Innocence Lost

Chapter Twelve

Three hours later, Tavington escorted Anne to the party. She wore a green velvet gown that matched her new cape. As they entered the ballroom, Anne was overwhelmed by the number of people in attendance. Officers from many different British units were attired in formal dress uniforms, some accompanied by elegantly dressed women of all ages. Beset by a sudden attack of vertigo, Anne said, "I think I'll go sit down for awhile. It's awfully warm in here."

"All right," Tavington said. "I'll go get you some punch." After getting Anne settled in a comfortable chair on the enclosed terrace, he set off in search of the punch bowl.

He located the punch bowl and buffeble ble on the opposite end of the ballroom from where he'd left Anne. As he sidled up to the table, he found Bordon there by himself.

"Why don't you find a pretty young woman and dance?" Tavington said to Bordon, indicating several couples on the dance floor. "You certainly aren't going to have any fun standing here by yourself." He filled two glasses from the punch bowl as he spoke.

"I'm fine, sir," Bordon said. "I'd much rather watch."

"Suit yolf,\lf," Tavington replied, shrugging. As he turned from the punch bowl, his eyes camerestrest on a tall, buxom woman with raven hair who had just entered the ballroom alone. He froze, unable to take his eyes from her. As he continued to stare at her with frank desire, her eyes suddenly met his. An enigmatic hint of a smile appeared on her face.

"Good Lord!" Tavington said under his breath. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen a woman so enchanting. Making a half turn, he pushed the drinks into Bordon's hands. "Go find Mrs Martin and keep her company. Make up some sort of an excuse and tell her I will see her later." Not waiting for Bordon to respond, he quickly strode across the room in pursuit of the raven haired woman.

Bordon sighed loudly as he watched Tavington introduce himself to the woman, who appeared to be close to Tavington's age. Disgusted, but not surprised by his commander's behavior, he turned away to go find Anne Martin.

A few moments later, he found her sitting alone near a window, gazing out at the night sky. She looked up as she sensed Bordon's presence.

"May I join you?" he asked. "Colonel Tavington sends his regrets, but he was unfortunately called away to attend to some business. He asked me to tell you that he would see you later." Bordon got an uncomfortable lump in his throat at having to lie so blatantly to Anne. She deserved better.

"Please do," she said with a genuine smile. "But I'm not feeling all that well, so I'm afraid I won't be a very lively companion for you." Gazing down at herself, she continued, "And I'm afraid I wouldn't make a graceful dancing partner for you in my condition, either."

"I can't think of anyone's company I'd enjoy more tonight," Bordon told her. "And I'm not a very good dancer in any condition."

Anne giggled softly. "I\ure ure you're a fine dancer."

"No, really, I've got two left feet."

Anne laughed again, beginning to enjoy herself, in spite of it all.

"You looked so deep in thought when I first walked up," Bordon said a few minutes later. "If it's not too presumptuous of me to ask, what were you thinking of?"

"My husband, Gabriel," she told him. "I don't know if you are aware of this, but he's being held prisoner at the fort right now."

"No, I didn't know," he told her. "How did you find out?"

"William took me therthere to see him."

Bordon raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

"At first, I couldn't figure out why he let me see Gabriel," she said. "For the briefest of moments, I actually thought he was going to finally let me go and return to him." Sighing loudly, she continued, "But after he humiliated me in front of Gabriel and the other men, I knew that was a silly notion."

"What did he do?"

"He called attention to my.....condition," she said, blushing deeply. "He pulled my cape to the side and put his hands on my stomach." Looking away, she said, "He flaunted the fact that he'd cuckolded Gabriel."

"Bastard," Bordon said in a low voice.

"I was so embarrassed," she said. "And the look on Gabriel's face when he did this broke my heart."

"I'm so sorry," he said.

Anne sighed again. "Why don't we talk about something more cheerful for awhile," she said. "After all, it is nearly Christmas."

And, so, for the next hour or so, the two engaged in friendly conversation, each telling stories of happy Christmases past. Eventually, however, Anne began looking up expectantly every so often as the time dragged by and Tavington did not appear.

"I wonder what's keeping him?" she wondered out loud.

"I couldn't say," Bordon said.

"I'm afraid I can't wait for him much longer," she said. "I'm exhausted and I need to get some rest."

"I can escort you back to your quarters, if you like," he said. "And I will inform the colonel that you've retired when he returns."

"I'd appreciate that," she said, squeezing his hand gratefully.

A few moments later, they arrived at the door of the quarters Anne shared with Tavington. She turned to Bordon, taking both his hands in hers. "I want to thank you for staying with me tonight," she said. "You are such a gentleman."

"I enjoyed being with you," he said shyly. "I was lucky to get to share this evening with you."

"Well, I'll say goodnight now," she told him as she moved to open the door.

As soon as the door was ajar, Anne froze in the doorway, unable to speak.

"What is it?" Bordon was puzzled.

Still speechless, Anne merely pointed at the bed, where Tavington was intently making love to the raven haired woman Bordon had seen earlier at the party. The woman's head was thrown back in ecstasy, her legs wrapped tightly around Tavington's waist, their long ebony locks intertwined on the pillow.

Close to the height of their shared passion, neither Tavington nor the woman took any notice of Anne or Bordon in the doorway.

Seeing the devastated expression one'ne's face, Bordon pulled her back into the hall, firmly shutting the door behind them.

Bordon took her into his arms as she began to cry softly. "Come on, now," he said, as he gently stroked her hair. "We can't stay here in the hall. Come along with me."

Anne followed Bordon numbly. A few moments later, they stood in front of the door to his room.

"You can stay here tonight," he told her. "No one needs to know what happened."

After closing the door behind them, Bordon led her to a small couch, where Anne sank down gratefully.

"I'm so sorry to put you out like this," Anne said, after he'd sat down beside her. "I'm keeping you from the party."

"It isn't any trouble at all," he assured her. "I couldn't just leave you to sleep out in the hall now, could I?"

"I don't know why you've been so good to me," she said, taking his hand.

"Oh, I would think you should know why by now," he said quietly. Clearing his throat, he continued, "I love you, Anne. I think I've loved you since I first saw you."

Anne looked up in surprise. She'd had no idea. But as she gazed at him, it was now obvious to her. "James..."

Bordon took her into his arms and kissed her gently. For a long moment they did not speak, but just held one another.

"You don't know how much it has driven me insane these last few months to have to stand by while Tavington took advantage of you."

"Why didn't you speak up sooner?"

You\You're a married woman," he said. "I knew my feelings for you were hopeless; that your heart belongs to another."

"Oh, you're such a good, decent man," Anne told him. "It is such a shame that we did not meet years ago."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" He did not dare hope.

"Shh. Let's not talk," she said. "Just hold me."

Bordon continued to hold her, gently rubbing her back. They occasionally shared tender kisses, but he made no move to deepen their intimacy. Anne soon fell asleep in his arms, with Bordon following a short time later. They slept together this way for the rest of the night.