Once they arrived at the fort, the Dragoons went away on a patrol. Olivia was assigned a room alone, just next to Matt's. She lingered in the room, wondering how she should occupy all that free time. Her job at the museum often required her to be present a recruitment event or fundraiser. Her phone was constantly on and she was checking her email several times a day even on holidays. She would hit the gym 4 or 5 times a week and would go to restaurant or bar with Matt every week. She was used of a high pace of living. This century was definitely making her let go and live in the moment. She missed her phone so bad and wondered what was happening on Facebook.
Her rumbling belly let her know it was probably around lunch time. She walked down the stairs, hoping to find food. She met half a dozen of people sitting at a table. A general came to greet her and offered her to take place. She sat down and looked around. She was questioned on who she was. Those officers seemed genuinely interested in her but she was scared of reveling too much of the wrong information. She kept her answers to a minimal, but made sure she was the nicest she could be.
After the meal, she was led to a parole where some officers' wives and daughters were reading or discussing. She joined them to be polite. They were interrupted by horses neighing outside. The women rushed to the windows; some left in a hurry to go and meet their husbands, others sat back down. Olivia was the last one to reach the windows and many officers were already out of sight. She really wished she could have more time to talk to Matt.
She was trying to read a book when women started to giggle. She raised her head and saw Colonel Tavington in the doorframe. The women looked at each other, smiling. One woman stood up and walked toward him. Olivia restrained a laugh because this young girl, in the beginning of her twenties not much more, was trying to look seductive toward the colonel, but he quickly dismissed her.
"Miss Jones, a word please?"
She met him and could not help but notice the warmth in his eyes. He led her in the hallway, unseen from the very curious women.
"Colonel," she replied as she bowed her head, the same way she saw other women do earlier.
"You look lovely today. Are you settling well in here?" he asked.
"Thank you. Yes, I am. Those women are very welcoming,"
"I am very sorry again for you loss. If there is anything I can do, please let me know,"
"What loss?" she asked.
"Your parents, Liv," he replied.
"Oh, you are right. I don't think I really understand they are gone for now. But I won't hesitate to call for you."
"I want to inform you that Lieutenant Brown will be back tomorrow from his patrol. I will accompany you to dinner tonight, if you agree."
"Of course, I am looking forward to it."
"I have some matter to attend before, but I cannot wait to be in your presence once more," he said as his hand caressed the side of her arm.
"How can you be so charming, Colonel? Are you like that with every other lady?" she inquired, trying to sound flirty. Men always loved some jealousy to know a woman cares about him.
"None of them are worth my time. But for you, I would go to extend you don't even know," he said as he took a step forward, his hand sliding around her waist. He lowered his head slowly.
"I doubt the young Elizabeth knows that," she whispered, turning her head slightly away, so his kiss missed her lips.
"She will learn it fast enough," he replied.
His grip tightened on her waist and his other hand cupped her cheek and made her head tilted up. This time, she could not escape. He dropped a very light and soft kiss on her lips, before letting her go.
He took his leave and she joined back the women, unable to escape their questioning. She did not like to be the center of gossips, although she always enjoyed gossiping about others. She felt so weird; were they frequenting each other? Were they supposed to be exclusive? Then, Matt's voice echoed in her head: Tavington would be a safe bet until 1781. She pushed the thought away; Matt would find a way to go back home before that anyway.