As they walked through the mud and slop, Charlotte breathed in the cool, cloudy morning air. Bernard’s tent was nearer than she anticipated. He sprung up to get more cups when he saw them coming. She thought she would attract attention from other soldiers, being a woman, but there were a number of skimpily clothed women walking around, even in this weather, laughing and sitting on men’s laps. Charlotte was hardly noticed.
“Miss Brixon! Will you have coffee? It isn’t very good at all but for filling the stomach, but it’s all we have in the mornings.” Bernard shuffled around and gave her a steaming cup from the kettle over the fire.
“Thank you so much! This will do perfectly.”
“And you, John?”
“Aye.”
“And would you like to sit, miss?”
“No thank you, I can feel the fire better standing.” She was ice cold from her wet dress.
“So I’ve been thinking hard on the subject of yourself.” Bernard sat on a large stump. “I just don’t know what to make of it. All I can think is that it must be something personal to him. What say you, John. I bet you know.”
“I do. We already have a plan, though. She’s to talk with him once his meeting is through.”
“Good idea, good idea. That’s what I would do.” Bernard pointed his finger as he pondered.
“I want to thank you both for the kindness you have shown me.” She sipped her coffee.
“Ahh!” Bernard waved his hand and blushed as John smiled and shifted from foot to foot next to her.
“When I first saw you, I thought the colonel had chosen you for a wife, or he heroically saved you from something.” Bernard sat forward with his elbows on his knees. “I just didn’t imagine it was something like this. He is a man of rough exterior, but outstanding character deep down. I truly assumed you to be someone he admired.”
They talked of the oddity of it all as the camp began to wake up more and more. It was not fifteen minutes later when Col. Montone walked by their row of tents at a distance. He was talking to a short, rather obese man that looked like a merchant. They stopped a ways off with his back to them. Even among other men, but especially next to the merchant, his form was exceptional and striking.
“Why there he is.” Bernard sat up straighter. “Colonel!” he shouted. There was no response as he was still talking to the merchant.
“Colonel Montone!” Bernard tried again to no avail. “Silas!” he shouted even louder. The fat man gave a final nod and began waddling off as Col. Montone spun on his heel and shot Bernard a glare with his one hand resting on his rapier.
“What have I said about addressing me by my Christian name?” he called, staying where he was. Bernard turned to Charlotte.
“He is now available to talk to.” He held his hand out in presentation.
“I’ll be right back. Hopefully.”
“I can take your cup,” John offered.
“Thank you.”
“Good luck,” he whispered. Col. Montone looked bored and only slightly curious as she
hurried over.
“Colonel, I wanted to talk to you about… everything.”
“Everything?” he falsely smiled, folding his arms and leaning to one side like this was going to take too much of his time.
“I have no idea why you chose me out of all the young women in the colonies, but if this is about money, I can assure you that my father can pay a ransom.”
“Your father can’t pay his debts. That was why I dropped by to collect the household items of most value.”
Charlotte didn’t know how much she should say next. The last thing she wanted to do was reveal that they were full supporters of the Americans and that her father arranged for supplies to be shipped to different parts of the colonies all the time, easily funding everything as well.
“He can, though. Please believe me, I’m sure what you need is but a small amount to him.”
“No.”
“Why not? If you’re uncomfortable with that, why don’t you say that you’re going to marry me or something of that nature?” At her words, his brows shot up in actual surprise and a genuine, irrepressible smile came to his face so quickly he didn’t even have a second to put his hand casually over his jaw in time. “Or don’t marry me and only accept a portion of my dowry for my return? I know this amuses you, but take me seriously… You are taking me seriously! You’re turning as red as your uniform!” Charlotte leaned closer, clenching the cloak around her in surprise. “You are taking me more seriously than I imagined! You must not hate me as much as you’ve been letting on.”
“I am not turning red!” he violently whispered, taking his hand away from his face. “You are not of my preference whatsoever even if we were not under these circumstances! Much too challenging.”
“The color in your face doesn’t match the biting attitude of your words, Colonel. I’m sure we could both make do.” She threw her hands in the air and let them fall next to her sides in frustration. “There is little chance that you would get as much money from selling me and my sister combined compared to my dowry. You must admit that!”
“Your desperation for not only your release but marriage has exceeded my expectations. I would not have thought it.”
“Like I said before, you smiled and blushed as red as your coat when I suggested it,” she unwaveringly continued.
“Because I have never, ever heard of a woman willing to marry her kidnapper, it’s quite
hilarious.”
“Better to choose a life bound to one demon than a life bound to one thousand.” Somehow her one statement outweighed the rest of his petty remarks combined. And she was going to drive it home.
“Whatever you’re after must be something worth more than even how you obtain the money, Colonel. I will give you until nine o’clock, by which time I will forget everything that has happened in total and will be ready to accept any proposal of compromise, happily. If not, I will resist until I die. And you will pay.” Her determination formed a fiery resolve that she was willing to act upon. His face was stern as she turned to walk away.
“How much is your dowry?”
“Forty-two thousand pounds,” she answered, turning back with raised eyebrows.
“Forty-two thousand pounds?” he echoed a little softer.
“Whatever you need, I’m sure it isn’t that much.”
“Not remotely…” He actually seemed to be thinking about it. Charlotte didn’t know if it would be better to mysteriously walk back to the fire and leave him to his thoughts, or stay and convince him. She decided to mysteriously walk back to the fire. Trying to convince him more would take away her upperhand of confidence in her deal.
As she walked back Bernard cleared his throat and pretended to not pay attention. John subtly looked at her and then to the fire as he handed her back her coffee.
“How was that?” he quietly asked.
“I’m not sure. I think he’s at least going to think about it. What time is it now?”
“About seven-fifteen,” Bernard replied.
“And Col. Montone wanted me to be ready by eight?”
“Yes,” John nodded.
“Well I gave him until nine to make his decision. If before then he accepts my offer, I will
forget all of this has happened and make a deal. Otherwise I’ll have to plan something else.”
They waited tensely for an hour and a half. John said that he needed to prepare the horse for the day.
“Could you wait one minute, Miss Brixon?” Bernard asked.
“Of course.” She stayed behind as the big man went into his tent and brought out a small dagger, careful that no one prominent was watching.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“I want you to take this. If the colonel makes a decision in your favor, keep this as a reminder of me. If he makes a decision against you, use it when you deem necessary. My gift to you. Here is a needle and a spool of thread. I recommend you sew a secret place for it on your person that is easily accessible. I know I can’t do much for ya, but I can do this. I hope it helps.” He handed her the items and she quickly hid them under her cloak.
“I can’t be more thankful, Bernard. This means more than you know.”
“Now run along back to Silas’s tent and secure it before there isn’t time. You’ll have fifteen minutes if time isn’t on your side.”
Charlotte thanked him again and made her way back. She quietly asked John, who was tending to the horse, if the colonel was back, but he said no. Once she was sitting on her cot, she began tearing one of the side seams on the skirt of her dress. She was an excellent seamstress and could get the job done even without taking the dress off. It was very heavy and would look like she had something if she made it look like a pocket that opened from the top, so she made it open to the side, doing the same for the other side of the dress like it was meant to be. There was definitely enough fabric making up the skirt that the weapon could easily be unnoticed even as she walked. Charlotte would only have to pay attention when she sat so that it didn’t clank against the chair or whatever she sat on.
As the morning progressed, it started to become much warmer, like it had been yesterday. The sun came out and warmed the tent quickly. Charlotte decided the best thing to do was to stay in the tent and get as much rest as possible without sleeping. She spent the time thinking about different escape options if nothing went to plan.
A small clock on the writing desk showed it was already eight-thirty. Half an hour after Col. Montone wanted to leave, but still half an hour before her deal was up. Feeling quite warm from sitting in the tent, she left the cloak behind and went out to see if she could learn anything. Or at least get some food from somewhere.
John was nowhere in sight, but Apollo was grazing in a small pen behind the tent. She meandered around until she was at the place they had entered camp from last night. Groups of men were leaving and some were preparing to leave as others were occupied with their own mending or stitching themselves up in front of their own tents. Walking a bit further, she nearly got run over by John as he was coming around a corner.
“Whoa, I’m sorry, John.”
“Miss Charlotte, there was nothing I could say to change his mind. I was just sent to bring you.”
“Bring me where?” she asked with an edge.
“The cart.”
He led her around the main edge of camp until they were nearly on the opposite side. Under a large, open tent with other soldiers, was Col. Montone talking with the fat man again. The man went over to a small one-horse cart and heaved himself up in the driver’s seat. The sun was reflecting orange and pink on the departing clouds, and the ground was slowly beginning to dry.
She walked right up behind the colonel and rested her hand on his shoulder dotingly. Knowing it was her, he smiled down at her as she came to stand next to him as if he was pleased to see her.
“Why my darling, are you ready for your journey?”
“Well as a matter of fact,” she impersonated his common phrase in his voice and mannerisms, “I was wondering what you thought of my offer. I see that you have at least put thought into it.”
He narrowed his eyes in mockery and put a hand on the side of the cart to lean on.
“I have as a matter of fact, and I reject it. Your olive branch has been denied.”
“I’m not surprised, but why?” she asked, putting her hand on her hip.
“Too much risk,” he replied airily. “If I agree to marry you, your father might simply refuse you your dowry, especially to a British officer who had stolen you away in such a manner as I did. And who’s to say I won’t get shot if I take you back? Or, let’s say, that everything goes as you, I’m sure, are wishing, there’s a high chance your father wouldn’t be able to get the money in time.”
“Well you have certainly thought of everything, but it’s a high reward along with this high risk. Isn't it worth it?”
“No. I am assured at least five thousand for you. That’s roughly half of what I need, but at least I know for sure that I will have that… Why am I telling you this? Get on the cart,” he nodded his head.
“This the woman?” the man lazily asked, seeing Charlotte as Col. Montone took her to the other side. He was younger than she anticipated, and he didn’t seem mean, just tired.
“It is.”
“Gonna be another five hundred.”
“Five hundred! Ludacris! Mr. Lefell, you take what I gave you earlier, as we agreed upon.”
“She’s more a thousand than five, and you’ve delayed me half an hour already. Name?” he asked her.
“Charlotte.”
“Miss Charlotte you may come aboard for one thousand pounds. You can also share the bag of caramel as a bonus. Take it or leave it, Colonel.”
“I don’t have the money with me. I’ll pay you the rest at the docks.”
“I’ve heard that one before.”
“Good lord,” he muttered to himself. “How about the original five and she can’t have any caramel?”
“Fine. Let’s just get on with it!”
“Private!” Col. Montone barked, summoning one of the young soldiers from yesterday. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Board and keep a keen eye on her.”
“Wait, where are you going? Aren’t you coming?” she asked Col. Montone.
“I have business to take care of off the main road. On my horse I’ll be much faster, and I’ll
be meeting you there- and you better be there to meet me as well, and in one piece. I don’t want even one bullet hole through you, or I get paid less. But Private Jones won’t hesitate to maim you.”
“Yes, Grandmother, I’ll stay on the cart,” she quipped.
As he put his hands around her waist to help her onto the cart, Edison called out.
“Silas! Silas, we can’t do this. I’ve been sick all night about it.” The tall man did look pale and like he would topple if a big gust of wind came up. Mr. Lefell growled to himself at yet another delay.
“I’m sorry, there’s no other option,” Col. Montone replied as he moved to assist her. But, again, he was stopped. And they stood with his hands on her waist for a few more moments. She felt her heart beat skip for a second, unintentionally.
“It was a sign that we didn’t find the sister yesterday.”
“It was a sign that we should take what we can get.” He finally lifted her up to the cart.
“I do not condone this!”
“I’m leaving,” Mr. Lefell slapped the reins and the cart started off on the bumpy, rutted road.
“It is all arranged, Edison. I’m not fond of it either, but there is no other way.”
Charlotte turned back and saw Col. Montone walking back in the direction of his tent with John in tow. Edison ran around the corner of the large tent to the horses and mounted his sturdy animal. He took one last look at her with a sickened expression and tore off into the trees in the opposite direction like he was on fire.
“Candy is back in the bag,” Mr. Lefell sighed as they got onto the main road a few minutes later. By now Charlotte was so hungry anything would help. As she brought the large bag forward and opened it, her mouth started watering. The first one she put in her mouth was soft and delicious.
“These are good,” she said, tying the bag closed again.
“Yep.”
She looked behind them at the private sitting among a few empty crates. He dutifully kept his musket ready but hardly made eye contact when she glanced back at him. She was going to escape. There was no way she was going to be sold and shipped off. Even if she had to kill her way through, she was going to escape. Mr. Lefell didn’t seem like much of a problem, and Private Jones looked like he could be dealt with when the time came. She would wait until everyone was tired and relaxed, since it was going to be nearly six hours of this.
~
Elizabeth sat across from Blake in the salon as the clock struck ten. All morning she had wanted to go out and try to follow the soldiers’ trail, but Archibald insisted he go instead. He had been gone since six, and she had absolutely no faith he would find anything with his dull faculties. Her letter to Mother and Father would probably get to them by tomorrow at the earliest.
“Would you like more tea?”
“I would not, thank you,” she quickly returned.
“I wish I could do something.” Blake reclined in the chair and lit his pipe. He was a few years older than Charlotte, and he assumed he knew everything. Especially anything that was of noteworthy literature, mathematics, or philosophy. He had a good nose, but his eyes were large and fishy. And aside from his potent personality, he assumed everyone received great pleasure in looking at him.
“Maybe not smoke in here?”
“My apologies.” He put it out and went to look out the window. “I think we need to take a walk. Get our minds off the subject.”
As much as she hated to admit it, Elizabeth did think it was a good idea. She had slept in this room and had all of her food brought to her. She needed to get out.
“Alright. You’re right.”
“Do you need your wrap?” Blake asked daintily. Elizabeth sensed he was genuine, so she refrained from judging him too harshly. But, oh, was he annoying.
“No thank you. The weather looks fine.”
Blake took up his pipe again once they were outside. Ironically, it was a beautiful day. The birds were singing and the plants and animals seemed happier than ever. It made her reflect more upon herself.
“You know, I am sorry for my curtness.” Elizabeth didn’t apologize that often, not because she was rude or mean, but because there wasn’t need for it. So the few times she did, she full well expected it to be taken with grace and allowance.
“I know you are,” Blake nodded. “It is understandable. The drama of it hangs immensely on my shoulders as well, though I look strong on the outside.”
The blood in Elizabeth’s veins boiled at everything this… gentleman said. She wasn’t going to tell him that anything would be an immense weight on his shoulders because they were so flimsy and narrow.
“It’s a shame, I was going to ask her if I could court her yesterday evening.”
“Really.” She put her fingertips to the center of her brows to relieve tension. If it wasn’t such a horrible happening, she might have wanted Charlotte to just stay with that officer so she wouldn’t have to come back and think Blake was her only option. They walked to the end of the carriageway to the main road and paused in the sunlight. Elizabeth thought she saw someone coming down the road.
“I had written to your parents a while ago, and they gave their blessing if Charlotte consented.”
“Did they?” She had her eyes fixed on the man coming at break-neck speed down the road. He wore a white coat, or maybe it was simply a shirt.
“Charlotte will be glad to have me around when we find her. She always loves my stories. I will be a great comfort to her… What are you looking at?”
Elizabeth hurried out of the middle of the road as the man rode up and screeched to a dust-flying halt, all out of breath as if he had run all the way and not the horse.
Now this man was handsome. Even with him sitting on his gorgeous horse, she could tell he was very tall, and his face, although damp with perspiration, was perfectly formatted. For a second, she wondered if he was really real or not. Surely only a being from heaven could look so handsome. He stared right back at her as his horse flitted around.
“Elizabeth?” he asked.
She nearly fainted. He knew her name!
“Yes,” she croaked.
“Lieutenant Edison Gram,” he said, stepping off his horse, down to the ground in front of her. “I have news about your sister, Charlotte. She’s on her way to being shipped off to England, I did everything I could. But she doesn’t get to the docks until three. I had to come back to see if there was something I could do to help, although I know that it’s nearly hopeless now unless she escapes on her journey, which wouldn’t be that difficult, come to think of it. But I had to come back and try to set things straight.”
All of this serious information all at once from this beautiful man hit Elizabeth like a sack of bricks, but at least she knew what was happening.
“Come back… So you were here yesterday?” she asked.
“Do you have another horse? It would be best if we go now.”
“Right this way,” Elizabeth ran past Blake and shouted to the nearest servant. “Edward! Saddle two of our finest horses immediately! We have news on Charlotte!” Edward nodded and sprinted over to the stables as his brother, Benjamin came over to take Lieutenant Gram’s tired horse.
“Wait one minute! Who are you to be saying this? How do we know you are talking about Charlotte Brixon? What cause do we have to believe you?” Blake demanded, stopping Benjamin.
“I’m Lieutenant Edison Gram of the British Army, I took off my coat so I wouldn’t attract attention in the neighborhood.” He calmly revealed an officer’s uniform from his saddle bag and returned it as his horse was led to the stables. “I am also the first cousin of Colonel Silas Montone, who is leading the operation. He needs ten thousand pounds in order to give up Charlotte… Who are you?”
“Blake,” Elizabeth pronounced his name like it was a greasy vegetable.
“Mr. Blake Spikes Jr. of Georgia. You northerners rely heavily on our rice and sugar. The next-”
“How many people have you alerted?” Lieutenant Gram turned to Elizabeth in urgency.
“My mother and father in Virginia and a few of his friends in the area. They are all scouring the country for her.”
“I better keep my uniform in my bag.”
“Excuse me!” Blake waved his pipe like he was having the largest injustice done to him. Edward had already brought Elizabeth’s horse and put the lieutenant’s saddle on another.
“Keep a watch on the place, Blake. Who knows when I’ll be back,” she smiled, climbing into her saddle, flinging her dress off the back of her horse, and riding astride.
“Alone with him? Traveling without a chaperone? Astride? Elizabeth! If you go, you’re going to cause a bigger scandal than your sister! It will be hard enough on my reputation that everyone knows that Charlotte has spent the night among soldiers!”
“You little chicken gizzard!” Elizabeth spat, having no more patience with him speaking of her sister in such a way. “She wouldn’t have you if you were the last male creature on earth! Anyone who really knows my sister knows she is honorable! For all anyone cares, you can walk yourself back to Georgia, or continue on until you reach the gates of hell!”
Before he could reply, she spurred her mare and took off down the road, free from that insipid young man. The lieutenant was quick to follow. They rode hard for a few minutes and slowed a little once they came to a split in the road.
“If we continue on this main road, we will be behind them by just a couple hours,” Lieutenant Gram eloquently explained.
“What made you come back and turn upon your cousin? Pardon the abruptness of the question.”
He told of his cousin, this Silas, and how they need the money, and what their plan had been to get it.
“But every step of it felt wrong. Most things only give me a slight inclination for this and a slight inclination for that, but this was beyond anything I could consent to… And, I would like to add that Silas really isn’t a horrible man. The best I know, really. It has only been hardship after hardship that has stretched him to such lengths, even to stay with the British Army- please do not tell a soul I uttered such a thing. I even know that he provided your sister with a cot in his tent, of which was not his own. There is nothing to worry about concerning her safety as long as he is there.” His bright eyes landed on her as they rode under some overhanging trees.
“That’s comforting to hear. If I had access to our bank accounts, I would arrange for something myself, but as that is not remotely a possibility, we’ll have to figure something out later. May I ask why he, or you both, need this money?”
“I would answer you, but I’m afraid the situation is closer to him even than it is to me.”
“Interesting.”
“His intention is… most honorable, if I could quote you from a few minutes earlier, like you said about Charlotte. From what I’ve seen, they are similar in that regard, and I’ve caught him deeply contemplating the whole thing in its entirety, considering her. I don’t think he knew how much of an effect she would have on him. He has had to try his hardest to be dislikeable and standoffish and not start to grow affection for her. Even in this short of a time, I think he is trying within everything in his power, to not be smitten with her and call the whole thing off, but his journey has been a long and trying one. Too much is at stake for him to let his emotion come through at a time like this… I’m sorry, I must be boring you.” He laughed at himself and glanced over at her.
“Not at all,” Elizabeth waved. “The whole thing is so strange. Nothing in it is normal or like someone would expect. There’s a lot more going on than I thought, and thank you for coming back and bringing me. I appreciate it.”
“I should have put in more of an effort earlier on,” he regretfully muttered. As Elizabeth opened her mouth to respond, they heard a group of horses coming up fast behind them. She instinctively turned her horse to the trees and rode until she would be unseen. Lieutenant Gram was only a few seconds behind her as they jumped to the ground to see who was coming.
It was a posse of men who looked like they were going somewhere with a purpose, but they were more vagabonds and heathens than anything else, making her glad she got off the road. They carried torches and weapons, shouting as they rode by. It was not everyday a devilish mob collected. She shared a nervous look with the lieutenant as he stood next to her. It seemed they were all going to the same destination.