The Last Marigold

XXVIII

William stretched out his back as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. Fortunately his leave was granted though at times when he awoke to both of his son's crying he wouldn't be opposed to going back. He hadn't shaved in a week as he always allowed marigold to have some extra sleep while he tended to his children even though they were in separate rooms "hey little man" William whispered to little Will as he lifted him into his arms "You were less trouble inside the womb though I think your mother would disagree" William gently brushed back the babes' small tuff of hair before kissing his forehead "maybe when you're old enough we can take a trip to Charles Towne and look at buying your first pony, your brother will have one too" The colonel glanced over his shoulder at the door that separated his room from his wife's, a sigh leaving his mouth before he even had the chance to withhold it "I thought that after your birth I may have been able to see your mother once in a while, though she still hasn't forgiven me" He pouted ever so slightly and all the babe did was stare up at him with while he stuck his fingers into his mouth "Well your are no help- whatever you do, do not ask courtship advice from me when you are older"

The lad wriggled in his arms before vomiting on the colonel's shoulder. William let out a sigh and laid his son in the middle of the bed, making sure that there was no way that he could roll off or injure himself. He took off his shirt and tossed it into the laundry basket before quickly returning to his son "Anyways...dada wants another nap later, your brother will be in attendance, I hope you will be too"

A knock came from the door that separated the rooms "William? are you decent?" Marigold asked from the other room. William lifted little Will into his arms and walked over towards the door, smiling when he opened the door to see his wife standing there with little James "Good morning, did you sleep well?"

"this one needed the wet nurse in the middle of the night, other than that, yes" he cleared his throat and noticed that he was still top less "Marigold...please, may we talk about this- our sleeping arrangements I mean..."

"William...I need time"

"How long..." William muttered before looking down at his son "please, I cannot bear this anymore..."

Marigold shook her head and looked down at little James who was wriggling in her arms "I'm still bleeding from giving birth-"

"Do you believe that I care, my love I don't care" He reached up and softly pushed a few strands out of his face "you have swaddling in place I presume? A good husband resides with his wife when she is in need"

"William..."

"Maribel, let me be a good husband for a change"

Marigold shook her head as she walked into the room. She laid little James in the bassinet while William sat down on the edge of his bed "The lord General has requested that I return to duty- but that is only if you will be alright with my absence" William muttered only for her to stare down at little James and Will "I'd be back before you know I'm gone" The young mother felt a soft pang to her stomach so she sat down once again. She rested her hand on her still slightly swollen belly "Maribel?"

"I'm only a little sore, no need to worry"

"if you wish, I can write to the Lord General and tell him-"

"No...you mustn't, it would count as cowardice which is punishable by death" Marigold sighed as little Will started crying once again. William lifted the boy into his arms and gently cuddled him, whispering sweet nothings into his ear as he tenderly rocked him. He kissed his sons temple as the babe calmed down "but if you want to return...well I do expect a letter or two"

"I will write a dozen letters for you before the week is done"

"And you better return to me-"

"Do you doubt my abilities? My lord, and here I am thinking that you love me" William jested before laying little Will in the bassinet alongside his brother. Marigold rested her head against his shoulder "do not worry, I'll come back in one piece"

"And when will you return?"

"March maybe early April"

"And when do you leave?"

"When the baggage train arrives I will spend one more day here" William saw her reaction and wrapped an arm around her "they're wanting me to go to aid Banastre's assault on Cowpens, if we win we'll be able to advance safely into North Carolina"

"And what happens when you return?"

"I shall see this war through, though I will not be returning to England, everything I need is right here in this room" He looked down at his infants and then into his wife's eyes "It is early, maybe we can spend the day together as a family? Maybe we can move back into our master chamber together? instead of residing in here, away from each other..." William suggested, only for her to raise her head and stare at him "What I really wish to say is that- I wish that I could make things right again"

"William, we both know that things won't be the same as they were" Marigold swallowed the lump forming in her throat and shook her head "Trust is like a fresh piece of parchment, once it's crumpled it will never be perfect again"

"Unless one wets it and places it between two perfect sheets of parchment before going over it a few times with a flatiron" William tipped her chin up and brushed back her hair "the two perfect pieces are our children, the very thing that may help us rekindle our marriage"

She lightly chewed her bottom lip before leaning forwards and pecking his "that does not mean that I forgive you, I am still very much angry" He did not hear that last part, he was too busy grinning like a schoolboy.

"Thank you"

"what for?"

"for giving me a chance"

~~~

"Excuse me, do you know where I can find Colonel William Tavington?" A young chestnut haired lady spoke, causing Captain Wilkins' eyes to widen ever so slightly "sir, I can pay you some money-"

"No, no, it is quite alright. Though unfortunately he is currently residing on the Santee with his wife and children" Wilkins swallowed thickly when he saw the young lady's sorrowful look "if you would like, I can take you there- we were headed there to pick him up anyways, miss?"

"Oh I apologise, I'm Isabella Tavington, William's sister"

"The colonel has a sister?"

"Correction, he has four" Isabella smiled as the captain looked down at his boots "the other three are married, I am not" she stared up at the captain who was practically dumbstruck "Sir? What's the issue?"

"Nothing" James cleared his throat and dipped his head down "miss, if you would follow me to my horse"

"Horse?"

"Would you prefer a carriage? We only have a wagon carrying arms and ammunition, though we could make room for you" the captain made a quick excuse, causing the young woman to cover her mouth with her hand, clearly holding back laughter "is something amiss sir?"

"No, no, I'm just surprised that's all" Wilkins smiled slightly and offered her his gloves hand "come, we're leaving now" the hair on the back of his neck stood up when she placed her hand into his "T-This way miss" And with that, the captain guided the colonel's sister towards the band of dragoons waiting to depart. Isabella smiled rather brightly when she saw Major James Borden, knowing him from London when himself and William came home the day after they had bought their commissions "Sir, this woman will be travelling with us"

Borden turned around and froze in shock when he saw his friend's sister standing before them "Jesus, Mary and Joseph! what the bloody hell are you doing here?!" He wasn't angry, he was just surprised, though his voice said otherwise. After a few moments he took the girl into his arms and hugged her rather tightly "We're going to pick up your brother now actually, he's with his wife-"

"I am aware, Captain Wilkins was kind enough to inform me" Isabella looked over his shoulder at Wilkins and smiled rather brightly "He said that you could make room for me in the wagon" The Major nodded and took her hand into his, walking her over towards the carriage "What is wrong? I-I came to see William-"

"We're in the middle of a war lass- when I take you to your brother, you will stay there with his wife until we all return" Borden helped her into the wagon and covered her with a blanket "Do you understand me?"

"yes I do, I just wanted to surprise him"