Lord General Cornwallis sat pouring over a stack of papers at his desk one evening. His eyelids were heavy with exhaustion - he had been having trouble sleeping lately due to the threat posed by the colonist militia and would look forward to retiring to bed after he finished reading the reports from that day. Cornwallis couldn't even summon the energy to look up as General O'Hara entered the tent.
"Sir, I've been hearing rumors a young woman is residing in Colonel Tavington's tent. Shall I investigate the matter?" O'Hara asked brusquely. The words were little more than bothersome sounds to Cornwallis.
"I. . . I'll look into it tomorrow," he replied slowly.
"If you say so, sir." With that, O'Hara was gone. Cornwallis' head fell to his desk as he could ward off sleep no longer. The Lord General had no idea what he'd just agreed to do.
Private Peter Roth scanned the camp, looking for a particular individual. When he spotted his target at last, Roth darted forward, grabbing Colonel Tavington by the forearm.
"M - might I have a few words, sir?" Roth asked quietly. Tavington nodded and the two men quickly slipped into Roth's tent.
Peter Roth could be described as a squirrelly man. His tiny green eyes darted about anxiously as he watched Tavington calmly pour wine for the two of them. Tavington handed Roth his glass, sipping the dark red liquid slowly as he waited for the man to say what he would. Roth was nervous in the presence of the Colonel, infamous for being venomous and very blunt. Roth swallowed.
"That girl. . . you have - the men have been talking. You've had her all to yourself for an awfully long time. Er. . . have you - "
"No," Tavington interrupted "I haven't touched her yet."
"But why?" Roth inquired, baffled as to why anyone would wait even a second before having his way with beautiful Vivienne. Tavington glanced sideways at Roth, preparing an answer when both men were alerted by the swinging tent flaps. Cornwallis' courier stood before them, holding out a folded piece of parchment to Tavington. As soon as the courier left, Roth was at Tavington's side.
"What does it say?" he asked eagerly, all thoughts of Vivienne forgotten.
"If the Lord General wanted you to know, he would have sent one for you," Tavington replied sharply, striding away from the Private's prying eyes to read the message. As he finished, Tavington looked up, an epiphany plain on his face.
"If you will excuse me, Private."
"Wait sir! You never told - "
But it was too late. The only evidence of Tavington's presence in the tent was an empty wine glass.
"I have good news for you, Vivienne." Tavington was standing over her several mornings later, looking amused with a barely concealed smirk. She didn't move from her spot on the ground, but looked up at him. "Today we are traveling to the governor's plantation for a grand soiree. We will be staying for several nights so Lord General Cornwallis can make some shipping arrangements." He turned toward his trunk on the other side of the tent. "Surely you'll be most happy to be in a civilized area once again." Vivienne didn't reply as she watched him pack his things. Perhaps she could share her dilemma with one of the authorities at the governor's plantation! Yes, and then escape with her honor still intact. She smiled as she pictured the look of stupefaction on Tavington's face when he realized her to be gone before he could get his hands on her.
As a good part of the British army galloped over the hill, a magnificent mansion rose before them. Surrounding it were thousands upon thousands of acres of fields lush with cotton and tobacco crops. Governor Lucas certainly knew how to put his money on show. Vivienne was too dumbstruck from the view to notice the way Tavington's gloved hands lingered on her waist as he lifted her down from his horse. Grabbing her wrist, he placed it on the crook of his elbow.
"Hold my arm, and keep your mouth shut," he muttered to her, making sure to block her from Cornwallis' view. Seeing no obvious reason to object, Vivienne obeyed as the soldiers followed Cornwallis up to the grand entryway. She was wearing a cloak - Tavington's modest attempt to cover up her tattered nightgown.
The grand doors swung open to reveal smiling butlers and maids standing through the doorway to greet the guests. A finely dressed man who Vivienne assumed could only be the governor stepped out of the crowd. He grinned with perfectly white teeth.
"Ah, the esteemed General Cornwallis! It gives me great pleasure to meet you at last, sir!" Cornwallis smiled briefly and shook Governor Lucas' hand before entering the grand house. As Tavington and Vivienne were not too far behind the General, the Governor's eyes landed on Vivienne who, being the only woman arriving with the soldiers, stood out quite conspicuously. "And you must be Mrs. William Tavington! Quite the beauty, eh?" Vivienne's eyes widened and she tried to choke out contradicting words, but Tavington spoke first.
"Yes, she is." With that he led her past the train of maids and butlers to a single maid waiting near the entrance to an elaborate hallway. "This, my darling, is where I leave you. Until tonight." Shocked, Vivienne stood staring after him as he walked back to the soldiers. The maid cleared her throat.
"If you would just follow me, miss" Vivienne complied, her head still reeling. Tavington couldn't possibly want to sleep with her so badly that he would prepare this little skit! Vivienne, who was not present for Tavington's many uncontrollable humiliations due to the "ghost" Benjamin Martin, did not understand that when a man is desperate for control, he will do all in his power to control what he can.