Innocence Lost

Chapter Thirteen

Late the next morning, Bordon awakened first when bright rays of sunlight shone through the window into his eyes. He smiled when he saw Anne's head on his chest, eyes still closed in sleep. Though his back was stiff from sleeping half sitting up, he did not move, wanting to enjoy the sight of Anne lying in his arms for as long as possible. All too soon, however, Anne's eyelids fluttered open.

"Good morning," he said, giving her a kiss. "Did you sleep well?"

"Not too badly," she said, smiling.

After stretching the kinks of hif his back, Bordon stood up and went over to the window. Looking out, he said, "I think we've missed breakfast; it must be nearly ten o'clock." Looking down into the courtyard, he saw Tavington heading in the direction of Cornwallis' office. Noting that Anne had moved to stand by him, he said, "He's alone. It should be safe for you to return to your room now."

Anne frowned at the sight of her lover, completely disgusted with him. "Well, at least I can go back and change my clothes," she said.

"I think I'll go have a word with him while you do that," Bordon said. "I will meet you later for the noon meal."

After parting with Anne at the door to Tavington's quarters, Bordon hurried outside in search of his commanding officer. He found him returning from Cornwallis' office, striding angrily back across the compound.

"Bordon!" Tavington called out. "There you are! Where have you been?" Not waiting for a reply, he plunged on, "I cannot believe how stupid Cornwallis is! You simply will not believe what he's done now!"

Knowing that Tavington was wound up, Bordon remained silent, waiting for his commanding officer to continue.

"Ban Tarleton does me the favor of capturing several of Benjamin Martin's men, including his son, and what does that pompous ass Cornwallis do? He turns the entire lot of them loose! And before we can conduct any intense interrogations!" Stabbing the air with his index finger for emphasis, Tavington continued, "When I went to ask him why he'd done this, he told me it was a Christmas amnesty gesture." Tavington spat scornfully at this notion. "We'll never win this war with that kind of soft headed sentiment!"

Having spent his ire, Tavington looked at Bordon for the first time, noticing his rumpled uniform. "What's the matter, Bordon? Did you sleep in your clothes?" With a wicked grin, thinking of the night of passion he'd had the night before, he continued, "I can assure you that I most certainly did not spend the night in my clothes. That woman from the party was as extraordinarily talented in bed as she was beautiful."

Noting Bordon's baleful stare, he asked, "What is it, Bordon?"

"Have you not even given a thought as to how Mrs Martin spent last night?" he demanded. "She discovered you in bed with that woman when I escorted her back from the party."

"I can't see how this is any of your business," Tavington snapped. "Or Anne's, for that matter. It's not as if I'm married to her."

"My God, man, she's about to give birth to your child!" Bordon exclaimed. "Or have you forgotten that?"

"Actually, I have given the matter some thought," Tavington said casually. "It's time to send Mrs Martin back to her husband, I think. I've adequately made my point to the Martins, so it's time to move on. It was quite pleasurable to......educate....her, but it's gotten tiresome. She is awfully young, after all, and she's beginning to bore me."

Bordon was speechless with disgust. Tavington’s cavalier attitude about Anne sickened him.

"She's within weeks of giving birth!" Bordon had finally found his voice. "You just can't turn her out at the gates of the fort!"

Tavington rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I have no intention of doing any such thing," he said. "In fact, considering that you are so concerned about the fate of Mrs Martin, why don't you escort her home?"

"You would allow that?" Bordon asked.

"Of course," Tavington said offhandedly. "I don't hate the woman, nor do I wish her any harm." After a pause, he added, "And there is the little matter of her carrying my child, which makes her safety that much more important to me."

"When can I take her?"

"Right away," Tavington said. "She won't be able to travel much longer."

"I'll go tell her." Bordon said.

"No," Tavington said. "It is my place to tell her." As almost an afterthought, he said softly, "And I want to say goodbye to her in private."

Bordon looked at Tavington closely. Obviously, the man cared more than he was willing to admit.

"You may take five men along with you," Tavington told him. "Plus, the slave woman, Sally, will accompany you to see to any personal needne mne might have."

"Yes, sir."

"You have two hours to make preparations," he said. "We will meet you back here then." Tavington was already walking off in the direction of his quarters.

Five minutes later, he opened the door to his room and found Anne sitting by the window, facing away from him. She did not acknowledge Tavington's presence in any way. As he walked over to her, he noted her tear-stained cheeks.

"Anne," he said softly as he put his hands on her shoulders, then reached up to brush a tear from her face.

She remained silent, but continued to twist the handkerchief she held in her lap.

"I've got some good news for you," he said.

She looked up at him for the first time, waiting for him to continue.

"Come over here and sit by me and I'll tell you," he said, taking her hand and leading her over to the bed.

"I've decided to let you go back to your husband," he said after they'd seated themselves at the end of the bed. Leaning over to kiss her tenderly, he said, "Merry Christmas, Anne."

"Just like that?" Anne asked, not quite believing him. Looking at him with narrowed eyes, she said, "Oh, I think I understand now. It would be rather awkward for you take a new mistress when your old one is still around, great with child."

Tavington sighed in irritation. He despised jealous women. However, he wanted to end it with Anne with as little fuss as possible.

Leaning his forehead against hers, he put his arms around her. "You know it cannot work out between us in the long run," he said earnestly. Kissing her again, he continued, ""You aren't in love with me; that's just your pride talking."

"You're right," she admitted. "You know, all this time I've been with you, I've dreamed of this day, when I'd finally get to go home to Gabriel. But now that it's going to happen, I'm scared. I'm afraid he won't want me back because I'm carrying your child."

"If he doesn't, then perhaps he doesn't love you as much as you thought he did," Tavington said. "Do you doubt his love for you?"

"No. Not really." Anne wasn't sure about anything any more.

"Let's not talk any more," Tavington said, easing Anne back onto the bed. "Let's say goodbye properly....something for you to remember me by."

"I think you've given me quite enough to remember you by," Anne said with a cynical laugh as she placed his hand on her stomach at the precise moment the baby chose to kick.

"Oh!" he said, the barest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "He's an active little fellow, isn't he?"

"You could say that," she said. "The kicking keeps me awake most nights."

"Just like his father, hmm?"

"Oh, yes." Anne said, finally giving him a smile. "No doubt about that."

With his arms still around Anne, Tavington kissed her hungrily as he began to slowly undress her.

As the familiar feelings of pleasure began washing over her, Anne's anger at him melted away like snow in the morning sun. She clung desperately to Tavington as he started making love to her, urging on. on. Their lovemaking was hard and furious, their passion spent quickly. Afterwards, they lay side by side, both panting raggedly.

A few minutes later, Tavington got out of bed and walked to the window, still naked. Several mounted dragoons were milling about near a waiting carriage in the courtyard. Captain Bordon stood talking to the carriage's driver, while Anne's maidservant, Sally was placing packages inside the carriage.

"It looks as if Bordon is nearly ready to leave," Tavington said. Looking back at Anne who was sitting on the side of the bed, he continued, "Time to get ready to go, my sweet."

"I suppose you're right," she said hesitantly.

A short time later, Tavington helped Anne up into the carriage, where Sally already sat waiting for her. Standing outside the open carriage door, he handed her a large sum of money and said, "If you need anything at all for the baby or yourself, have word sent and I will see to it. If you need my protection, never hesitate to ask for it." Taking her hands, he leaned forward and gave her a last, tender kiss. "Remember me," he whispered in her ear. After Anne gave him a long, penetrating gaze, he stepped back suddenly, turned and hurried away without looking back.