The Last Marigold

~XVIII~

15th August 1780

early morning...

"Marigold you look-"

"Horrid?" Marigold moved some eggs around on her plate before glancing at Vivian who was sat across from her in the little parlour "I know, I've been up all night with nausea and vomiting" After being at Fort Carolina for a fortnight, Marigold had suffered with sickness due to her pregnancy, well, it was common according to the wives of the Generals, to experience said sickness. Though she had been told that it was extremely uncommon to have even the slightest swell, she didn't mind. She knew that when she held her child in her arms, it would be worth the stretch marks and nausea that she had been experiencing. Vivian nodded and looked down at her tea "you needn't travel to the camp, I'm sure William can manage on his own tonight, especially with my James monitoring his every movement"

Her friend smiled and rested her hand on her belly "wherever he goes, I go. Even if I'm sick every few hours" Marigold shook her head and looked down at her plate "but I know that it'll be worth it"

"Have you thought of any names?" Vivian asked before taking a sip of her tea.

"William wants to name a boy Charles or Charlie for less formal occasions, if it's a girl we like Lavinia"

"with how much you're showing already, I think the babe will be born near December maybe early January"

"Hopefully, oh, I cannot wait to see William's smile when he holds them for the first time" Marigold smiled rather brightly before pouring herself a cup of tea "speaking of children, when are you due?"

"February, if it's a boy we're calling him John and if it's a girl we're calling her Evelyn" Vivian beamed before sipping her tea once again. Marigold softly laughed before shaking her head "Oh, the timing is perfect, we'll both be pretty mothers at the same time, and we'll always have each other even if times are rough" Vivian looked out of the window and let out a content sigh "now we wait for our men to ride over the hill..."

"William is secretly a bit softy" Marigold smiled at the memory of William unwinding one of her hair ribbons from her braid and tied it around his wrist. She made him make the silly promise to never take it off, but, William being William took it seriously and hasn't taken it off yet.

~~~

William scowled slightly when James let out a groan and placed his hand on his back "Do you have a problem James?" He grumbled before spurring his horse forwards with a light tap to the her sides "I'm not happy about being dragged from bed either because some continentals thought it would be funny to attack our men at daft o'clock in the morning! seven miles on horseback doesn't help anyone! And we have twenty fresh faces to take on a rescue mission doesn't do anyone any favours..."

"Judas, calm it man" James sighed and looked to the side "to the left, you can hear voices" He muttered and turned his horse to the left "there could be wounded, possibly hostiles"

The general looked to the side and nodded "right, you lot, follow James and I" In unison the twenty or so young dragoons said 'yes sir' and followed the two senior officers down the small country path. when they had cleared through the trees, they noticed a plantation and its residents on the porch tending to several British troops, most from the 33rd regiment of foot. This was rather odd, considering that that regiment was supposed to be nearing the great wagon road in hopes they would overwhelm the advancing colonial forces. William grunted underneath his breath and raised his hand as they approached the plantation, raising his hand as a signal for his men to stop. After looking around at the casualties, slaves and horribly bloody plantation owner he noticed a lieutenant walking towards him, a look of panic sketched across his features "Lieutenant, have a detachment take our wounded to our surgeons at Winnsboro"