Disclaimer: Ummmm...well Tavington got taken away from me. Something about my over using him or something. I know they just wanted him for themselves. Selfish–censored (coughs) yeah. What's the matter with sharing!?
A/N: Ahhhhh...the next chapter and finally some much needed revenge. Have fun, because I sure did. (Grins evilly)
Three weeks of scouting actually went faster than Tavington expected. That was of course after he started looking for colonials to antagonize on a regular basis. His routine rounds never dredged up any information or clues as to where the Ghost might be hiding, but they did prove productive otherwise. Several times a week he brought in rebel scouts or traitorous colonials for capture, hanging, or questioning. His name became even more feared because of his expeditions. It turned into somewhat of a game for him. It was also a way to prove that he was apt whatever position he was given. The first day had been unfortunate and he tried his best not to remember it, although he could not forget the words O'Hara had whispered to him in the hall.
Every day he watched, waited, and schemed for a way to get back at O'Hara without being the one implemented as the culprit. He was only coming up empty until the end of his 'punishment' loomed near. He was summoned to Cornwallis's office and told that every high ranking British officer at their fort had been invited to Middleton Place for a ball so that he could plan his costume appropriately. He had been less than thrilled to hear he was being forced to go against his will, but the more he thought about it the better the idea sounded. It would be the perfect place to put any revenge plan into action. He ended up leaving the meeting with an evil smirk growing on his handsome face, much to O'Hara's horror.
So in the days to come he began to plan with great intensity the revenge he would exact upon his arch enemy. It was going to be sweet victory...
Of course, everything did not go according to plan. He was not expecting to be verbally torn down by Cornwallis that very evening for not being successful in finding the Ghost. The General had been to intent on his misfortunate costume to listen to a word he had to say in his defense. Personally, Tavington found it fitting that Cornwallis had to go out to the ball in anything less than he considered perfect. Balls meant a great deal to the General and Tavington knew, with deep satisfaction, that Cornwallis was ashamed at being seen in such a terrible costume. So the evening did not start so badly in the end after all.
Now all he had to do was make sure the rest of his schemes went off without incident. The first of his plans was already being put into effect.
"General O'Hara, our supply ship appears to have arrived," Cornwallis remarked in a falsely pleasant voice.
O'Hara could already sense the trouble brewing. "Yes, yes, my Lord. It has–"
"Then why am I still wearing this rag!" the General spat quietly.
"Your replacement wardrobe is aboard ship, but Colonel Tavington thought it best if we secured our arms and ammunition first. T-They are being unloaded now," O'Hara stammered out.
Cornwallis glared at him scathingly. "Did he? And since when does Colonel Tavington have the authority to make such a decision, General O'Hara?"
"W-Well, it sounded like a wise decision at the time...," O'Hara paled.
"You are not the one dressed in this hideous costume! I gave you specific orders to unload my personal wardrobe first then arms and ammunition!"
O'Hara swallowed hard. "Y-Yes, I know, sir."
"Then why are you listening to Tavington and not my orders!?"
"I-I-"
Tavington strode down the steps and breezed by them as though he had not a care in the world. He glanced back and gave O'Hara a smug look. O'Hara scowled, suddenly realizing what had happened. Tavington had known all along what Cornwallis's orders were then tricked him into going against what the General had said. He should have guessed something was afoot when Tavington had appeared by his side earlier in the evening acting respectful and submissive as he was expected to. The Colonel had been quite pleasant to him and asked curiously why the General's wardrobe was being unloaded when there was rumors of a possible rebel attack on the supply ship. He expressed the opinion that it would be better to unload the arms and ammunition in case the rebels did attack. They would not lose anything of value and the General's wardrobe could always be replaced. He had suggested it all so smoothly and O'Hara had fallen for it. Tavington had known who's ass would be laid into once Cornwallis found out about the change in orders. He glared after the Green Dragoon's commander, silently seething as Cornwallis continued.
"O'Hara, I want my wardrobe unloaded immediately! I will not wear this thing the entire ball! I can not even go inside for fear of the other guests seeing this wretched outfit!"
O'Hara looked back at the General. "Yes, sir, I will it have done immediately!"
Colonel Tavington sauntered over to a group of women as confidently as he could manage. Under any other circumstances he would have avoided such a large gathering of cohorting women. It was far to dangerous an environment to walk into so casually. One was never quite sure what the female mind was up to and to deal them in a group was something different entirely. Personally he would rather walk in front of a loaded cannon then these women, but he had a special purpose for being there, and by God he would carry it out. He would not back down to women. The mere thought rubbed him the wrong way.
The women were sad to find out that he was not in the least bit interested in them. There was only one in particularly he was looking for, and unfortunately she had to place herself in the center of the gossiping gaggle of femininity. He had to pretend he did not see or hear them whispering about him as he passed. He was, however, pleased to note that they thought rather highly of him. He heard their murmuring mentions of his 'pale blue eyes,' well built body, and most especially his very nice backside. He refused to allow himself to flush at their rather blatant remarks.
He was quite relieved when he finally made his way to the woman's side he had been aiming for. She was not to tall but the height of her hair made her almost taller than he. It was powdered heavily and piled hideously atop her head. She wore an expensive, exquisitely made silk green dress with a rather large hop underneath it. It made her already amble hips appear three times their size. She had applied what she must have assumed as a dainty beauty mark on her cheek while the rest of her face must have been caked with more than an inch thick layer of make-up. How she managed to balance that precarious hairdo atop her head plus the weight of, what looked like, pounds of make-up on that scrawny neck, he had no idea. Needless to say the effect was not very flattering at all. She had tried to hard to look beautiful and it showed terribly. She was completely and utterly artificial in appearance.
"Miss Whitmore, is it not?" he inquired softly so as not to startle her.
She turned toward him and looked him up and down appraisingly. Apparently, she like what she saw because her demeanor immediately became flirtatious. He managed to keep his disdain hidden but only just.
"Yes, it is," she smiled coyly.
He extended his hand to her and introduced himself as politely as he could manage. "I am Colonel William Tavington. It is very nice to make your acquaintance."
She placed her hand in his and he bent to kiss it, feeling a shiver of disgust slither down his spin.
"It is very nice to meet you, Colonel," she murmured in what she must have assumed as a seductive manner.
He felt like throwing up.
"I have heard of you, Colonel Tavington. You are the commander of the Green Dragoons, are you not?" she asked curiously.
"Yes, madam, I am," he answered.
Immediately, there was a change in the manner of the women surrounding them. Their eyes all seemed to suddenly train on him in one simultaneous motion. Of course they had all heard the rumors of the handsome, yet violent Green Dragoons leader. 'The Butcher' as he was called in private discussions held quite a great deal of interest to all of them. None of them had ever seen him in person and he here was now amongst them. He was like an interesting specimen to be examined with great care.
He shifted uneasily but was determined to see his scheme through.
"Well, we ladies have all heard a great deal about you. You have quite a reputation as a dangerous man," she remarked.
"Only dangerous to my enemies, madam," he replied smoothly.
She quirked an eyebrow up at this. "Indeed. I have also heard, Colonel Tavington, that you are currently with out a lady friend of any sort. Is that true?"
Now he knew he was treading on tumulus waters. He would have to answer carefully. He could almost feel the other women's stares burning holes through his coat. "Yes, madam, it is. I hardly think it fair to impose upon any woman in the midst of a war. My attention would be greatly divided between my military duties and my (if any) female interest." he paused as he let this information sink in before beginning to make his own advances. Although Miss Whitmore had put him in an awkward position she had also provided him with just the opening he needed. "However, I had heard that you were courting General O'Hara, is that true?"
She blushed demurely. "Yes, that is quite true. He is a fine man."
Tavington felt like gagging. "You must have a great deal of patience to handle such a man," he said quietly.
"What do you mean, Colonel?" she asked curiously.
He barely managed to conceal the evil grin that threatened to creep across his face. He cleared his throat and began to explain...
O'Hara finally managed to escape Cornwallis's ranting only by the timely arrival of the Simms. General Cornwallis had immediately begun to fawn over Mrs. Simms the moment she came into view. It had been quite easy for him to sneak away with out the General noticing. He was now searching hopefully for his lady friend, Miss Whitmore. Perhaps she would be able to improve his mood some what. He knew she would be here somewhere. She never missed a party, especially one as large as this.
He soon found her amidst a group of young woman, talking animatedly to...
His eyes widened in horror.
Tavington!
Miss Whitmore was talking in a rapid, angry way he had only been witness to a scant few times before. He was smart enough to know it was a very bad sign. Colonel Tavington appeared to be looking apologetic and seemed to be trying to calm her down. Yet, everything the bumbling Green Dragoons commander said only appeared to upset her more.
By God, what was he saying to the poor woman?!
Tavington must have sensed his presence because a moment later he was staring straight at O'Hara. An evil gleam flickered in Tavington's eyes for a moment before he turned back to Miss Whitmore. O'Hara felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as the Colonel gestured towards him as he spoke to Miss Whitmore. She suddenly spun in O'Hara's direction and glared. She stormed towards him, sparks seeming to leap from her eyes. She stopped in front of him and a for a moment he dared believe–
"How dare you!" she hissed in a low, furious tone.
Then her hand flew up and connected squarely with his cheek with a loud smack, snapping his head to the side with the force of it. Everyone in the immediate area went silent, staring in shock. O'Hara was to stunned to move or speak as she stormed away. He raised one hand to his stinging cheek and flinched. He looked up to see Tavington, still standing amidst the women, trying to look concerned while his shoulders shook in silent mirth.
Hatred.
That was all he could feel as he stared at the Green Dragoon's commander. Overwhelming hatred. Tavington had planned it all from the beginning. He humiliated O'Hara in front of, not only, his Lord General but the party attenders as well. There was no way he could implicate Tavington in either incident. The plans had been executed with a great deal of thought and foreknowledge. There was nothing O'Hara could do to him, and Tavington knew it. He would pay for this! O'Hara would make sure of it.
Colonel Tavington smiled triumphantly as he strode away leaving O'Hara trembling with barely controlled rage. For the first time in a very long time, he felt really good. All of the scouting missions and punishments had been repaid, but he was not done yet. Oh no, O'Hara had picked a fight with the wrong man and Tavington was not yet ready to end the private war. In the mean time, he could celebrate happily knowing he had won this battle. He grabbed a glass of wine from a passing server fully intent on making the most of his victory.
"Colonel Viking!" a familiar but unwanted voice interrupted his pleasant thoughts and made him freeze in mid-stride.
He glanced over to see the girl from his first scouting mission standing beside Captain Bordon, who had the gall to look sheepish. The two must have been 'conversing' quite intimately before he happened to walk by if their close proximity meant anything. Bordon was looking quite dashing in his dress uniform; and the girl was quite lovely as well. She was dressed in a floral print dress with her hair piled elegantly behind her head held up by interwoven strings of beads. She was one of the few women at the party without overdone make up and 'fashionable' accessories. He had to admit that she did look quite beautiful. Not that he would ever say so out loud, in fact, the first thing he blurted out what was not very polite at all.
"How did you manage to get invited here?"
She sighed in a pitying manner. "Still as rude and ill mannered as ever I see."
Bordon was giving his Colonel an exasperated look much like a parent would give to his badly behaved child. Tavington refused to let Bordon make him feel guilty. After all who was the commander here?
"Colonel Tavington, I do not believe you were ever formally introduced to Miss Andrea Blythe," Bordon quickly stepped in before the Colonel could think up a good sarcastic response to return. "Her father was an assembly man for South Carolina and is the owner of quite an extensive plantation."
"I see," Tavington replied indifferently. Bordon was once again informing him subtly that it would be best not offend this certain guest.
Andrea watched the silent exchange between the two officers with careful scrutiny. Any fool could tell there was something going on underneath the words Captain Bordon had spoken. Before she could figure it out for sure, Tavington excused himself and strode away. Bordon was rather surprised that the Colonel had taken the hint and not said anything further. In fact, he noticed that Tavington seemed to be in rather a good mood and that unsettled him even more. What could possibly have happened to put his Colonel in such amiable spirits? He decided he probably did not want to know.
Tavington strolled about the grounds of Middleton place feeling relaxed for the first time in a very long while. It was rather odd, he thought, since he was at all ball. He usually found them very dull, over extravagant, and a complete waste of time. This was perhaps the only ball that had ever proved to be entertaining for him. It also felt particularly good not to have anywhere he was expected to be at or have some assignment he had to do. Everything else could wait for a little while.
No sooner had he thought this then a loud explosion sent him spinning around to face the river. One of the supply ships had been blown apart and what was left had burst into flames. His shoulders slumped as he watched the falling debris shoot out in every direction over the water.
Ahhhh...hell, he thought with a dismal sigh, And the evening was just beginning to improve.
He raised his glass in a toast to the burning ship. Here's to King George, he toasted cynically before tossing the last of his wine to the back of his throat. He dropped his wine glass on the ground and felt some small satisfaction at the sound of shattering glass. Destroying things always did feel so good.
Then he went off to find Cornwallis.
So there you have it for now. Remember be a responsible reader and review, because a writer is nothing without the fans. :D
Also thanks to all the wonderful reviews so far. I really appreciate you guys giving me your opinons. I will try my best to keep this story going and perhaps give some more insight into Tavington's inner workings or I might just save that for another Patriot story I've been cooking up for a while. And if you guys want to give me any ideas about possible revenge schemes or anything you'd like to see happen in the story I will see if I can work them. Help is always good to have. Anywho, thanks again y'all until the next chapter!!