The Heavens Shall Fall (7 page)

“
Mrs. Millbury was invited here tonight so I could observe her, not you. I never expected her to hold such resentment toward you. It was not my intent to 
use 
you, as you called it.”

“
It is not how it seemed, Major. There is more.”

A strained silence ensued. Andre lost his smile. Abruptly, Andre continued,
“Mrs. Millbury has a lover. Rupert Arnett. Given his connections to us, I will confess I wanted to know what knowledge the man held and if he likes to convey his information during pillow talk.”

Marcus knew of this Arnett, the newspaper man.
He lacked personality, in Marcus’ estimation. The man seemed quite business oriented, more interested in making money than impressing a lady. Even if he had knowledge Hannah lived, unless it served his purpose, Marcus doubted the man would convey it to Susanna…obviously he hadn’t, whether he knew or not…which made Marcus wonder why Andre thought this Arnett would have had the information…

Perhaps the night was not as disastrous as he thought.

“Major, we all have personal issues to deal with during this time. We are far from home. I understand your concern. You are in a delicate position, but let me give you some advice. My situation with Hannah differs greatly from yours, but I can promise you she never learned anything from me. Need I remind you, I had her convinced to return to England with me before the incident.

“
You need to separate the two. But have you forgotten the fact you say Susanne already has a lover? It would not be that she has spurned you.”

Andre openly sighed.
“I am up to the challenge, General. After tonight, I grow more confident that the lady and I will have an understanding.”

“
As do we, do we not, Major?”

“
General, I want to make it clear. I cannot go against the gentlemen’s agreement we arranged with the Americans,” Andre said with inflection. “But this I will tell you. I am overseeing your interest diligently as if it were my own. I have not lost sight of the situation, nor is it my intent. I say only be patient. I give you my word as an officer and gentleman.”

Marcus nodded. He believed Andre. For the first time since his return, hope resurged that all was not lost with Hannah.

“And I give you my word that it will not be forgotten.”

* * * *

Rupert was late. Susanna could do nothing but wait. He would not be happy to see her…of that she was certain, but he would come. She had known him long enough to realize he did not like to divert from their usual arrangement.

A sudden chill encompassed her. It was not the only reason she shivered. She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders.

She hated this…this meeting in secret. She hated lying to Oswyn. She hated more that she realized her husband knew she lied and did nothing to stop her from meeting with her lover. Why did it bother her so? It never had in the past.

Seeing Colonel…General Durham again had unnerved her. She had no time to be swallowed by self-pity. It was only…only he brought with him memories she wanted nothing more than to forget…It hurt too much to remember.

Walter. The remembrance flashed before her. If only it was his face she saw when she closed her eyes. To her dismay, his face had faded over time. No, the vision that she saw clearly in her mind was of his dead body as it fell back upon her, the blood as it gushed out uncontrollably over her. She tried to stop it…the bleeding...his body convulsed…his eyes rolled back in his head.

Frozen in time was that moment. The scream stuck in her throat
 while Georgie Boy laughed, maliciously laughed at her. He waved the gory knife at her, and taunted she was next. If Colonel Durham hadn’t saved her, she too would have died. But in a way, she had died. She hadn’t truly lived since that night.

Guilt gnawed at her soul. His death was
utterly and inexcusably her fault. Her grandfather had warned her. Walter had not been acceptable in her grandfather’s eyes. A mere apprentice to a printer. Susanna hadn’t cared. She eloped with Walter and willingly gave up the life she had known for the man she loved….only she hadn’t realized that there would be no life to be lived. Her grandfather had made her pay for her disobedience. He had sent Georgie Boy after them.

She heard footsteps pause outside the room. The handle rattled and then the door opened. Rupert eased inside.

He looked none too pleased. He took off his coat and hung it on a peg behind the door. This was his room. The room he rented for their
encounters
. Not lavish, but it served its purpose.

The head of the bed faced the wall next to the fireplace. In the corner was a writing table with a chair
; to the far end, a wardrobe. Small and quaint, they needed nothing else, not for their intent. Rupert was not a man who indulged in unnecessary adulation.

“
You said in your note it was urgent.”

His voice sounded sharp, irritated. She had known he would not have been happy with her message, but his manner
reflected anger. Was he angry with her?

She said nothing for a moment, but stared at him. Most times, he dressed immaculately, but this evening he wore a simple white shirt tucked into his breeches. His dark hair seemed to have been hastily pulled back into a queue. She wondered
whether she had pulled him from a diversion of the feminine nature.

Her suspicion unsettled her. She had refused to consider the possibility
, despite the rumors she had overheard from one of the three officers who quartered in her home. Lieutenant Bradford.

As with most of
the information she gathered, it came from observing and listening. She had ample opportunity with the officers who lived under her roof. It had been the first time she had heard Rupert mentioned in their gossip, but it seemed one of the officers thought Rupert’s housekeeper quite comely.

After making an advance on the woman, the officer had been promptly put in his place. The gossip indicated it had come because of the relationship between Rupert and his housekeeper. Susanna reasoned Rupert
protected the woman from unwanted attention. Now, she wasn’t so sure.

She felt her lower lip quiver. Good
Lord, she was going to cry! She had made a mistake in coming.

“
Susanna, I am here. What was so important?” Rupert commanded.

She forgot
her intended purpose. Her voice trembled. “Are you having an affair?”

She regretted the question the moment the words flowed from her lips. In truth, she didn
’t want to know. For her sanity, it was best if she lived in a fantasy world that he cared for her in some manner, not only as an informant.

He hesitated before he answered. With that hesitation, Susanna read the answer. He glared dubiously at her.

“What is the matter with you? What possessed you to call me here in this manner for such a question?”

She shook her head in a slow manner.
“It was not my intention. I can smell a woman on your person from here.”

He sighed heavily
, telling he had no desire to talk of such matters. He pressed his lips tightly together, and nodded in a knowing way. “I suspected this might become an issue. You have heard whispers. It had a purpose behind them that has nothing to do with the truth. You have to be aware you have caught the attention of a certain British officer.”

“
You make no sense.”

Rupert closed the distance between them. He took her in his arms and lifted her face to his.
“Your situation is one of interest to him. A beautiful woman married to an elderly man. A safe liaison. I should have prepared you. I was asked about our situation.”

“
They have knowledge of our affair?” The thought disturbed her greatly.

“
It is of no consequence. You need only to turn down the officer. He is a gentleman. He will leave you alone.”

“
You are not concerned that I have been followed? Rupert, what if they discover…?”

“
Calm yourself, Susanna. This is not like you. You know me well. You realize that our affair plays well for our meetings. The British understand you are a desirable woman. They would not suspect it has another purpose.”

“
I do know you.” She caught her breath and withdrew from his arms. “So our affair is only a shield for transferring information.”

“
What ridiculous nonsense!” Rupert uttered under his breath. “It is not what I meant. I meant only our relationship would not be suspicious. We are dealing with Major Andre. He is now in charge of British intelligence.”

“
Major Andre?” she questioned. Her thoughts raced with his attention as of late. “No, you’re wrong. He always has at least two women on his arms at dinners. We have only had polite conversation.”

“
Then you’re not as observant as I thought. He addressed his interest to me directly. In his position, he is looking for a mistress who would not be demanding of him. A married woman. One whose husband would not be jealous. He wants a diversion until he leaves. Beware of him, Susanna. He is dangerous.”

“
Then I’m surprised you did not ask it of me.”

That hesitation again.
Good Heavens, he had thought of it!
She looked away. She could take no more. Then, suddenly remembering the night before, she worried he was correct. Major Andre had been in the foyer when she exited with Oswyn. Had it been some sort of test?

Her attention turned back to Rupert.
“I had need to see you because I encountered Colonel Durham…General Durham last evening. He is back.”

Not pleased, Rupert nodded.
“I feared he would be. Obviously, he upset you. What did he say?”

“
Nothing. Nothing of matter. Only he is back. It cannot be good.” Her words faded. She drew in a breath. “He wanted to talk of Hannah.”

“
Hannah? What did he want to know?”

His abrupt intensity startled her.
“What could I say? I cannot help but blame him for her death. I fear I lashed out at him.”

She could not help but notice the tension eased from his face. He nodded.
“But of course, it would be a normal reaction.”

Something wasn
’t right. He was keeping something from her. “Rupert, what is it? Why did you tense upon Hannah’s name?”

“
You are mistaken, my dear,” he said. His voice softened. “It was only concern for you. I know how close you were to your cousin. It must have been painful to be reminded of your loss.”

He mentioned loss. What did he know of loss? For so long, she had maintained a semblance of indifference to the
world around her. She felt little. Deep sorrow gripped her heart and had not released it.

“
Rupert, do not play me as you do others. I am not made of glass. I have long lived with the pain of loss. There is more to this. I felt it last night. I feel it now. If we have nothing else, I thought at least we understood each other.”

“
It is your imagination. Come. I will go and have a dinner prepared. A little wine.”

“
I am not hungry.”

Rupert reached out for her as if nothing had happened. Did he expect her to simply fall back into his arms? She pushed him back.

“I came for answers. I have what I need, Rupert. I will not be your
diversion
. I thought what we had was more than what it was. I thought we were drawn together for a cause.”

“
What do you want from me? Susanna, I wish things were different, but they are not. You are married. What more could you expect from our relationship? I care for you, but if you want the truth…The only thing that matters to me is the cause. I can’t be who you want me to be because it would interfere with the network. I can’t allow that…no matter the cost to my or your personal feelings.”

His blunt words resonated
in Susanna. She had well known of his commitment to the cause. He had made no promises. It was she who read more into their relationship. Perhaps the harsh reality was what she needed to hear. She needed to be reminded of her mission.

When Hannah appeared in New York, her cousin had given a
purpose to her life. Hannah had been a Patriot. Susanna watched in the background while Hannah laid her life on the line for the cause…a cause Walter had so staunchly believed in.

Hannah
—so brave…so courageous—had given her life for that belief. With the news of Hannah’s demise, Susanna resolved to continue Hannah’s work to undermine the British. It was how she met Rupert…through Hannah’s activities. She had forgotten her purpose. She had forgotten the price Walter and Hannah had paid.

Susanna went totally still.
“You are correct. I needed only to be reminded.”

Even to her ears, her voice sounded distant…remote. She had once more become the old Susanna.

“It is not an easy life, Susanna. Know, though, it will end. Then we can seek the life we deserve,” Rupert said after a long pause. “Until then, I see no issue if we find comfort in each other’s arms.”