Bordon's Girl

CHAPTER 25 A Long Night

In the waning sunlight, Major Geoffrey Bordon was put to rest. Tessa Bordon-Tavington sobbed uncontrollably as William held her tightly, supporting her throughout the short funeral. At the conclusion, Tavington helped his pregnant wife to the coffin. She kissed her father’s forehead and cheek and laid an evergreen wreath, which smelled wonderfully of a tranquil forest, upon his chest.

Colonel Tavington moved her back from the coffin as the mourners—officers and dragoons—made their ways to the body to pay their respects. As the lid was placed on the casket, a tearful Tess felt her head start to spin. She trembled and her knees buckled. Will felt her body go limp and immediately hooked his arm under her knees and scooped her up into his embrace. He looked down at his wife. She was weeping softly and shaking. She had not fainted but had collapsed from exhaustion, grief, and the overwhelming events of the day.

William turned to the other mourners and the chaplain. “Please excuse us. I am sorry, but I must put her in bed.”

“Perfectly understood,” the minister said, echoing the sentiments of everyone there.

Tavington carried her into the house and up the stairs to their rooms. He put her down on the bed and tried to leave her side to get the water pitcher, but she clung to him tightly. She was weeping hard again. Tess had not stopped crying since she found her father’s lifeless body.

When she settled down a little bit, Tavington was able to retrieve a glass of water for her to drink. He sat back down on the edge of the bed with her. They both sipped from the water glass.

As she sobbed lightly still, she looked at her husband to say something. Her eyes were full of tears as she spoke.

“I’m sorry I called you a ‘murderer’ , William.”

Tavington had been so strong since Bordon’s death early that morning. He felt he had to be to comfort his wife. But, now, her words of apology to him brought tears to his own eyes. He heaved a sigh and closed his eyes, trying to fight the tears back.

He took Tess’ hands in his and held them, caressing them with his thumbs. He sniffled and choked as he felt his throat tighten. The salty tears were stinging his eyes.

Tess looked up at him. His eyes were brimmed and moist with tears. His voice was shaky and broken as he spoke.

“I paid a heavy price to punish and make example of a village that wouldn’t talk.”

He paused for a moment to choke back his own tears, still trying to be strong for his wife. Then he continued.

“In the end, it got me no closer to the Ghost, and I lost half my brigade.” He let go of one of her hands to wipe his eyes. He shook his head. “It was not worth it.”

“Oh, William,” Tess said tearfully as she touched his cheek. She wiped away the remaining tears with her fingers.

He pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms about her. “I promise I’ll take good care of you.” He touched her swollen belly. “Both of you,” he added, his voice still shaky.

It was a long night for the Tavingtons. As they laid in bed together, William held her against his body, trying to console her. She cried the whole night. Just as she’d begin to settle down and William would think she was close to falling asleep, she would be overtaken again by tears.

As her head lay on his chest, she sobbed, “I want my father. I want him back.”

“Shhhh,” he hushed her gently, trying to quiet her down. “I know darling.”

William held her tight and caressed her body, trying to soothe her.

“Now I have no family left,” she cried. Sobs wracked her body, wearing her out. Her poor body shook against Will’s.

Tavington knew her words were not meant to hurt him. He knew she implied that her parents and beloved brother were gone.

He hugged her to him and kissed her forehead. “The baby and I are your family now. We will always love you and take care of you.”

“I know William,” she sniffled. She buried her face in his shoulder and wept. “I wanted my father to be a part of our child’s life. I wish he could be here to see the baby!”

The Colonel kissed her cheek and stroked her long hair back from her face. “Hush Tess,” he whispered with his lips pressed softly to her forehead. “Try to go to sleep.”

“Father. Oh Father. Why?” she murmured as she sobbed weakly. William judged it to be very early in the morning, noticing that the moon had set. He could tell that Tess was relinquishing her grief to exhaustion. Her sobs had become weaker and her voice had turned to a frail whisper.

“Why? Why?” she chanted, almost inaudibly as her body wore itself down.

“Close your eyes and try to sleep,” William coaxed her, in a calming voice.

After a few moments, he felt her body ease. She was quiet a little while longer. Then, William heard her breathing become soft and rhythmic. She had stopped fighting with her grief and had finally given in to sleep. William was relieved and thankful.

Tavington laid there without moving a muscle, not wanting to wake his peaceful wife. He closed his own eyes and tried to sleep, but it was a futile effort. So, he laid there quietly just resting and watching over his wife.

After two more hours passed, he carefully slipped out from under his wife’s pregnant body, and left her tucked in and sleeping soundly in their bed. He dressed silently for duty and left the room.

It was early at 7:00am. He sat on the couch in the parlor as he waited for breakfast to be cooked and served. He was alone.

After a few moments, he felt disoriented slightly as he looked up to find Colonel Banastre Tarleton shaking his shoulder gently.

“Tav?” he said quietly. “Tav?”

“Huh,” William said looking around.

“It’s Ban,” he said to the other officer as he looked confused. “You must have dozed off.”

“Yes, I think I did,” William replied. “It was a very long night.”

“I can only imagine it was,” remarked Ban. “I’m very sorry about Bordon’s passing. He was a good man and fine officer.”

“Yes, he was,” Tavington agreed.

Ban sat down in the reading chair across from the couch. Even though Tavington always looked well dressed and impeccable in his uniform, Tarleton thought that Will looked like Hell today.

“How is your wife,” Ban asked with concern.

“Taking this very badly,” answered Colonel Tavington. “She cried hard all night. I could do nothing to console her. She finally wore herself out and fell asleep around five this morning. I’ve had no sleep at all. ”

Tarleton shook his head and sighed. “Sorry to hear that.”

“We did not want this to happen now,” said Will. “Especially in her condition. She does not need the extra worry.”

“When is the child due?”

“In about 3 weeks,” Tavington replied. “I can not wait until that time. I fear that it is the only thing that will take her mind off losing her brother."

The two officers were silent for a moment. Then Ban noticed that Will’s eyes were very heavy and could see that his comrade was fighting hard against nodding off again.

Banastre spoke out. “William, why don’t you let me take your duty today. You look utterly exhausted.”

“I am,” Tavington answered. He mulled Ban’s offer over in his mind, then decided what to do.

After another moment, William answered Tarleton’s offer. “No, Ban. I can’t let you do that. Soldiers die every day, and other commanders don’t get those days off. The war does not stop for nor revolve around grief.”

“But, this is different,” Ban pointed out. “This is your brother-in-law. And your wife needs you and especially in her delicate condition.”

“But aren’t you off duty today,” Tavington asked, just now noticing that Ban was dressed in casual clothes, not in his uniform.

“Yes,” answered Ban, “but I haven’t any plans, so I might as well do it. You have helped me out with my division before and would again, if need be.”

William stretched his stiff, long frame of a body out and yawned. “Alright,” he answered

his colleague, “but I will re-pay the favor to you again soon.”

“Don’t give it another thought,” Ban said with a wave of his hand.

“Thank you, Ban,” William replied, “on behalf of myself and my wife.”

William excused himself to go back upstairs, asking Ban if he would please tell the staff to send his breakfast up to his suite. But, Ban knew that William needed some ‘military’ company now, and, that Mrs. Tavington needed some rest. Banastre knew that if Will ate upstairs in his suite, he’d probably end up waking his wife. And, even though Will was tired, he thought, he could stay up one more hour and visit over breakfast, then retire back to his room for a rest. Ban knew he could keep Will awake long enough with his banter through breakfast! So, he talked Tavington into staying downstairs with him for the meal.