Rebellious Heart (30 page)

“The beadle is back,” a voice called.

Ben straightened his shoulders. It was time to give himself over to the lieutenant.

“Where are the prisoners?” Lieutenant Wolfe scowled.

The beadle pushed past the Smiths. His hat was askew, his face flushed, and his chest heaved, as if he’d run the distance from the tavern to the meetinghouse.

“The girl’s gone,” the beadle finally managed to choke out between breaths.

“You’re mistaken.” Lieutenant Wolfe exited his box pew. His eyes narrowed to slits. “She’s been under constant guard since she was apprehended.”

“She’s long gone,” the beadle insisted, taking a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiping at the perspiration on his forehead.

“You must go back and check again,” the lieutenant barked.

“I searched the entire building, the entire premises,” the beadle rushed to explain. “There is no sign of her anywhere. Not one.”

“You idiot.” Lieutenant Wolfe spat the words. “Where is my assistant? He will surely know where the prisoner is.”

“I didn’t see Sergeant Frazel anywhere either.”

“And what of the slave?”

“He’s still locked in his room.”

The lieutenant turned his glare from the beadle to Ben. The accusation in his eyes sent a ray of hope through Ben.

Had Dotty escaped?

“If the indentured servant has escaped, then apparently someone else is involved in helping her,” Ben called out above the murmurs. “It would appear you’ve accused the wrong people, Lieutenant.”

He strode to the pulpit and stood before the judge. “Honorable Justice, I ask for a dismissal of this case. The lieutenant has obviously brought charges against the wrong suspects.”

“You know I’m not wrong, Mr. Ross.” The lieutenant’s boots tapped the floor until he stood next to Ben. His eyes warned Ben to cooperate and follow their agreed-on plan.

But Ben focused his attention on the judge, knowing he had to act quickly and decisively or he’d lose his chance at making his case. “Honorable Justice, how could the slave be involved in helping the prisoner if he’s still locked in his room? The lieutenant has been mistaken about who’s responsible for the crime.”

“You’re right,” the lieutenant said, his voice hard. “I should have arrested Miss Smith. She’s the one who’s been sheltering the runaway.”

“I think you’re confused, Lieutenant,” Ben countered. “Miss Smith has been gravely ill with the influenza. There is no way she could have ridden out to the Wayside Tavern and released the prisoner. She could hardly make it here to the meetinghouse from the parsonage without collapsing.”

He paused and turned to face Susanna, who had fallen to her knees at the back of the meetinghouse. Her pale face was streaked with tears.

His pointed stare at Susanna drew the attention of everyone else, the way he’d intended. “Honorable Justice, as you can see, it’s impossible that Miss Smith, in her condition, could have been involved with the escape of the prisoner. There is absolutely no way she could have overpowered a full-grown man on guard duty to free the runaway. And if she’d freed the runaway, why not free her innocent slave also?”

He didn’t know if Susanna had somehow managed to free Dotty. In fact, he didn’t really care how Dotty had escaped.
All that mattered was casting enough doubt upon Tom’s and Susanna’s involvement.

From the increased murmurings of the crowd, Ben could sense he was winning their support. Most of them distrusted Lieutenant Wolfe anyway.

“I don’t know how the prisoner could have gotten out of her room,” the lieutenant said. “She was under guard at all times.”

“Exactly,” Ben said. “Since she was under your protection, then we must assume you decided to dispose of her in your own way, perhaps the same way you disposed of other pretty runaways?”

The lieutenant sent him a warning glare.

Ben pushed himself taller, letting the passion that burned inside him swell and find voice. “Lieutenant Wolfe, perhaps you decided you didn’t want Dotty to testify in court today because you were afraid she would incriminate you and link you with the two Braintree murders.”

“That’s
not
true.”

“Perhaps you had your assistant remove her so that she wouldn’t be able to divulge to this room of people the fact that you’d taken her shoes from her and then cruelly chased her until her feet were mangled and bleeding, which was what happened to the two murder victims found on the beach.”

“How dare you!” The lieutenant’s face had flushed. His hand went to the hilt of his saber.

But Ben didn’t care what the lieutenant decided to do to him. The words wouldn’t stop now that he’d started. “You obviously didn’t want her to show the scars on her feet because doing so would link you to the two murdered women.”

“I am no murderer!” the lieutenant shouted.

The low rumbling and gasps coming from the room only loosened Ben’s tongue further. “And I suppose you’d have us believe it coincidental that the murders happened after you were quartered in Braintree?”

The lieutenant glared at him. “You have no proof of anything, and I’m offended by your accusations. I shall see that you are punished for this defamation of my good name.”

Ben returned the stare, unwilling to back down. He’d cornered the lieutenant and he knew it. Ben could see it in his eyes.

The beadle stepped forward. “Mr. Ross, I don’t know if this will help, but it was sitting in front of the prisoner’s room.” The beadle held out a bulging haversack.

The lieutenant’s face paled at the sight of the bag.

The judge motioned the beadle forward, but Lieutenant Wolfe gave a growl of protest. “I object. The bag is from among my personal possessions. How dare this man presume to meddle in my belongings.”

“I didn’t know it was yours,” the beadle said quickly. “Honest. It was just sitting in the hallway outside the prisoner’s door. I figured it might be helpful in determining what happened to her.”

“Return it to my room in the tavern at once.”

“I agree with the beadle,” Ben said. “It may have valuable information that could help us solve the mystery behind Dotty’s disappearance. I suggest we investigate what’s inside. And if Lieutenant Wolfe has nothing to hide, then surely he won’t mind our checking.”

“I do mind,” the lieutenant said sharply.

But Ben ignored the man and instead nodded at the beadle, indicating that he should open the haversack.

“If you do not obey me,” the lieutenant called, “I shall report you for insubordination—”

But the lieutenant’s declaration was cut off by the alarmed cries of those gathered, as the beadle had already turned the haversack upside down and spilled its contents onto the floor.

For a moment, Ben could only stare in disgust. How many women had the man murdered? Obviously more than two.

The lieutenant pinched his lips together, his nostrils flaring with barely contained rage.

The judge was the first to speak. “Lieutenant Wolfe, would you care to explain why a bag you admitted was rightfully your own came to be full of women’s shoes?”

“I cannot explain it,” the lieutenant said. “Someone has obviously planted the shoes in my bag without my knowledge.”

The look he leveled at Ben, however, said that he knew how the shoes had ended up in his bag, but that Ben would never be able to prove it. Nevertheless, the shoes provided Ben with enough solid evidence to file a case of murder against the lieutenant.

“Honorable Justice,” Ben said, turning to speak to Judge Niles. “I request the case against the Smith slave be dropped and that Tom be set free. We have no reason to hold him any longer. ”

“You’re absolutely right, Mr. Ross,” Judge Niles said, his voice booming through the building. “I hereby dismiss the case against the Smith family and their slave.”

Ben’s shoulders sagged with relief. The nods and choruses of approval echoed around him. He peered to the back of the meetinghouse in time to see Mrs. Smith assisting Susanna to her feet. He wanted to catch Susanna’s gaze and share the moment of victory. But Reverend Smith flanked one side and Mrs. Smith the other, giving Susanna little choice but to accompany them from the building.

Even though he longed to chase after her, he forced himself
to stay. He had unfinished business with the lieutenant. And besides, Susanna needed to be back home in her bed as soon as possible.

“Judge Niles,” Ben said loudly and decisively, “I propose that if we do locate the runaway indentured servant, we bring her to the meetinghouse for questioning. I’m sure everyone here is curious to hear what she has to say about Lieutenant Wolfe.”

Again the crowd mumbled their assent.

The lieutenant squirmed.

“I’m quite certain she would be able to identify her shoes from among those found in the lieutenant’s satchel.” Ben could only hope that the lieutenant caught the threat behind his words. He wanted the man to stop chasing Dotty. If he knew that capturing the girl would only bring about further connection to the Braintree murders, then perhaps he’d leave her alone, wherever she was.

“I concur, Mr. Ross.” The judge folded his arms and gave Lieutenant Wolfe his most sober stare. “If she is able to help us solve the murder mysteries of Braintree, then I daresay we must thoroughly question her.”

A silent prayer of gratefulness whispered through Ben. He would file charges against Lieutenant Wolfe in Boston the first chance he had to ride there. And even though he wasn’t sure that he could actually win against one of the king’s officers, at the very least he prayed that Susanna would finally be out of danger.

His heart thudded with the need to go after her and wrap her in his arms again.

But as much as he wanted to be with her, he needed only to glance at Lieutenant Wolfe’s red coat to remind himself of the life of danger he’d charted for himself. If he continued
to resist the British oppression, the coming years would be fraught with turmoil.

Now that he’d saved Susanna from one disaster, could he really drag her into more?

He let out a long tense breath. Deep inside he knew she would be much better off without him. But could he live without her?

Susanna stared at the pages of
The Odyssey
. The book lay on her lap, opened to the same spot she’d turned to when Phoebe had helped her into the chair before the fireplace earlier that morning.

It had been two days since the trial, but Ben hadn’t visited her.

She grazed her fingers along the edge of the book, trying to ignore the ache in her heart. But with each passing hour she was having a difficult time overlooking the pain she felt inside.

Why hadn’t he come to see her yet?

The knit blanket slipped from her shoulders, and the chill of her bedchamber drifted around her.

He’d told her he loved her.

She’d mulled over his words a hundred times since the trial. The delight she had experienced the first day of his confession had slowly evaporated as she’d waited in vain for him to run to her and confirm his declaration.

Now confusion pulsed through her, leaving her restless and unable to focus on anything except the emptiness inside.

Why had he admitted his love if he hadn’t planned to come for her?

She’d asked herself that question over and over. And she didn’t want to face the obvious answer—that he’d kissed her and given her his love only because he’d been saying good-bye and going off to face imprisonment and death. He’d had nothing to lose by making his bold declaration.

But now . . . He was putting the distance back between them.

Perhaps he was honoring their friendship and erecting the boundaries of a platonic relationship.

She gave a woeful sigh and smoothed her hand over the page of his book, wishing she were running her fingers over the solidness of his face instead.

He likely had no excuse for visiting her. Why would he create one after she’d rejected him in the past? Why would he risk giving her his devotion now?

At the thump of Phoebe’s shoes on the floor in the next room and the murmur of voices, Susanna bowed her head and chided herself. She ought to be grateful. Tom was safely tucked into the guest-room bed, and Phoebe was seeing to his needs. Some of the men of the parish had delivered the old slave home, hungry but alive.

And while she didn’t know what had happened to Dotty or where she was, she knew she ought to be thankful the young woman had somehow managed to escape the clutches of Lieutenant Wolfe.

She indeed had much for which to be grateful, especially because Lieutenant Wolfe had returned to Boston in shame. He would likely be prosecuted for murder and then sent back to England and imprisoned.

Why then was her heart so full of melancholy?

The experience with Dotty had shown her the need to stand up for the poor and disadvantaged, to show love and mercy to them, even if she had to disobey her earthly authorities to do so. She couldn’t hide behind fear and make excuses for doing what was right.

Surely after such a lesson she could proceed forth with renewed vigor, continue with her dame school, and find additional ways to help women who were disadvantaged.

A soft rap on the door sent a shiver of anticipation through her. Had he finally come? She sat up and smoothed her hair back.

The door opened a crack, and Mother peeked in.

Susanna’s heart dipped with disappointment. But she forced herself to offer her mother a welcoming smile. At the very least, she had to acknowledge Mother’s support during the past awful days. Never once had her mother reprimanded her for her involvement with Dotty.

Mother stepped into the room, the layers of her gown rustling and bringing the faint scent of her lavender perfume. “I have a letter for you.”

Mother crossed to her, and Susanna held her breath, praying she finally had news from Ben.

With trembling fingers Susanna took the crisply folded sheet. At the sight of the scrawled handwriting on the front, she sagged. It wasn’t Ben’s strong print.

“It’s from Elbridge.” Mother bustled to the window and threw back the thick curtains. “He called earlier this morning and delivered it.”

“I don’t want to read it. You can burn it.”

“He’s only wanting to apologize for his involvement with the young runaway,” Mother said as she tied the curtains, allowing the daylight to chase the shadows from the room.
“Perhaps he was misguided in his interfering, but he only wanted to ensure your well-being.”

“I won’t be courted by him, Mother.” Susanna trembled at the defiance in her words.

Mother strode to the fireplace and added another log from the woodbox.

Susanna sat up straighter and prayed for courage. Tom had admonished her not to let fear take hold of her and stop her from doing the right thing. She’d done that with the trial. She’d fooled Phoebe into thinking she was sleeping, but had instead sneaked out of the parsonage and ridden to the meetinghouse. She’d had enough courage to drag her weak and sick body there so that she could turn herself in to the lieutenant rather than let Tom or Ben take the blame for her crimes.

Couldn’t she summon the courage to face Mother now?

“I won’t marry Elbridge,” she said louder.

Still Mother didn’t say anything. Instead she poked at the embers, fanning the flames higher.

Susanna clutched the knit blanket. “I know you only want what’s best for me, but I can’t marry someone I don’t love. I don’t love Elbridge, and I never will.”

Mother returned the poker to its hook and then turned to face Susanna. Disappointment creased her regal features.

Susanna hesitated, fighting the ghosts of doubt that rose up suddenly to haunt her with all the fears she’d once had, reminding her that she needed to marry well. That if she didn’t, she’d give up the comforts and status she’d always had.

But what did all the status and wealth in the world mean if her life was devoid of love? Surely she would find greater happiness and contentment if she could spend her life with a man who not only respected and cherished her for who
she was, but whom she adored, trusted, and respected as the truest and best of friends. How could she ever ask for anything more?

“I love Ben.”

“I know,” Mother said softly.

“You do?”

“I’ve noticed it for some time. I’d hoped to divert you. But I can see now my efforts have been futile.”

“I realize all I’d have to give up to be with him,” Susanna said quickly, “but I’d gain so much more of what really matters.”

Mother smoothed her hand over the silky layers of her skirt. “I have always said you are rather wild, Susanna.”

Susanna nodded. Indeed she’d always wanted more of her life than Mother believed appropriate for a woman. Perhaps she would be ever straining against the rules and expectations that restricted her. Perhaps she wouldn’t break free, but could she not at least help loosen the constraints for her daughters and the women who would come after her?

“Grandmother Eve once bade me to look beyond the outward qualifications of a man and to consider his heart. She entreated me not to make the same mistake she did by rejecting love for earthly gains.” And although Grandmother Eve hadn’t divulged the name of the long-ago suitor she’d rejected, Susanna couldn’t help but wonder if the dear woman’s concern and defense of Hermit Crab Joe had anything to do with the past.

She supposed it would forever remain a mystery.

“I shall endeavor to mark a new course for myself—to marry for love rather than personal gain.”

“I think you resemble your Grandmother Quincy much more than you have ever resembled me.”

“No, Mother.” Susanna gazed into the strong, determined eyes of the woman standing before her. “You have given me much strength in character for which I’m grateful. And you have modeled to me a love for other women—for those less fortunate than myself. I’m indebted to you for much.”

“But you will never be content living an ordinary life.” Mother’s lips curved into a gentle smile. “I believe you were born to do greater things.”

The words of confidence spread over Susanna and warmed her.

Mother bent and placed a kiss upon her head.

A joyful swell pressed against Susanna’s chest.

Mother took Elbridge’s unopened letter, strode to the fire, and tossed it in. Then she stood back and watched the flames turn it into curling black wisps that disintegrated into ash.

“You will do those great things beside a great man.” Mother lifted her chin and started toward the door. “And that man is waiting for you downstairs. I shall send him up to see you now.”

Susanna’s pulse quickened. Ben was there?

Her mother slipped through the door.

Susanna wished she could rush after Mother and wrap her arms around her in a hug. But she knew, even if she had the strength for such a display, Mother wouldn’t have approved. A kiss on the brow would have to suffice.

With her heart pounding, Susanna straightened her nightdress and smoothed at the loose strands of her hair again. She closed his book, then opened it again. She crossed her feet, then uncrossed them.

If only she’d had time to change into her new pink polonaise and to dab a drop of rose water to her neck.

But the clomping of heavy boots on the stairs was followed
by rapid footfalls in the hallway. In an instant her door swung open and Ben filled the doorway.

He stopped short as if he’d wanted to charge into the room but had decided at the last second to show restraint. He swiped his hat from his head.

Nervous happiness sifted through Susanna. She wasn’t sure why he’d waited so long to see her, but it didn’t matter anymore. He was there.

He crumpled the brim of his hat in his fingers and glanced down to his old hunting shirt, stained breeches, scuffed work boots, and spatterdashes. “I apologize for visiting you this way, Susanna.”

“Don’t apologize.” She wanted to say she was glad to see him, but there was something reserved in his eyes that dampened her joy.

“I didn’t stop to think. I should have changed.” He stepped into the room. “It’s just that when I got the letter, I was excited and wanted to share it with you.”

“Letter?” So he hadn’t come to declare his love for her again?

He glanced over his shoulder into the hallway as if making sure they were alone, then pulled a soggy sheet out of his coat pocket.

“It’s from Red,” he said in a hushed voice as he moved closer to her.

“Who’s Red?”

Ben kneeled in front of her and placed the note in her lap. “Sergeant Frazel.”

Since the trial, no one had been able to locate Lieutenant Wolfe’s assistant. And the lieutenant had been in too much of a hurry to return to Boston to worry about his assistant’s whereabouts.

“He has news of Dotty.”

“Oh.” The one word contained all the anxiety she’d held in her heart the past days.

“Don’t worry. It’s good news.”

“Then don’t delay. Do tell.”

He unfolded the letter and spread it out. “They’re heading west to the frontier. He wants to find land to farm. He said he plans to marry Dotty the first chance they have.”

Susanna could only stare at Ben, trying to make sense of the news.

“He’ll take good care of her, and together they can begin a new life where no one will know or care about their past.”

“He deserted the army?” She knew she shouldn’t be surprised. The young officer hadn’t seemed quite suited to his work.

“It happens all the time.”

Susanna released the tension in her shoulders, letting the good news sink in.

“He said he was the one who left the bag of shoes for us.”

“And the shoes will be enough evidence to convict the lieutenant for the murders?”

“I’ll do my best.” Ben’s smile of excitement wrapped around her heart, and she couldn’t keep a smile of her own from forming. “So, what do you think?”

“I think you’re an amazing man, Benjamin Ross.”

His gaze alighted on her dimple and then dropped to her mouth. Was he remembering the kiss he’d given her at the meetinghouse in full view of the entire parish?

Of course, Mother had been aghast at Ben’s brazenness. But Susanna felt fresh longing every time she thought about how his lips had moved against hers and demanded a response from her.

Would he kiss her again?

“Ben . . .” she breathed softly, hoping he’d claim her. Surely he could see her desire and her love for him.

His smile faded and he turned to leave.

“Wait.” She captured his hand. For a reason she couldn’t understand, she was losing him. He was putting a wall between them just when she’d believed all the barriers were finally gone. “Don’t go yet.”

“I came to give you the news, Susanna.” Gently he slipped his hand out of hers. “But I can’t stay. I need to return to the farm to my work.”

“You came all this way. Can you not stay for a little while longer?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I thought we were friends.” She hated the whine in her voice, but she couldn’t prevent it.

The muscles in his face tightened. “I’m sorry, Susanna. I know you’d like to remain friends,” he whispered. “But I cannot. Not anymore.”

“Whatever for?” The despair churned faster. “After what you said at the meetinghouse, I thought you cared about me.”

Pain flashed across his face. “Of course I care about you.”

“But . . .”

“But I could never be satisfied with a simple friendship when everything within me demands so much more.”

She pushed herself out of her chair and stood, letting the book that had been in her lap clatter to the floor. “I love you, Benjamin Ross. And everything within me demands more as well.”

At her declaration, his eyes widened.

“I should have told you much sooner,” she said, “but I
didn’t realize it until just recently. I was confused . . . and I was a coward.”

He studied her. “What will your parents say about your love for me?” He glanced again at his worn, homespun garments.

“It doesn’t matter what they think. Besides, my mother allowed you to visit, did she not?” She attempted to give him a smile, but he didn’t smile back.

Before he could move away and distance himself from her further, she closed the gap between them. She knew she was being much too forward. But as her mother had said, she was too wild. She wound her arms around his neck. “What matters is us. Our future together. Our love. Our happiness.”