Two weeks later
Charlotte Tavington sighed in relief as the heavy carriage finally rumbled to a halt in front of her home in Charlestown. Her newborn son, William, was asleep in a makeshift cradle on the floor between her and Ruth, who sat opposite Charlotte. They'd been several days travelling on bad roads and she was glad to have the trip finally at an end.
"Oh, I'm so glad to be home," Ruth said, sighing, as she looked out the window at the house that had been her home for most of the time she'd been in South Carolina.
"Amen to that," Charlotte agreed. "I'm so weary of travelling and sleeping outdoors in a tent. It will be good to get the baby settled and into a good routine." After a short pause, she added ruefully, "And not to mention how divine it will be to sleep in my own bed again and finally get some rest."
"And I like the idea that my baby will be born in Charlestown," Ruth added. "I dearly hope Marcus and I can reconcile by that time."
Charlotte did not reply, not wanting to get her servant's hopes up unnecessarily.
William had sent two riders ahead of the column to notify the servants of their impending arrival, so when the Colonel came back to the carriage to help the women out, Charlotte's faithful butler Matthew was waiting for them.
"Oh, Matthew, it's so good to see you!" Charlotte said, smiling broadly. "I've been so homesick all these months!"
"It's good to see you, too, Miss Charlotte," the dignified servant replied. "I've got your bedroom ready and the staff is getting the rest of the house in order now. The riders who came told us about the baby, and I was able to find a bassinet in the attic and it's already waiting in your room."
"Thank you, Matthew," she said. Holding William up for Matthew to inspect, she added, "Meet our new son. This is William Putnam Tavington."
Looking at the dark-haired, blue-eyed baby, the butler observed, "He certainly looks like the Colonel, sure enough."
"That he does, Matthew," William Tavington said briefly. Turning to his wife, he said, "Let's get you inside and comfortable. I know this trip has been rough on you, considering it came so soon after William's birth."
"I'm fine, love," she assured him. "Just seeing home again has given me new energy."
"Still, you need to get a good nap," Tavington insisted. Returning his attention to the butler, he said, "Get some men to unload the carriage."
"You're right," Charlotte admitted. "And it's about time to feed William again."
Turning to Matthew, Tavington instructed him. "Arrange to have a bath brought up for Mistress Tavington as well."
"At once, Colonel," the servant said, hurrying off to do Tavington's bidding.
Taking baby William from Charlotte, he said, "I'll come in to see you settled, but then I must be off to report to Lord Rawdon. He'll be expecting to see me."
"Of course, William," Charlotte said. "I'll make sure dinner is on the table before you return home."
"Excellent," he said, as they entered their home. Looking around, he said, "It's a good thing you left a staff in place here, as it looks as if we've not been away at all. We can simply resume our lives where we left it here."
"Alone at last," Charlotte said a few minutes later when he'd shut the bedroom door behind them, sitting to wait for the servants to bring the bath. She loosened her bodice and put the baby to her breast as soon as she was seated.
"I've never seen you looking more beautiful than you do at this moment," Tavington said as he beheld his wife with their son at her breast.
Charlotte gazed at her husband with a blushing smile, but did not otherwise reply. A moment later, she looked at the bed and asked, "Do you remember our first time together there?"
"How could I forget?" Tavington said, chuckling. "Ruth walked in and caught us the next morning. I'll never forget the look on her face."
"I'm glad I didn't wake up to see it' Charlotte said, shuddering. "I would have been absolutely mortified."
"As I remember, Ruth was rather mortified herself," Tavington said. "I don't think she was able to look me in the eye for nearly a week after that."
Looking around the room, Charlotte spied the old bassinet set up in a corner of the bedroom. With a pensive expression, she said, "This is the bassinet I used to use when Ben and Elizabeth would bring their brood here for a visit. Gabriel was the first one to use it." She sighed loudly, thinking again of the orphaned Martin children.
Tavington rolled his eyes and quickly changed the subject. "So, which bedroom do you want to give the Bordons?" he asked casually.
"I think on the opposite side of the house, so they won't be disturbed with William's crying," Charlotte decided. "And Mary has become so obsessed with not conceiving that I thought it best to limit her exposure to William."
"I hope Bordon can give her a baby soon, as she's been adversely affecting Bordon's focus on duty," Tavington reported.
"You mean that Captain Bordon is talking with the men about his problem?" Charlotte said, horrified. "Mary would be humiliated if she knew."
"No, no, not at all," he hastily assured her. "From what you've told me about Mary and what I know about Bordon's lack of concentration, I simply drew a logical conclusion."
"I see," Charlotte said. "I hope she has good news soon, as she's been acting rather oddly with me for weeks now. I understand how she's feeling, but I'm not going to hide my joy about our baby simply because she's having trouble. I don't see what she's worried about, in any instance. She and Captain Bordon have only been married a few months; she simply needs to give it a bit of time."
Before Tavington could reply, a knock came at the door, which turned out to be the servants bringing her bath. Once they'd set it up and left, Tavington said, "Well, I really must be off to see Lord Rawdon. I'll send Ruth in to attend you."
"We'll be fine," Charlotte assured him. "Go ahead. Dinner should be ready by the time you get back."
About a half hour later, Charlotte left Ruth with baby William, then went downstairs. Ruth had been eager to care for the newborn ever since he'd been born, saying that it was excellent practice for when her own baby came in a few months.
She found the Bordons in the main sitting room drinking the tea that Matthew had brought. Servants had brought in their belongings, which were piled on the floor.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here when you came in," Charlotte apologized. "But I simply had to have a bath to get all the road grime off me."
"Quite all right," James Bordon said, inclining his head with a brief smile. "Matthew brought us tea and a bit to eat, so we've been managing fine." He ignored the dirty look from his wife that clearly indicated that she didn't think it was at all fine.
"Why don't I show you to your room?" Charlotte suggested. "The servants will bring your belongings upstairs and you can get settled in before dinner."
"I thought I'd give you the room Colonel Tarleton previously occupied," Charlotte said few moments later as she opened the door to that room. "It's a bit larger than the one you had when you were here before, Captain, so I think you'll both be more comfortable in here."
"It's lovely," Mary said as she looked around the airy, spacious room.
"I'll put Susan in the smaller room next door," Charlotte said. "There's a desk in there she can use for her school work as well." Indicating a door down the hall, she continued, "And Ruth will be in the room on the other side of Susan, so she'll be closer to be able to help me with William and will be more comfortable when her own baby comes."
Turning to step outside the door, she said, "I'll leave you all to settle in while I go check on dinner, which will be as soon as William returns from headquarters."
After Charlotte had left, Susan went next door to explore her new bedroom. Mary closed the door to her bedroom as soon as her daughter had left.
Turning to her husband, who had hung his jacket up and placed his helmet on side table, she said, "I really wish we could have been billeted elsewhere."
Bordon heaved a loud sigh. "Now, how would I explain that to Colonel Tavington?" he asked. "I'm his second in command and it's simply more convenient for us to stay where he can confer with me at any time. Besides, I think Charlotte Tavington would be hurt if she knew you didn't want to stay here. I don't understand what's wrong, Mary. Have you and she had a disagreement?"
"I'm not angry with Charlotte, not exactly," Mary confided wearily. "But I am ever so envious of her good fortune and it's so hard for me to see her baby every day, as it reminds me of my continued inability to conceive. It's all I can do sometimes to keep from bursting out into tears."
James Bordon seated himself in a comfortable chair near the window. "Come here, Mary," he said gently, patting his lap for her to sit on. When she did so, he said, "I know you want a baby, but you should give it time. We've not been married all that long, after all."
Kissing her on the cheek, he said, "And don't forget, we have Susan. She's a lovely girl; everything I could ever want for a daughter."
"But I want to give you an heir," she protested softly. "You deserve a son."
"And you will, in due time," Bordon said firmly. He placed a finger under her chin and turned her head to face him. "But always remember this; I didn't marry you to get an heir. If that's what I was after, I could have married any woman. But I married you because I love you. If I can't have a child with you, then I don't want any children. Do you understand?"
"Yes, James," she said, leaning against his broad chest. "Truly, I am the luckiest of women to have married such a wonderful man."
Kissing her on the cheek, he said, "That's my girl. Now, why don't we go down and have some dinner. I'm so hungry that I could nearly eat my boots!"
"Ugh," Mary said, making a face. "We certainly wouldn't want you to have to do that, now would we?"
Despite her husband's reassuring words, Mary could not entirely set aside her worry, despite knowing in her head that he was right. Nevertheless, she pasted a smile on her face and followed him downstairs to dinner.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
At the same time that the Tavingtons and Bordons were having dinner together in the dining room, Ruth was having dinner in the kitchen with some of her fellow servants, most of whom she'd not seen since leaving with the Tavingtons months before. She'd caught up on all the gossip around Charlestown, as well as having told those that had remained behind about her adventures following the army.
She had them all laughing as she recounted Molly's antics since leaving Miss Charlotte's employ, but did not feel comfortable sharing the story of her interrupted romance with Marcus Tapp with everyone. However, she knew she had to share it with someone, as she knew she'd be showing soon and her pregnancy would be obvious to everyone.
Near the end of the meal, she turned to the maid, Bessie, who had been her best friend before Miss Charlotte had married Colonel Tavington. "Bessie," she said in a low voice. "Why don't we take a little walk?"
Bessie Crawford had known Ruth Moore long enough to realize that she had something to tell her that she didn't want the others to hear.
Smiling, she said, "Of course. I could use a little air myself. Just give me a moment to get my wrap."
A few minutes later, the two young women had walked across the courtyard facing the street and had gone out the iron gate into the street.
"So, what is it, Ruth?" Bessie demanded eagerly as soon as the gate had closed behind them. "Have you finally found yourself a man?
"How did you know?" Ruth exclaimed, amazed. "Am I that obvious?"
"Well, no, not really," Bessie admitted. "But you were gone for months in the company of soldiers, so what else could it be?"
"That makes sense," Ruth conceded.
"So, tell me everything," Bessie said. "Who is he and, more importantly, where is he?"
"He's one of Colonel Tavington's dragoons," Ruth told her. "He's the Sergeant Major and is so wonderfully handsome."
"No simple Private for Miss Ruth, eh?" Bessie observed, smiling broadly in approval. "So, where is he, then, and when will I get to meet your handsome Sergeant Major?"
"It's complicated," Ruth said, her face darkening as she thought of the current state of affairs between herself and Marcus.
"You don't mean to say that he's already married, do you?" Bessie guessed.
"No, nothing like that," Ruth said quickly. "Far from it, actually."
"Then what is it?" Bessie asked, completely perplexed.
Not quite knowing what to say, but knowing she had to confide in someone, she said, "I'm with child. Everyone will know soon, anyway, but I wanted to tell you first."
"Ah, don't worry about that," Bessie said, putting a reassuring hand on her friend's arm. "You won't be the first bride to go to the altar with a bellyful and you certainly won't be the last, either."
"That's just it," Ruth told her mournfully. "Marcus doesn't want to marry me and we've not been together since I told him I was carrying his child. He's a bit of a rake, you see."
"Oh, dear," Bessie said. "What a cad!"
"And the big problem is that I still love him with all my heart," Ruth moaned, the tears falling now.
"He's the loser if he can't see what a wonderful wife you'd be," Bessie said. "He doesn't deserve someone as good as you."
"True," Ruth agreed, still sniffling. "But I'd take him back immediately if he would ever come to his senses and change his mind."
"You poor dear," Bessie said solicitously. "Your friends will stand by you. And I'm sure Miss Charlotte will help, too."
Before Ruth could reply, the two women heard the sound of approaching horsemen from the far end of the street. Ruth turned to see a half dozen of Tavington's dragoons heading up the street toward them and she straightened up when she saw that it was none other than Marcus Tapp leading them.
Noticing Ruth's reaction, then following her gaze, Bessie whispered, "That's him, isn't it?"
Ruth did not answer directly because the dragoons had reached them by this time. Marcus Tapp, noticing Ruth standing in the street, had signalled for the men to stop.
"Ruth," Tapp rumbled in his deep voice. "You really shouldn't be out on the streets this late at night. It's not entirely safe."
"I just stepped out for a breath of air," she told him. "The Tavingtons' home is right there." She pointed behind her at the well-lit home.
"Still, you should remain behind the gate after dark, unless you have an escort," he admonished her.
Not responding further to his concerns, she indicated Bessie and said, "Marcus, I'd like to introduce you to my best friend, Bessie Crawford, who also works for the Tavingtons." Turning to Bessie, she continued, "Bessie, this is Sergeant Major Marcus Tapp."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance," Tapp acknowledged briefly.
"Likewise," Bessie responded.
Tapp looked over at the Tavington house, scrutinizing it carefully. "Nice house," he said sourly. "I suppose they have you up in the attic."
"Actually, no, surprisingly enough," she said. "I have a nice room on the second floor, so I can be nearby to help with the Tavingtons' baby." Noticing Marcus' sour look, she quickly added, "It will be good practice for when I have our baby."
Tapp grunted, but did not otherwise reply.
"So, where are you billeted," she asked. "I hope you're not in a tent."
"Oh, no," he assured her with a wide smile. "I was able to pull some strings and I've been assigned to a very nice house about a block from here. It's called the Powell house. Colonel Tarleton owed me some favours, so he was able to arrange it for me."
"Oh, yes, I know the house well," Ruth replied, glad to know he would be near, despite all that had happened between them.
"Well, then, I'm glad to have found you," he said, giving Ruth an intense gaze "But I must be off." Tipping his dragoon helmet to the women just before signalling to his horse to go, he said, "Ladies…"
As the two women watched the dragoons continue down the street, Bessie told Ruth, "He's crazy about you, Ruth. He'll be coming back to you soon, mark my words."
"Do you really think so?" Ruth asked, uncertain. "How could you tell?"
"It's in his eyes," Bessie said. "He's hopelessly smitten."
"I certainly hope you are correct," Ruth said, sighing audibly.
Unbeknownst to the two women and Marcus Tapp, the entire exchange had been observed from a window on the second floor of the Tavington home. As Tapp and his men rode away, Mary Bordon let the curtain drop, an idea forming in her head. Humming to herself as the idea elaborated itself in her mind, Mary lit a candle, then sat to wait patiently for James to return from his meeting with the Colonel.