William Tavington let out a rather long sigh as another one of his quill tips snapped. It was the second one today! He looked over at his second, Major John Borden, who was cleaning his boots with a damp cloth "I'm going on a ride before I die of boredom" With that, the colonel stood up from his desk and tossed a letter at John "That's from Cornwallis, something about moving to our Camp near Charles Towne, we are to aid Banastre Tarleton with the siege it seems"
"Ah, I rather liked this billet too, the youngest daughter is rather blessed with looks"
"The eldest daughters always have an inheritance" William smirked as he pulled on his sword belt "though some are absolutely horrid to look at" He spoke as he crossed the room, towards the mirror. As he adjusted the cuffs on his uniform he noticed that there was a hidden hole in the fold causing him to clench his jaw. In the eyes of a few the colonel was a handsome fellow. He had icy blue eyes, long brown hair, which was currently ties back in a braid, and a quite tall athletic figure "As long as they're young, healthy and have a decent inheritance, the birth order doesn't really matter"
"hmm, you are still courting Miss Midland aren't you? Isn't she the last born?"
"Only for her inheritance, might I add that she is extremely boring during conversations" William cringed, remembering their last meeting. Not that she wasn't pretty, Miss Danielle Midland was a pretty young woman. She was only twenty-two, had golden hair and mossy green eyes. though the last time they conversed she only talked about where her jewels came from for the best part of an hour, then about which breed of hound she wished for. He only stuck to the conversation as he was promised a four figure dowry if he did in fact marry her. That sort of money would put him into an early retirement after the war. Maybe he could start a tobacco farm or Vineyard to pass onto his children that is if she was smart enough to know how conception occurred "I'm debating whether or not to end it, she lacks common knowledge but makes up for it in her looks"
"just block out her nonsense for the rest of your time together, take a mistress if needs be"
"That would be a plausible thing to do" William spoke before reaching over and picking up his cravat from the desk he was just sat at wrapped it around his neck "And you need to pay a mistress, each time you couple" He added as he finished tying the cloth around his neck, tucking the excess into his emerald green waistcoat. Major Borden shrugged and dipped his cloth into a bowl of water, wiping the remaining dirt from one of his boots "I'll see you this evening, I plan on having dinner at a tavern before I come home" All John did in return was hum and pick up the other soiled boot.
William quickly made his way through the house, asking a nearby groundman if he could ready his horse as he sat down on the steps of the home. He hated how many slaves this plantation owner owned, he himself didn't agree with enslaving people of colour. Even if most people around him did. After the old man was hung for treason, Cornwallis gifted the house to Tavington as a gift for his efforts thus far in the campaign. The first course of action he did was give the freed slaves a daily wage of two shillings daily. In comparison to the pound a week the plantation made he broke even almost every time.
When his stallion, Brecken, was eventually brought around for him, he mounted up and cantered away from his billet.
As he simply had no straight target ahead of him, Tavington just rode onwards. After being on the road for at least an hour, they had galloped over many meadows and pastures. William was alone, there wasn't a single person in sight, oh how he loved it! It was just exhilarating! But after being stationed in the Americas for the past year he had learned to keep his wits about him, especially when riding alone. In result of that, his eyes and ears were on constant alert, his hand always near his flintlocks' holster just in case of an ambush. Though when no such thing happened, it frustrated him even more.
When he noticed a forest from a distance, he slowed Brecken and started to trot. After internally debating with himself for a moment, he spurred his stallion forwards and rode into the forested area. Luckily for him, the dirt road he was riding on was not obstructed but canopied by numerous trees. He kept looking from left to right, to make sure that he wouldn't be caught up in a stupid trap laid by rebels. William slowed Brecken once again and lightly patted his neck, allowing the stallion to shake the sweat from his now shining brown coat.
The colonel loved these moments, as rare as they were. He could be himself here. He didn't have to act or do anything he didn't want to do. Here he was human, and he was free to be! This illusory idyll, however, did not last long when he heard the thumping of horse hooves from behind him. But when the rogue horse passed him, he noticed that someone was clinging onto it for dear life. When the camp fell from the figure's head, he saw that it was a woman!
"Miss! Do you need help!?"