Faithfully Yours by Jo Ann Ferguson Page B

do.”
    â€œOr?”
    â€œOr you will see that those who betray us are sorry that they did.”

Seven
    Sebastian threw the page onto the table in his room. He pushed past the table, which left very little room between the bed and the door. Glowering at the fire dancing merrily on the hearth, he cursed under his breath.
    â€œBad news, sir?” asked Osborne without his usual insipid grin.
    â€œOnly if you consider it bad that Burgoyne surrendered his men and supplies to the rebels somewhere in northern New York.” He looked down at the page that had been delivered to him from General Howe’s headquarters in Philadelphia. “A place called Saratoga, north of Albany. The rebels now are inspired by this victory, and it is feared that France will be, as well.”
    Osborne swore. “The Frenchie frogs should stay out of this.”
    â€œThey should , but they have been itching for a chance to give England a black eye. Joining with these rebels might be the very way to do so.” Picking up the page, he read it again. The news did not get any better with another reading.
    How could Burgoyne have been so careless? He had carved a path down from Lake Champlain, cutting off the seditious colonies of New England from the southern ones. Then he had lost two battles—one in Bennington, the home of those rebels led by Ethan Allen and his so-called Green Mountain Boys, and this one in Saratoga—to the colonial army.
    â€œIs it true?” asked Gaylord as he came into the room. He set his stylish bicorne hat on the table. “The rebels defeated Burgoyne?”
    Sebastian glanced at Osborne, who hastily looked away. He should have guessed Osborne would have read the dispatch before delivering it. Worse, the lieutenant had not kept its contents to himself.
    â€œIt is true,” Sebastian replied. “It takes only a single victory like this to revitalize the rebellion. We have seen that before.”
    Gaylord sniffed as he walked to the hearth to warm his hands. “The rebels will take heart from this, but they will lose their enthusiasm just as quickly. It does not matter either way. We will see them defeated.”
    Osborne cheered, but grew silent when Sebastian frowned.
    â€œWe will not see them defeated if other generals are as imprudent as Burgoyne,” Sebastian replied.
    â€œGeneral Howe is not. Sebastian, I must return to my company.”
    â€œYou feel well enough?”
    â€œI was well enough to ride out with you yesterday when we checked the road to the west. I can take your report on what we discovered to Captain Williams. He—” He looked past Sebastian and scowled. Leaping toward the door, he reached out. “How long have you been lurking there?”
    When Gaylord pulled someone into the room, Sebastian was not surprised to see Faith. She was carrying a basket of clean laundry.
    â€œHow long have you been lurking there?” Gaylord demanded again.
    Faith tugged her arm, but he did not release her. Reaching over Gaylord’s hand, Sebastian peeled his fingers off Faith’s arm.
    â€œThank you,” Faith said, but her eyes flashed with anger. “I will continue with my chores now, unassaulted by you and your fellow soldiers.”
    Sebastian glared at his brother. With another sniff, Gaylord went back to the hearth. At the same time, Faith walked out of the room. A hushed chuckle came from where Osborne was witnessing the whole of this.
    Motioning at the door, Sebastian said, “Osborne, Gaylord, you are excused.”
    â€œIf you want to be alone, so that you can call her back,” Gaylord said, walking toward the door, “all you need to do is say so. There is no need for you to order me about as if I am under your command.”
    â€œI need to write a message to send back to our superiors in Philadelphia,” he replied as Osborne went out into the corridor. The lieutenant would linger there, no doubt hoping to hear