"May I have your attention please," a tall redcoat announced. "My name is Major Hewlett. We mean you no discourse here in Setauket. I apologize that this announcement must come at such an inopportune time; however, this land is to be commandeered by his Majesty, King George III. You will be allowed to remain in your homes. We only wish to live among you and though some of the men will need use of your homes for lodging, we hope to leave you all in peace."

Hewlett's announcement sent a nervous murmur among the crowd of partygoers. Ben looked at Elizabeth with unease. She knew what he was thinking. The coming of the redcoats only spelled trouble and with his brother Sam already a Continental, it was only a matter of time before suspicion was raised. Suddenly another redcoat spoke up to the throngs of citizens recapturing Ben and his companions' attention.

"To ensure that no traitors are among us, we ask that each of the men present here tonight submit to a search of their persons."

Once again Ben caught the gaze of Elizabeth. His face now showed fear as he remembered the book on independence that he had on his person. Elizabeth silently read his expression and quickly an idea formed. She looked into Ben's eyes, pleading with him to trust her as she took his hand and turned to lead him away from the front of the ballroom. On her way to the rear corridor, she paused only a moment to whisper to Anna not to worry and where to meet them when they got out.

When they reached the corridor, Elizabeth pressed her back up against the wall and pulled Ben into her. His arms instinctively wrapped themselves around her waist. Ben swallowed shallowly in this compromising position. Try as he may not to, he had often wondered what it would feel like to hold Elizabeth this way; intimately like lovers. He had loved her for as long as he could remember but he never imagined a moment like this.

"Kiss me," she whispered softly in his ear. The feeling of her breath in his ear sent shivers down his spine and he pulled away from her slightly out of decency and surprise.

"What?" he asked. "Now?" he added so that she wouldn't think that he didn't want to kiss her. She pulled him back into her embrace. She whispered once again into his ear.

"Men are made uncomfortable by seeing intimacy. They will overlook us." Before Ben could respond, voices could be heard nearby. Quickly Ben cupped her cheeks and pressed his lips to hers.

Neither Ben nor Elizabeth was prepared for the sheer bliss that followed such simple contact. As Ben moved his lips against hers, he felt as if he were floating. He pulled desperately at Elizabeth trying almost to combine their bodies together. They both tried to be as silent as possible but any self-control either of them had was lost when they finally gave into each other. As Elizabeth felt her knees go weak and give out, Ben picked her up and held her against the wall. Elizabeth tried to stifle a moan in Ben's mouth when a strong hand pulled them apart.

Two redcoats laughed outwardly in spite of themselves at the two lovers, red faced and out of breath.

"I'm sorry kids, but orders are orders," one of them said still fighting to keep his laughter under control. Ben stiffened immediately as he remembered once again the book that would surely mean his death when it was discovered. He felt Elizabeth take his hand and squeeze it reassuringly.

"Please, sir, go ahead," she said in an even tone. "We've nothing to hide." Ben and Elizabeth shared a quick glance between them. Ben let terror flash across his features while Elizabeth only held his gaze calmly.

"Excuse me ma'am," the other officer said as he stepped beside Ben. The officer checked every pocket on Ben's person and patted him down thoroughly but found nothing on him. The officers nodded to each other and moved on. Ben looked incredulously at Elizabeth. She slipped a hand into his shaking one and pulled him into the warm night air. They walked silently for a time, hand in hand, until suddenly Ben stopped, pulling Elizabeth to look at him.

"How-" he started but swallowed his words when out of her petticoat, Elizabeth drew the book she had been concealing. He laughed in spite of himself.

"I'm sorry, but I didn't have enough time to explain. I just figured that I they wouldn't search me like they would search you." Ben suddenly looked crestfallen.

"So that was your plan all along then," he said trying not to sound disappointed, "to sneak the book off of me."

"No," she responded sheepishly. "It was more of an afterthought when I realized that they might still pull us apart." Light returned to his face at those words and he smiled at her in spite of himself. There's still hope, he thought breathlessly.

Deciding to try his luck, he pulled her to him and kissed her squarely on the mouth. Immediately she wound her hands into his long hair as he pulled her waist up against him. They returned to their earlier euphoria until they both needed to breathe again. They stared at each other panting loudly for a few more moments.

"We should head to the dock," Elizabeth said to him then. "Abraham, Caleb and Anna should be there by now." Ben's look of confusion did not go unnoticed by her but she pulled him wordlessly along until they reached their friends.

"Benny Boy!" Caleb exclaimed once they reached the dock. "Looks like my cousin got you out alive." Ben blushed deeply thinking about just how Elizabeth got them both out from under the thumb of the redcoats.

"Thank goodness," Anna breathed hugging Elizabeth before retaking her seat next to Abraham. Elizabeth and Ben sat down as well and Elizabeth leaned slightly towards Ben, comforted by the warmth that radiated off of him.

"How about that for the end of summer party?" Caleb asked incredulously. Ben and Abraham nodded silently. This certainly wasn't the way they wanted to leave Setauket; with redcoats taking over their home. But Abraham knew that he must return to King's College if he had any hopes of pursuing the law. And Ben had intentions of returning to Yale to further his own education.

"Well, I for one ain't gonna let them lobsters take my hometown!" Caleb exclaimed. He made a move to get up but Elizabeth moved to grab his arm. She pulled her cousin back down. Ben felt her absence quickly and almost wished she hadn't moved.

"Don't be rash, Caleb," she scolded. "For the time being, they mean us no harm. Why should we let this worry us? Tonight we need to return to our beds and let sleep calm our thoughts. We all hold the same opinions on this war but broadcasting them to the whole of Setauket is only going to get us arrested, or worse, killed."

"Elizabeth is right," Abraham said. "We need to settle down and worry about this tomorrow. It's been a long day." As the rest of the group nodded their compliance, Abraham stood up and offered a hand to help up his secret fiancé. Ben and Caleb followed suit and offered the same courtesy to Elizabeth. Looking both men square in the eyes, she waved them off and stood up on her own.

The group walked in silence until Abraham and Anna broke off down their own path leaving Caleb, Elizabeth and Ben. Sometime later, Elizabeth stopped and turned to face Ben.

"We can talk everything out tomorrow," she assured him looking deeply into his eyes to gauge his response. He only smiled in return and placed a light kiss to her forehead.

Caleb smiled knowingly from a few paces off though he made no comment or sound. He only turned around and accompanied Elizabeth back to their house after she parted ways with the young Benjamin Tallmadge.