Chapter 16 A Loss Of Self

Surrounded by dragoons, Melanie lay snug in her bedroll by the fire, sound asleep. She was exhausted and sore from the rigors of four days of riding and camping. Slowly, she was becoming accustomed to sleeping on the ground. Tired tonight, she had fallen instantly into slumber.

The Dragoons, led by Major Bordon, were out on a mission to "show off" their prized prisoner. Miss Prescott had been flaunted before General Gates in a ploy by Bordon. Gates, who had 'admired' Melanie since he'd met her years earlier, considered a trade for the girl. The Colonial General made a poor judgment—thinking below his belt instead of with his head—he agreed to return two British officers in exchange for her. The man planned to keep her as his mistress.

Word was sent to Bordon and a rendezvous was arranged. Gates' men walked right into a trap. A small band of Redcoat infantry was hiding nearby as the prisoner exchange took place. They ambushed the colonials, outnumbering them as well, and took back their two British officers. The Redcoats also managed to capture the colonial Captain in charge of the exchange, as well as retaining Miss Prescott.

The liberated officers and new prisoner left with the infantry, leaving the band of dragoons behind. The group stayed out another day and night as Bordon wanted to check out some leads he'd found in the captured Captain's diary and letters.

As Melanie lay asleep by the fire, Alex Bordon tossed and turned on his bedroll in the tent. Alone there and struggling to fall asleep, he could not seem to get Miss Prescott out of his mind.

Every day he'd see her. He admired her beauty and wanted to know what it would be like to lay with her. Yet, he adhered to his self made vow that he would never fall in love again. But his manly, physical longing was getting the best of him.

Years of battle, stinging memories, denial, wanton desire, burning anger, and the unfulfilled vows of conquering collided within him. He fought bitterly with his own emotions, as well as his need for physical intimacy.

The battle within was like a cacophony in his head that he sought desperately to quiet. He could take no more of the din. And in a moment of weakness wrought with his twisted thoughts, tortured emotions and bitter memories, he gave in to his lust. Alex would have Miss Prescott at his mercy and whim.

He justified his decision to take her as retribution. Bordon would take revenge of his past women through her. Their debts and sins would be paid by Melanie. She would bear the wrath of his anger toward them.

The Major would make her pay dearly for Mary's, Paulette's, Jane's, and Christine's wrongdoings. Their transgressions would be turned upon Melanie and therefore be atoned for. Alex's hurt would be alleviated if he could inflict all the pain and hurt upon another that had been done to him. He was sure that it was the only way to make things right and to help him escape the past.

Alex got out of his bedroll and slipped quietly from his tent. He prowled silently around the fire to where Melanie lay slumbering.

Kneeling down beside her, he shook her gently. When she roused and opened her eyes, he put his finger to his lips. "Ssshhhh."

The officer helped the sleepy girl to her feet and picked up her bedroll. He guided her silently through the sleeping men and back to his tent. Melanie, still groggy, let him pull her along with no resistance. She thought nothing of it, having been made to sleep in his tent before.

The girl assumed that he was probably in a distrustful mood tonight, thinking she'd attempt another escape, which was giving him insomnia. She knew it would probably help him sleep better to have her close so he could keep an eye on her. She cared nothing about this. Sore and exhausted from days of riding and sleeping on the ground, she wanted nothing more than to resume sleeping.

Melanie stepped groggily into the Major's tent. She stood at the door of it in a sleepy haze as Bordon dropped her bedroll on the ground across from his.

Sleepily, she took a step forward to kneel down onto her bedding when she felt a shove from behind. Landing hard on her bedroll startled her wide awake. Before she could speak up, she found Bordon's body on top of hers.

He clamped his hand down over her mouth instantly. "Do not cry out," he warned in a low voice. "They cannot help you." Alex knew his men knew better than to question what went on in a superior's tent. Besides, they were all weary from the days of riding and slept soundly.

Melanie's eyes rounded in fear as she looked up into the Major's face. Confusion reigned.

"I will not be rough, I assure you," Bordon whispered.

With that, Alex uncovered her mouth and reached his hand downward.

Melanie panicked. "Major, please, no!" she begged.

"Do not be afraid," he soothed.

But she was. She was not ready for this to happen now.

Melanie's mind flashed back instantly to when she was engaged to Peter. She had asked her mother privately about what was expected of her as a wife. Her mother told her that Peter would know what to do, leading and teaching her on their wedding night. The woman also said that it would hurt her the first time, but since Peter loved her, he would be gentle with her. Melanie recalled that her mother stated that at the end of the act, Peter would leave his seed within her, and hopefully, she would become pregnant.

Remembering this, Melanie trembled. She shuddered at the thought of feeling something unknown to her and the pain that would surely come with it. She also felt it scandalous to have a man between her legs with her skirt up. This wasn't what the girl had wanted and dreamed of at all. Melanie wanted the first time to be with her husband; a man who loved her. And although she was in love with Alex Bordon, she knew full well that he didn't return her affection.

"Please don't," she appealed to him. "I'm not ready for this!"

"On the contrary," Bordon teased. "You're quite ready for this. Remember, I know what your deepest desire is."

Major Bordon's teasing humiliated her. She was incensed at his callous remark. Melanie struggled beneath him, trying to hit him with her bound hands.

"You made me tell you!," she spat back at him.

Bordon laughed as he grabbed her arms to control them and leaned a little harder on her, pressing her into her bedding. "I won't hurt you. Just let me do as I please and it will be over soon."

"No!," she snapped back, still wriggling under him.

He pushed her arms up and over her head, laying them back on the bedroll. As he held her down, a sinister look crossed his face. "Things will be easier on you if you lie still and submit," he hissed.

Despite being restrained, Melanie still wiggled beneath the Major, hoping somehow to get away from him. "No, I beg you. Please don't do this!"

Miss Prescott soon felt his hand on her leg, which scared her. Then she felt Bordon push her skirts up a little higher. After a moment, she felt his fingers touch her bare thigh, making her gasp.

Desperate, Melanie had to find a way to stop this. Her mind spun into action, putting a plan into her head. She would appeal to him on a different level, hoping he would understand and spare her.

"Major, you already know how I feel about you," she implored. "Why not give me the chance to give myself to you willingly, in your bed or mine….at the fort?"

Melanie hoped this ploy would at least buy her some time.

Bordon sneered. "Because I want you now."

With that, his knees forced her legs widely apart, hurting her already sore body. Melanie knew it was going to happen and there was nothing she could do about it.

Still holding her down, the Major undid his breeches.

"At least give me some dignity and untie me," she pleaded, hoping to have her restraints eased.

The officer looked her squarely in the eyes. "You know I cannot."

Melanie closed her eyes and held her breath as she felt him push his trousers down.

Scared and panicked, the girl was near tears. In a whisper, she pleaded, "Please don't, Sir. I'm a virgin."

Bordon stopped above her and leered down at her with a smirk. "That's even better!"

Her mouth dropped open, aghast at his words.

"Now, be a good girl and let me take care of myself," he commanded. "Who knows? You may even find pleasure in it."

Melanie held her breath again and stayed still. She tensed up, nervous at what was about to happen. Closing her eyes, she prayed that it would indeed be over with soon and that it wouldn't hurt.

She flinched when she felt the tip of him touching the sensitive flesh between her legs.

"Ssssshhhhhh," he quieted her.

"No," she whispered faintly.

Next, Alex clamped his hand down over her mouth to silence her. In one smooth move, Bordon pressed his hardened manhood into her. The invasion was slow, yet unrelenting.

Melanie winced as she felt for the first time the sensation of a man entering her. Feeling him within her, Miss Prescott's body tightened even more in reaction to her fear.

As Alex moved deeper into her, he broke through her shield. Instantly, Melanie felt a stinging sensation deep within her pelvis as he tore her virtue. Her eyes widened as she screamed, the cry muffled by Bordon's hand securely over her mouth.

Steadily moving on until he could go no further, he tried to quiet the hysterical girl's screaming behind his hand.

"Sssshhh…..it will be over soon."

Miss Prescott's eyes filled with tears, and she whimpered pitifully as his length and thickness filled her completely. Trails of tears ran from the corners of her eyes and disappeared into her blonde hair as she felt him painfully stretching her virgin walls.

A deep groan and labored breathing came soon from Alex as he enjoyed the pleasure he felt from her virgin tightness. He continued his assault, pushing deeply into her.

Feeling confident that Melanie was too overwrought to call for help, he uncovered her mouth. As the girl sobbed beneath him, he balanced himself on his free hand now, still holding her hands down with his other hand.

For Melanie, the intensity of the situation coupled with her rigid body, made so by fear, only magnified the pain. She continued to weep quietly and weakly, her arms still held down above her head. The girl turned her head to the side and hid her face in her own shoulder, sobbing all the while, wishing for this to be over soon.

After a few more of his thrusts, Melanie heard a low moan and a gasp come from the Major. She heard him groan again, then felt his body collapse on hers. She kept her head turned to the side, afraid of meeting his gaze close up after this indignation.

Melanie felt a warm wetness inside of her; a strange sensation. She guessed it to be Bordon leaving his seed within her. As he wilted out of her, the same liquid oozed from her, running down her bottom and onto her petticoat beneath her. Melanie also smelled a pungent odor and assumed that to be Bordon's scent upon her.

Alex eased himself up from her, pushing his spent manhood back down into his breeches. He did not button them though, and instead, headed out of the tent.

Melanie curled painfully into a fetal position, hugging her knees tightly to her chest. She sobbed uncontrollably as she lay on her side in her bedroll, distraught over what just happened. Heartbroken, she felt she was now damaged goods, ruined for her husband in the future. She winced whenever she shifted her body slightly, the pain from the rape seeming to radiate throughout. Melanie felt the throbbing and burning of the torn and violated flesh between her legs. This hurt far worse than she ever imagined. The poor girl soon cried herself to sleep.

Outside of the tent, Bordon picked up a lantern and headed down to the creek. As he cleaned himself up, he could just barely hear Miss Prescott weeping. Recalling his own experience with virgin women in his past and drawing on the stories he'd heard from other men, he thought to himself. "Virgins always cry. They put up such a fuss and a show about it, even when they're willing. They should stop fighting and enjoy it. Men certainly do!" This was just another mystery that he and other men would never understand about the fairer sex.

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In the morning, Major Bordon let Melanie sleep as the dragoons dismantled the camp. He felt it was the least he could do after having taken her virtue.

As he packed his saddle, he motioned for one of his privates to come to his side. "Stirling, please go into my tent and wake Miss Prescott. Bring her here; she'll ride with me."

"Yes sir," he obeyed, and disappeared through the tent flap.

Melanie was curled up in her bedroll, sound asleep. The private knelt down beside the girl and touched her shoulder.

"Excuse me, Miss," he said as she awakened, "You must get up and get ready. The Major says we ride shortly."

Awake, Melanie lay still as she watched the private leave the tent. She sighed, and rolled over to her opposite side. She winced as she did, her body stiff from days of riding and sleeping on the ground, and from the circumstances of the previous night.

Melanie eased herself up to a sitting position, groaning as she did. She was amazed at how much her body hurt after her ordeal with Bordon. Taking a deep breath, the girl stood up slowly, whimpering as she did. She was sore all over; her back ached, her hips hurt from having been pried open, she felt discomfort in her pelvis, and her crotch throbbed from the tearing of the delicate skin of her womanhood.

Trying to compose herself, Melanie took a deep breath to quell the pain. Then, she walked stiffly and slowly out the door. She padded as softly as she could to Major Bordon's horse, each step that she took hurting her. Once there, she stood quietly next to the Major's horse, waiting to leave.

As the Major's tent was folded and last to be packed, Bordon made his way to his horse and the awaiting captive. Melanie looked away quickly, unable to look him in the face after what he'd done to her.

After a moment, the Major mounted his steed, then reached down to help Miss Prescott up. She was lifted by one of the other dragoons up to Bordon. Still bound at the wrists, she was put onto the saddle in front of Alex.

Uncomfortable sitting, especially on a horse after having her virginity destroyed, Melanie tried to shift herself to a better position that would ease her ache. She shuddered when she felt Bordon's arm slip around her waist to hold her. She did not want this man anywhere near her now, let alone his hand upon her body. Melanie hoped the ride back to the fort would go quickly.

The Major called for the troop to move out. The horse lurched forward, causing Melanie to gasp in pain, her nerves already on edge. After only a few steps, Melanie knew this was going to be a very uncomfortable ride for her. Each bumpy step of the beast hurt her fragile, torn womanhood and aching hips.

After unsuccessfully trying to shift in the saddle, Melanie spoke up.

"May I walk please, Major?" she requested meekly.

"Do not insult my intelligence," snapped Bordon. "I am not going to let you walk."

"Please sir!"

"Do you take me for a fool, Miss Prescott," he growled. After a minute of silence, he spoke again. "Why should I?"

Melanie did not want to answer his question. She was embarrassed to have to tell him why.

"Well?" asked an impatient Bordon.

The girl hesitated again, then answered him. "Because I find it uncomfortable riding after what you did to me last night!"

Alex laughed. "My dear, it always hurts the first time. You may someday find pleasure in the act."

Insulted, Melanie turned slightly in the saddle. In a flash, she raised her bound hands and tried to slap the Major. She could not.

The Major laughed aloud, then smiled roguishly at the girl. "It's hard to slap someone with your wrists bound."

"Bastard!"

Major Bordon only laughed again at the girl. This angered Melanie further.

"Don't think you can take advantage of me again!" she warned.

The Major seemed to lose his sense of humor at her impertinent remark. Sternly, he scolded her. "Miss Prescott, do not presume to tell me what I can and cannot do."

"I'll tell Colonel Tavington or General O'Hara," she threatened, feeling a little bolder now. Anger and hurt fueled the boldness.

"Go ahead," challenged the Major "It will be your word against mine. Besides, I know who you are in love with. So how can you prove that it wasn't pleasurable? Or that you didn't desire it? Hmmmm?"

"I did not want it taken from me by force," Melanie spat in a low voice.

"You have no choice in the matter. I will take what I want when I want it!" With that, Major Bordon coaxed his horse to walk a little slower, pulling back slightly from the group a dragoons just ahead.

Alex gripped her chin firmly in his gloved hand and turned her head back to look at him. Melanie gasped in fear.

Bordon went on with his threats. "Miss Prescott, if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I will deny it. I'll say that you seduced me in an attempt to win your freedom."

Melanie's mouth dropped open in disbelief that he would be so ungentlemanly as to do that. Before she could protest, he continued.

"I'll make it harder on you the next time. So you might as well not fight it, and let me have my fancy with you as I please for now. Like anything, I will soon tire of you and move on to something else." He looked lasciviously at her.

Aghast, Melanie could say nothing. She tried to jerk away from him and turn back toward the front, disgusted at having to look at the officer.

"Now, what are you going to tell people," asked Bordon.

Melanie looked straight ahead and said nothing. She decided that the man wasn't worth talking to.

Suddenly, Alex grabbed a fistful of her blonde locks and savagely jerked her head backwards. Melanie winced.

Still holding her hair, with her head craned backwards and her neck feeling as if it would snap, she answered him. "Nothing."

Satisfied with her answer, Bordon let go of her hair. "Correct! That's a good girl."

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Three hours later, Melanie was relieved to ride through the gates of Fort Carolina. She would feel safe now, knowing that she could lock her door to keep Bordon out.

The band of Dragoons stopped near the porch of the main house. A private stepped forward to help Miss Prescott down as a stable boy held the horse. As soon as Melanie's feet touched the ground she took off running into the house. She wished to get as far away from Major Bordon as she could and to her room, which she perceived to be a secure place. The distraught girl flew past the house mistress and up the stairs.

Once at her room, she slammed the door. Leaning back against it, the young woman was still in shock from last night's occurrence. She began to weep, putting her hand over her mouth in an attempt to quiet her tears. A moment later, she dissolved into hard sobs which wracked her body.

Still in disbelief at what had happened hours before, she lamented her callous treatment at the hands of Major Bordon. Only weeks ago she had fallen in love with him and hoped that he would return her feelings. Instead, he selfishly took everything from her for himself. He did not let her offer herself freely to him. The Major didn't even comfort her during or after his cruel act. Bordon did not love her; instead he'd used her for his own pleasure, which broke Melanie's heart.

The girl also wept in panic and horror. She wondered if he'd left his child in her womb. Melanie closed her eyes and shook her head in disbelief, sobbing even harder now. She did not want to bear Bordon's bastard. And if she did, it would be a disgrace. How would she take care of herself and an illegitimate baby? How could she love a child borne out of rape? What would she tell the baby about its father? Her mind ran in circles, tripping over itself as she speculated on a conception that she wasn't even sure had happened yet.

Amidst her tears she heard a knock on the door. She held her sobs back for a moment, trying to make the room appear as if it was empty. Melanie was frightened that it was the Major trying to get in.

"Miss," a familiar voice called through the door, "Miss? I've got your things."

Recognizing the voice of one of the servants, she opened the door to let her enter. Melanie sucked in a breath, trying to compose herself. She was afraid that questions would be raised—ones that she had to answer. And the girl recalled that Bordon would hurt her if she implicated him in any wrongdoing.

"Welcome back, Miss," the maid said as she entered the room. "The mistress told me you were back. She wanted me to check if you need anything."

Melanie did not answer, feeling as if she couldn't make any words come from her mouth. Her eyes followed the servant girl as she walked toward the bed.

Once there, she put a pack on it. "Major Bordon sent this up to you. He said you left it on his horse."

Still mute with shock, Melanie shuddered at the mention of the officer's name. As the maid looked back at Miss Prescott, she noticed that the young woman looked pale and shaken.

"Is there anything wrong, Miss?"

"No," Melanie clipped. "I'm fine."

"Would you like me to get you anything? Are you hungry?" The servant was worried about the state the lady was in. She eyed her with concern.

"A bath," Melanie insisted, sounding almost frantic. "Quickly!" With that, she began to pace the room mindlessly. "A bath," she repeated. "Hurry! I must wash the dirt away!"

The confused maid answered. "Yes, Miss. I'll have it brought right away. Is something the matter?"

"No," Melanie feigned assuredness. "No. I'll be fine after a bath."

As the maid walked toward the door, Melanie spoke up again. "Um, I'd like to see Miss Kilpatrick. Could you send her to me now, please?"

"Oh, sorry Miss," she apologized. "She is not here at the fort today. She accompanied two of the General's wives to Charles Towne and won't be back for a few days."

"Oh….I see," Melanie said, disappointed. She longed for Bridget to be there. She knew she could trust her enough to tell her of the abominable thing that had happened, and that her Irish friend would comfort her.

The maid left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar, which Melanie did not notice. All she could think about was getting a bath. She felt the need to wash away all traces of Major Bordon as soon as possible.

Lost in her own distress and feeling dirty, she quickly peeled the clothes off her body and left them in a heap on the floor next to the bed. She stepped back from them, as if they were cursed. The woman couldn't bear to touch them again. Her dress had been ripped in the struggle with Bordon. Her petticoat was stained crimson with her virgin blood. It also bore the remains of Bordon's seed upon it, mixed with her own womanly substance which had all dried on the delicate undergarment.

She abhorred not only the sight of those clothes, but the scent of them as well. Within the small confines of her room, she could smell Bordon's semen upon herself as well as the clothes. To her, it seemed to permeate the room and her being and made her sick. On her skin and body, and the ripped dress, she also smelled the wool of Bordon's uniform, his horse, and his own musky scent, reminding her of his body on hers, stealing her virtue.

Melanie reached for her robe, wrapping her sore body in it. She sat down in the chair and looked forlornly out the window. Shaking her head and closing her eyes, she pulled her legs up into the chair and cuddled there, hugging her knees close to her chest. After rocking absently for a minute, she burst into tears again.

In the hallway outside her room, Colonel Tavington approached. He had seen that his group was back from their journey and he wanted to greet the young lady. He knocked on the door, finding that it was ajar.

Melanie was so absorbed in her own sorrow that she hadn't heard the knock. She also did not hear the Colonel as he greeted her when he walked in the room.

He saw her crying and was immediately dismayed. The officer surmised that she was having a bad bout of sorrow over her dead family.

"Miss Prescott," said Tavington in a gentle voice as he approached her. He knelt down in front of her. "Thinking about your family aren't you?"

Melanie looked at him, tears brimmed her red eyes. "I…..I…I can't talk about it," she stammered.

"I understand," William replied. "I felt the same as you're feeling now when I lost my father. You never quite get over the loss, but in time, you go on with life."

The poor girl hid her face in her hands, crying even harder now. Now, to add to the distress of her recent ordeal, she was also thinking of the loss of her family, which made her despair worse.

Will let her cry things out for a moment. He looked about the room, seeing her baggage on the bed, then spotting her dress discarded in a pile on the floor. The man walked over to the side of the bed and bent his tall frame down.

Melanie shrieked as she saw him reach for her dress. She wanted no one to touch the stained garments. "No! Don't! They're dirty!"

The startled officer stood upright quickly. "I was going to lay them across the bed for you, but I'll leave them for the servants."

William, puzzled by Melanie's reaction, hovered near the pile of clothes for a moment, listening to the girl's quiet sobs. Tavington's brow furled as he caught a familiar scent. Although faint, he could smell the distinct scent of a romantic encounter. Forgetting the young lady weeping in the chair, he seemed to fall into his own thoughts.

Colonel Tavington wondered if Miss Prescott had a lover. But who? It couldn't be; he was certainly imagining the scent. She was always watched closely. And he trusted that his men knew that she was not to be touched by orders of Cornwallis. Nonetheless, William became jealous as he wondered who she may have been with. But, he tried to brush it away, denying to himself that she had been with anyone.

He walked back over and crouched down close to Melanie's chair. He wished he could impart some wisdom to her from his own experience that would help her with the grief. "Would you like to talk about it?"

She looked up from her tears and shook her head no. But inside she was screaming. Melanie really wanted to tell him that his own second in command had just raped her. She hesitated, still remembering Bordon's threat.

In the stillness of the room, Melanie thought for a moment. Maybe she should go ahead and tell Colonel Tavington what happened. He was Bordon's commander and surely he could do something about it. She could also tell Generals O'Hara and Cornwallis and maybe they would move her from the fort to another area. Surely she would be protected.

"I do need to tell you something," she blurted out. It was already out of her mouth before she realized what she had just said. There was no turning back now. She knew she would have to go ahead and tell Tavington what had happened.

"Yes," he answered warmly. But as he did, there was a knock at the door and in walked the maid with two African servants behind her, all carrying pails of warm water. Another man followed them, carrying the large washtub for her.

"Oh," Tavington remarked, "I see your bath is here. I'll catch up to you later." With that, the Colonel rose and bid goodbye to Miss Prescott, then walked quickly from the room.

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A few moments later, she lowered her aching, dirty body down into the tub. The feel of the warm water relaxed her tight muscles and soothed the soreness of losing her virginity only hours before. With a washcloth, strong soap, and the scented oil in the water, she scrubbed her body all over twice, urgently trying to remove all traces of "Brutal Bordon" from her skin.

After the bath, she rose and dried off, but instead of getting dressed, she put on her nightgown and crawled into bed. She sank down into the softness of it and pulled the covers up around her head. Melanie turned on her side and curled up, once again hugging her own body tightly to herself. The girl felt ill to her stomach, as well as heartsick, unable to shake off her assault. She found herself crying again, then soon fell asleep, secure in her bed and glad to be in her room.

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At dinner that evening, Lord Cornwallis sat at the head of the table surrounded by his Generals and Colonels. Laughter was heard as they waited for the meal to be served. They discussed the latest news they had heard from England as they waited for one lone chair to be filled: Melanie's. Just as the first plates were brought in, a servant came to General Cornwallis. He read the note that was handed to him.

"Oh, Henry," he called to one of the men serving. "You may clear Miss Prescott's place. She won't be joining us this evening."

Colonel Tarleton spoke up. "Anything wrong, my Lord?"

"Only a note with her regrets," replied the Lord General. "She is ill and has taken to her bed."

"That's understandable," O'Hara remarked. "Most women don't take kindly to being herded about the countryside and living the spartan life our soldiers live. It's a tough life even for the men."

Tavington cleared his throat. "Um, would you excuse me a moment, My Lord? I regret that I forgot to bring a letter from my Mother that I'd like to share with all of you. She speaks of some humorous happenings around London of late."

The Lord General nodded. Tavington left the table with a bow of his head to the others. "I'll be but a moment."

William ascended the stairs quickly and bolted into his room. He grabbed the letter from his desk and left again. Instead of going back to the dining room, he headed up the next flight of steps to the third floor.

Once outside of Melanie's room, he knocked at the door.

After hearing a very weak voice giving permission to enter, he stepped into the girl's room. Seeing her in bed, he padded quietly over to the side of it.

"Colonel?" she asked sleepily.

"Is anything wrong, Miss Prescott? The General said you were sick." William was concerned for he enjoyed her presence at dinner.

"No, sir, nothing serious," she answered in a subdued voice. "I didn't feel well today and I'm not hungry at all. I think the best thing for me is to rest here in bed for a few hours."

"You're probably right," Tavington admitted. "It's not good to go dragging you about the countryside. You need the rest."

"I'm sorry, Colonel," she said. "But thank you for checking on me. I appreciate your concern."

"Very well, then," William replied. He turned to walk out the door, but stopped just before leaving the room. "Oh, Miss. Forgive me. I just now remembered that we weren't finished with our conversation today before your bath arrived. You said that there was something you needed to tell me."

Melanie gulped as a sudden bolt of panic coursed through her body. She desperately wanted to inform him of his Aide de Camp's actions, but became afraid. The poor girl just could not bring herself to say it. She was too embarrassed and humiliated to talk of such a subject to a man—a Colonel. And she was frightened of the aspect of Bordon hurting her worse. After all, there were only two people in the tent as the rape happened, and the Major would surely know who had told on him.

She took a breath and closed her eyes. Then, her lie began, "I just wanted to thank you for sharing your experiences of grief over your father's death with me. I know it must have been hard for you to speak of it, but knowing that I am not alone and that you understand my emotion helps."

"You're welcome, Miss Prescott," he answered cordially. "We're here to help and protect you." He left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Melanie rolled over slowly, her body still aching from the episode with Major Bordon. She pulled the covers up over her head and closed her eyes. She felt a tear run out as she squeezed them shut. She said a silent prayer, asking for protection and begging for nothing like that to ever happen again to her.