One week passed. William worked Asmodeus lightly and kept his leg from swelling as much as he could. Gaia had performed adequately on patrol. She had skittish moments, but was, on the whole, a solid horse; and though Asmodeus would always be Tavington's favorite mount, she was quickly proving her worth.
It was early evening, and the colonel was to attend his first social gathering in the Colonies. He had just finished exercising Asmodeus and was getting into his dress uniform. His dark hair was damp and pulled back, smelling of apple pomade. The gathering would take place at a manor house just a couple miles away from the camp and Tavington would be arriving by carriage. Locking his things, he left the camp and arrived shortly at the manor house. British soldier swarmed the grounds.
"Colonel Tavington…" Brig. Gen. O'Hara greeted William shortly after he stepped off of the carriage.
"O'Hara," he murmured in greeting.
"A beautiful evening tonight, wouldn't you think?"
William shrugged, moving past the general and found his way to a table laden with wine near the dance floor. Picking up a glass, he sipped it carefully and eyed the people dancing. He backed into a corner, hidden by shadows and watched as men and women took to the dance floor.
"Are you really going to spend all night in this corner?"
William started and turned to see Gillian facing him.
"Should you not be in the medics' tent?"
"I was invited; do you like it?" she asked, gesturing to her light yellow dress.
Tavington did not respond and instead asked, "Who invited you?"
"That man, over there." she gestured to O'Hara, who was in deep conversation with Charles Cornwallis.
Tavington frowned and spoke in a haughty tone, "He is only looking for some entertainment."
"Oh, and I suppose you aren't?" Gillian countered. "I hear the women talk about you. You're quite the fox-"
Tavington turned and gripped her wrist tightly.
"You be quiet!"
"Let go of me then, or I shall scream," she hissed.
The colonel released her and she wrapped a hand around her wrist.
"I must be going," Gillian mumbled and made her way to Charles O'Hara, who offered her his arm and led her on to the dance floor. Tavington watched with burning eyes and the general noticed, for just as he finished dancing with Gillian, he offered her to the colonel. William nearly refused but the cocky look in O'Hara's steely blue eyes pushed him into it.
"How is your horse," Gillian asked as they began to dance.
"He is fine," the colonel replied stiffly.
"I have some herbs for him. They will help with the healing," she spoke.
"Leave them at the tent then."
"If it is all right with you, I would like to administer them myself."
Col. Tavington's eyes narrowed and he replied, "Very well."
The dance ended a couple minutes later and the colonel escorted Gillian back to Gen. O'Hara, who led Gillian out onto the grounds.
"Thank you for accompanying me tonight," the general spoke, softly kissing the woman's hand.
Gillian smiled.
"Well I have quite enjoyed my evening. But it is late and I really should return to camp."
She turned to leave when O'Hara grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"Stay with me."
"No, I must go," Gillian spoke, trying to tug away but the General would not let her go and pulled her close to him. "General, please, let me go!"
The woman struggled in O'Hara's grasp, wrenching away from him and fled into the darkness, her hair coming loose from its chignon. She rounded a corner and collided with Col. Tavington, who knocked her off balance.
"Gillian?"
"I'm sorry, I really must be going," she said quickly, getting to her feet and pushing past him. Finding an empty carriage, she climbed in and ordered the driver to take her back to camp. Once there, she went straight to her tent and sat down on her cot, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders and hugged herself. After several minutes, she recovered and moved to rummage through a leather satchel for some herbs that she took to Asmodeus.
Gillian found the stallion pawing at the air with his injured leg, wrapped in cloth.
"Easy, Mr. Asmodeus," she cooed, approaching the horse and patted his neck. Unwrapping his leg, she checked for swelling. It had gone down but she still fetched a bucket of water to soak it in. Asmodeus whinnied as she stuck his left front leg in the water.
"Here you go; you should like these, and they'll make you feel better," Gillian spoke, feeding him a handful of herbs.
After fifteen minutes, Gillian took Asmodeus' leg out of the bucket and walked him in slow circles. He still limped but was putting more weight on the injured ankle.
"There's a good boy," she smiled, "You'll be better in no time."
"Gillian?"
The woman turned to see Col. Tavington approaching her.
"Is he all right," he queried.
"He should be; he took the herbs." Gillian replied. "He will be up and running in a week or so, I believe."
"You left early," The colonel spoke as he let Asmodeus nibble his fingers.
"A minor issue; it was taken care of. It is late; I should go," she finished, handing him the herbs. "Give these to him in the morning and in the evening."
Tavington took the herbs and dismissed her before he retired to his tent and prepared for the night.