Note: This chapter runs parallel to chapters 20, 21 and 22 of AlyssaPierceArrow's By Land or By Sea. If you, by some off chance, haven't read it, you might want to get on that!
If she was being honest with herself-a rare event in and of itself-she would admit to being relieved at how easy worming her way into Major Andre's lavish masquerade had been. However, she was not in the business of honesty on this particular night, and if ever she was asked to recount the tale at a later time, she would simply describe her relief as both amusement and disappointment, and no one would be the wiser.
Claiming her mask had fallen in the slush after an ill-fated slip on the ice had been simple enough, and she was quickly ushered toward a small basket of spare masks tucked into a corner. Tabitha knew the ease in which she assimilated into the festivities was largely due to the copious amount of liquor that had already been consumed by the numerous partygoers, most of which were likely well into their glasses hours before her arrival.
The mask Tabitha selected was relatively simple when compared to some of the garish monstrosities she'd witnessed as she slunk through the hallway. She had no idea what it was she was supposed to be portraying, but quickly found that she wasn't alone in her indifference towards the matter. While the question of her costume might have been an issue earlier in the evening, this late into the festivities, the most pressing question she'd been asked was a slurred "Do you know who I am?" from a squat woman in a mask decorated with peacock feathers.
She had no idea who the woman might be, but she was fairly certain that it was not Charlotte. Unless, of course, the girl had shrunk a foot and a half, changed her hair color and gained a noticeable amount of weight in her face. Silently praying for the number of women with red hair at the party to be minimal, Tabitha hastily stepped around the shorter woman and darted past the doorway before ducking into the lavish ballroom to her left.
The candles had burned low, and Tabitha found the creeping shadows working to her advantage. So long as she kept to the edges of the room where it was noticeably darker, she could observe the dancers and minglers uninterrupted.
There was a short flurry of movement across the room, and Tabitha felt her breath catch in her chest as the figure beside the window turned to face her, red hair and porcelain skin contrasting sharply with the black silk of her gown and mask. The grace with which she moved was not something Tabitha was likely to forget, and while nearly all of the partygoers walked and danced with a practiced grace, Charlotte's movements were a class of their own.
If her enormous, billowing skirt hindered her in any way, she showed no sign of it as she delicately made her way across the room, pausing next to the enormous fireplace. Tabitha held her in her sight, silently urging the woman to leave the room for somewhere less crowded.
Then Charlotte looked up, and their eyes locked.
Though most of her face was obscured by the meticulously detailed mask, Tabitha could still see the subtle shifts in Charlotte's expression. The confusion, the frown as she studied Tabitha's appearance, seemingly attempting to discern her identity. It was a fruitless endeavor, Tabitha thought, condescending even in her own thoughts. No doubt the girl was trying to make a connection between her and some other acquaintance of hers, and Tabitha was willing to let her draw whatever conclusions she wished, so long as it allowed her to get the girl away from prying eyes where they could speak.
Charlotte's lips parted a fraction, and her eyes widened noticeably behind the mask as she took a step back. Tabitha frowned, the realization that perhaps Miss Adams was more observant than she'd come to believe slowly sinking in.
Now that she had Charlotte's full attention, she slowly made her way across the floor to where the girl still stood frozen by the fireplace, side-stepping the dancers departing the floor and weaving around the ones who'd elected to stay put.
Charlotte was moving too, she realized belatedly. The girl was clearly unsettled, but the momentary panic she'd shown minutes before was nowhere to be found on her face as they approached the center of the floor.
"Ladies and Gentlemen…"
Charlotte's eyes were boring into hers now as they stood alongside the other dancers, alight with curiosity and uncertainty, scrutinizing every visible detail while simultaneously trying for a certain level of discretion.
"A Contradance Allemande….. l'etoile!"
The orchestra leader could have been speaking Greek for all Tabitha knew, but the rest of the dancers, Charlotte included, seemed to understand perfectly. As the music started and Charlotte curtseyed, black silk pooling about her feet, Tabitha bowed as Aaron had done numerous times before, careful to match the speed and technique of the gentlemen next to her. If the overall effect came across as awkward in execution, Charlotte made no sign of having noticed.
The dance itself was a different matter entirely. Tabitha was no stranger to dancing, but familiarity did not quite equal talent in her case. However, the steps were simple enough to follow when mirroring the other men, and after a few steps, she felt a bit more confident in her movements as she and Charlotte approached each other.
"Are we discovered?" she whispered, and Tabitha shook her head ever so slightly as they separated to make a revolution around the floor. Charlotte still looked apprehensive when their paths crossed yet again, and Tabitha replied with a verbal 'no'.
As their hands joined, Charlotte whispered once more, voice still apprehensive, but not as breathless as it had been before. "Are we suspected?" Tabitha was certain the girl saw the firm shake of her head this time, and began to focus slightly more on the dancers beside them as she waited to see if Charlotte would speak again. The contradance had seemed simple enough at first, but alongside an experienced dancer like Charlotte, Tabitha was beginning to feel a bit unsure of her movements.
"We must speak," Tabitha whispered once it became clear Charlotte was waiting for her to do so. "Privately."
The dancers were switching places once again, and Tabitha grumbled internally. It seemed the ridiculous twirling would never end, and the movements were growing ever more complicated, requiring more of her attention as she struggled to keep up. Her gaze fell on Charlotte once more. The girl moved as though dancing came as naturally to her as breathing, and perhaps it did. "Brightlea's home," she whispered once they were close. Tabitha gave a curt nod as they separated and Charlotte moved back to the outside circle. The route to the lavish estate mapped itself out in her head, and she felt her concentration momentarily slip. Only a discreet tilt of Charlotte's head alerted Tabitha to the fact that she was mirroring her contact's moves, not the men beside her, and she quickly fell back into step as she and Charlotte approached one another once more. "Fourth window, ground floor. East." Tabitha could feel Charlotte's breath ghosting across the side of her face, and smelled the faintest hint of sweet brandy. Not enough to inhibit the girl, thankfully. Any unsteadiness on her part was entirely due to nerves, then.
The dance finally drew to a close, and Tabitha bowed fluidly with the other gentlemen as Charlotte curtsied. As Charlotte breezed past her, Tabitha caught the soft words uttered as she departed, "Quick as I can."
True to her word, Charlotte hurried off into the crowd, and as Tabitha stared after her, she became aware of a new set of eyes watching her. She wasn't familiar with any of the people in attendance aside from Charlotte, but she got the distinct impression that the black-clad man in the doorway was someone whose acquaintance she wasn't eager to make. Fortunately, he seemed to be slightly inebriated, and his attention turned to Charlotte quickly enough. Tabitha wondered briefly if she should be concerned, but his shift in focus offered her a short window to escape undetected, and she took it without hesitation.
Miss Adams would have to handle herself.
The snow fell in obscuring flurries, chilling Tabitha through her silk jacket and stockings, leaving a heartfelt wish for her sturdier and infinitely warmer uniform in its wake. But the snow had the fortunate bonus of reflecting the light from the street lamps while simultaneously hiding her from view of anyone foolish to be wandering about in such a storm.
Tabitha cursed as her foot sank into a large puddle, feeling the icy bite of the slushy water as she stumbled and only just managed to retain her footing. The sooner she could toss the ridiculous finery and don her boots again, the better. Brightlea's house loomed in the distance, but she could see no sign of Charlotte's ornate carriage. With an irritated growl, she slipped into the shadows alongside the window Charlotte had indicated. 'Quick as she could' wasn't quick enough in this blistering chill.
She passed the time waiting by imagining vivid scenarios where Charlotte would be forced to wait outdoors for an unspecified length of time in various forms of miserable weather. Let her freeze her dainty little feet in a puddle. See how gracefully she could move in those huge gowns after standing an hour in the sweltering sun. Would her hair be as elegant after being forced to trek through a downpour? Would she-
Tabitha's thoughts were scattered as the window creaked open, and without even bothering to ensure it was indeed Charlotte on the other side, she clambered into the welcoming warmth of the house.
Two women stood inside the room: Charlotte, unsurprisingly, and a horrified-looking woman who was eyeing the slush and water dripping from Tabitha's hair and clothes with mild apprehension. Tabitha gave Charlotte a pointed stare, then gave a swift glance at the other woman, silently asking why the latter was present.
Charlotte seemed to catch the meaning, and as she stiffly placed her hands by her side, said "This is… m-my… Sukey." Tabitha nodded offhandedly. She could care less about the woman's name, but if Charlotte wasn't concerned about having her present, she supposed she couldn't be, either.
Tabitha eyed Charlotte briefly before speaking, wondering how Caleb and Ben would react upon learning Charlotte was enlisting her own help. "I'm sorry we have to meet like this," she began, allowing her voice to slip into a slightly exaggerated rendition of her brother's after a long night of drinking. Now that they were alone, she needed Charlotte distracted. Caleb clearly hadn't been exaggerating when he spoke of Charlotte's intelligence. "I know ya were under the impression meets an drops would be between yerself and Lt. Brewster, but due ta…" She paused, choosing her words carefully. "unforeseen circumstances… the Lieutenant sent me in his place."
"Circumstances?" Charlotte repeated. "What…circumstances? Has something happened?"
Of course she'd want to hear the story, Tabitha thought irritably, nose wrinkling slightly as she replied, "Washington sent his troops down the Delaware late Christmas Day." Charlotte waited, breathless, for more, and Tabitha obliged with a roll of her eyes. "Captain Tallmadge, sure-footed as ever, took a wee tumble inta the river."
Charlotte pressed a gloved hand to her chest, seemingly unaware of the movement. Her face, already pale in the dim light, now seemed whiter than the snow. "The river?" she breathed. "It's freezing…"
'Quite the observant one.' Tabitha had only just managed to avoid voicing this particularly rude sentiment, and instead opted to continue as though the girl had said nothing. "We pulled him out, and Lt. Brewster and I stayed behind. Fed 'im, warmed 'im. The resta the division went ahead without us."
Charlotte was pacing now, and Tabitha couldn't begin to wonder what had distressed her so. She had been clear that Ben survived, hadn't she? "And where is h-where are they… now?" Charlotte whispered, pausing as she waited for Tabitha's response.
"I am not here ta discuss the finer points of the Captain's health," Tabitha snapped, irritated at Charlotte's apparent priorities. "You were recruited ta gather information for the Continental Army. I need that information."
Charlotte's demeanor took an abrupt turn, her back straightening as all emotion was carefully wiped from her face, leaving behind a mask of haughty disdain to rival Tabitha's own. "What information?" she asked with feigned confusion, and Tabitha felt her blood boil. This… insolent little brat… had the nerve…!
"Don' play simple with me, Miss Adams," she snarled. "I havena time for games. We were sent down the Delaware ta attack Hessians in Trenton. Yer cousin gave us tha' intelligence. You have Major Andre's attention." She spat the last part despite having no proof, but the look on Charlotte's face was a clear enough answer for her. "Don' try and tell me ya've heard nothin."
Charlotte remained unmoved by her outburst, and replied, "I share information directly with my handler. Especially now that my… profile has risen, as you say."
"Yer handler lies unconscious-half-frozen an' near death at the side o' the river!" Tabitha shot back, feeling a brief wave of joy at the knowledge of the pain the simple statement was likely to cause the girl. "Until yer otherwise informed, Miss Adams, I am your handler."
Tabitha fought back a satisfied smirk as Charlotte resumed her pacing, a cruel sense of satisfaction overtaking her as the girl's shoulders sagged slightly. But when Charlotte spoke, it was with the same firm clarity as before. "Never in our brief correspondence or...limited interaction" Tabitha arched an eyebrow at the pause. "was I told to default to any other handler than he in case of exceptional circumstances. You'll forgive me for taking my duty to His Excellency's cause more to heart than to abandon such valuable information with one unfamiliar to me," she shot a pointed look at Tabitha. "especially one possessed of so shockingly callous a disregard for his superior's wellbeing."
Tabitha straightened to her full height, and though she was not quite towering over Charlotte, certainly had the intimidating effect she'd desired, even if the girl remained rooted to the floor as she advanced. "Unfamiliar?" Tabitha repeated in a low growl. "Ya recognized me from the docks. Captain Tallmadge himself introduced us. Do ya have such lil faith in the Captain's judgement that ya distrust his own agents?"
Charlotte seemed offended by such a suggestion, but if the firm line of her lips was anything to go by, Tabitha knew, short of strangling the girl with the strand of pearls around her porcelain neck, she was unlikely to get any information out of her. While she would normally have elected to end the conversation and leave Charlotte to stew in apprehension, she quickly remembered her words to Caleb at the riverside, and the somber truth behind them.
He couldn't run.
She decided to switch tactics. "He carries a scarf in his shirt," she said abruptly, clearly surprising Charlotte with the statement. "One I believe yer familiar with."
Her gloved hands pressed together, fingertips resting against her lips as her eyes slid shut. She was trembling, Tabitha noticed, and upon seeing the first crack in the girl's mask, reached into her waistcoat for the knife. If the mere mention of the scarf had such a profound effect on the girl, the knife would be her undoing.
Sukey had started forward as Tabitha retrieved the knife, but at the latter's exasperated expression and the realization she was holding the blade by its leather sheath, stopped at Charlotte's side. "He wishes ta return the gesture," she said as she offered Charlotte the blade. "This was his father's, and now it is yers. The carvin's are his own, if you couldn' tell by the lack o' skill."
Charlotte's face lost all traces of its former stubbornness, a soft smile gracing her features as she accepted the knife, her fingers ghosting across the carvings on the handle. Tabitha bit her lip to keep from making any rude remarks as Charlotte then pressed it to her collarbones, seeming to curl around the item as though by embracing it, she could embrace the man who had gifted it to her. A single tear leaked from her closed eyes, and Tabitha only barely refrained from letting out an exasperated sigh.
"We must go to New Jersey."
Tabitha's mouth fell open as Charlotte resolutely wiped the tear from her face, and was pleased to see Sukey mirroring her irritation. If the other woman was as opposed to Charlotte's ludicrous statement as she herself was, there was a fair chance the girl could be dissuaded.
"Yes. Yes, we will… we will… take advantage of our invitation from Martha." Tabitha's hands curled into fists, and she ground her teeth as she fought the urge to smack the girl upside her pretty head. "She is residing there, soon to be married and move into a home of her own, and she has informed us we are most welcome."
"Ya have no business in Morristown, Miss Adams, and I'll no let meself be demoted should ya be injured on the road," Tabitha snapped over Charlotte's rambling. "Yer of no use to anyone if ya leave the city."
Charlotte continued babbling as though Tabitha hadn't spoken. "I'll draft a letter, purportedly from Martha stating she's anxious - no - desperate to see me, that she is in need of help in planning the affair," Tabitha brought up a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose, squeezing her eyes shut as she willed herself to wake up from this nightmare "being without her mother, and with an ailing father and disabled brother still in Virginia, and we'll suggest to Aunt Catharine that I call for my carriage and continue on to New Jersey. She and Lady Brightlea will be thrilled I'm taking an interest in matrimony."
"You might pose as a relative meaning to deliver her correspondence to me while on business to Setauket." Tabitha opened her eyes as she realized she was being addressed. "Finding me not at home yet alerted by her servants, you are calling here to the house in the process of returning to Morristown, and are offering to escort me."
The hopeful look in her eyes only served to irritate Tabitha further. "Make all the arrangements ya feel necessary, Miss Adams," she said curtly. "But I assure ya, you'll not set foot in the camp. I have General Scott's ear, and if I ask him to deny ya entry, you'll be turned away before ya even lay eyes on Morristown."
Charlotte's face fell, mouth opening slightly in indignation. Tabitha stared back at her, jaw set and bracing herself for further challenge, convinced though she was that she'd won this round. But not ten seconds later, the mischief was back in Charlotte's eyes, and Tabitha felt a wave of uneasiness grip her stomach. "That is rather impressive," Charlotte said with a purr. "Having the General's ear at such a…delicate age. And how old are you, Mr. McKenna?"
Tabitha gulped, eyes shifting as she answered. "I'm 22."
It was Charlotte's turn to advance now, and Tabitha was bewildered that the girl would willingly place herself so close to a man she was unfamiliar with. Unless…
"You must forgive me for what I am about to ask," she said, pausing dramatically before continuing. "Do Ben and Caleb know you're only pretending to be a man?" Tabitha's jaw dropped. "More importantly," she continued in that same condescending purr, "is General Scott aware?"
Shit.
The smug smile adorning Charlotte's mouth was positively sickening, and as Sukey glanced between the two women, Tabitha replied, desperately, "I don' know where ya got such a ridiculous idea-"
"Who are you?"
Charlotte's voice was lower this time, all traces of playfulness and laughter suddenly gone. Two could play at that game, though, and Tabitha summoned all the authority she'd grown accustomed to wielding into her voice. "I am Lieutenant Aaron McKenna of the Second Regiment Light Dragoons, and until further notice, I am yer handler."
No luck. Charlotte simply toyed with the knife in her hands, and sighed the way she would had she been dealing with a stubborn child. "It is imperative that I trust you," she said. "And I cannot do so when you are lying to me."
With a defeated groan, Tabitha pressed her hand back to the bridge of her nose, letting her voice fall back into its natural cadence as she asked, "How did you know?"
Charlotte's small smile was like salt in her wounded pride. "You have the loveliest skin I have ever beheld on a man," she said with a small laugh. "And you are the only gentleman I have ever had occasion to dance with who defaulted to the ladies' part three quarters through."
Tabitha shook her head slightly, bitter in her defeat. "My name is Tabitha," she said finally, as the silence stretched on. "Aaron McKenna was my brother. He was captured and hanged earlier this year." She fought back the lump in her throat that always made itself known whenever she mentioned her brother, and continued, "Tallmadge and Brewster are both aware, and that is part of the reason I was asked to accompany them that night at the docks. They asked for my opinion of you, as a woman, before allowing you to assist Mr. Woodhull."
Charlotte's face had taken on a somewhat gentler expression, for which Tabitha was grateful. If the girl had thought to make a comment mocking the circumstances surrounding her presence in the army, she did not think she could have refrained from physically assaulting her, consequences be damned. "I'll not ask you why," she replied instead, and Tabitha felt her heart pound in a way that had nothing to do with anger. "I am certain I can imagine. If they trust you, I'll trust you." Charlotte paused, the hopeful look returning to her face. "Until tomorrow?" Tabitha didn't understand why the girl was even bothering to ask. She would say Charlotte had her by the balls at this point, but it was only in a figurative sense.
"Very well," Tabitha replied through clenched teeth. "Until tomorrow." She had half-turned back to the window when another thought struck her. "And one more thing…" she added, voice somewhat more subdued. "General Scott knows nothing of who I am, and it is important he remains in the dark."
Charlotte shook her head, and through the short wave of paranoia she'd felt, Tabitha noted the apparent sincerity behind the gesture. "I would not betray you, so long as we remain on the same side," she said. "It is my sincere hope that we will."
She passed the knife from her right hand to the left, extending her free hand to Tabitha in a hopeful gesture of camaraderie. Reluctant though she was to accept it, Tabitha felt openly insulting the girl was not exactly in her best interests, but couldn't resist a small quip as their hands touched. "Trasna ort féin," she said clearly, feeling her mood lighten at the confusion on Charlotte's face.
"To you as well," Charlotte replied hesitantly, and Tabitha pulled her hand back as she turned fully toward the window. Cold as the night was, the biting cold was a welcome sensation on her skin when compared to the smothering atmosphere of the stuffy old house, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she ducked out the window and disappeared into the night.
Translation:
Trasna ort féin - Go fuck yourself