Several days later, Charlotte sat by herself in the library, enjoying an afternoon cup of tea. As she slowly sipped the hot beverage, Charlotte smiled to herself as she mentally relived the last few days since she and William had first become intimate.

She'd had an awkward few minutes when she'd first emerged from her bedroom the first morning after they'd made love. The news of her spending the night with the Colonel had quickly become common knowledge among the servants by the time she sat down to breakfast. None dared speak of it to her, of course, and Charlotte was too happy to care what they might think. She'd been in mourning for her dead husband far too long; now and now felt exhilarated to finally be in love again.

In the few days Charlotte had been with Tavington, he'd made love to her without fail each evening. This morning, they'd had sex again before breakfast. She smiled to herself in private satisfaction, as she mentally replayed this particularly pleasant way to begin her day.

And he'd also been her steady rock since Mrs Powell's death, making sure the proper arrangements had been made for her funeral and burial services.

Early the previous morning, Tavington had stood at Charlotte's side, in front of the open grave that awaited the mortal remains of Mrs Powell. Several times during the short service, he'd squeezed her hand in wordless comfort.

"Thank you for being here," she told him a few minutes after the funeral ended as they walked from the churchyard. "I don't know what I would have done without you today."

Tavington had smiled down at her, patting her hand. "You would have managed just fine, I'm sure," he said. "But I was happy to be of service."

They'd planned to go riding that morning after the funeral, plans they'd made not long after she'd told William that she was an experienced horsewoman. Unfortunately, those plans had to be cancelled when a messenger from headquarters had met them just as they were leaving the stable.

"You're needed right away at headquarters, sir!" the young man said, out of breath as he reached them.

Turning to Charlotte , he said, "I shouldn't be gone too long."

"Take your time," she said, squeezing his hand. "I'll be fine. I'll have a meal waiting by the time you get back."

"An added incentive not to tarry at headquarters," he said, raising her hand to his mouth to kiss.

Tavington had ended up returning much sooner than he'd anticipated, as the meeting he'd been called to had been cancelled by the time he'd arrived, and they'd ended up getting their ride in, after all. Charlotte smiled, then blushed crimson as she remembered what she and William had done on the grass behind a grove of trees at the remote wooded area they'd ridden to.

"Mrs Selton?" Ruth suddenly appeared at her side, interrupting Charlotte from her daydreaming. .

"Yes, Ruth, what is it?"

"There's a grubby little boy waiting in the kitchen insisting on seeing you," the maid said. "He said he was sent with a message for you."

"Send him in here, please," Charlotte said, her curiosity piqued.

Ruth left and returned with a scrawny boy a moment later, then returned to her duties.

"How can I help you?" Charlotte asked him, regarding him with a curious expression. The boy appeared to be about ten years old and obviously a street urchin.

"Begging your pardon, Missus," he said, thrusting a dirty piece of paper at her. "I was told to give you this and to wait for your answer."

After taking the note from him and quickly scanning its contents, she said, "Go into the kitchen and tell Cook I told her to fix you a plate. Wait there and I'll have my answer ready for you to take back."

"Yes'm."

After the boy left, she spread the note out and read it again, this time more thoroughly:

Dearest Charlotte,

Please forgive me not getting in contact with you sooner, as life has been quite unsettled here as of late. I have only recently been able to make the trip to your plantation, where I'd expected to find you. Needless to say, I was shocked when your servants there told me that you were still in Charles Town.

I know that we had discussed an eventual marriage between us that would ideally occur after this war had concluded, but in light of recent events, I have changed my thoughts on the matter. I now think it would be best if we were married right away, so that I could more easily protect you in the conflicts to come.

I am waiting on the edge of Charles Town to escort you to your plantation, as it is dangerous for me to come any further. Please come as soon as you can after receiving this note. The boy who delivered it will lead you to me.

Please make haste, as I am eager to begin our new life together

Ben

Charlotte frowned as she folded the note and slipped it into her pocket. Rising from her chair, she quickly left the room, heading upstairs to her bedchamber.

Once she'd reached the privacy of her room, Charlotte fished the note from her pocket as she went to sit at the small writing desk, which stood on the far wall in front of a window. After she'd retrieved her writing supplies from a lower drawer, she paused for a moment as she considered just how to word her reply. Within a minute, she hastily scribbled a cryptic note:

Dear Ben,

Regretfully, I cannot accept your proposal at this time. Please accept my apologies. Rest assured that I am well and there is no cause for concern or alarm on your part.

Sincerely,

Charlotte

As she waited for the ink to dry, she glanced around the room, taking special note of the different articles of William's personal belongings located in various parts of the room. Turning back to her task, she folded the note and neatly secured it with sealing wax, then placed it in her pocket. She snatched up Ben's note as she rose from the desk, returning it to her other pocket. As she turned to leave, her eyes fell on William's spare uniform which had been draped over the back of an upholstered chair. Before leaving the room, she took the uniform to the wardrobe, hanging it up carefully, pausing to take in the aroma of his cologne. Smiling to herself, she left the room and returned to the kitchen.

A few moments later, she entered the kitchen where she found the messenger boy wolfing down a plate of biscuits. Motioning to the cook to fix him a bundle of food to take with him, she reached into her pocket for her reply note.

"Here is the message," she said. "Please deliver it right away." Handing him the food the cook had collected, she said, "Here's something for your trouble."

"You're to come with me, missus," the boy insisted. "The man said that was important."

"The note will explain everything," she said. "He will understand."

The boy nodded, uncertain, but left to carry out her bidding with no further ado.

"Please bring a fresh pot of tea to the dining room," she told the cook after the boy had left.

"Very good, Missus," the cook replied. "At what time shall I serve dinner?"

"Colonel Tavington should return by 5:30," she said. "I believe six sharp will do,"

"Yes, ma'am."

Charlotte fished Ben's note out of her pocket to re-read it as she sipped a fresh cup of tea. Frowning, she read the unromantic, businesslike note yet again, realization dawning on her that she would have never known happiness if she'd married him. Security and friendship, yes; but never true love or passion.

And after meeting William Tavington and experiencing ecstasy in his arms, she knew she was no longer willing to settle for what Ben Martin had to offer. After a long moment, she crumpled Ben's note into a ball and tossed it into the fireplace, watching it burn away to ashes. She'd made her decision and was glad of it.

______

Thanks to my readers and reviewers. I appreciate you taking the time to read my story.
Next Chapter: Questions and Preparations