They had just started upon the second course, when there was a ruckus in the hallway and a well-dressed older man strode into the dining room.
Every man at the table stood. Nicholas followed their lead.
Ben bowed slightly, gestured toward a vacant chair. “Governor Penn. What an honor. Won’t you join us?”
“I’m afraid I’m here on dire business, Ben.”
From outside came the sound of tolling church bells.
“So it would seem.”
The governor looked around the table, acknowledged the other men by name, then turned to Nicholas. “Nicholas Kenleigh. I hear we have you to thank for the survival of many at Fort Pitt. Captain Écuyer speaks quite highly of you.”
“Governor Penn.” Nicholas gave a respectful bow, then took his seat along with the others.
“It seems the troubles on our frontier have followed you to Philadelphia. Ladies and gentlemen, an army is upon our doorstep. Some fifteen hundred Scots-Irish frontiersmen from the area of Paxton are marching on our town. They’ve sent messengers demanding the garrison turn over the Moravian Indians to them for slaughter or face an attack. They’re expected to be here by morning.”
For a moment there was silence, then shouting.
“Bloody Scots-Irish! They’re no better than barbarians!”
“What are we going to do?”
“We must arm ourselves, protect our wives and daughters!”
“Bloodthirsty Presbyterians!”
“Will the garrison stop them?”
Nicholas saw Bethie blanch, felt the hurtful barbs as if they had struck him. This was what she had feared—that her class, her Scottish blood, or her past would cause him and his family embarrassment. This was precisely why she was hesitant to marry him.
Down the table from them, Sylvia smirked, gazed malevolently toward Bethie.
Determined to show Bethie where his loyalties lay and prove to her that they could not be shaken, he raised his voice above the din, stood, rested a hand upon her shoulder. “Excuse me, gentlemen! Might I remind you that my bride is Scots-Irish? I am surprised that any of you would condemn an entire people based on the actions of a few—or a thousand. Is that not exactly what these Paxton men are doing regarding the Indians?”
His father stood also and, beside him, Jamie. “Quite right you are, Nicholas. On behalf of my daughter-in-law, who has my affection, I demand an apology, sirs.”
Ben stood. “I apologize, sirs, for the ill-chosen words of my guests. Your lovely and gentle Elspeth is a guest in my home and quite welcome here. Madam, I am deeply sorry.”
People cast one another sheepish glances, voiced their own apologies.
Nicholas, Jamie, and his father resumed their seats, but Nicholas pulled his chair a bit closer to Bethie’s, grasped her hand beneath the table. She was trembling.
But the smile had left Sylvia’s face.
It was Governor Penn who next spoke. “I want your advice, Ben. Already we’ve rolled cannon into the town squares, and some of the men are ready to organize into military-style units. The garrison, of course, is under arms and ready for battle.”
Nicholas listened while the Quakers, who were renowned pacifists, discussed their plans for war, and felt suddenly overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all. He didn’t realize he was laughing out loud until Governor Penn turned to face him.
“You find this amusing?”
“Aye, sir, I must say I do. When it was the frontiersmen’s wives and children who were being slaughtered, you spoke of peace, refused to aid them, refused to send them troops, refused even to send them lead, flints, or powder. And they died by the hundreds—men, women, children. But now, when you perceive that your own wives and children are in danger, you forget all talk of peace and rush for cannon and muskets.”
Shouts of outrage filled the room, but Ben held up his hand for silence.
“You’ve lived out there for six years, Nicholas. You’ve seen things we cannot imagine. I would hear more from you.”
“It’s quite simple, sir. The Scots-Irish settlers have suffered horribly in this war. When the government of Pennsylvania chooses to spend coin sheltering Indians rather than helping to defend their fellow British citizens against Indians who are slaughtering their families, the settlers get the impression no one in Philadelphia cares whether they live or die.”
