Tavington had big day planned for his wife. Since she was here in this time of war and knowing Martin was after her, she had to learn to defend herself. He already learned she had kicked a man in Martin's militia, but she should get a proper training. He took her in the shooting range, where they met Wilkins, training in his day off.
"William, why are we here?"
"My dear, you will learn how to shoot today."
"I am sorry, I did not understand well what you just said."
"You will learn how to shoot. I want you to be able to defend yourself."
He took his pistol out and handed it to Charlotte. She grabbed it as she sighed. There was no way to argue with him once he had his mind set on something. He demonstrated how to load the pistol and proceeded to shoot right on the target dozen of feet away. Charlotte extended her arm, in direction of the target. Tavington positioned himself behind her, his right hand over hers, his left hand on her waist.
"Look at the very center of the target. Hold your arm higher, like this. Take a deep breath, and pull the trigger as you exhale. Don't be scared by the recoil. When you are ready."
She took a deep breath and exhaled as pulled the trigger. She had already heard gunshot, but never this close; her ears were ringing. She almost dropped the pistol if it wasn't for his hand over hers.
"Lily! You hit it! Look at that target," Tavington felt so proud of his wife.
Even Wilkins had stopped his own practice to have a look at Charlotte's shot. He was astonished by her. She really had every talent.
"Are you sure? I can't see it from this far," she said doubtful.
A dragoon she didn't know approached them and asked to talk to the colonel. Tavington summoned Wilkins to supervise her next shot, the time he settled the matter with the rider. Wilkins came closer to her and gave her an envelope of gunpowder.
"That was an impressive shot, Lady Charlotte. Are you ready to try again?"
"Thank you, but I am sure you can call it beginner's luck."
She reloaded the pistol as she remembered it. Wilkins watched her in silence, focus on the task she was carefully doing. She aimed at the target, inhaled, and exhaled as she pressed the trigger, which she completely missed. She laughed as she dropped her arm.
"I guess my luck is gone now."
"Practice makes perfect," he said.
She looked around to see her husband still talking with the rider. The man was Noah Smith, a young colonial who recently joined the dragoon, Wilkins explained to her.
"I was wondering if you would be attending the ball next Friday," Wilkins dared to ask.
"I wasn't aware there was a ball this week. Will you be attending? Where is it hold?"
"At Wilkins Manor, my parents are hosting. It's on a plantation not so far from here. Many officers will be joining; the setting is lovely you will get to see."
Tavington joined them back. He informed Charlotte that he had to leave for a couple of hours and he held his arm out to escort her back to the fort. As they walked, he talked about her performance at shooting.
"But William, I couldn't hit the target without you holding my hand. That was a nice idea, but I will only leave the Fort with you. Speaking of leaving the Fort, I cannot wait to attend the ball at Wilkins Manor."
"Why are you talking about this? We are not attending."
"Captain Wilkins told me every one had confirmed his presence. We must go, dear."
"Your face is still bruised; you are still recovering from your awful journey."
"I am afraid I disagree with you. We should attend and show everyone how strong we stand, despite what happened to me. Please, my love. I really want to go," she said as she stopped walking. Her eyes glazed over him, as she held his hands.
"How can I refuse you anything when you look at me like this?" as he leaned in for a kiss.
They reached the fort in a short amount of time, and Tavington jumped on his horse. He didn't know how long he would be gone, but now she was safe and sound. She walked inside the house and wondered around for a moment.
She heard the officers' wives talking in the parlor. She sighed. She really wasn't in shape enough to endure those gossips and those unkind women. She peaked inside General Cornwallis' office. He was writing at his desk, alone. She knocked on the door and entered the room.
"Am I interrupting, Father?"
"Not at all, Charlie. Please, come in. I haven't seen you much since you came back here. How are you?"
She sat at his desk, and talked for a while.
…
Noah Smith rode next to Tavington to the camp, in silence. He had recently infiltrated the unit after Benjamin Martin had known the existence of the colonel's wife. He was one of the first who saw Charlotte at the Fort, as he was on guard duty with Billings. He was now reporting what he could to the militia, as much tactical strategies as Charlotte's movements. Tavington did not trust him at all, as he did not trust most colonial men who joined the british army. His task as a spy was not easy, but Smith was determined to succeed, by any mean.