Innocence Lost

Chapter Twenty-three

William Tavington was curious as he rode through the gates of the fort with the dragoons. "What's going on Wilkins?" he said, pointing to several men in dress uniforms entering the dining hall, some accompanied by formally dressed women.

"I don't know sir," Wilkins replied. "But I imagine we'll find out fairly quickly."

"What's going on?" Tavington repeated his question to the slave who took his horse after he dismounted.

"Wedding reception, sir," the slave told him.

"A wedding?" Tavington said, confused. "I hadn't heard about anyone here being engaged. Who got married?"

"It was a last minute thing," the slave said. "Captain Bordon, sir."

"Bordon! Are you sure?"

"Yes sir," the slave said.

Tavington looked at Wilkins. "Did you know anything about this, Wilkins?"

"No sir," he said. "I'm just as surprised as you are."

"Well, let's go find Mr Bordon and see what this is all about."

"Right behind you," Wilkins said.

A few moments later, they entered the dining hall where the reception was being held. Tavington and Wilkins looked at one another in shock when they saw Bordon and Anne sitting together at the head table. A hush fell over the room as the wedding guests waited to see how Tavington would react.

Tavington walked slowly up to them. "Anne?"

The happy couple looked up to see Tavington standing in front of them with a perplexed expression. "William," she said in a low voice. She hadn't been looking forward to this moment.

"When, or shall I say, how, did this come about?" he asked.

"We decided to get married on the ride back here," Anne said.

"Kind of sudden, wasn't it?" He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, his unasked question, "Why Bordon?"

"No, sir, it wasn't" Bordon said. "I fell in love with Anne months ago."

"I see," Tavington said through clenched teeth. Leaning closer, he said, "Of course, Anne is free to marry whomever she pleases, but if I ever find that you've mistreated my son, Bordon, I will kill you with my bare hands. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly, sir," Bordon said, unruffled. "And I would feel the same way if he were my son. Your child is safe with me, sir."

Anne reached out and took Tavington's hand. "You'll always be William's father. I will never keep you from him."

"I appreciate that," he said. All business once more, he said, "I suppose congratulations are in order, then." He leaned forward and gave Anne a gentle kiss on the cheek, "Take good care of William." Turning to Bordon, he said, "Be good to Anne."

"Always, sir."

Tavington turned away quickly and left without another word. Alone again, naturally.