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had come between them. She should be glad of it, she supposed. She should be grateful he did not
expect her to help him spy on the Tories any longer, for she did not relish being caught be-tween Ethan
and the viscount at some party or as-sembly. She should thank the heavens above he did not want her
anymore, for she had meant her words to him that she would not lead the life her mother had. If this wall
remained between them, he would never learn of her duplicity. He did not love her, but if he never
discovered her secret, at least he would not hate her, either.
Katie told herself all of these things over and over as they played out their chess game in silence, bur
none of it proved to be any comfort. Finally, she couid stand it no longer.
 Why haven t you come to see me? she asked him, breaking the silence between them that had lasted
at least half an hour.
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He did not look up from the board, but she saw his hand tighten around his glass of brandy.  1 have
been quite occupied with business matters, my dear, he said, and pushed his rook two spaces for-ward.
 Don t you need my help any more?
He leaned back and slowly raised his gaze to hers as he lifted his brandy snifter to his lips.  I told you,
you have fulfilled your part of our bargain. Helping me now is not required. He took a sip of brandy and
gestured to the board.  It is your move.
Katie glanced down, moved a pawn, and refused to be diverted from the subject.  I know it isn t
re-quired, Ethan, she said softly,  but you need my help just as much now as you did before. I
thought-  She broke off abruptly at the coolness in his gray eyes, eyes that had looked at her with
burning desire two weeks before. She took a deep breath.  I thought you might want my help.
 Are you offering it? He leaned forward, re-minding her of her first impression of him, that he was tense
as a coiled whip ready to strike.  Are you now embracing the cause of liberty?
She didn t care about his cause, and she tried not to care about the mockery in his voice that told her he
knew that fact perfectly well. She loved him, she wanted to be with him as much as she could before she
was forced to leave him, and she knew time was running out.  No, she answered.  It s just that I& I ve
missed our time together.
He shoved back his chair so violently it screeched against the floorboards. He set down his glass and
stood up.  I think I should go. It s quite late.
He started past her chair toward the door, but Katie rose and put her hand on his arm to stop him from
leaving. Before she could even speak, he pulled his arm free with a savagery that startled her.  Must you
torture me? he said through clenched teeth.  Have you forgotten your words to me about not wanting to
become your mother? About not wanting to be a man s mistress?
Katie was startled by the fierce anger in his voice.  No, she answered calmly.  I have not for-gotten.
But I 
 Being my mistress is all that I can offer you. Marriage is out of the question.
His statement seemed so abrupt, Katie shook her head in confusion. She hadn t ever expected him to
marry her, and she had told him so. Why did he feel he needed to hammer that fact home?  I know
marriage is not possible.
 War is coming, he went on as if she had not spoken,  the future is uncertain, and I have many
dangerous responsibilities. Even now, I am getting ready to leave Boston.
 Leave? Katie was dismayed.  What do you mean, leave?
 I have business outside the city and will be gone for a week, perhaps two.
 But where are you going?
 That is not your concern.
 Is it dangerous? she asked, but before he could answer, she knew from his expression that it was very
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dangerous indeed.
 It could be. Gage is accelerating his efforts to confiscate our powder. And until England with-draws her
troops from Massachusetts or the war be-gins, I will probably go on many missions just as risky as this
one.
 Whatever it is, why do you have to be the one to go? she cried.  Why you?
 Because there is no one else able to leave the city who can be trusted.
 But if it is dangerous 
 I ve done many dangerous things before in sup-port of liberty. This is no different.
Katie closed her eyes.It is different ! she wanted to shout.It s different because I love you .
She could not tell him that, not when there was no future in it.  Why? she asked, despreate to
un-derstand.  Why do you do these dangerous things when it seems to be such a hopeless business?
Why?
 Because I believe we all have the right to live within a government that is just and fair.
 And I believe you live in a dream, she shot back.  There is no government that is just and fair.
 That s why we are going to invent a whole new one.
 How on earth are you going to do that? Would you listen to yourself? You talk as if inventing a new
government is like inventing a new recipe for lamb stew. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]