THE CRY FOR FREEDOM (Winds of Betrayal) (16 page)

Behind the intent of the dress shop had been his network, an extensive one through New York against the British. His network had yet established a link with the one the Continental Congress, but had begun the process. When he heard through Barnaby Laning on the docks about setting up a possible connection with the Americans, he expressed his interest in the prospect.

His usual manner hid well his potential excitement. Although he heard his connection was female, which in itself gave pause to the situation, the prospect of establishing a link within the most prominent Loyalist in the city couldn't be overlooked. He knew well Clay's reputation, Tepper realized though the greatest gains only came with the greatest obstacles to overcome.

A bell rung. Someone entered the front door. He could hear Cora greet the customers. Cora, his most faithful of employees, had worked for him for too many years to count. He didn't trust many, but he trusted Cora. Cora, a homely big bones woman, had lost her husband at the hands of the British many years hence.

“Yes, ma'am,” Cora's voiced carried down the hall. “I do believe I remember him talking of you. Mr. Tepper has been expecting you.”

On cue, Tepper walked into the lobby, pleasantly surprised to find Mrs. Leona Wicks with her two daughters and another attractive female accompanying the women. With a smile upon his face, he gently introduced himself to the older lady by taking her hand to his lips.

“Welcome ladies to my humble shop. Just your presence brightened my day,” Tepper said. He motioned for the women to follow him. “Mrs. Wick, I had expected you earlier this week. I believe I sent word about the arrival of some new stomachers I believe you requested.”

“You may think me forgetful, Mr. Tepper, but I didn't remember requesting any. But I have been known to be quite confused at times,” Leona Wick said straightening her dress out.

“Cora, can you check to see if I sent out the right note for Mrs. Wick?” Tepper asked his assistant. Without blinking, he returned to his customers. “Ah,
 Miss Camilla! I haven't seen you in ages. I was beginning to wonder if you no longer needed my dresses.”

“Oh, Mr. Tepper. You jest. I'm certain,” Camilla laughed in her glory. “I have sung your praises to my cousin, Mr. Tepper. Miss Hannah Corbett, this is who I've talked about for ages. Mr. Tepper, you don’t know the pains I have had to go through to finally come here today. Grandfather swears I spend way too much on my appearance.”

“You make my works beautiful, Miss Camilla,” Tepper replied. “So, you bring your cousin. And where pray tell do you come from Miss Corbett?”

“Virginia, sir,” Hannah said, exchanging a smile with Camilla. Susanna stood back in the background, seemly wanting to be anywhere but at the shop. “I have come for a visit with my grandmother. But Camilla feels I have a need for a new wardrobe.”

“Ah, yes, that can easily be accomplished for such a lovely one as you,” Haym caught her eye. “For being from Virginia you must be used to warmer weather, perhaps. I've heard it said that the sun shines in Virginia.”

Hannah's eyes lit up upon his remark. The sentence she had been waiting for over a month to hear. Her connection stood before her. “Yes, one could say the wind cuts through one in New York.”

Cora walked back in looking forlorn. “I'm so sorry, Mr. Tepper. I made a mistake with the note. It was for Mrs. Wickham, not Mrs. Wick. I'm so sorry.”

“Quite alright, Cora,” Tepper responded with a slight pat on her hands. “I believe everything happens for a reason. Don’t we all? I feel bad for having you come down for a mistake on my part.”

“Oh, but Hannah needs a wardrobe anyway,” Camilla interrupted. “It's not a wasted trip.”

“Ah, but I will feel bad if I don't do something to make it up to you,” Tepper flustered. “Oh, what can I do except make you happy with something you need?”

He looked up at Leona. “Why not go out front with Cora and all three pick out some of the material, the silk comes to mind, that came in with the stomachers? I'm sure everyone could use a new bed gown.”

“How generous, Mr. Tepper,” Leona protested. “But it's unnecessary for Hannah does need a new wardrobe. Father insists upon it.”

“I insist myself, Mrs. Wick,” he answered. “Cora, why not take these women out to pick out material? If Miss Corbett is going to get outfitted, I'll begin measurements. If that's acceptable to you, Mrs. Wick?”

“But of course.”

Tepper watched the women walk into the back room to look at the material. He turned to Hannah. “Well, Miss Corbett, welcome to New York. I understand you have a desire to discover the truth behind your father's death. I'm here to help you do just that.”

“Are you sure we can talk freely?” Hannah asked nervously. “I've waited for what seemed eternity. I can't begin to tell you the relief I have finally made contact with you.”

Tepper studied the girl and doubts crept in. Young, extremely young, he bit his lip as he concentrated. “First, never feel you can talk freely. One can never feel they are safe. That is the time when you are the most vulnerable.”

“Of course, you are right,” she stuttered, searching for the right words. She shuffled her position to move closer to him.

“When I was first approached, Miss Corbett,” Tepper led her to stand upon a small podium, “I expected someone older, more experienced in life. I can't allow you to be put in a position that you can not only put yourself in danger but others as well, including myself. The best solution would be for you to go home and let us decipher the situation. I promise I will make it a priority.”

Her body went rigid; her face
 tensed. Her eyes hardened at the man in front of her. She bent down so only he could possibly hear the words within her.

“Sir, I don't want to seem difficult, but don't believe that I'm leaving before I accomplish what I came to do. I have endured a great deal of hardship. I'm not leaving and will not answer to anyone until I have the truth. I have seen my family ripped apart. I have seen death in the most unnatural manner. I have ventured into
the depths of hell within my grandfather's house to achieve my purpose.

“I have smiled when my body cried. I have laughed
with the devil himself and will continue to do so. Don’t tell me you don't consider me worthy.”

Camilla ran back
as Hannah leaned back up. “Oh, Hannah. Isn’t he the best? I have found the most beautiful green. Matching my eyes, Mother says.”

Hannah smiled at her cousin. “I am sure, Camilla. I myself have so much from which to choose.
I'm so happy you brought me here.”

“Hurry and I'll show you,” Camilla
said as she ran back down the hall.

Tepper eyed Hannah carefully as she returned his stare. “If you're willing to listen and obey my explicit instructions at all times, we will try.”

* * * *

Tepper straightened the waist. He glanced over
his design on Hannah. The gown transformed her from a young girl to a mature woman. The open gown split in the front to show off the decorative petticoat. The pale rose color accented her own coloring; her eyes glittered. He congratulated himself. She looked divine, even angelic. She swirled and smiled at him.

“My dear, you look breathtaking. No one would care what they said in front of you,” he said, nodding his head.

“And you feel this is important,” Hannah said, staring at him, challenging him.

Since the first day he met her, she
has held on to an attitude. She believed he had insulted her, and, with her determination, she would show him her worth.

He had almost made a fatal mistake; one he hoped would be the British's own.
Underestimating her. Upon first glance, one would see a dainty, defenseless female. Gazing into her eyes an instinct to protect her overcame him; never seeing in her eyes the determination, hurt, and pain that drove her. He should have known, for within him he had the same.

She needed to learn patience, though. He had a
worry growing within him that she would press too hard and quick for information, having fallen on her first report quite by accident. In truth she hadn't realized what she had acquired. Already the information had found its way to Washington and acted upon.

Her access to Tepper was easy at the moment with all she had to procure with her wardrobe. From the gowns requested, Tepper felt hopeful
Hannah would soon be moving upward within their social ranks.

“Grandfather finally let me down to his shop. I find myself enjoying the adventure. I have missed the interaction with all around.
 He seems to have given me more freedom,” she began. She glanced over at Cora wandering over to entertain Camilla, who had accompanied Hannah for her fitting. “Of course it was only for the afternoon. Grandfather had been extremely cautious around me. I know he doesn’t trust me, but I don't believe he suspects my purpose. He was called away for a few minutes with a problem in the back room. I believe it had to do with the sand cast. I could guess they were having trouble attaching with the silver solder. I could have helped, but Grandfather made me stay in the front to greet customers.”

“Don't press him, Hannah,” Tepper cautioned. She shot him a look.

“It wasn't what was going on in the back, Mr. Tepper. If you give me but a moment, I'll tell you,” she said biting her bottom lip. An attempt he recognized to keep from saying something she might regret. She turned her attention back to her intent.

“A man came in and asked to see Grandfather. He waited. Uncle Richard came in about the same time. They began talking about the fighting and
how they believe New York will fall to the British soon enough,” she said, glancing back over her shoulder. “I’m sure you are already aware the British are preparing to withdraw from Halifax.  At least, that’s what Uncle Richard and this man…what was his name…David Matthews, I believe, were saying. The man said that a new army of British and Germans were being brought in to strengthen the army that failed in Boston.”

Tepper stood stunned, listening to the details she rattled  as if they were known facts. He nodded in agreement acting like it was common knowledge.
His interest rose with the mention of David Matthews's name. He had long been suspected of Loyalist's ties.

“They moved to the far corner to themselves, but shelves sit behind the area that needed to be cleaned,” she smiled. “They didn't seem to notice me. The man talked of some sort of plot  that has been hatched among a few of what he called
their group
. Seems to me it would be easy enough to call themselves Tories.”

“Hannah,” he directed her back to her story. “The information?”

She tilted her head. “The man talked of kidnapping Washington. Said Washington’s own guards were in on it.”

Tepper paused and
eyed her carefully. “Did he say any names? Think, Hannah, for even with some information it will not do us much good if we don't know whom we are dealing with.”

She looked away, glancing around the room. “I didn't hear everything clearly, Mr. Tepper. I believe he mentioned a Fifer, Lynch, maybe, but Hickey is one that he talked the most about. Does that help?”

“We'll see,” he nodded. “It's a start, at least, and a good one. The way it works at any time is I give the information to the network. They deem whether it's of consequence or not. We may not know whether someone is bragging about an issue they know nothing about, and worse, someone may be trying to set you up. We can't react without investigating.”

She thought for a moment. “Mr. Tepper, do I need to worry about being caught within New York? The two talked openly about the British making a stand here. They said the royal governor, William Tryon, awaits upon the Duchess of Gordon for the British to make their move. They talked plainly of Tories in the city, Long Island and up the Hudson ready on a moment’s notice to lend their support.”

“Hannah, of course, New York is under a heavy threat. The port is central to the American colonies. We are at war, my dear. If it bothers you?”

“No,” she interrupted. “It's just they made it seem that the Patriots were on the outskirts of the city.”

“I believe they are,” he agreed, not seeing where she was heading with the conversation.

“I hate to ask, for I don't want to seem for it to be a weakness,” she paused. “But my fiancé had a commission with Washington and my brother is also serving as a surgeon. I don't know if either is with Washington at the moment,
since I haven't had any word from either since the raid that destroyed my family. Mr. Lanson said not to write them letters yet. I haven't, but my heart is concerned for both. I haven't heard from my poor sister-in-law either since I came. I have written to her often, not detailing my life, but concerns for her being. She lost more than I.”

Tepper raised his hand stopping her words. “I can't promise you anything, but give me their names. I will look into the situation. But don't get your hopes up. Concentrate upon your goal and the sooner you can go back and begin your life again.”

Her spirits lifted. He could read it in her eyes. He quickly arranged to relay the information when Hannah left. Less than three days later, Barnaby came back with a purse for Tepper. Tepper sat across from the man with a questionable look on his face. He had never taken money for information before, giving most of his profits to the cause himself.