Free The Messenger by Siri Mitchell Page B

last morning would do? ”
    I felt the corners of my lips quirk. “It might.”
    The humor that had briefly flickered in the depths of those solemn eyes guttered and then went out. “I will do what I must.”
    “Once you’re inside, once you’ve been brought to the major, then you need to ask him for a pass. No matter what happens, no matter what might be said, you must ask him for a pass. And remember, no one knows about our arrangement. So just act . . . as if there’s nothing to act about.”
    Now she was frowning. “I told thee, I won’t lie for thee or for anyone else.”
    “I’m not asking you to lie. I’m simply asking you not to reveal everything you know. To pretend you’re not doing anything wrong.”
    “To pretend is to lie to oneself.”
    “Then don’t say anything at all!”
    Her eyes caught my own. “Thee might wish to lower thy voice.”
    Dash it all! I would if she didn’t vex me so!

9
Hannah
     
    The next morning over breakfast Mother leaned close and asked me to go calling with her that morning, before dinner. Which meant I wouldn’t be able to go to General Howe’s headquarters as Jeremiah Jones had requested.
    “But if I go, who will watch Jonah?”
    “Rebekah said that Jenny can do it.”
    My aunt nodded, confirming Mother’s words.
    Jenny? Jenny was one of the enslaved. “But that isn’t—”
    Mother made a motion with her hand to hush.
    The others—Aunt Rebekah and Polly; Sally, Caroline, Ezekiel, and young Edward—were all staring at us. Little Jonah had toddled off to the corner. He was having a visit with the parakeet that lived there in a cage. Father had already looked up from the newspaper. “That isn’t right? Because she’s enslaved? Is that what thee meant to say, Hannah?”
    My face flushed as I nodded. I had yet to feel as if I could speak freely and in good conscience in this house that was not our own.
    “I agree with thee. ’Tis sorry work to take advantage of those things we have purposely denied ourselves.” He made a point not to look at Mother as he spoke.
    Mother leaned around me to address him. “I’m not taking advantage, Elias. I’m simply making do for expediency’s sake. I haven’t made a call in two weeks. And ’tisn’t safe to send Hannah out, alone, to make our calls for us. She’s done too much of that lately.”
    I flushed a deeper shade of red, knowing that my walks about the city had been discovered.
    Father frowned, eyes on me, as if he was considering her arguments. “I like neither prospect. Life has demanded too many compromises of late. Would that we were all in our own homes, safe to walk about freely in our own city, with the soldiers gone and the rebellion stifled.” He sighed and turned back to his newspaper.
    “So we’ll go, then?” Mother posed it as a question, but there was no indecision in her eyes.
    “Go. And bring back some news.” Father had an insatiable craving for news. It had developed after his manufactory had closed and it had not yet been quenched. I had no doubt he would go out after us in search of news himself.
    Mother very nearly pushed me up the stair in her haste to change for calling. But as the door was opened for us to leave, we saw a man advancing up the walk toward us. “Friend Elliott!” Her whisper had a note of panic in it.
    Normally I would have shared that sentiment, but perhaps now I would still be able to keep my appointment at the general’s headquarters. If she had to stay to greet him, she might allow me to go on by myself. As she turned, I advanced. But as I reached the top step, I felt a tug on my cloak, pulling me back into the house.
    I gave my cloak up to the doorman with disappointment and joined with Mother in greeting our friend.
    Father too had been readying to go. He came down the front stair, dismay on his face. “Friend Elliott.”
    The man nodded. “I’ve come because there’s news to be had from Virginia.”
    And too bad Samuel Elliott had been entrusted