The Heavens Shall Fall (32 page)

Since the day he had been called down to Clinton’s headquarters, he wanted nothing more than to come home. This he had done, but the pain had not eased. No, it ripped him apart.

He stood now in the middle of his mother
’s garden. The blooms fallen; branches bare. The essence of its beauty sleeping until the warmth of spring would awaken it. There was no comfort here, only the agony he felt. He was safe…the network was safe, but Susanna…

When he had been led into a small room, he thought he was doomed. Instead, the British informed him that he had been a victim.
Susanna, the merciless spy, had set her cap for him after the death of her grandfather. She had used her wiles to entice Andre as well.

“
Mr. Arnett, you should not feel guilty,” Lieutenant Bradford stated. “Mrs. Millbury confessed to having spied upon us since we occupied New York.”

He had left
, exonerated. She had saved them…saved them all, but it would cost her. He knew well the price the British would extract.

“
Rupert, you sent for me?”

Rupert looked back over his shoulder. The man seemed a dim figure walking out of a dream, but he was not. It was Giles. Rupert
’s mind cleared and recalled the purpose behind his need for Giles this day.

“
Yes. It is a necessity that we talk.”

“
Here?” Giles’ voice reflected the oddity of the request.

Rupert nodded.
“I apologize for not meeting within the house, but I dare not take a chance of being overheard…”

“
I meant here in Setauket. Do you not believe it is dangerous to do so?”

“
In truth, I believe we are safer than we have been in a long while.”

Giles stepped closer.
“Then why do I feel there is something wrong?”

Rupert turned slightly. He was bitterly conscious that he was
in danger of losing control. To his dismay, he found his hand trembled.

“
Rupert?”

“
I feel obligated to tell you of the events that have transpired since last we spoke. You have been with me from the beginning of this network. We hold to the same beliefs.”

“
Aye, we do. We hate the British.”

Suddenly
, an overwhelming sorrow assaulted him. He fought back the urge to submit to the gloom. He lowered his head and spoke.

“
The British have struck hard against any they suspect of sympathizing with our cause. One of our operatives has been arrested.”

Rupert halted
, unable to continue, and sucked in a breath. He buried his face in his hands; he tried to compose himself.

“
There is something I need to know?”

“
More than you can imagine. The British rescinded the amnesty they extended to Hannah…rescinded all agreements with the Americans. But…” Rupert struggled to find the right words. “Hannah’s cousin…Susanna…She has taken the brunt of the British’s fury. Instead of turning upon us, she has sacrificed herself.”

“
I don’t understand. Are we in danger…is Hannah? She won’t be able to return…do I need to leave?”

“
Hold, Giles.” Rupert turned back to his friend. “No, it has been settled. I can only assume that Susanna comprehended that she would not emerge from the web the Brits had cast around her. She confessed that it was her who spied against them, not Hannah. That it had been decided to use Hannah as a distraction so their eyes would not fall upon her.”

“
Good God! They will kill her.”

“
It is my thought as well, and one I will have to live with for the rest of my days,” Rupert confessed. “She covered for me as well. Told the Brits she used me to gain information. The British think I’m firmly behind the Crown.

“
I am safe and she…she will be sacrificed. That I have been told. They will show her no mercy and there is nothing I can do…except…”

Giles winced at the bitterness in his voice. Then
, as if a thought occurred to him, he asked, “Except what? What have you done, Rupert?”

A dreadful weight pushed down on his shoulders. Giles knew him too well.
“I have to do all I can for Susanna. There is not much…but she is with child. I’m playing for time for her. If I cannot save her, perhaps I can save the child, take it and raise it as my own…”

“
Rupert,” Giles pressed. “Tell me what you are keeping from me.”

“
There is only one who will help me at all and he can’t stop it…but…I have to do all I can…”

“
Rupert!” Giles’ voice rose.

Rupert lifted his head and looked directly at Giles.
“General Durham wanted to see his son. I have arranged it through Tallmadge…”

Immediately, Rupert felt Giles
’ hands slam him backwards.

“
You have done what?”

“
It is already happening, Giles. Tallmadge has sent Hannah and Seth home. General Durham is awaiting their arrival…”

Giles released him and ran out of the garden. Rupert rubbed his shoulders
. Giles would not be able to stop the reunion. Giles may never forgive him for what he had done, but he would not be the only one. He would never forgive himself.

* * * *

“They have arrived, sir.”

“
Very well,” Marcus acknowledged the sentry. He stepped out of the tavern and onto the porch. He caught sight of a wagon. Tallmadge had kept to his word.

The last week had been excruciating. He had had enough of New York. He would be leaving at the end of the week to return
to the South.

Clinton had become intolerable. The demands he made upon Marcus had become impossible to meet…that is
, if he maintained his status as an officer and gentleman. Clinton’s response of rage and fury against the Americans had become a vendetta.

Not that Marcus had not felt the same. The difference was Clinton had lost sight that not all Americans were responsible for the loss of Andre. In truth, the fault lay on many, including Clinton and Andre himself.

Those words would never cross his lips. His loyalty to his friend would never allow it to be spoken. He had enough on his conscience.

His duty demanded he hold the one responsible for the leak to the Americans. That leak had been an old friend, one he understood her reason. He had been there when her husband had died…when Georgie Boy had drained every drop of blood from his body.

He remembered her heartbreak. The love of her life had died before her eyes, but he had forgotten that the man had been a Patriot.

She confessed everything to him. With the confession, she vindicated him. He comprehended it had not been her intent. Many thought he had never had been held accountable for being involved with a suspected spy and thought he had been shielded by his position and his status of his life
. Among the doubters—General Clinton.

Her confession freed him of any suspicions, but it would not save her.
Susanna lived only because she was with child. The only question became what would become of the child...

The American Tallmadge had sent a request for leniency, citing she had not been used as a spy but only to convey any common knowledge. As Clinton
’s request for Andre, Tallmadge’s had been denied.

It had not been Tallmadge
’s only request. Tallmadge suggested that the child be treated in the same fashion as Hannah’s child…that Marcus could recommend this in exchange for a chance to see his son.

He watched
as the wagon rolled down the street up to the tavern. Instantly he recognized Hannah sitting beside the driver. The regiment of soldiers did not seem to bother her, but of course living within Setauket, regiments came and went.

Her attention lay upon the young one she held bundled in her arms. Her face softened on the babe,
giving it a warmth and luster. She laughed as the little one reached up and touched her mother’s face as if the babe wanted her mother solely to herself.

The wagon pulled to a stop in the front of the tavern. He saw she wore a simple blue dress trimmed in white lace. The bodice was tied with a white ribbon. Her bonnet matched her dress while tresses of her unruly hair framed her fair face.

Still, she didn’t look in his direction. No, her eyes lay on her eldest child.

“
Momma, we’re home!” he cried.

Good
Lord! The boy looked as he.
A robust child, the boy stood in the back of the wagon, impatiently waiting to be let down. He had a mass of curly dark hair with the largest brown eyes.

Marcus turned his attention back to Hannah.
In the early morning light, she looked exquisitely lovely, smiling at her excited toddler…his son. Then her head turned. She saw him.

Immediately, he saw how deeply she was disturbed. She glanced around,
noticed for the first time the regiment around her, half mounted, the other on the ground. With her free hand, she reached for her son.

“
Seth, come here!” she commanded.

Confusion reigned
in the little one’s eyes. He wanted nothing more than to climb down, but his mother’s voice seemed to have frightened him. He edged back to his mother, who gripped his hand tightly.

Marcus walked down the steps and around to the back of the wagon.

“Would you like down, my young lad?”

Seth started toward him
, only to have his mother jerk him back.

Marcus smiled broadly.
“What is your name?”

The young one
’s bright eyes lit up. He spoke with pride. “’eth, sir.”

“
Seth. I like that, as I do you. Would you do me a favor? Would you take one of my officers and show him around?”

“
On a horse?”

Marcus laughed. He was his
, that Marcus had no doubt. The child showed no fear. Instead, he was trying to manipulate it to his advantage.

“
I will do so when I’m done talking with your mother. Would you like that?”

Seth glanced back at his mother.

“Come, Seth,” Marcus demanded in a tone that gave Hannah no other option. She released her grip.

Marcus lifted Seth out of the wagon and placed him on the ground.
“Mrs. Cooper, you won’t mind if Captain Elliott watches over your son while I talk with you?”

“
Do I have a choice?”

“
No,” Marcus answered honestly. “Captain Elliott, keep the young man entertained for a short time.

“
Come, Hannah, I have come a long way to speak with you.” He gestured for her to come down. “Let me help.”

Hannah hesitated, but agreed. He took the baby and handed her to the woman who had stood nervously behind him.

“It is fine, Martha. Take Abby up to our room. She is due for a nap.”

“
But of course, Hannah, if you want. Are you certain? I could—”

“
Mrs. Cooper will be fine. Please do as she asks.”

Martha nodded in a nervous manner.
She clutched tightly to Abby, and then rushed in and up the stairs.

“
Now, Hannah, let us talk.”

Marcus closed the door behind him. Hannah had led him into a part of the building he had not seen on his first visit, a new addition from the looks of the drawing room. On opposite sides of the chamber were large windows; the drawn back beige curtains allowed the sun to filter into the area.

Two high back cushioned chairs sat across from a settee where a sewing basket lay open on the floor. A rocking chair with a child
’s chair was placed closer to the fireplace. The whole of the room exuded warmth. A sudden image assaulted him of a happy family filling the room…it did not bode well for his temperament.

S
he sat her bonnet down on the table by the door. She turned to him.

“
Don’t take him from me.”

She wrung
her hands. Hannah’s cheeks took on more color. Her large expressive eyes, the eyes he loved, conveyed her fear…of him.

“
He is my son, Hannah.”

“
No, Marcus, he is not.”

“
You talk madness. Of course, he is. One look—”

“
Not in the way that holds meaning,” she said. The words seemed to come hard to her. She edged down on one of the chairs. “When you left me, I was devastated. I had lost everything. I was sick, ever so sick. I had no will to live. The attack upon me…”

She faltered. He saw a remembrance in her eyes overwhelm her. The horror of what she had endured when she had been kidnapped from his house…it had been his fault.

An awkward silence ensued. He eased down on the other chair. His memories, too, disturbed him. It was a time he would rather forget, but seeing her again brought back more than remembrances.