Embrace of the Enemy (Winds of Betrayal) (17 page)

“Do you really, Marcus? Or is it the time we are in? Would you feel the same if the war was over and you were back in
England?”

“I don’t believe you,” he said. “I know within your heart you feel the same as I do. Don’t you think I fought against it, also?”

“You don’t know me,” she shook her head.

He bent down and kissed her lips gently, lingering upon them. He kissed her again.

“Please, Marcus, don’t.”

He kissed her face, her neck. He whispered, “Tell me now, you didn’t miss me. Need me as I need you. Tell me, Hannah.”

She hesitated and with the hesitation told him what words did not. “I have no right to feel the way I do, Marcus.”

“Then tell me what we are to do then,” he said
, taking a strand of her hair and played with it with his fingers.

“I should go home.
No matter what has happened, they would never turn their backs to me.”

He withdrew
only far enough to see her face. “We would have a problem, Hannah, because I would never allow my child to be raised anywhere other than England.”

He needed not say anymore. She knew.
He let her cry and held her tightly in his arms, comforting her. The doctor had suspected such when she was first brought in with her wound. She couldn’t hold any food down. The news confirmed when he brought in a midwife. Hannah in her state hadn’t responded to much the first few days, but with the news of a pregnancy, he had his advantage.

“Hannah, you would have to have known the possibility existed,” he rocked her in his arms. “It’s wonderful news. Something good out of all this madness. Oh, my darling, Hannah, I can understand your feelings and moral code you have put yourself under, but how could it be wrong when we love each other?”

He stroked her hair, content again to have her back within his arms. She turned her face up to his. “What am I to do?”

He smiled down at her. “Nothing. I promise I will take care of everything. I don’t want you worrying about anything, except feeling better. I don’t want you out of this bed until we ready to leave for
England.”

“I don’t know,” she whispered.

“Ssh. Didn’t I say I didn’t want you to worry about a thing? All is behind us. I love you and that’s all you should hold to,” he said. He kissed the top of her head and pulled her tighter. Her arm went to his chest as she laid her head upon it. He smiled and was content.

Chapter
Nine

Major Benjamin Tallmadge sat quietly, waiting in almost total darkness. Lit only by a candle, General George Washington stared down at the papers. He had looked over them several times, thoroughly with each read. His fingers tapped the table over and over again.

“You feel these are accurate?” General Washington asked, not looking at his officer.
 

From his seat, Major Benjamin Tallmadge responded matter of fact. “As far as I can tell. Extremely detailed.  Yes, sir.”

General Washington squeezed his lips tightly together. “This could change my strategy, Benjamin. I have to know how much faith you hold, personally, in this information.”

Tallmadge
looked his commanding officer straight in his eyes. “I believe it to be as it appears. In the past, the girl has given us some of our most important information. Caleb told me that she copied these details straight from General Howe’s courier while the group of them dined. There is absolutely no indication that they suspect we have them. Having already captured two more of their couriers trying to correspond with Burgoyne, the messages sent gave no indication of a change of plan.”

“This is the same girl that the British congratulated within their papers for
 betraying us, giving her credit for the fiasco when we lost twenty-five of our main supporters within New York?” General Washington addressed his concern.

“As I explained before, the girl was tricked,”
Tallmadge continued. “Giles felt strongly about the situation, demanding we get her out. Said she was desperate to withdraw from New York. What I can gather from Rupert, he did what he could to prevent exposure. He didn't realize exactly what she has done for the cause.”

Tallmadge
swallowed hard. “To be honest, General, I believe all have sacrificed for this information. We lost Tepper, although I hear he bought his way out and is now heading for France. But every other bit of information we have gathered has supported these plans.”

The General nodded and dismissed the Major, leaving himself alone to decide the course he would take.

With the morning sun, General Washington made his decision. Even though Tallmadge comprehended that General Washington understood Howe's intent to invade Philadelphia and their own army would have to do battle with Howe, over the next few days, Washington deployed reinforcements to the North. He sent his most aggressive officer, Major General Benedict Arnold, another factor in Major General Benjamin Lincoln, and the Virginia riflemen led by Colonel Daniel Morgan, some of his best troops. All prayed the risk would pay off.

* * * *

The heat of the late July sun scorched down upon the well-worn road underneath Peter Lanson. His hat brimmed with sweat as it dropped upon his face. With his sleeve of his shirt he brushed it off. It had been had been less than a month since he was last in Philadelphia, but the time seemed longer.

Last year at this time, Lanson had been part of the pandemonium which had broken loose with the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Words have a powerful effect with motivating men's action and this was no less. With the signing of the Declaration, there would be no
 turning back; commitment for all to the cause. He had become increasing aware of the toil and blood the Declaration had cost and would continue to cost this new nation to maintain.

Clangorous peals of the huge bell in the State House tower rang out proclaiming the free and independent States of America, celebrating the announcement of the intentions of the men who had dedicated their lives and those who gave their lives to create such a union. Lanson thought he well comprehended the importance of all he had done and help accomplish, the significance of the information obtained. Then why was he having trouble finding peace within his soul?

He had received the news that Jonathan had been deployed up North to General Schuyler's army in Albany whom had been playing cat and mouse with General Burgoyne’s army. The haughty Schuyler wasn’t a popular commander of the Northern army and was at constant odds with Congress.

General Schuyler had only thus been reinstated to his position in May after being relieved of his position for intemperate remarks about Congress in March. Jonathan hadn't been pleased, writing to Lanson he would have preferred to stay with General Washington's command and close to his family, but Schuyler had personally asked for this battlefield doctor he had heard so many a good thing about. Jonathan had left, secure in his expectations
 of Hannah being returned safely and his own family safe from harm. 

By God,
Tallmadge had been right. What kind of a man was he? Desperation at the time had been no excuse. The honorable choice would have been to relieve Hannah, ignoring Tepper, taking her quickly and safely away from the constant danger that surrounded her, but he had to question, was there honor among spies? To survive within that world one had to use their instincts to accomplish a goal and it had to come before anything and everything; instincts to win, because there wasn't another option. 

Now, though, his attention was on a mission he had more control over. Urgent news had come in. His next assignment
Tallmadge had directly given him-get Jonathan's family out of Philadelphia, immediately. Rumors had abounded that the British had been long preparing to invade the city, but the information that sent him bounding down to Philadelphia in such haste had been a message that Gannon's plot to sweep Catherine and her child away would soon be implemented.

Lanson
rode all night with only one objective—this was one mission he wouldn't fail.

The rhythm of his horse was brought to a halt outside of the house Lanson had last visited Jonathan, which lay a few miles outside of
Philadelphia. Jonathan wanted to get Catherine some peace and tranquility in hopes of lifting her spirits. He had let Stephen use the house in Philadelphia. The house lay off the beaten path along the Delaware River. High trees lined the road up to the house, also supplying an ample amount of shade for cheerful inhabitants enjoying the early morning air.

Lanson pulled back on the reins. He could hear voices in the backyard
…laughter. He tied his horse to the post and chose to follow the sound. He rounded the corner and gave pause to take pleasure in watching the scene in front of him. A delightful gurgle uttered from a chubby baby who toddled around as if he had just taken his first steps. Balancing than with a plop he fell with a giggle. Sitting on the lawn, a woman amused, smiled at the young one.

She stood and walked over to pick up the babe. He listened as she talked to the young one in a soft reassuring voice. She swung him high. The little one screamed in delight. The woman stopped, holding the child in
midair when she caught sight of him.

“Mary!” she called. A young black girl came running to her side
. The woman’s glare never leaving his. “Take William back within.”

“Ain’t no trooble, Mistress Corbett. I’ll brin’ Mister Billy right in,” she reached for the child.

“How many times must I tell you, Mary? It’s William.”

The young girl’s face cracked a smile as her eyes bulged even wider for she realized her Mistress wasn’t mad at her. The babe laughed while he grabbed Mary’s hair when she reached for him. It was apparent the child was quite comfortable with them both. Mary replied, “Yes’m, ma’am.”

Lanson watched Mary disappear into the house and stepped toward the woman who stood alone in the garden with him.

“Can I help you, sir?” she asked. She was more attractive than he first thought. Her hair, although drab shade of brown, was thick and pulled from her face of fair complexion with telling brown eyes.

“I’m sorry to intrude, but it’s not often I see such a pleasant sight. I don’t know if we’ve ever been properly introduced. I believe we might have met briefly in Williamsburg. I’m Peter Lanson, a friend of Dr. Corbett’s,” Lanson said politely.

She slightly nodded her head, but he could read the skepticism illuminating from her eyes. “I’ve heard of you, Mr. Lanson. I’m Lydia Corbett, Dr. Corbett’s sister-in-law,” she said
in a simple manner. “I’m afraid Jonathan isn’t here and isn’t expected soon. He’s on the front, the last I heard.”

“I realize that, Mrs. Corbett. I’m here for you and the rest of the family. We feel it’ll be best if you pack up and leave, whether it’s to
Williamsburg or where ever you wish to go, but we need to leave as soon as possible,” he said as plainly as he could.

Her expression didn’t change, but she gestured for him to sit on a bench behind him. She sat and stared out in the garden for
a while before she spoke again. He glanced at her, impatiently.

“I have had the distinct feeling that change is about to come. People have been nervous about the British. I’m sure we’ll do whatever you deem necessary to stay safe,” she said plainly and
turned back to Lanson in a hesitate manner. “I do know who you are, Mr. Lanson. My husband had mentioned you, as had Jonathan, but my main concern with you is Hannah. I know you’re the one that help send her into New York. I haven’t heard from her in quite a long time. Jonathan gets upset upon the mention of her name. So before I go anywhere, Mr. Lanson, I want to know. Where’s Hannah?”

Her directness took him back for a moment. His forehead scrunched for he
wasn’t prepared for the question. She stared at him unrelenting.

“Please, don’t dare tell me that something has happened to her,” she cried. “I should have never let her
attempt such foolhardiness. I turned a blind eye because I wanted the same as she did. Oh, please tell me she is safe.”

His expression told her otherwise. He shook his head.

“Oh, my God! No! She isn’t?”

“In honesty, Mrs. Corbett, I don’t know. We don’t know.”

Lydia immediately rose.

Lanson stood quickly and motioned her to sit once more. “Please, Mrs. Corbett. I don’t know exactly what you know.”

She automatically seated herself back down. Her eyes watered. “I told her not to go when she told me, but I guessed what she was wanting to do. I didn’t stop her. To be honest, I wanted her to go, wishing I could do what she intended. Someone to pay for my hurt. I wanted someone to pay for what was done, but not Hannah, not Hannah.”

Instinct
ively, he took her hand. “We’re not certain what has happened to her. She has disappeared.”

She glanced up into his eyes. “Do you believe…?”

He stopped her. “I have reason to believe that she’s alive, at least for the moment. But we feel she’s in the hands of the British.”

“I don’t understand. Why didn’t she leave? She promised me. I didn’t believe Gabriel when he said she broke off their engagement and chose to stay within
New York. Jonathan must know because he can’t abide Gabriel now and they were like brothers. Why has everything gone so astray?”