Chapter Eleven: First Name Basis

She had to admit the exchange between the men was starting to make her a bit uncomfortable. Her eyes scanned the room nervously as General Cornwallis and Colonel Tavington went back on forth in his office. Charlotte on the other hand seemed to perk up on her end of the sofa, and listen eagerly. Theresa's eyes bounced from the pale blue walls to the ornately decorated desk; to the overly extravagant paintings in desperation to keep her idle mind from eavesdropping. The men carried on about 'brutal tactics' that Theresa soundly decided she wanted to know absolutely nothing about. Her blue eyes settled on a painting that hung just above Tavington's head. A naked woman lounged on a chaise; she thought from the Art course she took in college that it might be Sleeping Venus but art was never a strong suit.
It was interesting she couldn't even show and ankle; but the painting was borderline porn; the woman's hand rest limply on her mound of Venus. pun intended, and totally looked like she could've been….well, relaxing.

"Theresa." Charlotte hissed in her ear.

"What?" she said monotonely; her eyes never leaving the young woman hanging on the wall. Charlotte raised an eyebrow her delicate hand rested on her breast.

"Why are you staring at Venus?" Charlotte asked eyes wide; her middle finger seemed to lightly trace her collarbone absent mindedly. There was a change in pitch from the two men. Theresa's head snapped quickly her long brown falling in her face. Her eyes bounced between two men like a ping pong ball. Clearing her throat she stood, brushing her skirts off. Charlotte's dark eyes store up at Theresa eyebrow raised.

"Excuse me… I ugh," both men eyes store at her with irritation. "I have to see a man about a horse." She said triumphantly; earning raised eyebrows, and quizzical looks. The Lord General opened his mouth and then shut it; shaking his head slowly. Strange girl. With a quick nod; Theresa bowed her head quickly and scurried from the room. Closing the door lightly behind her with a click she sighed. Leaning all her weight against the door; her body sagged and she released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. That was hell. It was awkward and somewhat heart wrenching. She truly felt terrible for the poor man; it must've been truly humiliating to be berated like that….let alone in front an audience. She firmly planted her hands against the heavy door, pushing herself up she took one last glance at the door over her shoulder; and started down the dim corridor.

"Theresa!" A soft male voice called. Stopping she looked over her shoulder. Harold, God he was pretty. He wore a dark blue velvet looking jacket with white breeches and brown boots, his sandy blonde hair tied back and his fair skin but her in mind a bit of Tom Cruise…as Lestat of course, God that was a hot movie.

"Harold. How are you?" she smiled warmly, licking her slightly chapped lips. When on Earth would someone invent Blistex? She nervously wrung her hand in front of her chest,

"Well, Thank you." His hazel eyes rested on her hand wringing as he raised an eyebrow. His heavy boots clunked against the floor as he closed the distance between them. "And yourself?"

"Good ugh, good." She laughed. "Just left...your...um fiancé it was a little umm heated in there.." she jerked her head in the direction of the Lord Generals office, as she brought a hand up to tuck a loose piece of hair behind her ear. A genuine smile cracked and a hearty laugh came from the beautiful man.

"Darling. You do not have to be nervous. I'm not the stiff they all think I am." He wagged his eyebrow comically. Theresa laughed loudly; louder than she had in a long time. "Come dear," he offered his elbow. "As we both a lovely creature in common. I think it's only right that I tell you some rather...embarrassing tales about her." He smiled toothily.

"So let me get this straight…. She had her skirt tucked into her bloomers the entire time?" Theresa asked a wide smile ear to ear, as her blue eyes glinted mischievously. Harold sat in front of her in a large dark blue armchair. His feet propped in front of him. He absently twirled a piece of blonde hair between his fingers.

"Oh yes!" he laughed.

"And you never told her?" Theresa laughed clutching her stomach as she doubled over in her chair. Only laughing harder when Harold raised a well-manicured eyebrow and simply said: 'No.' between laughs. Sighing Theresa leaned back in her chair, fixing her rumpled skirts and her hair she sighed as her laughter subsided. Resting her hand on her breast as she caught her breath.

"So you and Charlotte have known each other..."

"Before either of us could walk," he smiled, resting his elbows on his knees he leaned forward. He reached for the small table between them pouring himself a small cup of tea. "Would you care for a cup of tea?" He looked up.

"Please." Theresa smiled folding her hands in her lap. She liked him, and that stung a bit, she had been so dead set on not liking him. He was lovely. Funny, caring, charismatic anything someone could hope for a friend to marry. "That's really sweet."

"Yes, I suppose it is;" He slipped her china cup on top a saucer and held it out to her expectantly." As long as I can remember it has been understood that I would marry Charlotte." He smiled, as he leaned back into the chair taking a careful sip. "She is my best friend and closest confidant."

"That's great." Theresa smiled, looking at him expectantly. He hadn't mentioned anything about love. Yet.

"That is...the best one could hope for in a marriage," he seemed to stare down into the amber liquid in his cup. Theresa store down in her own cup making a completely unattractive face as she frowned but showing teeth as she did. "Don't you agree?"

"Um, yeah…that's a good…place to ugh...start I suppose.." She bit her lip, as she store into her cup begging God; or at this point any deity to get her the hell out of here.

Theresa sat down at the creek bed; pondering what it all meant. What did it mean? Life? Love? Any of it; all of it? She had loosed out her hair and carefully slipped out of her gown; she just needed to be alone. How did her life become so complicated? Her whole life had been plotted out since she was a toddler; she had achieved everything her parents had ever hoped for; she had used her academics to get her through life…but at what cost? She sat down; in her bloomers and corset the bright hot mid-day sun baking on her pale shoulders. At what cost. She pondered. At twenty three what had she really achieved? No boyfriend to speak of; had only received her first real kiss less than a week ago. Hell; they'd always encouraged her to study this and that…now look at her.Socially awkward...that's what they call it.

Now thanks to them I have the emotional depth of a fucking bucket. Then there was the Tavington situation. She didn't even know when or how to start to approach that. She'd almost jumped the man, and she didn't even know his real name, what did that make her? Sighing she shook her head. Sliding closer, she sat on the bank her bare feet resting on a rock beneath the water, the algae feeling slippery beneath her feet, she smiled. It was all too much. Maybe she wasn't even really here...maybe she'd cracked her head hard she died…or maybe Mama finally drove her insane and she was having a mental break.

"Lady Theresa." Oh God, not that voice, that voice felt like hot melted chocolate running down her spine. Looking over her shoulder there he was…leaning against the tree a few yards away, in full uniform. He was imposing, always was, but even more so in full uniform.

"Colonel," she nodded looking over her shoulder. She actually forgot about her 'state of dress', but when she realized she blushed, but also was intrigued to see how he'd react. Would he appolgize? No, he'd never apologize to anyone. His icy blue gaze landed on her face she could be stunning sometimes, her pale oval face, beauty. She must've been outside for a while now; her cheeks had a slight pink to them, sun kissed.

"Oh Christ, woman!" he threw his hands up, as he stood just a foot away. But he made no move to cover his eyes or even look away. Shrugging Theresa turned her attention back to the creek; strangely at ease. "Put some bloody clothes on." He much to her shock all but ripped off his uniform jacket, throwing it at her, her eyes followed with mild interest as it landed with a thud next to her in the green grass.

"Oh please, Colonel…I highly doubt, I'm the first woman you've ever seen like this…I mean really is my corset offending you? Because if that's the case..."

"If I were a baser man..." he squatted mere inches from her; his forearm resting on his knees, and hands dangling. Their eyes met, and she smiled, and to her shock her he smiled back.

"You'd what?" She knew what he meant. She wasn't that naive she knew what he was implying; but she just didn't care anymore. Time to put your big girl panties on. A large slightly calloused hand cupped her cheek, the thumb stroking the apple of it. She had to fight the urge to let her mouth drop; her heart soared. Affection. He was being affectionate. She hadn't even known that he could be affectionate.

"I'm going to kiss you." He said softly; huskily.

"I'm not going to stop you." She closed her eyes waiting, taking a deep breath. He chuckled.

"You never have." Her eyes snapped open meeting his with a hint of annoyance.

"Well, there's no reason to be cocky." Tavington smirked; his large hands gripped her waist and drug her much smaller form against him. She kneeled before him, between his knees, as he let his hands rest on either side of her torso, mustering up all the balls she had she looped her arms lazily around his neck. All at once his lips claimed hers as their own; his hand gripped the back of her neck as he pulled her tighter against him, as the two fell backwards onto the grass, he pulled her on top of him, gripping her hips. They stayed like that for it seemed like forever; lazily kissing the hot sun baking down on them. Voices. Tavingon pulled her tightly against him; bringing his index finger to his lips; telling her to be quiet.

About 3 yards away; Theresa's eye locked on a couple holding hands strolling. Her mouth gaped when she realized they were…both men. One in uniform the other not. The darker haired man lent in and gently kissed the other lighter hair one. Sweetly; he never let go of his hand. She felt Tavington tense beneath her; her gaze shifted he looked as if her was about to be ill. Then they parted like to ships passing, until her breath hitched in her throat and her eyes bulged. The lighter hair man turned in their direction and she got a good look at him. Her mouth went dry; and her tongue felt like sandpaper. Her gaze snapped back to the handsome man beneath her and his eyes bore into hers.

"Was that..."

"Yes," he nodded...

"But..."

"Shush." He hissed pulled her face back down to his, were his tongue resume it's dance with hers. His hips ground upward into hers and she gasped when she felt him pressing against her through his breeches. With a growl he flipped he beneath him, and lowered his attention to her neck, his lips lighting tiny fires, across her neck and collarbone.

"Colonel?" her earlier thoughts drifted back. He growled into her neck; his teeth nipping a bit of flesh at the base of it. "You've never told me your name..." she felt the man chuckled into her. He planted both hands firmly in the grass on either side of her head. His face hovered above a smirk on his lips.

"I have not, have I?" he laughed. She had to admit he had a nice laugh; it was nice to see him smile. "Well, why don't you take a guess." He laughed.

"Oh that's not funny..." Theresa whined.

"Oh but it is…" he teased, still his body posed above her, his breath tickling her face. "I'll make you a bargain…a name…for another kiss." He growled seductively. Theresa nodded her tiny hands finding their way up to his cheeks, firmly grasping him, pulling his lips back to hers.

"William…bloody hell." He groaned against her mouth..."It's William."