Vivienne was running through the hallway, tears beginning to gather in her eyes, blurring her vision. She ran blindly until she tripped and fell, sliding into a curled up ball of snot and tears on the smooth floor. Vivienne didn't bother getting up - her legs would have failed to hold her if she had tried. She lay there and sobbed, sobbed for embarrassment at looking like a whore in front of the Lord General, sobbed at her despicable lack of self-control. She sobbed hardest for the fact that she had savored every second Tavington's body was touching hers. Vivienne clenched her hands into fists until her nails came away bloody. She was a wild animal - a bitch in heat. She had nearly allowed the man who destroyed her home, tormented her thoughts, and ruined her image to possess what belonged to her future husband and no one else. She had every intention of giving him exactly what he wanted the moment his lips had touched hers.

Vivienne's sobs stopped as she heard the sound of boots on the floor, far away, but getting closer. She felt too weary and ashamed to meet this person's eyes, let alone get up and escape, so she let her eyelids flutter closed, forcing them to remain still when she felt the shadow fall over her.

"What did he do to her?"

"Not as hot as he thinks he is, eh?"

Vivienne's curiosity overcame her embarrassment and she let her eyes open just a crack. Several dark figures stood over her. Their voices were familiar, but Vivienne, in her disoriented state, could not place them.

Suddenly she was being picked up by a pair of strong arms and was carried off down the hallway. Starting to panic, Vivienne made the mistake of opening her eyes, looking up into her rescuer's face.

Private Roth was leering down at her. A short scream escaped Vivienne before her mouth was covered with a large hand. Vivienne recognized three other soldiers who were under Tavington's command.

Her panic escalated. A hot, desperate rush of nausea coursed through her as she predicted what they wanted her for.

Roth was the one covering Vivienne's mouth, but it was one of the bigger, more muscular Dragoons who spoke to Vivienne as they all moved briskly down the hall.

"So he's finally taken his turn with you then?" The intimidating man said with a sneer "Oh, that's right, Cornwallis was 'mysteriously' tipped off about Mr. Tavington's plans. Which loyal soldier would do such a thing?" The other Dragoons laughed along with him. Private Roth's tongue flicked out to wet his lips, a smile growing on his face as he regarded Vivienne with fierce excitement in his eyes.

"I suppose this means we'll be the ones having the first turn with you after all."

So it was one of them who had informed Cornwallis of Tavington's rendezvous with Vivienne. She swallowed hard, feeling faint. So her horrible nightmare of being group-raped was to come true. Vivienne could only hope someone had heard the short scream she had managed to utter before it was stifled.

Vivienne was intensely aware of her surroundings as she was carried to a dark wooden door, much like the one Tavington had been waiting behind. Vivienne found herself wishing very hard that she could be back with Tavington in that room now. He frightened her, yes, but not in the terrifying way these men and their glowing, greedy eyes paralyzed her with fear.

The door opened into a room lit only by a crackling fire. Vivienne was quickly deposited on a rug next to the fire. The dark, leering shapes of the men quickly surrounded her. Roth leaned down and tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes.

"You're such a lovely young thing. Pity anything left to salvage of your reputation will be gone in the next few minutes." His squinty dark eyes were wide with dark mirth and anticipation. Roth stood, releasing her.

"This was my idea, so I shall have her first." He sounded strangely confident. The other men complied. Vivienne was grasped around the waist from behind and flung onto a bed several feet from the fire. Roth was leaning over her as she raised herself up on her elbows. Looking slightly crazed, he smiled at her.

"This is for Tavington's superior attitude!" His fist connected painfully with her jaw, sending fireworks of color before her eyes. Before Vivienne could grasp what was going on, her corset was torn from her body. Roth leaned over her again, his eyes on her breasts as he lowered himself to her. Vivienne slapped him across his cheek as hard as she could, trembling with fear and rage as he recoiled.

"I would rather share Tavington's bed than yours any day," she snarled, trying to maintain any bit of dignity she could hold on to.

The room was silent with shock for but a moment before Vivienne was assaulted again.

"Impudent bitch!" Roth furiously grabbed her hair, forcing her head back violently. As Vivienne cried out, more hands were upon her. A hand was pressed tightly over Vivienne's mouth so she couldn't scream. Her screams were confined to her head, desperation coursing through her mind. A fresh wave of terror cut through Vivienne as her skirt was pushed up to her hips. She squirmed, trying to get her skirt back down, but a knee was placed firmly between her legs.

"Look at that, she's already wet for me!" Roth said, triumphantly as his hand went to the front of his breeches. Vivienne squeezed her eyes shut, still able to hear the cruel laughter, but not able to cover her ears.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, smothering the laughter. A gurgle came from above Vivienne and she opened her eyes to see Roth, staring down at a bloody hole in his chest. A trickle of blood oozed from his mouth as he met her eyes, then collapsed, falling heavily to the floor. Vivienne was released and she rolled onto her side, quickly clasping the bed cover to her naked chest.

Tavington stood in the doorway, his pistol still in the air. His body position suggested his usual coolness, but his eyes were raging. Captain Bordon stood slightly behind the Colonel, his expression unreadable.

"Unless one of you wants to join him," Tavington indicated Roth's corpse "I suggest leaving this room right now and take this," he nudged at Roth's corpse with his foot "with you."

"Cornwallis will hear about - "

A bullet silenced one of the men as he foolishly spoke out.

The remaining two men looked at each other, then made a dash for the hallway, dragging Roth's body behind them. Tavington let them pass, watching until he was sure they were gone. Then he turned his blue eyes on Vivienne. Bordon murmured something Vivienne couldn't hear before turning on his heel and leaving.

Colonel Tavington couldn't help but feel the slightest bit of pity for Vivienne as she lay there, desperately clutching the bed cover to her with trembling hands, red marks covering her neck, back, and chest. Tavington took a step closer, but stopped when the animal-like fear in Vivienne's eyes escalated.

"M-my corset," she ordered, trying to appear unaffected even as her her voice wavered. Tavington picked it up and set it on the bed before her, feeling a strange admiration for her ability to pull herself together after her experience. Vivienne's lips tightened as his gaze never left her.

"Turn around."

He obeyed, listening to her soft gasp as the pressure of the corset made her realize her bruises. Vivienne stood shakily, then promptly collapsed on the floor, unconscious. Tavington whirled around at the sound of her body hitting the floor, going to her side at once.

"Vivienne." It was Tavington. He crouched down next to her, shaking her shoulder. "Vivienne! Miss Kent!" He almost sounded worried. Good. Yet Vivienne found herself wanting to open her eyes and put her arms around his strong neck. Tavington scooped her up into his arms and carried her back to his room. He was about to lay her on the couch when she pressed her hand flat to his chest.

"Hold me," Vivienne commanded in a soft voice, needing someone to comfort her, seeking comfort in the one who had tormented her so. Surprisingly, he obeyed, sitting on the couch nearest to the still-roaring fire, Vivienne in his lap. She leaned her head on his chest, sighing as his arms closed around her. She closed her eyes, trying to forget the current circumstances and focus only on the warmth spreading through her. Bliss. . .

Never had Tavington simply sat with such a lovely young lady in his lap just to. . . sit. It had always seemed a waste of time. But he remained still, let her draw strength from him. Though he didn't want to admit it to himself, he rather liked holding her, liked the feeling of protecting her. Tavington lifted a hand to stroke her hair, which was soft and silky despite being yanked around by Private Roth. The fire flickered, causing fluttering shadows to sweep across Vivienne's beautiful face. For once, Tavington was content to look, but not touch.

"Thank you for saving me," Vivienne murmured against him.

"It was Bordon who heard you scream. I simply took the opportunity to do away with that insufferable Private Roth," he said, rubbing his thumb over her elegant fingers.

"I'm grateful nonetheless," she replied, feeling there had been slightly more to his rescue of her than vengeance on Private Roth. She met his eyes, her gaze soft.

They both knew their strange moment of passion had been broken when Cornwallis interrupted, but now Vivienne's lips met those of the Colonel in a kiss much softer and gentler than the ones they had shared earlier. Tavington had not taken the time to savor her kisses, her sweet lips when they were madly going at it on the floor. The roaring fire of lust that had seared him inside and out, driving him to make love to this beauty, had been reduced to a small flame, allowing him to control himself more easily.

He deepened the kiss, gently touching her neck, her hips, her breast, not wanting to hurt her. Slowly, they fell to a prostrate position, his back cushioned by the fire-warmed leather and Vivienne lying atop him. Passionately, they held each other, touching, kissing as the night began to fade away.