Roses of Stone

It seemed like an eternity since he was once again turned out by the military surgeon that was called for, and paced back and forth waiting to hear what exactly was wrong with the mother of his child. A nursemaid was arranged for to feed the baby, since there was no doubt Katharine was in no condition to do so herself. As many in a situation such as this one, he started to think of all the things that he had done wrong. If he had just checked on her the night before, or tried to wake her or anything instead of just letting her sleep, help might have been brought much sooner, and she wouldn’t be in this state.

The doors to Katharine’s room finally opened, and the Colonel walked closer to see what the surgeon had to say. The look on his face was a grave one, showing that there was not much hope for her at this point. “Well?” Tavington said impatiently wanting to know what the news was immediately.

“She’s lost a lot of blood Colonel. A great deal of blood. She slipped into a sort of coma because of it.” Tavington just starred at the surgeon. This was a dream wasn’t it? Katharine would never allow herself to be kept in such a weakened state, any moment now she would throw something out the door at the doctor’s head and tell him to leave. However, looking inside her bedchamber, she was laying still without a move.

“Is she dying.” Tavington said bluntly, not willing to beat around the bush considering he already felt himself feeling rather strangely about this entire situation. Never had he imagined how much he really did care for her, and how much she really meant to him. He found himself not even being able to imagine life without her.

“I don’t know Colonel.” The doctor said turning and looking back into the room as she still lay in a deep sleep. “She might wake up in an hour. She might not wake up at all. There’s nothing to do now but wait and see.” The doctor looked at Tavington again, “She’s a strong woman sir, she still has a chance.” With that, he turned and left the Colonel, his assistants following after him.

William was stunned, and felt a sort of numbness at the news. Like he was dreaming and none of this could be real. How could something like this happen to Katharine? A woman who gave new meaning to the words hardheaded and furry. Moving slowly into the room, he closed the door behind him quietly. It was dark, except for the two candles on either side of her bed that had given the doctor light to work by. Tavington sat down gently on the bed next to Katharine, and reached for her hand. It was cold, gray in color, much thinner then he had remembered before.

He absolutely despised the feeling of being powerless. Tavington was used to being in control and used to things going as he wished them to. There were few situations that he couldn’t, and those he tended to ignore. Yet this was something he could not ignore, not this.

“You are the most damnable woman in existence, Katharine. You get on my nerves constantly, you rarely do as I say if ever, you insist on having the last word even though . . . .” He stopped feeling his voice rise and sighed. He was trying to argue with her even now, and the fact of it was she couldn’t argue back and he was certain she couldn’t hear him. Closing his eyes, he ran his fingers slowly over her hand, trying to warm them with his own. “You can’t leave like this Katharine. I know how much that child . . . our son means to you. I even know that you came here risking life and limb so that I could share in your happiness. Yet all we’ve done since you arrived is fight and argue with one another. I know you make strides to get along with me, and I never make an effort on my part . . .”

This was difficult for him, there was no doubt about it. Even though there was no one else in the room but them, and none could hear what he had to say. He spoke aloud to Katharine though, his feelings deep inside of him for her were actually beginning to show and he took notice of them. They had been married ten years, and even though he might have cared for her for a long time, he simply ignored it or just didn’t realize it. “What is it about us Katharine, why must we try and jab the other with our words and make each other feel as bad as we ourselves do?” He stopped a moment still running his fingers over hers. He felt as though he had entered a confessional, and she needed to hear all that he had to say, and the confessions of the sins he had committed over the course of their marriage.

“Often, you say things that are true about me. I know that they are true, but my pride would rather hurt you for saying them, rather then admitting their accuracy. You have been the strong one out of our marriage, and you have lived by the words you spoke to me on our wedding day. You have kept every promise, and been faithful . . . where I have not.” For the first time he could remember, he actually could feel a huge amount of guilt over the women that he had shared a bed with. Now he couldn’t even tell her that they meant nothing to him. “I never pleasured them, Katharine. If any of them received the slightest enjoyment out of our encounter, it was purely accidental and not intended. Such . . . .things and affections I reserved for you. For my wife.”

He couldn’t look at her face hardly at all, as if he didn’t want to be seen in his shame, despite the fact he knew that she couldn’t see him or even open her eyes. “Not that I expect you to believe me, what reason have I given you? You’ve always been honest with me, brutally at times . . . and how many times did I lie to you, or simply withheld information you should have received. Countless I assure you. Even with that, I think you always knew. You knew the truth and still hoped for the best.” Tavington paused a few moments before his eyes moved down.

“How am I to raise a son on my own Katharine, I am a solider. I go where I am sent, sometimes for months or years at a time. I would never see him . . . and strangers that will never care for him as much as we do will have the duty of seeing him raised. Even though many would expect me to, I couldn’t marry again. What would be the point? At least with you, I shall always know where I stand. Not to mention I have realized that you tend to tolerate the roomers rather then help them along. Somehow I managed to find a wife who is for the most part on my side. Who will fight with me, but not gossip to others about me.” He gently rested her arm back across her chest pulling the blankets up over more to keep her warm.

“The women who cared for you when you gave birth to our child, tell me that you have named him William after me. To be honest, I can’t understand why. I expected you to fight with me about whom to name it after. My father, or your father or perhaps have an original name all his own.” Reaching up he gently brushed her cheek with the back of his knuckles feeling how cold and clammy her skin was. He missed being able to touch her warm skin, even if it was only when she slept so she wouldn’t know when they were back home in England.

“If only . . .” He began but stopped shaking his head. There was no changing the past. What was done, was done and it would remain no matter what happened. “I don’t know how long I shall be permitted to stay here with you and young William. We are advancing on Colonial territory and of course, the militia has been getting out of hand.” Leaning down he whispered into her ear, “you must wake Katharine, you must not give in, You must fight your body and not allow it to win. I know you have the strength and the will . . . so what are you waiting for? Open your eyes, shout at me, tell me what a fool I am . . . just don’t lay there and submit to this illness.” He said a little forcefully. William was beginning to feel anxious about seeing her recover. Yet hope that she would was slipping from his grasp.

Just then the door of her room opened and he quickly stood from the bed turning his back to Katharine and moving to the table to pick up his helmet. It was bad enough that he felt like a criminal for the first time in his life, but to let someone see it was completely unacceptable. “Colonel Tavington? General Cornwallis would like to see you immediately.” William clinched his jaw, not wanting to be pulled away, and he felt as though the general should have understood that fact. Never the less, He held his helmet under his arm and followed the private out of Katharine’s room and down to the Generals office.

As he passed a door, he saw a woman with her back to the door holding his son, and another closing the door for privacy. She was apparently the one who had taken over as the nursemaid for young William, since his mother couldn’t feed him herself. He had a feeling that Katharine would be most upset that it wasn’t her feeding the child. Yet there was nothing that could be done. She barely had any nutrition in her own body, much less enough to share with another.

Tavington walked into the room pasting a smile upon his lips as he stood before the General removing his gloves. Cornwallis was discussing a few things with General O’Hara and didn’t even acknowledge William’s presents. It was irritating, but still William kept his smile fixed so that he would not seem that he was put out for being called away. Finally, O’Hara took his leave, taking a few documents with him, and shooting a glare at Tavington as he passed by.

William had grown used to it, but narrowed his eyes as the General passed by, wishing that at least a ‘Gentleman’ would have the self restraint not to show his discussed. General Cornwallis picked up his quill and began to write a few things down, before reaching for his seal. “You are to return to the front lines at once Colonel Tavington, frankly I am rather disappointed that you went against orders and abandoned your post.”

The Colonel was tired of a lot of things, mostly physically at this moment since he had stayed up the entire night waiting for news of Katharine’s condition. This antagonistic behavior of the General was grating on his nerves more then usual today. For obvious reasons he thought, since his wife lay dying just down the hall a ways. “A message was sent to me about my son’s arrival, My Lord. We were not advancing and we were being held in our position. I did not feel that my absence was going to jeopardize our place in this war.”

“Nevertheless, you did leave your post without orders or permission. I recognize quite well that Lady Tavington tends to have her own frame of mind about certain matters, but I still happen to outrank her in military issues.” The General picked up his quill once more and began to write again. “You shall leave this evening and remain there until you receive permission from me to leave again.”

Tavington felt as though he was being treated like a child, and indignation sprung up before he had a chance to stop it . . . or the will to suppress it. “Do all of your commanding officers have to raise their hand for permission as well? Or simply the ones you wish to wear a dunce cap but cannot find one to properly fit a grown man.” Cornwallis looked up at the Colonel his eyes darkening. Yet Tavington couldn’t stop himself, “You know perfectly well why I left my post, My Lord. Do you wish me to spell it out for you?”

Cornwallis tossed down his pen and stood, “You are in danger of being in a great deal of trouble Colonel Tavington. Stand down immediately!” He shouted not willing to tolerate insubordination from anyone. Once again, Fatigue and exhaustion took a hold of William’s tongue.

“I shall not leave tonight! Nor until arrangements can be made for my son and Katharine’s care! She is in no condition to speak for herself, which I am sure you are well aware! Do you expect me to leave them here with nothing and no one to look after them!?!”

Cornwallis’s eye twitched slightly, if he were not a gentlemen and of such high rank . . . but he was and there was no reason to speculate on such things. “Arrangements have already been made, Colonel Tavington. My personal physicians are looking after her frequently as I have ordered them too. The child is being cared for by a nursemaid, Mrs. Stark. Not to mention the other wives that are living in this facility that insist on taking turns watching over him. So you need not worry yourself about their ‘Welfare’ and return to your duties!”

Did he have to constantly endure this man’s interference with his marriage and family!?! As if he had some fatherly right to do so? He was of no relation of either the Tavington family or of Katharine’s, no matter how much he wished he was. “I suppose I should be grateful, even though it was NOT your place to make such arrangements!!”

“Do you expect me to believe that after 10 years of neglect that you have suddenly decided to become what she always hoped you would be! I think not! Her care has been left in your hands for far to long and now she may die. You knew of her condition and said nothing! You are as much to blame for this as nature itself!”

“IT HAS NEVER BEEN ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS, SIR! Not now, not ever! You are not her father, nor mine! You have interfered in our marriage constantly since she has arrived on this shores and I shall not stand by and endure it any longer!!!”

“GET OUT OF THIS BUILDING IMMEDIATELY OR BE ESCOURTED TO THE STOCKADE FOR INSABORDINATION!” Tavington clinched his jaw tighter together to bite back everything he wanted to say . . .and even some that he wished to do. He clicked his heels together in a spiteful manner and turned storming out of the Generals office and leaving the building.

Cornwallis knocked the books off his desk and called in a corporal so he could continue on in his daily business chores of war. William rode back to his camp immediately, for although he disagreed with the General completely, the General held both his and Katharine’s future in his hands. His act in Cornwallis’s office could have gotten him court-martialed easily, in fact he might still receive word that he was being brought up on charges, but nevertheless, he carried out the Generals wish.

That evening, for the first time in ages, Tavington sat at his desk writing a letter with news of the war, his welfare, and of Katharine and the baby. For some reason he felt as though he should take up the pen since Katharine could not, knowing that she would want his mother to know all that was happening here in the colonies. The fact that she was now a Grandmother would perhaps be a welcome piece of news indeed. Each word on the page was difficult; since writing letters to his mother was not something he had done since he was in school.

Finally, he wrote the address clearly and sealed it with his family seal. Somehow it seemed like a great accomplishment to have it finally finished and ready to be sent home to England. However, now that it was finished and all of his other paperwork was finished, he had all the time in the world to war with his conscience. All he could do now, was wait and hope that Katharine’s strong will would beat this illness. He knew he had it in her, and he was sure that she would live just to spite him if nothing else.

A few days went by and most of the military forces, including that of Cornwallis’s personal escort, pulled out from Charleston to further their line north. The General’s headquarters were moved to Fort Carolina. The only ones left behind where the families of the soldiers, women, children, and a few privates to guard the building which housed them. Cornwallis’s ordered one of his best surgeons to stay behind and look after Katharine, and report on her condition if it improved or worsened.

Tavington’s forces were moving as well, finding more resistance then there was first thought to be. Apparently they had regrouped and strengthened their forces. The Dragoons were hard at work, guarding supply lines, and killing any militia found that might prove to be a problem in coming battles. It seemed that the small bit of calm there was exploded into a storm of chaos. There was barely time to eat, clean up properly, or even sleep between attacks, patrols and battles. It was enough to subdue Williams constant berating of himself about Katharine and her condition. It was something that was pushed into the back of his mind, as his duty was taking center stage for now.

It felt like something had stomped on her body, like she fell from a horse and was trampled on several times. Her body ached, her skin felt cold, and nothing seemed right at all. Slowly, Katharine’s eyes fluttered opened as it took a few moments for them to focus. “Lady Tavington?” A male voice said breaking the silence, “Lady Tavington can you hear me?” His voice boomed and she felt her head shake at the sound of his words.

“Yes . . . please don’t speak so loud.” She said softly. Several ladies were standing around that had helped care for her since she fell ill and she could hear sighs of relief seeing that she was waking up. Still, she felt ill and weak and was hardly ready to jump up and run all over the Colonies. She felt a warm cloth wipe her face down and another blanket being put on her.

“You’ve been ill, My Lady. For nearly a week now. We were afraid that you might not wake up at all.” A cup of water was held to her lips and she was encouraged to drink. “Now, rest. Now that we know you’re out of danger, you can start getting better.” Katharine was in no condition to argue and instantly lay back down falling asleep. Her mind was to jumbled and her body was to weak to even imagine anything beyond her exhaustion. However, she wasn’t thought ill for not asking of her son, they knew the next time she awoke, she would definitely want to see him.

A letter came for Tavington while he was away on a patrol and was left on his desk in his tent with a few other dispatches. It wasn’t until late that evening when the green dragoon unit returned to camp. Exhausted from a day of scrimmages, attacks, and captures of rebels. Every last man was more then ready for rest, and William was no exception. Yet being the unit commander, he certainly had more things to do before he himself could turn in. Ducking into his tent, he immediately put down his helmet and took of his gloves tossing them onto the nearby table.

Tavington poured himself a glass of wine and drank it down, before filling the glass again. He lit a candle and sat down at his desk with a sigh before picking up the pieces of mail that had been left earlier. God, what on earth could they want from him now, his very blood? Of course they wanted his blood but they loath to have it on their hands. He shuffled through the letters, not really anxious to open any of them but stopped when he saw that one had come from Charleston. Katharine. He tossed the other envelopes aside and ripped into the letter, anxiously reading what had been written. He was afraid that it would be notice of her passing. Yet it was quite the opposite.

Colonel William Tavington
Green Dragoons

Dear Sir, I am writing to inform you that your wife and child are in good health. She woke up yesterday briefly and spoke to me with recognition in her voice. The deep sleep she had fallen into has broken, and she woke this morning to eat a good breakfast. I expect her recovery to be swift. Her appetite has returned along with her color, and the blue of her eyes. So please be informed Colonel, both your wife and your child are growing stronger by the day.

Captain Ashford


William closed his eyes and sighed in relief falling back into his chair. She was alive and she was well. Silently he found his eyes rose towards the heavens as a silent thank you seemed to come from his very being. Feeling as though a great weight had been lifted from him he reached for the envelope that the news had come in and started to replace the letter. However, he stopped when he noticed the date on the letter. It was written nearly a week ago. His eyes narrowed. It should have been brought to him the same day that it was written, not delayed for a full seven days.

He was growing weary of this, he wasn’t entirely sure that Cornwallis was responsible for this, but his anger would only be that much worse if others were interfering with their marriage now. Standing from his desk he moved to his tent, “Private, bring Major Borden to my tent at once.” The private saluted and ran off. Tavington moved back into his tent grumbling slightly as he began to pack a few things. Small things of course, nothing to large.

“You called for me sir?” Borden’s voice said from the door. Tavington felt rather annoyed, knowing that he was about to disobey a direct order, but he had matters that needed to be addressed and Katharine was just a side trip. At least, that was what he told himself.

“I am relinquishing command to you until I return. You have my full power, and do whatever is necessary to carry out the orders that we receive. I expect to be back before tomorrow evening.” “Yes Sir.” Tavington turned as he began to exit the tent. “Oh, and Borden.” He stopped and turned looking at the Major, “I suggest you leave this small detail out of any reports that may be written.” The circumstances which led him to say that were not unknown to the major. He understood and gave a nod. Tavington exited the tent.

It wasn’t until early the next morning he arrived in Charlestown. It looked nearly deserted of all military personnel, which was quite understandable. The war was advancing well beyond Charlestown. The comforts and security of the city would simply be to far to travel back to. He had not slept since the tiresome patrol his unit had gone on yesterday, but he decided he would rest once he got back to the quarters for the families of British officers.

He hopped off of his horse removing his helmet as he walked up the stairs and entered into the building. He walked up the staircase slowly not seeing any rush, and paid no mind to the eyes that seemed to be turning towards him. Not that he cared. He was starred at quite often these days. As he came to Katharine’s door, he knocked lightly at first. There was no answer, so he knocked a bit harder. His eyes narrowed feeling as though something was wrong and he quickly opened the doors and walked in. He froze in place as he looked around the room.

There was nothing. Not a speck of clothing or her luggage, not a quill or a bit of parchment, not even the bassinet that had been made for their son. All of it was gone, and the bed was made, ready for the next tenet. “Colonel Tavington?” A soft voice said from behind him. He spun around to see one of the women that had helped care for Katharine and young William. “We didn’t expect to see you back. Is everything alright?”

“Where is she?” He said feeling a sense of outrage that discussed his panic expertly. He walked closer to the woman, “Where is Lady Tavington?” He questioned impatiently. Perhaps she was simply moved to another building with more adequate quarters then this.

“Why . . . she left yesterday morning, Sir.” Left? Why would she leave? Where would she leave to? “The doctor wanted her to stay longer, but she started to pack as soon as she was able to walk again. She’s still very weak Colonel, but she’s so stubborn.”

“Where did she go?” Tavington asked becoming more anxious as the moments passed by. Something about not knowing where she was and what she was doing right at this moment was causing him a great deal of anxiety.

“She . . . said she was going back to England? But she had to leave immediately because she had to travel a bit north to get to the ship. I thought you had instructed her to?” Oh dear God, this was getting worse each time she spoke.

“North? How far North?” He demanded to know fearing the worst. There were few ships left north that would be headed to England, for it was Colonial territory with Colonial ships in a Colonial port.

Katharine was not completely well yet, and as the woman said she was still very weak. She sat in the carriage as it made it’s way down the road holding young William close in her arms. It had been arranged for a servant to accompany her and help wherever she could. Even with this, all of the traveling that had been done since yesterday was making Katharine ill once more. Reaching up she hit the roof of the carriage to single the driver to stop. The servant reached over and took Young William so that Katharine would have an easier time of getting up and moving about.

Lady Tavington climbed out of the carriage and walked a little ways to a rock that was sitting next to a stream. She sat down and breathed in the fresh air and the smell of the trees around the riverbank. The doctor said she would be as good as new in just a few weeks. “Is everything alright Mistress?” The servant said walking up rocking the small one against her. Katharine reached up to take her son, and lifted the small blanket so she could see his face. She smiled seeing that he was sleeping and his small hand was curled up next to his face.

“The horses needed to be watered anyway, so what is the harm of taking a small break. There is never anything wrong with a good stretch of ones legs.” She looked down at the small one who gave a huge yawn and a small stretch of his own. Lady Tavington held him close looking towards the sky. She looked through the canopy the trees made to see the white clouds passing by.

“What about your husband, Misses? Will he be seeing you off from the port?” Katharine’s smile faded as her eyes turned downward for a moment holding young William a little closer to her.

“No. He doesn’t know I’m leaving. I had the note that my doctor wrote him sent out the day I left. That way he wouldn’t try to stop me.” She said softly rocking her baby in her arms.

“But, isn’t he going to wonder about you? Worry about his son? You are going to write to him to let him know your safe aren’t you?” She said laying a blanket down on the green clovers so that they could sit comfortably and have something to eat and drink before continuing.

“I don’t intend to ever see him again. Neither young William, or myself. We won’t be going home to England; I have extended family living in France. We will go and stay with them.” She sat down next to the rock on the blanket so that she could lean her back against it. She groaned a little, extremely tired and yawned a little laying her head back and closing her eyes for a moment. The servant quieted realizing that Lady Tavington wasn’t just going home, she was fleeing from her husband. Leaving him. “I’ll not have my son growing up like his father, treating people the way that his father does. If I stay here, I’ll loose any hope of teaching him how to act properly and morally. So we’ll go away, and I shall raise him as he should be raised.”

“Mistress . . . he was there when you were ill. He came to see you, but General Cornwallis sent him away.” She said softly handing Lady Tavington a piece of bread. She took it and tore a small bit and put it in her mouth.

“I know. But he was also there quite often from the time I first arrived on Colonial shores. It doesn’t mean that he was there because he cared for me, or for our son. Even if he did for a short while, . . . his morals aren’t going to change.”

The sound of gunfire made both women jump as they looked towards the carriage. Both of their escorts lie dead and the horses where jumping about trying to get away or find a direction in which to run in. The servant let out a scream and quickly swept young William up into her arms holding him close. Katharine stood to her feet and looked around, “Hush Susan.” She hissed at the servant, who might have very well told whoever it was shooting at them that they were there.

Four men seemed to appear out of nowhere and fall on the carriage like vultures, probley hoping for some sort of treasure to be inside. Katharine simply stood still, there was no point in running now they would see them both and run them down. The men instantly started tearing through her baggage, throwing out her dresses and undergarments, and even having the audacity to wear a bit of it as they continued to rip through her things. Susan was whimpering and almost crying, and Katharine once again waved her hand at her to be quiet.

Then, as expected, one of them looked and saw the two women on the blanket they had been sitting on. “Well I’ll be . . . look there!” He said pointing to Katharine, as the others stopped their looting and looked as well. Susan screamed again and William started crying. The four men threw down whatever they were holding and hopped down from the carriage walking towards them. She wasn’t going to do anything, or say anything that might provoke them even more.

“Look at this, two women out all alone in the woods.” The others laughed at the comment the one who seemed to be their leader made. “Whatever should we do with them.” Another smug and evil laugh came from the men. Katharine just stood silent and still and listened. Susan was frozen with fear and could only hold young William tight to her and couldn’t calm him from crying. “I’m sure we can find something pleasant.” The Leader said as he walked closer and reached out touching Katharine’s face. “Aren’t you the pretty one? Quite a sight after the months we’ve been outcast in these woods.”

“She’s a bit rich for my blood, now this young filly over here is more to my liking.” Another said as he starred at Susan as though she were a side of beef and he a starving dog. Susan was crying almost as hard as Young William now.

“Now wait, we can’t be separating no baby and it’s mother.” The leader said as he looked back at Katharine who still stood strongly in her place, “So tell us. Which one is baby’s mother, and which one isn’t.” He starred into her eyes, a slight twitch to his own as if anxious to find out and hoping it was the one he didn’t want. Susan began to cry louder, and it was starting to upset everyone now.

“You’ll give her a horse, and she’ll return down the road we came on.” She said sternly. She knew she was basically throwing herself to the dogs, but she couldn’t feed young William and Susan to them. Susan was just a child herself, she didn’t need to be subjected to this. “Let her take that and some food and water from the carriage, and I’ll go with you freely.”

The man wasn’t entirely sure he believed her, and took a breath taking a step closer to her. “Really. I have a feeling that you’re not being entirely honest. You wouldn’t be trying to pull a fast one on us, now would ya. Why would a servant girl be permitted to carry her own baby while accompanying a Lady like you in a carriage.”

“We were returning back to England, the baby is newly born. If you had eyes in your head you could see that for yourself.” She said feeling as though her very intelligence was being jeopardized just by humoring him with speaking to him at the moment and would tell him so, if her son was not in danger. “Let them go, and I will come with you quietly. I give you my word.”

The man just starred at her a few more moments, and then a half of a smile swept his face, “I’ll believe you’ll keep that word. So we’ll give her the horse, and the food and water, and you . . . you will come with me.” The other men didn’t seem too happy with that arrangement. It sounded as if they felt they were being robbed. The leader turned and just gave a glare and they all quieted. Reluctantly and under protest, but still they stopped their griping.

Katharine turned and walked to Susan whose wide eyes were blood shot from crying and her cheeks were streaked with tears. She reached down picking up the small blanket they had been sitting on. As soon as she drew near Susan started speaking quickly, forming words faster then her mind could think them, “Lady . . . you can’t, my lady . . . they’ll . . .they’ll do . . . terrible things . . .” She said almost in hysterics. Katharine grabbed her shoulder and squeezed it enough to cause a bit of pain so as to pull Susan out of her irrational state.

“Hush Susan. Your responsibility is to my son and his safety. I cannot feed him, as the doctor as already informed me but you can. Now we must hurry before they change their minds or think better of this.” She wrapped the blanket around Susan and tied it securely about her so that it made a sort of secure sling for young William to be carried in. “Can you ride bareback.” She said softly still trying to keep their conversation just between them as she tightened the blanket knots even more so they wouldn’t come loose.

“Yes Mistress, I . . . I always did when I was growing up.” She said wiping the tears from her eyes. “I could ride really well, without even a bit for the horse or anything.”

“Good, because I don’t think you’ll have one.” Katharine looked down at Young William once she nestled him down safely in the blanket and gently touched his face, refusing to cry. “Take him back to the house we came from . . . take him to his father.” She whispered trying not to let her voice break.

“I can’t leave you like this mistress.” She said as another few tears streamed down the girls face. “I can’t leave you here alone.” Katharine looked up at her for a moment.

“You must. Otherwise we will both suffer and my son . . . will be put in danger he can’t survive on his own.” She looked up seeing them bringing the horse closer that they had unhooked from the carriage. Before Susan could say anything more, Katharine took her by the shoulder and lead her to the horse, as another man helped her up onto it’s back and handed her the reigns.

Susan took them and looked down at Lady Tavington nervously, still not wanting to leave her alone like this. “Go, Go back immediately.” With that, Katharine smacked the back of the horse and it started to run off down the road at a high speed. She watched until she was sure Susan had a good handle on the horse and felt satisfied when she slowed the horse down and looked back but kept riding. “God go with you, and keep you safe.” She whispered softly as they disappeared into the distance.