A/N: Oh, my goodness! I am so sorry it has taken this long for an update! My only excuse is school, finals, and then the holidays. I am trying to start off the new year right though, so I am giving you guys two new chapters back to back! I hope that they somewhat make up for my absence.

Happy New Year to all my lovely readers and please review! I would love to know what you think!

Thank you to my co-author Robin Goodly, without whom, this fic would not be possible.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to TURN: Washington's Spies. I only lay claim on my OC's and elements of the story that deviate from the plot of the show.

Argentum Fons

Setauket wasn't much to look at. It never had been, and yet the sight of its scattered buildings made Cecily's heart tighten within her. Although she had been there on many visits, it was to the memory of her first visit that she always turned upon seeing Setauket. She had been so young, grieving…

The death of her mother, which left her father so broken that he sent her away to his sister, would forever be a dark spot in Cecily's life; but without it, she never would have come to Setauket. She never would have met the sweet young boy with the angelic blue eyes, who would grow up to be so handsome. The thought of Ben as a child made Cecily smile like a ridiculous school girl.

Six-year old Cecily Dartmore stared out the coach's window as it rolled down the narrow dirt road. Usually her young imagination would have been racing; perhaps she would have seen a wide and untamable sea laid out before her and the coach was a great ship destined to take her on many adventures. Or perhaps she would have imagined herself a princess in a foreign land, journeying to the far recesses of her kingdom to secure an alliance that would save her people form a terrible fate.

But it was not a usual situation and so she was not imagining such things. Instead, she thought only of her mother, only called to heaven a week prior, and could only find the energy to mourn. She was only a child…a child who wanted her mother, but would never see her again.

"Cecily, I hope you realize I am doing this for your own good." Robert Dartmore said from his place across from her.

"Yes, father." Cecily replied, without looking at him.

Lord Dartmore sighed and shifted uncomfortably. "I know you miss her, dear. I do too. And I am sorry. Truly, I am. You're far too young to lose your mother and I wish there was something I could do to bring her back to us. But there is not, and this is the only thing within my power that I can do to at least give you a chance at happiness. Staying in the city…in the place where it happened would not do you good, my dear."

"I understand, father."

Robert gave a humorless chuckle and reached out to affectionately pat her cheek. "What a good girl you are. Sometimes I wonder how it is the good Lord came to think I deserved you."

There was a few more moments of silence before her father continued. "I do believe you will like Setauket. Your aunt and uncle have a lovely home and you have two cousins, Thomas and Abraham, the latter of whom is only two years older than you."

"I look forward to meeting them." Cecily said.

"You have met them, my child. It's just you were too young to remember."

"Oh," Cecily's little brow had furrowed in concentration as she tried to think back. Robert had chuckled again, clearly amused this time, and the rest of the ride was fairly quiet and uneventful.

They arrived in Setauket at dusk and went straight to Whitehall. As they pulled up to the grand, white manor, there were nine people waiting for them. Richard and Rebecca Woodhull stood together, closest to the road. Beside them were two young boys whom Cecily presumed were her cousins, though there was no way for her to tell which was which. One of the boys was slightly taller with lighter brown hair than the shorter one. Two other people, clearly servants, stood quietly behind the rest. The only ones Cecily could not place were three other children who appeared to be in the same age group but stood off to the side. The first was a dark haired little girl with big, round eyes. Beside her stood a dark haired little boy whose face promised only mischief. Finally, the third was a comparatively taller blond haired boy, whose blue eyes were reserved as he clasped his hands politely behind his back.

When the coach came to a stop, the driver opened the door and Lord Dartmore exited first before turning to help his daughter down. Cecily stayed behind her father as they walked up to the Woodhulls. Mrs. Woodhull was the first to greet them.

"Robert," she stepped forward and warmly embraced her brother. "I am so terribly sorry for your tragic loss.

"Thank you, Rebecca." Lord Dartmore replied and the two broke their embrace. Mr. Woodhull stepped forward then and offered his hand, "my most sincere condolences."

"Thank you, Richard."

Cecily could detect a shift in her father's voice, like he was about to display his sorrow, but the change was gone as quickly as it appeared when he cleared his throat and turned his attentions to the two young boys.

"Ah, Thomas, Abraham, how much you have grown since I last saw you. Have you been behaving yourself? Working hard at your studies?"

"Yes, sir." Replied the taller boy. The other merely nodded and Cecily thought he must be very shy.

"There are my good nephews." Robert said, patting them each affectionately on the shoulder. "Now, I would like to introduce you to my daughter and your cousin, Cecily."

"It's very nice to meet you. I'm Thomas Woodhull." Thomas said, extending his hand. Cecily took it and they shook. "Hello, Thomas." She said.

"I'm Abraham," chimed in the shorter boy, though he did not offer his hand in greeting, instead settling on a timid wave.

"Hello." She replied.

"Abraham!" Rebecca Woodhull snapped at her son. "Where are your manners? Shake your cousin's hand."

Embarrassed, Abraham flushed bright red all the way to the tips of his rather large ears before extending his hand. Cecily giggled before taking his hand. Abraham shook it awkwardly. He seemed to do everything awkwardly, Cecily observed.

"Well, now that that is settled," started Mrs. Woodhull. "Why don't we get everyone settled in the house and I will ring Aberdeen to bring in some tea."

"That sounds wonderful, dear sister." Robert replied.

"Oh, father? Mother?" Thomas chimed.

"Yes?" Richard Woodhull said, turning back to his son with a questioning expression on his face.

"Might we stay out here and introduce Cecily to our friends?"

"I don't see anything wrong with that," replied Richard. "Rebecca? Robert? What say you?"

"It's fine with me." Said Mrs. Woodhull.

"With me as well," added Lord Dartmore. "So long as you boys promise to look after Cecily," he looked at Abraham and Thomas. "And," he turned to Cecily, "as long as you promise to stay with your cousins."

All three children nodded in agreement.

Once the adults had gone inside Whitehall, Thomas turned to Cecily and said, "come on!" He started towards the three other children and gestured for her to follow.

The girl was the first to step forward to greet them. "Hello," she held out her hand to Cecily. "I'm Anna Smith. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Cecily smiled and took her hand. "Pleased to meet you, Anna. My name is Cecily Dartmore."

It was then that the smaller, dark haired boy bounded forward and right into Cecily's personal space. He didn't seem to notice her take a step back and indeed continue to plow forward.

Then his mouth opened and he started talking. "Yeah, we know. It's all Mr. and Mrs. Woodhull have been talking about. You're from York City though? That's a long ways from here. Do you live in a fancy house? I mean, of course you do, your father being a Lord and all. I bet you have lots of servants too. I-"

"All right Caleb, that's enough." Thomas chimed in, giving the boy, Caleb, a warning look.

"Yeah, don't scare our cousin. Give her some space until she gets used to you." Said Abraham pushing his friend away from her. Cecily looked at him, surprised at his sudden boldness.

"Until she gets used me? What's that supposed to mean, Woody?" Caleb shot back.

"All I'm saying is that you can be bit much before someone really gets to know you like we do." Abe replied, starting to back away slowly as Caleb started towards him. Both boys were grinning.

"A bit much?" Caleb continued to advance on Abe.

"Yeah, a bit much too loud. A bit much too smelly. A bit much too-"

With a mighty roar Caleb launched himself at Abraham. The latter let out a laugh and took off down the hill, Caleb hot on his heels.

"Abe!" Anna shrieked and proceeded to set off after the both of them.

Thomas groaned and turned to Cecily. "I'll be right back." Then he too, ran after the group.

Cecily blinked after them. My, she thought to herself. That was an abrupt departure. It took her a few more moments to realize she wasn't alone. In fact, she had all but forgotten about the blond-haired boy who had been so quiet through the entire fiasco that was his friends.

"You get used to it." He said, coming up to stand beside her and watch the four retreating forms grow smaller and smaller in the distance. "All of their antics. Caleb can get into a great deal of trouble, but he has a good heart."

Cecily pouted and crossed her arms with a huff. "Thomas and Abraham were supposed to stay with me."

"Well, I'll stay with you." Said the boy. Cecily turned to him and he smiled before extending his hand. "I'm Benjamin Tallmadge, but everyone calls me Ben."

Cecily smiled back and took his outstretched hand.

"Well, do you want to go see where they ended up? If we hurry we may be able to catch Caleb beating the snot out of your cousin."

Cecily giggled and nodded, clutching Ben's hand as they started down the hill. True to his word, he had stayed with her the whole day until seeing her safely delivered back to Whitehall.

The Setauket laid out before her was quite different now. The peppering of scarlet British coats moving through the streets were like a perversion of her childhood memories. Cecily sobered as the town came nearer, reminding herself that they were at war now and the role she must fulfil.

The carriage clattered down the main street, passing the stout white building that was Strong's Tavern; Cecily wondered if Anna was somewhere inside. The carriage continued on its way, eventually drawing to a stop in the drive of White Hall.

Right on cue, the front door opened and three people came to stand on the step. Pretty, delicate little Mary Woodhull, holding in her arms a blonde toddler; bearded and gray-haired Richard Woodhull, the heaviness of responsibility lying upon a face far older than Cecily remembered; and a small, interesting looking man in the uniform of a British officer.

The officer strode forward the moment Cecily had descended the steps of the carriage and bowed so low he nearly hit his head upon his knees.

"Miss Dartmore," he said, with his hands clasped in front of his heart. "Allow me to welcome you…to Setauket." He said it with such grandiloquence that Cecily nearly laughed aloud. It was like being welcomed to Buckingham Palace.

She was glad that she did not need to fight the broad smile that overtook her features. She hoped he mistook it for a smile of greeting. "Thank you-?"

"Major Hewlett. At your service, miss," said Major Hewlett. "And of course you already know your uncle and cousin."

"Naturally," Cecily replied.

"Cecily, you're looking well," said Richard, embracing her.

"As are you, Uncle Richard! It feels an age since I was last here. Cousin Mary! And is this cousin Thomas?" Cecily and Mary shared an awkward embrace, made all the more uncomfortable as they hugged and kissed around the squirming child. Cecily did not know Mary all that well. They had barely spoken during their years growing up, and the last time Cecily had seen Mary she was still engaged to Cecily's cousin Thomas; his passing had meant Abe had stepped in to marry Mary, a match which broke Anna's heart.

"So nice to see you again, Cecily," Mary said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Perhaps we would all like to go inside?" suggested Major Hewlett. "I believe Mary has arranged a light repast to refresh you after your long journey."

"Oh but," Cecily hesitated on the step, looking from Mary to Richard. "Is Abe not here?"

"He has gone for some business in New York. He will be returning home at some point tomorrow afternoon," Richard explained.

Cecily almost missed it: an odd look that passed over Mary's face at the mention of Abe. Her face tightened, her lips pursing, as if she had heard something that was displeasing to her. She lowered her head to the fussing toddler and Cecily looked away from her, wondering what the expression has meant.

"He'll be sorry to have missed your arrival," said Richard.

"Yes, very unfortunate for Abraham. I hope you will not mind out company without him?" Major Hewlett was still hovering on the threshold of the house.

"Of course not. If anything it is better this way, for it gives me an opportunity to visit with the other members of my family."

"Excellent!" Fluttering about them graciously, Major Hewlett shepherded the party into the parlor at White Hall.