pot around here somewhere?"
"No, I checked already, before you got here."
"Damn."
Just then, there was a clicking sound at the door; the knob turned, and Col. Tavington's wife stood in the entrance.
"Can we help you with something?" Jula asked in a slightly confused voice, cocking an eyebrow.
"No.. Is something the matter with your sister?"
"No, she... we couldn't find the chamber pot." Jula finished, her face slightly pink in embarrassment.
Lady Tavington rolled her eyes, muttering something about her husband under her breath; then, composing herself, she gave Jae and Jula a wan smile.
"Follow me."
"Are we allowed to?" Jula asked.
To this, Lady Tavington laughed softly and replied, "What my husband doesn't know can't hurt him."
"What if he finds out?"
The colonel's wife shrugged.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Now come with me. We'll get a chamber pot for your sister, and we'll also find something suitable for the both of you to wear."
"Thank you so much!" Jae cried, leaping off the floor. "Now, where's the chamber pot?"
"Down the hall, fifth door on the right is mine and William's private chamber; you'll find one in there; but please, do be quiet. Our son is asleep."
Jae gave a quick nod and headed quickly and quietly down the hall to finally relieve herself.
Several minutes later Jula and Lady Tavington came into the room.
"Feeling better Jae?" Jula asked with a smirk.
"Oh yes." Jae replied.
"Is my son still asleep?"
"As far as I know, yes."
"Well then, while my little Braden is still asleep, we'll get you two fitted into some dresses."
"Do we have to wear corsets?" Jula asked.
Jae sighed, rolling her eyes.
Duh, Jula. It's sort of a part of the undergarments.
Lady Tavington cocked an eyebrow.
"Yes, but not tonight; it's late, so I'll get some nightdresses for you two as well."
Jula sighed.
"Great, now I won't be able to breathe. "
"Jula, shut up!" Jae hissed. "At least we're not wearing them tonight."
Lady Tavington smiled, shaking her head.
"Don't worry, the corset's won't be too tight." she said. "But let's hurry, lest William should return early back here and find you two in our chamber."
"But, you said nothing would happen to us." Jae commented slowly, beginning to get nervous.
"No, nothing will happen. But I do not wish to see him in anymore a surly mood than I have to." Lady Tavington replied calmly.
Jula nodded.
"Good point."
"It is, isn't it?" said Lady Tavington, walking over to a wardrobe and pulling out a blue dress. "Here, Miss Jae, you look about my size. Try this on."
"Thank you. And, you may just call me Jae if you like."
"Alright." Lady Tavington replied with a nod. "Here are some undergarments and a corset to go along with the dress. Now, being as your sister is significantly taller than you and I, I'll have to look elsewhere for her things, so, If you don't mind, please stay here, and I'll be back shortly."
"Alright, that's perfectly fine." Jula replied. "See you when you get back."
After Lady Tavington left, Jae and Jula took some time to take in their surroundings.
"Wow, Jae, their room is huge." Jula whispered. "And check out the four-poster. Dark mahogany with crimson velvet curtains, and pressed creme colored sheets. Talk about aristocracy."
Jae nodded.
"I know. There's not a single thing out of place here. Even Col. Tavington's paperwork on his desk is in a neat, orderly stack."
"Perfectionists, no doubt."
"Yeah, but they were probably raised that way." Jae replied, pulling on the nightdress.
"Would you like me to assist you with the buttons in the back?" Lady Tavington asked, stepping into the room.
"Sure, thanks."
"Miss Jula, here are your dress and your undergarments. I'll assist you with the buttons when you're ready."
"Thank you. You may call me Jula if you like."
"Thank you." Lady Tavington replied.
Just as both Jula and Jae were finished getting dressed into their nightdresses, Lady Tavington's son awoke and began to whimper; quickly and quietly, she walked over to his cradle, which was to the right of the four-poster, and picked him up, rocking him back and forth until he calmed.
"So, this is your son." said Jula, walking over to Lady Tavington.
"He certainly is. But he doesn't look like me; no, his looks are his father's. Even his eyes aren't mine."
Jae smiled, but her smile quickly dissipated when the door opened yet again and Col. Tavington stood framed in the doorway, glaring angrily at them.
"Mary..."
"William, I was simply getting them some decent clothing to wear. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Do they have what they need then?"
"Yes."
"Well then, you girls come with me." he said stiffly, turning to Jae and Jula.
They nodded, and followed him wordlessly out of the room, down the hall, to the room he had first locked them in.
"You'll stay here for the night."
Jae nodded wordlessly and followed her sister into the room; Col. Tavington closed the door, locking it behind them.
"God, he's an ass." Jae muttered to her sister.
"Yeah he is. But then again, they didn't call him the Butcher for nothing."
"I don't know what his wife sees in him."
"Well, you know what they say: opposites attract."
"Yeah, I know."
"Well, at least he left the candle he was carrying with us; so, at least we can find the bed."
Jae laughed.
"It's just a little late."
"You're telling me."
"Well, Jula, let's settle in. After all, we've got nothing better to do."
"What about your report?"
"Forget the report, I'm tired."
"Me too. All this history has me totally worn out. I'm too worn out to even really freak out, but that will come tomorrow."
Jae chuckled.
"Yeah, well, let's just go to bed, and maybe we'll wake up away from all of this."
"Maybe, but I doubt it."
"Hey, don't ruin my dream!"
"Whatever, Jae. Good night."
"Night. See you in the morning."