'But of no use.'
'Patricia, don't fret now.' Bauer took her arm as gently as her husband had. His voice, too, had softened; clearly he doted on his younger sister. 'We will call on William's cousin tonight and take him with us to the theater. There's an old Farquhar comedy; it will be a diversion. And if the engineering office can help us in any way, its entire resources will be thrown open to us.'
'But he is just a child.'
'They may have contacts that will be useful to us. Believe me; they have done work for me before. In any event, you deserve to take your mind off your son tonight. The theater here is quite good, despite what you've heard in London.'
Lady Patricia ignored him, turning instead to Jake. 'You are with General Bacon's staff. Cannot you help us?'
'I am not with his staff, merely in his service,' said Jake. 'I am afraid that I would not even recognize the general if I fell over him. You probably know better than I where he is.'
Bauer scowled, returning to the business at hand. 'And where have you escaped from? Why did you swim across the river to my house?'
'I did not swim across the river. Our boat was fired on. Only luck brought us here. Lady Patricia found us on the beach.'
'Like drowned rats,' she said.
'I thought Sir Henry used only Englishmen. Your accent seems native.'
Jake shrugged. 'There I cannot enlighten you. I have already said too much.'
'If you worked for me, I would have you flogged for giving yourself away so easily. A rebel could win news of your entire mission in an hour.'
'Come, Clayton, you are being much too harsh with the man,' said Lord Buckmaster. 'He is your guest.'
'You are not used to the habits of our shores or this war, brother,' said Bauer. 'Please allow me to do my business, as I would allow you to do yours.'
His lordship took the rebuke mildly.
'Come, Al, it is time for us to leave,' said Jake, pulling her hand.
'Yes, father.'
'You needn't call me father anymore.'
'He, at least, knows the business,' remarked Bauer.
Jake grimaced. 'We will have someone return your clothes tomorrow. I thank you most kindly for them.'
He bowed to Lord and Lady Buckmaster before aiming for the door. The redcoat guards gave Bauer a glance, and for a moment Jake feared he was going to order them to carry out the forgotten search, if only to show that Bacon's agents were not above his own.
But he said nothing. Jake was able to guide Alison swiftly from the room to the front door without further interruption.
'Was that close?'
'Very.'
Jake and Alison had by now walked a half-mile from the mansion, entering upon Bloomingdale Road. The city was still a long way south.
'I could not tell from your face that we were ever in danger,' said Alison. 'You must be a very good liar.'
'I assume that was meant as a compliment.' Jake stopped and retrieved Washington's pass from his belt. Making sure no one was nearby, he ripped it to shreds and then kicked a few pieces into holes he dug with the heel of his borrowed shoe. He fluttered a few others in small bits on the opposite side of the road, and scattered the rest near a tree trunk.
' Washington's letter!' exclaimed Alison.
' Had they found it, we would be guests of honor at a gibbet party,' said Jake. 'Come on now, do you feel up to running? I'd like to put some more distance between us and our late hosts.'
'I can run as fast as you, I reckon,' said Alison, dashing ahead.
They ran a good distance together, Jake trying to show her by his example that she must pace herself like a horse, aiming for a long stride and gradual progress. She was strong, there was no question about it, and energetic no matter her sex. They managed nearly a mile before losing their wind, and she did not tire until Jake did.
'Tell me about General Washington,' said Alison as they sat to rest on the side of the road. 'What is he like?'
'As tall as me, but much older.'
'That isn't much of a description.'
'He has white hair and a square face.'
'But what is he like? How does he talk? How does he lead his men?'
'That is hard to say. He is like a father to us. One moment he seems kindly and gentle, the next hard and aloof. He is always pushing himself forward and cheering us.'
'But I have heard — '
Jake jerked his elbow into her side to quiet her as he spotted the black helmets of British grenadiers just rounding the bend ahead. The patriots resumed walking at once, Alison grabbing her side with some discomfort.
The British soldiers took no notice of them.
'Why did you hit me?' she asked when they were once more alone.
'They would have seen if I had grabbed your mouth. You talk too loud.'
'Ha! Listen to yourself.'
'Come now, we are not in the clear. Remember where we are.'
They proceeded mostly in silence the rest of the way to New York, passing through various patches of British encampments, many empty. Though he knew there would be considerable men at King's Bridge, and more on Long Island, Jake wondered if an attempt to regain the city might not be profitable. Its proximity to the water meant it could easily be reinforced by the British ; still, there was great value in striking a blow to the enemy's morale.
These and similar thoughts occupied the patriot spy as he headed toward Rivington's coffeehouse at the very heart of what was now the Loyalist capital. As for Alison, it was obvious that she had never been in the city. She stared with wide-eyed awe at the large and grand buildings as they appeared, most especially the English church, whose walls stood with careful grace above the adjoining mall, despite the congregation's politics. The gardens, too, had been tended despite the war, and the melange of colors and smells both pleasing and noxious nearly made the girl faint.
'Here,' said Jake when they finally reached the coffeehouse door. 'No matter what happens, you are to keep your mouth quiet.'
'But — '
'No matter what happens! The British will hang me, and you as well, if we are caught. You are to wait here exactly a minute, then come in. If it appears that I am in trouble, stay far away from me. There is a man named Bebeef with an apothecary shop in the First Ward. If I am captured, you are to seek him out and say I am your friend. He is a druggist and a philosopher and a great friend of mine; he will shelter you. Stay out of Canvas Town, no matter what anyone tells you. And under no circumstances — none — are you to follow me to jail. Do you understand?'
The girl nodded soberly.
Jake took a full breath. He never knew whether he would be recognized or not here, and what the consequences might be.
'Take care of yourself,' he said solemnly, patting Alison's shoulder as if it might be the last time he saw her. Then he pasted a smile on his face and plunged inside.
Chapter Seventeen
