November 18th 1776, Outskirts of New Jersey
The air smelled decadent. The pleasant aroma of baked goods and fresh food twirled and danced it way throw the house, even to the upper level. While food might have been on the forefront of my mind for the evening I knew it would hardly be the focus. I smoothed out as my creases in my dress best as I could, not wanting to look like a crumpled napkin. My dress was a deep blue and while it might be plain in comparison to some of the guests tonight it was by far my favorite. I didn't own highly expensive gowns or extremely restrictive corsets because they were not apart of the world I grew up in. I grew up in a farming village and while it had been years since I had been there I never knew more than a modest life. My aunt had come from money and her only daughter had passed away early in my life so she saw these parties and balls as opportunities to try and support me because I was now in her care.
"Miss Beatrice the guests will be arriving soon! Your aunt's requesting you." called a servant of the home owner.
"Thank you, I'll be right down." I looked squarely in the mirror. I was not familiar with the family who owned the house but my aunt was well acquainted with them but the foreignness of it all made me even more nervous. It was my first ball after all. I took one last look in mirror at my hair that was rarely down before making my exit.
"Oh dear you look wonderful! You'll definitely catch the attention of a handsome solider." my aunt remarked upon seeing me.
"Aunt Martha!" I exclaimed. I knew a suitor was very important but I was more curious as to what my uncle could have to discuss with me. While my uncles attendance to the ball tonight was questionable my aunt and I would be visiting his headquarters soon all the same.
The trickle of guests slowly turned into a steady flow, some prim and proper others the common solider. I had already spotted a rather secluded area of the ballroom I intended to retreat to but I of course continued to meet guests with my aunt.
"General Benedict Arnold, Pleasure to see you again Mrs. Washington and a pleasure to meet you Lady Beatrice ." said a rather confident man.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance." I said offering my hand as my aunt had instructed.
"Look forward to seeing you both throughout the night" he said exiting.
"The General is a handsome man. A widower too." added my aunt.
"Yes and seems my twice my age Auntie." I jabbed back.
I finally was able to escape the formal "hellos" and made my way to the drink table. I was alone with my thoughts and the music for all of a moment when ( the lady of the house) approached me.
"Oh, Beatrice dear I was wondering if you could point the Captain here in the right direction to the back laws, I would but I'm still waiting for the arrival of a few more guests. I'll leave you to the introductions." she said leaving as quick as she left only this time I was now forced to entertain a stranger.
"Hello," the gentleman began obviously feeling as awkward as I was "I'm Captain Benjamin Tallmadge, pleasure to meet you Miss?"
Benjamin Tallmadge. "Benjamin?" I questioned. Was it really the Benjamin Tallmadge I had grown up with?
"Yes? Have we met Beatri- Bea! I hardly recognized you." he exclaimed putting the name together finally.
"Yes! How have you been? What has it been 10 years?" I asked him excitedly.
"I'm well! And I think it has been that long although I saw your brother not to long ago in training." He added. I was about to continue with more questions when a older man approached me.
"Beatrice Washington. My look how you've grown." said the man known as Mr. Price an old friend of my father's I always found odd and creepy.
"Um, yes hello Mr. Price" I said not so subtly wiping my hand after he kissed it.
"I was most unfortunate to hear about your father's passing. However, I know he would be disappointed if I didn't manage to steal a dance from his lovely daughter." he said smirking.
That was in fact the last thing I wanted. I did not want to be rude so I opened my mouth with not real direction as I began to speak.
"I uh-" I was cut off.
"Um you'll have to forgive me good sir but Miss Washington here has just promised me a dance." said Ben after making eye contact with me, obviously waiting to see if he had made a mistake.
"Uh, yes Mr. Price please forgive me, I do hope to catch up later." I said politely bowing my head.
"After you Miss Washington," Benjamin said offering me his hand. I greatly accepted it as we made our way to the floor.
"Is he still looking?" I said through a gritted smile as we took our dancing positions.
"You're clear" he smirked. I sighed a breath of relief causing Ben to laugh.
"Well thank you. Although your favor may extend farther than you think because I am a terrible dancer." I said awkwardly looking at my feet. The music began to sway and so did we.
"You're not suppose to look at your feet." he fake scolded.
"I know, I know" I said pulling my gaze up to his face where we locked eyes. While the rest of him might have looked different his eyes were still a piercing blue.
"I'm sorry about your father I hadn't heard bef-"
"It's quite alright I don't like discussing it much" I told him, not really wanting to uncover anything I had closed up months ago. Instead I changed the subject.
"So how have you been? What have you done these past few years?" I asked him curiously.
"Well I ended up attending Yale and working as school master before the war started." He said as we spun through the dance floor.
"A Yale man. Impressive. What was your favorite core you learned?" Partly wanting to know what he had learned, partly to see if my education matched up to a man's in any way.
"I rather enjoyed Latin and I'd hardly say impressive but I'm sure a Yale woman would be more successful." he said to me.
"Benjamin, I hardly think society is ready for such a force to be reckoned with but I do hope someday." I only half joked in return.
"Did you continue your studies?" he implored.
"Um, well I had a series of tutors and political figures in my life so while I learned quite a lot I most likely picked up on a lot more than my father had intended." I said grinning.
"I'd expect nothing less." he retorted.
I hardly realized how long we spent dancing, for apparently we had much catching up to do. I didn't recall seeing the rest of the evening. I quite enjoyed the night of laughing and dancing, something I had not done in far too long.
"Oh my, they're already playing the final song. I have to help say goodbye to guests." I told Ben.
"Oh yes by all means. It was very nice to see you after all this time. I do hope to see you again soon." He said biding me a short goodbye.
"Thank you again for helping me." I said referring to my earlier predicament.
"Huh- uh yes of course." he said and I bid him a quick farewell.
I found my aunt by the door as guests were greeting her and a final goodnight.
"Beatrice there you are. I didn't see you most of the night." she commented as I snuck into my place my the door. I chorused her goodbyes politely. I saw the General from earlier tonight exiting.
"It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Washington." he said to me kissing my hand goodbye.
"And you as well General." I said giving the most wholesome smile I could. I said goodbyes to a few more guest, most of them whom I had never met, when I saw Benjamin approaching the door.
"Goodnight Miss Washington." he said taking my hand as many done before.
"Serius, Captain Tallmadge." (Until Later, Captain Tallmadge.) I said in my best Latin
"Usque tum" (Until then) he said in response opening the door. It must have been extra cold that night because it felt quite contrasting to my cheeks which felt slightly warm and flushed.
"Well I think that went rather well, Beatrice? How was your first ball?" my aunt asked as we all sat around the fire sipping our tea.
"Quite well." I responded rather honestly. It was not as bad as I had anticipated. I smiled fondly at the night.
"Your Uncle could not make it but he still sent letters with another solider. He sent one for you as well." My aunt said snapping me from my thoughts as she handed me the enclosed letter. I wondered if this letter would contain anymore information of this highly secretive task.
New chapter! Also a real Ben and Bea scene! I really liked this chapter so I hope you guys liked it! I also made a tumblr for the account, its the same as this account "timetotype" but I'm also hoping to get a link up for it and notify when there are updates on here. As always thanks so much for reading and I love hearing feedback!
