The Heavens Shall Fall (5 page)

“
I appreciate your concern,” Andre interrupted him. “I assure you I know all about the lady. I believe you may be mistaking my intent. You are right. I should not be bothering you with such minor matters.

“
I do not know what I was thinking, not with your long-standing affair with your housekeeper. What is her name…Miriam? Of course, you would not be using Mrs. Millbury as a mere dalliance.”

Apprehension gripped Rupert as had his comprehension. His mood darkened considerably.
“I agree, Major. This conversation seems pointless.”

“
Ah, Rupert, once more, you are correct.” Andre’s manner lightened. “How silly of me! We are men of the world. We would never let a woman interfere with our business arrangement.”

“
As you stated, we are men of the world,” Rupert agreed.

Rupert
hid his irritation behind a smile. The conceited, arrogant fool…except the man was no fool. Conceited and arrogant…without question.

At last,
Rupert collected his thoughts. He had a mission and nothing came before it.

“
Major, I find that women have a mind of their own. It wouldn’t be prudent for me to talk of matters that don’t relate to me.”

“
That is what I thought,” Andre said, outwardly pleased. “I do not mean to be an outrageous host, but the time is growing late and I have an appointment to keep.”

It was a dismissal
Rupert readily accepted. He rose and walked toward the door.

“
Rupert, one more issue.” Andre halted Rupert’s departure.

Rupert turned back to
Andre.

“
I would take it as a gesture of appreciation of our arrangement if you omit a certain appearance in the paper. He will not be here long, but for reasons I’m certain you might comprehend, it is better that it is not acknowledged.”

“
That would be?”

“
Colonel Durh—pardon me. General. General Marcus Durham.”

*
* * *

General Marcus Durham returned to a different city than the one he had left months before. The war had turned it into an unpleasant place to reside. Trees had been cut down and
the ground upturned in an attempt to fortify the city. Fire-damaged homes lined the streets, to say nothing of the obnoxious smells associated with having so many people crowded together.

A host of embittered Tories had immigrated into New York in his absence. With the influx, disease followed, rampant among the inhabitants: the itch, pox, fever, and flux. The tension-filled atmosphere led to uncontrolled crime and bedlam. More importantly, Hannah was not here.

It mattered little at the moment. He had a job to complete. He intended to do so. From the mood of General Clinton, he doubted it would be easy. His first task was to meet with his new commander at British headquarters along Broad Street.

General Clinton scowled
at the paper in front of him. He wasn’t happy. Far from it. Anxiety riddled the commander. Marcus had delivered orders from England, orders that didn’t sit well with Clinton.

In June
, the army had settled back into New York after a strategic retreat from Philadelphia. The last battle with Washington at Monmouth had resulted in a stalemate. The news worsened with France entering into the war.

Now, Marcus added to the pressure mounting on Clinton
’s shoulders. The orders requested five thousand of Clinton’s command to be transferred to the West Indies. Marcus realized the magnitude of the task before Clinton. Yet, he felt no sympathy for the man.

Marcus sat across from the general. A distinguished
-looking officer, General Henry Clinton was a competent strategist, at times even showing a military brilliance. Despite that fact, General Clinton was a difficult man. He had not made many friends along his climb up to commander. His manner in dealing with his peers and subordinates had led to the distinction where few wanted to work under him.

The realization suffused within Marcus that he would need to overcome his re
sistance to the general in order to achieve victory. He believed the war could be salvaged—victory still was within their grasp. Despite the enormity of the defeat at Saratoga, Marcus held confidence in his troop’s abilities to defend the Crown against the uprising. In his opinion, the American soldiers were still no match for British regiments.

In Marcus
’ assessment, he saw the war to date as a series of misadventures. To regain momentum, they needed only to regroup their efforts toward the heart of the rebellion.

While home in England, Marcus had heard the complaints abounding about the war. Tension riddled the air in Parliament. A time of crisis! The shock of General Burgoyne
’s sound defeat at Saratoga by the Americans resonated within the Royal government.

Marcus acknowledged that the war had not gone as planned. At the beginning of the outbreak of violence, it had been believed the pitiful Americans could not withstand the assaults of the most powerful army in the world. It was inconceivable that their magnificent warriors would ever lose to such an undisciplined ragtag army.

King George III wanted the colonies to be brought to its knees. That had not happened. Instead, the anti-war opposition had taken root under the leadership of Charles Fox, who long opposed the war against the colonies. Other Whigs now followed his stance.

In public, Marcus had no intention to adding fuel to the fire. His manner emulated confidence in his
king. He expressed his doubts only to his elder brother, Charles, heir apparent to their father, the Earl of Waxingham.

He trusted no one as he did Charles. Three years his senior, Charles had looked after his younger brother in Marcus
’ youth. There had only been the two of them. Raised at Marleigh, their father’s estate in Yorkshire, a bond formed that time and distance could not tarnish. He admired his brother as no other man, nor would he have dared utter his doubts to another.

“
First the king wanted Adams and Hancock silenced, and that didn’t happen. He tried to close the port in Boston to take a harsher line and that only ignited the colonists. Then he had General Gage replaced with Howe.

“
Now, Clinton will replace Howe. No one dares suggest that the war is a bloody mistake. Instead, everyone steps over everyone else, proclaiming they will be the savior. Moreover, I firmly believe France won’t waste an opportunity to react and take the American side soon enough.”

“
You seem to talk as you think the cause is lost as well,” Charles stated.

“
That is my frustration. The king’s take upon the loss at Saratoga is that it’s not without remedy,” Marcus responded. “It is what I believe also. You need not be concerned with me, brother. It seems North is rewarding my accomplishments in the field. I will maintain the family’s honor and have accepted my promotion to general. I return to garner victory for my king.”

Though no matter the distance, one image haunted him. He could see her vividly, hear her…Hannah. A rage flamed within him. His conscience gnawed at him. He should have taken her, honor be damn
ed.

But her eyes stopped him. The vitality was missing
, the fire within her. Her health had been precarious at best. The Americans had won the round, but he knew…he knew he had a child. He would be damned if he let them keep his own from him...

“
It will be but a moment more,” Clinton said dryly.

“
But of course, General Clinton.” Marcus wiped his brow with his handkerchief.

The stale and humid
morning air promised another day of unbearable heat. Interesting enough, Clinton had his office closed. The windows and door were shut tightly. The extra detail of guards did not go unnoticed by Marcus when he entered earlier.

Officially
, Marcus’ promotion had placed him within the diplomatic corps, but it was a useless title here in the colonies. The Americans were beyond negotiations to settle the conflict except for a complete break from England. On the other side, King George wanted nothing more than complete surrender. There would be no compromise.

From intuition and experience, Marcus comprehended that his skills fared better with intelligence. He had begun to suspect the meeting this morning held to that ability. His suspicions
were confirmed by a knock on the door.

A moment later, Major John Andre entered. The strained silence between Clinton and Marcus dissipated with Andre
’s presence.

Andre flashed Marcus a brilliant smile.
“It is good to see you, General Durham.”

Marcus nodded acknowledgement to the flamboyant officer. Destined to a bright future in His Majesty
’s Army, the man had always seemed to have an uncanny insight into other’s thoughts. Marcus had no doubt that Andre had been the one to set up this meeting.

First, he waited until Marcus had dispensed with the unwelcome information Marcus most certainly had to relay to General Clinton. Then Andre made his appearance. Andre had a purpose. Of that, Marcus was confident.

“Major, take your ease and have a seat. General Durham and I have finished with our briefing.” General Clinton placed the orders down on his littered desk. He directed his attention to the major. “I will yield to you to explain to General Durham the scheme you have in mind.”

Andre smiled again.
“But, of course, General.”

Marcus had known Andre for a while, back when he had arranged a prisoner exchange in
’76, after Andre had been captured. The young officer had proved to be a loyal friend. He studied Andre. The man carried himself with confidence. Knowing Andre, his interest piqued. He settled back into his chair.

“
So, what do you have planned, Major?” Marcus asked. “I assume you have need of me.”

“
You know me too well, General Durham.” Andre nodded to Marcus. “I have the greatest respect for your skills. They served you well in the past. You had a knack for infiltrating the enemy. Do you believe you still have connections behind enemy lines?”

“
I believe I can reestablish my links. What do you have in mind?”

“
General Clinton wants to take an aggressive stance in the war. You are aware of our impending attack in the South.” Andre looked over at Clinton, and then back at Marcus. “With the Loyalist base in the South, it is the hope that we can reclaim and hold Georgia and South Carolina. Then move upward. But our eyes are not only on the South.”

Comprehension sank within him…
as to why Andre would have need of him. Conscious of the significant statement, Marcus chose his words with care. “You are trying to turn one of their own. Who? Lee?”

“
To be honest, I do not think we would have to make an effort to turn Lee, General Durham,” Clinton interjected. “But he cannot do the damage we want to instill as our prisoner. I want to take the heart out of the Americans.”

“
You are going higher?”

“
Much higher, General,” Clinton confirmed. “Major Andre has done some research into a possible situation. He believes that it can be done.”

Marcus turned to Andre.
“Who?”

“
General Benedict Arnold.” Andre said the name in a low voice, without any emotion.

For a moment, Marcus sat in disbelief. Benedict Arnold! The beloved American hero from Saratoga. Some said Washington
’s right-hand man. Never!

But it was in Andre
’s eyes. Marcus saw Andre was dead serious. Although Andre gave off an outgoing, easy persona, Marcus knew only too well not to underestimate him. Andre was highly intelligent and not given to impulse.

“
Benedict Arnold?” Marcus managed to utter.

“
I made several acquaintances while in Philadelphia. One, a dear, dear friend. Peggy Shippen. She is true to the king and is willing to prove her loyalty. Despite our withdrawal from Philadelphia, we have remained in touch. Her family departed upon our withdrawal to New Jersey, but her father has now decided that it would be safer to return to their home, even given his Loyalist stance. I believe she is willing to do what is necessary to ensure success in this plot.”

“
You believe a young woman could turn a man such as Arnold?”

Andre
tilted his head to the side with a devious smile. “I think Peggy can be most persuasive, given a good cause. Besides, I have done extensive inquiries into Arnold’s background. I believe he is ripe for the pickings. She would not go into this venture blind.”

Marcus rubbed his hand over his chin and studied Andre. Andre was an astute man
, a keen student of the game. Andre had always maintained he thought Hannah had done more harm than either of them realized during her time in New York.

Hannah had free access within the city. She had been surrounded by British officers
, who, in all probability, would readily relay information in front of her without a thought…because she was a woman. Now, was that what Andre had in mind for the Americans with Peggy Shippen?