The Heavens Shall Fall (18 page)

“If you want exact details, Major, I will tell you what I know. I sent word by a servant who was instructed not to return. In the note, I begged for the ships to be returned. I told Daniel that Jonathan would die if they did not do as General Durham commanded. The rest you know.”

“
So your brother simply complied.”

“
I do not think it was simple. You realize that two of our best ships were held back. He sent in only what he thought would get Jonathan pardoned. I would surmise that my brother will not be back to Charles Town in the near future.”

Andre grinned.
“No, I do not suppose so.”

Rebekah watched as General Durham sat his glass down on the desk. He seemed quite satisfied with the interview
, an interview that Rebekah would have called more of an interrogation.

“
Well, Mrs. Corbett, I believe everything is in order. We leave with the tide in the morning, as well as your husband. You should take joy in knowing we are holding to our word. Your husband has been spared the hangman’s noose.”

“
But he still refuses to see me?”

“
Did you expect anything else?”

Rebekah lowered her eyes. She refused for the tears
that welled in her eyes to fall. She would not show emotion in front of these men. She had known what her actions would cost her…yet she had hoped…

“
Take heart in the fact he lives,” Marcus stated. “I have readied the house. I will return shortly after the prisoner exchange and will be quartering here again. I leave Colonel Robert Leckie in charge of my division until my return. You will find him a gentleman.”

“
He will see to our agreement.”

“
Colonel Leckie understands the situation and will handle everything accordingly. Now, Mrs. Corbett, I want to reiterate that I expect you to uphold our agreement.”

“
As long as Jonathan is spared, you will not have an issue with me.”

“
Then you will have no worries,” he said forthwith. He looked down at papers on the desk. “I have seen to procuring an acceptable manager for your shipping business. He will be by later tonight to be introduced. I have decided that you needed one. I do not see you as a business woman, despite your shrewdness in negotiations.”

Rebekah drew in a deep breath. Indignation surged through her. She had helped Ian and her uncle both with the books.
“I told you, General, I have plans. I want to stop…”

“
I heard your argument to stop the slave trade your uncle maintained, but know by doing so, someone else would only benefit. No matter your feelings, I doubt you will be the one to undo what you Carolinians have for ages built your society around.”

“
Ian did not trade in slaves. You can be profitable…”

“
Stop. I told you I read your letters. I see you used young John Laurens’ arguments against the establishment, yet his own father didn’t stop his interest in the trade. I might add that you yourself own slaves.”

She swallowed her pride. She had no argument for him. She wanted to shout that she thought the practice atrocious. She had been born in Philadelphia. This tradition was not hers. She thought perchance to stop any association with the horrid business, but he was correct.
She had little control of the business.

“
I have always found it ironic that the Patriots call for freedom for all. Yet, in truth, those who wrote it support the captivity of others.”

Rebekah shot a hard look at Major Andre for his words
as he sat in his chair, so smug with a superior look. A haughty look. Condescending. He would never find himself in a situation such as she stood…as Jonathan had been.

“
Mrs. Corbett.”

Rebekah turned back to General Durham.
“You need not worry about such issues. You will have enough to oversee in running this household. I told you I expect you to entertain.”

General Durham
’s attention turned and centered on the details about the need for her to entertain. Rebekah listened intently, set to help in this façade that all was right within Charles Town.

The day had been long and tedious. Rebekah was exhausted. Yet she had found little sleep; she only tossed and turned restlessly in her bed. She had thought by taking her old room she would have found comfort in the familiarity of the four walls. She had soon learned there would be little comfort in this room, this house, or for that matter, Charles Town.

General Durham had introduced her to Colonel Leckie, a
pleasant sort for being British. He was of average height and solidly built, but his eyes held softness, compassion, within them. She didn’t foresee any issue with Durham’s arrangements.

It was Jonathan that kept her sleepless.
He would be leaving on the tide in the morning. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him. Her beloved Jonathan. He was furious. His eyes burned into her. He lunged at her, only to be held back by British hands. Fighting the restraints, he yelled at her.

How could you betray me so! I would have rather have died than to reveal to Durham Hannah
’s location! Hannah’s son! Have you no honor? Without honor, there is only death! You have condemned me, Rebekah, to a death without honor! I will hate you to the day I die!

Rebekah woke with a jolt. She bolted upright, momentarily disoriented.
She glanced out her window. The night was still upon her, pitch black. However was she going to survive this life she had forged!

Suddenly, a chill surged through her bones. She shivered. The room seemed too still…too quiet. She could hear breathing…it was not hers. She wasn
’t alone.

S
he saw a shadow sitting in a chair by her bed, shrouded in the darkness. Her heart lumped in her throat. She clutched the covers around her. “Rory…”

Even in the night
’s air, she felt the rage that illuminated from him. He said nothing for what seemed an eternity. Then he stood.

S
he watched him sling the bottle in his hand across the wooden floor. His hair hung loose around his shoulders; his shirt hung loose over his breeches. He stared at her with a wild look; anger flashed with a grimacing frown.

Fear gripped her. He knew! He knew what she had done and was here to make her pay!
Good Lord! Were not the British supposed to protect her? Had that not been part of their agreement?

He stood between her and the door, but the window was open. If she could…

She didn’t have time to contemplate her next move. He edged toward her. In affrighted distress, she scrambled out of the bed, but he was too quick for her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back harshly upon the mattress.

She pushed back, but to no avail. He was too strong, too angry.

“Going somewhere, Rebekah? I thought you understood our arrangement.”

He pinned her down
and held her arms over her head. He leaned down, breathed against her neck, cheek, lips…

She winced. His breath smelled sour, leaving little doubt he was drunk.
“This is madness. Don’t,” she pleaded. “Don’t do this, Rory…they will find out. You will be punished.”

He laughed a resonating laugh.
“It will not be the first time I have been flogged. Flogged for something that was promised to me…You did promise yourself to me, Rebekah. Here I helped save your husband and this is the thanks I get. You went to General Durham and had him order me to stay away from you.”

He ran one of his hands down her face, shoulders, stomach, legs
; inched up her nightgown. “It turns out you betrayed more than your husband. You betrayed me, Rebekah. I don’t take well being denied what is mine.”

She wrenched side to side, trying desperately to free herself. He smirked.

“I have been sitting here thinking of how I will take you. How many times will it take for you to remember you are mine?”

He kissed her, a brutal kiss. She felt his hand move up her leg to her thigh. She had to stop him…had to…she bit him.

Shocked, he loosened his grip. She slid from him, but not far. She got only her feet on the floor before he slammed her against the wall. His face darkened like the sky before a storm.

“
I am going to hurt you, Rebekah. I am going to make you pay for your deception. Then I will take you again and again. If you think the British will protect you from me, you are sadly mistaken. I will have you when and where I want.”

He clasped her arms in a firm grip. He kissed her again, not long. He gave her no chance to react. He buried his face in her neck. His hands roamed her body,
cupped her breast.

“
Let me go! Don’t do this. I will hate you forever. Forever.”

“
You already do, my dear. It will be nothing new.”

“
Unless you kill me here and now, I will make sure you never hear or see your daughter again…”

He stopped, but didn
’t release his grip. He leaned back to stare into her eyes. The words sobered him. Through his cruel, savage attack, the thought of his daughter gave him pause.

She took the moment.
“Before the siege, Lydia sent me a letter with a sketch of her. Eliza is beautiful. Lydia says everyone remarks on her beauty. She is bubbly and smiley. She thinks of Jonathan’s son as her brother. She is happy. Lydia loves her as I do. The minute I send word to her that Eliza is endangered and I will…you can rest assured I will…Eliza will disappear from you forever.”

“
When did you become such a bitch?”

“
The moment I realized I had only myself to rely upon. I will do whatever necessary to protect the ones I love…anything.”

“
Like promise yourself to a man you despise?”

“
Anything,” she reiterated. “If you doubt my word, let me state that even with Jonathan’s hatred of me, he is not like you. He will not take out his anger on a child. He will see that the safety plan we have in case Georgie Boy reappears is put into place.”

He released his hold on her, but didn
’t move. Anguish poured from his being. “What is wrong with you, Rebekah? I thought at one time you loved me. You wanted to leave this place with me to start a life with our child.”

She pushed against him and moved around him.
“I have become a coldhearted bitch. You have taught me well, Rory.”

He reached for her. His tone had altered to a soft plea.
“I love you, Rebekah. Come with me, now. We will leave this place. We will go and retrieve Eliza. I have money in England. We can—”

She jerked her arm away from him.
“I hate you, Rory. Can you not understand? I understand well Jonathan’s hatred of me, for I feel it for you. I understand the sting of betrayal. You sold me, Rory. Do you not understand that is something I will never forgive? I offered you everything I had and you chose money. It is something that cannot be undone. As I know, my betrayal of Jonathan will not be forgiven.

“
The difference is that I can live with myself, for I betrayed Jonathan because I love him. I love him above my own happiness. That is love, Rory. True love. I would rather live without him, then live with a memory. I wanted him to live…I couldn’t live in this world without knowing at least he slept under the same sky.”

Rory didn
’t have time to respond. The door flung open. Durham stood in a dressing gown with a lamp in his hand, behind him a couple of sentries.

“
Mrs. Corbett?”

S
he clutched her dressing robe tightly in front of her. She shook her head. “I’m well. It seems only he lost his way. I believe he has drunk too much. He mistakenly thought this room was another’s. I was in the process of explaining to him his mistake.”

The smirk returned to Rory
’s face. In one moment, she condemned him with her words; in the next, kept from him the punishment threatened for his actions. “But, of course.”

“
Then let us all get back to sleep as long as you are all right, Mrs. Corbett.” Durham gestured for Rory to leave.

Rory complied
. He nodded to Rebekah. “Pray, forgive me, Mrs. Corbett.”

Rebekah said nothing, but watched the men leave her room and close the door behind them. She swallowed hard. Her heart began beating again in a normal rhythm. She had known she would have to deal with his anger at
some point.

Life became complicated. It would not be comfortable
, for she didn’t think the issue between them was over…unless she reminded him of what he had…

She rushed over to her chest and dug to the bottom of the drawer. She found the letter. She clutched it tightly. She refused to consider
that it may be all she had of her daughter after Jonathan told Lydia what she had done.

She wiped
back a stray tear from her face before she rushed out her door. The men had descended the stairs. She called to them to halt and walked up to Rory on trembling legs.

“
I found this on the floor. I believe it fell from your person.” She pressed the letter into his hands and stepped back.

She found the strength to look into his eye. He smiled and accepted it.

“Thank you, Mrs. Corbett. Again, let me apologize for my indiscretion. It will not happen again.”

She pressed her lips together as if gathering courage
. “I will take you upon your word. Good night, gentlemen.”

She withdrew back into her room
and closed the door. She slid down onto the floor. Her head cradled in her hands, she wept. Realization of the life she now lived flooded her. She had nothing, not Jonathan, not Eliza… There would be no comfort.

* * * *

Rebekah had taken a huge gamble. She had crossed the Ashley River in mid-day, but she hadn’t another option or none she saw. Time was of the essence. Moreover, Katy could only cover her absence for a short period. She had to return before the morn.

Darkened skies covered her crossing in a shallow-draft boat. She hoped only that the rains held back until Daniel arrived. She had to see him. She prayed that nothing delayed his appearance.

She hadn’t thought past the escape from the eyes of the British as she left Charles Town. Her only concern lay with seeing her brother. When she woke with the threatening weather, she understood she might not get another chance. She reacted immediately and made the arrangements for what she needed to do. She had only to convince Katy to lie to the British so she could disappear for a short time.

Katy had resisted, but eventually agreed with the greatest reluctance. Rebekah hadn
’t discounted Katy’s fears, but it was only of the utmost importance that the risk outweighed the dangers.

Rebekah had visited Katy early. With her friend
’s help, she snuck out of the house, dressed as a lad. She dodged the sentries and prying eyes to make her way to the river’s edge, where the boat awaited her.

Her destination lay only seven miles outside of Charles Town. But the British had blocked the roads without the proper paperwork. She hadn
’t a choice but to have two of her most loyal men, Jocko and Troy, row her to the other side—as well as Jasper.

She glanced over her shoulder at the man who refused to leave her side. She had tried to talk Jasper out of accompanying her on this venture, but he had paid her no mind.

“Ain’t gonna let nothin’ happen to ya’, Miss Rebekah,” the black man said with reverence. “Told ya’ to stay put. I would go myself if you insisted. It’s too dangerous, I said. I did. But, no, you’re too impatient. Ain’t safe to be gallivanting around Charles Town with all them Redcoats patrolling the streets.”

“
I’m not gallivanting, Jasper. You know I have no choice. The British ships left four days ago. If I don’t get this message to Daniel, all I have done will be for naught.”

“
Told ya I would get it to him.”

“
I know…I know, Jasper, but it is something I have to do.” She had to…to be able to sleep at night. She had to convince her brother to do what needed to be done.

The boat had been beached shortly after they passed a small plantation that had been burnt to the ground. Jocko withdrew out of the boat and made his way up the overgrown path.
After he pushed the boat back into the river, Troy rowed up river a piece before beaching the boat again.

This time, Troy covered the boat in the undergrowth of the river
’s edge. She trudged through the same undergrowth to an old abandoned cabin. She prayed the message had been delivered to her brother. She refused to consider it would not have been. So she waited.

She hated that she hadn
’t a well-thought-out plan. However was she going to explain how she had gotten so badly bitten by mosquitos she didn’t know! It would be a worry on her return. Not at this moment.

The sweltering heat was tak
ing its toll. Sweat poured down her back. Annoying flies lingered around her. Thirst and exhaustion overwhelmed her. Time passed ever so slowly. Impatience wore on her nerves, but there was nothing else she could do but wait.