The Minuteman by Tony Roberts

Author:Tony Roberts [Roberts, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-05-16T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Halifax in Nova Scotia was windswept, bleak and cold. Rose hated it. She was sunk in her own pool of misery. Having been rudely and forcibly taken from Boston during the evacuation had been bad enough, but during the voyage north a smirking Sir Richard had taken her aside and presented her with a torn and bloodied piece of clothing with silver buttons on it.

He had told her in no uncertain terms that this had been her beloved’s before Sir Richard’s man had killed him, and torn the piece off his dead body as proof. Rose didn’t know for certain it to be true, for the clothing didn’t match Cass’s the last time she’d seen him. But there seemed to be no deception in Sir Richard’s face or voice. Her face had crumpled and she had fled to her room and cried for most of the voyage. Sir Richard had spent the time either in her father’s company or with the other officers, picking over the faults in their strategy.

General Howe was now making plans to attack and retake the important towns and cities, a move designed to drive the rebels from the centers of population and to split them in two. They felt confident of the plan, and hoped that it wouldn’t be too long before they put it in motion.

Sir Richard had planned with Ebenezer in setting up a center of trade in New York. It would be the perfect place, being the main port to receive trade from Britain and the continent. Army munitions and supplies would have to come to New York initially, so Maplin’s would be one of the main importers. Money would roll in. Ebenezer rubbed his hands together in glee. Now all that remained was for Sir Richard to marry Rose.

On their arrival in Halifax Sir Richard sought out the chief minister, a parson called Green, and browbeat him into agreeing to a marriage ceremony at the church, The Holy Nativity. So it was a week after arriving in Halifax that Rose was virtually frog-marched up the aisle by her father and made to stand next to Sir Richard. The ceremony was attended by officers of Sir Richard’s regiment and a few curious onlookers. The Maplins were not represented by anyone.

Rose kept her head bowed, listless and indifferent to what was going on. She had to be asked to speak up in response to the ceremonial parts requiring her to talk, and after a ring had been put on her finger by Sir Richard, a predatory smile on his face, they were declared man and wife. Rose kept her veil over her face, as much to hide her tears as anything else, and she was walked out of the church and under the twin rows of officers presenting their swords above their heads. Sir Richard smiled and took the congratulations from his fellow officers in good stead, and fended off questions as to Rose’s quietness as being the result of her overwhelmed by the whole occasion.

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