Free The Heavens Shall Fall by Jerri Hines

leave you alone.”
    “ You are not concerned that I have been followed? Rupert, what if they discover…?”
    “ Calm yourself, Susanna. This is not like you. You know me well. You realize that our affair plays well for our meetings. The British understand you are a desirable woman. They would not suspect it has another purpose.”
    “ I do know you.” She caught her breath and withdrew from his arms. “So our affair is only a shield for transferring information.”
    “ What ridiculous nonsense!” Rupert uttered under his breath. “It is not what I meant. I meant only our relationship would not be suspicious. We are dealing with Major Andre. He is now in charge of British intelligence.”
    “ Major Andre?” she questioned. Her thoughts raced with his attention as of late. “No, you’re wrong. He always has at least two women on his arms at dinners. We have only had polite conversation.”
    “ Then you’re not as observant as I thought. He addressed his interest to me directly. In his position, he is looking for a mistress who would not be demanding of him. A married woman. One whose husband would not be jealous. He wants a diversion until he leaves. Beware of him, Susanna. He is dangerous.”
    “ Then I’m surprised you did not ask it of me.”
    That hesitation again. Good Heavens, he had thought of it! She looked away. She could take no more. Then, suddenly remembering the night before, she worried he was correct. Major Andre had been in the foyer when she exited with Oswyn. Had it been some sort of test?
    Her attention turned back to Rupert. “I had need to see you because I encountered Colonel Durham…General Durham last evening. He is back.”
    Not pleased, Rupert nodded. “I feared he would be. Obviously, he upset you. What did he say?”
    “ Nothing. Nothing of matter. Only he is back. It cannot be good.” Her words faded. She drew in a breath. “He wanted to talk of Hannah.”
    “ Hannah? What did he want to know?”
    His abrupt intensity startled her. “What could I say? I cannot help but blame him for her death. I fear I lashed out at him.”
    She could not help but notice the tension eased from his face. He nodded. “But of course, it would be a normal reaction.”
    Something wasn ’t right. He was keeping something from her. “Rupert, what is it? Why did you tense upon Hannah’s name?”
    “ You are mistaken, my dear,” he said. His voice softened. “It was only concern for you. I know how close you were to your cousin. It must have been painful to be reminded of your loss.”
    He mentioned loss. What did he know of loss? For so long, she had maintained a semblance of indifference to the world around her. She felt little. Deep sorrow gripped her heart and had not released it.
    “ Rupert, do not play me as you do others. I am not made of glass. I have long lived with the pain of loss. There is more to this. I felt it last night. I feel it now. If we have nothing else, I thought at least we understood each other.”
    “ It is your imagination. Come. I will go and have a dinner prepared. A little wine.”
    “ I am not hungry.”
    Rupert reached out for her as if nothing had happened. Did he expect her to simply fall back into his arms? She pushed him back.
    “I came for answers. I have what I need, Rupert. I will not be your diversion . I thought what we had was more than what it was. I thought we were drawn together for a cause.”
    “ What do you want from me? Susanna, I wish things were different, but they are not. You are married. What more could you expect from our relationship? I care for you, but if you want the truth…The only thing that matters to me is the cause. I can’t be who you want me to be because it would interfere with the network. I can’t allow that…no matter the cost to my or your personal feelings.”
    His blunt words resonated in Susanna. She had well known of his commitment to the cause. He had made no promises. It was she who read more into their