Early the next morning, Charlotte rose wearily from the straight-backed chair she'd been sitting in all night and stretched as Ruth entered Mrs Powell's sickroom to relieve her.

"Mrs Powell had another bad night," she advised the servant in a low voice. "She has been in too much pain to do more than doze for a few minutes at a time." Pointing to a bottle on the night table, she continued, "I've given her some of the laudanum that the doctor left, but it hasn't done much to relieve her pain. The doctor said not to give her any more than a spoonful every hour or so, but I've given it more often when the pain has gotten worse."

She stood in the doorway, hesitating, unwilling to leave her patient despite her bone-numbing fatigue.

"Go on, Charlotte, and get some rest," Mrs Powell said in a weak voice. "I'll be fine with Ruth."

"Are you sure?" she asked, still hesitant to leave.

"Positive," the old woman replied.

"I'll be back to check on you in a few hours," the younger woman promised the ailing elderly woman. "Send one of the servants immediately if you need anything."

"I will," the older woman said. "Now, go get some sleep."

After a moment, Charlotte left, quietly closing the door behind her, then wearily walked down the hall, with the early morning sunlight streaming in from the window at the far end.

Charlotte noticed the door to the library standing open as she slowly continued on her way to her bedroom. Curious, she looked in and found Colonel Tavington seated behind John's desk drinking tea.

"Ah, Mrs Selton," Tavington called out as he noticed her standing in the doorway. "Please join me for a cup of tea."

"Yes, thank you, I think I will," Charlotte said, moving to take the chair most recently occupied by Banastre Tarleton.

Normally, her first instinct would have been to decline the British officer's invitation, but now, her weariness overrode her caution. Sinking gingerly into the chair, she gratefully took the cup that Tavington offered her.

"Did you not sleep well, Mrs Selton," Tavington asked, noting the dark circles under her eyes.

"I did not sleep at all," she informed him. "I was up all night caring for Mrs. Powell. I'm afraid she had rather a restless night."

"Why do you not have a servant care for her?" Tavington asked, puzzled. "You surely have enough to spare for this task."

"Mrs Powell was so good to me when John died," Charlotte explained. "I don't know what I would have done without her then. I feel as if I owe her to at least care for her myself."

"That woman is lucky to have you," Tavington declared, gazing at her with admiration. "It is too bad that there wasn't anyone like you around when my poor mother was on her deathbed."

Tavington quickly changed the subject when he noticed Charlotte looking at him with sympathetic eyes. He had not intended to reveal such personal, private information to a near stranger.

"What do you plan to do today?" he asked, changing the subject after a moment of awkward silence. "If you don't mind me asking."

"Well, I'm hoping to get a few hours of rest before the doctor comes to check on Mrs Powell late this afternoon," she said slowly.

"I will be conducting interviews with new recruits this afternoon," he told her. "I shouldn't disturb your rest this morning, as I've planned to catch up on some paperwork." Looking at her intently, he added, "Would you care to share the noon meal with me?"

After a moment's hesitation, she agreed. "I'd be glad to, Colonel." After days of caring for the elderly woman without respite, having lunch with a handsome man would be a welcome diversion.

"Good!" he said with a hint of a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I look forward to it."

Charlotte set her teacup down, then slowly stood. "If I'm not to fall asleep at the dinner table, I'll have to take my nap now." Pausing at the door, she turned back. "Until then, Colonel."

Four and a half hours later, Charlotte was surprised to find lunch already on the table when she entered the dining room shortly before noon. Tavington sat alone at the head of the table as she came through the door.

"I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of instructing your cook on what to serve," Tavington said, rising as she approached the table. "I wanted to give you as much time to sleep as possible."

"Thank you," she said, as he pulled out the chair nearest him for her. "That was very nice of you." Noticing that she and Tavington were alone in the room, she asked, "Where are Colonel Tarleton and your junior officer?"

"Their duties have detained them at headquarters," Tavington said offhandedly. In reality, he'd ordered Bordon to stay away from the Selton home until that afternoon.

"Well," Charlotte said with an uncertain smile as she picked up her fork. "Shall we begin?"

"Of course," Tavington said, with the hint of a smile at her obvious nervousness.

They ate in silence for several long, awkward moments. Finally, Tavington looked up and abruptly asked, "How long have you been widowed, Mrs Selton?"

"Four years."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, saying the expected thing. "If I might be so bold to ask, what happened to your husband?"

"He died in a fishing accident," she replied briefly. "The boat capsized and he couldn't swim."

"I'm very sorry," Tavington said again. Looking around the elegant dining room, he continued, "Your husband must have been a successful man, as this is quite an exquisite home."

"Yes, he was," Charlotte said. "We also had a plantation on the Santee where we spent the summer months."

"Do you still have it?"

"Oh, yes, " she said. "I would never sell it, as it provides me with a continuing income."

"I take it your father or, perhaps, one of your brothers is running it for you?" Tavington asked.

"My father passed away years ago, and I have no brothers," she said. "I've been seeing to that, and the rest of my late husband's affairs myself. I was lucky that my father believed in education for women. He tutored me himself on the finer points of management and running a business."

An extraordinary man," Tavington said. Raising his glass in salute, he continued, "And a most extraordinary woman."

"I merely do what is necessary," Charlotte said, flushed. After an awkward pause, she said, "What about you, Colonel? Is there a wife and children at home eagerly awaiting your return?"

"I'm afraid not," Tavington replied. "My army career has kept me busy in the last few years and before that I was at university studying law."

"How long have you been in the army?"

"It's been several years now," he said. "After my father died, I could no longer attend university, so my mother took what little money we had to spare and bought me a commission as a cornet." After taking a bite of food, he continued, "And that is the only commission that was necessary to purchase. I've advanced to my present rank of Lieutenant Colonel strictly by merit alone."

"Your mother must have been very proud of you," Charlotte said.

"Regrettably, she passed away not long after I left for the army," he said. "She didn't live long enough to see my rise through the ranks."

"I'm very sorry," she said quietly.

"So," he said, wanting to change the subject. "You have neither husband nor children. Do you have any family at all?"

"My sister had seven children," Charlotte said. "They live not too far from my plantation, but I haven't seen them much since she passed on not long after my husband did. My brother in law is a farmer and doesn't have much time to bring them to Charles Town to visit."

"Such a brave lady," Tavington said, taking her hand. "Who should not have to carry on alone."

Before Charlotte could reply, Matthew entered the room.

"Yes, Matthew, what is it?" she asked.

"Begging your pardon, Miss Charlotte, but the doctor has arrived to see Mrs Powell."

"Send him up to see her and tell him I'll speak with him shortly."

"Yes ma'am," the servant said, turning to carry out her request.

Tavington folded his napkin and placed it on his plate. "I'm afraid I must be getting along as well, Mrs Selton," he said. "Captain Bordon should be bringing the first recruits around shortly for me to interview."

"I enjoyed our meal together," she said with an uncharacteristic blush.

"As did I," he agreed. "Perhaps we should make a point of lunching together every day, our schedules permitting, of course."

"I'd like that," she said.

"Until tomorrow then."

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Next Chapter: First Date