Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who is sticking with this story. I apologise for the long break between chapters. Chapters are quite long and the longer this story gets the more technical it gets both in terms of plot and in historical research. Parts of this chapter are quite technical but I wanted to incorporate a number of things that were going on at the time this story is set.

"...And the Major General Sir Henry James Pearce was therefore caught in a very compromising position with his britches open just as the new Lady Pearce walked in." Juliet finished her monologue with a delicate wave of her fan and a calculating smile.

Lord Hunter observed his mistress from his position sitting on the loveseat in his private drawing room in his Bath mansion. "How the devil does a man like that get a knighthood?"

Juliet's face fell. "I believe you were in the Americas at the time, Sir," She replied with a degree of curtness. She had thought her plan cunning but she now wondered if her efforts had gone entirely unappreciated. "Tell me, how is the slave trade these days?"

"Horrific. All the estates are being forced to go to South America for fresh slaves, inflating the prices. We try and breed them of course and a child a year is to be expected from each female in a well run estate. Naturally the estate managers take it upon themselves to ensure all female slaves are covered regularly by either themelves or the males they have picked out for that purpose but sadly there is always attrition through disease, death and child birth not to mention those we are required to punish for disobedience. Few survive those trials, which is a waste of labour but it cannot be helped. Fresh blood will always be needed and now with the Atlantic trade blocked I fear I may be forced to go to Zanzibar and the only thing that holds me back is the expense of bothering to arrange everything when the cargo many not survive the voyage. Ever since Lord Mansfield ruled on the Zong case some years ago now, insurers look for any excuse to get out of paying and the 1807 Act has only made matters worse. As if it wasn't hard enough to turn a decent profit these days. First the government undermines my shipping investments by abolishing the trade, harms my business interests with their damnable rules on flags at sea – every ship I run seems to get boarded either by my own bloody government or the damned Frogs and now they seek to start a war and raze the whole lot to the ground. Well I'll be damned if they'll get away with it on my watch. I'm starting to think John Bellingham had the right idea."

Juliet smiled politely and moved towards her lover, blinking her eyes at him and showing off her bosom. She reached out and trailed a finger enticingly down his person. "Indeed Sir, I fear you are getting quite distressed. Perhaps I can think of something more...relaxing...to pass the time."

Hunter's grin was slow and dirty and he grabbed the woman in front of him, ruffling up her skirts to find the open gusset of her drawers.

It was about a week later when Lady Pearce was enjoying tea in the Morning Room with her husband along with a lively discussion of the works of Thomas Paine when there was an urgent knock on the front door. Moments later a footman entered with a sealed letter.

"A messenger from London, Sir. I do believe the matter is quiet urgent."

Sir Harry reached for the letter and tore open the seal. He stared, drinking up the scribbled words. Ruth stepped forwards and put a hand on his arm.

"Harry?" She enquired, concerned by the expression on his face.

"The invasion has begun. Lord Liverpool writes to inform me they have just received confirmation that British ships landed at the four sites identified for the invasion of the United States some six weeks ago."

"But negotiations in Ghent are about to begin!" Ruth exclaimed.

"Yes," Harry hummed, "I rather suspect that is exactly the point. Ever since the death of Tecumseh our negotiating position has been significantly weakened. Without the Indian tribes in the North West to counter the United States expansionism in that part of the continent something had to be done to send the US government a message and ideally while Madison is in power. It is by no means certain that he will win the upcoming election."

Ruth nodded. "If his opponent should win and there is a move towards a stronger federal government their chances of military success will be much increased if nothing else the reinstatement of a National Bank would make it much easier to deal with the finances entailed in maintaining a standing army. As things stand Madison's political position domestically strengthens Britain's position in the conflict and while our tactics have been unpopular with the merchants – the assassination of Prime Minister Percival not two years ago is proof enough of that – I doubt anyone in government or the Admiralty has forgotten it was the United States who declared war on us. Still, Harry, invading the United States of America with France still considering renewing their own declaration does seem rather short sighted."

Harry sighed and turned away to pace the room. "They want the death blow, Ruth, whether by treaty or militarily. United States expansionism is a threat to the British Empire. There are those who would like to once more rule that part of the world. Personally I think it's unlikely we will get that far but if we cannot rule them then I can only surmise the aim will be to cow them as much as possible. The fact that the US government was upset about the raiding of their ships is hardly surprising but we all know they were only looking for a reason. As it is they're using the war with us an excuse to expand into Florida. I believe the conflict there involves both the Spanish and the Seminoles, as if the whole matter were not complicated enough already." Harry shook his head.

"Do we have contacts in Florida?"

Harry sank into a seat and ran a hand over his face. "Some but it's not a primary concern right now. We have to keep our eye on the American election. They're holding them state by state. So far the Federalists seem to be bearing up although with perhaps a somewhat diminished presence in Congress."

"Your correspondence mentioned the United States has established a new Fort on the Mississippi River at Prarie du Chien. I presume there is concern about a possible renewal of an agreement between the United States and some of the Indian tribes to the West." Ruth paused for thought. "I thought the Indian tribes were allied with us?"

Harry sighed. "It's complicated. I imagine the United States will do what they have always done and will form alliances when it suits them and break those alliances when they want that land. As more and more people emigrate across the Atlantic the pressure for new land will only increase."

"And Lord Hunter will doubtless use any opportunity he can to expand his business interests. The United States still allows Slavery, although mostly in already settled parts of the Continent. How far up do you suppose his betrayal goes? Do you imagine Amercian politicians are as eager to have their egos stroked as some of our domestic ones?"

Sir Harry sighed heavily. He thought it best not to answer that one – his view of politicians in general was not entirely positive.

Ruth carried on, regardless. "I do wonder about President Madison though. Does his position on Federal Governance not strengthen the British cause in the war?"

"I suppose it does rather. The matter is complicated by the manner in which Madison has changed his opinions in recent years. More and more, however, he has come to champion the rights of individual states and deconstructed much of the central power build up by the Federalists. He has weakened the military by supporting a move against conscription and he was amongst those against renewing the US National Bank three years ago and the institution fell apart. You are doubtless conscious of the difficulties in waging a war without such things and there is talk that New England is unhappy with the US position in the current war and may break away altogether."

"Then why are we invading Boston if they're already helping the British cause? The only reason can be to make a historical point. Do you suppose they'll fish the tea out of the harbour as well?"

Harry snorted, "You ought to know by now, Ruth, not to speak of British Military policy and common sense in the same breath."

Ruth smiled. "No, I suppose not." She paced a little. "We know that Hunter sees his business interests best furthered by supporting the United States and that British policy has harmed his profit and affected his ability to get labour for his estates. If his business interests are his only concern he would no doubt support the Federalists, but Hunter is best empowered by weak governance and in that case he would support the incumbent. On the other hand, this is Hunter so he will probably support whoever supports slavery and helps his business interests and the rest be done with it. He has enough money and influence that he can always make friends in the right places if it suits him."

"Doubtless," Harry sighed and ran a hand over his face. All this talk of Lord Hunter was exhausting him. US politics was a messy game and none of this furthered their work on his espionage activities.

"Do you think I should get in touch with some of my father's old Navy contacts?"

Harry looked up.

"I only mean, we know Hunter must be communicating across the Atlantic with whoever acts on his behalf in the United States when he is in England and we have had little luck intercepting any of those. Perhaps some of my father's contacts who are now engaged in regulating trade in the Atlantic could be of help? If anything suspicious was uncovered on board a neutral ship stopped in search of deserters, for example."

"Do you think they have networks?" Harry mused. "The deserters?"

"Oh, it would be far too dangerous! But loose affiliations, perhaps. It is always easy to tell another sailor from his walk or his clothes or his tattoos and there will be certain places that they congregate. I imagine quite a few of them make their way to the United States. I wouldn't go to France with the war on and chancing your luck with the East India Company would be rather a gamble. No, the United State would be the place to go, or the Caribbean where all white men are regarded as superior regardless of background. Many a pauper has made their way to Jamaica and come home rich. Florida and Louisiana would be other options, or Quebec if you don't mind the cold. Places you can hide and get lost in the crowd and where the British influence is not what it was. South America would be another option although I confess I have never taken the trouble to learn much about that part of the world. I might still have the postal addresses of a few of my father's best men. They could be trusted to make discreet enquiries."

"Would you?"

"I'll need to send for new stationery."

"Oh?" Harry enquired mildly. "I had no idea your writing had become quite so prolific."

Ruth rolled her eyes. "The writing things here are much too high quality, Harry. If I wrote to an old unemployed sailor living in some dark hovel half-way around the world on the finest paper Bath can provide do you not think people would start to ask a few questions?"

"I suppose they might," Harry hummed, "I never thought of that."

Ruth put her hand on Harry's shoulder and bent down to kiss him on the head where he sat. "I know, dear."

"What would I do without you?"

Ruth smiled to herself, slightly embarrassed by the obvious praise but pleased by the fact that Harry was, in most ways, proving to be a good choice of husband. He wasn't perfect and she would have to watch that Juliet woman regardless of Harry's belief in her usefulness as a source of information on France, but it did seem that things were once more moving in the right direction.

Matters had begun to settle somewhat in the Pearce Household on the Royal Crescent. They made their excuses for the invitations to balls that had arrived over the last week, choosing instead to attend a series of concerts. The social calander here was nearly as full as in London but there were other matters that required Ruth's attention. As Zoe had no mother living and as her former chaperone, Ruth had become rather an important confidante and consultant in arrangements for the wedding. The church had been decided upon, the local priest had agreed to perform the ceremony and a new dress was receiving it's finishing touches from the dressmaker. Ruth had assisted with the choosing of the flowers and as Harry would not countenance Ruth going to the Hunter residence, Miss Reynolds and Lance Corporal Hunter made many trips to their drawing room to lay out samples and business cards until everything was agreed upon. Lord Hunter himself thankfully showed little interest in making any of the arrangements himself, only opening his purse to his son for whatever was required. The wedding date was finally set for a few days hence at the finest church in Bath with a select group of friends and family in attendence. The wedding breakfast would be at Lord Hunter's Bath mansion with a large array of all of the finest foods that part of the country had to offer.

The morning of the wedding brought with it a low mist that burned off as the sun rose in the sky leaving a day that was bright and clear with blue sky and sunshine. Miss Reynolds looked radiant in a gown of cream silk and lace and Lance-Corporal Hunter wore a new uniform his father had commissioned from their tailor on Savile Row. Miss Reynolds' guardian made the trip from London although he was quiet and talked little. At the wedding breakfast Lord Hunter surprised them all by handing over the title deeds of a property in London to his son. It was a modest apartment but there were few black men of property in London at all and Lord Hunter seemed to delight in using his son to shock society. Sir Harry's friendship with Lance-Corporal Hunter had opened as many doors as his father's name although there were always those who would question his status and many seemed to have no idea what to make of him. Ruth knew that Zoe had carefully considered the way society would treat her as the wife of a black gentleman, but Sir Harry's god-daughter had insisted her mind was made up.

The wedding breakfast was sumptuous, long and gout-inducing. There was course upon course, toast upon toast and Ruth felt at the end of it that it was just as well corsets were currently out of fashion for she was sure she could not move for a week and if she saw another morsel of food her stomach was very likely to empty itself all over the highly polished floor. Lord Hunter gave an egotistical, self-aggrandising speech which his son grimaced through while Mister North stood only long enough to wish the newly married couple every happiness in their new life together before sitting down once more in sullen silence. No one, it seemed, knew quite what to make of the man who had appeared with little ceremony and disappeared afterwards almost as quickly.

"He always was quiet," Ruth remarked.

Harry grasped his glass a little tighter and raised it to drink. "He was imprisoned by the Russians, for many years. I helped to bring him back but Lucas never was quiet the same afterwards. He prefers not to talk about it."

In truth, Ruth had heard something of the rumour from Zoe herself in passing reference but it was different hearing it from Harry. He seemed to know every person in the Army and in London. "He took on Zoe's guardianship on his return out of obligation to her dead father. In truth, I should have done it myself as her Godfather but I was in the Peninsula and out of touch with matters at home."

And, Ruth thought to herself, in the midst of a marriage that was rapidly falling apart. She took a drink herself, keeping her own council about her thoughts on Harry's former wife. After all, Harry himself was no saint and whatever her trespasses, the woman was now dead.

Towards the end of the breakfast Lance Corporal Hunter himself stood, looking fine and sharp in his uniform and proposed a toast to his new bride. He thanked his father for his kind gift and announced that as a result they would be leaving for London immediately to start their new life together. The polite praise from the room was in contrast to the scowl of anger on Daniel's father's face. Clearly Lance-Corporal Hunter had made plans without involving Lord Hunter but he begrudgingly wished his son all the best when they rose to take their leave and the rest of the guests wished them well on their way. Ruth smiled to herself when she realised Lance-Corporal Hunter must have had the aid of some of the household staff, for their luggage was already packed on the back of the carriage when it pulled up in front of Lord Hunter's door to carry the new couple back to their home in London.

Sir Harry Pearce and Lady Pearce were amongst the last to wish the new couple the best on their journey. They would all be together once more in London in a few short weeks time but for now the gentlemen shook hands and Lance-Corporal Hunter thanked Sir Harry for all his support.

"You must have important business in London, to hurry back so soon," Sir Harry observed, his face the perfect picture of calmness, only a knowing glimmer in Sir Harry's eyes slightly betrayed the hint of their secret work together against Daniel's father.

"Indeed," Lance-Corporal Hunter acknowledged, before dropping his voice to a low whisper. "I had word this morning that Thomas Spence is quite unwell."

"Of course," Harry nodded, "You must go where you feel you are needed."

There was the risk of highwaymen and being taken advantage of in many a roadside Inn but Harry and Ruth knew both the newlyweds could look after themselves and Lance-Corporal Hunter had always been a fine fighter in his time with the Army. With many handshakes and well wishes the new Mister and Mrs Hunter finally made their departure and the wedding guests began to depart slowly thereafter, complaining about every rut in the road and how bloated and uncomfortable they felt after so much over-eating.

Back at the Crescent Ruth cancelled plans for dinner and told the staff to eat what had been prepared for their own supper. A little light reading in the drawing room preceded an early night. Ruth knew the following morning they would once more need to focus on their plans to discover Lord Hunter's work against his country. Already as she fell asleep thoughts began to circle in her head. She must buy stationery. She must write to he father's contacts. They would stop by Plymouth before returning to London and could make visits there upon the Naval Officers. In this way Ruth kept her mind busy enough to overpower the uncomfortable niggle in the back of her mind about Zoe's new father-in-law and the silence of Lucas North.

In the end they stayed in Bath for another week but Ruth's eagerness to once more see Plymouth resulted in them leaving earlier than planned and making an unscheduled trip to that town. Ruth had received a few items of correspondence letting her know that the new Mrs Hunter seemed to be enjoying married life and was settling in to Lance-Corporal Hunter's modest apartment as well as could be expected. Ruth knew that Zoe had not made the match she had with the promise of having any great wealth in life yet still Ruth wished more for her friend and former charge than the circumstances in which she now found herself. Lance-Corporal Hunter's increasing reluctance to take advantage of his father's wealth had resulted in a marked reduction in his circumstances and his Army pay, not a great amount at the best of times, was now greatly reduced while they were at peace. Her own husband, Sir Harry Pearce seemed to continue to find small pieces of work and errands for Lance-Corporal Hunter as well as paying him an ongoing retainer for keeping his ear to the ground in the drinking dens and coffee houses of the capitol for any useful gossip. Lance-Corporal Hunter was also active in the anti-Slavery campaign groups and Mrs Hunter wrote that she was planning on attending the next meeting of the Society for the Effecting of the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

On the morning of their departure as Ruth sat in the morning room perusing a letter from Zoe, she heard the distinctive foot fall of her husband in the hallways directing the servants as if they were his very own troop and being quite specific about the placement of the luggage on the carriage.

His footfall moved in the direction of the room where she was sitting and Ruth turned around as the door opened to welcome him with a small smile.

Sir Harry's face lit up and he placed a hand high on his wife's arm and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Good morning, Lady Pearce," Sir Harry smiled. "I hope I didn't wake you this morning. I wanted to make an early start on organising the carriage. It will be a long road to Plymouth."

"Good morning, Husband. Have you been careful to hide the valuables? Plymouth itself may not be in the happiest of states. Most sailor will be on half pay now that the peace has come and men get desperate when they have nothing."

"Worry not, Ruth. Everything is in hand. Do you know they are celebrating in London? I have had it from Carter that there was a great celebration in Saint James's Park organised by the Prince Regent and the fireworks were so enthusiastic they even burned down a Chinese pagoda."

Ruth's expression darkened at that. "Is everyone alright?"

"I should think not. Two poor souls lost their lives, I'm sorry to say," Harry sat down in a nearby wooden chair and sighed. "I worry for Lance-Corporal Hunter and Mrs Hunter."

"They are both of them sensible persons, Harry, and they will gather friends around them who think as they do. I agree, it is not likely to be a marriage of plain sailing but they seem quite devoted to each other and from what I can surmise of Zoe's letters, enjoying married life very much."

"Indeed," Harry tried to smile. "I hope she likes campaigning, from what I understand of Daniel's letters he is much caught up with his political projects. He asked me to make a polite inquiry as to whether we hold the writings of Thomas Spence, Thomas Paine and Thomas Clarkson in our Library."

"As it happens, we do. You can also inform him we hold a number of works my persons not called Thomas if he should be so inclined to peruse them as well."

Harry snorted loudly and let out a chuckle, then he stood up and pecked his wife on her head with his lips. "I am glad I married you, Ruth. For all my faults, I find that I enjoy my life with you very much."

The light in Ruth's eyes died slightly. It was hard, sometimes, not to think of her husband's transgression.

Harry sighed. "How many times..."

Ruth turned back to her correspondence. Her mood did not improve any when the grating and distinctive voice of a certain visitor sounded at the entranceway downstairs which had been left open in order for the servants to better convey their luggage to the waiting carriage.

"Leaving so soon? My dear fellow, General Pearce, whatever drives you away from Bath when you have been here barely a fortnight?"

"Business in Plymouth."

"Plymouth?!" The woman's exclamation was all astonishment.

Upstairs Ruth rose from her seat and quietly, walking on the pad of her foot, made her way out to the hallway to observe where her husband and his former mistress were talking in the entrance hall. Ruth observed her step closer and reach out a hand to caress Harry's chest. "I don't suppose there would be time for a quiet conference, in private, before your departure?" Juliet glanced over at Ruth before her eyes settled back on Sir Harry with a polite smile.

It was with a sense of gratification that Ruth observed her husband step back away from Juliet's reach.

Juliet's laugh was filled with surprise and shock. "Well, well, well. The great Sir Harry Pearce cowed at last."

"Let us not dwell on the past, Juliet. It does neither of us any great credit."

"And this is your final decision, is it?"

"Have you anything to convey from Lord Hunter?"

"Nothing in particular. His son has rather put His Lordship's nose out of joint by spurning him so and returning to London so soon, but I suppose that is only to be expected. Quite why his father indulges him so I'll never know."

"I find that men like Lord Hunter covet power above all else," He responded, but there was a glint in his eye as he spoke to Juliet that told Ruth that her husband was not only speaking about Lord Hunter but perhaps also the woman in front of him. Ruth could not see Juliet's face, but she surmised from the woman's stiff bearing that she had not expected to be spurned so.

"Well," Juliet adjusted her purse as if about to depart. "Until next time then."

Harry bowed low as Juliet curtseyed. She was halfway out the door when she turned around abruptly. "He mentioned that he thought John Bellingham had the right idea," Juliet paused, as if about to say something else and then, thinking the better of it, resolved to say nothing further on the matter. Then, with a swirl of petticoat Juliet was gone, the crisp clip of her boots on the pavement disappearing the only sign that she had ever been there at all. Only once Juliet was away down the street did Harry look up at his wife standing on the landing overhead. They shared eye contact for a moment before he turned and headed once more outside to berate the stable hand on his ill treatment of the horses.

Endnote: In 1812 the British Prime Minister Spencer Percival was assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons. He was shot by a businessman called John Bellingham who was angry at the Government's policy, including foreign and economic policy during the Napoleonic Wars which combined with his personal circumstances had led John Bellingham into bankruptcy.