The Turncoat's Widow by Mally Becker

Author:Mally Becker [Mally Becker]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Level Best Books
Published: 2021-01-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Daniel trailed Becca down the printer’s narrow stairs.

In his mind, he watched her rush forward, growing smaller and smaller with distance. She would return to Morristown, to her farm. He would move on. He always did. His memory of her would grow distant with time. The thought unsettled him.

One of Rivington’s servants waited outside to escort Becca back to Samuel’s house. The printer had promised to send a carriage for Becca, Daniel, Augusta and Annie by late tomorrow. They would leave for home.

Daniel placed the stump of a candle he held on a rough wooden table near the printer’s back wall. It was a display of his wares, papered with the broadsides, maps, and fliers he printed along with his newspaper, the Royal Gazette.

“Your cousin won’t be happy you’re leaving.” He sounded stiff, even to himself. “You were his entrée to this season’s social events.”

“I won’t miss Samuel, although I should be grateful for his hospitality.” Becca tightened the tie on the thin, dark cape she’d borrowed from one of the printer’s servants, since Annie’s had been left behind near the docks. The collar caught her hair, and she swept her hand behind her neck to free it.

Her dark hair cascaded down her back. Daniel had the urge to run his hands through it, then sweep it away to bare her neck and…. He tried to stretch his bad hand to force himself to focus on anything but her neck.

“Is it important that a delegation of redcoats will be visiting Morristown?” Becca asked.

Upstairs, she had told Rivington and Daniel about Cunningham’s direction to Mayor Matthews: make sure that the delegation heading to Morristown meets here for dinner before they leave.

“If Cunningham and the mayor thought it was important, it must mean something,” Daniel said. “Warning General Washington should be enough to earn your farm back.”

“Thank you, sir.” She dropped a playful curtsy. “And he shall reward you with silver.” A sliver of bare skin glowed at the base of her neck.

He stared, then stepped out from behind the printer’s counter.

The front window, with its multiple panes, reflected back into the room a wavy, broken image of the two of them facing each other.

Daniel bowed, pointing one foot forward as the gentry would. What are you doing? He lifted her hand to his lips. Proving I’m alive.

His mouth hovered over the tender center of her palm. He turned her wrist and pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

She didn’t pull away. Then her hand went rigid.

He released it in surprise.

She stared over his shoulder, eyes wide.

He swiveled but saw only the printer’s back wall display of broadsides, fliers and maps.

“It’s the map,” she said with wonder.

Daniel shook his head. His thoughts still focused on the feel of her skin on his lips.

“Mr. Riker said that my husband was interested in maps.”

“Mr. Riker?”

“An old gentleman at the mayor’s party.” Becca pointed at the back wall, ignoring him. “Philip has that map in his study. The mayor has the same one in his.

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