Nancy Whiskey

“You know, I do not believe he was feeling quite well,” Nancy confided to Mrs. Cook.

“Possibly the sea voyage. Or it may take him a few days to adjust to our climate again.”

“Hmm,” Nancy said, thinking of Trueblood’s exertions of the past hours and why a discussion of illness would bother him. She could only think he did not like to mix such things with his food, which he plainly enjoyed. She would remember that. She wondered if Daniel had to play second best to Trueblood everywhere; Mrs. Cook clearly held the younger brother in more esteem. Nancy supposed so, since Daniel took the slights with resignation rather than resentment, almost as though it did not matter, in the face of more important issues. And what could be so important? That packet surely was not just commercial papers. Daniel was an extremely complex man and Trueblood was merely a part of his disguise, a distraction for anyone who might suspect he was up to something. She let her mind wander pleasantly over all the things she imagined Daniel might be up to.

Daniel had been admitted to a prosperous-looking house on York Street, then let into the library by a retainer who knew him on sight. As the room was empty, Daniel seated himself, then stood with a groan and proceeded to pace the room. Trueblood had bandaged his leg tightly again, but the wound looked to have broken open from the walking, for there was a growing bloodstain on his clean breeches. He was just applying another handkerchief to this when a middle-aged man entered the room and came to shake his hand.

“Daniel, good to see you. Why the devil are you limping?”

“Hello, Norton. Our ship was captured by a French privateer. I took a splinter.”

“God’s death. That was close. Is your brother all right?”

“Fine. Yourself?” Daniel sat with a grunt, as Norton motioned him to a chair.

“I had the yellow fever last month,” Norton said as he poured them each a brandy from the decanter on his desk. He handed a crystal goblet to Daniel. “Not a bad case by all accounts, but it nearly did me in. Tell me what is going forward in England.” Norton pulled his desk chair around to face Daniel.

“Little of interest to us, and except for a certain street in London, little climate for inciting rebellion on the American frontier.”

“You are assuming Britain has some control over the situation. They can no more control Canada at this great distance than they could control us. Witness Dorchester’s inflammatory speech to the Indians.”

“The English are as surprised by the antics of the Governor General of Canada as we are.” Daniel took a swallow of brandy. “They might not be unhappy if he did manage to incite the tribes to harass us. They will even turn a blind eye to the encroachment of Canadian forts on American soil, but will not, I think, go so far as to declare war.”

“Not yet, anyway, so long as we are neutral and the balance of trade with us is favorable.”

“I really think they make more profit off of us now that they bear no responsibility for us.”

“They certainly do off the shipping they capture and confiscate. That, too, could lead us into war if we are caught between two belligerent sea powers.” Norton glanced at Daniel’s leg. “Have you any unofficial dispatches?”

“Yes, here. I hope they are worth Trueblood’s swim, but I could not afford to be caught with them.”

Norton chuckled and plied his letter opener. “You are quite a pair, you and Trueblood. It would be a load off my mind if the British were planning nothing. Then I would have only the Canadians, the French and the Spanish to worry about. We believe they are all causing unrest on the frontier.”

“Perhaps even Secretary of State Hamilton,” Daniel suggested.

“Hamilton may be short-sighted, but the money for the war debts must come from somewhere. The whiskey tax is necessary. But is the tax the only cause of unrest? That is the question,” Norton added, breaking the seal on the first dispatch and tossing the paper aside after a quick perusal.

“The Canadians have always supplied the Indians with weapons. There is no need to further incite them. Watching their land being nibbled away takes care of that.”

“I see. You empathize with the natives as well. Trueblood’s influence?”

“No. This was not exactly a Garden of Eden before white men landed. We have merely given the native populations a common enemy.”

“Or the Canadians have,” Norton said, scanning the next letter and tossing it aside. He rose to pour them each another brandy.

“Prime Minister Pitt maintains that Britain wants peace.”

“But what do the Canadians want?” Norton asked as he paced to the window, his frock coat gracefully slapping his thighs. “Simcoe seems a very unstable fellow to me.”

“The governor of Upper Canada is afraid we’ll encroach on his territory, hence all the forts.”

“That’s what makes him dangerous.” Norton unrolled a map overtop of the letters. “There is even some talk of a secret agreement between the Canadians and Spanish now that Britain and Spain are allies again. With enough support they could split the country along the Appalachians and all the wealth of the interior would flow right down the river valley and out of American hands.”

Daniel limped over to the desk. “There may be some temptation there. All the frontiersmen want access to New Orleans, but it will take more support and organization than what I have heretofore seen.”

“So much for the British and the Spanish.”

Daniel took a swallow and felt a satisfying burn, along with a numbing of the pain in his leg. “Where do we stand with the French now that they have declared war on England again?”

“Citizen Genet is causing a stir. The Federalists want nothing to do with him and the Republicans fawn on him.”

“And you?”

Norton sat tiredly. “A reserved cordiality. He is, after all, the French ambassador, no matter how flamboyant. Besides, there is more to be learned from a man who does not regard you as an antagonist. Would you like to meet him? I should admire to know what you think of him.” Norton took up his pen with renewed energy.

“If you can arrange a casual introduction.”

“Come to dinner here tomorrow at seven o’clock,” the older man said, scratching a note to himself. “Brace yourself to be opportuned to contribute money toward their revolution, seeing as how they gave us so much support.”

Daniel laughed. “I will come. I am not easily imposed upon.”

“Too bad you are not married. Two of you will put the numbers out—your brother will be invited, too, of course. But Elise will manage something.”

“Something? Either a whey-faced chit who spends the whole evening blushing into her plate, or some spinster. I’ll find my own dinner companion, thank you.”

“Not another actress, Daniel.” Norton looked sharply at him. “You know what happened last time—”

“No, a lady. She is newly arrived from England. Do not look at me like that. I met her on the way over on the ship.”

“Of course, Daniel.”

“Well, she is a lady and will take the shine out of any of the women in this town—except Elise, of course.”

“I am saying nothing. Bring your paragon, by all means. I would be interested to meet a woman who has not washed her hands of you after knowing you for more than a few weeks.”

Daniel had been busy most of the day obtaining the latest news, while Trueblood tended to their warehouse. Daniel returned with scarcely enough time to wash and change into clean linens and breeches. Someone had laid out his clothes and brushed and pressed his swallowtail coat.

When Nancy walked down the stairs, Trueblood smiled knowingly and Daniel breathed a sigh of relief. She was dressed in a peach silk gown of the latest fashion, with an ivory underdress edged in lace. A tiny knot of silk roses was tucked between her breasts at the top of her stomacher, and her hair, a natural honey blond, was swept up high on her head, with two long ringlets hanging down in back to caress her neck.

“Are you disappointed, Daniel?” Trueblood drawled as he took the lace shawl she held and placed it carefully around her shoulders.

“No, I am quite satisfied,” Daniel said as he took possession of Nancy’s arm and conducted her from the house and down the street, forcing Trueblood to walk on the other side of her.

“I take it your expectations were that I would turn up in a stuff gown and a pair of brogues.”

“Now you are making game of me,” Daniel said. “I could wish you would smile rather than scowl at me. It makes you look fatigued.”

Nancy glared at him, since she had still to drag any real compliment from him. “As it happens, I am fatigued. Father invited home that Canadian, Dupree, and they played cards all night.”

“Are you sure it was Dupree? Did you see him?” Daniel asked, almost pulling her into the street in the path of a carriage.

“No,” Nancy said, hauling back on his arm until the way was clear, “but I have heard them talk together often enough on the ship to recognize his voice.”

“What did he have to say for himself?” Daniel asked casually.

“Try as I might, even by holding a glass to the wall, I could not make out the words”, Nancy said in mock seriousness.

Daniel had opened his mouth to resume his interrogation when Trueblood burst out laughing. “She really is making game of you now, Daniel.”

“Which would not be to my credit even if it were a challenge,” Nancy replied. “Sorry, Daniel.”

He shook his head. “Bad enough I have Trueblood carping at me. If you are to start as well…”

“But you interrogate me about the man for no reason. If you want me to spy on him—”

“No! I do not want you to have anything to do with him.” Daniel took a tighter grip on her arm.

“Well, I do not particularly like him. I keep thinking he is after father’s prize money, if he has not got it already.”

“Yes, so do I,” Daniel alibied. “That is the only reason I was concerned.”

Nancy slanted a skeptical look at Trueblood, who shrugged. Then she turned her innocent face to Daniel. “Then you think I have a right to keep an eye on Dupree— in a very subtle way, of course.”

“Dupree may be exactly what he appears,” Trueblood said, taking Nancy’s other arm and drawing her away from Daniel.

“Which is what?” Nancy demanded. “It strikes me as odd that such a rough man, one moreover who claims to be a fur trader, should be in England.”

Daniel glanced menacingly at Trueblood and dropped back to study Nancy from behind. He had suddenly lost all interest in Dupree and why the fellow had been in England. Even under the plumped-up side panniers of her polonaise gown, Nancy presented a trim figure and was.attracting a deal of attention on the street. One of Daniel’s acquaintances tipped his hat to her from horseback, getting a nod from Trueblood and a scowl from Daniel in return for his knowing grin.

Daniel envied the one curl that had slipped around her neck and was glad Nancy did not hold with the old style of powdering her hair. Nothing should take the sheen out of those curls. Though he had little interest in fashion, he was a purveyor of cloth and had bought and sold enough in England and America to realize her dress was expensive. She should stay in Philadelphia and go to the theater, not be dragged to some crude frontier settlement where there were few civilized women and the men were all dangerous. He must think of a way.

At Norton’s house, Daniel sprinted up the steps and was surprised to be greeted by Elise herself. Her flame red hair shone in the last rays of the sun and her green silk gown embraced her like a lover.

“Daniel, you have come alone after all,” she complained.

“No, Miss Riley is with me.” He reached down and firmly took Nancy’s arm, drawing her up the last few steps to stand beside him.

Elise invited Nancy in, making her feel welcome. Daniel cuffed Trueblood on the shoulder as they jostled each other in the doorway, but drew no more than a smirk from him.

“I hope we are not to disappoint you,” Elise said, “for Genet is not here yet and I will not hold dinner for him. Come, have some of your brandy.”

Elise, Nancy and the daughters of the house, Penelope and Mary, were intimately occupied for a time with a discussion of fashion and hair. Nancy thought both girls showed future promise as belles of the town, but that neither would surpass their mother’s beauty with her striking cast of hair. Though Nancy proclaimed herself a country dowd compared to London ladies, Elise graciously asserted she was closer to the pulse of the fashionable world than they in their backwater.

Trueblood was drawn into the conversation to give his opinion on the comparative merits of the open polonaise over the round gown, so that Daniel had a chance to convey to Norton his concerns over the Canadian, Dupree.

“I shall set a man on to follow him.”

“I can manage it for the next few days,” Daniel offered.

“You are too well known to him. If he has indeed detected your mission, your illustrious career may be at an end, Daniel.”

“In other words I had best play the blockish merchant with intensity.”

“To the hilt.”

“It will not be difficult, with both Nancy and Trueblood cutting at me.”

“I have seen that look before, Daniel.”

“What look?”

“You are like a leashed dog whose bone has rolled just beyond his reach, watching another hound about to make off with it.”

“Sorry, I will try to contain myself.”

“No, do not. Jealousy becomes you. Just do not lose your head.”

“I shall be hard put not to make a serious blunder tonight.”

Norton did ask Elise to put dinner back, resulting, Nancy thought, in Daniel having one brandy too many. Or was that a ruse? Genet made a late appearance and apologized too profusely for his tardiness. Nancy had thought he looked French, with those sensual lips of his, even before he opened his mouth. Trueblood cast a tolerant eye upon him, while Daniel consulted his watch with a blank look. It was like a mask, Nancy thought, that face Daniel put on for company. No, not company—For an enemy. It was interesting to her that the voluble Trueblood, flanked by the daughters, was seated across from Genet, who had Daniel on his right and her on his left. Mr. and Mrs. Norton observed the party from either end of the elaborately laid table.

Had Daniel been across from Genet, that might have set them against each other as opponents. A man is more apt to trust a man at his side. How Nancy knew this she did not bother to consider. She had been at enough dinner parties to draw her conclusions from observation, setting aside her considerable instinct. Daniel had all the leisure in the world to observe Genet covertly, she thought, with that half-drunken smile loosely worn to shield himself from Genet’s gaze.

Elise stirred uncomfortably, and it occurred to Nancy that the lady must think she had been looking critically at her table settings. “Such a lovely service of china, Mrs. Norton. I have been racking my mind to discover the pattern, which looks familiar. But if I ever knew it, I have forgotten.”

“Why, thank you. It is a special order from Sheffield. It was a present from Daniel and Trueblood, a rather belated wedding gift.”

“It was a rather belated wedding,” Norton put in, causing his wife to blush.

Norton was not drunk either, Nancy concluded, but he was doing a good imitation of it.

They spoke of china and other elegances, the cost of obtaining them in America, and moved thence to trade, the deficit, America’s debts to France, her apparent inability to pay. Daniel tsked over this, but could see no ready solution. He seemed such a selfish, complacent man even to Nancy, and she knew better.

If Daniel wanted to get something from Genet, she thought, he was going the long way about it. “I did particularly want to meet you,” Nancy said to Genet. “You were so late, I feared I would miss the opportunity.”

“And what a loss it would have been for both of us, Miss Riley,” Genet leaned toward her to say. “You must let me explain the reason for my tardiness. I had business at the harbor. An English merchant ship has been brought in by the Embuscade and I was inspecting her. She will be recommissioned La Petite Démocrate.” Genet raised his glass as if he were making a toast.

“I prefer the Little Sarah,” Nancy said, taking a bite of capon.

“You know the ship?” Genet asked in pleasant surprise.

“I was on it.” Nancy took another bite while Genet fumbled with his wine.

“A passenger?”

“Yes, until that pirate bore down and nearly sank us. You should speak to him about such lawlessness. It makes a very bad impression.”

Genet gaped, as though a housewife had admonished him for his son throwing rocks at her chickens, then began to spout excuses in French, which she heard with only half an ear.

Nancy saw Daniel’s eyes glitter with amusement, not brandy. He was neither drunk nor trapped. That meant Genet was here for Daniel’s benefit, not the reverse. So this Norton was involved with Daniel and Trueblood more than socially. Well, if Daniel hoped to learn something from Genet, she had to throw them together as allies.

“Vous comprendez? He is a privateer, not a pirate,” the ambassador was saying. “The ship was taken in the name of the Republic of France.”

“Privateer? Is that the French word for pirate, the way embuscade means ambush?”

“Non, non, I say. He was commissioned by my government. You must understand, we are at war with England.”

“France is always at war with England. That is no excuse for accosting civilians on the high seas. One sailor had his head taken off by a cannonball, and I would not be surprised if some of the wounded did not die from those vicious splinters. Daniel himself took a bad one. And poor Trueblood was knocked overboard.”

“Monsieurs, forgive me for any inconvenience,” Genet said over the shocked gasps of the other ladies.

“Inconvenience!” Nancy repeated in apparent astonishment.

Both Tallents made deprecating noises, as though the whole incident were forgotten.

“Mais oui, I forget, you are a woman. What do you know of such matters?”

“Apparently a great deal more than you. I was there. Even making allowance for them being French, I found your countrymen crude and offensive.”

“Making allowance?” Genet sputtered.

Elise had turned away to bite her lip. Trueblood had his face buried in his wineglass, and Nancy thought she could detect bubbles. The girls looked expectantly at their father, who seemed oblivious to Genet’s discomfort. In desperation Genet turned to Daniel, who shrugged in sympathy.

“Monsieur, you were on that ship. Surely you did not regard it as an inhumane act?”

“Why, no, luck of the draw, I would say.”

“Was any disrespect shown to this woman?”

“Now that you.mention it, the seamen did search her baggage, and you know how women are with their laces and…such.” Daniel fluttered his fingers to indicate, Nancy supposed, frilly undergarments. “I expect that is why Miss Riley has taken such a pet. To have strange hands mauling her finery…” Daniel shuddered.

The daughters gasped even more at this ugly thought.

“Dirty hands they were, as well. Not to mention the language. I am quite certain the captain made an indecent proposal to me,” Nancy said, nailing Genet with a menacing stare.

“Why, I do not comprehend how this misunderstanding could have happened. The captain said the only woman on board was a—a…”

“Yes, go on,” Nancy prompted, her lips parted in expectation.

“Non, forgive me. I am sure he misread the entire situation. But he implied you were fluent in French.”

“I speak it, of course, but not the crude jargon of sailors. I think I made them understand me, but I could not follow half of what they said, and no one appreciates being insulted in a foreign tongue,” she said, disregarding her own brutal attack on Genet.

“Well, that is a blessing, if you did not understand. Even so, allow me to submit my most humble apologies.”

“Apologies? What good are your apologies now? I want your assurance that such an event will not occur again”

“Impossible!”

“Ah, I see, you have no influence.”

“Quoi?”

“No power with your government.”

“Non—oui! I have power to act for my government.”

“Ah, you could do the right thing, but you will not.”

“La Petite Démocrate will sail under the French flag as soon as she may be refitted,” Genet said angrily.

“A grave mistake, I assure you, sir. For the first English ship it encounters will blow it out of the water.”

“They will not even know.”

“Once my letters reach England, they will. Though, now that I come to think of it, I should perhaps protest to the American government, as well. Trueblood, who is the American equivalent to our foreign secretary?”

Trueblood rolled his eyes in mock reflection, keeping his mouth tightly compressed.

“Oh, never mind,” Nancy said. “I will write to the president. He will know who to forward the letter to.”

“President Washington?” Genet asked in a panic.

Nancy saw Daniel’s eyes flash at her in delight. Norton sat immobile, his chin resting on his fist as he gazed at her in fascination.

“I believe the ladies will withdraw now,” Elise said with a prim smile, “and leave the gentlemen to their wine.”

“Mon Dieu, you do not really—” Genet broke off as the women whisked out of the room.

“A trifle more wine?” Daniel asked Genet, and filled his glass unbidden. The French ambassador drank deeply.

“Will she really…?”

“Perhaps I may be able to talk her out of it,” Trueblood offered dubiously.

“I doubt it, brother.” Daniel shook his head slowly. “She is a bit more headstrong than the English ladies you are used to. A loose cannon is what she is. Best keep your distance so you do not get blasted.”

“My apologies, Monsieur Genet,” Norton offered. “I had no idea the young lady would take things so amiss.”

“Ah, I was forgetting.” Genet tapped his forehead. “She is English. That explains it. An American lady would never take offense at our privateers.”

“No!” the three men murmured in unison, shaking their heads and relaxing into a camaraderie of sex against sex.

“Unless, of course, she happened to be on an English ship,” Trueblood offered.

“Yes.” Daniel sighed sadly. “Those are the dangers of getting civilians involved in a war. One has no idea of the ramifications.”

“But I apologized. Why would she not accept my apology?”

“I doubt there is any way to conciliate a woman whose undergarments have been mauled,” Daniel said sagely, “whether she was in them or not.”

Norton coughed and Trueblood turned to the sideboard to reach for a decanter of brandy. “Vraiment? But I am the French ambassador, Citizen Genet, and she made me feel such a…such a maladroit.”

“Do not give it another thought,” Daniel said, thumping him on the back. “It happens to me all the time. Besides, it will never leave this room.”

“No,” the others murmured in assent.

When the gentlemen came into the parlor, Daniel glanced toward the door, and Nancy rose on that cue to thank the Nortons and take her leave of them. Genet, emboldened by the wine, came forward with another profuse, but tangled apology, swirling his French and English together like brandy and water in a glass. Nancy retrieved her hand and said, “I will…I will consider it.”

They were not half a block from the Nortons when Trueblood’s mirth bubbled over to the point where he had to lean against a hitching post for support.

“Daniel, I do believe you have let Trueblood drink too much.”

“I keep forgetting these Indians cannot hold their liquor,” said Daniel, taking him in tow.