March 1778

The snow had stopped falling earlier that morning, allowing the carriage to make it's way down the road. It wasn't her first time in Boston, but it had been years. Thus, looking out the window did nothing to ease her trepidation, as she had no idea if they were getting closer to the military base or not.

"You must stop tapping." Richard told her, nodding towards her finger fidgeting against her knee

"Sorry father," she muttered, "I'm just, nervous, is all."

"You, nervous." He scoffed, "From what your mother has told me from his letters, this boy seems very taken with you."

"And that is why you insisted on accompanying me." Tessa said, "Propriety was just a cover for you to scope out my suitor."

"It is a father's duty to judge the prospective husbands of their daughters."

"He has not proposed marriage," she pointed out, "He has not even told me he loved me."

"Believe me, he does." Richard said, "He wouldn't have insisted you not come otherwise." He explained, causing her to frown, "He is a man, proud like any other, and he doesn't want you to see him doing a job he views to be a demotion."

"I hadn't thought of it like that."

The confidence of her father gave her some in turn. She was sure that Richard would like Benjamin, he had already said as much, but that was based off of her stories. Even so, Richard had never met Alexander, and this would be the first man she'd being introducing to him. Her anxieties were to be expected.

Her heart did not stop loudly thumping away as they waited in the drawing room of the base's main house. And it only quickened, when Benjamin stepped into the room, his eyes wide with shock.

"Tessa," he greeted, "What are you doing here?"

"I know you said not to come, but I had to." Tessa replied, restraining herself from gleefully jumping into his arms as she wished to, "It has been far too long since we last saw one another, and I saw this as an opportunity."

"Of course," he nodded, his eyes flicking to the other person in the room, "And, who did you bring with you?"

"Richard Alcott," her father introduced, stepping towards them with his hand out, "Her father."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," Benjamin said, eagerly shaking his outstretched hand, "Your daughter's told me so much about you."

"And she has spoken of you endlessly." Richard replied, causing her to glare at him, "But I would very much like to hear about you from you." He said, "Tessa told me that you're from Setauket. What it's like there?"

"Small farming town really," Benjamin shrugged, "My father was the Reverend there."

"And you're a Yale man, yes?" Richard asked, and Benjamin nodded in confirmation, "What did you do after you graduated?"

"I was a teacher, sir," Benjamin said, "I joined the army in July 1776."

"And you have reached the rank of Major in only two years, that is certainly impressive." Richard said, "Also the head of intelligence I hear. Though, that one of course, is rather secretive."

Benjamin's eyes shot towards her, thrown off momentarily by her father's frankness. Admittedly, she too was unsure about her father's intentions. Especially considering she had specifically warned him against broaching the subject of spying, claiming the sanctity of the war effort.

"I am no longer head of intelligence, sir." Benjamin said, his eyes downcast

"He knows that." Tessa said, gritting her teeth at her father's antics, "He was testing your honesty."

"And you passed with flying colours." Richard congratulated, patting Benjamin on the arm, "Now, if you excuse me, I must see to business." He announced, the three of them moving towards the door, "I will send the carriage back for you this'afternoon," he said, turning his head to Benjamin, "I do hope you will join us for dinner."

"It would be my honour, sir."

As she waved her father off, she took the moment to slip her fingers into Benjamin's, squeezing his hand.

"Grab your coat," she instructed, "I want you to show me around."

Immediately he appeased her request, stepping out with her into the cold. As soon as they started out on the path, she once again intertwined their now gloved hands, using her other hand to grip his arm.

"I thought you said that propriety was to be respected." He teased, grinning down at her

"Nobody here knows my face," Tessa pointed out, "And if anyone questions us, we'll say we're a married couple." She suggested, a gleeful look on her face, "We can come up with fake names, and backgrounds. We'll be like real spies."

"Oh, you are devious." Benjamin said, chuckling at her, "Alright, Mrs Smith, what is our background."

"Okay, um, we're from Long Island," Tessa said, "Our parents didn't support our union, so we ran away to wed in secret." She explained, "And you joined the army to provide for your wife."

"And have we spoken to our family since?"

"Our mothers have written, but our fathers are stubborn." She said, "You hope that after the war we can return, and be accepted by our families."

"That is certainly an extensive and impressive lie." Benjamin commended, "Perhaps I should have inducted you into the ring."

"But I do not think I could have allowed you to take such a dangerous risk." He admitted, looking down at her, "I don't know how I would live with myself if something were to happen to you."

"I share that sentiment," she replied, "Though, I think that my fear is of greater precedent given the current state of things."

"It is unfortunately true."

"If I had my way, we would not have to spend another day apart." Tessa said, "But even in normal circumstances that is not guaranteed, though I cannot say I do not sorely wish for it to be so."

"I must admit, that every day we were apart, I thought only of us being together again." She continued, "And when we were reunited, I wanted nothing than to jump into your arms, and would have had my father not been there."

"I will admit I wanted all of those things too." Benjamin said, sheepishly, "A part of me wonders if I would have been demoted had I had you by my side to advise me."

"You do me too many honours."

"Oh no, I don't think I do you enough." He disagreed, bringing his hand up to stroke his fingers on her cheek, "You are by far the best thing in my life."

The look in his eyes was unmistakable. She'd seen it between her parents. Between her siblings and their spouses. To call it love would be far too simple. Adoration. Devotion. Something far more than a schoolyard romance.

And staring into his eyes made her realize something. The feeling was reciprocated.

"Benjamin," she whispered, reaching up to clutch onto his coat, "I love you."

That moment between them seemed to last forever, as her breath held in her chest, pounding faster with every second of his silence. Immediately she regretted her words, wanting to snatch them from the air and return them to her mouth. But once something was said, it could not be unsaid. All one could do was deal with the consequences.

"Do you really mean it?" He asked, just as unsure as she was

"Yes." She nodded fervently, "Do you feel the same?"

"Very much so, for awhile now." He admitted, "I was just too cowardly to say it."

"Don't you ever be cowardly with me, Benjamin Tallmadge." Tessa warned, "Not to the woman you love."

Saying that delighted her. It was different then when Alexander had declared his love for her. It too had delighted, being the first time anyone had admitted to having such ardent and genuine romantic feelings for her. But from that time onwards, it was as if she was waiting for the time that he would rescind the declaration. Constantly on the lookout for any threats to his love. Paranoia had overtaken her, and it was immensely unpleasant, being racked by thoughts of your lover deserting you.

Not once had those thoughts ever crossed her mind with Benjamin.

They returned to the base, spending the rest of time in his residence. He was reading through military correspondence, with her assisting on his replies. Once this was completed, they simply sat and talked.

"Forgive me, sir," she said, "But I don't believe you have told me of your and Caleb's plan for Culper."

"Caleb was to find a way into New York, free Culper, and find a way out." Benjamin explained, "I haven't heard a word of whether or not they were successful."

"No word is better than bad news." She pointed out, "I am sure that you will hear of Culper's freedom soon."

When the carriage arrived, she would have been dissapointed had he not been joining her. Never before had they spent this much unadulterated time together. He had always had some duty that needed attention, or she was being called away.

Any doubts about her father's view on Benjamin were dashed that night. They all talked and laughed well into the night, her father treating him like he would a friend, a son even. The hurdle, however imagined, of her father's approval had successfully been jumped, and she was sure that the rest of her family would come to love Benjamin just as she did.

"I quite like this boy," Richard told her, once Benjamin had left, "You have definitely chosen well for yourself."

"So, you approve?"

"My darling, I would approve of any man that made you happy, and he quite obviously does." Richard replied, "My personal like of him is merely a bonus."