Notes: This story was originally written in French.

The carefully raked gravel grated under the wheels of the carriage when it comes in the court of a splendid manor. At once a soldier dressed with the red uniform of the British army precipitated for opened the door. He set up the footboard and holds the hand to help a young woman to go down. With elegance she posed the foot on the ground. She tells thanks to him with a charming smile. Then she was turned over to await her companion. He joined her and she posed her hand on his arm. She looked around her. Soldiers were posted in guard of honor on each side to the staircases. Officers and rich owners were on the steps and in the hall. She turned to the man and murmured:

"Go away John, I'm afraid. We don't have anything to do here."

"It is too late, my love. And then you know that our presence here is essential. I must remain, in their eyes, faithful to the Crown. You know it."

"John..."she protested gently.

"My love, all this will pass well. So let's go."

She tightened her fingers on his arm, and after a long sigh she felt ready to face the test.

Constance had married John Thorne, a rich grower of Caroline, eight years earlier. At this time she was a 17-year-old girl, shy and savage who had accompanied his father during a voyage to Americas right after her mother's death. She had been born in Nantes, a French port, where her father was a rich ship-owner who made trade with the British colonists of the new world. During a reception she had met that which was going to become her husband, John Thorne, 27-year-old. He came to inherit the rich plantation of his father. This large man, broad of shoulders, had immediately captivated her. She like his weather-beaten face by the sun. He had fallen in love to the girl at the moment where he had crossed her brown eyes, so intense, so deep, which seemed to pose on all an astonished or interrogative glance. John was a direct man. One week later he confessed his love to Constance and asked her hand to his father. They married two weeks later.

Eight years after they were still very in love, eight years of happiness, and misfortune too. Their first child, a boy, called Nathan, whom born two years after their marriage had died in his cradle three weeks after his birth. Constance had her heart broken. They not had other children, however they wished one both.

They come in the room lit by thousands of candles. Hundreds of people were pressed in the large ballroom, some of their neighbors convinced loyalist, their wives richly dressed, and of tens British's officers in their splendid scarlet uniform. Richard Loman, one of their neighbors, greeted them.

"John, my dear friend, I am happy to see you here. My dear Constance you are dazzling like always. Come, I will present to you to His Lordship."

"His Lordship?"John asked.

"John comes on, Lord Cornwallis, our host, the General of the Army of the south. Those that will make come back in the row the enemies of the Crown."

Constance planted her nails stronger in the arm of her husband. They followed their neighbor to a man whose authority was manifest.

"My Lord,"Loman said, " let me introduce one of my neighbors, John Thorne and his wife to you."

John inclined himself and Constance doing her more beautiful reverence.

"It is an honor my Lord, "John said of his serious voice.

"Happy to see you among faithful her Majesty. Madam..."

"I am happy to know you my Lord,"she said while praying that her French accent does not heard too much.

She had made enormous progress in eight years and her accent arose only when she was irritated or in anger. She was raised and she crossed a blue glance, so icy, so blue, and almost gray. In fact, she couldn't have named the color of this glance posed on her, literally drinking her with his eyes, without any embarrassment. This so perturbing glance belonged to a thin man, about thirty, with the athletic appear and the arrogant air. He smiles to her imperceptibly. She felt the red to go up to her cheeks. She turns away her glance to Cornwallis while trying to smile. The General says something that she doesn't really hear. The man behind him took a step ahead. Realizing of his presence, His Lordship felt obliged to make the presentations.

"Mr. Thorne, here one of my best officers, the commander of the green dragoons, colonel Tavington. I am certain that he will be made a pleasure of praising to you the merits of the cavalry."

Tavington greeted John with a sign of head almost scorning before turning to Constance.

"Madam, it is an honor."

His voice was deep and hot. He was inclined on her hand and instead of only skimmed the top of her hand he posed his lips it. She must control herself for don't tear off her hand and to slap him. He stands up and locked his glance on her. She tightened her husband's arm.

"Thus colonel,"John says, " You command the green dragoons."

Tavington turned an icy glance towards him and answered curtly.

"Indeed."

Cornwallis had move a little while discussing with Loman. Tavington thus remained alone with the couple. He hated the colonists. He thought that they all were traitors. And he refused to play the role of recruiter that too often Cornwallis entrusted to his officers. Usually he would have launched to this peasant a shingling remark and would have moved away. But his wife deserved that he is stay here a little more. Her intense glances, her charming face, her thin and flexible silhouette, seduce him. The orchestra started to play another air. He was inclined again and says:

"Allow me to invite your wife for this dance."

His request sounded almost like a command. John looked at Constance embarrassed. He did not want to entrust his wife to this officer but he did not see how to refuse without risk to see start the suspicions about his honesty. The young woman understood his glance.

"I do not see a problem colonel, but it is to my wife to decide."

"Madam?"

She made a slight reverence as a sign of acceptance. She posed her hand on the colonel arm and followed him to the center of the room. Whereas he led her with a firm and soft hand he did not leave her of the eyes. She had the impression that he stripped her. She felt so oppressed that she stumbled and must catching up herself with his arm. He keeps her firmly and sees her paleness.

"You don't fell well, Madam?"

"This room is too hot,"she murmurs while seek John of eyes.

But a handle of people of their knowledge had monopolized John, loyalist not really convinced. He did not see the faintness of his wife.

"Come outside,"colonel Tavington said, " a little fresh air will make good to you."

"No...I..."

"Of course yes, come..."

Gently, but with insistence, he carried her on the terrace. He was right. The fresh air made good to her and the giddiness that she felt passed. She took a great breathing by closing the eyes.

"That is better?"

His voice was mocker. She opened the eyes and looked at him. She had the breath cut by his so piercing glance. He was even more impressive of so near.

"What I like among women it is their incredible capacity to invent the simplest excuses or most complicated to arrive at their end."

"Sorry ?"she made shocked.

"A small faintness, one of the oldest female excuses."

A broad smile took shape on his thin lips, making him still more tempting.

"What you say?"

"That your excuse for to be alone with me is amusing."

"I..."

She could not believe at such impudence. She reddens of anger and exclaimed:

"You mistake colonel!"

Indignant, she set out again towards the ballroom. But as she passed close to him, he firmly clutched her by the wrist to retain her.

"So Madam, don't leave so quickly. We hardly made knowledge."

She turned to him.

"I don't intend to know you Sir."

"You are certain Madam? I ensure you that I can to be someone very enthralling in certain circumstances."

She reddens.

"Sir, please let me leave now,"she articulated carefully.

He smiles.

"Well, remain a little yet."

"Lâchez moi!¹ "she whistled by brutally tearing off her wrist with his catch.

She made half-turn and come in the ballroom precipitately while trying to find her calm for don't alert John. Suddenly she realized that she had just spoken in French. She pray for he had not realized that but her hope was quickly destroys. She had not doing three steps inside that Tavington joined her. He took her hand with authority and posed her on his arm.

"Don't play the arrogant ones with me."

There was a threat hardly veiled in his voice and he added:

"Petite Française.² "

She jumped and turned to him, pale. He gives a great malicious smile to her before murmuring.

"You must explain to me what does a Frenchwoman here. While waiting, I would keep your secrecy...But do not delay."

John, by far, saw the paleness of his wife. He came at once to their meeting, the eyebrow wrinkled.

"Constance, something doesn't be ok?"

His glance, anxious and slightly suspicious, went from Constance to Tavington. This last answered:

"The room was very hot. Your wife was felt oppressed a little. Therefore I allowed myself to accompany her on the terrace for she can breathe a little fresh air."

John questioned the young woman of the glance.

"I'm better, John,"she said gently.

Tavington was inclined.

"It was a pleasure Madam, to have had the honor of your company."

He moved away. John leaned towards her.

"All is well?"

"All is well."

She did not dare to speak to him about the outraging matter of the colonel, or to say to him that she had been betrayed while speaking French.

"John, I want go away, please."

"My love, it is necessary to stay still a little. We cannot, we should not leave now."

"John!"she beseeched.

"What is it?"he worried. " This Tavington would have annoyed you? If he dared I..."

"No, no."Constance was alarmed. " He stays a very...gentleman."

She understood that she could not insist without nourishing the suspicions of her husband and she did not want that he knows. She knew him sufficiently to know that he would have been so furious that he would have been imprudent. She had so afraid for him.

Thus she followed John towards a corner of the room where was joined together several of their knowledge. The men started to discuss with low words of the war, and the possibility of engaging in the British troops. The women were filled with wonder on the luxury at the decoration. Constance made pretence take part but her mind was elsewhere. She could not be prevented from thinking to colonel Tavington, to the handsome colonel Tavington because she was to admit that the man was handsome. 'No', she said to her, 'he is not handsome, he is tempting, he is attractive, he is...' She was horrified to think that of another man whom her husband, whom she loved deeply. She pushed back the image of this attractive glance to concentrate on the conversation.

William Tavington, also, listened to only one inattentive ear what the officers said. He did not leave the young woman of the eyes. He found her exciting; he had appreciated their small verbal tournament of a few moments ago. He had completely forgotten his irritation to be obliged to yield this society life whereas there was so much to make. He can prevent himself to detail her harmonious silhouette, the promising curve that he guess under her dress, to let his glance slip on her elegant neck, on her white shoulder, on the splendid hair with rich brown dark color with some auburn glint under the light of gloss. This young woman was intoxicant and he had already decided that in one way or another he would manage to put her in his bed. He thought already nibbling this so gracious neck.

She felt the glance of fire that was posed on her and she was turned back. Their glance crossed through the ballroom. She felt an odd cramp in her stomach under this glance, so appraiser, so possessive, so full with desire. Few minutes passed before she look away, refusing to admit that this man had lit something of unknown in her.

The remainder of the evening she endeavored to carefully avoid looking towards him. She was felling more and more badly and nervous. John ends up to understanding it and finally he announced their departure. With relief she crossed the ballroom to his arm. Tavington was not there any more. She was relieved of it but also...disappointed. They came out on the steps and awaited their car. Whereas it came, led by Abraham, their coachman, she saw him. Tavington was with a few meters, upright close to his horse. He looked at her intensely and smiles to her. She contracted her hand on the arm of her husband. John leaned towards her.

"You are bad?"

"I'm tired."

Finally she got into the car at the shelter. She was tightened against John as they go out of the enclosure of the manor.

Once at the house, she had been tightened against her husband with more insistence and passion. She had kissed him the first with a kind of despair. She knew that her husband, very modest and grow in fear of God, did not like that she is undertaking. It was not the role of a woman he said and when that happened he called her "my little Frenchwoman" with a slight scorn in the voice, which she had always hated. After eight years of marriage she had took the habit to let him doing. But sometimes, despite all the love that she had for him, she felt like a frustration to with having to retain her desires. However this evening John put her ardor on the account of the fear that she had feel at the time of this evening. He had returned the kiss to her before leading her in their room.

He had made love to her. However whereas he was in her, she could not retain a short thought for the man whom she had crossed this evening. Finally her husband collapsed to her side, exhausted. He murmured to her ear:

"You were my little Frenchwoman this evening."

She was shivering. The memory of Tavington saying the same words crossed her mind. She feeling a deep shame of it, to think of another man at this moment was almost as serious as to mislead her husband. She tightened against him.

She comes back towards the house. She had the arms full with flowers. She had collected at the edge of the river that ran in bottom of the hill where a superb white house with two floors was drew up. On the sides of the house there were the barns and dependences and further the huts of the slaves. She was anxious, absolutely, terribly anxious. The noises of war had developed since the ball, since these three last weeks and John had made his decision three days ago. John had met someone of the militia, an old friend, who had come to the house. During the meal Francis had spoken about the war, about the lost battles, about the troops massacred by these devils of green dragoons. Then they had been locked up in the husband's office. The following day, John had stay dark and dumb almost all the day before confess which he was going to join the militia. He said what was his duty and that he already had waited too much.

Constance was proud of this decision, in spite of her fear of losing him. John wanted to send her at one of these uncles to Charles Town, or even in France but she refused. She did not want to leave the plantation to go in a place where she could not see John before the end of the war. She was categorical. Her place was here; where her husband could find her if he needed her. He had ended up accepting.

Constance had decided that this evening would be a celebration meal, to ward off misfortune. John, her husband, the man whom she loved, was going to leave...for the war. Perhaps he would not return. She shook this sinister thought. She arrived in bottom of the three steps leading to the terrace which would run along the frontage when a deaf noise made she start. Worry she was turned over. 'Mon Dieu,³ ' she thought, ' I hope they don't come to seek John now. '

He was left to hunting. He want bring back game for the meal of this evening. Petrified she waited. But when she saw the red uniforms shine in the sun, she had the impression which she was going to faint. British. It was a small troop of twenty of riders. Their black fur helmet and their green facings of their jacket don't leave any doubt: green dragoons. The so dreaded green dragoons. Came they to arrest John? The man at the troop's head raised a hand and his men stopped at the entry of the court. He advanced alone, perfect silhouette on his horse. This silhouette was not unknown to her. She folded the eyes to try to see the face of the visitor. Constance had a small secrecy that explained this so scrutinizing glance that made part of her charm. She had a slight defect of vision. She did not see very well, as far the faces were fuzzy. She knew which he was; in her heart she knew it. She had dreamed of him several times during these three weeks and sometimes, in the day, the memory of this famous ball came to tease her. She did not understand why? This man was nothing for her. He had been odious and sufficient and the rumors on him were undeniable; this man was a sanguinary monster that the patriots called already the butcher.

Finally she saw the face of the dragoon and she had not been mistaken. She recognized the icy glance, which pierces her through, of colonel William Tavington. He stopped his horse right in front of her and said with a firm but slightly mocker voice: "Mrs. Thorne, I dare to hope that you still remember me. For my part I couldn't forget you."

"Colonel, what I can you for you?"

"Several things my dear."

He looked around him.

"Your husband is not here?"

"He was hunting."

"Oh, very well."

Flexibly he went down from horse and approached on her. He took her hand, almost with force, and was inclined. He put on the hand a kiss that was more pressed than authorized it the propriety.

"It is a pleasure to see you again Madam."

She did not answer. He plunged his glance in her one.

"You know that I awaited your visit, Madam."

"Sorry?"

"You owed an explanation to me, have you forgot?"

She made no with the head. Then she asked the tight throat.

"Is it for that which you are there?"

He had a half smile before answering.

"Not only. I succeeded to learning where was your plantation Madam. As it was on my way I decided to spend the night there."

"This night?"she exclaimed.

"Yes, this night. It was a problem for you?"

"Colonel, it is impossible I...I had envisaged..."

"My dear, we are in war. As a subject of the King you owe assistance to His army. With less than you have joined the rows of the traitors."

"Of course not,"she answered a little too quickly maybe.

"So, it is perfect."

Constance did not answer. She cannot think any more because his heart was tight.

"I will not refuse a brandy,"he said quietly.

She wanted to refuse, she wanted tell to him to leave, but she knew that was completely impossible.

"Come on colonel."

She preceded him in the house. She led him in the living room. She posed the flowers on the table. By looking at them she felt tears to prick her eyes. John was going to return and she was terrified with the idea of what could happened. She was turned over blessing the half-light of the room, which hid her emotions. He was right behind her, smiling. He caught one her hands and quickly carried it to his lips. He put there a hot kiss that did not have anything to see with respectful greeting in the court. She could not retain a shiver. She tore off hers hand while reddening.

"Sir! If you continue I will see in the obligation to ask you to leave."

"And you believe that I will obey to you?"

"You are a gentleman."

Tavington smiles again.

"So little...sometimes...You know, Madam, that you haunted my dreams these three last weeks. And I like to think that I also haunted yours."

She blesses one more the half-light that hid the sudden redness of her cheeks. This man disturbed her as ever no man had done it. She loved John, but when she looked at her husband, she did not feel this strange crispate in her belly nor this soft heat to invade her.

"I had practically forgotten you colonel,"she retorted.

"I do not believe that."

"Believe what you want!"she made more shingling, persuaded that her only defense against her emotion was to be unpleasant with him.

The blow carried, she saw his glance shine with anger.

"Well. In this case thus answer my question. That makes a Frenchwoman in this country. Are you unaware that France and we are in war?"

"No I am not unaware of it, colonel. But I am married with a British citizen, you forgot it?"

"Each time I look at you."

"It is however the case colonel. And I love my husband."

He raised the shoulders as if that were completely indifferent for him.

"And how a little Frenchwoman like you marries it a British citizen?"

"Why I said that to you?"

"Because I represent His Majesty here."

His voice was icy, threatening. She was afraid for John and answered.

"Very well colonel. My father came to make trade here. I accompanied him once eight years ago, I met John and we married."

"It is all."

"Yes."

"Well..."

He took some steps and went to a piece of furniture where was posed some carafes. He put brandy in a glass and was turned over towards her, smiling and stripping her of the glance.

"Madam, really, you are very....charming."

"Colonel..."

He posed his glass and he approached on her. He tightened the hand and gently caressed her cheek with his fingers. Constance shivered. He approached nearer. And sudden he slipped his hand behind her nape, attracted her to him and he kissed her. Hard. She struggled, succeeds to get free and without thinking, she slapped him. The snap resounded in the room. A cold anger burst in the Tavington eyes. He had a grimace of rage, which deformed his handsome thin face, and he raised the hand to strike her. She did not move back and whistled with fury.

"Je vous interdit de me toucher encore sale porc!⁴ "

At this moment there are a noise of voice in the court. John comes back. Tavington slowly lowered his hand and said with a still tended voice.

"Absolutely exciting...You will pay this slap to me Madam, later...While waiting for if you has care for your husband's life I advise you to be discrete."

She was going to answer when John come in the room.

"What happened here?"he asked.

Colonel Tavington turned to him.

"Thorne, I need to be lodged for the night. I count on your...loyalty."

John tightened the jaws with anger but however succeeded in answering calmly.

"In this case, welcome in North Star, colonel Tavington."

"You have a quite beautiful...property Mr. Thorne."

Tavington had slipped a glance to Constance by saying these words and she curses him in her mind.

The meal ambiance was rather cold. Tavington and one of his officers had been invited to the Thorne's table. Constance would have cried about it of despair. The last evening in company of her husband wasted by this damned English. The colonel spoke little and left his second, the captain Bordon, to make the conversation. He did not eat much either. He was distant and did not cease looking at Constance with try, not too much, to hide that. She don't dare look at him but each time she doing that, she see in the blue steel eyes a mixture of anger and desire.

The evening was not merrier and finished early. Once laid down near her husband Constance couldn't find the sleep. The fact of knowing Tavington in the house was unbearable for her. She still smelled his lips on her, she sees again his glance and she was afraid. Of him, and of she.

The next morning, the dragoons left at dawn. Tavington made briefs good-byes.

"I am certain that we see again together," he said.

"It will be a pleasure colonel,"John answered coldly.

She does not say anything. She knew that this sentence was addressed to her. He threw a last glance to her. In this look shone a contained fury. Then he made make half-turn to his horse. One minute later the dragoons moved away at gallop. She looked him leaving while pray God for she never see him again. John took her in his arms and kissed her hair.

"Constance, my love..."

"Oh John I was so afraid."

"Me too. You cannot stay here. He could return."

"I stay. We already spoke about it."

She would have liked to beg him to not leave but she didn't.

"I must leave now, I must prevent ours of the presence of Tavington by here."

"I understands,"she says a sob in the voice.

"Constance..."he hesitated, " I had the impression that there was something of strange between you and Tavington when I arrived yesterday. Something happened?"

"Nothing in particular."

"He did not cease looking you during the meal."

"That you want to say?"she made abruptly.

"Nothing, but I have...he importuned you my love?"

"No,"she say with a firm voice, " I just am just furious that he be there."

He kissed her with force. But their pressure was short. Twenty minutes later, he moved away to horse. She looked him disappearing, the heart broken, in prey with a terrible concern. She fills her memory of his broad silhouette and when he had completely disappeared, she come back inside, ran to her bedroom, was thrown on her bed and burst in sob.

The days passed incredibly monotonous and sad. Constance continued to make turn the plantation as well as possible. She resting on the George's capacities, a large, energetic and intelligent slave, which give order to the others. Often she walk to the stone bridge spanning the river. From there she had a good sight of the road. She knew that it was in vain and John never come back when she was here but she feeling a certain comfort with being there. This walk, she had often done during eight years to her husband arm, the evening when the sun lay down. It was a way of having his memory.

She had received only two letters of him. In the first he spoke about the loathing that he had felt during his first ambush. Especially when he had realized that one of the soldiers whom he had killed was a young man of hardly ten eight years old. The second was even more desperate but harder too. John had just taken part in his first real battle. He acknowledged, with his great shame, that like his comrades he had broken the rows after the first shooting of the British lines and than he had flees. He evoked the horror of the load of the dragoons, how those chopped without hesitation the disarmed the runaway. The tone of the letter was more relentless; it did not have trace of remorse. He wrote that he was ready to kill all the British whom he would meet.

At the mention of dragoons, Constance had a curious pinching at her heart. Tavington was still present in her mind like a ghost, because she has avoided thinking of him. During several days after the departure of John, she had made nightmares in which the handsome colonel was invariably. She hated him and feared him. She had dreaded his return during days but nobody had come.

There was more than two months that she was alone now. Tavington was a distant memory and each day she pray God to protect her husband. She also pray for that John returns soon. She was going to be heard.

The sun was high in the sky when they arrived, threading through tall grasses that bordered the river. Alerted by the terrified cry of a slave she precipitated outside. She recognized John immediately at his pace and his silhouette. He went at the head of a piteous small group of ten rags and wounded men. She ran towards him of all her forces and she was thrown in his arms. She covered his loved face with kiss while tears ran on her cheeks. He was dirty, cover of dust, powder, mud and blood. His clothing was torn. An immense lassitude marked his face usually so energetic. He gently pushed her back for better looking at her.

"Constance, my love."

"Oh John, John, je t'aime⁵ ."

She looked at him more attentively. An unpleasant gash blooding marked the left side of his jaw and he had blood on his right sleeve.

"You are wounded?"

"It is not serious, does not worry. But I had with me, men seriously wounded. I don't know where goes Constance; I have to be solved to come here."

She looked at the group of men that had stopped behind him. All seemed exhausted and there were at least two serious wounded supported by their comrades. But the others, although validates, were wounded too.

"Come in the house,"she said.

John and her led the wounded inside. The two more seriously wounded were wide on the couches in the sitting room. The others, exhausted, were dropped on the floor. The house quickly became a buzzing hive. One made boil water, one cleaned and one bandaged the wounds of each one. John insisted to be care in last. It is Constance that took care of him. She removed the jacket and the shirt with precaution. She discovered in the right biceps the deep ball of musket wound. Fortunately the ball was brought out. She washed the wound and covered it with a clean binding. She cleaned also the gash on his chin.

As she worked John explained what had arrived.

"We heard shots. The redcoats attacked a company of regular army. We carried help to them. Our arrival was to reverse the situation when they charged us."

"Who?"

"Dragoons. They cut us in part. I lost more than thirty men. And the soldiers were killed, all of them...even the wounded."

"Oh John..."

"I did not want to flee but their captain entrusted a package of very significant dispatches to me. It is was he said to me. I must give it to the continental authority. It is very important."

"You are wounded John. Rest, this night at least."

"No, I...I must go. I will wait until it grows dark. The dragoons have pursued us. But we have succeeds to escape to them. We scrambled our track and they don't will find us. However I am anxious for you. May be should I stay..."

She took the hands of her husband, scanning his face, his glance. He had changed. John Thorne, the man whom she had married and whom she loved, was a good, calm, generous man, incompetent of spite or cruelty. His neighbors often reproached him for being too lenient with his slaves. He answer that he was not able to inflict pain with another man, even if he was a slave. He had always been tender and attentive with her. She remembered his kindness and his comprehension after the death of their child. But now, in his eyes there were a cold determination, anger, and certain indifference too.

"John, you must fulfill your mission,"she said, " I don't risk anything here, I would take care of the wounded. You will return afterwards."

"Constance...and if Tavington found our track?"

She shivered involuntarily at the mention of this name.

"What you want he doing to me,"she say with a courage that she did not feel, "I am a woman, not a soldier."

"I am not certain that would stop him."

"John, you said it, you scrambled your track. He will not find you. If these dispatches are so important..."

"They are. This captain died for to give them to me."

"Then neither you nor me have the choice John, you know it well."

He rose and tightened the young woman against him.

"Constance I love you so much. You are so courageous."

He kissed her with passion.

"I have a little time before leaving my love."

They went up in the bedroom almost while running. He made love to her, quickly, almost violently with the heat of a man who does not know his future.

They were wide one close to the other, still tasting for a few minutes the joy of being together, when the deaf noise of a gallop resounded in the court. John leaps on his feet and precipitated to the window. He pushed a horrible swearword and got dressed quickly. Constance ran to the window too. The house was surrounded by more than one hundred of riders. She recognized one of them with the first glare, Tavington.

"Bordon nobody escapes! Wilkins with me! We will search in the house!"

She shivered and hurried to slip on her dress quickly. Cries resounded on the lower floor and shots slam. John, already dressed, checked his guns. She understood that he was going to go down to the help his men and to be made kill, undoubtedly. She precipitated on him.

"John no!"

"I must help them."

"It is too late. You must flee."

"No!"

"The dispatches, you must think of your mission John,"she insisted.

He hesitated. Then looked at Constance.

"I cannot leave you here. I will be a coward if I did that,"he retorted.

"No you will be a patriot,"she made with a vibrating voice.

"I would not leave,"he repeated.

"He will happen nothing to me. He doesn't attack a woman,"she ensures.

John took her in his arms. Noises of step resounded on the floor, whereas in bottom the cries started to decrease.

"You do not know anything of it! I would not take this risk. I take you along,"he declared.

"What?"she was astonished.

"You are strong, Constance, you are perfectly able to come with me." "But the house..."she worried.

"Damn the house! Come!"he exclaimed.

He involved his wife towards the window but at this time the door opened brutally, a dragoon come in. Pushing back Constance, John shooting without hesitating. The man collapsed without a cry, touched in full face.

"Quickly!"Thorne exclaimed.

Another silhouette was profiled in the doorframe. John made fire again but missed his target. He was disarmed. The dragoon comes in. It was Tavington. He pointed his gun with a cold grin on the lips.

"John Thorne, I always thought that you were a traitor."

He took two steps in the room.

"And when I recognized you this morning during the attack, I had the confirmation of it."

He doing two more steps, his weapon always pointed on the John's head.

"I believe that you have dispatches for me."

"Go to the devil!"

"You first, I ensure it to you."

He still approached. Constance was terrified. He was going to kill John. The cold gleam of the murder was in the blue steel pupils of Tavington. As he advanced yet, he was near to the young woman. She decided to act. She leaps, thrown wildly on the colonel, seizing his arm and blocking the gun with all her forces.

"Sauve toi John⁶ ! Save you!"

John hesitated.

"Save you!"

"I love you Constance!"

He spanned the edge of the window and jumped in the vacuum. Finally Tavington pushed back the young woman and try to precipitate to the window but she clutched to him. He turn over and brutally struck her in full face. She fell behind struck herself against wood of the bed with her shoulder. She does a deaf growl. He sank to the window and made fire on the dark silhouette that moved away. But the runaway was already too far and he missed his target. He undertook to reload his weapon while howling.

"Bordon! Bordon! A runaway! Catch up him!"

Several riders ran on the traces of Thorne. Tavington turned over. The young woman had been raised. A small trickle of blood ran of her lip. Hers eyes burned of anger. She rested against the bed.

"You never catch up him!"she affirmed with a wild joy.

Tavington looked at her of the feet to the head. He noticed the hardly fitted dress then his eyes went on the bed and he saw the covers in disorder. He smiles ironically.

"I hope that your dear husband did the love very well to you because it was the last time."

He comes on toward her with a carnivorous smile on the lips. She thrown on him while trying to slap him but this time he easily seizes her wrist and wildly twisted her arm behind her back. She pushed a groan of pain. He attracted her towards him. She try to scratch him with her other hand but he placed his gun against her chin.

"Think well."

She let fall down her hand, slowly. He attracted her still nearer until she comes to be crushed against his chest.

"Well, where were us the last time..."

"Release me!"

With the gun he forced her to raise the head towards him.

"Ah yes, I remember..."

He lowered his head and kissed her harshly. She stiffens, struggled, and bit him. He has a growl and slackened his catch. She torn off herself to his grip and ran towards the gate. In two steps he caught her, seizes her by the shoulder and turned over her. He slapped her curtly. Tears spouted out Constance eyes under the pain.

"Don't bite me again,"he said coldly.

Tavington looked at the young woman with interest. He had not forgotten the slap that she had given to him two months earlier or the rebuff that he had suffered. He had not forgotten the young woman either. She had live in some of his dreams these last months. Only the duty had prevented him to come back charm this little Frenchwoman. But now all were changed. She was splendid with her hair untied, her eyes glint and her breast threatening to escape to her dress. He had sworn to himself that he will put her in his bed and so...the moment had come, apparently. With calms he does few steps, passing very close to her. He locked the door. There was convenient near the door. He posed his gun there, then his helmet. He undoes his belt and posed his saber near the gun.

The Constance eyes increased with fear as she started to guess what he wants. Her heart accelerated and she threw a panic glance around her seeking an exit that did not exist or a weapon. She looked at him, again. He was a small mocker smile and a fire burned in his glance. This fire captivated her, attracted her. Without a word he advanced towards her. She moved back until she feels the edge of the bed against her legs. She felt like in a trap as he continued to advance, slowly, enjoying despair in her eyes.

She remembered the scissors that was in the drawer of the night table to the other side of the bed. With a mad hope she jump on the bed and quickly crossed as quickly she could. Not rather quickly however. Tavington jumped after her. He seizing her by the shoulders and he reversed her on the bed. She kick, struggled but he was stronger than her. He flattens her against the bed, seizes her wrists and pushes them behind. With only one hand he blocked the wrists. He was lengthened on her crushing her under his weight. With his other hand he turned her face towards him.

"Look at me!"

She spit to his face. Her glance was a mixture of fright, distress, shame and something that he identified like desire. He couldn't stop any more, all his body burned of desire for taking this woman. He leaned and kissed greedily the full lips. It was a wild kiss, ignited. Constance had her breath cut. She felt the Tavington tongue to fit between her lips, to enter in her mouth while his free hand released one of her breast. He started to pinch gently the nipple. She felt a long shiver to cross her. She felt the hot liquid to be released in her. She retained one groan. He continued to kiss her more and more intensely and without think she opened her mouth to let enter his tongue. His hand release her other breast and made undergo the same processing to it. His mouth went down towards her neck and nibbles it gently. Then he went down towards her throat. Finally he kissed the top of her breast then his famished mouth come on a nipples. He sucks and licks it. She could not resist longer and one groan crossed her lips as she arched under the sudden wave of pleasure. He continued while his hand catches her dress and drew it upwards. His knee penetrated between her thighs and went up until it comes to rest against her womanhood. Constance groans yet, more extremely. Her womanhood was so painful, all her body vibrated. He raised his head and looked at her, this diabolic smile on his lips. He slipped to the top taking her half-opened mouth. She kisses him. She had lost the control of her body. She had the impression to be consumed. She tore off her arms of his grip and tied them around his neck, tightening him against her. He rose, dominating her of all his size. He pushed her skirt completely and slipped his hand on her thigh until her intimacy. He felt revealing humidity. He caressed her womanhood gently. She let escape a small cry under his contact. He smiles as he drew aside his thighs more largely. Then he leaned on her, undoes his trousers, releases his manhood and penetrated her, wildly. She pushed a cry and planted her nails in his shoulders. He started to push with force, entering deeply in her, very deeply. She started to groan continuously without being able to stop. She was not herself. She was clutched with despair to the man who straddles her. She felt the wave of pleasure grow. It breaks with a force which doing scream her. Her own spasms acted on Tavington that was spread in her with a growl before collapsing on her, hiding his face in her hair. He nibbles gently her earlobe. She pulls up brutally.

"I knew that you would like..."he whispered.

His words were a shock for her, they brought back her to reality. Shame submerged her. Anger too. He had just taken her by force and she...she had took pleasure...the word was weak. She felt miserable and desperate. Tavington was always let on her, the buttons of uniform jacket entered in her flesh. She pressed on his shoulders to push back him. He raised and looked at her, coldly.

"Yes?"he doing.

"Je vous haï,⁷ "she exclaimed.

"What have you says?"

She did not answer, looked away. He forced her to look at him.

"What have you says?"

She quivers under his icy glance, where was a contained anger but she did not answer. She closed the eyes to escape at his influence. He seizes her chin and posed a rapid kiss on her lips. Then rose with a supple movement.

"Dress. You come with us."

She opened the eyes and looked at him surprised.

"You are a rebel and my captive."

As she doesn't move he added.

"Don't force me to change opinion. I could just kill you."

She readjusted her blouse. And then she remembered the scissors. She opened the drawer, took them, and ran towards Tavington the scissors raised, ready to strike. He blocked her wrist easily, twisted it and tore off her weapon.

"I hate you!!"she said in a sob.

"Oh, it is that. I did not realize that there are few moments ago when you groaned of pleasure."

She ran against him, but he immobilized her against the door. He kissed harshly.

"Sorry my angel, I don't have time to make love again. Not now at least."

He slipped his hand on her face, wiped her tears, gently. During a short moment his glance softens and he murmured:

"You will not forget me any more from now."

Time stopped during this short moment. But a blow struck against the door broke the magic moment.

"Colonel, it is Bordon."

The frozen glance hardens. He caught Constance by the wrist and opened the door.

"Well Bordon, you caught him."

The officer threw a rapid glare to the young woman and at the room. He understands what had just happened. He reddens a little and turned to his commander.

"No, Sir, we did not find him."

He lowered the eyes under anger in those of Tavington.

"In this case we don't have anything to do here,"the colonel made curtly.

He threw Constance in the Bordon arms.

"Bind her, we take her with us."

"Yes Sir!"

Tavington quickly come down the steps without a glance at the young woman.

Slightly embarrassed Bordon led the young woman in bottom of the house. She doesn't resist. She felt like dead inside and the only thought prevented her to sinking in the most total despair. John was escaped. He was free and alive. Nothing other had importance.

In bottom the horror awaited her. The bodies of the militiamen were wide in the hall and the living room. Obviously they had tried to be defending the own life. She saw that Tavington was upright near of the more serious wounded who was wide on the couch.

"Where I can find the militia,"he asked.

"Fuck you!"the man growled painfully.

Negligently the colonel shot in the chest of the wounded. He turned to a large captain.

"Well. We must leave. Wilkins burns this house."

"Yes Sir."

He turned and saw Constance upright in the hall that looked at him. He walked to a window. He tore off the cord that retained the curtains and launched it to Bordon.

"I said to you to bind this woman!"

"Yes Sir!"

Bordon caught the Constance wrists and bound narrowly them. Then as his colonel looked at him, he pushed harshly the young woman outside.

Tavington came out a few minutes afterwards. He went quickly to his horse and jumped in saddle. The hands posed on the pommel of his saddle. He looked at the torches flying towards the house. They ignite quickly. Then he turned to the young woman who looked the show without emotion. She seemed fascinated by the flames that swelled, which grew bigger, destroying the house where she had been so happy.

"Bordon, we leave."

"Ahead!"Bordon ordered.

He climbed in saddle and attached the cord that bound Constance to his saddle. The dragoons go and she followed them while stumbling the arms drawn by the cord. As they crossed the bridge, she was turned over to look at last once what had been his home disappears in the flames. Finally tears burned her eyes but she retained them

She did not cease stumbling on the road, with each time the horse of Bordon accelerated the step. She butted against a stone and fell on the road like a stone. She was trailed during few meters before Bordon realizes there and stop his horse for she can rise. She did painfully. Tavington had stopped also, exasperated by the slowness of the pace. He threw a glare on the young woman, who seemed so miserable bind to her cord. In other circumstances he would have finish with the problem in a terminal way. It wasn't because she was a woman that he doesn't kill her. No. He could not be solved to kill her. Of a pressure of the knees he leads his horse near to Bordon.

"We have enough late. Give me this cord Bordon."

This one obeys reluctantly, fearing the colonel kill the young woman. Tavington took the cord and drew, forcing Constance to come until him. He still drew raising her arms until his knees. She looked at him. There were pain, and sadness in her eyes. Something like remorse crossed his mind but he drove out this disturbing impression to far. He leaned, seizes her dress by the size and raised her easily. He throws her across his knees. She found the head down in the most uncomfortable of the positions.

"Ahead Bordon,"he ordered.

And he pushed his horse in big trot. She was shake. She felt a hand lean against the bottom of her back to prevent her to jumping too much. The hand derived and she felt that he caressed her buttocks negligently.

The ride seemed interminable. Constance ended up losing any account of the time that passed. Under her eyes the ground passed so quickly that she had nausea. She closed the eyes and then all flowed into her mind...all this incredible day. John who had so much changed at the point to make love to her so abruptly. His escape. 'Mon Dieu', she thought, ' il est sauf'⁸ . And then...Tavington. All that had happened in her own bedroom come back in her memory, his so intense kisses, his so new caresses, how he was come in her. 'Je le haï, je le haï, je le haï,⁹ ' she repeated for forget that she had felt this incredible pleasure. Then, finally, she cried, of heavy and quiet sobs.

After few second she realize that the pace of the horse had changed. Now he progressed to the step. She opened the eyes.

How she had the head in bottom, she don't have a good sight. But she understood that they come in a military camping. The horse stopped. Tavington take her by shoulder and without take care of her, he pushed her from horse. She was found suddenly on her feet, stumbled and fallen on the muddy ground. Some soldiers laughed.

Tavington threw a cold glance to her then he turned to the large captain whom she already had seen and said:

"Wilkins I don't finish to questioning this woman. Lead her under my tent and await me."

Wilkins went down from horse and helped her to rose. Now he was near to her, she recognized him. He was member of the assembly to Charles Town. She looked at him with contempt and said:

"You don't have shame to betray your friends in this way."

Wilkins reddens but pushed her without answering.

Tavington looked at her how she moving away without showing emotion and then turned to Bordon.

"Bordon, find me your best scouts. Quickly."

"Sir?"

Bordon understood that his colonel did not intend to explain his orders. At once he jumped on the ground and left to quickly.

Wilkins pushed Constance in a large tent drawn up to the edge of the camp and come in behind her. She looked at him intensely.

"Mr. Wilkins, you cannot let Tavington doing that without act. You were born in this country why not fight for it?"

"It is what I do,"Wilkins retorted curtly.

"No you fight against it. The future of this country is in its independence."

"I don't have to listen to you."

He tried to not see the lip swollen of the young woman, her inflated eyes, her dress and her hair in disorder.

"You know what Tavington will do to me,"she said, " let me flee Mr. Wilkins."

He did not answer. She approached him, imploring.

"Please Mr. Wilkins, you know John Thorne my husband. I saw you at the assembly. You seemed to be an honest man. I don't have to judge your convictions it is true but you cannot leave me between the hands of this man, of this rough bloodthirsty man. You saw what he is able to do. Please. Help me!"

Wilkins pushed back her.

"I cannot anything for you,"he said as with regret.

"But you know what will happened here. Do not have a conscience?" Before he can answer a deep voice said with irony:

"The captain has not a conscience, he has a duty."

Wilkins started and reddens before being turned over towards his leader.

"Sir!"

"Isn't Wilkins that your duty is the first responsibility? But if your conscience anguished you, recall that this woman is a rebel, enemy of the King. She will have which she deserves."

"Sir!"

"Leave now Wilkins. I intend to question this woman, alone. That nobody disturbs me."

Wilkins hesitated a short moment but under the icy glance of Tavington he don't dare protest. He came out quickly like if he wanted to flee his remorse.

Tavington looked during he coming out before turning his glance towards Constance. He had a smile at the same time mocker and lascivious. He murmur:

"What you deserve."

She swallows. She felt in a trap. And she tried to escape to this small voice in her mind, which murmured to her to take advantage to the present moment.

"Please colonel, please spare me."

He advanced towards her, impressive. He seizes her chin in an iron grip. She could not retain a small cry of pain as he touched the bruise on her jaw. That did not make stop his gesture. He looked at the young woman in the eyes and said with deaf voice.

"Say to me where is your husband, where is the militia and I will spare you."

"I don't know,"she answered.

"Madam, I don't think that you completely understand the situation in which you are. You are a rebel, an enemy crown. You are French and you could completely be considered as a spy. You deserve death, Madam. But if you prove to me that it is only your husband witch is a traitor. If you confess to me where I can to find him then you will escape death. You are in my total mercy Madam; your future depends on me, only."

"You believe that I don't know it,"she exploded. " I am at your mercy I understood it very well."

"So say to me what I want to know."

"I don't know anything. John said anything to me!"

He had a cruel grin.

"So your destiny is sealed."

She looked at him proudly. Anger, fury, aggressiveness and challenge doing lit her eyes. She was so beautiful at this moment. The desire ignited Tavington. The threats would wait. He wanted her now. He wanted to feel this flexible body to vibrate under him again. He wanted to tear off cries of ecstasy to this woman. He wanted to see the desire in her glance.

She felt an uncontrolled emotion to seize her when she saw the desire lit in the blue eyes so close to her face. He passed his hand behind her nape and kissed her with a famished passion. His other hand slipped behind her waist and he tightened her against him. She called all her will for don't return his kiss to him. She tries with all her force to escape at his lips.

"Colonel, by pity, no."

He looked her with an insane intensity and the voice raucous of desire he murmured:

"I know that you want it as much as me."

"No,"she sobs, " no, I love my husband."

"Don't lie. Don't resist to me,"he blew.

"I will resist to you of all my forces,"she made with more insurance than she really felt.

He plunged his face in her hair, kissing gently her neck, her nape, and her ear. She could not retain a shiver.

"You want me, isn't it? I did not give pleasure to you the last time?"he murmured.

"No,"she made with a trembling voice.

"Little liar,"he said.

He kissed her deeply. She felt a fire to run in her veins. 'How he can do that to me, how? I don't like him,' she thought. But he doesn't stop. His hand caressed his shoulder and made slip the dress. He caressed gently her skin then undoes the laces that tied the bodice. He will release a breast and posed his hand above. It was hot. His mouth explored her throat, her neck and went down towards his breast. His soft and firm lips nibbled her skin gently. A deaf and soft pain burst in her belly. She could not repress anymore one groan. He rose and plunged his glance in her. She closed the eyes to hide her thoughts to him. He attracted her against him, very close to him. She felt the hardness of his manhood against her.

"Look at me."

In spite of her, she opened the eyes. She had the breath cut by the burning desire that she read in his eyes. She was unaware of that same fire burned in her. Without preventing he bent down and took the young woman under the buttocks. He raised her and carried her until the bed of camp where he threw her without care. He took the cord that always bound her wrists and tied it around the framework of the bed. She was found immobilized, her arms tended behind her. Then quietly he undertook to take of his uniform. He removed his belt, his jacket, his waistcoat and his shirt. He had a perfect chest, thin and muscular. He had broad shoulders and flat belly. He sat down close to her to remove his boots. Finally he slipped out of his breeches. He was held upright in front of her, completely naked, the manhood drawn up. Then he went up on the bed, raised her skirt and sat down on her thighs. Then he leaned on her and kissed her. She returned his kiss to him. She felt all her body to vibrate and she could not resist. She wanted that he come in her. But he did not seem hurry. His lips slipped on her skin, went down towards her breast, seized the nipple and slicked it gently. She arched while groaning. He continued. She groans yet. She went down. He kissed her belly. She arched yet. He slipped his hands under her waist, under her buttocks. She cannot control her body any more. What she felt was beyond any rationalization, was more that she never had felt. But he went down yet, between her thighs. And then with his mouth and his lips he explored her intimacy. Never she would have imagined such thing. She pushed a raucous cry of wild pleasure. She was traversed by violent spasms as he continued to excite her gently. The orgasm took her by surprise tearing her brutally. She howl and almost sober. He slipped forwards and kissed her with full mouth.

"Must I stop now?"he said.

"No, no,"she begged.

"What you want?"

"Viens¹⁰ . Come," she sobbing. " Oh my God!"

He penetrated her slowly. She groaned, cried.

He slipped in her, deeply and started to move with slowness. She arched under him and started to undulate and move in rhythm. She tightened her legs around him to introduce him still deeper in her. She wanted that this soft torture doesn't stop. Time was suspended, stopped. Nothing existed around them.

"Detach me! Please."

He rose, stopping moving in her. Then he leaned and undoes her. He takes off the cord of her wrists. Then he took off her dress completely. He lengthened against her, their two naked skins one against the other. He started again to move, more quickly. She posed her hands on his body and caresses him with greed. The madness grew in her. The wave developed. And for the second time all exploded in her. As she howled under the violence of the sensation she planted her nails in his back. She was cambered so extremely that she threatened to reverse him. But he continued to push more quickly, further in her, accelerating the rhythm. In a deaf and deep growl of ecstasy he has his own climax. He broke down heavily on her, burning. They were all two traversed by spasmodic shivers. They remained thus a long moment.

He was the first to take again his mind. Leaned on her, he did not want to move. He was feeling so well. He hides his face in her neck and posed a slight kiss there. She still trembled. That made a long time that he had not tested such a feeling of plenitude after having made love. He sighed. And roll on the side. He was twisted to can lengthen and tightened Constance against him tenderly hoping that his stratagem would fail. He caught the cover that had slipped on the ground and made use of it to cover them.

Constance became again slowly herself, reluctantly, as he tightened her against his chest. She breathed his odor with full lung. When the cover was posed on her, she shivered and snuggles down against him. She tried to made order in her thoughts. 'Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, comment ai je pu faire ça?¹¹ ' She thought. Never, never she would have imagined that one could feel something so extremely by making love. She was disabled. ' He smell so good, ' she thinks as she breathes his odor. ' I don't love this man, ' she tried to convince herself, ' I don't love him; it is John that I love. ' She felt that he caressed her hair gently. This tender gesture was too much. She burst in sob.

Tavington did not know how to react. His instinct commanded to him to be insensitive but an unknown force forced him to gently tighten the young woman against him. His taste for the young woman did not have weakens. However usually his interest fell down as soon as he had appeased his desire.

"Shush,"he murmured, " shush"

She always cries.

"Don't cry."

His voice was so soft. She hidden her face against her chest and continued to cry silently. He let her doing, breathing her hair. And two minutes after he fell asleep. She ends up stopping crying. She accepted what had arrived. The man was attractive and he...' He force me, ' she think, ' how I could resist to him? ' She decided to forget all that, there was more urgent to do. She must find John. He was the only man that she loved. Gently, slowly, she extirpated on his arms. She was run out of the bed. Once on the ground, she rose and sought her dress. It was in heap close of the bed. She takes it and put it. She went slowly to the entry of the tent and threw a glare outside. Wilkins was here, close of the tent, walking nervously. ' Zut!' She thought. She was turned over and looked the tent. She saw a scraping-knife posed on a little table. She seized it. She moved towards the bottom of the tent but stopped abruptly. She was turned over towards Tavington that slept deeply. Her eyes bent down on the scraping-knife that she had in the hand. Then she looked at Tavington again. He was without defense. ' It is him which is at my mercy now', she thought. The idea progressed slowly. She had the possibility of doing what any patriot dreamed to do: to kill colonel Tavington. Her heart accelerated. ' Je dois le faire¹² , ' she says for herself. She approached him slowly. Once close to the bed she looked at him. The cover went up to semi chest. She saw an unpleasant scar that streaked his right biceps. His face was slackened and showed a small happy smile. 'Qu'il est beau¹³ ', she thinks. In a flash she see again his glance full with desire. She drove out this thought. She ensured her grip on the scraping-knife. ' Où dois je le frapper?¹⁴ ' She wondered. His throat was without protection. She could have just to plunge there the blade. She took a long inspiration and armed his arm. But she could not strike. She could not. If he had been waked up maybe she could throw on him to try to erase this cynical smile that she hated. But there by seeing him so vulnerable she could not be solved to kill him. Tears spouted out of her eyes. She looked at him last once before almost fleeing towards the bottom of the tent. She cut the fabric while trying to do less noise as possible. Then she slipped into the opening without a glance behind. If she had do she maybe would have see the sharp glance of William Tavington who followed her. Hardly she was left the tent that he leaps out of his bed and got dressed quickly. Then he spouts out of the tent. While seeing him Wilkins came towards him with an air annoyed. Tavington has a not very pleasant glance to him.

"Well how you are there, go seek Bordon for me,"he spit.

Wilkins hesitated then asked with the tight throat.

"That you doing with Mrs. Thorne...Sir."

The Tavington glance became extremely icy.

"It is not your business,"he doing with a hard voice.

"She is...died?"

Tavington had a small laughter without joy and retorted more curtly:

"Go seek Bordon."

As the captain moved away while running, Tavington thought ' these colonists, it is impossible to trust them. ' He had just played with fire. And he wondered why she had not killing him. He was wide without defense and she had not struck. He was feeling a curious comfort of it. Bordon arrived while running. He jumps to attention.

"Rest, Bordon. So? Where are your savages?"

"The scouts have took her in hunting, Sir."

"They have well understood their orders?"

"Yes Sir, they will follow her to the hiding-place of her husband in secrecy. And will return to the report."

"Perfect."

"Sir, you have took a risk by letting her escape."

"Which risk? Which evil she can make? It is only one woman? And she will lead us right to the militia, if your Indian scouts are good."

"They will be Sir."

"I hope it for you."

Tavington left Bordon there and returned to slow step towards his tent. He slipped inside. A slight smile slipped on his lips as he looked at the bed. And he don't confess to himself that the escape of Constance broken his heart him even if he had envisaged it and hoped.

Once outside the Tavington tent, Constance had slipped towards the output of the camp. Fortunately the fact that the colonel of the green dragoons was a distance off his men, doing that the limit of the camp was very close. Her hand contracted painfully on the scraping-knife she had ran to the shelter of the little wood, the heartleaf hard, feared to be catch at any moment. But she had met anybody. Once under the trees she had took again her breath, before moving away while running. After about thirty minutes, she had fell down against a tree, panting, with a terrible pain to her side. Each inspiration tore her lungs and she had a taste of blood in her mouth. Slowly she took again her breath. She was soaked by a cold sweat and the fear had not left her. But there is nobody behind her. She was free. She had escaped of the Tavington hands. The remorse returned haunts her when she thought to this man. She pushed back the remorse and the face with this mocker smile so...tempting. She must find John. While he was at the house, he had said to her where was their camp. She thinking, trying to be directed. She doesn't know where it was. She knew well that it was stupid, that she should join the nearest village. But she couldn't. She was so terribly anxious for John and then especially she wanted that he tighten her in his arms, that he erases any memory of Tavington. She must to join the road. She walked.

Tavington walking nervously, increasingly impatient. That made four days now that he waited and he hadn't still news of the scouts, any news of the little Frenchwoman. He cannot to forget the young woman. He saw in his mind her naked body to archer under him, her glance full ecstasy and...incredulity. He couldn't retain a satisfied smile. Apparently her husband had never fulfilled her. ' Why, by the Devil, I let her leave? ' he says to himself. He was furious against him because he had let her flee and because he thought that. She was nothing, only a pleasant moment. There were so many other women who awaited him. There was, for example this Mrs. Jenkins, the major Jenkins wife, who was completely ready to mislead her husband in his arms. She was a beautiful woman, fair-haired with the milky skin. She would be an interesting conquest. But...Later...For the moment he couldn't be stop to find her dull and boring compared to the savage Constance, who looked him a mixture of hatred and desire. Constance who clung him with such an amount of passion, which had cried in his arms. He shivers. ' Tavington, which does happened to you? You need exercise, I think. Forget this spy, forgets her! ' He came out of his tent, decided to calm his nerves by a long ride. He saw Bordon that run towards him.

"Sir! She found her husband."

"Where?"

"In a wood, close to Bolton, at the edge of the marshes."

"It is not important for me! The militia is there?"Tavington questioned abruptly.

"Not entirely Sir. Just a significant troop, a hundred men perhaps,"Bordon answered.

"The ghost?"

"I don't know Sir."

"Very well. All dragoons ready in less than one half an hour!"The colonel ordered.

"At your order Sir!"

"Finally action Bordon!"Tavington exclaimed.

"Yes Sir, your idea was excellent Sir."

"Yes, he would seem,"he answered coldly.

Feeling the change of mood of his officer, Bordon hastened to disappear. Tavington looked at him when he going away. He has a question in his heart, a question that he cannot answer. What he would make of her when she would be at his mercy again?

He made dark but Constance recognized the place immediately. It was the grassy banks of the Loire River where she played when she was child. It is there that she had come to cry the death of her mother. The weather was cold and wet. She had forgotten as his native country could be wet. She turn over when she heard a slight noise of spur behind her. He was behind her, large, thin, dressed with elegance in his red uniform. ' Que fait il en France?¹⁵ ' She wondered to herself. But she doesn't be worry bye the reason. She ran towards him and jumped in his arms. He rose her making whirl her. Then he rested her and kissed her tenderly.

With a scream she awoke suddenly and drawn up on her bed. Where she was? A wave of fear, of terror crossed her. She still shouted. And sudden John was close to her, taking her in his arms, rocking her gently.

"My love, my love, you are in security now."

"John, John, où suis je, où suis je, comment suis je arrivée là?¹⁶ " she said in French without realize it.

"All is good,"John says.

"Où suis je? Répond moi?¹⁷ " she irritated.

"Constance, speak to me in English, please,"he said.

She looked him with surprise. Then she understood, she asked more calmly.

"Where am I? How I come there?"

"Men to us found you fainted with several miles from here. Happily among them there was Jack Fulton, which knew you. He brought back you here."

"Where?"

"In our camp. You don't risk anything now. What happened to you? I was so anxious. I come back by our house but there was nothing any more or nobody. The slaves were left and the house...the house is destroyed. I sought in ashes. There were bodies. I had so fear that it was your,"he completed in a sob.

"No,"she said gently.

He kissed her tenderly. Then he moved away from her with an anxious glance; she was very warm. With a great solicitude he put her to bed and draw up the covers to her chin. He caressed her forehead with love. It was extreme of fever. In spite of his concern he could not prevent to asking to her.

"Tell me Constance."

She shivered. Tell to him? Certainly not. She closed the eyes to gather her mind then she opened. She has taken her decision.

"John. I...When you jumped by the window I stop Tavington from he don't shot on you. He struck me."

"The rough one,"Thorne growled.

"He ordered that the dragoon caught you. And then he..."She had a hesitation as what had really happened flowed into his mind, but she continued,"he questioned me, harshly, for I say to him where you are. But I just said that I don't know. Then he simply decided to take me with them."

"Harshly, how?"

"He shouted, threatened me, and gave me some slaps."

"Damn!"John say again, " and anything more?"

"What you want he doing moreover,"she said more curtly than she wants.

She had the throat dry and she had the impression that her body was on fire.

"I...nothing..."John doing. " And then?"

"Once at the camp, I could escape."

"How?"

"They left me without really look at me. I benefited from it."

"And Tavington?"

"What Tavington?"

"Constance, you are in a terrifying state...you have some blue on your face and your body. You seem exhaust, you...you have some fever and you have very much nightmare since than you are here."

"Since how long I am here?"

"One day, " John answered.

"I remember nothing, " she murmured. Then she asked timidly, " which kind of nightmare?"

She was terrified to have spoken to high voice.

"I don't know my love, you are agitated much and I...I was anxious. But you, you don't remember?"

"No."

She felt so weak. She closed the eyes. John doesn't say anything. He looks at her with love. A hand was posed on his shoulder. It was one of his friends who brought a cup of hot bubble to him. He leaned towards his wife and obliged her to rise a little.

"It is necessary that you swallow something. Have you eat during your escape?"

"No, " she answered, " just some bays I believe."

"I have bubble."

He plunged a spoon inside the cup and blew on the smoking liquid. With delicacy he carried the spoon to Constance mouth. She swallowed the beneficial liquid. He repeated the operation several times before that exhausted young woman let herself dropped on the bed and fall asleep.

John posed the cup close to her. He remained still a moment. He doesn't know what think about all that. What he had happened to Constance? He was certain that she had not said all to him. She had spoken during her sleep. He had understood certain words like: " non colonel " or " allez vous en"¹⁸ but the majority of she had said were in French and he had forgotten the few French words whom he knew. It is Constance, which had made the effort speak English. However each time that she was upset or in anger her native language come back. She had said something like "je vous haï¹⁹ " several times and also " ne me touchez pas ²⁰ ". And another word which he was almost certain to have understood: "encore²¹ ". He would have bet that signified "still." What Tavington had doing to her? He knew what he feared but with all his heart, with all his soul, he rejected this idea. He concludes that he preferred to be unaware of what had really happened. Constance was his wife, more than she was the woman of her life. He loved her and did not want to lose her. He had lose all, Tavington had took all to him. He doesn't take Constance.

She briefly awoke few hours later. John had always sat there close to her. She smiles to him slightly. He posed an anxious hand on her forehead. He seemed even warmer.

"John..."

"Yes my love?"

"I love you, " she blew.

This confesses broke the John's heart and frightened him.

"Never forget that I love you, " she added.

She closed again the eyes. He leaned on her, she was sent to sleep again. John rose. He went to see the leader of the little troop.

"I'm very anxious. I don't know what doing."

"John listening, you know well that..."

"There is still a doctor in Bolton, " Fulton said. " Why not to lead her there?"

"It is too dangerous, " the leader answered.

"It is not a problem, " John said. " I will put her on my horse and will take her there immediately. I would have to do it much earlier."

"It is only tiredness, she will go well."

"No! My decision is made."

Tavington observed the camp with his spyglasses. All seemed calm in this end of evening, whereas the sun started to go down gently towards the hills. In one hour it would have disappeared. The men rested, wrote, prepared the meal. The Cherokee scouts had neutralized the sentinels. These savages had some utilities definitely. He had a satisfied smile. He liked this country, so many possibilities for an ambitious and undertaking man. While waiting he must purged it to the gangrene, these traitors to the Crown. He threw a glare behind him and a great pride grows in his heart when he sees this splendid riders. The most effective regiment of the Cornwallis army even if His Lordship refused to admit it. He drew his saber, enjoying this small moment of calms that preceded the fight. He tasted silence, felt his exaltation to swell and his pulse to accelerate. Then he lowered his arm while shouting:

"Charge!"

And he spurs his horse and charge without checking if his men followed him. As usual he was almost ten meters in front his men when he come in the camp. He chopped the first militiaman in front of him without same slowing down his horse. It was quickly a dreadful carnage. Took by surprised the militiamen seemed unable to organize a defense against the riders. It was ended in less than ten minutes.

"Bordon! " Tavington called.

The captain joined his officer. The almost innocent expression that he usually showed was replaced by a gleam of brutality that shone on his face stained of powder and blood. But it was nothing compare to Tavington. His glance was light by a cold cruelty and a total absence of humanity. He takes off his saber and he wipes his gloved hand soaked of blood on his trousers. He looked at Bordon and ordered:

"Find to me John Thorne and his wife, immediately."

"Yes Sir."

Tavington located Wilkins who seemed frantic as he observed the blooding bodies goshawks of him.

"Wilkins! " he called.

The man came towards him, trying to hide his horror and without succeed.

"How much men we have lost?"

"We have one serious wounded and three lightly wounded, " Wilkins answered almost mechanically.

Tavington had a victorious smile.

"Gather all the rebels wounded in the center, " he ordered.

"They are not many Sir, we..." Wilkins tried to protest.

"Gather them! " Tavington exclaimed.

Bordon come back the annoyed air.

"Sir I...they're no trace of Thorne or his wife, " he said.

"What? Your scouts they mistaken? " Tavington asked curtly.

"No Sir! " Bordon answered precipitately.

Tavington reflects quickly and said: " Well I will suppose that you say the truth."

He made swivel his horse and advanced towards the wounded enemy. They were only ten. Only two of them seemed able to be held upright. Tavington advanced his horse close to them and looked at them.

"You, " he said coldly, " where is John Thorne?"

"I never heard this name, " Fulton answered.

"Bad answer."

He pointed his gun on one men let on the ground and shot. The wounded had a sudden start before falling down, dead. Fulton had an incredulous glance.

"I repeat my question," Tavington said, "where are John Thorne and his wife?"

"I don't know."

He takes his second gun and killed another men. Then he reloads his weapon with precision. He crossed the horrified glance of Wilkins. That made him smiles, a cruel grin. He posed again his glance on Fulton.

"Must I repeat my question or you prefer that I shot down each one of these men?"

"They will be saved if I speak? " Fulton asked.

"They will be forgiven, " Tavington affirmed with a smile.

"Shut up Fulton! " a man close to him said.

Jack Fulton hesitated. The colonel slowly pointed his weapon towards that which had spoken.

"Well?"

"He brought his wife in Bolton, " he said precipitately.

"Why?"

"She was sick, warm of fever. He led her see a doctor."

A kind of veil passed in the Tavington eyes but he controlled himself quickly.

"A doctor, in Bolton, I thank you."

He takes off quietly his gun. Then turned to Wilkins.

"Captain we don't have time to encumber us with prisoners. Kill them!"

"But Sir..."

"Bloody son of bitch, " Fulton howled, " You had promised."

"You will be forgiven, but not by me, I am sorry. Wilkins made your duty."

Of a pressure of the knees he led his horse close to Wilkins and said with a low voice.

"They are traitors, don't forget that."

Wilkins tried to support the Tavington glance but he did not reach that point.

"Yes Sir, " he answered.

He advanced his horse and pointed his gun on Fulton.

"Damn Wilkins! Don't obey to this butcher! " the rebel exclaimed.

The two men knew each other since years. But Wilkins felt the glance of his colonel burn his back. So he pressed the trigger. Fulton fell down with a bullet in full chest. Tavington moved away quietly while the last shots slam, the last survivors were killed.

John had led Constance to the doctor, Henry Muller, in Bolton. This one had agreed to take the young woman in his room but reluctantly.

"You understand, " he says, " we try not to take position. There was too much example of town destroyed for have helped the patriots."

"But my wife is sick, " John beseeched.

"Yes, I understand. I am a doctor and I will take care of her. But you cannot remain."

John agreed.

"Come, " the doctor says, " I have a bedroom for her."

John had lay Constance on a comfortable bed. He had quickly explained what had arrived to his wife. The doctor had explained to him that he needed rest and care. That she was dehydrated and weakened by the lack of food. He had promised to John to take care of her but he had required again that John from go away. He had accepted. He was sat on the bed close to Constance and had awaked her gently. She had opened the eyes with difficulty.

"You are in security my love. You are in the doctor home. I cannot remain, you understand. These people could be in danger if I rest. But I would return, quickly, I promise it to you."

"I would await you, " she promised.

"Cure quickly, " he blew.

"I promise."

She had closed again his eyes. Death in his soul he left.

John overlapped towards the camp when the echo of a shooting reached him. His first reflex was of gallop towards the camp. But he forced himself to calm. Several minutes afterwards, he heard some isolated shots. Anxious he continued on his way his musket ready to shot. The noise of a cavalcade alerted him. He led his horse behind the vegetation and made lay down the animal. Lengthened on him, his weapon armed, he waited. A cavalry troop come. He immediately recognized the green dragoons and Tavington at their head. His first gesture was to aim his enemy but it was madness. If he did that he would have no chance to rest alive. What would become Constance? He let them pass. It was only when they had disappeared that he raised his horse. They moved towards Bolton he remark. But what they would doing this unimportant village? However he hesitated. Was he to follow them or turn over to the camp to know what had happened? He was a soldier. He had a duty. He was to carry help to his friends. With precaution he took again the direction of the camp. He was certain to find some red clothes rest behind for guard the prisoners.

The night had just fallen when the green dragoons come in Bolton. They take quickly position encircling the handle of houses that formed the village. Then a team commanded by Bordon invests the houses for search Thorne. They found the doctor's home. Tavington come in without hesitating. The doctor and his family were sat at table. They jumped and faded of terror.

"You are a doctor? " Tavington asked calmly.

"Yes, " the doctor answered with a terrified voice.

"Perfect, I have four wounded that I just have made install in your living room. You will take care of them."

"Of course, of course, " the man stammered.

But as he passed close to Tavington, the colonel seizes him by the shoulder and pushes him against the wall.

"You have a woman here, a rebel. Where is she? And before answering recalls that you have a family."

"I...Yes...I...I was unaware of that...Her husband took her here and..."

"Where he is?"

"I don't know, I..."

The glance of Tavington hardens.

"Don't lie to me, " he thundered.

"No, I...I don't want that he remains here you understand, I was afraid that, that he..."

"You knew that he was a rebel."

"Yes but..."

"Thus you gave asylum to a rebel."

"Sir..."

"Colonel, " Tavington cut.

"Colonel, I am a doctor, I must care the patients. I couldn't refuse. But him, I drove out him to my home, " the man tried to defend himself.

Tavington slackened it.

"Very well we will see that later. Where is she?"

"In the second room on the left, on first the floor, " the doctor answered by stammering.

"Well, how she is sick? " Tavington asked.

"She is exhausted, dehydrated. She needs rest and care."

"Then it is not serious, " the colonel doing while a certain relief.

"All depends, if nobody don't have took care of her, she would have died."

A slight tic agitated the Tavington mouth but he only say.

"Well you take care to my men." At this moment Bordon come in the house accompanied by a notable.

"Mr. Clanton wishes to speak to you, Sir."

Tavington swiveled quickly and measured coldly the man that was held in front of him. It was a big and nervous man. He step back and ran up against Bordon, which was held behind him.

"That you want? " Tavington made curtly.

"I...What you want Colonel? What means your intrusion on our town? We are faithful to the King."

"Really? But you shelter a rebel in your town, " Tavington say coldly.

"I was unaware of it Colonel, only Doctor Muller is responsible for that, " the man say.

"We will see. I think that you supply the rebellious militia which camped to few miles from here."

"No, no, I assure you colonel.

"We will see I said. While waiting. Know if there are any problem, the escape of one of you, the attack of one of my dragoons, will end by the destruction of your poor wretch village and by death for all of you. I was clear? " he threatened.

"But colonel, we are civil ones and..." the man tried to beg.

"I was clear Sir?"

"Yes colonel, " the fat man answered piteously.

"Perfect. Bordon take this man of his home and open your eyes. I don't want a surprise this night, " the colonel ordered.

As Bordon moved away, Tavington looked for a moment the staircase before this deciding to go up. He said to two dragoons to follow him. He stopped in front of the second door on the left and said with a low voice. "Control the other rooms."

"Yes Sir, " the two men answered.

After a last hesitation he opened gently the door, the gun in his fist fearing a nasty surprise. The room was empty. And in the bed, her beautiful brown hair lay on the pillow, Constance seemed deeply sleeping. This vision cut his breath. He lowered his gun and slipped it into his belt. He gently closed the door behind him and approached without noise to the bed. He tries to not make sound his spurs. She was so beautiful like that. The emotion squeeze him briefly as he observed her face. There was a chair close to the bed. He sat down and removed his helmet that he posed on the night table.

She was again in her home, in France, in the house of her father, in her bedroom when she was a little girl. He comes in. Tavington. As there he had the right to be here. She came towards him. He kissed her. " Encore " she said, " encore"²² .

She comes round, conscious that she had dreamed, again. A fresh hand was posed on her face. Someone was taken her hand. He was tightened gently and firmly the hand. " John " she thought. " he come back. " Then hard and soft lips were posed on hers and kissed her gently, tenderly while a hand caressed her cheek. "Tavington" she said for herself. And she opened the eyes to praying the haven to have been mistaken.

He was there, in front of her, leaned on her. His intense glance plunged in her. There was something like concern in this glance.

"I still dream, " she murmured.

Tavington smiles, " no my angel, you don't dream."

He leaned again to kiss her. The kiss was more impassioned this time. She started by returning the kiss to him before turning the head to escape to his lips.

"So, am I a dream?"

"My God, " she murmur, " How are you there? John?"

"Don't worry, we don't find him, " he said nicely while sitting again on the chair.

She looked at him surprised by the tone of his voice.

"How have you...How..."

He understood her question.

"I made follow you since your escape, " he explained.

She looked at him incredulous and then slowly she understood all. She raised, the eyes lighting with fury.

"You are served as me! You...I have leaded you until...My God, the camp, John...I...All that was only one trap?"

He smiles mischievous.

"Thank you for hasn't sliced my throat." "You...You don't sleep?"

"No."

"I...You...Vous êtes un monstre !²³ " she exclaimed while coming out of the bed trying to claw him.

But the fast movement dazes her. She would have fallen if Tavington had not retained her. He gently tightened her one moment against his chest before lay back her. She opened the eyes.

"I would have to kill you."

He delicately drew aside the hair that was across her face then said gently.

"I thank you for haven't tried."

She felt so badly. All turned around her and she did not know any more if she dreamed or if she were awaked. She closed the eyes. He tenderly caressed her face much more moved than he would never admit it. He sat down on the chair and took her hand in his. He kept it until her breath indicates that she had fallen asleep.

He looked at her lengthily. He wished her. He wished to take her in his arms. 'She dream of me,' he think with a smile, 'she dream of me'. Tavington shake the head. 'What happened to you Tavington? What happened to you? It is only one woman whom you took, twice. It is not because she liked that, that you must...She is nothing for you, only the means of taking Thorne. Then you will make hang her. It is all. '

He rose furious against him. But she was so beautiful awake, she smiled gently. 'May be she dream about me on this moment,' he could not prevented from thinking. He leaned and doing pass his hand to a few centimeters of her face as if he caressed it. Then he carried hit hand towards his mouth and blew to her a kiss of good-bye. He had just taken his decision to not see her again. Tomorrow he would make hang her as spy and would clean definitively his mind of her. He came out of the room and went down the steps quickly as if he had seen a ghost.

John comes in the devastated camp. It was empty. There remained only the bodies without life of his friends. He wandered among them seeking survivors, but there was not. Then he noticed the regrouping of ten bodies. Fulton was among them. They had been achieved at this place it was obvious. An immense anger invaded him. 'I would have to kill Tavington when I could do that' he thought. Then he was afraid. And if Tavington had gone to Bolton. He pushing back for later the burial of his friends, he jumped in saddle and gallop towards Bolton.

While arriving at the edge of the town he saw that his fears were founded. The dragoons patrolled around the village.

"Constance! " he shouted internally.

She was again in the Tavington hands. He was certain that dragoon had found her. This time he would not flee. He was going to save her. Leaving his horse in the last thicket he run silently towards the town. He succeeds in escaping the patrols and ended up arriving at the back of the doctor's house. By the window of the sitting room he saw soldiers who waited there and the wounded. He creeps without noise under the window. Another window was enlightened and open. An officer was held right in front. John is flattened in silence and started to crawl when a voice petrified him: Tavington.

"Bordon," the voice said, "I will spend the night in this office, ensure you that the turns of duty are effective."

"Yes Sir. Sir if I can allow myself...There are bedrooms on the floor why not..."

"To choose a good bed? " he laughed. " No Bordon, this couch will make the deal perfectly. Make guard the Mrs. Thorne bedroom narrowly, in the corridor and under her window, outside, several guards."

"You are afraid which she flee? " Bordon could not prevent to asking a little surprised.

"Don't discuss my orders Bordon! " Tavington do curtly.

"Well Sir."

"It will be all."

The officer in front of the window moved away. John heard the door to be open and be closed again. He tightened the fists with anger. To make guard her wife. He listened Tavington to sigh. John rose gently, very gently. He threw a glare by the window. Tavington was upright, back to the window; the hands lean on the mantelpiece. John saw the dragoon posing his face on the edge of the chimney. 'This son of bitch is undoubtedly tired,' John thought. Tavington was rectified slowly, removed his gun of his belt and posed it on the mantelpiece. He detached his belt and posed the sleeve of his saber near. He undoes the buttons of his jacket, those of his waistcoat. He was turned over. John plunged to the shelter immediately. He heard Tavington go to the window. 'My God he saw me', he says to himself and he tightening his gun. He saw the shade of Tavington being profiled in the spot of light in front of the window.

"It is enough, " Tavington growled.

John saw the shade moving away. He was raised slowly. Tavington turned his back to him. John takes his decision quickly with madness. He leaps over the open window and pointed his weapon right on the Tavington back.

"Look at me butcher, I don't want kill a man in the back, even you."

Tavington was turned over slowly and faced him. He calmly looked at him without showing any fear in front of the weapon that threatened him.

"John Thorne. How you think leave from here alive if you shot me?"

"It is my problem."

"And your wife? How long will she survive after my death at your opinion?"

John laughed.

"The fate of my wife interests you?"

Tavington smiles devilishly.

"Since she has groans under my caresses, I acknowledge that I am interested a little by her."

The heart of John made a jump in his chest.

"What? " was the only thing that he found to said.

"Your wife, she gave much pleasure to me. And I must say that I gave some to her too. Really my dear John you have neglected her too much. You would have heard her scream."

"Stop that immediately!"

"You know it is a truth wild kitten your wife, I still have the trace of her nails in my back."

"Enough!"

The voice of John was raucous. His entire universe collapsed. Tavington continued with his deep and pleasant voice.

"You surely say to yourself that I raped her isn't. I ensure you that I don't, not really. In fact I just kissed her, then...Then she has returned the kiss to me and then, I said to you...we made love. We have made love again under my tent..."

John was furious.

"Shut up!!"

"...She was so excited, with which force she attracted me, hummm. Has she tells all that to you John? No, I'm certain that no, a small secret garden. Know you that she dream of me? She said that a few moments ago to me."

John pushed a howling like wounded animal but instead of pressing the trigger of his gun he was thrown on Tavington for strike him with his weapon. He wanted to crush the cynical smile on the face of his enemy. The colonel avoided easily the blow, seizes the wrist of John and twisted it. John struck him in full face. Tavington staggered but remained hung to the gun. John struck again to the stomach. Tavington growled of pain but knocked at his turn of all his forces. Then in a desperate movement of torsion he tore off the gun of the John's hands. The shot left. John pushed back Tavington violently, drew his hunting knife from his belt and doing a broad circular gesture. The dragoon pushed growl of pain, the blade had sliced the skin of his stomach and his shirt was already soaked with blood.

"I will kill you, " John thundered.

Tavington leaps towards the chimney and caught the handle of his saber. Of a movement of wrist he sent the sleeve to far releasing the blade. He turned to John, a deadly smile on the lips.

"To kill to me, you said?"

At this time someone knocked on the door and the voice of Bordon sounds.

"Sir, all is ok?"

"Thorne is here! " Tavington answered.

Bordon opened the door and feverishly sought his gun.

"He is at me Bordon! " Tavington exclaimed.

And he advanced slowly, the blade of his saber tended.

"I believe that it is me which will kill you Thorne."

"Another time. If you want to live return my wife to me or I swear in front of God that I would haven't cease to kill to you."

Tavington had a small laughter without joy.

"You are not any more in position to threaten."

John was done more threatening and then suddenly leaps towards the window. He plunged through the opening. He rolled on the ground and was raised.

"Bordon! Catch him! " Tavington howled before running forward him.

He spanned the window without taking care of his wound and started to run behind the runaway. John ran. He heard someone who shouted order but it was one black night without the moon. Behind him he heard breathing of Tavington. He succeeds to return to his horse. He jumped in saddle and left to the gallop.

Tavington saw him leaving and he swore. He rested against a tree a hand pressed on his wound, blood running between his fingers

"By here! " he shouted.

He passed several minutes before Bordon and some riders join him.

"We chase him Sir?"

"It is too late, " Tavington said, " but he will return. This day I will kill him personally."

Twenty minutes later he was sat in the sitting room and the doctor sew his wound and trying to not cross the furious glance of his patient.

"The wound is not deep colonel. But should not mount on you horse before few days or the scar will not be care."

"I would see."

The next morning, Tavington awoke just after the dawn and doesn't succeed in falling asleep again. After a few minutes of hesitation, he came out of the office and climbed the steps. Three guards were in faction. They froze. Tavington hardly looked at them. He opened the door gently and come in the bedroom of Constance. She slept peacefully. He advanced without noise towards the bed and sat down. He listened her sleep with a slight smile on the lips. He had an excuse to leave her in life. He would be used to her for capture her husband.

Constance opened the eyes gently. She was feeling better. Still weak but the fever seemed to have left. She looked at the sun, which entered in a room that was unknown to her. As she explored the room with her glance she was surprised to see Tavington asleep on a chair close to her. During a short moment she believed that she slept yet and then she remembered that she had already seen him the day before. He was so different when he slept. His face lost his so hard and arrogant expression. She sighed. She was found again in his power and she was terrified this waited her. She feared less the possible condemnation which awaited her than to find herself with this devil fellow who pursuit her even in her dreams. He had such power on her. She knew that she wouldn't have the force to resist to him. The memory of their two intimate meetings was still so strong. She knew that she still desire him. That she desires to feel his hands on her, that she desire to feel him in her...She was hated herself to think that, she hated him especially. As she looked at him, he opened the eyes abruptly.

Their glances crossed. Time seemed to be suspended. Constance felt his heart to stop. Anybody, even John, had looked at her like this, a mixture of desire, passion, and tenderness. This so intense glance seemed to penetrate until the bottom of her soul. What Tavington saw in the eyes of the young woman was so surprising, well far from anger, or the fear, which he had the practice to see there. It was the glance of a woman in love. And that ignited him.

He rose and leaned on her. He kissed her tenderly. She returned his kiss to him. He sat down on the edge of the bed. He was looking her with attention.

"You are better? " he asked by caressed his cheek.

"Yes, I believe, " she answered. " I don't have fever any more."

"Perfect."

'Constance, doesn't forget which he was' she said to herself lowering the eyes. When she raised them they did not show more anything, only anger and contempt.

That struck Tavington to heart. He tightened the teeth of rage and his glance became icy again. The magic moment had passed as if there had never existed.

"That you will be made of me this time? " she asked.

He had a cold smile.

"I count to join the camp this morning but following the visit of your dear husband, yesterday evening, I was constrained to remain here for the day."

"My husband? John?"

"Why ? You have several husband? " he doing mocker.

"He is...You killed him?"

"Unfortunately not. He was flea."

"But I...What he came..."

"Oh he came to kill me my dear, " he continued on the same tone.

"To kill you?"

"He has to choose between save you and kill me. He chooses."

"I don't believe you, " she made retaining a sob.

Tavington leaned towards her.

"He knows all, you know, " he says gently.

She opened large horrified eyes.

"How? It is you? You said it to him? " She blew.

He had a cruel smile.

"I am afraid the answer is yes."

The tears spouted out eyes of the young woman.

"No, no, why you done that?"

She launched her hands ahead to strike or to scratch him. She really doesn't know. He caught her hands without difficulty and tightened them against his chest.

"He threatened my life, I wanted...to divert his attention, " he said.

"Non, non, vous avez tout détruit...non...pourquoi ? Pourquoi me faites vous tant souffrir?²⁴ Why?"

He carried her hands to his lips and kissed gently them, moved by her tears.

"I wanted to put him in anger, " he tried to explain.

"You can kill to me now, I already died, " she doing in a sob.

"No, " he exclaimed without thinking, " no I will not kill you."

He leaned and will kiss her but she turn the head.

"Forget him, " he whispered.

She looked at him. He still had this odd expression in his glance. "I love him, " she said.

He caressed with his lips her face, her hair. He kissed her ear, her neck, and her tears.

"Constance...my little Frenchwoman...don't cry...please, " he murmured.

She looked at him surprised; it was the first time that he called her by her first name. At this moment someone knocked gently on the door.

"Sir? " it was the Bordon voice.

Tavington sighed and then with a thin smile he posed a tender kiss on the Constance lips. He rose and went to open the door.

"What you want?"

"I am anxious Sir. Can I speak to you?"

"I come Bordon."

He closed the door gently leaving Constance alone with her thoughts.

Continue...

Notes:

¹ "Lâchez moi! " "release me" [ back ]

² "Petite Française." "Little Frenchwoman" [ back ]

³ 'Mon Dieu' 'My God' [ back ]

⁴ "Je vous interdit de me toucher encore sale porc!" "I forbidden you to touch me again you damn pig" [ back ]

⁵ "Oh John, John, je t'aime. " "Oh John, John I love you." [ back ]

⁶ "Sauve toi John!" "save you John!" [ back ]

⁷ "Je vous haï" "I hate you" [ back ]

⁸ 'Mon Dieu', she thought, ' il est sauf'. 'My God,' she thought, 'he is safe' [ back ]

⁹ 'Je le haï, je le haï, je le haï, ' 'I hate him, I hate him, I hate him,' [ back ]

¹⁰ "Viens." "Come," [ back ]

¹¹ 'Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, comment ai je pu faire ça? ' 'My God, my God, how I could do that' [ back ]

¹² 'Je dois le faire' 'I must do that' [ back ]

¹³ 'Qu'il est beau ' 'He is so handsome' [ back ]

¹⁴ 'Où dois je le frapper? ' 'Where I must hit him?' [ back ]

¹⁵ 'Que fait il en France? ' 'What he doing in France' [ back ]

¹⁶ "John, John, où suis je, où suis je, comment suis je arrivée là? " "John, John, where I am, where I am, how am I come here?" [ back ]

¹⁷ "Où suis je? Répond moi? " "Where am I ? Answer to me?" [ back ]

¹⁸ "non colonel " or "allez vous en" "No colonel" or "go away" [ back ]

¹⁹ "je vous haï " "I hate you" [ back ]

²⁰ "ne me touchez pas" "don't touch me" [ back ]

²¹ "encore " "still" [ back ]

²² "Encore " she said, " encore". "again" she said "again". [ back ]

²³ "Vous êtes un monstre ! " "you are a monster!" [ back ]

²⁴ Non, non, vous avez tout détruit...non...pourquoi ? Pourquoi me faites vous tant souffrir? No, no, you destruct everything...no...why? Why you doing suffer me so more? [ back ]