Author's note: Hi all. Again let me apologize for not updating sooner. Sore throats and illness have run amuk in our household this last week. And the weeks earlier in the month were very busy for our family as well, so haven't been at the writing as much. (family is priority.) Thanks to Trace and Est for input with this chapter.

Thanks again, readers, for staying with this unintended epic of a story-I am glad you have the patience and time to read something this long! After this chapter (#82) there will be two more chapters and an epilogue. See-I told you I was near the end of the story!

Oh, I forgot to write it in the story here, but it is May 1783 and this month in the story marks William and Melanie's 2nd wedding anniversary.

Again, all, THANKS for reading, emails, reviews, help, support, etc, and for staying with this story for so long.

JScorpio

Chapter 82 Reassurance

May 1783…

"OH NO! OH MY GOD!", Melanie screamed tearfully.

William heard the yelling and tried desperately to pull himself out of a heavy sleep.

"Do something for him!" his wife yelled.

Still trying to shake himself out of his restful sleep, Tavington could feel the bed shaking.

"Please hold on! We're going to get you to help!"

William finally sat up, and looked over to see his wife thrashing on the bed in her sleep. He saw from what little light in the room there was, the glints of tears on her cheeks.

He reached over to shake her awake just as she cried, "Alex! I love you! Please don't go!"

The words stopped William cold. Instead of waking her, in his own confusion, he let her continue to dream and thrash away.

He became lost in his own thoughts. I thought she loved me? I thought she loved the children? She still has feelings for a dead man?

Over the last few months of his marriage, Tavington had consigned himself to the fact that Melanie now loved him. That with her words to affirm it and her affection and action to him and the twins, that she belonged to only him. Jealousy consumed the man as he realized that his late adjutant still held her firm in his clutches.

Even after death, I have failed to pry her from his cold, dead hands, he thought.

Tavington decided not to wake his wife, leaving her to the torture of the horrible nightmare as her punishment for emotional infidelity, in his eyes. He got out of bed and stood there looking at her. The man refused to wake her or comfort her.

She can comfort herself, he thought angrily.

He stood by the bed another moment, stewing in jealousy. The man felt that she deserved to relive her pain.

In an instant, Melanie woke herself up with a gasp. The girl sat bolt upright, trying to catch her breath, obviously frightened. She broke down in tears, covering her face with her hands, hating that she'd had such a horrid nightmare.

After a moment, her tears subsided as she caught her breath and calmed down. She soon realized that she was in the safety of her bedchamber. She slid her hand across the bed to where her husband slept. The spot was still warm, but vacant, making her panic.

"Will?" she cried softly.

"I'm right here, Melanie," he answered coldly. "You were having a nightmare."

Mrs. Tavington wondered why he hadn't roused her as he usually did when she had a bad dream. She was even more confused that he made no attempt to comfort her. The young woman wiped the tears from her face, still calming herself down a bit.

"Deep breaths, darling," was all William said as he looked down judgmentally at his wife.

He wasn't sure why, but he felt the need to test her a bit. "What did you dream about, my dear?"

Mrs. Tavington stayed quiet for a moment, not wanting to admit that she had dreamt of Alexander Bordon. But she knew that she had to answer.

"I can't remember," she lied in a quiet, guilty voice. "I just know that I was frightened, and sad."

"Very well, then," he replied curtly. "Go back to sleep. You will do the twins and myself no good tomorrow if you're exhausted."

Melanie stretched her body across the bed, reaching for William. He slyly pulled himself away, taking a step just beyond her reach.

A puzzled Mrs. Tavington sat back in her place on their bed. "William, she said lovingly, "get back in bed."

"In a moment, darling," he replied as slick as a snake. "I need to relieve myself."

Melanie smiled and lay back down. With that, Will went behind the privacy screen, making sure to take his time pissing into the chamber pot. When he finished, he padded softly over to the chair by the fireplace and sank down in it.

He stared into the fireplace at the glowing coals, trying to get his chaotic thoughts under control. His conscience, heart, and emotions were suddenly at war with each other.

How can she still love him? He's gone. Bordon can give her nothing now. But he did give her love once. Why does she still love him? I should be enough for her!

How can a dead man be a threat to me? The worst he can do is find his way into an occasional dream or thought she would have.

Does she think of him when we make love? Do I please her more than he did? No! I won't have her thinking of him.

Melanie, her eyes still closed and almost asleep, rolled over, hoping to move into William's arms. She ran her hand across the bed and found it still empty and cold now. Mrs. Tavington opened her eyes and sat up. She saw William, silhouetted in the chair against the firelight.

"William," she called softly, "come back to bed, darling."

"No. I can't sleep," he sighed. "I'm going to stay up for awhile."

"Very well," Melanie breathed. She stayed quiet for a moment, cocking her head to the side as she studied her husband. The young wife knew that something wasn't right. She needed to know.

Still sitting up in bed, she leaned forward in concern, bracing herself on her hands as she spoke. "Will, what's the matter?"

"Nothing, darling. Go back to sleep." His words were measured, short, and without emotion.

That was it—if he couldn't sleep for something bothering him, then she could not slumber, either. Mrs. Tavington slid her body out of bed and walked across the floor, soon finding herself at the fireplace near her husband.

"Might I join you?" She gestured to the empty chair near her husband's.

"As you wish," he said in a resigned voice.

His wife folded her hands in her lap as she looked down at the floor. Melanie heaved a heavy sigh, then spoke. "I'm sorry, William," she began. "I lied to you. I do remember what I dreamed about."

"Yes, I know you must," he said, trying to keep a jealous tone from creeping into his speech. "You called his name several times."

"Yes," Melanie admitted sadly, looking down. "He died in my arms again a few moments ago, as he has done so many times before. Strange…I have no other dreams of him save for that one."

"Do you want other dreams of him?" asked William, his hurt showing through.

Melanie was torn between her love for her husband and her dead lover. She knew she had to tell the truth here, but yet had to tread lightly lest she alienate William.

His wife was quiet for a moment, which only served to heighten his jealousy. Yet he needed to know what was in her heart.

"It's not that I want to keep having dreams about Alex," she answered quietly, her words cautious, "I just don't want to see him dying again. I don't want to remember that day."

"But it happened and you will never forget it," Will pointed out.

"Yes, but I don't want to keep re-living it, even if it is only upon occasion," she replied forlornly.

"You don't think about him that much?" asked William. He was confused to hear her admit that she only thought of him occasionally.

"No, not like I used to after he died," she answered honestly. "I don't think of him every day, or even often anymore. It's just that once in awhile something will just remind me of him, and then I have the nightmare."

William was silent, listening to his wife. Melanie became worried when he didn't answer right away, and felt she must defend herself.

"These days, my mind and heart are full of you and the twins," she said. "I don't—"

"Do you still love him?"

"My family is gone, but I still love them," she defended. "I didn't lose my heart for them because they are dead."

"That wasn't what I asked you," said William directly. "Do you still love him?"

"I do," she said quietly, closing her eyes to blink back tears. "But, not as I love you."

She paused then went on. "My love for you is so much more than it was for him," she explained. "We've experienced more together. My feelings for you are different and deeper."

Melanie went on. "You are my husband, and the father of my children."

"Do you think of him when we make love?" William asked innocently.

"Will, I can hardly breathe let alone think when you make love to me," she said in a wondrous voice. "All I can feel or think of is the tension and pleasure you bring me!"

Melanie brushed a loving, light kiss across her husband's lips, and was relieved to see him smile back at her. She turned serious again, and continued on speaking about her feelings.

"I love Alex and may always, but I had to let him go," she admitted sadly. "He's gone. I'm alive and here with you and the twins. You, Mary, and Will are my life and my love. The three of you are mine. He never belonged to me."

"I don't want to think of him," she continued on as her husband listened intently. "I have tried to stop my love for him."

"Melanie, I don't want you to try to forget him, or stop your feelings for him," William said, his voice reasonable and full of understanding. "Because if you can do that, then you would just as easily forget about me and could stop loving me. I don't want that."

"Darling, please just know that I couldn't be a good mother and wife if I didn't let go of someone from the past," Melanie went on. "If I still loved a ghost, then I couldn't love you and the twins as much as I do. The three of you are my life."

Tavington kissed his wife, relieved and understanding her feelings more now. He also knew that he never had to be jealous or feel threatened again. What harm could a ghost do to them? William realized that he could share a small part of Melanie's heart with the memory of Alexander Bordon, secure in knowing that he and the twins had the better part of her love and soul.

Melanie sat comfortably back in the chair next to her husband and clasped his hand. "I have a surprise for you," she announced excitedly.

"You do?"

"Yes. I was going to wait to give it to you when you returned from your business trip," she said. "But I think I should give it to you now."

"Very well," said William, smiling at her.

"Close your eyes," she instructed, "and give me your hands."

William chuckled at her playfulness, his eyes closed and hands out. Melanie got up from her chair quietly and stood before her husband. She took his hands and placed his fingertips on her lower abdomen.

Tavington opened his eyes, staring at his hands touching her belly. He looked up to see his wife grinning down at him.

"You're with child," he said cautiously.

"Yes!"

He rose from his chair and took her in his arms. As he kissed her, his right hand dropped between them to touch her middle again, caressing it for a moment.

"How far along?" asked William.

"I've missed three monthlies," she announced.

"Three? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Tavington queried in concern.

"I wanted to be sure," she replied.

William sat down, pulling his wife down onto his lap.

"Are you pleased?" she asked.

"Yes! Surprised as well," he informed.

"William, I want so badly to give you another son," said Mrs. Tavington, quietly.

"Melanie, I know you do," he began, "But given your history with precarious pregnancies and two lost infants, I only desire a well born child and a healthy wife."

She smiled and brushed a kiss upon his cheek. "I think this child was conceived under the oak tree that day," Melanie said.

"You may be right," William laughed, then planted a sensual kiss on his wife's neck. "I remember that day."

With that, Melanie stood up and took her husband's hand. She led him back over to their bed. Once there, she took off her shift, letting it fall to the floor. William's nightshirt was shed just as quickly. The two gazed lovingly at the other's nude body in the low firelight.

"Is my belly swollen yet?" Melanie asked playfully.

"I should probably have a closer look," Will teased. With that, he bent his tall frame over and kissed Melanie's shoulders. After a moment, he knelt before her naked body and began to kiss her breasts.

After taking a minute to suckle and tease her nipples, he began to kiss his way down to her belly. In another moment, his head dipped to her thighs, which were already slightly parted. She gasped as she felt his tongue slither from between his lips and toy with her womanhood, slowly, taking his time. He found the bud between her legs, and his tongue soon stroked it into a hard little erection.

With that, he stood back up, kissing her way back up her body as he did, leaving her with a forlorn sigh. He kissed her, then breathed teasingly in her ear, "No, your belly isn't swollen yet."

Melanie chuckled, then let her hand drop between them. She caressed his hardened manhood, and kissed his neck as she did. "Your cock is awfully swollen," she teased, then kissed his neck.

"And what are we going to do about that?" William teased back.

His wife continued to stroke his hardness, as her other hand moved to his chest to caress and toy with his nipple.

After a moment of this, Melanie dropped to her knees before her husband, and began to kiss his flat belly. Soon her lips trailed down his hips and to the front of his thighs.

The young woman took his erection into her mouth, softly playing upon it with her lips and tongue, taking her time teasing him. A minute of this torture passed before Melanie swallowed his manhood deep into her throat, taking it to the hilt.

William let out an audibly pleased groan. "My God!," he gasped lustily. "Oh, Melanie, I promise to hurry home from my trip!"

~/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/~

It was late in the afternoon as Melanie and the twins sat on the veranda on the warm May day. William had been gone to Charles Towne on business for almost a week.

Mrs. Tavington remembered his last business trip to Savannah in March. He had taken the family with him. She recalled the family riding together in their coach. Other times she looked out the window of the carriage to see William on his horse with one of the twins riding in front of him and laughing. The decision had been made for the family to stay at home on this trip as the general wanted to attend to business as quickly as possible and get back home to help in the planting.

Melanie smiled at the twins, who sat near her on the porch. They loved playing with their wooden Noah's Ark, and enjoyed it more because Mama played with them today. The wooden painted animals were small enough to be picked up with their tiny hands, yet too large to swallow. They could also be easily arranged inside the ark, which opened on hinges.

Mrs. Tavington turned her head, thinking she heard something. She rose from her spot and took a couple of steps toward the railing. She tilted her head and shaded her eyes from the low late afternoon sun. Finally a carriage came into view on the long lane. The young woman recognized it as theirs.

A smile crossed her face, surprised to see William back from business already. He was back from Charles Towne a day earlier than he had predicted.

"Papa's home," she said to the twins. They immediately dropped their toy animals and struggled up on their toddler legs up to their feet. They began to dance excitedly at their mother's side.

"Da-da!"

"Papa!"

Both toddled to the edge of the porch where Melanie's cautious hands held them back.

"Mama! Mama!" Mary squealed with her arms up. Melanie reached down and lifted the girl up to hold her. She steadied her daughter on her hip as she started down the stairway. Little Will, however, preferred to scoot down step by step on his bottom. Neither child was adept at navigating steps up and down yet.

At the bottom of the veranda steps, she put Mary down and Will soon joined them. Mrs. Tavington grabbed both their little hands firmly, not wanting them to run into the path of the coach.

As the vehicle came to a stop in front of the house, General Tavington exited the carriage smiling at his family waiting for him. He dropped to one knee and opened his arms wide to greet the twins.

"Da-da!" the twins squealed in delight as they toddled to him. William wrapped his arms around both of them, kissing their heads.

"Papa missed you both so much!" he greeted, loving feeling their little bodies safely in his arms.

Melanie stood quietly, watching her husband with the children. Her heart always melted to this, loving watching him with Will and Mary.

He let go of his fifteen month old toddlers and stood up. Melanie walked into his awaiting arms, happy that he was home.

"My darling," he said as he looked down at her, his fingers stoking her cheek softly.

"I missed you so much, William," she said, her eyes meeting his deep blue ones.

William leaned down and took his wife's mouth in a sound kiss. However, their slow kiss was interrupted by Mary.

"Up! Da-da, up!" she spoke impatiently at her father's leg. She stood in place reaching up for him.

Tavington reluctantly broke the kiss and turned his attentions downward. "Come here, Mary," he said, folding his tall frame down to pick up his little girl. At the same time, his son was screeching at him from the bottom of the steps, trying to get his attention.

"Go ahead, Will," Tavington said knowing that little Will wanted to show off how he climbed the steps on his hands and feet. After Will had crawled up a couple of steps, William spoke. "Very good, son!"

He then turned to Mary, who he still held. "And how's papa's princess?"

The babe smiled shyly, then laid her head on her father's strong shoulder. Tavington slipped his arm around his wife as they ascended the stairway together, baby Mary in his arms. He leaned down and stole a quick kiss from his wife as they stepped.

"How have you been feeling?" he asked, concerned about her pregnant state.

"I've had a little more nausea this week,"

At the top of the steps, he dropped his arm from around her waist and touched her abdomen gently with his finger tips. "And how is this one doing?"

"He's fine," Melanie answered with a loving smile.

"Moving?" he asked, knitting his eyebrows.

"I'm sure he is but it will be three or four more weeks before I can feel it."

William looked back to look at the coach, the servants busily unloading the General's bags. He turned back to his wife. "I have presents for you and the children."

With that, they moved into the house. After entering the house, a sour expression crossed the general's face.

"Uh…Diedre."

"Yes, sir," she curtsied to him. "Welcome home."

"Thank you. Could you please take her," he said handing little Mary to her, "I think her britches are full."

"Yes, sir," she replied, whisking the child away for a diaper change.

Mrs. Sloane walked into the room, having heard the carriage drive up. "Welcome home, General," she greeted. "Are you hungry or thirsty?"

"No, Ma'am," he answered. "We stopped at a pub a few hours ago."

"Very good, sir."

"Mrs. Sloane," he called after her, stopping her just before leaving the room, "When dinner is served, I'll take mine in my office, please. I have a lot of work to do."

"Oh William, must you?" Melanie said, immediately distressed. "Must you work through dinner?"

"Yes. I have to get some papers to a new customer in Camden tomorrow," he replied.

Melanie turned away, looking out the door. She tried to stifle her disappointment because she knew that William worked so hard to further the plantation and mills.

Will sighed, knowing that Melanie had wanted him to spend time with them when they returned. He moved up behind his wife and slipped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder. His hands dropped to her belly and began to rub it. "I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow evening," he whispered. "We'll all have dinner together."

"Alright, darling," she said as he kissed her cheek.

Moments later, Will stood in the living room watching the children playing with their new gifts their papa had brought them. Little Will seemed fascinated with his new toy sword as Mary played quietly on the floor with her new doll.

Tavington gave two brown paper wrapped packages to his wife. "One for you," he said, placing them on her lap.

"But there are two here," she said with a puzzled smile.

"Well, actually one is for you and the other is for the baby inside," he said, grinning as he knelt down next to her chair. "You can open the one for the baby now. The other one…uh….you should wait until one evening in the privacy of our bedroom."

"Oh," Melanie said raising her eyebrows. She was pleased, knowing that he had probably bought her some new, frilly night gown, one a bit risqué, that would make her feel naughty to wear it, and he equally as naughty to see her in it.

She opened the small package for the child within her womb. It was a stuffed Gingerbread man, with a rattle sewn within its head. She shook it near her belly and smiled.

"I'm sure the baby will love it," she said with a smile. William brushed a kiss across her lips, then stood. Melanie's eyes followed her husband as he made his way across the floor to his office. In less than a moment, he exited it with a puzzled look on his face. She continued to watch him as he wove his way around the large gallery.

Mrs. Tavington got up and met William near the hallway. "What's the matter?"

"I've misplaced my blue satchel," he said, looking frustrated. "I need it for tonight. It has my work in it."

"I'll help you look for it," she said. "I'm sure it's around here somewhere."

"I'll check the carriage," he said with a sigh, quickly moving down the hall, leaving the house by the side door near the kitchen. Maybe he left it there.

Mrs. Tavington looked about her husband's office, unable to find the case. She walked down the hall and peered into the parlor, where she had already checked, hoping maybe she had missed it. Not finding it, she walked out onto the veranda. In an instant, the blue case caught her eye.

Melanie walked down the steps and quickly picked up the satchel. She laughed to herself as she strolled across the lane toward the carriage house.

Once there she saw the coach door standing open. Walking up next to it, she looked inside to find William on his hands and knees looking beneath the seats. She reached up to the handle and pulled herself up onto the step of the coach.

Melanie poked her head inside. "Uh….William…..is this it?" She held it up as she got into the vehicle, slamming the door behind her.

"Yes," Tavington answered with a relieved sigh as he sank into one of the seats. "Where was it?"

"Next to the bottom of the veranda steps."

"Thank you," he replied as she took a seat next to him in the coach.

Melanie hooked her arm through Will's as the two relaxed for a moment. She laid her head on her husband's shoulder and spoke whimsically. "Do you really have to work tonight? I can't talk you out of it? You already work so hard for us."

"And I'll be working tonight long after you and the twins have gone to sleep," he said. "But I will make it up to you tomorrow."

"Well, since you insist on working tonight," she began, "might I have a few minutes of your time right now?"

"Of course, darling," answered William.

Slowly, Melanie pulled up her skirt, lifted her leg and seated herself astride her husband facing him. William watched, his eyes registering surprised.

She began to unlace the bodice of her dress as she sat on his lap. The young woman leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "It will only take a few minutes to welcome you home properly."

With that, she began to kiss his ear and neck. William smiled and sighed at her actions. "Very well, then."

"I've missed you so much this past week," she murmured moving her head to kiss the other side of his neck, while still unlacing her dress.

"I longed to feel your body next to mine in bed," she breathed lustily into his ear.

She could feel Tavington's arousal growing against her thigh as she ground herself seductively against his lap. Melanie caressed William's face with her hand, her thumb gliding over his lips. Then she took his mouth in a slow, passionate kiss.

William's hands traveled to her bodice to help her remove her dress faster, but se playfully pushed them away. "No," she whispered. "Let me do all the work."

"As you wish," he sighed as he felt her breath on his ear again, arousing him even further.

"I missed your arms around me," she murmured.

"I missed holding you in my arms," he whispered back.

Melanie sat up on his lap and looked seductively down at her husband. She slowly pushed her sleeves down her arms and released them from the confines of her dress, baring her torso. The girl took her husband's hands and placed them on her breasts.

She leaned back a little bit and closed her eyes as she felt her husband's hands caress them. A sigh escaped her lips, closing her eyes and letting her head drop back a bit as his thumbs and fingers rolled her pink nipples into tight little peaks.

Mrs. Tavington leaned forward again, kissing her husband. "Oh…William….I'm so glad you're home," she said breathlessly. Then his wife reached down and undid her husband's pants, kissing his neck again as she did. After a moment, she felt William lift himself just off the seat as she pushed his breeches down enough to free his awaiting erection.

Melanie's hand glided lightly over it, as she murmured into his ear again. "I want your cock inside me." With that, she sank down on his hardness with a sigh of satisfaction.

She paused for a moment, letting his member fill her up and relishing how good it felt to have him inside her. As she did, William leaned forward, dipping his head to take one of her hardened nipples into his mouth. His lips tugged hard at it, spurring his wife on to begin moving upon his lap.

Melanie reached forward and put her hands on the seat just on either side of her husband's shoulders. She moved herself slowly in very controlled motions upon his hardness, nearly torturing both of them.

Mrs. Tavington dipped her head where her lips met her husband's. As they lingered in a heart stopping kiss, Melanie began to grind herself a bit faster up and down William's stiffness.

"Oh….God….Melanie," William stammered breathlessly as his wife moved sensuously on his lap. His mouth soon found her other nipple and suckled furiously at it.

"Oh..William!" she cried as he did this, throwing her head back in the pleasure of feeling his lips on her breasts.

As she moved astride him, his head sank back onto the seat top. He closed his eyes in ecstasy, enjoying feeling her ride him across his lap.

"I don't think I can hold back much longer, darling," he said huskily.

Melanie smiled at the fact that she was driving him nearly insane. She moved herself upon him, repositioning herself slightly, finding a bit more friction. Within another moment, she felt a delicious heat building in her pelvis.

"Oh….OH….I'm coming! Oh WILLIAM!" Then she felt herself explode, her head dizzying as she rode him in her pleasure.

Just an instant later, Tavington came, rapturous pleasure coursing through his veins. "God! Melanie! OH Darling!" he cried out in his satisfaction.

His wife stayed tucked on his lap as the two rested in each other's arms, wordlessly trying to catch their breaths. Holding each other tight still, Melanie whispered, "Welcome home, William."

He looked into her eyes, then kissed her softly. Still holding her close, he answered "Thank you."

Mrs. Tavington crawled off her husband's lap to the seat beside him as he hitched his trousers back up. She leaned back into the seat, her hands quickly lacing her dress back up. As she was nearly done, she felt her husband's hand on her abdomen over where their baby was nestled away safely.

She smiled at his hand caressing her belly, then continued to finish lacing her bodice up. When she was done, he pulled her into his embrace and kissed her deeply, taking her breath away.

"I want this child, Melanie," he murmured, his tone sincere yet hesitant.

Though he would never admit it aloud to her, she could tell that he had some trepidation about this pregnancy because of a miscarriage and a stillbirth. And although he had shown strength and bravery in mourning the loss of their premature baby Worthe months ago, she knew that it had hit him hard; that he was hiding his own feelings to help hold her up.

Melanie felt happy and lucky to know this side of William, a side that not many others would see. A part of him that he didn't show to other people. But she understood why he couldn't and accepted him for it. She had seen this side of him and it only served to make her love him even more deeply.

"I can't wait to have him," she whispered back. "I know that everything will be fine."

The pair exited the carriage house hand in hand, making the most of their stroll back up to the house. Once inside, they found the children still playing with their new toys. William lifted each child, giving them both a kiss, then he kissed his wife, needing to get into his office and begin work.

~/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/#/~

Once in his office, it was only a matter of moments into his work when there was a knock at the door. He looked up to see his trusted farm manager, Mr. Andrews and the overseer, Mr. Barnes. They had serious looks on their faces.

"Can it wait until tomorrow late?" William asked earnestly. "I've got to have a lot of paperwork to get done and ready to deliver to a customer in Camden tomorrow morning."

"Normally we wouldn't disturb you," Barnes began apologetically, "But it's of a serious nature."

"It's something we know you'd want to hear about right away," Andrews advised.

"Very well," William said, putting his pencil down and resting back in his chair. "Come in and close the door."

The men thanked him and took seats in front of his desk. They looked at each other, silently trying to decide who would speak. Barnes yielded readily to Mr. Andrews, as manager of the plantation.

"Colonel Martin is back at his home, sir."

William's mouth dropped open, stunned at the news. He thought that the militia man had been locked safely away in the asylum in Charles Towne.

"Are you sure? How do you know?" Tavington asked, clearly concerned and confused.

"My younger brother drives the delivery wagon for the mercantile in Devington," Barnes informed. "I had dinner with him the other night in the pub in Cascadia."

William swallowed hard as he sat forward in his chair. He folded his hands together and laid them on his desk, trying to stay calm as he listened.

Mr. Barnes went on. "He spoke of something that happened to him lately while working. He made a delivery to the Selton Martin plantation the other day. When he was unloading the wagon, he heard a man hollering and carrying on. He noticed that the servants and slaves seemed not to pay heed to it, which he thought was strange."

Barnes took a breath, the continued on. "John, my brother, told me that they have a ballroom with a kitchen beneath it which is detached from the house; behind it not far. He heard the ranting coming from here. He bent down and checked in the windows, which were barred like a jail. He saw a man in there."

Tavington sighed, closed his eyes, and sat back in his chair. He knew who it was in that homemade dungeon, yet part of it needed to hear more just to confirm the amazing story. William recalled the building when the legion had raided the plantation years ago. Mrs. Selton's was the first home he'd seen with a detached ballroom.

Mr. Barnes shot a look at Mr. Andrews, knowing the news had managed to shock their boss. Barnes kept on with his testimony.

"One of the Martin's slaves saw my brother looking in. He explained to him that the man was Master Martin, and that he had gone insane. He told John that the mistress had recently fetched him from the asylum, unable to bear having him in that place. Said she would rather have him imprisoned at home where he could be nearby and treated well."

Tavington rolled his eyes and shook his head. The man wondered why Mrs. Martin, after threats from him and after Constable Evans visiting her after Benjamin had run away from Kentucky, would bring him back at such risk.

Mr. Barnes finished. "John said that the slave ushered him away from the area quickly and spoke softly, acting as though the whole thing is supposed to be a secret."

"Yes," Tavington interjected, "I'm sure she doesn't want anyone to find out that he is back at home when the whole countryside knows that he belongs in the asylum."

He thanked the men for letting him know, asked them to keep the security level up around the farm, and not to tell Mrs. Tavington. William would have to decide if and how he would tell her. With her pregnancy, he didn't want to upset her or place undue stress on Melanie.

William sat for a moment, ruminating over all that he'd heard. He had to get to work on the papers for his new customer, but also knew he had to make some kind of a decision about how he would handle the Martin situation. Obviously, his threats against and rape of Mrs. Martin last autumn, or the effects of, only lasted temporarily, for here the militia colonel was back at home.

What must I do? The man can't die of the disease soon enough. How can I get him back into the asylum? As long as he is out, there's uncertainty for my family. What do I do?

After a moment of thinking to himself, William made a decision. He assumed that after having physically threatened and attacked the man's wife, that if he did it a second time, the results would be as temporary as the first: it would scare her for only so long. Obviously he was going to have to have help from the authorities.

Tavington leaned over and opened a locked box in a drawer at the bottom of the desk. He looked over Martin's tomahawk and note with the Martin family seal on it, left carelessly by Martin on Will's plantation last October. He slipped them into his satchel and decided that while he was in Camden on business in the morning, that he would also pay a visit to the region's magistrate.

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"What do you mean you can't help?" William asked, incensed at the magistrate's less than eagerness to get involved with the Colonel Martin situation. "His threats and insanity are right there in front of you," he said, his hand passing over Martin's tomahawk and the letter bearing Martin's wax seal on it.

Tavington was in Camden this morning. After having met with his client to present business papers to him, he went straight to the Magistrate to pay a visit. William had been glad to hear in passing from another customer at the inn this morning while waiting on his client, that the particular Magistrate had been a loyalist during the war. He hoped this might help further his cause.

"General, my hands are tied," the official apologized. "I can't do anything until he hurts someone. The threats here aren't enough to have him ordered back to the asylum."

A frustrated William reached over the desk collecting the tomahawk and note and placing them back in his satchel. Before William could stand, the magistrate spoke again.

"I assure you, General Tavington, that I am keeping a close watch on the situation with Colonel Martin."

William stood to leave, heaving a frustrated sigh. "Thank you," he said less than enthusiastically.

"Though I was a loyalist and respected the job that you and your soldiers had to do," the official said, stopping Tavington from going through the door, "you must admit, General, that the actions of you and your men during the war, have brought the disdain and unwillingness of the people around here to help upon you."

"I discharged my duty faithfully and in whole for King and Country," William objected. "Unpleasantness is an unavoidable part of war."

The magistrate said nothing to his reply. He stood to come around the desk and see Tavington to the door, but William's words stopped the man in his tracks.

"I can see that I am on my own, here," the general uttered aloud. "Very well, then. I can protect my family. Most people around here still fear me. Why ruin that reputation?"

"You are not going to take the law into your own hands, are you?" asked a now suspicious magistrate, touching Tavington's arm to stop him.

"If need be," William said. "I suppose it depends upon any help I might receive."

"You know, General, you just said it yourself," the official pointed out. "You're the Carolina Butcher. Why would you want our help or even have a desire to stay within the law? Rules never stopped you from doing…..your duty."

"I'm no longer a soldier," Tavington answered bluntly. "I'm a businessman now. And as such, I'd like to stay within the law. It makes for better business."

"I understand."

William turned back to the magistrate, wanting to leave the man with something else to think about; something that would hopefully goad or guilt the man into helping at best effort.

"Your honor," William began in a humble tone, "I have two young children. My wife is with child to be born in December. They are innocent of my actions. I hope you will consider that."

"Of course, General," the magistrate affirmed. "You wife especially comes from a well loved family. That will never be forgotten."

The men shook hands and William thanked him for the impromptu meeting. The magistrate spoke again.

"You have my word that I will be visiting the Martin plantation," he assured. "And I will warn Mrs. Martin that her husband can be remanded back to the asylum."

"Thank you," said William as he left the office.