July, 1778
"You, my dear, have earned an audience with General Washington." Ben walked into his tent, where Grace was busy folding the laundry she had taken off the closest line earlier in the day. "He requests your presence."
"Whatever would he want me for?" she asked. She hadn't met with the general alone more than once. Instead, they would talk over dinner when Washington had Lafayette and some of his other senior officers dine with him.
"I haven't the slightest idea. I only know that he requested to see you, by name, and as soon as possible," he smiled knowingly. Grace shook her head, setting down her laundry and following him out of the tent.
They'd been living in close quarters for a few weeks now, and seemed to still be the talk of the camp. All of the camp followers either wanted to be the woman who had captured the attention of the major or be the next one to meet her. Sometimes both. She'd fielded a lot of questions and met a lot of people over the last couple of weeks. She'd gotten along well with the women who followed the troops, preparing food, washing clothes, and mending uniforms with them. A few of the older women had taken her in as family, since she had none of her own, and would always allow her to work with them or to sit and have a meal while everyone was away at battle. But the best part was being able to see Ben nearly every day.
General Washington was deep in conversation with his aide de camp, the energetic and enthusiastic Hamilton. He'd been working nonstop to finish a request for additional supplies to be sent to the troops, and Washington was making his corrections and talking them over when Grace and Lafayette arrived. "Excuse me, sir," Ben nodded to them both, saying, "I've brought Grace back for you."
Grace laughed to herself, saying hello to the General and to Hamilton, who offered a nod and went back to writing. Washington told them to take a seat, Ben pulling out a chair for Grace and standing behind her, since there were no chairs left around the small table Hamilton was working on. "You may talk freely of this matter around Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton," Washington prefaced them. "He is one of my most trusted men, as you know. Now, Miss Hopwood, I know you are happy here at camp in the company of Major Tallmadge. However, you have proved your worth operating in Setauket. If it does not trouble you too much, I have another assignment for you. I'm sure you will prove capable."
"Of course not, sir. What will I be doing?"
"Much like your spy work, this is not something to be taken lightly. Here is my proposition: You know that our troops have just taken Philadelphia. However, it proves to be a hotbed of Loyalist and patriot fighting even now. Prominent families are expressing their loyalties to Britain, and there are many in the town trying to subvert our authority, whether it be through direct action or conspiracy. One of these families is currently searching for a maid, sometimes serving as a personal attendant to their eldest daughter. It would be an excellent position to fill with one of our agents, so we are able to monitor not only this family but the Tory and patriot leanings in the city," the general said, laying out his plan. "We need a woman's help for this."
"You're asking me to go to Philadelphia?" Grace clarified, Ben looking down at her to gauge her reaction.
Washington nodded. "We would provide you with transportation there, and all you would have to do would be the same type of code work that you did in Setauket. However, instead of sending messages through our friend Mr. 725, you would write directly to Major Tallmadge - code named Mr. John Bolton - at an address in the city that we will provide. If anyone went looking for the address, they would find an empty home. There would be absolutely nothing to incriminate you."
Ben put a steady hand on her shoulder, Grace reaching for it and looking up at him. "How long have you known?"
"The general and I have been discussing this for around a week now," he admitted. "I would have told you earlier, but you seemed so happy to be here, and I couldn't take that away form you until we had a plan."
She was quiet for a moment. "I would be leaving you here," she processed. They had been together for a month, and had grown much closer.
"Grace," he leaned down to advise, "I know you enjoy being here with me. But I will be moving out with General Lafayette soon to meet Admiral d'Estaing in Rhode Island, and then on to Massachusetts, and you would have to follow into battle. Following a band of soldiers is no life for someone as lovely as you. You have done it enough already. I would recommend you do this, if not for the general, then for me, who would feel much better knowing that you are safe and well taken care of in Philadelphia. I would still write to you, of course, and we would visit as often as possible."
She turned back to Washington, taking a deep breath and asking, "When do I leave?"
Ben lay in bed, Grace's head on his chest as they talked late into the night. What once had been a one-time conversation back when she had first arrived had long since settled into a routine - they often stayed up late contemplating complex questions and just being in the moment together. They'd started talking about what they thought life was like - or if indeed there was any life - on other planets, but had circled back to what they both were dwelling on: Grace's imminent departure for Philadelphia. She'd been accepted by the Shippen family even before Washington had offered her the position, since he knew that she would assent. Her things had been packed and she was set to leave fairly early the next morning. "Dear, I know you will be safer in Philadelphia, but I have to admit, I will miss you terribly. Even more so now that I have had you with me for so long."
"I don't want to leave you," she told him succinctly. "What if… what if something happens to you and I'm not around?"
"General Washington will send for you immediately," he reassured her, running a hand through her hair. "You will be back at my side before the day is out."
She pursed her lips, saying, "But what if, Heaven forbid - "
"Let us not dwell on dark thoughts such as that."
"You'll write me, won't you?" She looked up at him, her eyes shining in the faint moonlight.
"Of course." He gave her a kiss, holding her close. "As often as I can, and I will look forward to letters from you as well."
"As long as you don't forget me," she insisted.
"Gracie, I could never forget you, no matter how many days we spend apart. I am sure of it," he assured her, kissing her once more. "Now we shouldn't entertain thoughts like these for the time being. I would like, more than anything, to stay here with you. But if sitting up all night, watching you by the light of the moon and dreading the hour that you have to leave me is all I can do, then so be it."
Grace left for Philadelphia in the morning, not wanting to let go of Ben. She held his hand until the very last moment, when she had to follow a few soldiers and ride out of camp. He had come with her the entire time that she was saying her goodbyes to Nan and Molly, Hamilton, General Washington, and the other soldiers that she had come to know while she helped out the surgeons and war doctors. Several people were watching as they said their goodbyes, wishing each other good luck and safe travels. "Be careful," Grace entreated. "Please."
"I will," Ben promised as she embraced him. "About what I said to you last night, I should clarify - "
"Not now," she silenced him with a kiss. "I have to go."
"But Grace, I think we should talk about - "
"Not in front of the general." He glanced over, seeing that Washington was indeed looking on from the door of his tent. It was almost time to go. "Goodbye, Ben."
"Goodbye, Gracie. Write me as soon as you get to Philadelphia," he begged, squeezing her hand.
"Not a moment later," she promised, giving him a final kiss before mounting a horse. As they trotted towards the edge of camp, she looked back to see Ben watching her go. He raised a hand as if to say one final goodbye, Grace raising a hand in reply.
Philadelphia was a large city, not as big as York City, but fairly close. Unlike York City, however, it was teeming with patriots and Continental officers, who often clashed with the Loyalist families in the center of town, arguing in the square. They approached a massive home, the soldiers dropping Grace off after wishing her luck and hugging her goodbye. Watching him go, she took a deep breath, walked up the drive, knocked on the door, and waited.
By the evening, she had come to know the family well. Judge Shippen was a man loyal to the king, but he still held high-society affairs with whomever was in charge of the city at the time in attendance. He simply liked to see and be seen, and to have friends in high places, no matter who they may be. His daughter, Peggy, had almost immediately taken Grace on as a personal confidante, telling of how she had fallen in love with a British officer as they went upstairs after dinner, Judge Shippen retreating to his study to get some work done.
"He is a wonderful man, a patron of the arts, someone I trust completely," the young woman sighed, sitting down in her room as Grace put new sheets on her bed. Peggy watched her with interest. "Major Andre is certainly a magnificent man."
"Major Andre?" Grace asked, remembering the man who had interrogated her aboard the prison ship the Jersey and subsequently intimidated her at Judge Woodhull's' party. "The Major John Andre?"
"Yes," Peggy told her, turning again to watch her maid work. "You know of him?"
"I've heard of him," Grace nodded, smoothing out the blankets before turning to look at Peggy. "He certainly is something."
"Have you ever fallen in love, Grace?" Peggy stood, walking to the window and looking out over the expansive gardens of her home. "Not just any sort of love, the kind of love where you always want to be beside someone, the kind where you want to share almost everything? The kind where you want to end up married to someone, not out of duty, but because you are drawn to them?"
"Ma'am, I know we haven't known each other for long, but I will tell you this," Grace boldly joined her at the window, speaking as a friend and not as a servant. "I have. I am. He's off in the army now, moving with his company to Rhode Island. At least he was when he wrote me his most recent letter," she lied. "I worry about him constantly, you know. So much can happen to a soldier."
"Do you want to marry him?" Peggy asked, staring at the moon rising above the city. "If all goes well with this war?"
"If only I could," Grace sighed. "We were engaged to be married, once, but that was a long time ago. His father suddenly had a change of heart, as did mine. But we have… well, rekindled what once was, and I hope it can be continued, and I hope that he himself hopes the same."
"If only I could," Peggy agreed. "If only I could."
