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with, General. I look up to you and have learned a great deal from you. I told you when I met you, that I will always be in your debt for freeing me from my captivity. I, too, am a man of my word.
    “ Mrs. Millbury was invited here tonight so I could observe her, not you. I never expected her to hold such resentment toward you. It was not my intent to  use  you, as you called it.”
    “ It is not how it seemed, Major. There is more.”
    A strained silence ensued. Andre lost his smile. Abruptly, Andre continued, “Mrs. Millbury has a lover. Rupert Arnett. Given his connections to us, I will confess I wanted to know what knowledge the man held and if he likes to convey his information during pillow talk.”
    Marcus knew of this Arnett, the newspaper man. He lacked personality, in Marcus’ estimation. The man seemed quite business oriented, more interested in making money than impressing a lady. Even if he had knowledge Hannah lived, unless it served his purpose, Marcus doubted the man would convey it to Susanna…obviously he hadn’t, whether he knew or not…which made Marcus wonder why Andre thought this Arnett would have had the information…
    Perhaps the night was not as disastrous as he thought.
    “Major, we all have personal issues to deal with during this time. We are far from home. I understand your concern. You are in a delicate position, but let me give you some advice. My situation with Hannah differs greatly from yours, but I can promise you she never learned anything from me. Need I remind you, I had her convinced to return to England with me before the incident.
    “ You need to separate the two. But have you forgotten the fact you say Susanne already has a lover? It would not be that she has spurned you.”
    Andre openly sighed. “I am up to the challenge, General. After tonight, I grow more confident that the lady and I will have an understanding.”
    “ As do we, do we not, Major?”
    “ General, I want to make it clear. I cannot go against the gentlemen’s agreement we arranged with the Americans,” Andre said with inflection. “But this I will tell you. I am overseeing your interest diligently as if it were my own. I have not lost sight of the situation, nor is it my intent. I say only be patient. I give you my word as an officer and gentleman.”
    Marcus nodded. He believed Andre. For the first time since his return, hope resurged that all was not lost with Hannah.
    “And I give you my word that it will not be forgotten.”
    * * * *
    Rupert was late. Susanna could do nothing but wait. He would not be happy to see her…of that she was certain, but he would come. She had known him long enough to realize he did not like to divert from their usual arrangement.
    A sudden chill encompassed her. It was not the only reason she shivered. She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders.
    She hated this…this meeting in secret. She hated lying to Oswyn. She hated more that she realized her husband knew she lied and did nothing to stop her from meeting with her lover. Why did it bother her so? It never had in the past.
    Seeing Colonel…General Durham again had unnerved her. She had no time to be swallowed by self-pity. It was only…only he brought with him memories she wanted nothing more than to forget…It hurt too much to remember.
    Walter. The remembrance flashed before her. If only it was his face she saw when she closed her eyes. To her dismay, his face had faded over time. No, the vision that she saw clearly in her mind was of his dead body as it fell back upon her, the blood as it gushed out uncontrollably over her. She tried to stop it…the bleeding...his body convulsed…his eyes rolled back in his head.
    Frozen in time was that moment. The scream stuck in her throat  while Georgie Boy laughed, maliciously laughed at her. He waved the gory knife at her, and taunted she was next. If Colonel Durham hadn’t saved her, she too would have died. But in a way, she had died. She hadn’t