Bordon's Girl

CHAPTER 19 Desperation

When Tessa could cry no more, she sat up on her bed and sighed in despair. She walked to the window and looked outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of her beloved.

“Oh, William,” she lamented. She closed her eyes and shook her head. Oh God, what am I going to do, she asked herself. I’ve got to do something! I don’t want to leave William! I can’t go home, I just can’t!

Tess was trapped. She was forbidden from leaving her room. She knew she couldn’t talk to or see William. Tess had to think of a way to get word to him about this problem. She wasn’t even sure if or how William could help her. She thought about things for a moment.

Then, she had an idea. She went to her desk and quickly scribbled a note to Will. Tess knew that one of the servants would be in to help her pack.

After a few more moments, Major Bordon left the suite to assemble with the other Dragoons at the large main tent to receive patrol and reconnaissance assignments. He had settled down, at peace with his decision to send his daughter home to England. He was sure that he had put an end to all contact between Tess and Will and that she would not see him, even to say goodbye, before she left in the morning.

This was assured, as well, by the duties the dragoons would fulfill this afternoon and evening. Tavington would be too busy with his men to see Tessa. Bordon had decided that he would not tell his commander that he knew of his affair with Tess. He feared that if Tavington knew that he was sending his daughter home, that the Colonel would try to contact—or worse yet—try to stop her. Bordon was not going to chance anything like this. He would be silent and just go about business as usual; Tav would never know that there was anything wrong.

Once outside, Bordon put a smile on his face, pulled his shoulders back, and joined his men in the main tent. Tavington was already there with most of the men. Soon, all the dragoons were gathered and ready to receive orders.

Colonel Tavington stood in front of a board that had a map pinned upon it. “Alright men,” Tavington began. “This afternoon, this evening, and possibly overnight, we split into two units and patrol and survey these areas.”

Tavington pointed to the map and went on. “Red cavalry goes South along the Carolina Road. Green Cavalry is going to head West along Burlington Road.” He outlined the routes on the board. The men watched and listened intently.

Tavington continued. “Reds are under Major Bordon and Captain Wentworth.” Bordon was jotting notes quickly as his commander spoke. His mind had temporarily forgotten his personal troubles and was thinking strictly of his impending duty. He was a true military man.

“Greens are going with me,” Tavington concluded. It was a brief assembly, and the men broke up and started gathering their gear and horses. Bordon was chatting with Private Bernard as he left the area and entered the barn.

Just after he did, a young servant girl rounded the corner of the tent and handed Colonel Tavington a message. He thanked her, now seated at a table, and began to read the note.

My Dear William,

Something dreadful has happened and I need you right away. There is too

much to explain in this note.

I am begging you to send my father away on an assignment that will keep him

busy for awhile. I must see you to tell you what has transpired.

Please think of a way that you might get away to meet with me. I implore you to

keep this discreet. Please do not let this note fall into Geoffrey’s hands, or even

let on that you received something from me.

I will watch from my window for my father to leave. I will meet you at our secret

place sometime within the hour after he leaves. Wait for me there, or I will wait

for you.

Love,

Your Tess

William was alarmed, but folded the note and acted nonchalant. He looked around for Bordon, then saw him leading his horse from the barn along with Private Bernard and his steed. The two were engaged heavily in conversation. Good, thought William. Bordon didn’t see me get the note. He’ll never know who delivered it.

Tavington strolled over to the Major and the private. He made sure they saw him folding the piece of paper and tucking it into his breast pocket.

“Uh, plans have changed,” began Tavington.

“Oh?” asked Bordon, knitting his eyebrows.

“Yes,” Will replied. “I just received word from Headquarters that I am to meet with General O’Hara and Colonel Tarleton there this afternoon, among other duties they would like me to attend to there today. Seems these things can not wait.” Tavington feigned irritation, trying to make the men think he’d rather be on patrol then at the fort.

Bordon thought for an instant. He did not want to be away on patrol and have Tavington here to sneak a visit to his daughter. Bordon went often to the fort to do work for the dragoons. It would not be unusual for him to go now. He spoke up.

“Would you rather me go instead,” he offered cordially.

Tavington thought nothing out of the ordinary by this offer. If it were real instead of an excuse to meet his lover, he would have gladly have let Bordon go in his place.

“No, Bordon. They specifically requested me,” he lied. “By the contents of the note, I fear it is going to keep me over there the remainder of the day and all evening.”

Tavington acted disgusted. It worked. He knew Bordon respected him enough not to ask to look at the note.

By this time, most of the dragoons were assembled in the immediate area. Some were milling about, some were loading their saddle bags, while others were already mounted upon their horses and ready to leave. Tavington waved them all in close.

“Plans have changed, men,” he stated. “I’ve been called to the Fort. Green cavalry is now going to go with Captain Wentworth in my place. Reds, you are still under Major Bordon.” He turned to the Provisional, Lieutenant Scott. “Scott, you are coming with me to the Fort.”

“Yes sir,” answered the young Lieutenant.

He turned back to Bordon. “There is so much I’ve got to take care of over there that I’m going to have Scott help me with it. It will be good for his commander training, as well. I’d have you go with me, but since we have to split the patrol to cover more ground faster, I’ve got to have you take one of the units.”

“I understand,” Bordon said, thinking nothing of it. He reasoned that he would rather have the Provisional doing the administrative work, and the more experienced commander to lead the patrol unit. This was fine with Bordon.

Tavington’s horse was brought to him. He mounted the beast and saluted his men, wishing them safety and luck.

Bordon watched Tavington and Scott ride away toward the fort. He was happy that the officer was going to be kept busy at the fort long into the night, and away from his daughter. He felt at ease as he readied to leave.

From the window, Tess had watched Tavington and the young Lieutenant leave. She saw them riding in the direction of Fort Carolina, but wondered exactly where they were going and when William would return. She had been assured by the servant the Tavington had received and read her note. Tessa could only assume that this was part of his plan, and that he would return soon. She would go ahead with her plan to meet him within the hour.

Tess watched the rest of the dragoons leave together a few minutes later. She breathed a sigh of relief when her father left. Moments later, she left her room and hurried to the secret place where she would meet William.

A short while after leaving Surrey Hills Plantation, Lieutenant Scott and Colonel Tavington rode through the gates of Fort Carolina. Once inside the main house, Tavington made sure to be seen by a lot of the personnel, so that they could verify that he had been there if they were asked later.

William asked Lieutenant Scott to wait outside of O’Hara’s office for him. He came back out after a minute or so. When he had been inside, he told O’Hara that he wanted Scott to meet with him and go over some of the Dragoon business, telling him that this would be good training for the young Lieutenant. O’Hara, luckily agreed to meet with the young officer that afternoon.

Tavington smiled as he left the office. His tracks and bases were all covered, he made sure of it. He would soon be free to meet with his beloved Tessa back at the plantation.

The Colonel entered the hallway and found Scott. “Lieutenant Scott, you know that you will someday be a Captain and the second in command of a cavalry unit. So, today, O’ Hara has agreed to meet with you in my place to discuss business just as I would with him. You’ll need to know all this when you become a commander.”

“Yes, sir,” the Lieutenant obeyed.

Tavington continued, spinning his elaborate lie. “And, it seems that there was less to do over here than at first anticipated. So, since the patrols have already left, I am going to head on back to the plantation and spend the rest of the day doing paperwork that I am so far behind on. I trust to leave you here to take care of the duties at hand.”

“Don’t worry, Sir. I’ll be fine,” Scott assured him with a smile.

With that, Tavington bid the young man farewell and excused himself. He got on his horse and rode at a fast pace out of the fort gates. He was very anxious to meet his lover and find out what the trouble was.

* * * * * *

At their meeting place, Tess waited anxiously for William. As soon as she heard his horse, she turned to meet him. William quickly dismounted and secured his horse.

Tess flew into his arms and hung on to him tightly. He wanted to kiss her, but she was hiding her face in his shoulder, crying hard.

William was worried, knowing something awful must have happened for her to be this upset. He held her to him and let her sob.

After another moment, he took hold of her shoulders and gently pushed her back from him. He needed to look at her face.

“What’s wrong,” he asked with concern.

“Geoffrey knows about us,” she said in a voice wracked with sobs.

“What? How?”

“I don’t know how,” she said. “But he confronted me late this morning.”

Tess was fighting back more tears as she tried to explain to him. “Oh, my God, William. He was so mad at me. I have never seen him so angry!”

William was puzzled. “But, your brother didn’t say anything to me about it before he left. I don’t…..understand……” His voice trailed off as he shook his head in confusion.

“He’s going to send me home,” Tess exclaimed.

“What?!” Tavington asked in disbelief.

“He’s sending me home to England,” she repeated. “He is determined to keep me from you at any cost.”

“Well, I knew this would happen,” Tavington remarked.

Tess stepped back against William’s body seeking comfort. She buried her face in his chest and wept uncontrollably.

“Oh, William. What are we going to do? I don’t want to go home to England. I want to be with you!”

“Ssshhhh,” he quieted her, “I know. We’ll think of something.”

Tavington was at a loss. As she cried and he held her, his mind was a whirlwind. He loved Tess too much to let her go. He would do anything in his power to stop this. But, he knew she risked disgrace if she defied her father. He could disown and disinherit her from what little the Bordon family had, if he so chose. He knew she cared not for the inheritance, but cared that she would lose the only parent she had ever known, and the only family member she had left.

William also put himself into Bordon’s shoes. William knew that he, too, would someday be the head of his family and household. He would not want a daughter’s suitor causing trouble for him, nor would he let a family member defy him. He could actually understand what Bordon was feeling. Will was torn.

William held her tight. He kissed her head and threaded his fingers into her long, strawberry red blonde hair. He tussled her curls with his fingers and caressed it softly.

“Tess, I love you,” he whispered tenderly to her. “I don’t want you to leave.”

In a moment, she had calmed and stopped crying. Tess let go of him and he stepped back from her. He really was at a loss over what to do about this. He did not want her to go, yet he didn’t want her to face shame with him.

He sighed and shook his head. “Don’t worry darling,” he comforted, “We’ll……we’ll think of something.”

Both were quiet, except for the sound of Tessa’s sniffles. They both felt deep despair.

Tess looked at William. To her, he looked so lost and helpless.

She crossed her arms and turned away from him. She heaved a very heavy sigh and shook her head.

William felt she was uneasy and thought she may have wanted to talk with him more.

“What is it, Tess,” he asked.

She kept her back to him for she was once again fighting back tears. She was trying to hide them.

“Tess?”

“Oh, William,” she sobbed aloud, no longer able to hold it back.

“What?” he asked. “What is it, darling?”

“I know you’re going to be upset,” she stated.

William was confused. “About?”

She really did not want to say this, but knew she had to. She turned back to face him with tears in her eyes.

“Will…..I….I…..,” her voice trailed off.

Tavington looked at her and cocked his head to the side. He couldn’t imagine what else could be worse than her having to leave. He kept silent, allowing her to find the words to continue on.

“I…..I’m pregnant,” she said. She started to cry again.

William was dumbfounded. He had become complacent the last year, trying to stave off pregnancy by withdrawing himself from her before ejaculation. And, even in the very few times he had not been able to control himself and pull out in timeor just gave in to temptation, he had become smug with the fact that he had been lucky that she had not become with child. Maybe he thought it would not happen until he wanted it to.

He hoped he hadn’t heard her right. “You’re going to have a baby,” he asked, seeking confirmation, but hoping desperately that he was wrong.

“Yes,” she answered.

“How far along are you?”

“Two months,” Tess replied. She had known for two weeks after visiting the Fort doctor.

Tessa had been sick for two weeks with nausea, vomiting, and dizzy spells. She hadn’t mentioned anything to her father about it because she thought it was nothing. The doctor thought she was getting over the flu.

The doctor asked her if anything out of the ordinary was wrong. She spoke up and told him that she had not had her once a month “lady’s time”. The doctor then took back his original diagnosis and told her, after pressing on her lower abdomen, that she was with child.

She knew she would have to tell Will, but she didn’t know how. Tess had hesitated as well for she knew William wouldn’t be happy about this.

So, now, as she told him, she could see his disappointment, which only made her feel worse. She suspected that he was not ready to be a father.

“I’m sorry, William,” she cried out. “I’m so sorry!” She buried her face in her hands and wept.

This made William feel badly. He knew it wasn’t all her fault, yet she was blaming herself. He was just as much to blame. He knew she probably felt very alone and insecure, thinking that he might abandon her or say that the baby was not his. Knowing that she was already upset by her brother’s anger toward her and being forced to go home, he did not want to add more to the dilemma. He loved her too much.

“It’s alright, Tess,” he said, in a voice that sounded as though he had surrendered himself unwillingly to a hopeless situation.

“Please don’t cry.” He reached out a hand and softly cupped her chin. He gently raised her tearstained face to look at his.

Her soft brown eyes were so beautiful, he thought, even when filled with tears. And she was lost to his ice blue eyes, as well. The couple was silent for a moment, contemplating things.

William turned away from her for a moment. She knew that he was not happy with what she had just shared with him.

He soon turned back to face Tess. He took a step closer to her. Slowly, he went down upon his knee, kneeling before her.

Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. Will took her hand in his, but hesitated, saying nothing. A cautious smile, to add to the wonderment, eased across Tessa’s pretty lips.

“Yes!” she cried, not allowing William to propose.

His mouth then dropped open, as he looked up at her, stunned. “Now, just wait a moment,” he remarked surprise, “I haven’t even asked you yet!”

“Oh, sorry,” she apologized with an impish smile. The mood had become lighter with just a touch of their playfulness.

“Miss Tessa Bordon,” he began, “Will you marry me—“

“Yes!” she exclaimed again, not even letting him finish. She was so very happy.

“You could act surprised,” he said, acting a little disgusted with her.

She smiled prettily at him as he stood up. William then wrapped his arms about her. The two of them smiled as they looked into each other’s eyes.

He dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers. They lingered in a deep and loving kiss. He pulled back to look at his young, beautiful fiancée and smiled at her.

“He can’t make you leave if you are my wife,” he said, raising his eyebrows in a roguish manner.

She looked down, almost shyly, then looked back up at him. Her eyes were so full of love for him that it warmed his heart.

“I will be very happy to be your wife,” she said tenderly.

“How about today, then?” William asked, knowing he’d have to marry her quickly since Bordon was planning on packing her off first thing in the morning, and the fact that she was carrying his child. “We’ll ride into the village and get married.”

She nodded in agreement as she stayed in his arms. “I’ll never leave you William,” she declared sweetly. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Tess,” he said back to her.