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Piety and Infamy	By : MarianTheBlackadder Category: M through R > Patriot, The Views: 2093 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Patriot, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 18
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At first, Heather wanted to decline from the invitation given the way she
was feeling today, but she thought it best not to cross the General again so
soon. It seemed that he was growing more annoyed with her, and in turn, making
things harder for William. So she accepted and dressed very formally for the
occasion. He was a General after all and the legendary Lord Cornwallis. A guard
knocked on her door to escort her to the dining room, and Heather took one last
look at herself in the mirror. She had hoped that the style of dress she chose
to wear was modest and non encouraging to the General. She walked to the door
and opened it taking the soldiers arm and followed him as he led her down the
hallway.


The guard at the dining room door opened it for her, and the guard that
had escorted her left her so that she could go into the room by herself. Heather
half wished that he had stayed, but this was no time for childish wishes. She
was a grown woman, and she could handle anything on her own. The General was at
the window looking out at the night sky, but turned when he heard the door
close. There in the candle light, stood Heather wearing a beautifully made gown
that he had had sent from Paris for her.


Heather gathered her skirts and curtsied politely and he gave her a
slight bow in return. �You look quite lovely this evening, my dear.� His
voice was almost breathless as his eyes wondered over her. �That dress would
be nothing if it did not surround your beauty.�


�I thank my Lord for his kind words.� Cornwallis was suddenly thrust
back into reality with the formality in which she answered him in. His smile
faded a bit and he gave a small nod, realizing that she wanted a great distance
between them in every aspect of this visit. He stepped aside and held his hand
out towards the table inviting her to sit down.


�Please, join me for dinner.� Heather gave him a soft smile and
walked to the place that had been set for her, and gracefully took her seat as
Cornwallis pulled the chair for her. Once she seemed settled and comfortable he
walked to his own place and sat across from her. It grew deathly quiet and the
silence made Heather uncomfortable.


�I was rather surprised when I was told you had invited me to dine with
you, My Lord. My husband and I have been out of your favor for so long, I
thought that we would be the last people in the Colonies that you would want to
see.� She always included him in everything didn�t she?


�You were not out of my favor dear lady, I have merely been preoccupied
with the affairs of war.� Heather kept her smile as she looked at the General,
she knew better then that. She knew the extent of his dislike for William and
the different reasons why. Even though she tried to keep her focus on
Cornwallis, the food was capturing her senses and making it hard to concentrate.
The smell of hot food wafting over the table, from the freshly cooked and
seasoned meats, was making her stomach twist in knots of hunger. However, she
would wait until it was proper to begin the meal no matter how hungry she felt.
Cornwallis continued on, �But you are quite right, My Dear. I�ve asked you
to join me for I have several matters that I wish to discus with you. I have put
it off for a very long time, but it can not be made to wait any longer.�

The servant finished serving
them and stepped back from the table. The torture was unbearable as the plate of
food was sitting right in front of her. She kept her eyes on Cornwallis refusing
to look down at it hoping it would distract her just long enough to listen to
what he had to say. �Of course my Lord Cornwallis. You have my full
attention.� She was lying of course, but she was hoping that they could begin
their meal that much quicker if he simply said all that he had to say.


�Your husband, Colonel Tavington . . .� He paused a moment as those
simple words tended to sear his tongue like a hot branding iron. �. . .It
seems that he is incredibly to eager to seek out glory for himself at any
cost.� Reaching up he poured a glass of wine for himself, �I can not
continue to tolerate such behavior from an officer of his Majesties royal army.
It is simply not how a Gentlemen conducts himself in a war.� Heather�s eyes
closed a little bit, as she took in the aroma of the wonderful food that she was
certain was getting cold while they spoke. However, she did her best to keep her
wits and manners about her until he was finished. STILL Cornwallis continued,
�If you have anyway to persuade his thinking, I would ask you to do so as soon
as possible.�


Heather looked up at the General hearing his request which was enough to
bring her back to her senses for a few moments. �My husband knows much more
about war then I, my lord. It is his judgment that should be trusted as he is
the one who is on the battlefield. How can he expected to carry out the orders
you give him when the situation changes and there is not time to consult you for
advice in what action to take?� His hand started to move as Heather spoke and
she saw it moving towards his fork. She quickly reached up and grasped her own,
more then ready to dive into dinner. However, his hand continued to move over
the fork to his wine glass. Her eyes moved down at the fork she eagerly held in
her own and, and put it down reluctantly, placing her hands back in her lap.


�I understand your loyalty to Colonel Tavington as you have expressed
to me on many different occasions. Despite the fact he has made some rather rash
decisions that shall effect your future as well as his own. I think you are
quite aware of that fact and simply choose to turn a blind eye to it.� He said
taking a sip of his wine before returning the glass to it�s proper place.
�Nonetheless my dear, he must learn some self control and follow my orders as
they are given, not as he interprets them.� Once again, Cornwallis reached
towards his plate, and Heather�s fingers eagerly reached to take up her fork
again. Yet this was another false alarm as he took his napkin and unfolded it
before placing it on his lap.


She was starting to think she was going to die before she was finally
allowed to eat this delicious smelling food tat was becoming more savory and
tantalizing by the moment. She could feel her mouth watering at the back of her
tongue, and silently cursed proper protocol. �I understand General Cornwallis,
but war has a strange way of making it�s own rules and sometimes the ones that
you and your officers set before a conflict, don�t apply once the battle
begins. My Husband does his best to serve King and Country, and makes decisions
that he thinks will do just that. I trust him, why is it so difficult for you to
do the same?� Cornwallis took a breath, trying to collect his thoughts through
his aggravation. He picked up his fork and began to stir through his food
slightly.


That was all Heather was waiting for and she quickly snatched up her
knife and fork and began to hungrily devour the food that had been set before
her on her plate. She still tried to be lady like, but the bites where
disappearing as quickly as she cut them. �What you fail to understand my dear,
is that . . . .� The General�s words stopped when he looked up to see
Heathers attention was solely on the food that she was literally inhaling. He
couldn�t imagine that she could possible taste it she was swallowing so fast.
Her attention was so hard on the food before her, that she didn�t even notice
that Cornwallis had stopped speaking and was just watching her in amazement.


The servant who had been standing by to serve them was in awe as well,
never having witnessed a lady eating in such a way and his jaw dropped slightly.
Not much time passed before all the food on her plate was gone, along with the
bread that had been set on a plate near her. Heather carefully wiped her mouth
with her napkin, even though not a speck of food missed her tongue. The servant
shook himself out of his shock and stepped forward, �Would you like some more
my lady?� Smiling, she lifted her plate towards him anxiously.


�Yes Please!� Finally, her eyes turned back to General Cornwallis and
she saw the look on his face. Heather realized what she must have looked like
and felt extremely embarrassed with herself. She cleared her throat looking
away, trying to smile in place of words. Cornwallis cleared his throat a bit as
well, a little more then impressed with what he had just witnessed.


He began to speak again gathering his thoughts once more. �What you
fail to understand is that I am his commanding officer as well as every other
Colonel, Major and Captain in the kings forces. His place and duty is to follow
the orders that are given by me, and not his own.� Cornwallis took the first
bite of his own meal, still a little amazed as she began to start on her second
helping of everything.


The rest of the dinner, was spent in silence and he watched her patiently
as she ate a rather large portion of desert. He wondered to himself if she had
room anywhere in that womanly figure of hers to put away that much food in one
sitting. Heather put her spoon down and wiped her mouth politely once more,
finally feeling satisfied although a little sleepy. When she finished,
Cornwallis leaned forward and spoke in a very definite nonsense tone.
�Tomorrow, there is a large and important battle to take place. I have asked
your husband to not fail me as this is perhaps the greatest victory of my
career. He has been warned, and now you are receiving the same warning. If you
can influence him, then I pray you do so.�


Taking a breath, Heather looked up into Cornwallis�s eyes not cowering
or quivering with fear as he perhaps expected her to do. �My Lord Cornwallis,
Colonel Tavington has served you with more loyalty and efficiency then any other
officer since this war began. Can you not see that with your own eyes? How much
glory he has brought you with his victories? I don�t think he has failed you,
nor will he.� Cornwallis listened to her and took an annoyed breath and
sighing.


�Should he go against my orders tomorrow Heather, I shall care not for
his services to me in the past, present or future. I can assure you that he will
have nothing left then the shame he has brought to his family name when this war
is over. Do I make myself clear?� Heather could feel tears welling up in her
eyes but choked them back, refusing to let her seem him cry.


�You are wrong my Lord.� She said quietly not able to get any louder
as she stood from the table. �He will have me.� She put down her napkin, and
Cornwallis quickly stood up following polite etiquette when a lady rises from
her chair, especially since he was the host. �I thank you for your invitation
my lord, the food was absolutely wonderful, the conversation was . . .
.stimulating, but I am feeling somewhat weary and think I should retire.� She
curtsied before him once more, and turned and exited the dining room before he
could say another word. She hurried to her room and slammed the door closed to
lock it for the night.


The General threw down his napkin, cursing under his breath and moved to
the window trying to calm his temper. The servants started to clear off the
table and clean up wanting to get out of there and out of Cornwallis�s way as
soon as possible. �They make quite the pair of stubborn, pig headed fools.�
He grumbled under his breath. The general forced himself to calm down a bit,
before retiring to his own bedchambers to sleep for the night. Yet his rest was
quite restless, His thoughts about the battle where constantly being corrupted
by thoughts of Colonel Tavington . . . and Heather.


Heather paced in her room back and forth. She had not realized or known
that there was such a battle tomorrow. It sounded as if it was going to be a
huge and dangerous affair and her Colonel was going to be right in the middle of
it. Her mind was troubled with worry about what might happen if William were to
be injured seriously. Heathers imagination running wild with all the things that
could go wrong in war like situations. A bad feeling kept coming up from the pit
of her stomach, and finally forced her to decide what she would do.


She moved to her desk and pulled out several pieces of parchment and a
few envelopes in case she made a mistake and would have to start over again.
Such a letter had to be perfect. She knew it was against his wishes for her to
write to him, considering that danger that it presented, but this was more
important. Taking a quill she dipped it into the inkpot and began to write.


My Love, I know that writing you this letter goes against your wishes
and you warned me about my safety during these times of war should it fall into
the wrong hands. After a rather long, and tedious dinner with Cornwallis, I
learned that you will be riding into an important battle that may be the turning
point in the war. I know that a great deal of pressure is being put on you by
your peers and colleagues, and perhaps Lord Cornwallis most of all. But my love,
don�t lose heart, for I pray each night with everything in me, that God looks
down on you and keeps you safe. To lend his merciful and loving hand to protect
you on the battle field and brings you home into my arms that eagerly await to
hold you.


I have been ill as of late my love. I awaken with a colic that lasts most
of the morning but passes before noon. I eat as if I had not seen food in a
week, and can hardly keep my manners about me even though I am blessed with
three meals a day as you requested of the kitchen staff. My skin as groan
softer, and my heart is filled with more compassion, and tears fall strangely
over the slightest happenings.


I am carrying your child, my love. He will arrive in the spring wither or
not this war still lasts or is done with and a memory. My greatest hope is that
the war will be over, and his father is safe at home with us in some quiet part
of the world. I wait anxiously to see you again, now that you have this news. I
thank God every day for giving me to you, and has blessed us with a wonderful
gift.


~May the Lord bless thee, and keep thee, while thee and I are apart.~

All My Love,


Lady Heather Tavington


Taking an envelope she wrote in large bold letters, �Colonel William
Tavington, Green Dragoons� and slipped the letter inside tucking it safely
away and sealed it with wax. She used her ring that he had given her to press
into the wax so that he knew it was from her. Taking a breath she looked at it
one last time and kissed it gently, hoping that it would carry her kiss to her
Colonel and perhaps give him luck.


She stood from her desk, straitening things up a bit before exiting her
door in search for General O�Hara. Luckily, she met him in the hall as he was
on his way to his own quarters. �General!� She said trying to catch up with
him before he disappeared. He stopped and turned looking at her surprised.
�Lady Tavington, I did not expect to see you at this late hour.�


�I couldn�t sleep.� She said making an excuse that wasn�t
entirely untrue. She moved closer to him holding the letter in her hands as if
it was made of glass. �Would you please see that Colonel Tavington gets this
letter before the battle tomorrow?� She asked gently holding out the letter to
him. O�Hara started to raise his hand to stop her from giving it to him, not
sure that he should. �Please.� She nearly begged as if it were a matter of
life and death. �I know that mail is not to be sent, but I
also know that you are not a colonial spy that may use it against me or my
husband and I can trust you.� Still he hesitated, not certain if this was a
wise course of action for countless reasons. �Please General, it is very
important for William to have this letter.�


The General couldn�t turn her down, he had always liked her and thought
she was a well behaved young lady, and it was such a small favor and the first
that she had ever asked of him. Giving a nod he took the letter, �I will see
that it is in his hands, first thing in the morning my Lady.�


Heather smiled and kissed his cheek, breaking several rules of etiquette
but she didn�t want him to walk away without knowing how much this meant to
her. She smiled as she looked into his eyes, �Thank you General.� He looked
a bit shocked and taken by surprise. She turned and quickly went back to her
bedchambers feeling a little more at ease knowing William would receive news
that would hopefully cheer him up. The General watched her until she
disappeared. He always knew there was something special about her, and this only
proved his theory. Looking at the letter, he turned and retired to his own
bedchambers for the evening.
To Be Continued .
. .
- 18
- 19
- 20
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Piety and Infamy