November 1777
Benjamin had certainly peeked her interest, and she had peeked his in turn. Thus, she eagerly awaited the next time they would encounter one another. They lived not too far away from each other, and it was only a matter of time.
Turned out that this time was relatively short, when they bumped into each other outside of Washington's office. Greeting each other, they fell into step as they exited the house.
"So, tell me about yourself," Benjamin requested, "You seem to know plenty about me, but I know nothing about you."
"Alright. My father's name is Richard, he's a wealthy landowner, the newspaper being more of a passion than anything. My mother's name is Maria, she's Spanish." Tessa said, "They met when my father went to Spain to organize a trade agreement for business on his father's behalf."
"Went to Spain for trade and came back with a wife." He said, "Lucky man."
"Yes. Well, I have two older siblings, Antonio and Catalina, both of whom are married with children." Tessa continued, "I have a younger sister, Rosana, who constantly writes to me of how bored she is now that I am gone."
"Yes, you do make life more interesting." He chuckled,
"I'll take that as a compliment." Tessa replied, "I grew up near the Schuyler family, and my sisters and I are close to their eldest girls." She said, "Rosie and I were the ones that helped Angelica elope. Much to our parents chagrin."
"Why did she have to elope?" He asked, "Did her parents not approve of her suitor?"
"John's a British businessman, and her father was suspicious of his allegiances." She explained, "But he is a good man, and very much on our side." She assured him, "Of course, our parents took the opportunity to warn us against such foolishness."
"I take it you won't be running off with a scoundrel, then?" He teased
"Well, parents don't always know best," Tessa countered, "And if find a man that I truly love, that my parents do not approve of, then I cannot guarantee anything."
"So, you're a romantic at heart?"
"You could say that." She said, "What about?" She asked, "Despite what you think, I really don't know that much about you."
"Well, my father's name is Nathaniel, and as you know, he was the Reverend in Setauket." Benjamin said, "My mother's name was Susannah, and my older brother's name was Samuel."
"Was?"
"My mother died when I was young," he explained, "And my brother died on the prisoner ship HMS Jersey."
"I'm, I'm so sorry." Tessa said, "That, I didn't know."
"So you really don't know everything." Benjamin said, "And here I was under the impression you were all knowing."
It was clearly still a sore topic, and as much as she wanted to press him for further details, she knew better. Grief was a complicated thing. Not that she'd felt an abundance of it. She had been blessed with a life of relatively little loss.
"And what about your friends?" Tessa asked, "You do have friends, do you not?"
"Yes, I had three close friends growing up." He said, "Caleb Brewster, Anna Strong, and Abraham Woodhull."
"And where are they now?"
"Caleb is a lieutenant here in camp," Benjamin said, "Anna and Abraham are back in Setauket."
"I know that this, may sound like a silly question," Tessa said, sheepishly avoiding his eyes, "But where exactly is Setauket?"
"Long Island." Benjamin answered, chuckling at her, "It is a rather small town. Not as grand, I'm sure, as Albany."
"I'm sure it's quite lovely." Tessa said, "But Long Island, that's under British control is it not?" She asked, though she already knew, "What of your friends?"
"They are on our side."
"That must be dangerous." She said, "And it must be hard for you, unable to go home."
"Well, my father's no longer there," he revealed, "He was to be hanged as a Patriot, Caleb and I rescued him, ignoring orders to do so."
"I was always taught that family was of the upmost importance." Tessa said, "I know that I would do anything for my family. And, I find what you did to be very admirable."
Benjamin smiled brightly at her words, comforted by her acceptance of his rule-breaking. Never had she been one to consistently respect the rules, and a little bending never hurt anyone. There had always been a rebellious streak in her, and she admired such a thing in others.
"Hey, Tallboy." A voice shouted out
Looking up, she saw a man to be approaching them. He was relatively short, dark haired, with a thick beard. And he looked to be very amused.
"I'll take this to be the lovely lady you haven't stopped talking about." The man said as he neared them, "Lieutenant Brewster, miss."
"So you're Caleb?"
"I see you've heard about me then," Caleb replied, cocking his eyebrows at Benjamin
"Not really." Tessa said, not one to be outdone, "As such, I'd say your fame proceeds you, but it obviously does not, so,"
"Oh, I like you." Caleb responded,
"Did you need something?" Benjamin asked, shaking his head at his friend, "Or did you just come here to gawk?"
"Mostly to gawk," Caleb admitted, "But also to tell you that I have a message for you from Culper."
The looks on both their faces, and sideward a glances in her direction, made it evident that this was business which she was not allowed to know. Thus, she could certainly guess what it was in regards to, though not the exact details.
"Is this something to do with your intelligence gathering?" Tessa asked, causing the men to raise their eyebrows, and her to cross her arms in annoyance at their doubting of her, "I know you're the head of intelligence, you told me Caleb is a childhood friend, who better to trust with such activities." She explained, "Culper, I'm assuming, is the source of your information. Though that is most likely an alias to protect them."
Both men stared at her, jaws agape, shocked by her deductions. Or maybe how quickly she had deduced their secret. Either way, it took much effort on her behalf to hide her feelings of being affronted. Caleb she'd only just met, but she had expected Benjamin to not be so surprised by her intelligence.
"You were right," Caleb said to his friend, "She really is something else."
"Most definitely." Benjamin agreed, turning back to her, "If you will excuse us,"
"Of course." She said, waving them away, "Go, do your job."
