Velvet Chains (Historical Romance) (42 page)

31

June, 1781

The war between the United States and England raged on. General Charles Cornwallis advanced through the South and on into Virginia. He sent dispatches to General Clinton urging him to bring all-out war to the South, but Lord Clinton feared if he sent troops to Cornwallis' aid, he would weaken his forces in New York. Not knowing where to commit his forces, Clinton ordered Cornwallis to take up a position in Virginia and hold it at all cost.

Cornwallis marched his troops toward the Chesapeake, pursued by Lafayette who had been hounding his rear. Making for the sea, Cornwallis hoped to be rescued by the British fleet. What he didn't count on was the aggressiveness of the French so he became hopelessly trapped between Lafayette and the sea.

An urgent dispatch went out to General Clinton in New York, asking him to hasten his troops to the South or the war would be lost.

A cloud moved over the moon, shrouding its light and casting the land in dark shadow. The only sound that could be heard was an occasional night bird calling from deep within the dense forest.

General George Washington's troops were camped at the edge of the woods, and many tents and campfires dotted the land. It was a warm night so the soldiers lay upon their bedrolls, under the open sky. None of them noticed the dark shadow that detached itself from behind the trunk of an oak tree, moving as silently as a cat stalking its prey. When a sentry advanced, the intruder dodged quickly behind the thick foliage of a wild honeysuckle bush and waited for the guard to pass.

Shortly thereafter, the dark shadow circled, just outside the light of the campfires, until he came to the big tent that was set apart from the others. Looking over his shoulder, the man cautiously entered the tent.

General Washington sat on a campstool, a grim expression etched on his face. His head was bent over a map which he was studying intently. He was so deep in thought he hadn't heard the dark, cloaked figure enter his tent, and he spun around when he heard the deep, raspy voice.

"I am sorry to be late, General, but I had a little trouble crossing the Hudson."

Washington stood up and shook hands with The Raven. "I'm glad you could make it at all. Did you run into any problem entering my camp?"

Laughter emerged from behind the black mask. "I met with no resistance. Had I been the enemy, you would now be dead or my prisoner."

Washington smiled as he motioned for The Raven to be seated. "I will have to speak to my officers and see if they cannot set up a more impregnable camp."

The Raven seated himself and glanced down at the map, noting that it was a sketch of the Virginia coastline. "I received word only last week that you wanted to see me. I came as quickly as I could get away."

The Raven studied the face of the man who had been his friend for many years. Washington was a tall man and carried himself proudly, but tonight The Raven could see traces of weariness on his rugged face. His eyes looked as if he hadn't slept in many nights.

"I will close the tent flaps if you wish to take your mask off. No one will enter unannounced, and I can offer you some brandy. Lafayette sent me a case of the best French vintage."

"I dare not chance it, General. Too much depends on keeping my identity a secret. 1 left my men on the other side of the river and there is every need for haste."

Washington sat down wearily and rubbed his temples. "I often think of the roll you play for your country. If you are ever caught, it will be the hangman's rope for you, but after all this is over and the smoke has cleared, you will never receive the recognition you deserve. Few are aware of the important part you have played in this war; yet I shall always be grateful for the secret information you have funneled to me. Many times, your information has helped turn the tide of battle. Had you not been so useful to me as a spy, I would have insisted you take a commission in the army."

"I'm not doing this for glory or recognition, General. Like yourself, I am an American, and I do what I can for love of country." He smiled. "As for being in the army, I never was much good at following orders."

Washington studied The Raven's gloved hands. "I have never had a son of my own, but as a result of this war, I have come to know two very fine young men who could have been the sons I craved. Lafayette is one . . . you are the other."

"I am and always shall be your friend, sir," The Raven answered. "You have my deepest respect."

Washington nodded his head and laced his fingers together. "As badly as I hate to do it, I find I must call on your services again. 1 desperately need your help."

The Raven pushed his black cape aside and leaned forward. "I am yours to command, as always."

"Do not be so quick to commit yourself. What I am going to ask you to do will be very risky. It could turn the tide of the war, one way or the other. I don't have to caution you that this will be very dangerous."

"You have piqued my curiosity."

Washington stood up, unrolled the maps, and motioned for The Raven to come closer. "Lafayette has General Cornwallis trapped at Yorktown," he said, pointing at the coastal town of Virginia.

"Yes, I had heard that. Cornwallis is expecting to be saved by the British fleet. I have considered joining the French fleet when they do battle with Admiral Groves."

Washington's shoulders seemed to sag. "What I will ask of you has nothing to do with a sea battle. I want you to convince General Clinton that I am going to try to retake New York!"

The Raven swung his head up and Washington knew he was stunned. "Why, General?"

"I'm going to Virginia, and if Clinton finds out he will send the fleet ahead of me. I want him to hold his forces in New York."

"I see. This could be the final push."

"I am going to help you all I can. I will make a great show of crossing the Hudson so it will be easier for you to convince Clinton that I am heading for New York."

"When will this all take place, General?" The Raven wanted to know.

"I haven't even told my own officers. They think I am making plans to swing up to New York. I hope to make the crossing on August twelfth. I don't have to tell you what's at stake here. It is most imperative that Admiral Groves does not pull his fleet out of New York!"

"I can see that the timing will be very important, sir. Should I convince Clinton too soon, he would have time to advance on you at the Hudson, and the British fleet could still rescue Cornwallis."

"That is only too true, but I will leave the timing strictly up to you. There will be no glory in this for you, Raven. As a matter of fact, only you and I will ever know of the part you will play to turn the tide of war in our favor. Your only reward will be in knowing you have served your country to the utmost."

"That is all the reward I have ever wanted. Let us hope I can convince General Clinton."

The Raven extended his hand and General Washington gripped it tightly. "Have a care, my friend. You are walking a dangerous road. I fear after this your usefulness as a spy will be ended; General Clinton will have figured out that you tricked him." "Good luck to you, General. May God go with you." The Raven slipped out of the tent and faded into the shadows. He left the camp as easily as he had entered it earlier, no man aware of his coming and going, with the exception of General George Washington.

August 1, 1781

General Henry Clinton looked over the sea of faces and listened to the drone of voices. These social affairs always bored him. He was a military man and didn't care for all this elaborate entertaining when there was a war going on. He didn't want to make the same mistakes his predecessor, General Howe, had. Lord Howe had seemed more interested in amusing himself than in winning the war, which was why the British government had made Clinton Howe's replacement.

"This is quite a turnout, Sir Henry," Lucas Carrington said, coming up beside him.

"Where have you been?" General Clinton asked sourly. "I left word at your lodging three days ago that I wanted to see you, Lucas."

"I am sorry, sir, but I have been out of town. Was it not you who sent me to Philadelphia?"

"Yes, yes," the general said impatiently, "but that was over a fortnight ago. You certainly took your time getting back to me. What did you find out?"

Lucas smiled at Lady Southerland as she danced by and indicated to him that he should meet her later. "Actually, sir, I found out very little. From what I was told, Washington is hoping to swing south and retake his home state of Virginia from Cornwallis."

General Clinton's brow furrowed. "Is it your opinion that I should commit the British fleet at Yorktown to reinforce Cornwallis, Lucas?"

"That was the advice I got, but I'm not sure I agree with it. My informant tells me there is something big in the wind."

General Clinton stared at Lucas. "Just what are you implying, my boy? You know I always value your advice. You have never yet let me down."

"This is my advice for all it's worth. If I were you, I would hold the fleet here in New York for a few weeks longer. It isn't at all unlikely that Washington wants you to think he is going to swing south to join Lafayette, when in truth he will try to retake New York. Washington is no fool, and he knows New York is the more important of the two. I believe he will head here."

General Clinton pondered Lucas' advice. "Yes, I can see the sense in what you are saying. I will wait for a week, two at the most. If by that time, Washington has not swung his troops south, I will know he is planning to advance on New York. By God, I would love to get my hands on him!"

Lucas Carrington smiled. "Who knows, Sir Henry, the war may be drawing to a close. Perhaps your meeting with Washington is closer than you think."

"You may be right, my boy. Let us hope so. I long to return to England. Perhaps the king will recall me as soon as this rebellion is put down."

"I would like to return to Virginia, myself. I have a young bride waiting for me."

General Clinton smiled knowingly. "I don't blame you, my boy. You have every reason to go home. Tell me, why don't you bring that beautiful wife of yours to New York?"

"Season prefers to stay in the country, sir. She has no liking for New York."

"If she were my wife, I'd be damned if she would be there and I here."

Lucas laughed. "I can't argue with that, sir."

General Clinton looked uncomfortable for a moment. "That was a nasty business about your cousin, Edmund. The word is around that Edmund was The Raven, that he was done in by one of his own crewmembers. Do you believe that?"

"No. I have heard that he was killed by The Raven."

"I never thought Edmund would desert the army. He always seemed to be a good soldier, but then one can never tell about such things. I believe he went a little crazy when he heard that you married Lady Season."

"I feel partly responsible for his death," Lucas said in a soft voice.

"Nonsense. He was very unstable. It is well that Lady Season married you instead of Edmund. I believe the two of you are well suited to one another."

"I can't argue with that either, sir," Lucas said, smiling to himself. "If you will excuse me, sir, I believe Lady Southerland is motioning for my attention."

"Lucas, it has never been my habit to interfere in other peoples' lives, but I think I should warn you about the gossip that is circulating about you and Lorona Southerland. I am sure you wouldn't want any word of this to reach your wife in Virginia." "I have often been the target for wagging tongues, sir. I can only say in my defense that there is nothing between Lady Southerland and myself besides friendship."

General Clinton looked as if he didn't entirely believe Lucas, but he only nodded his head. "Don't keep the lady waiting, but have a care about your lovely wife in Virginia."

Lucas bowed politely and took his leave. He saw Lorona Southerland step out into the garden and started after her. However, just as he reached the door, Mrs. Tibbs stepped in front of him to block his path.

"I was wondering how your wife is faring, Mr. Carrington." Mrs. Tibbs said, looking at him with disapproval.

"Season is well, Mrs. Tibbs," he answered, smiling.

"I wonder why you never bring Lady Season to New York, but then I suppose that would curb your outside activity, would it not?" she said, nodding toward the garden where Lorona Southerland waited."

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Mrs. Tibbs. Lorona and I are just friends."

"Hmm, a likely story," she said, brushing past him and heading into the dining room.

Lucas frowned as his eyes followed Mrs. Tibbs. He hoped the lady wouldn't take it upon herself to inform Season about his meetings with Lorona Southerland.

As Lucas stepped out into the garden Lorona came up beside him. "I saw that Mrs. Tibbs had you cornered. I don't think the lady likes me overmuch, Lucas."

"I don't think I am very high on her list either. I will be glad when this farce is ended," Lucas said, taking her arm and leading her around to the front of the house.