Sandra

Chapter 2

    Samson and his lady had the special privilege of being very close to Major Monarch. He was able to reserve a dining room for them to sit and chat in privacy with their glasses of red wine to be bottomless and their masks off. Sampson and Gabriel had purposely made it so that Benjamin could sit right next to Delilah. It was quite a site to see their young curly haired friend squirm. Every time he started to talk it began with a stutter and with him having to look away at the wall or having to ask Gabriel for assistance. "So tell me, Benjamin, what is the fighting like on your side?" Sampson asked with a chuckle. Gabriel instigated, "Yes, Benjamin! What is the fighting like for us?" Benjamin's eyes had lit up like a beacon, as he suddenly realized that his friends had put him on the spot. "I... well...err." His heart began to pound in his chest; he couldn't believe that his friends had put on such a display to embarrass him. Delilah had gazed at him with her silver eyes twinkling in the candlelight," Well... tell us," she urged. "What is the fighting like? And the natives, what are they like?" He gulped and had begun to gently tap on the table. "Well it's not like standing on an open field and firing at each other," he said. "Well, during the summer and spring it a lot more humid and it's bitter cold during the winter." As he began to go on the tapping had steadily increased until Lady Sampson had raised her hand. "Benjamin!" "Yes, ma'am!" She lowered her hand and grinned. "You seem nervous.... are you alright? And what have I said about you calling me ma'am?" He nodded and had put on a faux smiled. "Are you sure?" Delilah asked. She placed her soft hand on his forehead. "You're red in the face again." With complete innocence on her part, she had placed her hand on his knee only for him to shoot up from his chair. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I think I need air to clear my head." He grabbed his wine glass and before he could hear Delilah calling him back he was out the private room. You idiot! He thought to himself. You stupid, stupid idiot! What's wrong with you?! The lads are probably laughing their arses off as we speak." As he went down the white-walled corridor he had no clue of where to go all he knew was that he needed to be alone for a while. "Five days leave, and you're wasting it on nothing but tiny banter and bolting away at the slightest touch from a woman... a woman that you fancy." He closed his eyes and had begun to compel himself while bashing himself.
I can survive a battle, yet I can even talk to her. What is wrong with me? It's okay; I'll just go back in there and apologize for the display. It's simple.
With a large sigh and with his eyes still closed he turned around only to bump into something. But it wasn't a something, rather someone. As Benjamin opened his eyes he saw a beautiful pale familiar face of a woman whose braided hair was black as crow feathers. "Oh pardon me," she said softly. "Oh no ma'am, do pardon me. I'm so sorry about that." She had let out a soft giggle as her black gown made her float whenever she walked. "Well then it's quite alright," she said. "Are you alright, Sir? You seem so distraught?" "Oh no, I'm fine," he said with a smile. "I'm perfectly fine. It must be the heat." The young lady had giggled a bit, "Perhaps so. Even though you're face isn't drenched and you shake like a leaf. Something must have gotten you scared." Benjamin had slightly tilted his head at this woman and scoffed, "I'm not scared of anything. And I'm sorry may I ask who you are?" The lady had flashed a gentle smirk as she brought out her hand, "Lady Sandra Cathorne, and who might you be young sir?" With a chuckle, Benjamin had rubbed his curly hair back. "I'm not a sir ma'am, just a person who serves for the militia. My name's Benjamin. Benjamin Campbell, I serve under the command of Robert Rogers."
The young lady had displayed a soft smile as the young man bowed taking her hand. "For a young man who just only serves the crown of England you sure can speak like a gentleman." He had let out a small laugh, "Thank you, ma'am." Taking back her hand she had tapped the tip of her finger on her lips. She began to circle the boy as a small smile began to crawl on her face. "Where did you buy your coat?" "Why from a trader in Setauket ma'am, I paid 3 eggs and 5 pounds for it." Stopping to look him in the eye she had a placed her soft hand on his back. "You're still nervous." The young man's lips were parted as he stared into her hazel eyes. He could think of the words but when it came to saying them all that came out was air. "What?" he finally said. "I said you're still nervous. But of what?" She had trailed a finger on his back as she began to walk back in front of him. "I have no idea of what you're talking about," he said. "Is it of me," she asked. "Poor boy scared to death of me... a woman." She had giggled a bit and had covered her mouth. "Oh, this is too much, a boy who is afraid of women. Why most boys would be spying on girls with any chance they could, well at least the younger ones, meanwhile the eldest would be looking for someone to court." Benjamin had felt something began to boil in him. "Excuse me ma'am, but I'm twenty years old-
"Still! A boy," she said cutting him off. "But don't worry. This world is full of surprises for you. Though as a soldier I'm sure you already know some of them." She had taken a hold of his hand and had looked into his eyes. It was almost as if she had placed a spell on him. Earlier he could barely speak, and afterwards, he could barely move.
"Come, Mr. Campbell," she said.
"Walk with me."