Free Enemy of Mine by Red L. Jameson

the piano, curtsied, while blushing and smiling. The throng pushed toward her, enthusiastically talking. Through them, through her slow gait, she made her way back to him. He was so overcome, he couldn’t say anything for several seconds. Holding her hands, he felt so proud of her.
    “Beautiful,” he could only whisper.
    “Indeed,” a quiet yet authoritative voice from the crowd concurred. Will turned to see his commander in chief, General William Howe, nearby.
    Will bowed as did The General.
    “Is this the Lady Ferguson I’ve heard so much about?” General Howe smiled at Erva.
    She curtsied and offered her hand, then The General kissed her knuckles. Will was fairly certain the man lingered in his hold of her hand. Possessively, Will placed an arm around Erva’s waist, thought briefly of social protocol, but then decided to be a beast and hold her as close as she’d let him. General Howe, as always the clever man, glanced from him to Erva with an all too knowing smile and released her.
    “How on earth have you heard of me, General Howe?” Erva asked, a tad too excitedly for Will’s heart to take.
    General Howe gave a small smile. “Through General Hill’s own men. The whole town is abuzz about the lady who shot faster than many of my own soldiers. I’ll have to recruit you if you aren’t careful.”
    Erva chuckled and glanced down at the floor, slightly blushing. She was too adorable for this situation. Howe was quiet too, Will knew, but he was also a bit of a lady’s man. At least so it had been rumored. Will never had worried. Until now. He pulled Erva a tad closer.
    Then Lord Admiral Richard Howe, General Howe’s brother, sauntered close in his blue uniform. “I say, my lady, that was the best performance I’ve seen outside a stage. Never before was seen such an act in a house. Yes.”
    Everyone blinked, not exactly sure what the admiral meant. Will had heard that the admiral had an odd way of communicating. Thus far, he’d never met the man.
    Erva curtsied. “Thank you, my lord.”
    “No, no, thank you.” Admiral Richard nodded.
    “Lady Ferguson, have you met my brother, Lord Admiral Richard Howe?”
    She shook her head. “I haven’t had the pleasure yet.”
    Richard kissed her hand with efficiency, then turned to Will. “General Hill, my brother speaks of you quite often for your bravery and intelligence. It is an honor to finally meet you.”
    Will bowed as did Richard who also offered his hand in a firm shake.
    “How—how did the peace talk with the Continental Congress progress, my lord?” Erva asked almost timidly of the Admiral. Will was quite pleased the lady kept current of events and the negotiations between the Howe brothers and certain members of the rebel American congress.
    Richard sighed deeply and looked at his brother. “Not well, my lady. As one of my aides said, ‘We came. We talked. We left.’ That surmises the meeting best, I think.”
    She cocked her head to the side, her light blonde tresses shining in the candlelight. Then she bit her lip, but soon enough she couldn’t contain her smile. “I’ve—I’ve always wondered, Lord and General Howe, how you feel about America claiming her independence?”
    Will pulled Erva even closer, knowing what she asked could be conveyed as sedition. However, he was proud of her for asking. Lord, she was a brave one.
    Richard burst out laughing, then stopped as he leaned closer to Erva. “What a question, my lady. One I have not been asked, save by my own brother, for I am told what my king purposes, and that is America is not to have her independence.”
    Erva gave the Admiral a small smile. “Yes, but you haven’t answered my question.”
    Richard softly chuckled again. “My lady, I wish I could answer it for myself, as does my brother.”
    General Howe nodded conspiratorially. “Out of respect for my king, we cannot answer your question. But now I must turn the table on you, my lady. How do you feel about America’s