Forever Young Birth Of A Nation (7 page)

She curtseyed to him and then laughing also,
she said “If the music had not stopped I would have him out there
yet, sir.”

“May we borrow him for a bit, Rebecca? I
promise that he will still be fit to dance in a quarter hour.” She
smiled a dazzling smile and curtseyed once again, saying “I will
hold you to that sir” as several of the group laughed heartily.

“I am going to find Laura, Ian. I shall
return in a quarter hour” she said while looking directly at
General Gage with a smile. As she departed Gage said “We have been
having a discussion about the economy of the colonies and we wanted
to have your input, Ian.”

“I see. Well, for those of you who do not
know it, I have not been here in the colonies for very long.”

“Be that as it may Mr. McCloud, do give us
your view as a banker.”

Smiling broadly then Ian said “Very well,
but you might not like some of my views.”

“Oh, go ahead, Ian. We all know that you are
a newcomer.”

“Very well then. I have come to some
conclusions regarding the economy based on more than what I have
seen just while here. It is my view that the problems here are
rooted in the wars that Britain was engaged in over a decade
past.”

“How so?”

“The debt that the Crown incurred; look, we
all can agree that the war is affecting the economy, and mostly
negatively for the average colonist. I know that it is far too late
now, but it seems to me that if the King had allowed each colony to
have a representative in the House of Commons maybe some ten years
ago, we might not be having this conversation.”

Adam Wellington, owner of Wellington Bank of
Commerce spoke then. “Now see here Mr. McCloud, several upstarts
demanded that thing long ago and his Majesty decided against it.
What good would it have done until now, sir?”

“Well for one thing, it would make the
colonists feel as if they were a part of the mother country instead
of a conquered territory.”

“What? Who cares what the average colonist
thinks? They owe allegiance to our sovereign King George III. That
is all that they need to know.”

“Hear-hear!” was heard from several men
then.

“Gentlemen if you will permit me I will
explain further.”

Gage spoke then, “Pray tell please do,
Ian.”

“The colonies suffer a grave trade deficit.
They literally have too little money to engage in expansion of
their trades and enterprises. This is aggravated by forcing many to
quarter His Majesty’s forces in their homes and other buildings in
Boston and elsewhere. There are also several economic sanctions
that have crippled commerce. If they had representatives, those
representatives would be taking at least a share of the blame right
now instead of a distant parliament taking it all.”

It was dead silent then and only the
background buzz of conversations and music drifting in from the
ball room was heard. Then Wellington spoke again “Why they would
vote counter to what His Majesty wants, Mr. McCloud!”

“Why have a parliament at all if they cannot
vote their conscience? Besides that, wouldn’t they would be
outvoted by the sheer numbers of Tories in parliament itself, sir?
And there is another thing that could have been done before blood
was shed: Other nations could have been encouraged to trade here
instead of being shut out.”

“Preposterous sir! It is only right that the
merchants and suppliers of England have exclusive access to North
America.”

Really? What if a tariff was levied on all
nations excepting for England herself? The King would then have a
steady flow of revenue from foreign sources instead of levying
heavier taxes on loyal English colonists. That could be used
against the debt incurred by the Crown in the Seven Years War, and
this crippling trade imbalance would not exist. The colonies would
not have such a severe shortage of money and therefore would be far
less likely to revolt.”

Again it was dead quiet for a time excepting
for the music and background buzz of conversation.

General Gage raised his eyebrows and said “I
say Ian; I have never heard such an idea. But it makes some sense
nonetheless. But I am only a simple soldier, and no economist. What
say you merchants and bankers to this proposal?”

“Why the very idea is idiotic. Last year
they had an illegal gathering and have tried to impose a refusal of
trade with Britain.” said Wellington, and that was echoed by
several Tory loyalist/merchants.

“What would you do if felt that your back
was to the wall as many colonists do today? Does the British
Constitution not say that all subjects of His Majesty are entitled
to representation in Parliament?”

“What? That is preposterous! These are
colonies, man, not counties in England.”

“Does the British constitution itself not
include
all
British subjects when it guarantees
representation?”

“What? Why it means what His Majesty says it
means, and that is that.”

Really? Then why have a constitution or
parliament at all if the constitution does not mean what it says?
What of the Magna Carta? Shall we tear it up and go back to the
divine right of kings? The day I arrived, I saw one ship with
Hessian regulars standing on deck in plain view. How many have come
here that I did not see? What must that be costing the Crown? And
who will pay for it? Shall the Crown impose further taxes against
these colonists to hire foreign mercenaries?”

“Why not?” If the king sees fit, then the
colonists should pay more. This is all for their benefit
anyway.”

“Sir, do ye recall in the Bible, in the Book
of Kings how that King Solomon’s son tried to raise taxes after the
elders of Israel came peaceably to him for relief? That single act
caused the nation of Israel to split.”

“So?”

“Are we not seeing a replay of biblical
history here in North America today?”

“That is seditious sir.”

“No sir. That is biblical history and that
is exactly what is being repeated here. The colonists started
peaceably trying to redress grievances against the crown a decade
past, and have been treated like a conquered people instead of
loyal, law abiding subjects to His Majesty.”

“They deserve to be treated like
rebels.”

Continuing in his moderate tone, Ian said
“Do not forget that these colonists fought side by side with
British regulars against the French and Indians. Then they were
treated as hostile rebels by the very government that had begged
them to help only few years earlier.”

“That is an outrageous thing to say,
Sir!”

“There will always be some who are offended
by the truth when it tramples their own prejudices.”

“Now see here, sir. That kind of talk is
going to cause trouble.”

“The trouble had long since started before I
ever came here. Whereas the colonists only sought better relations
and a better economic future before, they might now seek total
independence some ten years later. I fear sirs that our king has
been given bad advice, and we are now reaping the bitter fruits of
that.”

“That is outrageous sir. That is seditious
talk and you should be more careful what you say.”

“Really? And here I thought that I was asked
by fellow gentlemen to give an honest opinion of our economy here.
What I said will change nothing so none of you need have ruffled
feathers.”

“I am outraged for our gracious King!”

“No need to be. Any of you who are profiting
from the war now will continue to do so until it ends”

“You should be hung for speaking thus,
McCloud!” Everyone turned to see Colonel Grundy standing there, his
face flushed a deep red. Undetected, Rebecca had rejoined the
group, and had been listening for several minutes. She gasped when
Grundy spoke.

Ian spoke softly and evenly as he had from
the beginning, his low timbered voice nonetheless carrying to all
in the now hushed group. “Would ye hang me because you heard a
small fragment of a conversation then, or would that be instead for
accompanying Miss Davis to this gala, sir?”

Stepping forward Grundy slapped Ian a
stinging blow across his face. Easily seeing it coming, Ian never
let his head budge a hair. Grundy drew back his hand and held it
briefly as if he had slapped a tree trunk. Ian’s eyes grew a frosty
shade of pale blue, like cracked ice as he said in a low voice “I
believe that gives me the choice of weapons, sir.”

Grundy’s face was nearly purple with rage as
he answered “Choose well you peacock. I am equally comfortable with
pistols or swords.”

“Swords will be fine then sir.”

General Gage then spoke up “Now see here
gentlemen; there is no need for violence.”

“I will forbear if you order it sir” said
Grundy.

Ian looked at Gage then and back at Grundy
“A convenient way out for a coward, now having struck me for no
cause in a public place.”

Grundy stepped toward Ian as Gage put up his
hand, saying “That will be enough, Colonel! Ian?”

Turning and smiling warmly at Gage, Ian
replied “Though I am publicly wronged, I too will forbear for your
sake, General Gage. This coward has no fear of my retribution.”

Gage nodded curtly and then with a smile he
said “Now see how easy that was, gentlemen. Please excuse me now as
I have neglected my wife too long tonight, especially being this
gala is to honor our wedding anniversary.” He departed then, with
most of the bankers and merchants following, leaving Grundy, Ian,
and Rebecca alone.

Grundy was still angry and on the verge of
taking action as he said through clenched teeth “Beware what you
say now, you peacock.”

Ian smiled coldly at him then, saying “I
won’t pursue this matter further, but I will be at the liberty pole
in Grover’s park tomorrow at noon nonetheless.” Turning to Rebecca
he said “I am sorry that you had to witness this spectacle
Rebecca.” He bowed slightly and kissed her hand, continuing
“Nonetheless, may I have the pleasure of your company in a
dance?”

Shocked and wide-eyed, she curtseyed and
replied “I would be honored sir.” She cast a look of complete
disdain toward Grundy as they departed toward the ballroom, leaving
him standing alone staring hatefully toward them both.

As they danced, Rebecca was quite solemn.
She thought
my God! His eyes looked like ice, yet he never
raised his voice even once.
And his face, not a bruise, no
blood, no swelling. How can that be, as hard as he was hit?
Ian
smiled at her then, his eyes a merry shade of turquoise blue,
twinkling now as if nothing had happened.

“Please don’t be so solemn, Rebecca. Let’s
enjoy the evening. Aside from that incident, I am glad to be here
with you.”

“Oh really, Ian? I feel so bad that
this…this person behaved in that way toward you. Really, most of
them there were picking on you, yet you were the only one who made
any sense.”

Smiling brilliantly then Ian said “Why
Rebecca, were you eavesdropping then? And here I thought that you
had gone to seek Laura and that I was free to make a fool of myself
for a bit.”

“A fool of yourself? Never! I heard enough
and I have felt that way for some time now. Oh Ian, I wanted this
evening to be perfect and look at what has happened because of that
dreadful Colonel Grundy.”

“Now lass, do not be grieving so. The night
is but half over and we have many dances yet to do. I promise to
dance every one of them with you alone if you so desire” he said
with a warm smile.

“Done then sir. I will hold you to that this
night” she said with a dazzling smile. As the evening progressed,
she began to relax and truly she was having the best time she had
ever had at such a gathering before too much longer. Ian seemed to
have a way of making everything all right. And he seemed to be
completely unaffected by the disturbing events, and indeed he
seemed to be truly enjoying himself even now.

As he danced with Rebecca, he thought
well Ian; you have stepped in it again. Of all the ways to start
up a bank on foreign shores surely tonight was an example of one of
the poorest strategies. This will not bode well for our enterprise.
Damn the luck anyway!

The evening ended without any further
unpleasantness. Rebecca had let Ian dance one dance with Louise,
the nine-year old girl. She had shyly whispered to her, asking if
she would allow Ian one dance. Otherwise she had him to herself all
evening and was in good spirits as the evening drew to a close.
She, her father, and Ian all rode in pleasant conversation to the
Davis home. Rebecca took Ian’s hand in the carriage in the
darkness. At the Davis house, Ian dismissed the carriage driver,
paying him. Colonel Davis bid Ian good night and left him and
Rebecca alone on the front porch. Rebecca shyly asked if Ian would
walk with her about the neighborhood briefly, so they walked hand
in hand down the dark street. “Ian, I had the best time of my life
tonight. I am so happy that you took me in spite of what that boor
said.”

“I had fun too, Rebecca, really I did. You
are just marvelous to be with, and just what I needed to help
myself forget some of the bad things that have been my lot
recently.” They had circled and were already on the way back to her
house, having entered a very dark area. She stopped and pulled him
to face her, saying “Kiss me please, Ian.”

“Now lass that might not be such a good
idea.”

“I will be the judge of that. I do not care
if it is improper. I will just die if I do not get to kiss you
tonight.”

“Rebecca, I have issues, emotional baggage
that is crippling me. Not only that, but there are things about
me….I…Rebecca they are truly serious things that you cannot
guess…they would make our involvement…..

Here he was stopped as she quickly threw
both arms about his neck and pressed her lips to his. He kissed her
softly then, savoring the sweetness of it, having been without
physical affection for months. Nonetheless he did not follow up as
she likely wanted him to, but instead cupped her beautiful face
between his two bronzed hands and gently kissed both of her eyelids
and gave her yet another soft kiss on the lips. He then drew back
and gently turned her to walk with him to the door. Raising both of
her hands to his lips he said “Truly that was the nicest thing that
has happened to me since coming to these shores. Drawing her to him
once more he gently kissed her a third time and then said “Good
night sweet Rebecca” and turning he put his tri corner hat on and
walked down the steps and off into the darkness.