Part 6 is finally here! Yes, this is a very long one, so without further ado I will do the usual memo.

I have skipped the whole way up, because it was too boring. The kids are staying at an inn that happens to be just across the street from the rich guy's house. The house has a grand ballroom, by the way.

Also, the character of John Alexander McGibbon belongs to me (a homage to the great John A. Macdonald…don't laugh, I'm CANADIAN!), as does Sylvia (just a little thing I did for Henri). I don't own Liberty's Kids. If I did this fic would have been a movie. Now, on with the show!

Sarah tried to fasten her locket around her neck. After about four tries, she was unsuccessful. It might have been the frills on her sleeves that prevented her from doing so.

"Marie, can you please put my locket on for me?" Sarah asked politely.

Marie-Claire literally hopped on one foot over to Sarah, who was standing by the mirror. She had only one shoe on, for they were difficult to place on her feet.

"Yes, of course, but only if you tie the back of my dress. I can't reach it, the darned thing."

Sarah sighed, "Marie, you've only got one shoe on."

"Well I can't help it, they don't like me. And they hurt to wear." Marie replied, fastening the locket around Sarah's neck.

Sarah carefully tied the ribbon at the back of Marie's dress, "This is a grand ball. We should look and act our best. And please, no punching people."

Marie smiled mischievously at the memory, "That guy deserved it."

Henri opened the door, "Come on, are you girls ready YET?"

Sarah put her hands on her hips, "Ladies take longer to get ready, since we actually care about our appearances."

Marie-Claire leaned down to whisper in Henri's ear, "If you were wearing a 500-pound outfit and a pair of feet crushers, you'd take awhile to get dressed too."

Henri had a confused look on his face, but he stepped aside and let Marie and Sarah go through the doorway.

"Oh, les filles, les filles," Henri muttered, "I will never understand them."

The three made their way to the hallway inside the inn. James was waiting there.

He got his first look at the two young women in formal wear. Sarah's dress was a pale blue, with lace around the sleeves, neck and bottom of the dress. She had a ribbon pulling back her long red hair, and her mother's locket was around her neck. Little dark blue bows were here and there. Marie-Claire's was yellow. He dark black hair was left down, and her dress also had lace around it. There was a corset-type front, and there were orange ribbons placed in random places on the dress itself. Instead of wearing a bow, Marie had stuck a yellow flower in her hair.

"Wow," He thought, "Sarah and Marie look really pretty."

Of course, he didn't say that out loud.

Sarah smiled, "Well, for once you look quite reformed, James Hiller."

James rolled his eyes, "Please, Sarah. I can't wait until this is over and I can breathe again."

Marie-Claire walked up to him and whispered, "Same here."

James frowned in confusion. He thought all girls loved wearing beautiful dresses. Marie apparently did not. She was so strange.

"I cannot wait to see the food!" Henri exclaimed as they went to walk across the street, "I can just imagine it…succulent deserts, pies, cakes, everything! And appetizers! Sarah, whoever invented THOSE should be interviewed for the Gazette!"

"Oh Henri, you're so silly." Sarah replied to her friend.

They were at the tall doors of the mansion before long. The four children looked around in awe as they entered the ballroom of the house. High ceilings with extravagant designs. Tapestries and chandeliers. Elegant music and people in fine clothing. A long banquet table.

"Food!" Henri cried when he saw the table. James held him back.

"Not so fast," James told him, "We're here to see Dr. Franklin, remember? He invited us."

Henri groaned, "Oh, all right. The food will have to wait."

Marie smiled, "Oh, James, just let him go. You know Henri."

"He'll pester you until he does." Sarah agreed.

Just then, Ben Franklin approached them.

"Hello, Sarah, James and Henri. I'm glad you could make it."

"So are we, Dr. Franklin," James replied, "But what is Sir Cheval? Is he a British sympathizer or is he American?"

"James!" Sarah scolded.

"He is an American man," Dr. Franklin answered, "A very supportive one at that. He is thinking of joining our cause."

"This is great," James said, "Please excuse me, sir, I need to write this down."

Sarah scoffed. James could be such an annoyance sometimes. She tried not to show she was a little jealous that he got to the story first.

"You must be Marie-Claire," Dr, Franklin said suddenly, "It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise," Marie replied, "I can't thank you enough for allowing me to stay at your print shop. It is truly amazing that someone of your high stature would allow a weak girl like me into your home."

"A friend in need is a friend indeed," Ben Franklin said, "It was nice meeting you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must speak with the other men who are here. Some of them have opinions they would like to share with me about Congress."

"Dr. Franklin is such a nice man," Marie said to Sarah, "You don't see that very often where I come from."

"I thought you said you came from England." Sarah said, a puzzled look spreading across her face.

"I did," Marie said, "But I have seen other places. I left England when I was very young, Sarah. The people I met…well…they weren't the nicest folks you'd ever meet. Noblemen are mostly concerned for themselves these days."

"That is what the Marquis de Lafayette said," Sarah told her, "Henri told us. You see, he was a French nobleman who came to join our-"

"Yes, I have heard of him," Marie nodded, "But Sarah, please don't tell anyone what I have just told you. I must sit down. These shoes are killing me."

Marie left a bewildered Sarah by herself. Henri was already attacking the banquet table, and one young girl seemed rather amused. Gazing around the room, Marie found a pair of chairs against a wall in front of a painting of a garden. James was seated in one of them, writing furiously on a piece of paper.

Marie-Claire sat down in the chair beside James, sighing.

"Thank heavens they have chairs in here," Marie whispered, curling a hair behind her ear, "My shoes are murder to walk in. How about you? Choking to death yet?"

James smiled, "Sarah showed me how to loosen it."

Marie smiled back, "Lucky you."

Henri came walking over to them, carrying a small plate of food.

"Aren't you two going to dance?" Henri asked them merrily.

James and Marie-Claire looked at each other.

"Uh…Marie's shoes are bothering her," James said, trying to avoid eye-contact with the French boy, "And I can't dance."

Marie nodded quickly.

Henri rolled his eyes, "Well then, you are going to be the only ones not dancing. I have found a girl to dance with, in fact! Her name is Sylvia…"

A little girl, just under Henri's height, waved at him. She was wearing a pink dress and had various bows in her blonde hair. Henri blushed and waved back at her. James tried not to laugh and Marie smiled, recognizing the girl from the banquet table.

"Go on, dance with her." She urged him.

Henri shook his head, "Non. Only if you dance with James."

Marie's eyes grew wide and she cast James a glance. James shot Henri a glare and stood up.

Marie-Claire took his hand as he led her to the ballroom floor. It was awkward, and she could feel herself sweating nervously. He took her hand and put the other on his waist. Marie put her right arm around his neck, and the dance began.

"I'm going to kill Henri for this." James muttered, but loud enough so Marie could here.

"You two just don't know when to quit, do you?" Marie said, laughing.

James smiled and nodded, "There's a point where I draw the line."

Marie looked James in the eye. He felt a strange sensation run through him.

"You don't fight when Dr. Franklin is around; you'd get in trouble." Marie answered.

James frowned, "Yeah…how did you know that?"

Marie shrugged, "I know things."

Silence. The dance continued on. Marie and James found themselves enjoying it, though neither would admit it out loud.

"You aren't a bad dancer." Marie blurted out.

"Uh, thanks." James replied, not knowing what to say. He was surprised he wasn't stepping all over her feet yet. He found himself sweating nervously.

Marie smiled and looked down at the floor. Never had she found dancing so difficult. It felt like her feet were stuck to the floor and she had to drag them up in order to move.

As they turned, Marie casually glanced over James' shoulder.

"Oh my goodness, look over by the banquet table." She urged him.

James nonchalantly looked by the table. Sarah was speaking with a boy about 3 years older than her. They appeared to be enjoying their conversation.

"That's John Alexander McGibbon," James whispered, "She's sweet on him."

"Ah, really?" Marie smiled, "Thank you for the dance, Mr. Hiller, but excuse me for a moment."

James looked confused as she left him to go to the banquet table.

"…and I must say that there is such an amazing group that lead the battle," Mr. McGibbon was saying as Marie pretended to grab a glass of wine, "Not a single soul out there retreated."

"It must have been difficult." Sarah said, immersed in conversation to even notice Marie was watching them.

"Not as difficult as a fine writer like yourself having to write about it." Mr. McGibbon smiled.

Marie stifled a laugh. They had to be flirting. She went to take a drink of wine.

"It is good for the people to know what is going on," Sarah explained, "But I must admit it is difficult to see all the suffering of the soldiers at times."

"It is," Mr. McGibbon said, "Sometimes some of them are my friends. But it is a good thing that we have our good General."

"General?" Sarah asked him, "What is his name?"

Marie was smiling by now. Sarah was looking at him the way she might look at someone if she were sleepy. This was funny. She happily went to take a drink of wine.

Mr. McGibbon replied to Sarah's questions, "Lord Sampson."

Marie-Claire almost choked.

"Interesting." Sarah said.

Breathe, just breathe, Marie told herself. At least he wasn't anywhere near her. Everything was going to be all right. The young girl went to take another sip.

"You could ask him a few questions if you would like to," Mr. McGibbon continued, "He's arriving here tonight. He should be here any moment."

She dropped her glass and spat out her wine. The few people that were around her looked at her like she was a wild animal. Marie gave them a weak smile and began to walk away quite quickly, feeling her stomach flipping around inside her.

"Marie, what is the matter? Are you sick?" Henri ran after his friend as she led herself to the next room. It was just an empty dining room area.

"I think I'm going to be," Marie-Claire replied to him, "Please, Henri, I really think I should go back to the inn."

"Non! You cannot. I have to tell James and Sarah first!" Henri said.

"Ok, ok, you do that," Marie said, fanning herself, "Is it me or is it warm in here?"

The young girl paced back and forth, and then finally returned the ballroom. Feeling very nervous, she stared down at the floor. The floor was very shiny, even shinier than the gold buttons on this rich guy's shirt she had seen when she was 7. Ok, no more looking at the floor. Marie lifted her head up slowly and began to walk towards the door, so lost into her own thoughts she bumped right into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't- AAGH!"

Marie-Claire covered her mouth after she let out a small yelp. What she had feared the most had now come true. How could she escape that face? Those evil eyes? That glare? All of it had haunted her since she escaped. Now he stood before her.

"Marie, this is Lord Sampson," Sarah explained, who had apparently just met him, "He is an American General."

Lord Sampson was a tall and strong-built man. His dark black hair was hidden beneath a wig. But those eyes…they were cold, dark gray. Marie already knew this man.

Sarah frowned, "Marie-Claire, introduce yourself. Don't be rude, now."

Marie felt her heart beating faster and faster. Her face turned completely white. Her skin was light to begin with, but now she looked almost dead.

Lord Sampson looked down at her and bellowed, "Good evening."

James and Henri were soon beside Sarah.

"What's wrong?" Henri asked her.

Marie couldn't speak. She felt like she was frozen. A small, evil smile spread across Lord Sampson's face. This made it worse.

"I…I have to go." Marie said, backing away from them.

"Go? Why?" James asked. By now everyone except Lord Sampson were looking at her like she had completely lost her mind.

Marie took a deep breath, and without thinking, shouted, "BECAUSE LORD SAMPSON'S GOING TO ATTACK THE AMERICANS TOMORROW MORNING!"

The entire room went quiet. Marie-Claire covered her mouth and ran.

Quite suspenseful, hmm? Well, it was enjoyable to write it. Poor Marie-Claire. And where is she running? Why is she so freaked out? Quite a bit, and her dark secret, shall be revealed in the next chapter. SERIOUSLY! Loverly yours, Autumn