Cassandra opened her eyes slowly. She was sore all over, with a dull, throbbing ache centered in the back of her head. She lay still for several moments playing back the last events that she remembered. She had been riding Apollo out in the woods behind her house when a storm came up. The horse had reared, knocking her off and she had hit her head. That explained the ache; she thought reaching back to touch the back of her head tenderly. Then she remembered walking back to the barn and having a gun drawn on her by – Cassandra bolted upright in bed immediately regretting it as her vision swam. Cassandra brought her hands to her face and closed her eyes, waiting for her world to settle again. 'How did she get in bed?' she wondered realizing for the first time that she was. Cassandra glanced around the room. 'Where was she?" this was certainly not any room in her house. Carefully, Cassandra lowered her legs off the side of the bed and stood up, happy when she only swayed slightly. She made her way to the door and opened it, peering out into the dark hallway.
"So you're awake" a quiet voice came from the end of the hallway. "Colonel Tavington will be glad to hear it." Cassandra took an involuntary step back as the man approached her. He was young, and dressed in the red uniform of a British Revolutionary soldier. "Colonel Tavington wishes you remain in your room until he has had the chance to speak with you" the man informed her. "I'll just go and fetch him now Miss, if you'll please close the door."
Cassandra stared at the man. 'I must be dreaming' she thought as the man smiled at her tentatively. "Please Miss; go back in your room. The Colonel will be with you in a moment". The man laid a firm, but gentle hand on her arm pushing her back into the room. Without thinking, Cassandra shut the door and went to stand by the window. It was still raining she noticed wondering again if her horse had made it back. She was startled by three loud knocks on the door, and the sound of it being opened. Cassandra turned as the man entered her room. She took two steps back in shock as she took in his Green and Red Uniform, a symbol of the British Green Dragoon cavalry unit. The man watched her, his piecing blue eyes betraying no emotion.
"Your name" he said briskly coming to stop just inches away from her.
"Cassandra" she said without thinking "Cassandra Davies"
"And what were you doing out in the woods alone Miss Davies?" the man asked watching her carefully for any trace that she was trying to deceive him.
"I was riding my horse" she began meeting his gaze without fear. "The storm spooked him and I was thrown off."
"And what were you doing alone?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"I ride alone" she said the first edge of defiance coming into her voice. "Why do you care?"
"An American girl alone in the woods" he began moving his eyes from hers down her body "An American girl dressed as a man" his lip curled before he announced "You are a spy."
"A what?" Cassandra choked out a laugh. This dream was getting stranger and stranger. "I'm not spy. I live here!" she said glancing around the room and remembering with a start that she didn't.
"Oh really?" Colonel Tavington smiled at her, but it was a cruel smile of a predator that has just caught its unknowing prey. "The family that lived here was convicted of treason and hanged. Perhaps you should join them then" he said reaching out and grabbed her upper arm tightly. "But you said your name was Davies.. So you cannot have lived her could you?"
Cassandra's eyes narrowed, and she made to jerk her arm back, both angered and frightened when the man before her did not release his grip.
"Get off of me!" she hissed yanking on her arm again, stumbling backwards as the man released her.
Colonel Tavington glowered at her, arms crossed tightly across his chest. He did not take orders from a woman, and was furious with himself for releasing her. "Let's try this again shall we?" he asked raising an eyebrow at the defiant girl in front of him. "Who are you, and where were you heading?"
Cassandra took a deep breath, her mind spinning. She had to be dreaming, that was the only logical explanation. She met the Colonel's steely gaze with one of her own. As long as she was trapped in this dream, she might as well play into it.
"My name is Cassandra Davies, as I've told you" she said, crossing her own arms across her chest. "I've run away from home. I've been riding for several days, and I lost control of my horse in the woods by this property. I was looking for my horse, or a suitable replacement when you found me."
"And why were you doing that?" Colonel Tavington asked her raising on eyebrow as he contemplated her. She really was an attractive girl, even if she was an American.
"They were traitors to the crown" Cassandra said lowering her eyes as though she were ashamed. The truth of it wasn't that far off as Cassandra knew her ancestors had been American soldiers during the Revolutionary War, but she personally had seen the necessity of the war when she studied it in school.
"And your loyalties Miss Davies?" Tavington asked taking an involuntary step towards her.
"My loyalty is to my king and country sir. Where all good loyalties should lie. May I take my leave now Colonel?" she asked, still unable to meet his gaze. "I should like to get on my way as soon as possible."
"No, I don't think so Miss Davies" Tavington said watching her once more, "For although you claim not to be a spy, a man such as myself cannot take chances. You will remain here, with me, until such a time I as I can determine if you are telling the truth. For now, you will find suitable clothing in the closet to your left, and dinner will be served within the hour. Ask the officer posted outside your door to bring you down when you are ready. I'll see you shortly… Miss Davies."