She did her best to keep her poise and not let her trembling hands show as she stepped forward. Chief Durand stood and approached her. His eyes always held a kindness, especially when he looked at her. With as close as she and Brielle had always been, he’d practically adopted her as another daughter.
Now that kindness in his gaze blended with worry as he met her partway across the room. “What is it, Audrey? Has something happened?”
She swallowed the knot in her throat as she slid a glance toward the others, then readjusted her focus to him. Maybe she shouldn’t have come. Surely Evan had told them the news already. No matter how she worded it, her presence would seem unnecessary.
But she’d come this far. She met Chief Durand’s gaze. “I took food to our new guest, and he said the war between Britain and America is over. They’ve signed a peace treaty.”
The concern of his eyes slipped away, replaced with seriousness. Almost a sternness as he regarded her. “Yes, Evan brought this news to us.”
She nodded. “I wanted to be sure you knew. With the twocountries no longer at war, we shouldn’t hold animosity toward him for his nationality.”
The lines deepened across his brow. “That’s what we’ve been discussing.” He laid a fatherly hand on her shoulder. “Thank you for coming to make certain we knew. We’ve much to talk through.”
That was her command to leave. Did she dare press harder?
She had to. If she didn’t speak for Monsieur Masters, would anyone? She stood straighter. “I would like to stay and hear the discussion.” The words came out almost like a demand, so she softened them. “Please.”
Chief Durand’s expression turned troubled again as he studied her. “Your father is here.” In other words, their family’s single representative already attended. The only time more than one person from a family was allowed would be a case such as Brielle’s, where she attended in her position as Le Commandant.
“I’ll hold my tongue unless there’s information I believe no one else is aware of.”
His brows rose. What might she know that these others didn’t? Maybe nothing. But she had to stay. Something inside pressed her with the need. She couldn’t explain exactly why, but she had to speak up for Levi Masters if the conversation turned the wrong direction.
At last, he sighed. “You may sit with your father as an observer.” He turned and strode back to his seat, impatience marking his gait.
Relief slid through her as she followed behind him, then slipped onto the bench beside her father.
Chief Durand scanned the faces in the group. “Now, I believe Monsieur Rochette was speaking.”
The man leaned forward, hands on his elbows. “That man came here with evil intent. He said so himself. He can’t be trusted. He knows our location now. Who knows what he’ll do with that knowledge? We can’t just let him leave. He’ll be back with an army—or worse.”
Audrey squirmed in her seat. The very fact that Monsieur Masters told them the truth pointed to the fact he could be trusted.
“In your opinion, what should be done with him?” Papa Durand kept his voice measured.
“He must be silenced. He can’t be allowed to leave here. And he certainly can’t be allowed freedom among our women and children.”
Audrey clenched the bench beneath her. They were back to this? Pure distrust of all outsiders, especially Englishmen?
“So, you think he should be put to death?”
Audrey cringed at the strong statement. Surely not. The man had done nothing deserving.
Rochette straightened, drawing back. At least hearing the blatant words gave him pause. “Well ... yes, if that’s the only way we can silence him. We can’t put our people at risk of the same slaughter as ten years ago.”
Audrey’s heart ached. Rochette had lost a daughter in that massacre, so it made sense he would encourage caution. But death to an innocent man? Simply because of his fear?
Chief Durand scanned the rest of the group. “Who else wishes to speak?”
She glanced sideways at her father. Would he raise his voice now? Or had he already done so? She had no idea what had been said before she came. Hadanyonespoken in favor of the Englishman?
Papa caught her gaze and rested his hand over hers. He clearly meant the gesture to soothe her, but it only tightened the clench in her middle. Was he saying he’d already spoken for Levi? Or trying to keep her from raising her voice?
A shuffling sounded to her left, and she glanced over as Evan straightened. His face held a look of steel. “I know the man. At least, I know of him. He works with the British army, and he stole information from me—troop plans I was carrying for the Battle of Stoney Creek. He took them to the British commander, and it nearly decimated an entire regiment of our men. I don’t trust him. He followed me all the way up here, staying hidden the entire time. That’s not a small thing—neither the journey nor the great effort he took to conceal himself. I’m not sure why he would do all that then appear to come clean and tell us exactly who he is. Something’s not right. I can’t figure any motive that’s not malicious, or at least sneaky.”
Audrey’s chest compressed even more as Evan spoke. His words made sense. If you looked solely at Masters’s actions, they appeared suspect.
Yet the taking of information to use for the British army’s benefit ... wasn’t that typical during a war? Each side was trying to gain news about the others’ movements so they could better their own strategy.
