Pleading
Morning dawned far too early for Colonel Tavington. Lack of sleep put him in a foul mood. Lack of sleep and bad dreams teamed together to make this morning even worse than normal. His mood would fit it accordingly.
His lay there staring up at the ceiling pondering everything he needed to accomplish before the Dragoons left for South Carolina, though everything should have been taken care of the evening before.
Still, he lay there pondering. If it wasn't the preparations of their leave, what was he pondering? In truth, he didn't even know.
He felt Catherine stir beside him, and turned to look at his beautiful bride.
"A good morning to you, my beloved." He whispered into her silky hair.
"Mmmm," She murmured softly. "What about it is good, Colonel Tavington?"
He chuckled.
"Well, the birds are singing, the sun will soon be fully up, and…" he nuzzled her neck," I am still here."
"For the moment, that is." Catherine muttered darkly.
"Now my dear, you are leaving with us! Why this morose tone this morning?"
Catherine muttered again.
"Can't see why you're in such a splendid mood."
"I'm with you, that's why."
"What? And you fail to remember how badly you slept last eve?"
"I know how I slept, my dear." He admitted.
"Tossing and turning. Crying out for something! I was so afraid, William…" She trailed off and hugged him tightly to her.
"It was nothing, love."
She sat up and stared at him. The morbid look upon her face seemed to be etched deeply.
"Nothing? You repeatedly called for me! You kept pleading with me to save you! And, you refer to it as 'nothing?' "
William stared blankly at her.
"It is nothing, Catherine. Just the same dream I've been having for the last few weeks. Nothing to be worried about."
"Do not insult me, Colonel Tavington." She growled.
"I do not seek to insult you, love. I am simply telling you the facts of it. It is only a dream, nothing more. Come, let us make love one more time before we must present ourselves to the men."
Catherine continued to stare at her husband.
"I don't believe you! How can you be so flippant about this, William? It's not just a bloody dream! It has you so rattled, you've been crying in your sleep! I want a reason for it!"
"No." He hissed at her. "I will not play this game with you, Lady Tavington! I gave you my answer, and that is the only answer you shall receive! Now, get up and get dressed! I will not tell you again."
"Fine, Colonel Tavington." She spit it out at him coldly.
He watched as she flung herself from the bed and disappeared into her dressing area. How could they be arguing so soon? What in the world was happening?
When his wife emerged from her dressing area, she fixed him with an icy glare. It unnerved him slightly.
Catherine went about her morning routine without a word to her husband. After a few minutes, she turned and fixed him, again, with the same icy glare.
"Only a bloody dream, you call it? Well then, if it is only a dream, do tell me about it. I'd so love to hear why you think so."
William sighed softly.
Why did she need to know? What good would come of it?
None, as far as he was concerned.
"The same dream, Catherine. As I told you before we left Ohio, it is the same dream that has haunted me for weeks, months even. Nothing else to tell about it, really. And," he sat up in the bed, "I dare say it hasn't changed any since I first told you about it."
The icy glared softened a bite.
"Oh? Perhaps you are right, then…I did not mean to badger you about it, William. It's just…well," she shrugged, "It worried me."
William smiled lovingly at her.
"I know, my dear, I know. Don't trouble yourself with it, you'll only end up being morbid all the time."
Catherine laughed, but then a dark look crossed over her face.
"Cowpens."
Tavington nodded absently.
"Yes, Cowpens. Just a dream, Catherine, that's all." He held out a hand to her, and pulled her back into bed.
"William Tavington!"
"What?" He laughed playfully.
"You'll ruin my dress! It's my best one, and I'm sure I shall have to wear it again!" She struggled to free herself from his tight grip.
"Oh? I thought all your dresses were your best ones? Or, did I not understand that correctly?"
Catherine hit him in the arm.
"You are a brute, Colonel Tavington!"
"Why yes, so they call me."
Catherine blinked.
"Let us not start about what they call you, Colonel. I don't wish to hear about you being 'the butcher' again."
"Well, that's what they call me. That's what your father heard from that simpering fool, O'Hara. Why not talk about it? Especially, if it's true?"
"Just because your tactics are a bit harsh, my love, does not mean you are a butcher. You just do things differently…"
"True, but what they call me, is also true. I am inclined to agree with them on that."
"Oh for crying out loud, William! Stop listening to my father and his lackey! Honestly, is it worth it?"
William grinned coldly.
"Sometimes, it is worth it. That is how I learn things. But, just once, I'd love to show O'Hara just what I, the Butcher, am really like. How does he know what I do? He never goes into battle! Never rides the countryside as I do! What does he know of my tactics?"
"Nothing."
"Indeed he knows nothing! He hears what the Rebel prisoners say. He listens to whatever comes from their lips, and he believes them. You would think, that your father would shut his lapdog up? But no…"
Catherine giggled softly. She imagined General O'Hara perched upon her father's lap.
William eyed her for a moment.
"And what, Lady Tavington, is so amusing?"
"O'Hara perched upon my father's lap." She giggled again.
Colonel Tavington grinned at this.
"Amusing picture, my dear, but true nonetheless. Your father allows him far too much authority, and lets him run rampant. Tells me that I'm a brute? Really, I'm offended."
Catherine nodded.
"As well you should me, Colonel."
"Why do you keep calling me that?"
She giggled once more.
"I like how it rolls of my tongue, Colonel."
William smiled slowly.
"Oh, I like how many things roll off your tongue."
Catherine blushed a bright pink.
"Care for me to show you any of them?"
He thought about it for a moment, and then sighed reluctantly.
"As much as I would love for you to, my darling, I must get dressed. We have spent far too much time here, and the men are probably wondering where their commander is."
"Ah, let them wonder then."
"Now, now, Lady Tavington, that wouldn't be a very nice thing to do." William teased her.
"Who are you, to tell what is a nice thing to do?"
"Your husband, and the Commander of the Green Dragoons. I know what isn't very nice."
Catherine tried not to laugh at this. Both were true, but she found it amusing to hear all the same.
"You have appoint, Colonel Tavington. She pulled away from him, and rose from the bed. "You should get dressed, darling, we leave in less than two hours."
Tavington nodded.
Catherine nudged him from the bed.
"Do hurry! We have to make good time, unless you wish to answer to my father for our being late?"
He cringed at this. Why did she need to bring up her blasted father again? He would need to answer for not only their being late, but for being married to the Lord General's daughter.
He would surely hang for that treason.
"You are right, love. But, being as I will have to answer to your father once he finds out we have married without his consent, being late will be the least of my problems."
Catherine smiled broadly.
"Do not worry, William, I will plead our case before my father."
"And, O'Hara?"
Catherine's smile turned bitter and cold.
"To hell with O'Hara! I need not answer to that lackey. Plus…" She trailed off for a second, then continued, "The only thing I must answer for to him, is where Mona is. And, it will get back to my father quickly enough."
"Maybe your father will send his lapdog out to fetch her back?"
They both laughed at this.
"Perhaps he will? Who knows, my dear Colonel? Now, do get dressed! You keep putting it off!"
"Yes, yes…" He began to dress quickly. Once dressed, he had Catherine braid his hair, and put it into it's queue. She did so much for him…how sad.
Sad?
He shuddered slightly.
"William, are you alright?"
"Just a chill."
"Alright then. Shall we go down?" She hooked her arm thru his.
"Of course."
He turned back at the door, pulled her close and kissed her feverishly.
"What was that for?" She asked breathlessly.
"Just because I love you, my pet. And, because you are to plead our case before your father. I may not get to kiss you in such a fashion for a very long time, once he finds out we married."
"Bah! You will be able to kiss me whenever, and however, you wish. You never know, father may be quite glad to rid himself of taking care of me?"
William grinned.
"Be that as it may, Catherine, plead as much as you need to, but don't plead to O'Hara. I don't know if I could stand it if you did."
"And, if I had to?"
William sneered cruelly.
"I would hang that bastard, myself."
Again, both laughed.
"Who would be pleading, then?" Catherine snickered.
"O'Hara."
