16 year old Elizabeth Cole looked across the busy street. She sighed then hurried across, dodging carts, horses, and people. In the past 4 years life had been so complicated. The war of Independence had complicated everything. Her parents argued often, her sister had changed and was soon to be married, she herself had changed greatly. Elizabeth looked down at herself. She had grown up, her figure was full. She could rarely go out of the house without one or more men staring at her. Her blonde hair had grown. It was below her waist and a wavy as could be. Someone brushed against her and disrupted her train of thought. Elizabeth hurried down the street and into her own house.
"Mother," She called, pulling off her hat. "I'm back from the store." Annabelle came out of the room to Elizabeth's right.
"Must you yell?" She said. "Really Elizabeth, you must learn to act like a proper young lady." Elizabeth rolled her eyes and hung her hat on a peg.
"Is mother here?" She asked, instead of saying something that would get her in trouble later on. Annabelle nodded.
"She is in her room, another headache." She explained. "Did you get her herbs like she asked?" Elizabeth nodded and pulled the packet out. Annabelle took it from her.
"I'll take it to Cook, she can make the tea for Mother." Annabelle walked off.
"Oh," Annabelle turned back to Elizabeth. "Father said he wanted to see you as soon as you returned, it's important."
"Alright." Elizabeth said, wondering what her Father wanted to see her about. She rushed through the house until she reached her father's study. She stopped right outside his door. She straightened her dress and smoothed her hair then reached out and knocked with two firm taps.
"Come in." Her father's voice reached from the other side of the door.
"It's me, Father," Elizabeth said as she entered the room. "I just got back, Annabelle said you wanted to see me." The older man nodded, running his hand through his graying hair. The stress of losing his friends and money due to his loyalty to the crown had taken a toll on him.
"Lieutenant Martin stopped by this morning." He said. Elizabeth sighed and sat gingerly on one of the elegant chairs.
"What did he want?" She asked, dreading what she knew would be coming.
"He wants to marry you." Mr. Cole answered. Elizabeth closed her eyes.
"What did you say, Father?" Her father sighed.
"I told him that I would consider it and consider it I will." He said. "He is everything your mother and I ever hoped for you. He is rich, well mannered, serves the king loyaly, and many other good things." Elizabeth sighed.
"He is also plain looking, arrogant, cruel to people that aren't lucky enough to be in his class, and he doesn't really want a wife." She shot back. "All he wants is someone to manage his household effectively and to hang on his arm and look beautiful at parties." Mr. Cole sighed.
"I strongly advise you to consider his offer as well." He said. "It may be your only chance." Elizabeth stiffened.
"I will think about it." She said stiffly. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have some things that need to be attended to." Elizabeth waited till her father nodded to get up and sweep out of the room.
Marry Hezekiah Martin? Elizabeth thought as she once again tied the ribbon beneath her hat and went out the door. Me? Elizabeth Cole? Marry that arrogant inconsiderate man? Not in a million years! She was so soaked in her thoughts Elizabeth didn't even realize she was at her friend Felicity's house until she bumped into Nan.
"Good afternoon Elizabeth." Nan said. Elizabeth nodded her greeting and hurried on to the stables, where she knew Felicity would be.
Nan had grown since the start of the war as well, not only physically but mentally as well. As a young lady of thirteen she was well on her way to being every inch the beauty her mother was, but the attractive thing about her was the way she could read people. Nan had an uncanny knack for understanding others, and as she watched Elizabeth hurry toward the stables she knew something was wrong.
"Felicity." Elizabeth called, entering the barn. Felicity's red hair popped out of the middle of a stack of hay.
"Elizabeth!" She said, sliding down. "I didn't expect to see you again today." Elizabeth smiled.
"I know." She said. "Father just told me something I've been expecting for a while." Felicity's face paled, making the crop of freckles stand out.
"Not Lieutenant Hezekiah Martin again." She moaned. Elizabeth shook her head in affirmation. Felicity threw herself back onto the pile of hay and invited Elizabeth to do the same.
"He has asked Father for my hand in marriage and I do believe Father will agree." Elizabeth mourned.
"What will you do?" Felicity asked. Elizabeth shrugged.
"I don't know." She said. "I'll have to figure out something." Felicity sat upright a gleam lightened her eye.
"Why don't you come to dinner and stay the night and maybe we can think up something." She suggested. Elizabeth nodded.
"It might work. I'd have to go home to change my dress." Elizabeth thought for a minute. "But then my parents might not let me come back." Felicity thought about what Elizabeth said.
"I know!" She exclaimed. "We can run up to the store. If Marcus has a delivery in that direction we can ask him to drop by and tell your parents you'll be eating dinner with us." Elizabeth nodded.
"That might work." She said, jumping up. "It's worth a try anyhow." Elizabeth's face fell.
"I don't have anything to wear to dinner." She said. Felicity shrugged her shoulders.
"You can borrow one of my dresses." She said. "We are about the same size."
And it was true, they were. In some circles they were talked about as the two most beautiful girls in Williamsburg. Both were a little taller than the average height for women in that time. If you saw them together you would marvel at how different they looked.
Elizabeth coloring was lighter, she only had three freckles, and she tended to lean toward bluish colors. She was more graceful, an average English lady. She was calm. She rarely got excited about anything.
Felicity on the other hand was an American colonist through and through. She had wild dark red hair and flashing green eyes. Her nose was sprinkled with freckles and her skin was faintly tanned. She also was easily excited.
-O-o-O-o-O-
Felicity pushed her father's shop door open. She took a deep breath and filled her lungs with the scent of new cloth and spices. She did enjoy going to her father's shop, but somehow it wasn't as near as enjoyable with Ben gone.
He had left almost three and a half years ago. Felicity got letters from him occasionally. He always said he was doing well and that he missed the trouble Elizabeth and her used to get into. She missed him a lot.
"Good afternoon, Miss Felicity, Miss Elizabeth." Marcus said as the entered the back of the store.
"Good afternoon, Marcus." The girls chorused. Felicity stepped forward and helped Marcus lift a bag of oats that he could've lifted entirely by himself. Marcus put the bag down and placed his hands on his hips.
"Every time you come in and help me with something I can manage fine on my own you need something." He laughed. "What is it this time?" Felicity blushed.
"Do you have any deliveries in Elizabeth's neighborhood?" She asked. Marcus nodded.
"I was just on my way over there now." He said. Elizabeth stepped forward and gave Marcus a smile.
"Could you please stop by my house and inform my parents that I will be dining with the Merriman's this evening?" She asked sweetly. Marcus laughed heartily and nodded.
"Of course, Miss Elizabeth." He said. The two girls smiled and bounced on their toes.
"Oh thank you Marcus!" Felicity said, grabbing Elizabeth's hand and dragging her into the main part of the store.
Mr. Merriman stood behind the counter and watched Felicity and Elizabeth leave the back room. He smiled. The two girls were nearly inseparable. He knew that Elizabeth couldn't stand being at home. Since the war had started Elizabeth's views had clashed further with her parents. Elizabeth was a strong Patriot. She believed that the colonies had a right to govern themselves, or at least have a voice in the English parliament. Mr. Merriman knew why the girls had been in the back room. It was most likely to ask Marcus to drop a message by her house. Dinner was the most painful of meals in the Cole household. Mr. Cole often had British officials for dinner and the political talk could get very heated.
"Felicity!" He called out. The two girls changed the direction they were headed and began walking toward him.
"Good afternoon Mr. Merriman." Elizabeth greeted him.
"Good afternoon Elizabeth." He responded. "Will you be joining us for dinner again this evening?" Elizabeth nodded and grinned. Mr. Merriman turned to Felicity.
"I need you to inform your mother that several Patriot leaders will be dining with us for dinner." He said quietly. Felicity nodded.
"We'll be prepared." She said. He nodded.
"I know you will be."
-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-
Felicity ran through the house to let her mother know her father's visitors had arrived.
"They're with father now." She said. Mrs. Merriman wiped her hands on her apron then reached behind her to untie it.
"Very well." She said, hanging up her apron. "You and Elizabeth may go up and change now." Elizabeth, who had been standing in the corner chopping onions, set her knife down and untied her apron as well.
"Thank you Mrs. Merriman." She said.
Felicity and Elizabeth ran up the stairs and into Felicity's room.
"Let's find something for you to wear." Felicity suggested. The two girls went through all of Felicity's dresses and finally settled on a light blue silk with light pink embroidery around the hems. Elizabeth slipped the material over her head and pulled her hair back with a single ribbon. Felicity chose a dark emerald silk with black velvet trim and she pulled her hair back with a matching black velvet ribbon.
"Ready to go down?" Felicity asked. Elizabeth nodded.
"Are you absolutely sure these Patriot leaders won't mind the daughter of a well known Loyalist around while they discuss things?" She asked. Felicity laughed.
"Your family may be Loyalist but you are a Patriot at heart." She answered. Elizabeth smiled and stood from Felicity's chair.
"Let's go." She said.
-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-
The visitor's sat on a brocade settee. One of them glanced up then elbowed his companion. Two young women descended the stairs. Both were extremely attractive. They moved gracefully into the room. One girl was light and delicate. The other had a bolder coloring and wore a darker cloth, she also had wild red hair.
"Gentlemen." Mr. Merriman stood. "My daughter, Felicity and her friend Elizabeth Cole."
"Ladies." The two men said, bowing. Elizabeth and Felicity curtsied to the men and moved to sit on a couch. Mrs. Merriman already sat there. Felicity never ceased to be amazed about how fast her mother could change.
"Cole," One of the men considered her surname for a moment. "Aren't you the daughter of James Cole? The Loyalist?" Elizabeth blushed but looked straight into his eyes.
"Yes sir, I am." She answered steadily. "I am also an American who believes in freedom." The man nodded.
"Well said Miss Cole." The other man said. Mr. Merriman turned to Felicity and Elizabeth.
"Allow me to introduce our guests. This is Matthew Adams and this is George McLeod." The men nodded from their seat as their names were said. Felicity studied the two men. Mr. Adams was tall with dark wavy hair. His dark eyes were serious with a no nonsense gleam about them. Mr. McLeod on the other hand was rather short and round with thin red fringe around his head. His green eyes sparkled with an impish quality.
"It's a pleasure." Mr. Adams said.
"Likewise." Felicity said politely. Mrs. Merriman stood.
"Shall we go to dinner?" She asked. Everyone stood and filed into the dining room.
-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-
"May I ask what brought you to Williamsburg?" Mrs. Merriman tried to start a conversation. Mr. Adams set his fork down and used his napkin to wipe his mouth.
"I wouldn't mind telling you, Mrs. Merriman, but I daren't on the chance it might get out of this room." He smiled apologetically. Mr. Merriman nodded.
"I trust everyone in this room completely, but I understand your reasons." He said. Mr. Adams nodded.
"If you trust them I see no reason why I cannot share it, you might be able to help." He said. George McLeod nodded.
"That would be nice." He said. "We aren't quite sure who we can trust with this job." Felicity and Elizabeth shared an excited glance. Mr. Adams nodded.
"To put it bluntly we came here to find someone that could supply us with information about the Brits." He said. Felicity looked up from her plate.
"So you need a spy?" She asked. Mr. McLeod nodded.
"That's the short of it miss." He said. "We need someone that has constant access to them and doesn't mind the danger too much." Elizabeth smiled.
"It sounds exciting." She said. The two men nodded.
"But the person we choose must know the danger, if a spy is caught they will most likely be hung, if unless on the rare chance we can get them out before." Mr. Adams explained. Elizabeth suddenly got a strange gleam in her eye.
"What are you looking for in a spy?" She asked. Mr. McLeod began to list the qualities.
"Well, first we need someone who isn't adverse to the danger," He said. "Then we need someone who has full access to the information we will need." Elizabeth nodded.
"I can't think of very many people like that here." She said. Mr. Merriman nodded.
"Neither can I." He said.
-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-
Later on, after everyone had retired for the evening Elizabeth sat on the window seat in Felicity's bedroom.
"Are you going to sit there all night?" Felicity asked from her bed. Elizabeth looked up.
"Oh, no." She said. "I just had something to think out." Felicity sat up.
"What?" She asked. Elizabeth shook her head.
"I was just thinking about the conversation we had at supper." She said. "About them needing a spy." Felicity crawled out of her bed and joined Elizabeth on the window seat.
"What about it?" She asked. Elizabeth looked out of the window.
"I know the perfect person." She said. Felicity stared at her.
"Who?" She asked, interested. Elizabeth just looked at her. Finally in dawned on Felicity who Elizabeth was referencing.
"You?" She asked incredulously. Elizabeth nodded.
"Think about it." She said. "I could have all the access I wanted through Lieutenant Martin, if I accepted his proposal, and father is constantly having important English men over for dinner and they talk freely after a couple glasses of sherry." Elizabeth continued to rattle off reasons why she would be the perfect candidate for Mr. Adams's and Mr. McLeod's purpose. Felicity nodded at each point.
"True, but I think they were looking more for a man." She said. Elizabeth nodded again.
"There's another reason." She said. "Lieutenant Martin is very loyal to the king, as is my father, I don't think I would be suspected as easily as a man. For some reason English men tend to think that if a woman doesn't have either her father or her husband at her side she isn't capable of thinking for herself." Felicity nodded.
"Men anywhere tend to believe that." She agreed. Elizabeth bit her bottom lip.
"So you'll help me convince them? If they don't see the sensibility in the plot?" She asked. Felicity agreed.
"You're my best friend Elizabeth," She said. "Of course I'll help you."
-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-
"Good afternoon Miss Merriman, Miss Cole." Mr. McLeod answered the door.
"Good afternoon, Mr. McLeod." Felicity said. "We've had an idea." He opened the door wider and allowed the two young ladies in.
"What was it?" He asked. Elizabeth and Felicity exchanged glances.
"Well," Elizabeth began. "We've found the person you need." Mr. McLeod's eyebrows shot up.
"You have?" He asked. "Adams!" Elizabeth nodded nervously. Mr. Adams came rushing into the room.
"What is it George?" He asked. George McLeod motioned to Felicity and Elizabeth.
"These girls say they have found the person we need for an informant." He said. Mr. Adams looked surprised.
"Really? Who?" He asked. Felicity squeezed Elizabeth's hand to give her courage.
"Umm." Elizabeth said. "I got to thinking last night after dinner, and I realized I knew someone who would soon be incredibly close to a British officer."
"Who?" Adams asked.
"And, this person has access to a household that often entertain the high ranking officers, who tend to speak quite freely after a few glasses." Elizabeth began to work up courage.
"Who?" McLeod asked.
"They are also very loyal to the Patriot cause." Elizabeth continued. "And well aware of the danger."
"Who!?" The men asked together.
"There's only one problem." Elizabeth said.
"What?" The men asked, slowly getting frustrated.
"She's a woman." The men stared at her.
"What do you mean!?" They asked. Elizabeth smiled a shaky smile.
"She's engaged to a Lieutenant Martin." She said. "So she will have plenty of access to the information."
"Who is it?" The two men practically yelled. Elizabeth glanced at Felicity once more before blurting,
"Me!"
-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-
"Well? What'd they say?" Felicity assaulted her friend as soon as Elizabeth stepped outside the door. The men had asked her to wait outside while the three had a talk. Elizabeth could barely contain herself.
"They agreed." She said, bouncing. "The only thing is that they didn't want me to tell you anything." Felicity looked disappointed, but shrugged.
"That might be best." She said. Elizabeth giggled and shook her head.
"I told them if I couldn't tell you things, I wouldn't do it. They said I could, I will need your help occasionally." She laughed. Felicity grinned.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" She cried. Elizabeth shook her head.
"I have to go home." She said. Felicity stopped and stared at her.
"Why?" She asked. Elizabeth smiled.
"I have to tell my father that I have decided to accept Lieutenant Martin's proposal." She said. Felicity made a face, but reached over to hug her best friend.
"I know." She said. "Good luck." Elizabeth grinned ruefully.
"Thanks, I might need it." She said.
-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-
Elizabeth paused before knocking on her father's study door. She could back out now. She could tell her father that two Patriot leaders were in the town and she would never have to go through this charade. Btu this was to be her life. A life of always being frightened of being discovered, always being scared of doing or saying the wrong thing, a life of standing up for what was right, a life of defending the liberties of Americans from the shadows.
Elizabeth knocked on her father's door in three short, firm knocks.
"Come in." she heard her father's voice from the other side. She opened the door slowly.
"Father?" She hesitated. "I have made a decision about Lieutenant Martin." Mr. Cole looked up from his desk filled with papers.
"I hope you have made the obviously wise choice." He said sharply. Elizabeth nodded.
"I believe I have." She said. Mr. Cole motioned to a chair. Elizabeth took a seat.
"I have decided to accept his proposal." She said. Her father smiled.
"I'm glad, Beth." He said, using the name he hadn't used since she was a little girl, sitting on his knee.
"I felt confident that you would come around, he really is a fine young gentleman." Elizabeth nodded.
"I'm only sorry that I didn't make this choice sooner." She said, referring to her choice to become a Patriot spy.
-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-