Chapter 6

Kristina was delighted to learn that Colonel Tavington, Lord Cornwallis, and a few other officials were to stay with them til the coming Saturday, which was five days hence. She sent word to Jane and the girls through a trusted employee of the estate; knowing full well what their faces would look like once they received it. In case the letter was somehow intercepted, she had carefully arranged the wording so that no one could possibly think it nothing but an available bachelorette's girlish invitation.

Dearest Cousin,

I daresay I miss you quite fiercely, and I hope my next stay will be a longer one. Once again I thank you for your generous hospitality. I am pleased to inform you of some most advantageous news. My father has decided to throw a grand ball this Friday, and I am allowed to bring guests! You and whomever you feel comfortable taking are to arrive precisely at ten o clock Friday morning, and father says you may stay as long as you like! Many fine young gentlemen will be there, as well as various bureaucrats including the great Lord Cornwallis himself! He is, in fact, staying with us right now, and he has delightfully warned me of several officers he would like to introduce. I cannot wait to engage in conversation with them, and hopefully at least one will steal my heart away. I await your arrival most anxious.

Your truly,

Kristina Doyle

She shivered at the folly the letter contained, and prayed to God she never turned out to be one of those desperate women always feeding off wealth and power; balls and gowns. They were the stereotype that prevented a woman's achievements in literature, medicine, and even teaching; they were outcast to the household, where only tittle-tattle and discordant giggling pursued. Hopefully Jane could read in between the lines and see the letter for what it truly meant. She needed all her spies present. This ball was with out a doubt the most important meeting for the British officers; obviously plans for the upcoming battle would be discussed.

Getting the information would be quite impossible. Her estate would be highly guarded; if any spies were present, they would surely be caught and hanged. Kristina thought back to what Benjamin Martin had told her. He had blatantly acknowledged his contempt for her fairly 'sexual' methods in acquiring critical information, but at the moment, it seemed his words could not fully grasp their significance. She was too close, this was too important, and her girls would not listen anyways. They would do what they had to do. This was much bigger than themselves. She couldn't see how men could die for independence and be considered heroes in society, but women who sold their bodies for freedom, liberty, and equality could be regarded as sluts.

Was she wrong in thinking this? Somehow her stomach lurched every time she 'used' a man to get what she needed. Whether it be a simple flirtation or a one night stand, every time she walked away with some form of information she couldn't shake the idea that there were better ways; ways that did not condemn her innocence.

And what of the British Colonel Evan Tavington? Was he to suffer the same deceit as the rest? She recalled the day before, when they walked hand in hand in the garden. Never before had she felt the need to trust the enemy, but this one was different. She remembered their conversation quite clearly.

"What are you opinions of this war, Colonel?" She had asked as she picked a daffodil. He had grinned widely.

" A soldier never expresses opinion, never questions his responsibility; he obeys his officer and fulfills the duties of the British Royal Military."

To this she had laughed and shook her head. "Sir, you are giving me a most refined answer. And as an officer, YOU are the one who makes opinions to your soldiers. As my guest, you must speak truthfully, or I shall have you disbanded from this house." To prove her point, she mischievously pointed her finger out to the dirt road behind. He raised an eyebrow.

"Are you threatening me, miss?" That same twinkle appeared in the depths of his eyes.

"MISTER Tavington, how dare you suggest such a thing." Both grinned again. "I was merely ascertaining the fact that my question was quickly answered with a definition rather than an answer of your own accord."

"Touché. All right, if you are so bold as to push the matter so far, I will give you my most opinionated answer about opinions. The sole reason I joined His Majesty's army was to attain power and wealth like any bureaucrat you see."

She stared deep into his eyes, not knowing what they held. Finally, with confidence, she spoke. "You are good at avoiding answers. I highly doubt your character is so shallow that money is by all means your obsession, so your response is quite insufficient. Continue." Who knows how long this game will be played? She thought. Though it makes me laugh.

Sighing with indignity, he spoke once more. "Perhaps the American air makes you women so vivacious. My family decided that the military was the best thing for me, seeing as how my uncle had done so well for himself. Truth be told, I'm a peace loving man. I've seen the effects war has on people; on both sides. The Americans want freedom; perhaps it would be best if the King gave it to them, and end this mess. Importing and exporting between the two nations would resume, and no more blood would have to be shed."

She was quite taken aback, as she had thought he wouldn't be so bold as to be declaring how the King SHOULD do things. Still, it delighted her to no end, and all she did was nod.

Looking back on yesterday's events, her stomach felt queasy. Was she to perjure herself and spy on him too? This man who seemed to be the first decent soldier she had ever met? She couldn't think about that now. With any luck, this war will come to an end soon enough, and life will be, well, livable again. Then she wouldn't be in any position she didn't want to be in.

***************

She didn't know why she did this, but she sent another letter to Benjamin Martin within that very week, letting him know where General Cornwallis was staying. An immediate reply followed, saying how grateful he was to this. He requested her help, rather desperately in her mind. He didn't give away much in the letter, just enough to give her the idea that the American army was fewer in number and any information would hopefully sneak their way into victory, for the only alternative now was to play by wits, not strength and manpower. To this Kristina sighed with annoyance. Maybe their manpower would be greater if this man had just let her and her girls fight.

Jane had always told her that Kris was too one sided; she couldn't see beyond the box in front, and it was her flaw that most discovered quickly. To still admire Benjamin Martin after his contempt for her 'militia' was breaking her normal character.

The ball was the following day, and she had a lot to accomplish. Not all her girls were able to attend. Some had families that were well known 'traitors' to England; while others could not possibly pass off as eligible bachelorettes looking for a man in uniform. Jane would be there, playing the friend to Kristina whom she had met at her cousin's. Two of her girls, Mary Wellington and Patricia Norfolk, had been 'hired' as a singing act for the ball. Both were beautiful girls who delighted in mens company from dusk til dawn, so getting information was just an act of pure fun. Elena Mandolin was the late Captain Mandolin's daughter; she holds as much hate for the British as Kristina. Elena's brother had been accidentally killed while loading a cannon against the Americans. Elena's anger was set forth when she overheard a good number of British officers laughing at the idea of such a 'stupid boy'. She was one of the first people to band together with Kris, and Kristina knew she was as trustworthy as they come.

That night a thousand scenarios rushed through her head as she slept. What if one of the girls was discovered? What if Kris herself was discovered? What if Evan found out she had killed his uncle? Why did this whole bloody war matter so much to her anyway? To this question, she awoke, her heart pounding, tears gushing down her face, though she dared not shout out. Don't EVER ask that again, she told herself. Nobody knew the true reason why she fought, save Jane, who never reminded her of it. Suddenly a pain she had not felt for two years lashed out, and she gripped her bed. "Damn that man. Damn him to hell."