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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
- 4
- 5
- 6
The next day, bright and early in the morning while the fog was still
heavy and think, the dragoons broke camp and moved out. Heather road with
Tavington on his horse, since they were short mounts and he wished to stay close
to her. The memory of yesterdays dreadful events had already started to fade, as
if they had awakened from some dream that would soon disappear completely. They
rode for hours until they finally arrived back at their encampment that was not
far from Cornwallis�s headquarters.


Tavington wasn�t about to rush her and enjoyed spending a little bit of
time with his wife before they had to separate once again. The day this blasted
war ended and he could spend every day at home with her would be perhaps counted
as one of the most fulfilling days of his life. Once she had rested and gotten a
chance to clean up, they found her a horse and started off again heading for the
fort.


The gates opened as they approached recognizing their own uniformed
officers. The three dismounted from their horses as a few privates ran up to
tend to them. Colonel Tavington turned and started to walk towards the building,
but after a few steps he stopped seeing that he was walking alone and his wife
was absent from his side. Looking back to see what had happened to her, he found
that she still stood by her horse shying back from going any further knowing who
dwelled inside. Tavington walked back to her and reached out to take her hand,
which instantly wrapped around the saddle in protest. �Come my dear, there is
nothing to fear here.� Reaching up he pried her fingers lose from the leather
strap and held it tight. �I promise, no one will harm you.�


He kissed the back of her hand trying to reassure her, as he could not
show her any more affection then that when they were out in public among his
peers and lower ranking solders. Taking a deep breath, Heather willingly took
his arm, cautiously going with him.


When they entered into the foyer and main hall of the house, General
O�Hara came out to meet them as he had already been informed of their arrival.
�Lord Cornwallis�s in not in the best of spirits today Colonel Tavington. I
would suggest that you decide on a more appropriate time to call.�


Tavington looked at Heather, almost embarrassed at the way the General
had just addressed him in front of his wife, which quickly turned into
annoyance. He thought it best to change the subject matter and looked back at
the General, �What of the officers of the prisoner exchange yesterday
morning?�


The General put his hand up to halt the Colonels words motioning for him
to bite his tongue. �That, is an extremely sorry subject at this time Colonel
Tavington. I would appear that our 18 captured officers were merely officer
uniforms stuffed with straw and made to look like soldiers.� The general
turned and looked at Heather as if he was dismissing Tavington�s presence
entirely. �Lady Tavington, I have been instructed to show you to your living
quarters you shall be staying in while you are here with us.� General O�Hara
held out his hand to her wishing her to come with him.

Without really thinking, Heather took a step closer to William tightening
her hold on his arm. The Colonel looked at her raising a brow at her action.
�Heather, do not keep the General waiting.� Her eyes looked up meeting his.
It was written all over her face that she would rather stay with him in his tent
then stay here. Tavington leaned closer to her and whispered softly, �Its
alright, go on.� Giving her a push towards General O�Hara. Heather took a
breath trying to get her courage up and walked to him. The General gave her a
polite smile and she smiled as well letting him know she would follow. Colonel
Tavington watched them leave the room leaving him alone for a few moments. He
gave a sigh not entirely comfortable with this arrangement after the revelation
of such a large piece of her past the night before. Yet here, she would be safe
from harm and no one would dare approach her or treat her badly. He told himself
these things a few times as he waited for the General to come back and give him
an audience with Cornwallis.


General O�Hara opened the door at the end of the hall that had been
prepared for her stepping back to let her enter first. As she stepped inside she
found a huge sense of awe at what she saw about her. �Sir?� She said as she
turned around looking at her host of sorts a moment. �Are these the quarters
of British Officers in war time?� The General stepped inside as well, before
answering her question.


�No my lady, this room was prepared for you at Lord Cornwallis�s
request. There were workers and carpenters here for most of the day and nearly
all night working to have everything arranged and finished before you
arrived.� Heather stood there just starring at him for a moment. She was in
shock at all of this an understandably so.


After a moment she felt as if she was being rude and shook her head to
snap herself out of it, �Uh. . . You work very quickly General O�Hara. Thank
you very much for all you have done on such short notice.� He bowed to her
before turning and closing the door behind him. Heather turned around still
stunned at the room. Everything was so beautiful, and made her all the more
uncomfortable that Cornwallis had it decorated just for her. She had only been
here a few minutes and already found herself preferring Colonel Tavington�s
small tent and narrow cot. She would be there with William, and Cornwallis would
not be. Taking a step further into her new bedchamber, she caught sight of
herself in the mirror.


Everything about her was an incredible mess. She moved to the large
vanity starring at herself. Her hair looked as if it had not been washed in
weeks, and seemed to be in every direction. The clothes that they had gotten her
to wear to replace her others were grungy and looking extremely poor from riding
for two days. Giving a sigh she looked down to see a silver set of combs and
brushes that were set out on the tray. She sat down starring at them a moment
and started to reach for one but stopped, not sure if she should touch them. Her
eyes moved around the room again, seeing that Lord Cornwallis had thought of
everything, down to the very last detail.


Taking another look in the mirror seem to pull her out of her hesitation,
and she began to make herself more presentable wondering why William hadn�t
mentioned it. All of her other things had been taken or burned, even her wedding
ring that Tavington had given her was stolen from her hand. They were just
material possessions and of no consequence really, but they were gifts from
William which made their loss all the worse. Yet the one thing that really upset
her was her ring, why couldn�t they have left her wedding ring of all things.


The General appeared back in the foyer where Tavington waited impatiently
after informing Cornwallis of their arrival. The look on his face was slightly
like the one that was happy to be the barrier of bad news, his obvious
resentment of Tavington always seemed to make it more enjoyable somehow. �Lord
Cornwallis requests that you return later this evening. He is rather busy at
this time and can not see you.�


Colonel Tavington started to say something in protest, but thought better
of it and bit his tongue less Heather be close by and hear of it. He replaced
his helmet as a silent form of defiance to show his displeasure at this obvious
delay, �I will send clothing for my wife as soon as possible. I would be
grateful if you give her the message.� He turned and started to leave.

�There will be no need for that Colonel Tavington.� William stopped
and turned looking at the General at his comment. �We have already seen to her
wardrobe by order of his lordship she has all that she will need.� This had
caught the Colonel off his guard completely. He certainly had not been expecting
this.


�Has he.� Tavington said remembering what Heather had told him once
again. �Really.� General O�Hara just gave him a look and said nothing.
Tavington caught himself dwelling on this fact far to deeply.


�I will return this evening.� He said before turning and leaving the
building. A private brought his horse to him immediately and Major Borden who
had accompanied them quickly joined the Colonel. Tavington was deadly silent as
he mounted his horse and rode out of the fort, as the two officers headed back
to the dragoon�s camp.


Now he had to return to his duty, and his assignment of capturing the
Ghost. He knew this man that had been named for a wraith for he seemed to move
about and disappear like one. This was the traitor who had harbored the enemy,
and was punished for it by losing his home. He remembered that stupid little boy
of his that attacked the soldiers that were appointed to take the dispatcher
rider back and hung as a spy. The Colonel was positive that
the fool blamed him for his son�s idiocy as well. Now he had seen his face,
and he would never forget it again.


Heather sat quietly on the windowsill of her room. She had watched
Colonel Tavington and his Major ride away from the fort letting her know that
she was alone and on her own now. She held a book in her lap that she picked up
intending to read, but she couldn�t seem to concentrate on it. Her eyes kept
moving back to the window. The valley was vast and she could see the rolling
green tree covered hills and the open fields that surrounded the fort. It was
growing dark and off in the distance she could see many campfires that had been
lit and wondered if one of them might be her husbands. Her thoughts were
interrupted when a knock came at the door.


�Yes? Come in.� She said quickly scrambling to her feet to greet
whoever it might be calling on her. When the door opened, she found a sick
feeling growing in the pit of her stomach as it was Lord Cornwallis himself that
stepped inside. Instantly she moved to curtsy before him out of the respect he
deserved.

�I came to see, how you are faring after such a traumatic ordeal.� He
said almost as if he was nervous about this meeting as well.


�I am quite well.� Her eyes looked around the room a moment, �My
Lord Cornwallis is quite generous.� She said softly.


�You approve of your room then?� He said.


�Oh yes my lord. It is very beautiful. I was very surprised when
General O�Hara said that you had commissioned its decoration for me.�


Cornwallis nodded, searching for something else to say to keep her
talking with him. �If there is anything you require or wish, all you need to
is ask and you shall have it.�


�Thank you my lord, you are very kind.�


He nodded again as her answers were short and didn�t exactly leave room
for a conversation to be taken up. He clasped his hands behind his back, as the
white bandage on her arm suddenly caught his eye. With in a matter of seconds he
grew very concerned and began to walk towards her, �Where you wounded my
dear?� Heather looked at her arm, she had forgotten about it until this very
moment.


�Oh, yes. But it is very small and nothing really. They said it would
heal quickly for it was merely a scratch.� She said looking back up at him.


�I shall send my surgeon to you immediately to change the dressing for
you.� Heather smiled gratefully looking at him. Cornwallis sighed slightly as
he felt personally responsible for her being placed in the direct line of an
attack.


�I am sorry Heather, I thought you would be safe there.� Inside, she
winced slightly at the sound of his saying her name. The proper way for anyone
who was not a close friend or a relative to address her would have been to call
her �Lady Tavington�.


�There was no way you or anyone else could have known. Willia. . . .
.Colonel Tavington told me that the war had not been in that direction at all
for several years. I am sorry that your house was destroyed my Lord. It was such
a beautiful manor.� Reaching out he took her hand and patted it with his other
hand.


�Houses can be rebuilt my dear, plants and crops can be re sewn and
more animals can be purchased. But you could never be replaced.� Heather felt
extremely uneasy at the way he held her hand and looked into her eyes as he
spoke, and his comment seemed rather unwarranted since they had only formally
met once before. Still, she managed to maintain her smile for she was certain he
was only being kind. Cornwallis�s eyes shifted downwards as he began to look
over her hand, and her fingers.


Heather really didn�t care for the feeling that he was giving off at
this particular moment, and the book she had been holding slipped from her hand
and fell to the floor with a loud thud. �Oh, I�m sorry my lord.� She said
quickly as if she was surprised by the book being dropped and started to bend
down to retrieve it, taking this chance to pull her hand from his.


�It�s alright my dear, please allow me.� The general swooped down
and picked it up from the floor. She smiled and held her hand out gratefully,
but as he handed it back to her, he caught her hand under his.

She looked up at him for a moment, �Thank you my lord.� She said
nervously, his hand was now on the book as well she could not drop it again.


�It�s no trouble at all dear lady.� He said softly looking into her
eyes, admiring the bright blue color. Heather couldn�t continue this cat and
mouse came anymore, and quickly down cast her eyes taking a step back as she
pulled the book away from his hand and held it close.


�My lord, if there is nothing else that you needed of me. I . . I am
very tired and I think I would like to retire.� Cornwallis seemed completely
unaware of his discomfort, or he simply dismissed it.


�As you wish. I understand you have been through quite a lot.� The
General bowed slight towards her and exited the room closing the door behind
him. Once he was gone and she was alone, she gave a huge sigh of relief. Her
eyes turned to the book wondering how many more times her butterfingers act was
going to work, and tossed it down on the table. Moving back to the window
intending to close the shutters, she paused her eyes turning to the fires in the
distance.


She took a breath and whispered, �Oh William.� Giving a slight sigh.
Her eyes were already growing heavy and she pulled the shutters closed putting
the latch across them. It seemed as if she was far more tired then she thought
and was well beyond ready to retire. Heather changed into a white cotton
nightgown that had been given to her and changed into it slipping into her bed
unable to fall asleep even with how tired she was.


As he had been instructed to do earlier, Colonel Tavington returned later
in the evening. General Cornwallis was in his chambers eating his dinner,
brooding over the countless wrongs that had been inflicted on him the day
before. Tavington stood at attention before Cornwallis as he addressed him.
�My reputation suffers, because of YOUR incompetence. That Man . . .� He
stopped a minute throwing down his napkin, �INSULTS me!!!� He shouted with
pure and utter outrage.


As Tavington had stated, he knew Cornwallis�s view on the subject would
change in the event he fell under personal attack from the Ghost. �Rather
impressive for a farmer with a pitch fork. Wouldn�t you say?� Tavington said
with an �I told you so� mockery in his tone. Cornwallis was not dimwitted
and recognized his own words being thrown back in his face. Something about
Colonel Tavington�s let Cornwallis know that he had something up his sleeve
that he had just been waiting for the opportunity to bring it out. The General
motioned for Tavington to come closer, and the Colonel immediately obeyed.


�I want you to find that man. I want you to capture him.� He said
plainly letting him know exactly what he wanted and was requiring from him.
Tavington decided to explain the situation to the General in great detail, so
the General knew what HE required of him.


�He has the loyalty of the people. The protect him, protect his family,
protect the families of his men.� Tavington clinched his jaw a moment, finding
a spark of his own hatred for that rebel scum appearing. �I can capture him
for you.� It subsided quickly as he looked at Cornwallis. �But to do so,
requires the use of tactics that are somewhat . . . What was the word my lord
used?� He said taking the opportunity to throw his words back in his face once
again. �Brutal? I think?�


Cornwallis thought on this for a moment, having a feeling there was some
sort of arrangement to be proposed and sent his aid out leaving them alone. Once
he left closing the door behind him, Cornwallis turned his attention back to
Colonel Tavington. �Go on.�


Tavington smiled knowing that the General�s back was currently against
a stone wall. HE walked to the table next to the mirror putting down his helmet
on the table that was placed underneath a mirror that hung on the wall. Reaching
for the crystal decanter he poured himself a glass of liquor making himself
quite at home taking full advantage of the situation, for it was he who held the
power at the moment.


�I am prepared to do what is necessary. I alone will take the full
mantel of responsibility for my actions, free of the chain of command. Rendering
you, blameless.� He began as he put the decanter on the table picking up his
glass before moving closer to Cornwallis. �However, if I do this . . .�
letting the General know that he had to agree to something. �you and I both
know, that I can never return to England with honor.� Cornwallis turned and
looked up at him feeling the cold and bitter breath of blackmail in the air,
that had been preplanned for perhaps sometime. Tavington saw that his commander
understood the situation and a smirk crossed his face looking towards his glass,
�What I wonder, Is to become of me.�


Now all the cards had been laid on the table, and Cornwallis could see
that the payment he wanted would be lands and perhaps a bit of money to
accommodate him some place since he would be banned from returning to their own
country. He rose from the table after taking a moment to think, and walked to
his desk where several maps had been left laid out and rolled one open. �When
this war is over here in the Colonies, the new aristocracy, will be land
owners.� He stood strait up with a smile looking at Tavington, thinking his
offer was more then generous.


Tavington acted very surprised as a semi-interested look crossed his
face. He walked over looking at the map a moment, �Tell me about . . .� a
evil grin swept his face as he looked up at Cornwallis wanting to see the
reaction at his following words, �Ohio�. Cornwallis lost his smile as he
looked back at Tavington, realizing the vendetta of making the General pay for
the many times he had scolded and reprimanded him for his methods was incredibly
strong. Yet now, knowing full well yesterday�s incident not only made him look
extremely bad and incompetent leaving a bruise on his reputation, it would soon
get back to the ears of the king. He had no other choice but to accept Colonel
Tavington�s offer.
To Be Continued .
. .
- 4
- 5
- 6
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Piety and Infamy