Elizabeth woke up naturally and fully rested. She didn't have nightmares and she didn't wake up in the middle of the night. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept like that.
There was a knock at her door and she opened it to find Martha beaming at her.
"My, you look happy this morning!" she noted cheerfully.
"I slept well," Elizabeth answered.
"I'm sure camping must have made sleep impossible," Martha said. "Anyway, I came because we need to get you a dress for the party." Normally, Elizabeth would refuse but aside from the dresses Martha had set aside for her in the cabinet she didn't have anything to wear. So she nodded and followed Martha to her room.
Martha had beautiful gowns in every color Elizabeth could imagine. She looked through all of them until one caught her eye. It was a deep blue gown; the giant ball gown she had always wanted to wear with an enormous skirt. The color was a near perfect match to that of Ben's coat. When she put it on, the sleeves hung off her shoulders leaving them bare.
"A perfect Patriot's dress," Martha smiled. Elizabeth nodded and twirled a little. "I'll have my house maid hang it in your room."
Elizabeth got ready for the party alone. She didn't like not having Anna around but she knew Anna was where she needed to be. When she left her room, Martha was waiting for her.
"Shall we?" Martha asked. Elizabeth nodded. She took Martha's arm and proceeded down the stairs.
She saw Ben first. He was standing talking to General Washington and the Reverend. She couldn't help but notice how splendid he looked in his uniform all pressed for the party. When he caught sight of her, he seemed to stop midsentence. This did not go unnoticed by Washington who turned to see what had caught Ben's attention. Seeing his wife and Elizabeth, he chuckled and smiled.
"You always know how to make an entrance," he said to his wife as he kissed her on the cheek. "I do hope you don't end up being a bad influence on Ms. Brewster."
"You underestimate me, George," Martha replied laughing. "I'm going to be a horrid influence on her."
Ben missed most of their exchange because he was too focused on Elizabeth. Something had changed in her demeanor and she looked happy; or at least happier than he had seen her in a long time. She also looked beautiful and he silently hoped that she had chosen her dress specifically to match his uniform.
Caleb came over to them and hugged his cousin.
"You look amazing," he said picking her up and spinning her around. She giggled a little which caused Caleb and Ben some surprise.
"Doesn't she?" Martha beamed. She squeezed the arm of her husband and urged him to go mingle with her.
"Please enjoy the party," Washington said gesturing for them to join the festivities.
Throughout the evening, Elizabeth was often stopped by the women of the nearby town and complimented on her dress. She smiled and nodded her thanks and sometimes even stopped to chat. She found the conversations comforting as they weren't much different than the ones she would be privy to at home.
Ben and Caleb also introduced her to many of their officer friends. They made sure to have her meet General Scott who was rather intrigued that a woman had known of his camp at Frog's Point over a year ago and the British officers remained unaware.
"Men don't often think about what they say in a woman's presence," she answered making all of the men laugh uncomfortably. "And they never imagine that we know anything they don't." Caleb and Ben exchanged a look both noting that this was the first they had seen of the Elizabeth they had grown up with.
"That would explain my Martha," Washington laughed. The officers nodded and the party went on.
Sometime later, Ben found Elizabeth standing alone. She seemed to be silently observing the festivities although she didn't look sad about it.
"Would you like to go for a walk?" he asked thankful for a reason to get her alone.
"And leave this party?" she asked making him regret asking. He worried that she really didn't want to leave until she began to laugh holding out her hand. "Yes, please." She added. He took her hand and was relieved not only that she wanted to go with him but also that this was the Elizabeth he had known all his life returned to him again in one form or another.
They walked arm in arm in the meadow next to the house.
"How's the party?" Ben asked once they were a decent distance from the house.
"Overwhelming, I haven't been in a room with that many people since the Summer Ball a year and a half ago."
"Nor have I," he agreed. "We don't often take the time to have parties on the front."
"Do you miss the fighting?" she asked.
"No," he answered truthfully. "But I don't mind it, not if it means I can fight for our freedom." Elizabeth nodded silently. Ben stopped walking and looked at her. He used his hand to tilt he head up so he could look her in the eyes. She didn't really look sad but there was some contemplation in her face. "What are you thinking?" he asked.
"This war. I'm worried about what will be left when it's over," she said honestly.
"I worry about that too sometimes," Ben admitted. "But then I think about what it would be like if we hadn't chosen to fight. We are ready to be our own country and if we spend much longer under British control, it could get a lot worse." Elizabeth nodded again.
"I just hope it ends soon. Everyone has lost so much already," she said.
"Me too," he said and they resumed their walk. Elizabeth found herself leaning into Ben as they walked.
The two of them found their way to an outcrop of trees. Elizabeth was unsure if they should head back or not but she really didn't want her alone time with Ben to end.
"Elizabeth," he said causing her to look at him. "I have a confession to make. I didn't just bring you out here to get away from the party." He could tell by the look on her face that Elizabeth didn't understand his meaning.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Well," he began getting nervous, an emotion he didn't often feel around Elizabeth. "I talked to Caleb about this because I knew he's about the closest I can get to talking to your father."
Realization flooded into her eyes and he pulled out the small brown box causing Elizabeth to gasp. She covered her mouth with her hands and Ben couldn't tell if she was smiling or not.
"I know you have been through so much in the last year and a half and maybe this is too soon but we have known each other since we were eight years old. You know me better than anyone including my father and my," he paused, "and Sam. In all of my life there has only ever been you. And I know my leaving was hard and it made everything so much more complicated, but I love you. All of you. Everything about you. Elizabeth, will you marry me?" She paused just long enough to catch her breath but it felt like an eternity to Ben.
"You're sure?" she asked offering him a way out.
"More than I was about joining the Continentals."
"Then yes, Ben. Yes," she replied. He took her into his arms and swung her around. He kissed her as soundly as he could though he was shaking terribly.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you, too," she replied without a hesitation. He took his mother's ring out of the box and gently slid it on to her finger. He kissed her again and hugged her to him. "We should go tell your father and Caleb," she said. He nodded and then kissed her one last time. They headed back to the house at a significantly faster pace than the one they had taken away from it hand in hand.
Caleb knew what had happened as soon as they returned. He actually knew when he saw them leave but it wasn't until they both returned beaming that he was sure. Elizabeth walked right up and hugged him when she saw him.
"You said yes, then," Caleb asked her though he hardly needed to. Elizabeth nodded smiling. "I'm so happy for the both of ya!" he exclaimed embracing Ben.
"Happy about what?" Reverend Tallmadge asked approaching them. He immediately took note of the brightness in Elizabeth's demeanor.
"Father," Ben started. "I, um, asked Elizabeth to marry me." He held up his hand that was holding Elizabeth's; the one with the ring on it. "She accepted."
"It's about time," the Reverend said startling both Elizabeth and Ben. "Come here," he added moving to embrace his son and then Elizabeth. General Washington too joined their group.
"And what is this?" he asked soundly oddly intrigued.
"We're engaged, sir," Ben replied sheepishly.
"And when is the happy occasion?" he inquired. Ben and Elizabeth suddenly looked at each other. Neither had even begun to think that far. It could be years before they saw each other again. Washington suddenly softened into a light smile and chuckled. "Reverend Tallmadge, seeing as we must leave in two days' time, might I ask if you have tomorrow open to, perhaps, officiate a wedding?" Everyone looked taken aback for a moment except the Reverend.
"I think I could set some time aside," he said knowingly as he turned to look at his son. Ben looked to Elizabeth who had recovered and was smiling. She looked at him and nodded without any hesitation.
"Yes, sir," he said. "Thank you, sir." He shook hands with the general and then his father who pulled him in for a proper hug. Elizabeth curtsied to the General and then hugged Reverend Tallmadge again. By that time the party had wound down and everyone was leaving. Martha made an excuse that she was getting rather tired and begged that her and Elizabeth needed to rest for the events that were to unfold the next day. Ben turned and kissed his fiancé.
"Tomorrow?" he whispered only to her.
"Tomorrow," she silently agreed.