Chapter 54 Wedding Night Spat

As sunset approached, many of the Tavington's wedding guests bid farewell and scurried out quickly, only too anxious to leave the newlyweds alone. The Wilkins were among the last to leave, satisfied that the wedding had gone off without a hitch and that their friends seemed happy.

Melanie watched from the veranda as her husband thanked his close friend, Colonel Tarleton, for standing witness with him today. She sighed heavily as she watched Ban, who'd had too much to drink, trying to stay upright as he congratulated the General again. Much to Mrs. Tavington's dismay, the popular colonel was now being held up by prostitutes, one on each side of him, surely ready to take advantage of the drunken officer and pocket all his money for a night with them. She had a feeling that her husband's fellow commander might pass out from the alcohol he'd consumed.

Ban, between both the whores and leaning heavily on them, was congratulating the groom in his own way. "Well, Tav, I hope you're happy," he jeered, "Marriage is going to put a damper on your ability to get the girls!"

"Whoring is overrated," Will answered back with a crooked smile.

"But it is so much fun!," Banastre slurred. "You know that you've ruined your life!"

"I'll take that chance," William answered his drunken friend.

"Now who am I going to have to gamble or whore with?" Tarleton asked, jumbling his words.

"You don't need me for that," Tavington assured. "Look how well you've done by yourself tonight!"

Ban motioned for his friend to come closer to where he was, shushing him, preparing to tell him what he considered a secret. Tavington obliged with a grin, nearing his friend.

"But it was so much more fun with you," said the colonel. "Have a jolly good time tonight—your wedding night! But, you're still not going to have as much fun as I am because I have two women for the night!"

"Then go have your fun, Ban, and leave me to my new wife!"

With that, William watched as his close friend walked toward the tents leaning on the shoulders of the two camp followers. After a moment, he headed into the house searching for Melanie.

Inside the house, the new master of the plantation had been stopped by the servants asking for their last sets of instructions. As he was detained, Melanie stood on the porch, looking out over the plantation and into the purple sunset. Her mind was spinning itself in circles as she realized that all the guests were gone and that she and William were now alone.

The new Mrs. Tavington became awash in doubt. Oh what have I done? I married a man I don't love. What am I going to do? He's a murderer! He's the butcher Tavington! I saw what he did to people! Will he take a mistress? What will he do to my father's business? I was too hasty! What have I done? Oh woe!

The young woman stopped her crazy thoughts long enough to try to think straight. It's not too late. If we don't consummate the marriage, then we can have it annulled. That's it! He will understand. He will realize that we've made a mistake.

Lost in the middle of her thoughts, she was startled when she felt a pair of arms slip around her waist. She gasped, jumping as she did.

"I'm sorry, Melanie," apologized Will in a low voice. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Standing behind her, her back to him, he tightened his arms about her and rested his chin on her shoulder. The officer whispered lovingly into her ear. "We're finally alone."

"So we are," his new wife replied, trying not to tremble.

"Why don't we retire to our bedroom," he coaxed in a lust drenched voice.

Melanie panicked. She had to stall completing the marriage. "Oh…..William…..I didn't get any sleep last night…..and it's been a long day with many guests….I'm exhausted."

"You must be nervous as well," remarked the general, "You're shaking."

"Oh…..yes…very much so," his wife stammered.

"That's natural," he tried to soothe her nerves. "We've only been married a few hours."

"Will…my head is pounding….and..I—"

"We're both nervous," he interrupted, "it's our first time together as man and wife."

William began to kiss Melanie's neck and nuzzle her ear. "I can't wait to see you naked."

"We've been together before," she said shakily.

"Yes, but in a hurried fashion….with our clothes on….not married," he murmured as he kissed her neck softly.

The new Mrs. Tavington turned to face her husband, breaking out of his arms. "I have this headache. Could we please wait?"

"Darling, you know the marriage must be consummated tonight," he reminded her gently. "Now that everyone is gone we can relax in our bedchamber. I'm sure you'll feel better upstairs. And once we're up there, I'm sure we'll find renewed strength to enjoy the bliss of our marital bed." With that, he pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head, smelling the flower scent in her hair. Then he began to pull a few hair pins out, his fingers feeling the curls fall onto her shoulders.

Just then, there was a ruckus in the horse barn. The horses all whinnied loudly as the stable hands shouted and rummaged about the building. Tavington turned just in time to see his own horse escaping the barn.

"I'll be back," he said as he let go of his wife, snorting in irritation at the interruption.

Melanie watched as William stepped quickly off the porch and caught his horse's bridle. It was only as she looked on as her new husband caught his steed and led the beast across the lawn back to the barn that she noticed how relaxed he looked. His cravat and jacket were gone. Though he wore his vest still, his white shirt was unbuttoned and open at his neck.

When she could see William no longer, she reached down the front of her dress and carefully brought out the bloodstained handkerchief folded around Alexander's lock of hair, hair ribbon, and her ruby ring. The girl eyed all the objects then kneaded them all in her hands, thinking of Alex as she did. She felt sad; missing him even more. A quiet tear ran down her cheek as she remembered being held in his arms.

"A snake got into the barn and scared the animals," Tavington said as he ascended the steps up to the veranda. "Ezra got it."

Melanie was lost in her thoughts once again. She hadn't noticed that Will had rejoined her on the steps and she had not heard him, either. He approached his wife on the other side of the porch as he could see that she was preoccupied. Towering over her, he looked down over her shoulder and noticed her holding her dead lover's items.

The general was instantly perturbed and jealous as his young wife's actions. "Thinking of Alex, are you?" His voice conveyed irritation.

The girl jumped, startled at the officer disturbing her thoughts and regrets. "I can't stop thinking about him just because I married you," she retorted.

"You've had many weeks to mourn him," William pointed out.

"It doesn't go away in that amount of time," she countered, raising her voice. The young woman clenched the items now in her fist. Melanie turned away from him and let out an exasperated sigh.

"I can't…just…stop….thinking about him," she stuttered, not turning back to face him, in an attempt to hide her tears.

"I understand, but this is our wedding night," Tavington said, teeth nearly gritted. "And you are married to me, Mrs. Tavington!"

"You said I could continue to mourn him!"

"Yes, but not tonight!," William informed angrily. "And never in our bedroom. Mourn him anyplace else but there!"

"William!"

"No, Melanie!," he shouted. "I won't stand for it! You will not bring your memories of him into our bed. Do you understand? I will not compete with a dead man for your affections in the bedroom—OUR BEDROOM!"

"This was a mistake," Melanie said under her breath.

General Tavington grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the door. He put her back squarely against the wall, pinioning her there. With his face glowing with anger and his eyes burning blue, he put his face very close to hers, threatening his new wife.

"You are my wife now," he said menacingly into her frightened face. "I will not share you with a ghost!"

"Will…please," she begged hoarsely, scared of his sudden show of anger.

"I will not share our bed with your longings for your deceased lover," he commanded, "now or ever! I will not have you thinking of him whilst we make love. Do I make myself clear?"

Mrs. Tavington was too afraid and taken aback to even answer him. She cowered against the wall, only thinking how much of a mistake her marrying him was. The commanding officer side of him was coming back out now, as she felt he was treating her as one of his soldiers.

"Melanie?!"

"Yes, I understand," she answered fighting back tears. "I won't think of him in there."

He let go of her but she stayed against the wall as he continued to tower menacingly over her. "Now, this marriage IS going to be consummated tonight! I expect you to come with me this instant!"

"And what if I don't," Melanie defied, finding a sudden burst of courage. She stood firm, staring him down, hands on both her hips.

"Then I shall have no choice but to force myself on you," he warned.

"You wouldn't dare," she challenged.

"It is my right! I am your husband and you will perform your wifely duties without question."

The young woman said nothing, instead looking down and away from her husband. She could only keep thinking that the only way to have the marriage annulled was not to have it consummated.

"Now, Mrs. Tavington," he began, sounding threatening, "you can either take my hand and go with me willingly to the bliss and privacy of our bedroom,…. or I can drag you into the parlor and take you on the floor….by force."

"Uh….General…..," Mr. Andrews voice said as he peeked out of the door on the porch. William straightened up tall, clasping his hands behind his back, looking stately.

"Yes."

"I need a word with you for just a moment, sir," the farm overseer announced, "and then we'll leave you two alone."

"Certainly. I'll be right there."

He leaned over and spoke into his wife's ear. "Now, you will have a decision made by the time I return. I hope you won't make me force you to submit."

The officer disappeared, leaving Melanie desperate, unsure and afraid, still standing against the wall of the house. She got her thoughts under control and tried to think logically.

It was clear that she was not going to find a way out of consummating the marriage. She would be married to William for life, whether she thought it a mistake or not.

The only matter now was how she wanted the wedding night to proceed. Would she suffer some nerves in exchange for her husband, a handsome man, she conceded, making love to her behind the privacy of closed doors? Or would she defy him, trying to fight the consummation, risking his wrath, which she'd seen him impose on wayward colonials?

The nervous young wife made up her mind quickly. She had been assaulted by Major Bordon and Colonel Burwell. She did not wish to be raped by a third man—especially her new husband. Melanie decided to make the best of the situation and go with William to the privacy of their bedchamber.

General Tavington returned quickly and stared down at his wife. She felt nervous again, looking sheepishly away from him. His hand cupped her chin and gently brought her face back forward so that he could look into her eyes.

"What have you decided, Mrs. Tavington? Hmmm?"

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm her nerves. "I wish to go with you," she replied timidly, almost in a whisper.

The officer released her chin and smiled at his wife. "Wise decision," he said as he bent down and kissed her cheek. "I'm delighted."

He took her hand and eased her away from the wall, then folded her into his arms. She looked up at him, feeling helpless, yet inexplicably wanting the man, even after he'd just scared her.

William leaned down and covered her mouth with his. He kissed her slowly and smiled to himself when he felt her arms slip around his neck. His mouth left hers to murmur in her ear. "I've given the servants some time off; they won't be back until the morning after tomorrow. They will leave meals for us in baskets on the porch for us to take at our leisure. So we are absolutely alone in our house for the next thirty six hours."

The couple kissed again for a moment as the sun sank below the horizon. When they parted, William took Melanie's hand. The couple stayed quiet as he led her up the stairs and to their bedroom, the two acting almost reverently.