Elizabeth was sitting in her tent thinking about her exchange with Ben. She had acted like such a scared child and she knew that. She felt like she could've kicked herself for rejecting Ben so completely when it was clear he only wanted to help.
But she couldn't fight the nagging feeling that she had at the pit of her stomach. The feeling that she was a traitor and for him to love a traitor was simply inconceivable. She hoped that he would see her for what she was and would move on. It would silently kill her, she knew, but hopefully it would make a better match for Ben.
She saw the shadow of a man standing at the entrance of the tent suddenly cast beside her. She turned and saw the Reverend Tallmadge looking at her expectantly. She nodded for him to enter but couldn't muster any words.
He sat in the chair that had only minutes ago been occupied by his son.
"I take it by that look that Benjamin has already been here," he said to her. She nodded and instantly felt ashamed once again. "He's still hopelessly devoted to you."
"And I, him," she replied. "That's what's so wrong."
"Elizabeth, you can't possibly think that your marriage to Johnathan Brooks should or has negatively affected his view of you. Quite the opposite actually," the Reverend told her.
"Well, Ben always was a romantic," she said. The Reverend offered a chuckle.
"Aye, yes but so were you if I remember correctly," he added. Elizabeth cast her gaze to the ground. "Try to let him in," the Reverend implored as he stood up and left.
She made up her mind then to join Ben at dinner so she cleaned herself up, fixed her hair and left the tent.
Elizabeth entered the house carefully. She wasn't sure what to expect. It looked as if the men were just about to sit down to eat and when Ben saw her, he broke out into an astonished smile. Only to herself could she admit how much she had missed that smile.
"General Washington," Caleb spoke up, "this is my cousin, Elizabeth." Ben was grateful that Caleb had introduced her because he would not know how to refer to her.
"Ah, yes," Washington replied nodding to her, "the heroine of her people in Setauket so I have been told."
"Sir, I could hardly call it that," she declined but the Reverend spoke up.
"You have always been too modest, Elizabeth," he said. "Your actions saved the lives of many in that town." She looked away sheepishly.
But not all of them, she thought sadly.
Washington gestured for everyone to take their seats. Elizabeth took the empty seat next to Ben and across from Caleb. Though she couldn't admit it, having Ben so close calmed some of the turmoil she felt. She had noticed it earlier but had chosen to ignore it. Before Ben could say anything, dinner was being served.
Dinner was a fairly silent affair until afterward when the Commander spoke up.
"It's time to discuss my purpose here," he announced. Elizabeth felt Ben stiffen in his seat. "You see, I saw something interesting in all of this Setauket business. If we can inspire other citizens to rise up against the British occupation in their cities, we can weaken Howe's army. Officers will have to focus more on their own operations and less on our movements."
Many of the officers mumbled their agreement.
"And how, sir?" Ben asked.
"Patriotism," Elizabeth spoke up.
"Exactly," the Commander smiled brightly.
"What can we do, sir?" Caleb inquired.
"Well, I think right now, you are needed more on the front. In fact all of our officers and soldiers are going to be needed more than ever in the fighting. No, I think this kind of mission is more suited for someone else," he said looking rather expectantly at Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, sir?" Ben interjected.
"Will you all excuse us? I need to have a private word with Ms. Brewster, the Major and Lieutenant Brewster," Washington requested and the officers filed out of the room. All three noticed that he had addressed Elizabeth as if she hadn't been married but none made a move to correct him.
Once they were gone, Washington spoke again.
"I was much impressed with what you did in Setauket," he said.
"I did what I had to, sir," she replied.
"And I'm sorry for the loss that you and your cousin have suffered because of it," he added. Both Elizabeth and Caleb nodded in appreciation. "But nevertheless there is a war going on, one that I'm going to need all three of you to end."
"The three of us?" Elizabeth inquired.
"Yes," Washington responded. "In the morning, I need to return to Virginia and you two still have a mission to carry out." Elizabeth glanced curiously at both Ben and Caleb. "But Elizabeth, you possess something that no soldier can boast of. You have shown enormous strength in the face of adversity. Reminds me a bit of my Martha." He paused fondly. "That is why I need you with my wife in Mount Vernon. You two symbolize the strength of the everyday citizen; a beacon of hope, as it were, to inspire others to aspire to your bravery."
"If I may speak freely sir," Elizabeth began rather quietly, "I fail to see how my actions have been so worthy of a pedestal."
"Elizabeth," Ben breathed looking at her.
"I'm not worthy of any honor sir," she concluded.
"I see," Washington replied. "It's a shame I do not agree with you. Marrying a British officer to protect your father is, in my opinion very honorable. And offering to take his place at the noose is downright courageous. I'm not asking you to accept anyone's praise. I need you to continue to fight by showing others that they can. Show the people that they do not have to put up with this tyranny any longer. Talk of worth can wait until this is all over." Elizabeth didn't know that the Commander had knowledge of her marriage. In fact, there was a great deal she suspected that he knew about her.
"Very well, sir, I shall do as you ask," she accepted bowing slightly to him.
"Excellent," Washington smiled and then turned toward Ben and Caleb. "Your next mission is to escort Ms. Brewster and the rest of your refugees to Mount Vernon. There is a town not far from there where your friends can settle in neutral territory. I shall join you there for the Spring Party and we can discuss the Culpeper ring and your mission in more depth there."
All three patriots nodded and Washington moved to put on his hat as he left. He paused just a moment more to say, "I suggest you catch Ms. Brewster up on the Culpeper Ring as it may end up having some bearing on her as well. Good evening gentlemen and lady." They all nodded their respect and then found themselves alone.
"Imagine all five of us working together again!" Caleb remarked incredulously. Elizabeth continued to look confused.
"Five of us? You mean..." She trailed off deep in thought.
"For the past couple of months Abraham and Anna have been doing some mission work for us," Caleb explained. Elizabeth thought silently. Of course they hadn't asked her, she had married the enemy; she was a traitor.
"It was mostly Abraham but we needed Anna to signal us. The Strong house overlooks the harbor and I suspect Abraham needed a reason to see Anna," Ben said trying to explain. He could see the guilt in her eyes and he desperately wanted her to stop blaming herself. "That was how we started the Culpeper Ring."
"The Culpeper Ring?" Elizabeth asked.
"Washington's idea," Caleb answered. "Actually Woody's codename."
"Which brings us to this," Ben added pulling out a small worn book. He handed it to Elizabeth purposefully holding it so that when she took it, their hands touched. The light blush in her cheeks told him that she still felt the same sparks that he did. "It's all of our codes."
"Is this," Elizabeth started.
"Mine," he finished. "Yes, it's not of much use to me."
"Thank you," she said in a small voice. "For trusting me with this."
"Elizabeth, we trust you with everything," Caleb responded confused. He moved to place a hand on her shoulder but she took a step back away from him. Elizabeth looked at the ground. Ben finally couldn't take it any longer.
"Elizabeth, you must stop this. Nothing that you did was your fault and no one blames you for it; least of all us," Ben urged. "You have to believe us." Elizabeth finally let a few tears fall.
"I do," she said. "I promise I do."
"Then what's wrong?" Caleb asked. He wasn't originally going to get involved but this was his cousin they were talking to. Elizabeth took a moment to gather her thoughts.
"When I was married to Johnathan, I spent the first few months hating him and hating the whole British army for making me marry a man I could never care for. He was mean and he was violent. But after a while I started thinking that I had done this to myself. I had agreed to marry him. I mean, he may have threatened to hurt my father but I was the one who agreed," she reasoned.
"But you couldn't have said no," Ben offered. "They would have become suspicious and if he had killed your father…"
"I know that. Nevertheless it was my choice to make and with my father gone, it's like that year of torture was for nothing." She let that hang in the air. It was the thought that was plaguing her most since Simcoe had shot her father. It made sense to both men standing in the room as well that she would feel this way.
"But it wasn't for nothing," Ben finally said trying to get her to look at him, "because now we are together again and that wouldn't have happened if you had been arrested a year ago." For the first time, he saw her offer a small smile as she nodded. It was the shred of hope that he needed.