The Heavens Shall Fall (21 page)

Silence became dangerous; tension pulsed through the air.

“Then tell me what you want. For it isn’t me,” she challenged him. “You left me months ago with a promise to hold to our arrangement. I held to my end. Even after I did not hear from you, I didn’t falter. My husband died. I heard nothing …”

“
Nothing,” he countered. Fire was in his eyes. She felt her body flare in response, which did not please her. He pulled her closer. “I wrote letters. They were never sent, but it did not mean I did not think of you, dream of you…even after I decided that we weren’t meant to be.

“
You are perceptive, Susanna. You have seen through me. I thought I could manipulate my situation while in the colonies. I chose you because you suited my needs. When I was told your husband died, I realized I should back away. I had no desire to be attached to anyone, not in my position. While you were married, you were safe to me.

“
I had no time to contemplate our situation in the midst of the battle for Charles Town. I foolishly thought I could walk away from you…my ice maiden. Then I saw you tonight in your loveliness. Never have you looked more beautiful…I knew you came to look for me.”

She tried to withdraw her arm, but he wouldn
’t release her. “It was a mistake. I wanted closure. I found my closure watching you in the midst of those…those…”

“
Gaggle of geese.”

She was not amused, but knew she was caught.
“Those…those women, but it was not only the women. It was my cousin, Dr. Jonathan Corbett. I heard the officers laughing at him…said you called for his hanging.”

“
Oh,” he uttered under his breath. “You believe I had your cousin hanged. I assure you, he lives. He is among the officers brought back to be exchanged.”

“
But they said…that you…” She faltered.

“
Yes, yes, what they said was true, but it was a ruse to get hold of his shipping business. His wife exchanged it for his life.” He paused and gently touched her face. “But it is another reason I should not be here. He seems to have become somewhat of a legend among the Americans with his antics. It would do my career little good to be associated with his cousin.”

“
So it seems we are doomed,” Susanna finished for him.

“
I did not say that,” he rasped as his hands moved around her waist and drew her to him. “I find my desire for you has overtaken my good sense.”

He bent to kiss her, not gently.
He scorched her lips, a man possessed to take what he thought his. She gave him no protest, but surrendered to him and met his desire with her own frustration—frustration from becoming trapped in this web.

She kissed him back. It was all it took
to submit to the urgent need that hovered around them.

He drove her back against the wall.
His body against hers, his well-defined thighs pushed the silken fullness of her hooped skirt. She felt his hands move over her body; heard her clothing rip, her wooden hoop crack when he pressed against her.

Susanna
’s breath caught in her throat, but it did little to steady her nerves. His warm male scent, mingled with peach brandy, besieged her senses. She shuddered at his touch. His mouth moved hungrily over her breasts
; 
his hands caressed her bare skin and sent a tremor to the deepest reaches of her body.

She fought to keep a semblance of control, but found it useless.
Desire flooded in upon her. Andre knew her too well…her curves and hollows that were most sensitive…and set them aflame.

Her strength of will was gone.
She submitted to the instinct that drove her…him to the brink of insanity to fill this need. Her legs parted; he plunged into her body with an insatiable hunger, over and over until he found his release…hers.

Passion spent,
Susanna felt him ease slowly away. Reality returned.

She watched Andre button up his breeches. She looked down at herself
: her gown ruined, her bodice torn, her hoop broken. She could only imagine the condition of her hair and he…he stood in front of her with that annoying smile!

“
Look at me!” she hissed in a low voice.

“
Ssh…my dear…” He leaned over to her and kissed her lips softly. “You look quite lovely, especially when your eyes light up during our passion. Ah, but to see the ice melt from your eyes!”

She pushed back at him. Her eyes flamed.
“You’ll be the death of me, John Andre. Does it not bother you in the least I look…I look like…”

“
A woman who has been well satisfied,” he teased. He pulled off his waistcoat and placed it about her shoulders. “Go and change. I have decided we will do as before. Tonight, we will spend in my bed. Hurry now.”

“
Insufferable man,” she uttered under her breath. “I’m going to England…to my mother…”

His grin broadened.
“Not yet…and definitely not tonight. Go.”

Susanna sat in front of her mirror while her maid combed out her hair and swept it back up in a simple manner. She hadn’t the time for anything else, but she needed to think. She dismissed her maid and contemplated her next move.

Rupert, once more, had been correct. Andre had returned to her, but despite the passion they only moments before shared, she was under no delusions.

Andre—so gifted with words that rolled off his tongue. Charming, charismatic, handsome and quite the lover, meeting her every need, except one—one in which he could never.

Men! Andre was worse than Rupert with the games he played. Both thought women imbeciles
, when in truth it was men—who despite the caution they took in their secrecy—who made the most common mistake. They underestimated those they thought weaker than themselves. Susanna wondered whether that was what Hannah had discovered. The weakness of men…their arrogance.

Rupert saw her only as a means to an end; Andre, the same…only different means to an end. Rupert saw her as a means to bring down Andre and the hated British; Andre saw her as a diversion.

She grasped this need for a diversion. She needed one herself. She needed now to separate one from the other, for she had found a secret not meant for her eyes. She had read over the letter more than once.

She would never be able to remember it word for word, but she had the
gist of the meaning. Andre was in the middle of turning someone high within the Americans…military, Congress…she wasn’t certain who. She was certain only that Rupert’s concern was justified.

When she had left the drawing room,
Andre had lent her his waistcoat for modesty. She gripped tight to the lapel; she had felt a crinkle within the material. After her maid had dispensed with what had been left of her gown, she had explored the coat. She found a disguised buttoned pocket along the underlining—within, a couple of letters.

She had been with Rupert long enough to understand the need for caution…and also the importance of invisible ink. Thankful the seal had already been broken
, she held the letters with the candlelight behind it and she read.

One letter she couldn
’t read. It seemed to have been written in some sort of code. The other gave her the information she could use.

On this Monday, the 12
th
day of June, 1780

Good Sir,

The time has come that I feel the need to commence our correspondence once again. I left nothing omitted in my terms. Feel confident my overture is honorable as well as my intentions. You have my strongest assurances of my sincerity. I have fully committed myself to this venture. I have abandoned my former point of view. I have discovered that the mass of people are tired of the war and want only to succumb again to good King George. Now I stand ready to deal the striking blow to their core. I need only your assurances of my reward for such service.

Gustavus

She carefully placed the letters back in position
, as if never disturbed. The threat to the cause sounded immediate. She stared over at the waistcoat that lay on the bed. She had discovered the means to where Andre hid his secret correspondence.

It must have been exchanged at the dinner party
, which meant that Andre understood that eyes lay upon him. Sly and clever, he had arranged a place where the exchange could be made without suspicion falling on his courier. It meant secrecy was of the utmost importance, which in turn, made her mission quite perilous.

She rose and laid the coat across her arm. Andre waited for her. After tonight, she would arrange to inform Rupert of her information.
Rupert would have his confirmation that there was a traitor in their midst. But she doubted the information would give any comfort, for now all their lives were in grave danger.

Never had the message Giles carried held such importance. He urged on his horse beneath him
and hastily galloped toward his home. The fear that he had long awaited was upon him.

He nudged the side of his horse again. He had only left a couple of hours ago. Hannah would not expect him back so soon, not after he had left for his route of going into New York. He had only to stop at Woodhull
’s farm.

T
he message was left in its usual spot within a hollowed out hole in the gate post. He read over it…only the message wasn’t his normal instructions for his trip into New York. It was a message for him, a warning. A warning he couldn’t afford to ignore.

The sun s
et high in the sky when he rounded the bend to his home. Without a thought to his mount, he halted abruptly and raced into the tavern. Much like a madman, he hurried up the stairs. Finding no one, he hastened across the street to his general store. Nothing.

Exiting to the dusty street, he rubbed his chin.
Think. Think! Where could they have gone?
His heart raced. He couldn’t make a rational thought.
They couldn’t have come so soon
…

“
Mister Giles, if ya lookin’ for your family, they done gone for a little picnic, even Mistress Martha. Said they were going down beyond the Miller’s place. Betcha’ on the shoreline.”

Giles looked over at his stable boy, Kenny, who had hold of his horse. He nodded.
“Can you see to General? I won’t be going into New York today.”

“
Yes ’em, Mister Giles.”

Giles
’ steps slowed. His family was safe. He had to calm himself. He would scare the children and Hannah.

He caught sight of Hannah. She stood on the beach
and watched Seth try to skip rocks along the water’s film. Not far away, Martha sat with baby Abigail.

Seth heard his approach before his mother.
He dropped his treasure of skipping rocks; the young lad took off toward his father. With a lively jump, Seth leaped into Giles’ open arms.

He swung his son in the
air. Seth squealed with glee. Giles caught him and hugged him with vigor.

His attention turned toward his baby daughter, who upon receiving no welcome, commenced to inform her father of her presence. His eyes softened and
he placed Seth down, ruffling his thick black hair.

“
Your sister beckons, son. A moment only.”

Martha
relinquished her hold on the little one. Giles took his daughter in his arms, quieting her for a moment until he had her giggling so hard he feared she couldn’t breathe.

Abigail had been born nine months ago
, with none of the complications of her brother. A happy baby. Little chubby arms and legs. Her head finally had a semblance of cover, light brown hair similar to her mother’s; her eyes a light blue much like the sky. A contrast to her brother.

Believing his sister was getting far too much attention, Seth grabbed hold of Giles
’ leg. Giles smiled down at him. “Do not worry, Seth. I haven’t forgotten you.”

“
Papa came home to play?”

“
Kenny has hold of General, son. Why don’t you go back and watch him brush General down?” Giles suggested and looked over at Martha. “Do you think you can take the young ones back? I need a moment with Hannah.”

“
But of course,” Martha answered. She took Abigail back from her brother. “Come, Seth, I will get you a treat to give General as well.”

The constraint of his concern ebbed. Giles watched while his children disappeared out of sight. Abruptly, he turned back to his wife. His eyes met hers.

“Tell me now, Giles,” Hannah asked in a quiet voice. “What is wrong?”

There was a pause that seemed to last an eternity. He said,
“You know I love you, Hannah.”

An expression of fear spread over her face. Even though she knew well he loved her, he had not spoken those words but a few times.

“You are scaring me.” Her face drained of color.

“
He is coming.” Giles paused. “Durham. He is coming for Seth…you if you choose.”

Hannah took a step back. Her hand covered her mouth.
“How? I…thought…I thought an agreement was in place.” She reached for Giles’ hand and gripped it tightly. “They said as long as we held to the agreement…Oh, God! Tell me they do not know of what you do!”

He shook his head.
“I don’t believe that is the case. The warning came from Charles Town. Your sister-in-law, Rebekah. I have the letter. You need to read it. It seems she gave the information to Durham herself to save your brother, Jonathan.

“
It is he who is coming, Hannah. She fears he will take his son by force if necessary.”

Her eyes widened, glazed over in confusion.
“To save Jonathan? He is not…?”

“
No, she said Durham held to his word. Jonathan is supposed to be among those prisoners brought back to New York to be exchanged and pardoned.”

She fell silent for a moment.
“But Marcus knows of Seth?”

Giles nodded. She understood better than he of the attitude of the British. The feeling of superiority. Agreement or not, the British would not stop one of theirs from taking what he believed to be his. Giles had always surmised it was the reason for the request that Seth stay upon English territory.

“Giles, what are we going to do?”

He could not deny that relief surged through him. A nagging fear that she would leave him one day for this man had lived within him. Here…now…her fear was his that Durham would take
their
son from them.

“
Trust me, Hannah. I will not anything happen to our son. I have long since had a plan in place for such an occurrence. Caleb will return tonight. I will see you over the Sound to Fairfield. Judge Beckett resides in a large house with plenty of room for you and the children. He will be prepared.”

“
But what of you?”

“
I can’t leave.” He said the words simply. “I will deal with Durham. Above all, the British can’t suspect there is more going on here than meets the eye.”

“
I can’t leave you, Giles.”

He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her.
“It will not be forever, Hannah. We have no choice. We have to protect Seth at all cost. I swear I won’t let the damn British take my son.”

Giles carried Hannah out of the rowboat and onto the beach. The children waited for them on the shore. Wind whipped water across their faces in the stark grayness of the night. It did little to hide her tears she shed. He had not seen her cry in years.

He sat her on the sandy beach. The roll of the tide dampened the hem on her dress. She didn
’t care. She reached out to take Abigail from Caleb’s arms. The little one clung tightly to her mother. It made Giles smile.

Seth thought
it all a big adventure, not in the least dismayed about leaving his father…for the moment. It would change, Giles was certain. Hannah would have her hands full.

He bent down and kissed the top of Abigail
’s head. “Take care of your mother, my little angel. May God watch over you.”

“
Do not worry about us, Giles. We will be fine. I will write every day.”

He tenderly pushed back Hannah
’s hair blowing in her face. “It will pass. I promise as I promised to look after you.”

“
I trust you. I always have.” Her expression told him all he needed to know. Sadness lived in her eyes, a sadness that could only be extinguished on their reunion.

He could leave her
, confident of their reunion…that there would be a reunion. That at some point their family would be together again. At the moment, it mattered only they were safe.

How close they had come to having their family ripped apart, he didn
’t know. But from the letter, Durham would come and care little for anything but taking
his
son. Giles would never allow that to happen.

“
I will visit when I can,” he assured her. “Anna has been doing this for over two years.”

Hannah forced a smile
. She knew the time was at hand. “Do not forget that I love you.”

“
Have faith, Hannah. It is what we have had between us. Faith in our cause. Faith that we are creating a better world for our children. Faith in us. Believe and never doubt,” he kissed her gently and whispered. “Go. It is better you are safe.”

Pressing her lips together in a manner to control her emotions, she stepped back
, her eyes on his. She clutched tightly to her baby, and then turned. On the shore, Seth waved wildly to his father, but ceased when his mother called to him. The little lad ran to her side and walked beside his mother into a waiting carriage.

Giles watched until he could watch no more. Emptiness filled him.

*
* * *

He came.

In the early morning hour, Giles heard the sound of horses. He stopped restocking the bar and walked out onto the porch. A regiment of His Majesty’s Dragoons rode up to his tavern. It was not unusual for soldiers to enter Setauket, but this was different and Giles knew it by the sight of the one leading the unit: General Marcus Durham.

Giles did not have to be introduced. He remembered the man from the last time Hannah had been allowed to see him back in New York. He was not a man to be forgotten.

Dressed in a red uniform which told his rank of general, the man rode with a purpose. Tall and powerfully built, he carried himself with the air of authority. Almost immediately, his dark, brooding eyes fixed on Giles.

He had waited three days for this moment,
had postponed his trip into New York. He was certain the fact left Rupert anxious, but Giles could not chance a message.

Giles stepped across the open area.
“Greetings. Come in. Come in. My sister will ready breakfast.”

The leader said nothing, but
waved with his hand. The unit disbursed around the tavern. They entered both the tavern and general store. Giles made no movement, but watched the soldiers swarm this home and business.

“
What is the matter?”

From the corner of his eye, Giles saw his sister emerge in the doorway.
“I’m not certain, Martha.”

“
You are Giles Cooper.”

Giles turned back to the commanding voice of the general.
“I am. What is the meaning of this?”

One of the officers emerged from the tavern…one Giles recognized. He had been to Cooper
’s Tavern many times, a Captain Tom Elliott. He reported, “Neither she nor the child are here.”

The general grimaced and dismounted.
“Then it is time to talk.”

Over the years, Giles had learned to mask his emotions. It had been essential in his mission: play host to the enemy, shelter Hannah, and pretend to be neutral in this dispute. He was far from neutral…

Giles followed behind the general, who seemed unduly interested in his surroundings. Giles watched the man survey the situation and winced at the sight before him. The general stared upward at the stairs. “You live above this tavern?”

Giles nodded.
“This is my home, General…”

“
General Marcus Durham, but I believe you know well who I am.”

He tilted
his head to the side slightly. Giles acknowledged, “I believe I do.”

Giles glanced around the room.
“Perhaps, General Durham, this discussion could be done in private.”

Giles waited until General Durham spoke to his aide. He watched him nod and dismiss him. He walked back over to Giles.

“Captain Elliott is talking to your sister, your help and neighbors at this moment. So I suggest you tell me quickly where Hannah and my
son
are.” He spoke to Giles with condescension. “I have come to claim him. He will return with me.”

“
On whose authority?”

“
Mine, sir. General Marcus Durham of His Majesty’s service. This child you have raised is my son. I need nothing else.”

“
But I believe you do, General Durham,” Giles contradicted. “I am a loyal servant to His Majesty King George. You cannot take what is mine and Seth is
mine
.”

Marcus
’ dark eyes narrowed. “I do not think you fully comprehend your situation, Mr. Cooper. Where is my son?”

“
I do comprehend my situation. Do you understand yours?”

“
I won’t ask you again.” Then he paused. “You look familiar…” He eyed Giles intently. “You were the one who helped Hannah into the carriage…”