Chapter 10 Betrayed
Chapter Ten
Betrayed
At breakfast later that morning, Benjamin was surprised to find the entire Boyd family present. While soft-boiled eggs were served upon pewter cups, Deborah prattled on about how a Mrs. Whose-It was planning on suing a Mr. What’s-It, and how she desired the proper counsel.
Jedediah seemed mildly interested in this case, so he, too, jabbered on about dull legal jargon while the rest of the room ate in silence—a true feat for Amos, who gleefully shoveled morsel after morsel into his mouth.
Cracking his egg with a silver spoon, Benjamin glanced across the table at Clara and frowned, concerned to see her so quiet. It wasn’t like her… Could she be regretting their tryst? She ate in quick, angry little bites, her mouth pinched as she kept her gaze focused on her plate.
Before Benjamin could engage her, a frantic, pounding knock came at the front of the house, and once William went to intercept their caller, the door burst open and Major Markham came barreling in through the foyer.
“Jedediah?” he called. “Jed! Forgive the intrusion, but I’m afraid it’s quite urgent.”
Beneath the table, Benjamin grabbed Amos’s elbow, silently pleading with him not to make a sound.
Adam, fortunately, only had eyes for their host. Breathless, he explained, “I’ve just ridden over from Mr. Collins’s farm. There was a fire in the middle of the night, and it seems everything is lost.”
Deborah gasped. “Everything? You mean…?”
“Yes, madam: the food, the livestock…all of it.” With wet eyes, the major doffed his hat.
“My men no longer have a secured source of produce and meat. I hate to come to you like this, Jed, but I am afraid the Crown must lean on you now more than ever. And I offer my protection, if desired, to watch over your home in case those…those rebels come here next.”
Catherine and Deborah both cried out, but Clara barely lifted her head.
Jaw tightening, Jedediah set down his fork with a nod. “I appreciate you warning me, Major, and any and all protection you are willing to lend. To be frank, I am amazed we’re only receiving threats of this nature now.”
Adam’s throat bobbed with emotion. He briefly glanced toward Amos, but didn’t seem concerned, nor surprised to see another redcoat at the Boyds’ breakfast table.
Exhaling, he continued, “Ensign Thomas will be court-martialed for this. It was his responsibility to gather the produce, and given how loud and boisterous he’s been, I imagine he inadvertently tipped off a rebel sympathizer. ”
Benjamin felt Amos’s pleased nudge beneath the table, but didn’t dare glance at his friend. They’d done it. If nothing else, they had stopped Eleazor, and thus, stripped him of his power.
“Ashby?”
Benjamin jerked, realizing that all eyes were on him. “Yes, Major?”
“Would you mind if we spoke?” Looking to Jedediah, Adam explained, “Forgive me, but I really must insist upon borrowing your guest.”
“No, no, please,” Jedediah encouraged. “Take him into the drawing room, if you must.”
“Thank you, Jed.” With a frail smile, Adam nodded farewell to the group, then encouraged Benjamin to follow for more privacy.
Flexing and curling his hands, Benjamin tried to calm himself as they entered the drawing room.
Clearly, he was needed for his alleged shipbuilding business.
There was no reason for him to be suspected over the fire, and enough time hadn’t passed for Mr. Collins to know his tampered goods were undelivered.
Once he’d shut the door, the major shakily drew a hand to his chest. “Apologies for any alarm, but I didn’t wish to speak candidly in front of the womenfolk…
not even Jed. He is a practical sort, but unaccustomed to hard times.
” With a weary smile, Adam amended, “I suppose you aren’t so dissimilar in that regard—begging your pardon, of course—but you seem far kinder, so I was hoping you’d be the best to whom I could appeal. ”
“Of course,” Benjamin agreed, encouraging him to continue. “I am at your service.”
Shoulders drooping, Adam tucked his chin and exhaled. “It’s gone,” he whispered.
“Yes, sir, you’ve already—”
“No, Ashby, that’s it. It’s all gone,” Adam said. “We’ve enough rations to last us ’til the end of the month, but my goal was never to impose upon innocent families. The colonists are not our enemy. Surely, you know this?”
Befuddled, Benjamin opened his mouth to reply, but the major was already barreling onward.
“My dear sister, Mathilda, is a colonial,” he explained.
“I support our king whole-heartedly, but I never wanted to enter this war—not when it’s brother against brother.
But in the end, I chose my country…because without the Crown, how can my family survive?
” Adam laughed weakly. “You must find me despicable.”
Benjamin gaped at him, genuinely stunned. “No, I…I do not,” he offered. “I, too, am fighting for family.” He flashed a feeble smile. “Whatever you require, sir, it will be done.”
Adam’s eyes welled up and he clasped Benjamin’s hand.
“Thank you, Ashby, thank you,” he gushed.
“I pray it won’t be an imposition, but I was hoping you could reach out to your men—the ones in Philadelphia?
—and ask them to send donations to His Majesty’s 17th Regiment of Foot.
” Expression stern, he instructed, “’Tis only to be donations, mind you.
I won’t take anything that hasn’t been offered. ”
“You are too kind, sir,” Benjamin replied, baffled. “If only all men were much like yourself.”
Adam drew away with a huff. “You flatter me, sir. You are the true hero, transporting goods and doing your part.” He sighed and thumped Benjamin’s shoulder. “You are a good man, Ashby.”
No, Benjamin sorrowfully thought, I am not…
How could he be? This major was trying to protect and save his men—all of whom were God’s creatures—and Benjamin now had a hand in their potential deaths.
He didn’t believe they wouldn’t find food, but with the general lack of sustenance amongst the very citizens of New York, he wondered if he and Amos had acted in haste. Was vengeance worth this much hardship?
He opened his mouth to speak, but Adam stepped forward and inclined his head.
“That man out there…from whose regiment does he belong?” he asked. “Although there are far too many soldiers to keep track of, any friend of Jed’s is assuredly a friend of mine.”
Benjamin’s heart stammered. “Oh, uh…I don’t know, sir,” he said. “That private is my cousin, Reginald Ashby, and I believe he’s only just arrived from Hempstead. He was transferred and stopped for a visit.”
Adam hummed. “I’ll have to introduce myself at some point,” he said. “Alas, today is not that day. I’ve a lot of damage control to do, so you must forgive my abridged visit.”
“Of course,” Benjamin agreed, slumping in relief. “I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to serve you, Major. And if there’s anything else I can do…”
“Pray,” Adam entreated, reaching out and shaking the other man’s hand.
“Pray for us and our sons, brothers, and fathers, and a safe return to our homes. Pray for the womenfolk and our children, and that they never bear witness to the ugliness we’ve seen.
” He smiled, though the expression was threadbare.
“And above all, pray for this senseless war to end, Ashby. That our king and the colonists alike will see reason and reach an agreement.”
Relinquishing his grip, Adam returned his hat to his head.
“I must take my leave. Send my regards to Jed and the others, won’t you?
And please…” Here, he smiled more genuinely.
“Allow me to write you and your cousin a pass to come visit sometime, and we’ll all get acquainted over a nice game of Brag. Though I must warn you: I always win.”
Benjamin mirrored the other man’s smile, a peculiar knot forming deep in his throat. “Thank you, Major. Though I must warn you: Reggie cheats.”
Adam laughed, delighted by the candor. “Well, in that case, both of our skills will be put to the test. Until then, sir.”
Both men bowed, and then the major briskly left the room, each urgent thud of his boots stomping against Benjamin’s heart.
After Jedediah excused himself for a day of court proceedings, the womenfolk retired to the sitting room, and Benjamin dragged Amos outdoors to speak more privately. Standing inside the stockade, both men were speaking in fierce, frustrated whispers.
“Whaddaya mean, you’re gettin’ second thoughts?” Amos seethed. “Y’can’t give up now! What about Dan?”
“Don’t,” Benjamin pleaded. “Don’t you dare.”
“I can and I will,” the cabinetmaker snarled. “And need I remind’ja that you enlisted before comin’ out this way? That’cha promised to serve once this stint was through?” He scoffed, puffing out his chest. “Are y’plannin’ on defectin’? ’Cause I’ll drag ya in for reprisal me’self!”
“You don’t understand!” Benjamin cried. “You weren’t there, Amos.
You didn’t see the pain in Major Markham’s eyes, nor how much he cares for his men—the very sister he’s forced to fight against, just as I am my own!
I’m convinced the majority of these redcoats are like you and me…
that they must be decent people! Surely, the ones responsible for Daniel are in the minority! ”
Amos’s upper lip curled. “Aye, and it’s either you choose those ‘decent men’ or your family! I’ll tell y’this much, lad: Were your roles reversed, Markham’d have y’hanged without a second thought.”
Benjamin flinched, a sour sensation taking root in his heart. He knew Amos was right. He knew it. But why did he feel no less aggrieved?
“War is sacrifice, Moony,” the cabinetmaker continued. “Everyone’s gotta give somethin’ up, even if it don’t feel right.”
A twinge of fury lanced through Benjamin’s chest, and lifting his chin, he hissed, “My brother is dead, Amos. I gave up everything to be here. Everything! So if I can keep others from enduring that same pain, I am going to do so!”
Amos cuffed him soundly against the ear. “Would’ja listen to yourself?” he growled. “Aye, y’did give up everything, so why don’tcha make that sacrifice worth it, uh? Finish what’cha started! Finish what Dan started! This is the way to end our sufferin’!”
Benjamin’s chin wobbled, and he covered his ringing ear, miserably resigned.
“I’ll break into Boyd’s desk,” Amos continued. “Clearly, you’re compromised. Not just in terms o’ the mission, but your heart. So this ends today. Did’ja get the pin like I asked?”
Ashamed, Benjamin shook his head. “No…but Clara has a pin jar on her vanity. Her room is the farthermost one on the left side of the hall.”
Amos nodded. “Good. I’ll get one. While I’m doin’ that, I want’cha to play lookout.” His expression hardened. “Y’think you can manage that, or are y’gonna get soft again?”
Benjamin winced. “Of course not,” he murmured. “First and foremost, my allegiance is to you and Father—to Danny. Whatever you need, it will be done.”
Amos’s expression softened, then he thumped the other man’s chest. “Go to the sittin’ room and make sure none o’ the lasses leave. If a servant walks in on me, I’ve already got a plan in mind, so I only need to make sure the Boyd women don’t go walkin’ about.”
Benjamin exhaled. “All right. And when you’re finished?”
“Grab your things, and we’ll sneak off to the stables. I mean it, Ben. We’re done here. There’ve been too many close calls.”
Benjamin nodded and headed for the house. Although he knew this was for the best—of course it was—a chasm split within his chest, deep and cavernous, at the thought of never again seeing Clara Boyd. Just like with Daniel, he wouldn’t be granted the chance to say goodbye…
To Benjamin’s alarm, when he found the womenfolk in the sitting room, Clara was nowhere to be seen. No one knew where she was. Deborah assured him she was off grabbing a book from the library, but once he’d checked for himself, the beguiling redhead proved absent from that room, as well.
Blood and thunder…
With restless agitation creeping up his spine, Benjamin checked her bedchamber, and then each consecutive room until all that remained was his very own. Surely not…?
Steeling himself, Benjamin stepped inside and scanned the area, so engrossed that he nearly missed the click at his temple. Tensing, he registered the cold pressure and glanced to his right, his eyes round once he beheld Clara with a Queen Anne flintlock pistol.
Tears streamed down her face and she drew a breath, her chest trembling as her aim grew more resolute. She looked wild—betrayed—and with a seething voice that punctured directly through his heart, she demanded, “Who are you?”