'Come now, must I claim woman's intuition?'
'A woman as beautiful as you may claim anything she wants.'
'There seems a bit of sauce in your reply, if I take your meaning one way.'
'It may be taken any way you desire.'
Lady Patricia picked up her napkin and dabbed gently at her mouth. She seemed to brush away her light manner with the cloth; it must be a well-practiced method of restraint, Jake thought.
'Lord Cornwallis said General Washington's army was nearly destroyed with the march,' she said, 'and it was only luck and desperation that made it succeed.'
'It must be so, certainly,' he answered. 'But they are persistent. They fight for their homes and families.'
'As you do.'
'True enough.'
Lady Patricia's hand shot out and took his so suddenly he was caught off guard.
'Do you think he is alive?' she asked.
'It is possible.'
'How could I find out?'
And so, without even preparing for it, Jake found the way open to march to his goal. Was there a pang or twinge inside his heart at using this beautiful woman against her will, even for the good of the Cause?
'I would think that if you went directly to Sir William Howe immediately, the supreme commander might send personally after his status. But it would have to be done immediately.'
'He is not in the city,' said Lady Patricia. 'Nor is his staff.'
'I would go myself,' said Alison. 'You should go directly to General Washington and ask after your son.'
This is what came of rescuing young girls from drowning, Jake thought. He loosed a glare at her that would wither an oak tree; if thoughts had any limbs, she would have been strangled in a trice.
'If he is the man they say he is,' Alison said without taking notice, 'he will seek out the truth immediately.'
'Al, please.'
'No, perhaps he is right. I would go, if I thought it would give me definite news, one way or the other.'
'General Howe would have a much better chance,' insisted Jake.
'A much better chance at what?' said a voice from the doorway.
Jake did not have to turn to realize he had overstayed his welcome. Lady Patricia's husband and brother were standing at the edge of the room — with a half-dozen well-armed and very red-coated soldiers right behind them.
Chapter Sixteen
.
It would please the reader, no doubt, to hear the Tory and his English brother-in-law described as carbuncled monsters, with hair tangled into snake tails and eyes the shape of melons squashed by winter's chills. Such was not the case. The men who stood barring the entrance to the room were both handsome and well built, not quite as tall as Jake, though still of more than average height. They were naturally well dressed in the latest London fashions; it was impossible to tell from their suits which man had recently come from England and which had spent nearly his whole adult life in America. Indeed, even their features were somewhat similar, with high eyebrows, smallish noses and chins that might have been cut from wood blocks.
The scowl on Clayton Bauer's face was quite distinctive, however. It led him through the room with the ferociousness of a boar rousted from a lair.
'What nonsense are you talking, Patricia? Going across the lines to the rebels?'
'I've just been trying to talk her out of it, sir,' said Jake, standing.
'And who the devil are you? Announce yourself, man.'
Jake wondered if Bauer might recognize him. They had been introduced once before, but fortunately he had been disguised at the time. Still, Jake's recent adventures might have spread his true description around, and it would not have to travel far to reach Bauer.
'Jake Stone is my name.'
'Search him. And the boy.'
'That won't be necessary,' said Jake, Washington's pass burning a hole in his side. He reached into his belt and pulled out the Segallas, handing it to Bauer for his inspection. 'This is the only weapon I carried when I escaped from Jersey. Unfortunately, it is fouled. Excuse me, Lady Patricia.' Jake turned and undid his shirt to open the money belt's pouch and remove the forged letter from Franklin. 'I am assigned to General Bacon. The boy is the son of another agent. He died, unfortunately, on the opposite shore, and I did not think it just to leave the lad to the mercies of the rebels. They nearly killed us in any event as we made our escape.'
Bauer, who fairly winced at the mention of Bacon, grabbed the letter and read it skeptically. 'This is from William Franklin, and says nothing.'
'What do you wish it to say?' Jake shot back. 'Should it invite General Washington to hang me?'
Washington,' answered Bauer. The insult was a common one.
Jake ignored it, taking the letter back. 'I thank you for your hospitality; General Bacon will no doubt be pleased.'
Jake had not chosen the name idly. Bauer and Bacon were more rivals than allies and scarce exchanged pleasantries, much less information or agents. It might even occur to Bauer that Jake had been sent here by Bacon to spy on him.
On the other hand, an agent of Bacon's would know he could find at least shelter here. Bacon would be expected to provide the same to one of Bauer's men, and had done so recently.
The Tory made a motion, and the redcoat who had clamped a hand on Alison's shoulder — a very dangerous hand, given its proximity to her chest — immediately withdrew to the side of the room.
'You look familiar,' Bauer said to Jake.
'I have a cousin who lives in this city,' he answered. Jake gave a sign with his head to Alison that she should follow him out the door, but when he turned to go, he found the way blocked by Bauer's arm.
'Stay and finish your tea.'
'Coffee,' said Lady Patricia. 'He is allergic to tea.'
'You sound more and more like a rebel, sir.'
'I know from personal experience that most rebels drink tea, given the choice,' said Jake. He was indeed correct.
Lord William Buckmaster had lost interest in Jake. Going to his wife, he stroked her arm gently. 'What is this about your going to Washington, dear?' he asked. Jake discerned in his manner a timid, almost wincing approach to life that confirmed the hints his wife had made. His peerage had been inherited indeed.
'If it will get us news about Thomas, I would go to the devil himself.'
'An apt metaphor,' spat Bauer.
Jake thought it wise to let the fresh insult to Washington pass. He gripped Alison's arm tightly, in case she had a different opinion, and once again started toward the door.
'We haven't been able to get information any other way,' said Lady Patricia, tears welling in her eyes. 'You were turned away again this morning, I can tell. Why else would you have returned so soon?'
'We were not turned away,' said Bauer. 'There was simply no one to receive us, as I predicted. Sir William's staff has all gone with him to the ships. The adjunct general and the city administration were very sympathetic.'
