Major Hanger's Unruly Disposition

"Ah Ban! I see you have brought Tavington with you! Imagine what fun we shall have!"

"I can imagine trouble."

~Major George Hanger and Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton~

/

The end of the month came sooner than Tavington would have liked. Tarleton left to retrieve Major George Hanger from the ship that brought him over, and this made the Colonel apprehensive at best.

Tavington knew what would happen once Major Hanger arrived. He would forever be getting him out of some kind of trouble. Not to mention, what Banastre Tarleton would be doing along the way. He was certain that both would have gotten into some scuffle on the way back to the fort. What that would be, was anyone's guess.

He looked around the camp and sighed heavily. He noticed two of the camp whores sitting idle by one of the tents. Both were glorious brunettes, and both were well known among the men. Yet another certainty reared its head.

Tarleton and Hanger would be visiting them soon enough.

And that, meant more trouble.

He sighed again.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Lady Tavington weaving her way around the men. She steered clear of the whores, a look of disgust etched upon her beautiful face, and made her way towards where he had positioned himself outside the surgeon's tent.

Tavington smiled as she came up to him.

"Ah my dear lady! You look positively mad!"

Catherine settled herself beside him on the wooden bench. She smoothed out her dress and sneered frostily at him.

"Mad, would not begin to describe how I feel!"

The Colonel eyed her sympathetically.

"Now what could have possibly happened? Your visit with your father cannot have been so terrible as to make you this angry."

Catherine muttered under her breath.

"It would not have been, had General O'Hara not decided to show up. You know as well as any, what happens when he is around."

"Yes, of course." Tavington nodded.

"He brought news of my sister, Mona. Really, as if I needed to hear it! He knows exactly how I feel about her, and what I would most certainly do if she was to show herself at the fort."

Colonel Tavington grinned.

"Ah yes, you would hang her yourself."

Catherine nodded.

"As far as she is concerned, when our men capture Earl Haverhill, hopefully she is with him. They can hang together."

Tavington smirked at this.

"Perhaps she will be? And if so, she will be punished as your father sees fit. If that means hanging, then she shall hang."

Catherine muttered again.

"I spoke to my father about it. He agrees with me about her punishment. She is a traitor to the Crown. She will most definitely die a traitor's death, and we will finally be allowed to put this horrid disgrace behind us."

Tavington patted her arm reassuringly.

"What of O'Hara? Was he there simply to impart this news upon you?"

Catherine shook her head.

"No, he was there with a request."

"A request? For what?"

"One of my sisters' hands in marriage."

Colonel Tavington stared at her. Had he heard her correctly?

"I do hope your father refused this request?"

Catherine grinned in disgust.

"No, he did not."

"Which sister? I thought they were married?"

"Aimee is. Mona is not. Sarah is a widow now, after her husband was killed in battle a year ago. It would seem that General O'Hara has had his sights set on her since she arrived at the fort in the spring. And, if what father said is true, my dear sister has had her sights set on the General, as well."

The Colonel shook his head ruefully.

"Whatever for? He is the worst possible man to marry!"

Catherine looked at him for a second, and then nodded in agreement.

"I agree with you, William. However, I have no say in who Sarah marries. Even, if I disagree with the choice, I cannot do anything about it."

He shook his head again.

"Perhaps, she will see the error of this decision."

"Perhaps." Catherine said icily.

William smiled.

"Well, let's not discuss this any longer. There are other matters we need speak of."

Catherine laughed.

"Would these other matters pertain to a certain Major's arrival at the fort?"

"It would."

"Of which you are not too happy about…"

William ran his fingers thru his hair. He had taken to leaving it hang loose around his shoulders, and Catherine found him quite the handsome rogue.

"And I should be happy about this? No, I am not happy about it. Doctor Harris has told me I shall return to my normal duties at the end of the week. I will be far too busy to play nursemaid to Banastre and Hanger! Why ever did he decide to come here?"

"That was my father's doing, William."

"Then perhaps His Lordship would consent to being the nursemaid?"

Catherine snickered at this outburst from her husband.

"I cannot imagine father running around getting Ban and Major Hanger out of trouble! If he had to, he would hang them both for ignorance!"

"And be done with it." William muttered.

Catherine grinned faintly.

"When do we expect Ban to arrive back with the Major?"

"I suspect late this evening. That is, if they can manage to keep themselves out of trouble along the way."

"We shall see." Catherine laughed softly.

/

Dinner that evening was a jovial affair, being as O'Hara was absent from the table. This made both Tavington and Catherine quite happy.

However, it was the new addition at dinner that night, which made the meal far from a gloomy affair.

Major George Hanger had arrived with much fanfare, and as William had suspected earlier in the day, both the Major and Lt. Colonel had indeed, gotten themselves into trouble. Thankfully, William had not been called upon to retrieve them. That had fallen to General O'Hara. This explained his absence from the table. He was still trying to sort out the problem Hanger had caused at a tavern just outside Camden.

"Lady Tavington! You are a true beauty! However did Will get his hands on you?"

Catherine stared at the Major for a long time. He was a crass man, but despite this, she found herself enjoying his company.

"Luck, Major Hanger." She replied smoothly.

He smiled drunkenly at her.

"Oh do call me George, my lady." He raised his wine glass. "We shall be great friends, and that means, you must call me George."

"I will be quite glad to, George."

"See, we are truly friends already! Now, do tell me exactly what it is you see in Tavington. Is it his roguish behavior? His ability to ravish you every night? Do tell!"

Colonel Tavington glared across the table at Banastre Tarleton who simply shrugged his shoulders. This would be a very long night.

Catherine, however, was enjoying herself. She seemed to regard the Major as nothing more than a diversion from everyday life at the fort. If she minded in the least that Hanger was asking her such personal inquires, it was not apparent.

When Lady Tavington finally replied to Hanger's questions, even William was unprepared for it.

"All of the above, George. And many other reasons besides." She winked at him. "Now, do tell about the mischief you and Ban got into earlier."

Major Hanger wiggled his wine glass at the servant who stood against the wall. Glass once more replenished, he dove right into what had transpired.

"Murderous whores! Thought they would get the better of us! Ban handled himself quite admirably in this situation, and…" He tossed a fork towards Ban, who ducked expertly. "I should say, once General O'Hara arrived…"

Ban cut him off.

"Yes, once the General arrived all was well."

The Colonel sneered at him.

"At least, I did not have to be the one sent to fetch you back here."

Ban grinned.

"Too true, Will. But, we both knew Doctor Harris would not have allowed you to ride to our rescue."

"I will be fit to return to duty at the end of the week." William remarked.

Major Hanger hooted with laughter.

"Colonel Tavington, what a shame it was when you died! We had word of it, but nothing more was said. Cannot say those in Parliament were lamenting your demise."

"That I do not doubt, Hanger." William growled. "They care only for themselves, and the loss of one officer would not be of a great loss to them."

"No, of course not." George muttered.

"A shame, really." Catherine remarked.

Banastre nodded.

"If it had been your father, Catherine, they would have sent up a terrible howl of despair!"

"Too true, Ban." George wiggled his glass at the servant, who once more, replenished the Major's wine.

"Try not to drink too much, George. We have an early morning, and you being unfit to ride…" Ban reminded him.

Hanger waved this away.

"I shall be perfectly fine, old man! I can handle my wine perfectly, unlike you, I might add."

Banastre threw a bun at him. Hanger, unlike Ban, could not dodge the object. It hit him squarely in the face.

"Behave, my dear Sirs." Catherine pointed her finger at both men. They blushed slightly.

For a time, all was quiet, save for the clinking of cutlery and glasses. Finally, after a long moment, Ban broke the silence.

"Of course, Catherine dear. Just having a bit of fun, no harm in that, is there?"

"No." She said sternly.

"Well Lady Tavington," George began.

Tavington brought his fist down on the table making all present jump.

"Desist with the unruly behaviour gentlemen! Can you not act properly in the presence of a lady? Especially, when she is my wife?"

"As if you can say such things…" Ban muttered.

Colonel Tavington glared coldly at Tarleton.

Major Hanger giggled softly from behind his wine glass.

"I thought, when I first saw Ban arriving, 'Oh, you have Tavington with you! Imagine the fun we shall have!'"

Banastre cut him off once again.

"I could only imagine trouble." He retorted.

Tavington continued to glare at Ban. Soon his gaze encompassed Major Hanger, as well.

"I fortunately could not come and get you. With or without me, you seemed to have gotten yourselves in trouble, resulting in His Lordship sending his bloody lapdog! O'Hara will have this spread far and wide, before the sun has risen tomorrow! Major Hanger," Tavington pointed at him, "I suggest you keep your unruly behaviour under control from this moment on, or a noose shall be your next stop! Despite you being a good friend to Banastre, I will intervene should that be the case. Do I make myself clear, Major?"

Hanger hung his head slightly.

"Very clear, Colonel Tavington. Might I make a comment in my defense?"

Tavington smirked.

"Yes, please do."

"This was all Banastre's fault! Had he not allowed me to keep company with that whore, I would not be in this situation!"

Ban stared at Hanger as if he had never seen the man before.

"Oh do shut up, Hanger! I had nothing to do with you getting your breeches around your ankles!"

"You found the whore!" Hanger shot back.

"And you bedded her!" Tarleton growled.

"Enough!" Tavington hissed.

Both men turned and stared at him.

"I do not care which one of you did it! See to it, that it never happens again!"

"Ah, a certain Colonel seems to have his queue too tight…" Hanger grumbled.

Ban leaned over and smacked the Major in the head.

"Do be quiet for once, George!"

"Yes, perhaps you should follow Banastre's suggestion?"

Hanger simply grinned drunkenly.

"Nothing but a bit of fun…how was I to know that doxy would be crazy?"

Tavington glared at him again.

"Regardless, this behaviour stops now! I will not have that around my wife. Both my Captains have children, and your behaviour will not be tolerated around them. I will not have my Captains, or their wives, complaining about you and your unruly disposition!"

Hanger snickered.

"Yes, of course not, Colonel."

"Will means it, George." Tarleton raised an eyebrow. "I also suggest that you not anger him. His reputation is far worse than mine. He would hang you."

Tavington nodded at this assessment.

"Will you behave yourself, Major?"

"Oh alright! Begrudge me some fun." George sighed.

Banastre laughed.

"Well, at least he left that damnable creature back in England!"

"Sad, but very true." The Major sniffled.

All knew Ban had been referring to Hanger's pet monkey. They knew of no one who enjoyed the creature's company, save for the Major.

"Why did you not bring it?" Catherine inquired carefully.

Hanger sniffled again.

"Poor love would have been terribly seasick."

The Tavingtons exchanged smirks with Tarleton. All three were secretly grateful for the animal's inability to handle the sea voyage.

"Perhaps I shall bring him next time…" George remarked.

They exchanged glances at this.

"Oh no, we could not have the poor creature dying!" Catherine said ruefully.

"Yes, that would be a terrible shame, George." Banastre agreed with a slight glance at the Colonel and Catherine.

"Not to worry! He is as healthy as a horse! Just gets a touch of sickness onboard ship. He would be perfectly well once we reached land."

"At least, he is safe where he is, George." Catherine said dryly.

"Too true." He agreed happily.

"More wine, Major?" Tavington motioned for the servant to refill Hanger's glass.

"Oh I really should not, Colonel!"

"One more glass ill not hurt you any."

"Well, just one then." Hanger replied as the servant replenished his wine.

Tarleton shook his head.

"I think you have quite enough, George. As I said earlier, we have a very early morning…"

"I shall be perfectly fine, Ban." Hanger burped loudly.

"That is what I am afraid of." Tarleton replied tartly.

Catherine took this opportunity to excuse herself. She was very tired, and wished to get a decent night's rest.

"If you gentlemen will excuse me, I shall be off to bed."

The Colonel rose, went to his wife and pulled out her chair. She smiled warmly at him.

"I wish you a good night, my love." He kissed the nap of her neck.

"Do not be long, William."

He smiled slowly.

"Not to worry, I am planning on an early night, myself. Morning comes far too soon after a long evening."

"We shall stay up a bit longer, if you do not mind, Colonel Tavington?" Hanger burped again.

Tavington turned to look at him. A look of disgust crept over the Colonel's handsome face.

"I do mind Major. You will also have an early night. Both you and Tarleton have morning duties, so I would suggest you get all the rest you can."

"But…" The Major began.

"And stay away from the camp doxies!" Tavington snapped.

The Major grumbled dejectedly, but said nothing.

Catherine laughed softly.

"Goodnight, gentlemen." She kissed William on the cheek and left the room.

All three men watched as she left. When they were certain she was gone, they turned and looked at each other.

"When do we leave, Will?" Ban inquired.

"First light." Tavington replied.

"How many of the Dragoons are we taking with us?"

"About fifty, I should think."

Tarleton nodded.

"This should be quite easy, Will."

Hanger agreed.

"Yes, I should think finding this traitor will be quite easy enough. Being as we know where they are, and we have the advantage of surprise."

Tavington grinned coldly.

"We do, but they will have scouts posted along the way."

"Will not be a problem, Will" Tarleton said.

Colonel Tavington returned to his chair and fixed the Major and the with a cold sneer.

"I want you to find that traitor and bring them back here. If they cause problems, you know what to do."

Both men nodded.

Tavington's sneer grew steadily colder.

"I want my wife's whore of a sister to pay for her treachery."

"And if she should cause any problems, Will?"

Tavington's sneer was now frigid.

"Do what you will with her…"

"And after that?" Major Hanger asked.

Tavington laughed slowly and darkly.

"Hang her."