Roses of Stone

“I can’t believe . . . how could you . . .” Katherine’s look darkened considerably as she stood from her chair, her temper coming out from it’s deep hibernation. “HOW DARE YOU CONDEMN US TO BE EXSILED!!! To this place!?!? To this. . . HELL on earth!!” She nearly screamed at him. Tavington’s jaw clinched as he watched her loom over him. “Of all the moronic, idiotic, self-centered, disgraceful acts one could perform, I can NOT think of a worse one!”

William shot up from his chair as he stood toe to toe with her, looking down into her eyes. “If you are quite finished! I have acquired an obscene amount of land, more then 10 times the size of the estates we have in England!!” He roared back at her, “We will be more wealthy, and more powerful then ever!!”

“AT WHAT COST!!! To be banished from our home!! From everyone we know! From our families however few and scattered they may be! To leave everything we know and grew up in behind!!”

“IT’S A FRESH START FOR US, KATHERINE! We shall be away from all those hypocritical Asses who prefer to stare down their noses at us as though we were of a lower species!” She clinched her jaw this time, trying hard to fight the urge to hit him as hard as she could.

“IT IS YOU WHO HAS MADE US THIS!!! It is you who have condemned us both to hell! On earth and after death! It shall not be any different here! These people know you by name and face, and they will constantly be trying to kill us to seek their revenge!!” She clinched her teeth, “Haven’t you done enough!?!? Or do you seek to destroy what little is left of me!!”

Tavington reached up and grabbed her shoulders digging his nails into them, “QUIET! There is nothing that can change what has happened to you, nor what I have done thus far to secure our future!! What has been done, is done so I suggest you make peace with it!”

“MAKE PEACE WITH IT! How on earth could you say such a thing to me! Have you no idea what I have been through? Subjected to!?! What sorts of horrors that I have witnessed and endured! HOW AM I TO MAKE PEACE WITH THE GHOSTS YOU HAVE MADE!! How COULD you have made such a choice without consulting with me first!”

“I am not required to consult with you about every decision I make! Don’t dilute yourself into thinking you have any more rights or sway over me then you did before! You are my wife, and you WILL go where I go! I will have no more argument over it!”

“Oh don’t be so sure of that, my darling husband,” There was a familiar sarcastic tone that had not shown itself in quite sometime. “I intend to remind you of this foolhardy choice of yours quite often!”

“KATHERINE! We cannot go back, it is to late for that! We shall spend the rest of our lives here in these colonies and we shall live like royalty. Can you not see how much better and rich our lives shall be here then if we were to return!!”

“That doesn’t make it all right, William! Have you even thought about what will happen to us if we lose this war? We’ll both be executed for the parts we played in ending so many colonial lives!”

Tavington’s eye twitched at her insinuation. “Do not say that. Don’t even whisper it to yourself, Katherine. Do not show me the treason in your heart, to doubt the king’s army or England’s power. These are our colonies, they belong to us, and we shall take them back.”

Katherine just shook her head starring at him in disbelief. “William, this isn’t about England, or the army, or the colonies! It’s about what is going to become of us! When there is no more war, it will just be me and you, on our own, with no plans to fall back on!”

Tavington reach out and grabbed her shaking her hard, “Stop it, Katherine, STOP IT!” He shouted squeezing her arms tightly with a wild look in his eyes. She quieted feeling that twinge of fear that she had spoken of when she had first returned. “We can start a new life here, wealthy and rich beyond our wildest dreams, and all of this beautiful country to raise our children in. I have thought quite a lot about this, even before I made this pact with General Cornwallis.” Katherine couldn’t look at him anymore and turned her eyes away from him. Of course the way he explained it sounded wondrous and a heaven on earth. “I want to explore this country, and see what there is to see. So many uncharted regions, so many places untouched by human hand, or seen by human eyes. Don’t you see? We can disappear into the wilderness if we like, away from everything and everyone.”

“No we can’t William. We are accustomed to so much, and I have found out first hand what it is like to have nothing. Something you have not completely experienced yet, but if we continue on this route we both will.”

William stopped and sighed as though it was realized that it had come to the point in their arguments where they were at a draw and nothing could be decided or agreed upon one way or the other. “I want children, quite a number of them. I want us to have the chance to have a family together where we are more at an advantage to teach them and raise them as we see fit, then we would be if we went back.”

Katherine just starred at the wall, her mind racing around a million thoughts a minute. “Benjamin Martin was blessed with seven children. He did far worse atrocities then you, dismembering and torturing live victims, sending pieces of them all over to different forces . . .”

William looked at her, “You mustn’t dwell on such things, Katherine . . . don’t speak of them . . .” He said trying to keep her from reliving some horrible part of the nightmare she had endured. But she continued, as her eyes turned back to his.

“How is it that he is hailed as a hero, respected, and looked upon as if he has ascended the heavens with his deeds.” She couldn’t understand this, even though she tried. “Why are we hated, when he is loved?”

“He prefers to martyr himself, or at least he claims to do so. Acting as though he his serving some penance for sins long past, and his fellow countrymen tend to look on that as . . . noble, in their primitive minds.” Katherine took a deep breath, still not understanding what made them so incredibly different. “I on the other hand make no excuses for myself, and take full responsibility for my actions.”

“I know, William.” Katherine said softly, “If anything, you should be more revered then Martin.”

“Perhaps. But it doesn’t work that way my dear. My family name has never been ‘loved’ since my father destroyed whatever esteem we held.”

“Must we stay here, William? There are so many other places we could go. The mysterious east, Spain, Italy . . . . even France perhaps? Somewhere they have never heard the name Tavington and cannot make any presumptions about our history.”

Tavington just looked into her eyes in a way that let her know his mind was made up. They would stay here. She closed her eyes and took several more deep breaths. “It’s late. I am exhausted.” She pried herself away from his hands. “It is beyond time to retire.” She walked away from him, without a second glance to prepare for sleep. William just watched her a moment before removing his uniform so he could sleep as well.

Two days later, Katherine sat across from General Cornwallis as they had tea together. “So you see . . . I believe it was out of grief that he insisted on making this deal with you, My lord. Our son had just died, and I was believed to be deceased. Why else would he make such an abrupt and unconcerned choice?”

“Katherine, you should know him better then anyone by now. He made it out of greed and lust for revenge. Whatever he has done, he has only done for himself. I doubt that he has ever thought of anyone or anything else.”

The General took a drink of his tea as Katherine tried to think how else she could explain herself. “But to be banished from our home? To be outcasts? We have not committed treason, My Lord. Why must we be made to suffer a harsher punishment then death?”

“You are advocating a bit strongly aren’t you?” He said with half a smile as he looked at her. “Has he not told you of the enormous amount of land I have generously offered to give him if he completes his task? It hardly speaks of a punishment worse then death, My dear.”

Katherine didn’t know what else to say, of course someone else would be more then happy to have accepted such a gift. But Katherine wanted to go back to what felt familiar and what felt safe. She was tired from the unknown, and it had almost engulfed her several times. “Is there nothing that can be done.” She said softly looking into her cup of tea.

Cornwallis could see the sadness in her eyes and he leaned forward putting down his own cup. “Yes.” He began, causing her to look up at him with a gleam of hope in her eyes. “I can send you back to live at one of my estates. You’ll be safe and welcomed there with open arms. Then you will be able to return home.”

What little hope he had intended to offer her, was no hope at all. “I thank you, my lord.” She said softly. “But if there is no chance for both of us to regain entrance into our own country . . .” She stopped and just looked into her tea.

“I never intended to force you to stay here with him in exile.” He said bluntly looking at her, “I have made arrangements for you back in England. They are ready and waiting for your return.” She looked up at him a little shocked. “Then, once you are safely home, you can move on and start to forget this terror filled chapter in your life.”

“My Lord . . .” She breathed. For a moment, she could almost swear she saw her father in his eyes. The way he spoke to her, and the way he had seemed to decide what was best for her.

“Your father passed before Tavington’s true colors showed themselves, Katherine. He loved you, and he would have never wished any of what has happened upon you. It’s time that you were given a way out. Your freedom from this living nightmare.”

“General . . . please.” She said wanting him to stop. Closing her eyes she shook her head slightly not wanting to hear anymore. The temptations that were being thrown at her were almost too much for her to bare.

“You have endured far more then any other should. Frankly your father would have been disappointed that you have let yourself be used as a mat to wipe his boots on for so long.”

“UNCLE CHARLE!!” She nearly screamed what she called him when she was little, she stared at him with tears in her eyes. It incredibly inappropriate but she was far to upset to care. How could he say such things about her father? How could he say he would be disappointed of her? The worse pain was realizing that the General might be right. She put down her cup and gathered her skirts and curtsied, “Thank you for inviting me to tea my lord.” With that she hurried out the door and closed it behind her.

William stood in the stables brushing his horse. He had become rather annoyed with the private who apparently had no idea what he was doing and he snatched the brush away from him and threw him out of the stall. Tavington had a tendency to be a firm believer in the saying, “if you want something done right, do it yourself”.

“Hello.” William paused for a moment and shook his head, recognizing that voice. She moved in carefully and stood behind him. “Could I do that for you?”

“That will be the day, when I let a camp whore touch my horse.” He growled. Tawnie looked down a moment, wondering what else she could do.

“You left the camp without saying a word. I waited in your tent for you, but you never came back.” Tavington turned around and snatched her by the throat.

“Look you ignorant little trollop, I don’t know what you think you are in my eyes, but I assure you, that you are sorely mistaken. One of these days you will follow me to a place you have no business being, and I shall slit your throat and leave you to rot in the dirt!” He pushed her away and turned back to his horse to continue to groom him. Tawnie frowned and slowly picked herself up from the ground bushing her skirt off. She looked at William again and turned slowly leaving the stables.

“Here, this will help.” A woman of the house said as she sat next to Katherine in their room. “lay down, I’ll help you take it.” Katherine just looked at her not sure of this at all. “It’ll make you feel better Lady Tavington, trust me.” Cautiously Katherine lay back and the woman put a sort of crude mask over her face and poured some liquid on it. Katherine closed her eyes as the smell was so over powering at first, but then she started to feel light, and almost weightless. The woman watched to make sure Katherine didn’t have to much before she put the things away. “There, now you feel better don’t you.”

Katherine smiled a little and stretched her back slightly with an incredibly relaxed look on her face. “Now you just rest Lady Tavington. You won’t even have to think about all those troubles of yours.” With that, she gathered her things and left the room looking back at Katherine once more. She was humming to herself and stretching again as she starred at the ceiling, laying back as calm as could be. The woman smiled feeling as though she helped her quite a bit before leaving her alone.

William finished grooming his horse, and seeing to his things to make sure everything was in order. He patted his horses neck before he left the stables locking them up tight since more snow was expected to fall this evening. In part, he dreaded going back to their room that they were staying at whilst he was here, but of course Katherine’s rage was most understandable.

He walked slowly up the stairs and made his way back to their room opening the door and stepping inside. Katherine was laying on the bed enjoying the effects of the ‘medication’ that the woman had given her.

“It’s a little early to retire isn’t it?” William said as he turned and closed the door behind him locking it so that persons would have to knock before simply bursting in as some had grown accustomed to doing. Katherine just giggled as she turned over stretching again. William raised a brow looking at her again. “Katherine? Are you quite alright?”

Katherine raised her arms above her head, “Oh yes,” Then suddenly she sat up sharply, “I’m just . . .wonderful . . .everything is just wonderful!” She exclaimed as she looked at him. William just starred at her in disbelief looking from left to right wondering if this was some sort of prank. She laughed a little at the look in his eyes, “William, you look as though you had just seen a ghost?”

She stood up and moved towards him quickly taking his hand in hers. Tavington was still unsure of what was going on, “Perhaps you had better sit down, Katherine. I’m not sure that you are feeling well.”

“Oh William. Don’t you find me attractive anymore?” She said with a playful pout, before she started pulling him towards the bed. “Come, you look exhausted, you must want to rest.” Tavington’s brow arched once more, as the look in her eyes made it quite clear that rest was not what was on her mind.

“Katherine . . .I . .” She turned back around and kissed him hungrily before he could get another word out. He was still in shock at this sudden turn around by her and pulled back, only to have her wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him even more passionately then before.

Honestly, he didn’t see any reason to fight it if it was what she wanted. Even though he was hesitant at first he quickly submitted to her offer, and they began tearing at each other’s clothes throwing them to the ground before falling on the bed together naked. Katherine felt absolutely immortal and as though she was on fire inside her body. In a final moment of sanity, William reach up and took her wrist in his hands and forced them on either side of her head trying to regain his breath as he looked down at her. “Are you sure this is what you want?” He asked, still not sure if she was under some spell that made her like this.

“Make love to me, William.” She said breathlessly. That was all he wanted to know and he quickly consumed her mouth, as their to bodies entwined around each other again.

The next morning, the room looked like a shambles after the rather eventful night that the two had together. Katherine stirred a little turning over on her side. Her head felt as though it would pop at any moment. William felt her move and turned over wrapping his arm around her smiling as he kissed her shoulder and rested his cheek against her skin. “Good morning my beautiful tigress.” Katherine moaned a little bit reaching up and touching her forehead. His voice sounded like trumpets being blasted in her head. Tavington reached up under the sheets and gently massaged her breasts as he kissed her neck again.

“Tigress?” She whispered with her eyes still closed. “Did we lock horns so harshly last night that you call me a fierce beast?” She honestly couldn’t remember. William chucked slightly kissing her shoulder.

“I never knew you were so insatiable, Katherine. You’ve hidden it from me most effectively.” He chuckled still enjoying the touching her, feeling her soft warm skin against his. Katherine still couldn’t understand what he was talking about, and she felt so ill she simply couldn’t wrap her mind around it. She leaned back enough so that she could look up at him.

“What are you talking about?” She said softly with a look of utter confusion and cluelessness in her eyes. William’s smile faded a little as he looked down at her still holding her tight.

“You . . . you can’t honestly tell me that you don’t remember. How could you possibly not?” He asked her feeling a little wary now. Katherine raised her head and looked around the room, finding their clothes thrown every which way, furniture knocked from their proper places, and other odds and ends just scattered about.

She started to sit up slowly feeling as though she was going to pass out. Quickly clasping her hand over her eyes swaying slightly. William sat up as well and wrapped his arm around her waist from behind to steady her. “What is it darling?”

“ I don’t know. I’ve never felt so nauseated.” She forced herself to sit up and remove her hand from her eyes even though she kept them closed. “I suppose it has something to do with what that woman, Mary, gave me yesterday when I came back so upset.” Tavington froze and his eyes went wide as he suddenly realized why she was acting so strangely.

“What did she give you?” He asked looking at her seriously.

“I’m not sure, something that she doused a cloth with as she held it over my face.” Oh dear God, she was drugged. William covered his own eyes a moment before stretching his face with his hand, looking towards the ceiling. It was absolutely unbelievable. He should have known. But he had wanted her so much, and she was so inviting and alluring.

“Oh Katherine.” He said with a groan. However he paused, not wanting to quite let go yet. Perhaps she was still in the mood she was in last night. He kissed her neck and held her close. “Come back to bed, you need your rest.” He whispered as he kissed her ear.

Katherine’s eyes moved about the room again, realizing that perhaps they had shared a night together that should not have taken place. “What have I done.” She whispered as her eyes starred into the abyss.

“No sin has been committed here.” Reaching up he ran his finger over her cheek, “You enjoyed yourself, I saw it in your eyes more then once. I can assure you that I more then enjoyed myself, you were absolutely magnificent.” Katherine just looked further away from him trying hard to remember. Tavington sighed a little, “I don’t expect you to reenact last night, nor to I expect it to happen again. Especially knowing now that you were under the influence of something other then yourself. Yet, there is no point in turning away from me now. Please, don’t.”

“I went to see Lord Cornwallis yesterday, William.” She whispered. William managed to slowly pull her back further on the bed and have her lean against him. Still wanting her to simply lay with him, even if nothing else occurred.

“Oh?” He said gently running his fingers through her hair and down her neck and shoulder. Katherine sighed and closed her eyes.

“I asked him, I begged him to let us go home. To find a way to make it so that we wouldn’t be exiled for the rest of our lives.” William raised a brow at this, and became a little annoyed at that news. After all he had done to achieve such a goal she had tried to undo it. “But he wouldn’t.” she said closing her eyes. Well, obviously there was no need to get upset, since the General seemed to pay no mind to her request. “Not for the both of us.”

“Pardon?” For some reason, that grabbed his attention immediately. “What do you mean ‘both of us’?” He said looking down at her.

Katherine looked up at him, “He has made arrangements for me to return to England. So that I can . . . forget about you, and start my life anew.” William’s jaw clinched as his eyes darkened considerably. How dare he. How DARE he! Several moments passed as William sat in silence thinking about all the ways he could kill that bastard, and at the moment disemboweling was his foremost choice.

“I told him no.” She whispered. Tavington looked at her again, shocked once more. He was sure that with an opportunity such as that, she would jump at the chance for freedom. Tears started to fill her eyes, “And he . . . informed me of how disappointed my father would be in me . . . if he was still alive.”

“That is utter nonsense and I know you have the wit to realize that.” Katherine’s look in her eyes made it clear that it was hard for her not to believe that he was disappointed in her after everything she had done, and the unconventional practices that she had incorporated through their marriage, and during their time in the colonies. William sighed and lay her down on the bed, before lying next to her with his arms around her tight. “Rest. The effects of the ether will wear off soon.”

“Ether. Why does that sound so familiar?” She said softly.

“Because. It is what surgeons use before amputating a limb or performing surgery. It gives you a feeling of euphoria and pain may still be present, but you do not care one bit.” He kissed her shoulder and rested his head against it. “I shall have to take a switch to that woman who had the audacity to give it to you, and share in her addiction.”

“She was only trying to help.” Katherine said softly closing her eyes. She was so tired, and her body was sore. “William . . . what on earth happened last night?”

Tavington wished that it had all been of her design as he had thought in the first place. But apparently it wasn’t and they would simply have to deal with it. “We made love together . . . more times then I could count.” William was still feeling a bit tired himself. “An experience I shall treasure on nights in the field when you are here, and I am out there.”

Katherine didn’t mean to be rude but she had fallen back asleep so quickly she didn’t hear his response. William looked at her again, a little saddened by learning the truth, but still. That woman was inside her somewhere, a woman who longed for him and wanted him so badly that she would not wait for his advance and would make her own. Honestly, he didn’t want it to be a permanent occurrence. He preferred to be in complete control of encounters of this sort between him and Katherine.

That evening, the two Tavington’s were invited to an officer’s dance at a hall in the city. Neither of them felt like going very much, but they had a duty and had to perform it. Katherine’s Christmas dress was made of red velvet, and her cloak matched with a gold clasp at her neck, and long white gloves. She wore diamond earrings, a diamond bracelet and a diamond necklace and had her hair swept up with silver clips. William looked as handsome and devinare as ever in his dress uniform, and he offered her his arm when they stepped from the carriage and led her inside.

The two Tavington’s must have looked absolutely magnificent considering how many heads they turned when they entered. They made their way across the room to a less crowded place, so they wouldn’t have to mingle to horribly much. William’s eyes looked about, and he couldn’t help but feel an utter hate towards everyone in the room. They were tolerable before, but now they were going out of their way to make both he and Katherine miserable.

Lord Cornwallis approached the couple, “Katherine, you look absolutely radiant.” He said taking her hand and gently kissing her knuckles. William bowed, and Katherine curtseyed, but neither of them smiled at the General.

“Thank you, My Lord.” She said coldly, still hurt over what he had said to her only yesterday. William just glared at Cornwallis, knowing that he was trying to take Katherine away from him, to a place that he could not retrieve her without being stopped at every turn.

Cornwallis just looked at them both, reading the looks in their eyes far better then they had intended. “I suggest that you enjoy yourselves tonight. Since we will have many things to discuss in the coming days.” He looked at William, “Especially you.”

“My Lord, you received my answer yesterday.” Katherine broke in before William could say anything. “Nothing is going to change my mind, and I am still quite insulted that you would make such an assumption.” Cornwallis just looked at her for a moment.

Then without a word, he turned and walked away to see to his other guests. As soon as he turned away Katherine felt sick to her stomach that she had spoken to him in such a way. She started to go after him to apologize but William grasped her wrist and pulled her back to him. “Don’t Katherine. Let it be.” She sighed softly and nodded a little.

A waltz began to be played and William took Katherine by the hand and led her to the dance floor. Katherine was a little suspicious of this, since she was under the impression that he never liked to dance. He held out hand once more to her, offering her a dance partner. “Do you remember the dances I took you to when I was courting you?”

“Yes, I remember that you never seemed to like to dance and refused to look me in the eye.” She said bluntly still being careful and watching him closely. “Except for when my father was watching.”

“Well, your father isn’t watching you now.” He said half smiling. “Besides, I do believe that we were quite good together.” Katherine was still hesitant, but finally she gave in and took William’s hand. He took her in his arms and they began to dance around the room, quite gracefully and masterfully.

The General watched them quietly, glaring at Tavington. Jeanette and Andrew who were standing off to the side were starring at the two as they moved about the room, with a very disapproving look. Several others stopped and starred at the two as well, and whispers and mumbles seem to arise throughout the room.

Katherine couldn’t help but feel as though she was part of a strange dream. She looked into Williams blue piercing eyes, and he looked back into hers. In that moment, there was a confidence there that Katherine hadn’t felt in a long time. She had always been able to maintain a confidence in herself, even if her confidence was lacking in their marriage. For the first time, she felt as if everything was going to work out for them somehow.

Just then, a commotion near the entrance seemed to interrupt the ball and stopped even the music playing. “Miss! You can’t come in here, I must ask you to leave!” One of the guards at the door said holding back a young girl.

“Please, PLEASE I have to see him, I have to see him now!” William sighed as their dance together had to stop. There was simply no room to waltz with Katherine with everyone standing still.

“If you don’t leave of your own will I will have to remove you from these premises by force!”

“I have to see him, I have to see Colonel Tavington now!!” She cried. William turned around and felt a sudden horror wash over him. There at the door, he saw Tawnie struggling to get in for all she was worth. Several of those in the room looked towards Tavington before looking back at the young girl. Katherine was a little shocked as well and wondered what was going on.

There was only one other person in the room who recognized Tawnie. It was Jeanette, who had shooed her out of the Colonel’s tent and threaten to beat her if she returned a second time. “Colonel Tavington, COLONEL TAVINGTON!” She cried even louder.

William took a nervous breath feeling rather embarrassed and angry at the same time. He pardoned himself from Katherine and quickly made his way through the crowd. “That will be all private.” He growled as he snagged the girl up roughly by her arm and walked her outside so fast her feet almost couldn’t touch the floor. He walked her around to the side that might give them freedom to talk.

“I warned you of this rather recently,” He snarled, “I told you what would happen to you if you followed me into a place you had no business being! Your career will be the shortest one in history!” He growled throwing her up against the wall. “How DARE you burst into an officers ball like that and call me by name!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to do. I was afraid!” She said with tears streaming down her face.

“Apparently not afraid enough, otherwise you would have stayed far away from here! There is nothing you could possibly be afraid of that is worse then what you have done tonight!” He roared as he smacked her still angry from what had occurred. Tawnie’s hand clutched to her face where his hand had assaulted her as she almost coward against the wall not wanting to be struck again. “TELL me what you could possibly consider so frightening, that you would carelessly throw away your life!” Tawnie’s lip quivered as her eyes turned away not even able to look at him. “TELL ME!” He roared again.

She took a breath as her lip quivered and more tears fell from her eyes, “I . . . I’m going to have a baby.” Tawnie said as fast as she could still not looking at him, almost ashamed to. Tavington just stood there a moment in complete and utter shock. His mind quickly ran back to the few encounters they had. He was drunk . . . not very aware of what he was doing at all. He could have forgotten himself more then once for something like this to have happened. “I . . . I haven’t been with anyone else but you. . . . I didn’t know where else to go.”

Tavington just stared at her with a wild look in his eyes. Within an instant he had made up his mind what to do about it. He pulled his dagger from it’s sheath and pressed Tawnie up against the wall, putting the blade to her throat.

“WILLIAM!” A voice came from just by the corner where he had taken Tawnie. He looked over to see Katherine standing there watching the scene that had just played out, and stopped him before he killed the girl. Everything seemed to stand still, and the silence was absolutely deafening. William couldn’t speak, he couldn’t move, and he almost felt as though he couldn’t breathe. Finally, he took his attention away from Katherine long enough to throw Tawnie away from him before he continued on with his rampage despite what Katherine had wanted. Tawnie was still in tears and she started to scramble to her feet near, Katherine. “Get home girl.” Katherine said not taking her eyes off William. Tawnie swallowed the lump in her throat and quickly ran taking Katherine’s advice.

It felt as though an eternity had passed. But still, utter silence.