"William, you don't have to be so hard on them." Col. Tavington's wife chided him softly as they left the two girls locked in the room. "They're perfectly harmless––"
"You know no such thing, Mary. We have no idea who they are; they're not even dressed properly." The colonel sniffed. "I'm going to keep them here, at least until I know more about their story. I don't care how lost they may appear-."
"They're girls!" Mary said firmly, grabbing a tight hold of her husband's left forearm.
"I don't care!" Col. Tavington replied angrily, pulling away from her. "Stay out of this!"
"No, I will not! At the most, they're likely in a simple mix-up. Grant them that possibility," she insisted. "You have enough sense for that."
"That was different," The colonel quieted his tone. "I don't know these people."
"So you'll treat them like vermin? Did you not see how frightened they were?" Mary pled.
"How can you be so trusting?" Tavington countered venomously. "And no, I only noticed how bold and cheeky the smaller one was." He curled his lips in distaste. "No, Mary. I will not be lenient. I don't care that they're young girls and that they're frightened. Until I get some form of information on them and their intentions, they will be treated no differently then they are now."
Mary fixed the colonel with an icy stare, her emerald eyes shining with anger.
"Very well, sir, have it your way. It is not my issue."
With that, she swept soundlessly away from the colonel's side, descending down a flight of stairs at breakneck pace.
Tavington stared after, wondering if he should follow, but decided to wait until the lady's temper cooled.
Women...
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"Man, I gotta go!"
Jordan lay in a corner of the room, curled up in a ball.
"You okay Jor?" Jula asked.
"No, it's been way over an hour, and I have to pee!"
"Isn't there a chamber pot around here somewhere?"
"No, I checked already, before you got here."
"Damn."
A clicking sound from the doorknob being turned caught the girls' attention as Missus Tavington stood in the threshold.
"Can we help you with something?" Jula asked hesitantly, cocking an eyebrow.
"No…Is something the matter with your sister?"
"No, she... we couldn't find the chamber pot." Jula finished, her face slightly pink in embarrassment.
Missus Tavington rolled her eyes, muttering something about her husband under her breath; then, composing herself, she gave Jordan and Jula a wan smile.
"Follow me."
"Are we allowed to?" Jula asked.
To this, Mary laughed softly and replied, "What my husband doesn't know can't hurt him."
"What if he finds out?"
The colonel's wife shrugged.
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Now come with me and we shall get a chamber pot for your sister, and while we're out, we will also find something suitable for the both of you to wear."
"Thank you so much!" Jordan cried, leaping off the floor. "Now, where's the chamber pot?"
"Down the hall, fifth door on the right is mine and William's private chamber; you'll find one in there; but please, do be quiet. Our son is asleep."
Jordan gave a quick nod and headed quietly down the hall to finally relieve herself.
Several minutes later Jula and Mary reentered the room.
"Feeling better Jordan?" Jula asked with a smirk.
"Oh yes." She answered with a satisfied grin.
"Is my son still asleep?"
"As far as I know, yes."
"Then while he still is, we can find some dresses to fit you with."
"Do we have to wear corsets?" Jula asked.
Jordan sighed, rolling her eyes.
Duh, Jula. It's sort of a part of the undergarments.
Missus Tavington cocked an eyebrow. "They're not torturous if they're not tight-laced. And, luckily for you, it is late, so there will just be nightshifts for the both of you tonight."
Jula sighed.
"Great, now I won't be able to breathe. "
"Jula, shut up!" Jordan hissed. "At least we're not wearing them now."
Mary Tavington smiled, shaking her head, privately confused at the openness of the girl's speech.
"Don't worry, the corsets won't be too tight." she said. "But let's hurry, lest my husband should return early back here and find you two in our chamber."
"But, you said nothing would happen to us." Jordan commented slowly, beginning to get nervous.
"No, nothing will happen." Mary answered calmly. "But I do not wish to see him in anymore a surly mood than I have to."
Jula nodded.
"Good point."
"It is, isn't it?" the lady agreed, walking over to a wardrobe and pulling out a blue dress. "Here, Miss Jordan, you look about my size. Try this on."
"Thank you. And, Jordan, please."
"All right." Missus Tavington replied with a nod. "Here are some undergarments and a corset to go along with the dress. Now, being as your sister is… more in the height than you and I, I'll have to look elsewhere for her things, so, please don't mind, but stay here and I'll be back shortly."
"No problem." Jula replied. "See you when you get back."
After the lady left, the two sisters took some time to become accustomed to their surroundings.
"Wow, Jor, their room is huge." Jula whispered. "And check out the four-poster. Dark mahogany with crimson velvet curtains, and pressed creme colored sheets. Talk about gentry-class. And, there aren't even any bugs around."
Jordon nodded.
"I know. There's not a single thing out of place here. Even his paperwork on the desk is in a neat, orderly stack. I could puke."
"Perfectionists, no doubt."
"Yeah, but they were probably raised that way." Jordan replied, pulling on the nightdress.
"Can you help me with the buttons in the back?" She asked just as the lady returned with her sister's clothing.
"Oh yeah…"
"Miss Jula, here are your dress and your undergarments. I'll assist you with the buttons when you're ready."
"Thank you. Just Jula; that 'miss' stuff is creepy."
"As you wish," Mary answered with a bemused look on her face.
Just as both Jula and Jordan were finished getting dressed into their nightdresses, Missus Tavington's son awoke and began to whimper; quietly, she walked over to his cradle, and picked him up, rocking him back and forth until he calmed.
"So, this is the little guy." said Jula, walking over to her.
"He certainly is. But he doesn't look like me; no, his looks are his father's."
Jordan smiled, but her smile quickly dissipated when the door opened yet again and Col. Tavington stood framed in the doorway, glaring angrily at them.
"Mary..."
"William, I was simply getting them some decent clothing to wear. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Do they have what they need?"
"Yes."
"Then please, follow me," he said huffily, turning to the sisters.
They nodded, and trailed him wordlessly out of the room, down the hall, to the room he had first locked them in.
"You'll stay here for the night."
Jordon gestured her ascent and stepped into the room after her sister; Col. Tavington closed the door, locking it behind them.
"God, he's an ass." Jordan muttered to her sister.
"Yeah he is. But then again, they didn't call him the Butcher for nothing."
"I don't know what his wife sees in him."
"Well, you know what they say: opposites attract. And, he has quite the reputation with the ladies, historically speaking. Player…"
"Yeah, I know." Jordon wrinkled her nose.
"Well, at least he left the candle he was carrying with us; we won't have trouble finding the bed."
Jordan laughed.
"You're telling me."
"So, we settle in? After all, we've got nothing better to do."
"What about your report?"
"Forget the report, I'm tired."
"Me too. All this history has me totally worn out. I'm too worn out to even really freak out; maybe tomorrow, though."
Jordan chuckled.
"Yeah, well, let's just go to bed, and maybe we'll wake up away from all of this."
"Maybe, but I doubt it."
"Hey, don't ruin my dream!"
"Whatever, Jor. Good night."
"Night. See you in the morning."