Once he decided that she had calmed down enough, Col. Tavington carefully picked Jae up off the floor and carried her over to her bed, setting her down gently.
"I'm tired." she mumbled tonelessly.
"I know." the colonel replied gently.
Jae tried to curl up in a ball, but was prevented from doing so by her stays.
"I hate corsets."
"Here.."
Col. Tavington carefully unbuttoned the back of Jae's dress just enough so he could get to the corset and unlace it; then setting it aside, he re-buttoned her dress and tucked her into bed.
"Get some sleep."
"But the dress will get all wrinkled-"
"That doesn't matter. Just rest." murmured Col. Tavington, giving Jae a soft smile. "If you want me to, I'll wake you later to say good night."
"Mmm..." Jae managed to reply sleepily, sounding somewhat incoherent.
Col. Tavington smiled and shook his head, getting up from the bedside.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'."
Jae nodded.
"Very well then.."
With that, the colonel left Jae's room and returned to his own, where both Mary and Jula were waiting for him.
"So..."
Col. Tavington glanced at Jula, then at his wife, and back again. Jula's face looked sticky, red, and tear-streaked and even Mary seemed to look troubled as well, for her face was slightly pale, her smooth skin taut around her cheeks as she clenched her jaw in a slight scowl, her eyes shining with concern and a need for answers. Quickly, she glanced over at Jula and then rested her gaze on her husband, who gave her an understanding nod and said in a voice void of emotion, "Jula, I believe it would be best if you went to your room. You've stirred things up more than enough, and Mary and I need to discuss this evening's events alone."
Jula looked over at Lady Tavington, who met her gaze, but then suddenly averted her eyes and in the same emotionless voice that her husband had used, said, "To your room, Jula."
Fresh tears brimming in her eyes, Jula looked up at Lady Tavington and nodded slowly in response before getting up and leaving the room.
"I don't know, William." said Mary quietly as soon as she and the colonel were alone. "I don't know what to do. This is just too complicated for me. I understand that she told us that neither she nor Wade had done anything to warrant betrayal on either side. But that's not how it will be seen. She was with an enemy soldier, and that's all that anyone will look at, whether any of them were guilty or not of treason."
"I know." replied Col. Tavington, placing his head in his hands. "They could hang her for it."
"William, please, let's not deal with this tonight. It's too much. Leave it for tomorrow morning."
The colonel let out a soft sigh, taking his wife's hands in his and kissing each one of them softly.
"Alright. Let it rest for tomorrow. Besides, I have reports to write."
Mary gave him a wan smile.
"Thank you."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was half past ten when Col. Tavington had finished writing reports. Getting up from his chair, he made for the door when Mary asked, "Where are you going now?"
"To say good night to Jae." he replied simply.
"How is she?"
"Quite upset and tired the last time I saw her."
"Yes, we all are." replied Mary.
"Indeed."
Col. Tavington stepped out into the hall and walked quietly to Jae's room, opening the door soundlessly and stepping in, creeping over to the side of her bed.
"Jae.." he whispered, gently shaking her awake.
"No, Dad, don't wake me up... it's Saturday..."
Shaking his head and rolling his eyes, Col. Tavington shook her harder until she awoke, staring at him sleepily.
"Huh?" she asked, looking at him in sleepy stupor.
"Good night, my dear."
"Oh, yeah, night.." she replied with a yawn, wrapping an arm around Col. Tavington's neck in a half-hearted attempt to give him a hug.
Col. Tavington smiled and wrapped his arms around her, embracing her tightly.
"I shall see you in the morning."