Innocence Lost

Chapter Fourteen

As soon as Tavington had left, Bordon came over to the carriage. "We're ready to leave, Anne," he said softly. "Where do you want me to take you?"

"Pembroke," she said resolutely. "That is, if my parent's home was not burned."

"It's still there," he assured her. "It is just as it was when you last saw it."

"Let's go, then," Anne told him.

Bordon nodded, giving a signal to the waiting men. After quickly mounting his horse, he slowly led the group out of the fort.

Late the next night, they quietly slipped into Pembroke. Just before reaching town, the
dragoons veered off, following the carriage from a distance in the case that any rebels might observe their approach. Bordon dismounted, handing his horse's reins to one of the men. He got into the carriage with Anne to ride the rest of the way into town.

"I'm going to miss you," Anne said to Bordon as the carriage slowly rumbled into Pembroke. "More than you know." Sighing loudly, she said, "I wish things could be different between us."

"No more than I wish it," he said, taking her hands into his own. "You do know that I'll always be here for you if you need me. I would do anything for you."

"I know," she said, smiling.

As the carriage came to a halt in front of her parent's home. Anne was surprised to see a candle burning in the window of the front room.

"Somebody's there!" she said, alarmed. At that moment, the door opened and a small, middle aged woman stepped out cautiously.

"That's my mother's sister, Mary Ellis," Anne told Bordon, relieved. "I was afraid strangers had moved into the house."

"Who is it?" Mary Ellis called out, still standing in the doorway. She wasn't expecting anyone.

Turning to Sally, Bordon said, "You get out first so Mrs Martin's aunt isn't startled." After the slave woman obeyed, Anne slowly climbed out next, taking Sally's hand as she did so.

"Oh, dear Lord, it's Anne!" Mary exclaimed, as she hurried over to the carriage. "Gabriel told me that you'd been kidnapped by the Green Dragoons, by that horrible man, Tavington."

"It's so good to see you, Aunt Mary," Anne said, rushing to hug her. As the women enjoyed an emotional reunion, Bordon stepped from the carriage after noticing his men had taken up strategic positions in the shadows.

Mrs Ellis stepped back fearfully when she noticed Bordon.

"Don't be scared," Anne told her. "Captain Bordon brought me home. He's been a perfect gentleman."

"Obviously, someone has not been, though," Mary observed, not unkindly. She'd noticed Anne's pregnancy when she'd hugged her.

"I'd really rather not talk about that now," Anne said, frowning. "We'll talk later."

Bordon had stepped to the front of the carriage, directing the carriage driver to help Sally bring Anne's things into the house, telling him to be quick about it.

Later, once all of Anne's belongings had been brought into the house and Bordon saw that she would be safe, he stood at the door with Anne to say goodbye. Mary, sensing the feelings between them, had gone into the kitchen to allow them to part in private.

"I will always love you, you know," Bordon told her as he took her into his arms.

"I know," she said, leaning her head against his shoulder. "And I will likewise hold you in my heart, always wondering how it might have been for us."

Bordon did not reply, but bent his head to give her a lingering goodbye kiss. After a long interval, he broke away reluctantly.

"I'd better go," he said, turning to the door.

"I love you!" Anne said quickly as he stepped through the door.

He paused for a moment, looked back at Anne with a slight smile, then continued on.

Anne stood at the window watching him until he was gone.

As she turned away from the window, Mary was standing behind her. "Do you want to talk now?" ask asked. "I've made us some tea."

The younger woman nodded, following her aunt into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, the women were seated in front of the fire, each holding a steaming cup of tea. "Why did the British let you go?" her aunt asked.

"I don't really know," Anne said. "Perhaps becauseChriChristmas. They never really told me why."

"I guess it doesn't matter why," Mary said. "You're home and that's all that matters.

"How long have you been staying here?" Anne asked her aunt, changing the subject.

"Quite a while," Mary said. "Gabriel asked me to stay here until you could come home. He was afraid squatters would take the house over unless someone lived here."

"Have you seen Gabriel?"

"Well, the British had captured him, but thet hit him go," Mary said. "He'd just gotten back home yesterday and he visited me then."

"He was here?"

"Yes, but he left to go find his father," the older woman said. "He'll be back within a few days, though. He comes to Pembroke fairly often, as many of his father's men have moved into the empty houses after that awful fire."

"He'll be surprised to find me home," Anne said, smiling.

"That's not the only thing he'll be surprised by," Mary said, looking pointedly at Anne's stomach. "I assume that the man who brought you here is responsible for your condition?"

"No, actually he isn't," Anne said, clearly uncomfortable to be discussing the matter. "And Gabriel already knows. I saw him when he was in British custody."

"He didn't mention seeing you," Mary said. "I wonder why?"

Anne hung her head. She knew why.

Mary did not notice Anne's red face. "Who is the father of your child, then?" she asked again. "Could it possibly be Gabriel?"

"If only it could be!" Anne said fervently. "But there's almost no chance of that."

"Who, then?"

Looking away in embarrassment, she said in a low voice, "Colonel Tavington."

"Oh, my." Mary Ellis knew of Tavington's reputation as "Bloody Tavington the Butcher" and immediately visualized Anne being subject to frequent harsh, brutal violations. "You poor dear."

"It's getting late, Aunt Mary," Anne said. "I really need to get some rest." She didn't want to discuss her life with William with her aunt any longer.

"Of course, dear," she said. "Your bedroom is just as you left it."

"Thank you," the younger woman said. "I'll see you in the morning then."

Anne had trouble sleeping that night; she'd gotten used hariharing a bed with Tavington and it was odd to be sleeping alone again after so long. After tossing and turning for several hours, she finally fell into a fitful slumber.