Roses of Stone

She was a very esteemed woman. One who when she entered the room you could tell that she was of a higher class of citizen by the way she held her self, the way she moved, and the way she spoke. She was very pleasant to look at, and turned heads everywhere she went, but she was very outspoken and had very little patience with nonsense that delayed getting to the point.

As she stepped off the boat she looked about at the scene that laid before her. A city that was left in ruin, and smoldering ashes that still managed to dim the sky. “How enchanting.” She said with complete sarcasm. The man who had traveled with her walked passed carrying her things along with him and she followed him down the gangway to a carriage that was waiting for her. As she peered inside of the carriage her look grew darker as a Captain rode up beside her. Before he could say a word, she snapped. “Is my husband preoccupied with some important business that he cannot meet me himself? Killing soldiers or burning homes perhaps?”

The Captain was a little shocked at her forth coming words and felt an instant dislike of this woman. “No my lady, I was assigned to see that you came safely to shore, and to take you to your living arrangements while you are here.”

“Somehow I doubt that my safety was not something that my dear devoted husband was concerned about. Take me to him.” She said as her servant opened the carriage door, and she climbed up inside. The captain rode up next to her window with wide eyes.

“But, My Lady, he’s encamped on enemy lines at the moment. It isn’t safe, and it’s quite a long way to travel.”

The woman glared at the Captain as she leaned forward to see him better, “I don’t recall asking your opinion or for a summery of a situation. Take me to him, now, or I shall have your rank before sundown.” Tapping the roof of the carriage, it started off down the road. Another Captain rode up beside the man whose jaw was left on the ground as they watched the carriage pull away.

“Once you’ve seen her you know they’re married.” He said under his breath having witnessed the scene that had just played out.

“We better make sure that she doesn’t get a hold of any weapons then.” They both chuckled but caught themselves and quickly rode behind the carriage to do as they were told. It was turning out to be quite the eventful day, and it looked as if there was going to be plenty more to come.

Needless to say, all activity in the dragoon encampment came to a screeching halt when a carriage came up the road. Like a whirlwind the woman left the carriage and headed strait through the camp towards the one tent she knew she would find her husband in. Without saying a word to anyone or calling out, she ducked inside of the tent. As she looked about she found William sitting at his desk writing papers out looking very irritated indeed.

“I assume your writing a letter home to your mother. Surprisingly she’s worried herself sick about you.” William continued to look at his writings grasping the quill tighter. It was obvious he had just become even more irritated. “Come now William, a full escort from the boat, a waiting carriage, you knew I was on my way here from England.” Blowing some dust over his parchment to dry the ink he stood walking across to another table in the room.

“You may thank Lord Cornwallis for those hospitalities, for I assure you I had nothing to do with them.” He said roughly putting the papers away still not even looking towards her. “I told you to stay in England when you wrote and proposed this idea of coming here. Are you completely so arrogant as to think I would bend to your every little whim?” Turning around, he finally looked at her for the first time.

The woman just looked at him keeping the same expression upon her face. “Well, God knows hearing of my husbands glorious deeds of Killing, Burning, and Raping all over the Colonies in royal court seemed insufficient somehow. I thought coming and witnessing them at close hand would perhaps save some dignity left to our name.”

“Reports that are grossly exacerbated, I assure you.” He said walking past her back to his desk as he put away his quill and closed the ink putting it in it’s proper place. “I find it most amazing, that you traveled three months on a ship to come and scold me in person. I’m sure it would have been more prudent and less of a bother to write out pages and pages of your displeasure by hand.”

The woman’s eyes moved to a wastebasket and she walked over looking down into it. She saw several letters that had been wadded up and thrown away, she recognized the handwriting as both her own, and his mothers. “By the looks of things, it wouldn’t have done me much good. Would it have William.” It was obvious that she couldn’t take anymore of this civility and walked towards him letting her temper flare, “You would be surprised how few friends we have left, the ones that used to be have stuck so many daggers in your back while you have been gone, I’m surprised you can still move about.” William rolled his eyes and began to go about his business around the tent. She followed him quickly intending to have her say, “People hiss at me when I walk by, they whisper and laugh as if I’m completely deaf and blind, our box at the opera has been sold and our seats in church have been given away to other, more ‘godly’ patrons. I’m forced to stand in the back where it’s difficult to hear anything much less see. Through all of this, I’ve had to face it alone. Your mother goes about deaf to everything, and still talks of her wonderful son, and I am left looking like a fool since I say nothing to any who slander you. Why must I suffer for your sins William!” She shouted.

“It’s the way of all martyrs isn’t it?” He said stepping around her and moving back to his desk. The woman started to say something else but then just sighed and shook her head turning away. William noticed the sudden silence and turned seeing her back to him. His eyes narrowed as he walked towards her hearing a sound that he wasn’t quite sure he had ever heard from her before. “Are you weeping?” He asked a little in shock.

“No.” She said turning away from him even more, taking a few steps away from him she quickly reached up drying her tears with her black glove. “Your insane, it must be one of the camp whores outside.” She said keeping her back turned away.

“Since when do you lie to me? You’ve always been blunt, spoke your mind, and never played such games. Why do you lie to me now?” He said walking up to her and spinning her about. Honestly, he didn’t expect to see her eyes red so quickly, and tears escaping her eyes and falling down her cheeks. “Good Lord, you are weeping.” He said. They had been married for 10 years, and he had known her long before they were wed. Never had he seen her cry for any reason. “I have been away from England for only five months, and here, now you come to me an burst into tears? Two months after I leave England with his Majesties royal forces you decide to travel half way around the world into the heart of a war. What on earth has gotten into you woman?”

She pushed him away and turned her back to him again. “Your right I shouldn’t have come. I don’t know what I thought I would find here that I couldn’t find in England.” Tavington just looked at her, still not sure what all this was. Never, NEVER had she seemed so weak as she was right now, and it was throwing him slightly. This was honestly the first time he could remember that she receded from a fight. Suddenly she turned feeling as though she had sufficiently dried her tears. “I shall take the next boat back to England. At least there we have some holdings and a proper home.” She said heading for the tent door.

If this new change of events hadn’t happened, he would have happily bid her farewell, but now he couldn’t just let her leave. There was something going on, and he wanted to know what. Tavington quickly headed her off and stood between her and the only exit from the tent. “What on earth . . . William let me pass at . . . once.” She said feeling her voice start to break again and looked away.

“Now, you will do as I say for once in your life and you will stay until I tell you to leave. Do you understand me?” He walked towards her and started to put his arms about her to turn her around and walk her back into the tent to a chair, “You are going to tell me exactly what all this nonsense is ab . . .” He stopped as his hands suddenly went to her body feeling through her clothing. “Good Lord woman, have you gained weight?” She looked extremely insulted the way he touched her and started to say step back and say something. However, before she could get a word out Tavington pulled her cloak from her.

She had done her best to hide it as well as she could. The layered style dress she wore, the extremely large and thick cloak that had more material then any should. However, there as large as life was the tell tale sign of a woman with child. Tavington just stood there starring at her, not able to speak. The woman quickly became upset again and jerked her cloak away from him wrapping it about her in embarrassment. Suddenly the realization hit him that it couldn’t possibly be his and the expression on his face grew cold. “Well, It seems you can no longer carry your cross of a cheating husband. Since now it seems you have chosen to ignore our wedding vows as well.”

The woman turned and looked at him her eyes wide as could be. “What?” She said in a half whisper just starring at him.

“Oh come now, there is no need to pretend. Tell me, Who’s is it? One of our “Friends” from the court? A servant perhaps? Who, took my place between those milky white thighs of yours.” His words were stopped when she struck a surprisingly hard blow across his face with the flat of her hand. Tavington couldn’t believe that she had struck him, and felt outraged that she would do such a thing.

“How dare you, how DARE you even think that I am in the same class as you!! You bastard! You can rot in this God forsaken war for all I care! You never have taken our wedding vows for the gospel they are, I am the only one of us who have been a true and faithful spouse, and you DARE to stand there and insult me!?!” She stormed passed him wrapping her cloak back around herself and not saying a word as she left his tent. Getting back into her carriage she hit the ceiling hard, not even caring that he had come out of the tent following after her.

Later, after night had fallen, Tavington sat alone in his tent quietly, starring at a candle as the flame danced and flickered from his breath. He was trying to think of how this could have come about if what she said was really true. Then it dawned upon his memory and his eyes grew wide as he starred into the flame.

The night he found he had gotten his commission and was to be sent back to the colonies he had come home to find that his wife, had actually dressed up for him. She had made him a grand dinner with all the foods that she knew he adored. She seemed exceptionally soft and kind that night, a rarity indeed. “Our Anniversary.” He said recalling what the occasion was. It had always seemed strange to him that even with his dibbling and affairs, the gossip that surrounded their every day lives, the fights that they were continually in, every year on their anniversary, she prepared something special and she was as kind and understanding as could be as she was on their wedding day. Sometimes, this mood of hers would last weeks or even a month or so.

He remembered the look on her face of utter horror when he told her that he would be leaving for the colonies into an “Uprising of colonial radicals” and could be stationed there for years. He remembered her wrapping her arms around him and holding him tightly, something, once again, he could never recall her doing before. One thing led to another, and he remembered them finding themselves upstairs in her bedroom making love until dawn. They had had separate bedrooms for sometime, since it seemed they couldn’t stand the sight of each other for long periods, much less share a bed together.

He rubbed his hand over his eyes, as he realized that he was far to quick with his assumption. He had shipped out the next morning, and she had left exactly two months after he did. She would have known that she was with child, and perhaps with all the talk that followed their name around constantly, she might have had a moment of weakness that allowed her to come to him even knowing that their arguing was going to occur regardless. It was to late now, what was said was said. He couldn’t take it back, nor give her a chance to tell him in her own way, since he had taken the opportunity from her by calling her a whore.

One of the Captain’s that had been assigned to escort lady Tavington entered his tent and saluted. “You wanted to see me sir?” He asked standing at attention. The Colonel stood and looked at the man.

“Report.” He said simply wanting to know what had happened after she had left the camp. The man took a moment to collect his thoughts before beginning to speak.

“We went into the city where the arrangements have been made for Lady Tavington to live during her stay here in the Colonies. We saw to it my lady’s things were taken up for her, and waited to be dismissed. However, before we left, she sent her servant to book passage on the next ship leaving for England.” Tavington was not entirely surprised that she had done just that. She always did as she said she would, no matter how outrageous it seemed. Giving a wave of his hand he dismissed his Captain, who promptly exited the tent.

Pouring him self a glass of wine he paced slightly, “Damn that woman.” He cursed under his breath before drinking the glass dry. As if he hadn’t enough things on his mind without this sudden enlightenment she decided to thrust upon him in the middle of a war 3,000 miles from home.

Back in town, the Lady Tavington and her female servant were unpacking her things and settling in. “Honestly, I don’t know why we are wasting time unpacking. In a few weeks I’ll be back on my way to England. After all, I so miss my long hours of solitude since I’m no longer welcomed to parties or balls.” She said taking a few personal items and putting them in the closet. Sarcasm had become part of her over the years. Really it was the only way she could find to deal with all of the atrocities that she had to endure during the course of this marriage.

“Did he say anything when he found out madam?” Her servant said looking at her while making the bed up the way she knew her mistress liked it.

“Camille, I have told you countless times that there is no need to be formal when we are alone. Please refrain from calling me Madam, or Lady Tavington while we are together, it irritates me to no end.” She said as she closed one of her trunks and started to put some stationary and such away on the desk in her room.

“What shall I call you then?” The servant said softly not wanting to upset her even more then it seemed she was.

“Call me by my given name of course. I much prefer it to the sound of “Lady Tavington” when it rolls across the lips of those who just as soon spit venom at me.” The servant gave a nod and went about her duties. Lady Tavington moved back to her trunk and started to take some more things out to put away when she suddenly felt very weak and tired. She started to sway, and her servant quickly moved to help her stand.

“You really should rest Mistress.” The servant said forgetting the request that she had just been given. Worried that she would fall and hurt herself severely. “You haven’t hardly eaten today, and you traveled all the way out to Master Tavington’s encampment.” The servant helped her over to the bed so she could sit down.

“Oh Hush Camille. These spells only last for a short while, and I forbid you to tell anyone of them.” She said giving a serious look to the woman. The servant nodded to let her know she understood the consequences if she did tell someone of what she knew. Camille pulled some pillows over and put them behind Lady Tavington’s back so she could sit more comfortably and quickly moved to put her mistresses feet up on the bed.

“Mistress.” She said softly keeping her eyes down. “What . . . what is your name?” She said looking up at her. Lady Tavington looked at her for several moments.

“Do you honestly mean to tell me you don’t know my given name?” She said a little shocked. “You’ve been in my service for how long . . . Seven years correct?” Camille nodded. “And in all that time you never once heard Colonel Tavington shout my given name at me whilst we argued?”

The servant shook her head sitting on the bed next to Lady Tavington, “No miss. You always sent me away when he came home for the evening. You told me to go to the servants quarters and not to come back for the night.” Lady Tavington half smiled and nodded remembering that it was true.

“Ah yes. I suppose it’s to give you the protection from certain things that I can never seem to afford myself.” Reaching up she gently touched the woman’s cheek. “I don’t think your view on marriage between a man an a woman should be tainted by what goes on in our house.”

“Why does he treat you so badly?” Camille’s eyes went wide and she covered her mouth for an instant, “I’m . . . I’m sorry to have asked such a question miss.”

“Honestly, I’m glad you did. You seem like less of a servant as the moments go by Camille. I’m rather enjoying this conversation.” Giving a sigh she tried to think about the question. “I never quite understood his ways either. I remember on our wedding day everything seemed so new and exciting some how. He was dressed in his uniform, and actually smiled at me when I walked down the isle. Even though it was an arranged marriage, he was always so handsome to my eyes. Truly, he is as handsome now as he was the day we were wed.”

“It sounds wonderful Mistress.” The servant said with a smile a tiny light sparkling in her eyes.

“It was wonderful. I was a new bride who had never been with a man before in my entire life even though opportunities had come up on more then one occasion. I took every word that the reverend said to heart. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” A sigh of sadness paused her words for a moment. “It wasn’t until a two years after our marriage that I met one of his lovers, and realized that my wedding day I was giving my heart and body to him. Whilst my dowry was sufficient enough to replenish his families fortune that his father squandered before his death, and my inheritance that came years later when my father died would secure and finance most of his endeavors for the future. Every since, I realize that it wasn’t me he was smiling at on our wedding day, it was what he would be receiving for taking me as his wife.”

Camille’s smile faded as her eyes turned sad as well with her words. She looked down for a moment and then said softly, “Why do we make him such a grand dinner each year, and you always dress up so pretty for him each year?” Looking up at our mistress, “It’s as if he doesn’t even notice when you do such things for him.”

Lady Tavington smiled at her words, since she had silently asked herself all of those same questions over and over. “Because my dear, I have the one virtue that should be considered a sin, for it prolongs men’s suffering.” Looking at the servant she saw that she didn’t quite understand what she meant. “Hope. Each year, I hope that on our anniversary, a new year would begin and it was a chance for a new start between us. I always left myself open and tried my best to give him a chance to open himself to me. But he never has. It’s becoming my belief that he never will, and I’m a fool for even hoping for such a day.”

Camille felt so sad listening to her Mistresses words, and could see the look in Lady Tavington’s eyes that reflected the pain in her heart. Lady Tavington took a breath and waved, “That will be all for tonight Camille. Go, get some rest. We will finish unpacking in the morning.” The servant nodded and quickly stood from the bed, pulling a blanket up over her Mistresses legs to keep her from catching a draft. She curtseyed respectfully and opened the door to leave. “Camille.”

The servant turned around and looked at her mistress waiting to see if she needed anything. “My name is Katherine.” Camille smiled and curtsied one more time before closing the door behind her.

A few days later, Lady Tavington sat at her desk writing pages of script addressed to Williams mother. It had been sometime since she had gotten any word from him and she had been quite worried. Just then she heard the door open, “Just set the tea on the table please, and then you may go.” She said putting some wax on the back of her letter to seal it making her mark within the warm wax.

“Bringing you tea isn’t one of my duties.” She stopped what she was doing recognizing the voice and sighed as she stood.

“You’ll be happy to know that I will be on my way home in a few weeks. You shall not have to bother with me anymore. You may get on with your little war, and do whatever you wish.” Now it was her turn to be stubborn and cold and she went around her room doing small chores not paying him very much mind.

“It would have been just as easy to write me instead of coming over 3,000 miles on a three month Voyage Katherine. May I ask you why you chose this course of action instead of the sensible one?”

“You may not. I will not give you an answer for you are not deserving of one. Now please, go and leave me be. I have things to do that you are only getting in the way of.” Walking past him she opened her closet switching a few clothes back and forth so they were in the proper order. However, his hand moved to the closet door and closed it as he leaned his weight against it so she could not open it again.

Lady Tavington looked up at him not saying anything and had an extremely annoyed look upon her face. “I do not wish to argue or fight with you now Katherine. I want only for you to be truthful with me now as you have always been. Neither of us gain anything by quarreling, as this is neither the time or the place for it.” This was a bit of a surprise, since he had never once stopped a fight before it began like this. It was as if he truly wanted to speak with her.

“Why do you wish to speak with me now. I would think that needed to be said was said a few days ago when I was taken to your camp.” She said coldly as his words still pierced her heart, even to think about them. True, he had said even crueler things to her, but this was a little much.

William’s eye twitched slightly not wanting to speak of their first meeting here in the colonies, and cursed inwardly for not realizing she was going to bring attention to it. “I was exhausted from a day of battle and war. I may have said things a little to quickly from fatigue.” Lady Tavington just stood there looking at him. Was she in some sort of dream? Since when did he make an excuse for himself and not proudly wallow in the glory of saying something that genuinely hurt her? Turning and walking a few steps away from him she decided she should let him say what he had come to say.

“Then speak now. You do not seem tired, or exhausted to me at this point in time. So I’ll know for certain that anything you say to me, you mean.” She waited as she could fell him pace back and forth slightly behind her, searching for words, which was something he never ever did before.

“I have canceled your passage back to England, and gave orders that you are not allowed to book passage on another ship without my permission.” He said bluntly. Katharine spun around her eyes wide, her temper was just as hot and volatile as his was.

“How DARE you!” She shouted at him walking towards him, “What right have you to do such a thing!?! I will go home to England on the next available ship and there will be nothing you can do to stop me!” She stood tall and her words were coming even angrier. “For once I will admit that you were right that I should never have come here, and I intend to fix my mistake!”

Tavington’s voice soon became just as enraged as hers as he walked towards her, “You little fool, your are five months will child and will never make it back to England before giving birth! How do you think THAT will be aboard a storm tossed ship! You will stay here until I say you can leave and I will have NONE of your tongue! I am neither in the mood for it, nor will I tolerate it! You have been foolish thus far and now I will make your choices for you!”

“You think because we are married it gives you the right to take away my freedom! It certainly never took yours for even an instant when you saw a woman you desired or who even desired you! Why should I listen to you now!” She hissed at him as they continued to get closer to one another.

“My indiscretions have nothing to do with this matter. I have not had the time nor the inclination to spend money on such extravagant luxuries since I left England! Though it may be your favorite sin to throw back at me when you want to avoid a matter, it will not work this time!! Whither or not you desire it, you are still my wife, and you will do as I say!”

“I will do what you told me to the first time and I will go back to England!!! Not because you told me to but because it was MY choice! Your mother certainly is alone there, and has no comfort or solace to know that her son still lives. At least my going back will allow her to know what great health her wayward son is in!” She turned and started walking back towards her desk but Tavington roughly grabbed her arm and jerked her to stand before him, grasping her other arm as well.

“Damn it woman! I will not have you endangering my child, because of this hatred you have developed towards me!!!!” He roared into her face. Katharine stopped struggling and just starred up at him hearing his words. Tavington was expecting much more of a fight then this but it seemed like she just instantly and absolutely surrendered. He let go of her since it seemed there was no reason to keep her captured. She took a step back still quiet as can be and her eyes actually turned downward instead of meeting his head on as usual.

“I will do as you say, and I will stay here until you tell me to go home.” She said simply as her eyes still stayed downward. William just looked at her, not sure what to say or do now. He knew her well enough to know she would keep her word and stay until he said otherwise, but why on earth this sudden change of heart.

“Well . . . . then alright. I suppose there’s nothing more to talk about for the time being.” It was a very unsatisfying way to end an argument, just to have someone quit in mid stride like that, as it was something that was a great rarity between them. “Carryon with . . . . .whatever it was you were doing.” William walked to the door and took one last confused look at her before shutting the door behind him.

Once he was gone, Katharine closed her eyes and put her hand over her mouth as tears started to flow down her face. She went to the window and looked down seeing him heading out as a private brought his horse to the steps of the building. As she lowered her hand, a smile graced her lips nearly from ear to ear as she watched him ride away. With tears still streaming from her eyes she whispered, “My child.” She said repeating his words, a bright happiness shining out through her tears that her husband reneged on his assumption that the child was someone else’s and clamed it as his own.

Camille came in just a while later as she had been sent for by Lady Tavington. “You called Miss Katharine?” She asked. Katharine turned and looked at the servant and sighed softly before picking up the letters she had written.

“I suppose that Miss Katharine is as much as I can hope for, hmm?” Holding out the letters to the woman she took them carefully. “I want you to be sure these are sent off immediately. Especially this one marked for Colonel Tavington’s mother, understand?” The servant nodded and held the letters close to let Lady Tavington know that she would take careful care of them. “Good, now be on your way quickly so that you may be home before sunset.” The woman curtseyed and hurried off to do as she was asked.

Lady Tavington smiled seeing that Camille had already heard they were staying. Katharine was almost certain Camille wasn’t aware of her knowledge of the young man she had met in the few days they had been there. It was the only reason she could be in such a bright and smiling mood that they were not going home just yet. Closing the door, she walked back into her room and stumbled slightly. Reaching up she held her head feeling weak and tired suddenly, and reached for a chair she thought was closer then it actually was. She fell to her knees and became more and more dizzy until finally she fell to the floor unconscious.

When she awoke, she heard someone calling her name. “Katharine? Can you hear me? Katharine?” Her eyes opened slowly as she saw Camille hovering over her placing a cool cloth against her face. Yet it was not her voice that had been calling her name. Her eyes shifted over to see a familiar face, and felt her stomach clinch slightly. “There you are. I was afraid that something more serious was wrong. It must have just been exhaustion. After all, it was such a long trip.”

“General Cornwallis. It’s nice to see you again.” She tried to rise but found it impossible to do so, and both the General and Camille stopped her. “I’m sorry I can’t get up to greet you today General, please forgive me.”

“Oh nonsense. I’ve known you since before you were old enough to walk my dear. There’s no need for such formalities. I know it was sometime ago, but I want to say again how sorry I am about your fathers passing. He was a good friend, perhaps one of my closest.” Katharine smiled and nodded a bit. Cornwallis sat down in a chair that Camille had brought to the bedside as he looked at her. “General O’Hara tells me that you’ve been to the camp of the Green Dragoons. What on earth were you thinking, Katharine, you know that we are in the middle of a war here in the colonies.”

“Yes my lord, but the reason I came from England was there and I wanted to speak with him as soon as I stepped off of the ship from England. Since he was ‘Unable’ to come and see me ashore I was inclined to go and see him. They told me where he was and how close to enemy lines they are stationed but I demanded to be taken to him anyway.”

“What on earth was so incredibly important to speak with him about that you had to come in person instead of putting it into a letter? It is quite the voyage for a lady to travel by herself, and you could have been caught in a storm, or even worse, had the ship fired upon by land? I should think that you would be grateful for his being stationed so far away for any period of time.” Katharine took this opportunity to look down at herself. Camille had covered her up with a few blankets rather expertly to hide what it seemed Lady Tavington wanted to keep a secret. All proper women did the same when they became with child.

“I wanted to get away from England. You know how dreadful the winters can be.” The way she spoke it was obvious that was the story she was giving, and it was just that, a story. Cornwallis sighed as he stood from his chair.

“I wish that I had more time to sit down and talk with you a while Katharine, however as I said, we are in the middle of a war that I myself am conducting. Perhaps you will come to dinner one evening and we can discuss how you have been these past few years.” Reaching out he took her hand and kissed it before giving it a gentle squeeze.

“It is good to see you again. You’ve grown into a fine and beautiful young woman.” She smiled at his words, after all no one had called her a young woman in a very long time.

“I fear that you are the only one who thinks of me that way My Lord. No one else even imagines that I’m a young woman.”

“Oh but you are. You were married at the age of 16 and it hasn’t been that long since I attended your wedding. Perhaps it would make you 26? It’s not at all old my dear. Wait until you get to my age before you condemn yourself to such accusations. But I have already said to much, I know the taboos of speaking about a woman’s age aloud.” He said with a smile and a slight bow before leaving the room.

Camille looked at Lady Tavington and smiled, “He’s a very nice gentlemen isn’t he Miss Katharine?” Her mistress just nodded a little bit sitting up further. “He’s always so polite and generous. The privates down stairs say that it was him who set up this place for you to stay in.”

"Yes. He's been a friend of my fathers for as long as I can remember, years before I was born. Even though we are not related by blood, I always thought of him as sort of an uncle. Of course, I grew to an age were I had to call him by his given name, and couldn't run up to sit on his lap and ask him to tell me stories of his battles." She stopped realizing perhaps she was talking far to much of her childhood. "It's late Camille. Get you to bed, we have an early day tomorrow." The servant stood and curtseyed as usual and hurried off.

Katharine sighed, then reached over picking up her candle and blew it out.