Chapter 78 Part Of Life

July 1782

The Tavingtons enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast this hot July morning. They had over night guests from the military with them that they entertained this morning. A detachment of redcoats from Fort 96 had come in the evening before to escort the General to Camden this morning for military business.

The young soldiers had enjoyed little Mary and William. The five month old twins had been passed around amongst the men, giggling and cooing all the while. The young men laughed in turn back at the twins and the cute things they did.

When it nearing time for the men to leave, Mrs. Tavington excused herself from the meal to tend to changing the children's soiled diapers. As she did, the soldiers finished up their breakfast and went out to ready the horses for the journey.

After taking care of the twins, the young woman put them on their blankets in the parlor. She seated herself nearby in a comfy chair, picking up her needlepoint. Melanie looked down at her two little angels, marveling at how much they'd changed and grown in five months. They had learned to use their arms, legs and hands and could push themselves up by their arms a little when laying on their stomachs.

The twins were babbling and cooing wildly this morning. Their mother smiled as she watched them play with the toys spread out around them, working their arms and legs. The young mother grinned as she watched them trying to rollover. Soon satisfied that they were sufficiently busy, she set about her stitching.

Within a half an hour, Melanie found herself with a headache, unable to concentrate on her sewing. Soon after, her stomach started to rumble, then felt as it was doing flips. The girl dropped her needlepoint and rose from her chair. Lightheaded, she made her way slowly toward the preparation kitchen where the servants were taking their morning meal. Mrs. Sloan was busy cutting up a fish for lunch. Mrs. Tavington caught a whiff of the thing and immediately became even more sick, now flushed and hot. The help looked up from the table and were alarmed at how ill the mistress looked.

"I'm going to be sick," gasped Melanie. A quick thinking Ezra jumped from the bench where he sat and helped steady the master's wife, easing her to the floor in the hallway just outside the kitchen. Mrs. Sloan ran over with a freshly rinsed porcelain bowl. Mrs. Tavington bent her form over and puked into it. And she kept on, seeming unable to stop.

William, ready to leave, walked into the parlor to find his twins alone and playing on the floor. He thought it odd that Mrs. Tavington wasn't with them.

"Diedre?" he called out into the main gallery.

"Yes?" she answered.

"Where's Mrs. Tavington?", he asked as he knelt down next to the twins.

"I don't know, sir."

"Hmmm," he said to himself with a quizzical look on his face. Then he gathered baby Mary into his arms. She immediately began grabbing at the gold epaulettes on his uniform coat.

"Goodbye, Mary," said the officer. "Papa has to leave for a few days. Daddy will miss his little princess!" William kissed the girl and handed her to the maid.

Then he picked up his son. "Goodbye Will," he bid. "Papa will miss his little boy!" The elder William kissed his infant son as the boy grabbed at the gold braiding of his uniform.

Tavington whispered in his little boy's ear. "Now remember what I told you. Daddy is leaving for a few days so that makes you the man of the family. Take care of Mama and your sister."

He handed his son to Diedre who now held both the children in her arms. He kissed both their heads again. "I'll miss you both! Be good for your mother. I promise to hurry home!"

"Why don't you take them both to the nursery," he requested as he looked around the servant's shoulders for his wife.

"Yes, sir," Diedre replied.

Will traveled out of the room and soon caught sight of Melanie doubled up on the floor. She was still bringing up her breakfast into the pot.

"Good Lord, darling, what's wrong?" asked the general.

"Probably this heat and the heavy breakfast," Mrs. Sloan answered for her sick mistress. "She did eat quite a bit this morning. She's been very hungry recently."

Melanie sat up and leaned back against the wall, exhausted from powerful heaves, and sweating all the while. Her face flushed, she looked up at her husband with an irritated stare.

"I have to leave in a few minutes," he announced. "I was hoping you'd walk me to my horse."

A sudden moodiness over took his wife. With tears welled in her eyes, she burst out in a flustered voice. "Well, go then!", she cried. "Just go!"

Melanie pushed herself up off the floor and bumped past her husband. She ran from the house, down the veranda stairs and past the awaiting detachment of soldiers.

"Melanie!", yelled will following her, "For Christ's sake! What's wrong?"

He trotted just as quickly out of the house and paused for just an instant at the group of redcoats and their mounts. From there he could see her tearing across the green to the pavilion.

"Would you please excuse me for a moment," he apologized to the waiting soldiers. "I need to have a word with my wife before I leave." They nodded their heads patiently, understanding that women were not always keen on their men leaving on military assignments.

As Tavington stepped up into the gazebo, he could hear his wife weeping. "Melanie, what's the trouble?"

The girl didn't answer, instead she sniffled and crossed her arms in front of her. William touched her shoulder, but she did not turn to face him.

"You were so quiet at breakfast."

Melanie still didn't answer him. He tried again.

"I have to go now," he reminded her. "I'd at least like a kiss before I go."

The general moved to her side. "Do you have to go…..now? I mean….I just wish you could stay with me," she stammered, choking back tears.

Though they always missed each other when he left for business, she understood his duty and his responsibility at running the farm and let him go usually without a fuss. He knew when she acted like this that something wasn't right.

"Why darling?" he asked in a concerned voice, hoping that she would open up to him.

Both of her hands dropped to her belly. "I'm pregnant again, William." Her voice was distraught, and she looked so worried as she looked out over the green lawn. She fought to keep from dissolving totally into sobs.

"So soon?" he asked, completely dumbfounded. "Are you certain?"

"Yes. I've missed two monthlies and have been sick."

"We agreed to wait," A stunned William commented. "We didn't want to conceive again until Mary and William were at least walking."

"I'm not happy about it either," snapped Melanie.

"It's not that I'm not pleased that you're with child, or happy to have another one with you," he began, not wanting to hurt the fragile girl, "I just didn't expect it this soon."

He pulled Melanie into his arms, where she laid her head on his chest and sobbed. Now he knew why she didn't want him to leave: she was upset.

"I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised," he said as he held his wife and kissed her hair. "We have relations nearly every day."

Melanie pulled back in his embrace and looked up at her tall husband. "You said you could prevent it."

"Yes, I know I did," he sighed. "That was easier said than done for you arouse me so."

Mrs. Tavington stepped out of her husband's arms and walked to the side of the gazebo. She leaned on the railing, looking out over the dark green grass, shaking her head.

"What am I going to do?", she asked. "The twins need me. How will I attend to them when I'm sick with this baby?" Her hand dropped to her middle and caressed where the tiny life was growing within her.

"How do I rest and keep myself well while carrying this child if I have to attend to Mary and Will?"

"Maybe Bridget can help," William suggested.

Melanie turned to look back at her handsome spouse again. "Will, she's five months pregnant and has little Jim to care for."

A quiet fell between them. Tavington tried to think logically about the situation as his wife fretted over it.

After another moment of silence, the officer spoke up. "Well, it's settled then. We will just have to hire a nurse to help."

Melanie recoiled at the idea. "A nanny? Absolutely not! My mother raised the four of us without a nursemaid."

Tavington cocked his head to the side, giving his wife a questioning glance. "Melanie, how much older was Matthew than you?"

"Two years."

William went on. "And how much older were you than your younger brother and sister?"

"Ten and twelve years separated us," she answered.

"Very well, then. Your older brother was walking and blabbering already when you came along," Will pointed out. "And you were there to help your mother out with your younger siblings. So, she wasn't without help."

"I know you're right," Mrs. Tavington relented.

William walked up behind his wife and slipped his arms around her waist. She sighed and laid her head on his chest. She managed a smiled when her husband's hand dropped to her belly and caressed it over where their child was nestled.

Tavington leaned down and kissed his wife's neck and ears, making her grin. "So, when will this child be born?" he asked as he gave her abdomen a gentle squeeze.

"February," answered his wife. "Just after the twins turn one."

Mrs. Tavington turned within her husband's arms to face him. Her eyes bore a look of worry as she looked up at the man. "Please, Will," she pleaded, "Let's not tell anyone yet. I want us to be happy about this when we announce it."

He kissed her forehead. "We will be happy," assured Tavington. "We're just shocked over it now. All will be well."

Melanie rose up on her toes and kissed her husband's mouth softly. "I'll miss you. I love you."

The officer smiled down at his pretty young wife. "I love you, too, darling."

The couple kissed deeply for a moment. Then General Tavington lifted his wife's chin and stroked her jaw with his thumb as he spoke. "Have Mrs. Sloan assign someone to help you with the children for now. We'll start looking for a nanny when I get back."

His wife nodded and gave him a small peck of a kiss. William took her hand as they walked toward the detachment of soldiers, still waiting on the general.

Once there, Tavington hugged his wife a last time, then swung up onto his horse. She reached upward and took his hand, giving him a look that silently said that she would miss him.

"Please be careful, William," she said.

"I will." With that, the general leaned down from his horse and gave his wife a last kiss before his left, taking her lips softly. "I love you," he murmured to her. "I'll be home soon."

"Good bye," Melanie bid quietly, nearly mouthing the words only.

She watched from the bottom of the steps as the detachment moved down the lane. Mrs. Tavington put her hand on her abdomen and looked downward at it, still in disbelief that she was carrying another child of Will's, and that their family would expand in only a few months.