𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐑 | turn: washington's spies ↠ benjamin tallmadge

~*~ NEW! Chapter 11 - Christmas Eve ~*~

This chapter is dedicated to Cory (misshiraeth98) I wouldn't have gotten this far on this chapter without your encouragement.

It was Christmas Eve. Lydia typically adored the holiday because it was usually when Ben came home. But not this year. She knew that she should feel grateful that he had somehow managed the trip for her birthday, but she knew it would not be Christmas without Ben. She knew that she must keep a cheerful facade at all times, not only for the sake of the holiday but because her father had invited her fiance to Setauket and he had accepted the invitation. Because of this, Lydia found herself busy with preparations for John Andre's arrival.

Lydia wasn't sure how she felt about John lodging at Whitehall. She hoped he did not have any expectations of her beyond pretending to be happy with their engagement. She wished more than anything to call it off because it was a sham and she was presently married to another man, but it was a matter of safety. Her safety. If her father knew even a fraction of the truth, he would certainly find a way to marry her off in a heartbeat or find a way to annul her marriage to Ben and then marry her off. So, she must remain silent and engaged.

The only thing she looked forward to was hopefully gaining some knowledge from John for Ben. If she could get him drunk enough, perhaps he might spill something valuable to a pretty girl...or so she hoped. She did not have much experience in the area. Ben was the only one for her and she had never dallied beyond his affection. Not once. So attempting something like this was new to her. Not that Ben would approve of such actions, but it was a risk she was willing to take. Only if to end the conflict sooner so that she might finally be a wife to Ben as she had longed for since she was a young girl.

She had just finished preparing the room where John would lodge when she caught sight of a carriage pulling up toward Whitehall. It wasn't one she recognized, so she assumed it belonged to Major John Andre. Lydia folded her hands on her stomach and slowly released a breath. She closed her eyes and reminded herself that she was doing this for Ben before she practised forcing a smile on her face. In the mirror, it looked almost natural enough to be believable. After another slow breath, she left the room and headed down to greet her guest.

Judge Woodhull was the first one to greet Andre at the door. He welcomed the man warmly and allowed him entrance into his home as Lydia made her way down the stairs. Andre smiled at her as she approached him. Lydia couldn't help but note that Ben was the only other person who looked at her that way. It almost made her feel bad for the ruse she was making, but Andre was in on it. This was of his own making, she had to remind herself. He was very much a part of this as she was - just for different reasons. He knew what he was getting himself into, just as much as she did.

Lydia allowed Andre to gently kiss her cheek. She found herself blushing at the affection. John was a very handsome man. Despite his allegiance to the Crown, any woman with his affection should consider themself lucky. That was likely why it felt so wrong, knowing how many women were likely after his attention, only for it to be directed to her, an already married woman, with a Continental husband to boot.

"It's good to see you, my dear," John said smoothly, with a smile that would make most women's hearts do flips and Lydia's was not exempt.

"Not nearly as good as it is to see you, my dear," Lydia responded, her face ever-so-slightly flushing when she tacked on the term of endearment.

Judge Woodhull stood behind John with a grin on his face. He was happy to see the two of them in such a manner. He walked up to John and clapped a hand on the younger man's back. "There'll be time for this later," Judge Woodhull said, with a knowing grin on his face. "For now, I'm afraid I must steal the good major away. I promised Major Hewlett that I'd escort you into town as soon as you arrived." He then cast a look at his daughter. "Business, I'm afraid."