April, 1775 - Boston

For nearly a full month it seemed as though the world was perfect just for Nathaniel. Though tensions continued to rise in the city and countryside around him, his personal life was almost blissful. He continued to pass messages to John and Samuel when there were any to be passed and he listened to the talk in his establishment of the soldiers and their movements through and out of the city, movements that were becoming more and more frequent. Speculation abounded. Some continued declaring that the soldiers were seeking certain outspoken men who had left Boston and that those men must turn themselves over to the military governor – or flee to safety, depending upon who was speaking of it. Others argued the army was surely planning only to seize arms from any of the depots outside the city, something they perhaps thought their right as the colony's supposed defenders. Some considered both ideas likely. 

Nathaniel noticed Samuel and John both becoming more watchful and listening more carefully to what was said.

Without the request being made of them, Henri and Marie both tried to work more information from the soldiers, with little success. Even Marie's would-be lover would let nothing slip. If John or Samuel were frustrated, they didn't make it known. Payment still came in for continued confirmation that indeed something was soon to happen, even if they could not yet determine what it was.

Nathaniel didn't mind. He enjoyed watching Henri interacting with the various patrons. It became quite easy for him to determine when Henri was acting and when he was being genuine. Most of the smiles he shared with the soldiers weren't quite as full as they were with Nathaniel and Marie. His true laugh tapered away while his false laugh was final in its ending. Watching him was rather intriguing for Nathaniel.

They were careful in their interactions with each other in order to prevent the truth of their friendship from becoming known. When the establishment was open they spoke only briefly and never touched. When the doors were locked and the windows shuttered they gave each other reserved attention, though they rarely kissed unless they were in Nathaniel's room.

Despite the many risks he was running with his life, Nathaniel was certain he had never been happier.

Then, one day when the coffeehouse had only been open a short time, Lieutenant-Colonel Weston entered with several of his men. They were all in uniform and armed. Nathaniel's immediate concern was that their eavesdropping activities had been discovered. He stepped from behind the bar, determined not to hide behind it, and gazed evenly at the officer. He hoped his fear did not show.

The few customers who were already in the house grew quiet and watchful, especially Samuel. Both Henri and Marie moved to Nathaniel's side and he was impressed by how well they seemed to be hiding their own fears.

"Might I ask why you are here?" Nathaniel asked, still gazing at Lieutenant-Colonel Weston. It was quite apparent he wasn't there to drink or eat.

Lieutenant-Colonel Weston smiled, which filled Nathaniel with dread. "Well, Mr. Hill, I am here to arrest you at last."

Nathaniel hoped his fear was not visible. "On what charge?"

"Sodomy."

Caught by surprise, Nathaniel stared at him for a moment. "I'm sorry?" was all he finally managed to say.

Lieutenant-Colonel Weston smiled again. "Your father was an officer of the Royal Navy before his recent retirement was he not?"

"He was," Nathaniel answered.

"I have certain associates here who know your father quite well. One of them happened to know exactly why you were sent to America. He told me everything your father had passed to him. Once I investigated Mr. Theriot, as well, I knew the best thing I could do for Boston would be to arrest you both."

Had his father been having him watched these last three years? To what end?

"Why?" Marie demanded, bringing him back to the more pressing concern.

Lieutenant-Colonel Weston barely spared her a glance. "Another passenger onboard the ship with Mr. Theriot had quite the tale about being approached several times during the voyage from Paris for certain... acts. Forgive me for speaking so bluntly in front of a woman, but your employment here suggests I might speak freely in any case. The fact that neither of them is denying what I am saying only points to my assumption of the nature of their relationship being accurate."

Nathaniel did not appreciate what the officer seemed to be insinuating about Marie. He considered arguing and fighting on behalf of all three of them, but he was far too honest to do it. Henri continued to stand in silence, but a glance at him showed his fists and jaw were clenched, his expression enraged. Marie, on his other side, appeared almost tearful as she gazed at Lieutenant-Colonel Weston and his soldiers.

"Where is your proof?" someone demanded, much to Nathaniel's surprise. "Have you seen them at it, then?"

"I don't need to have," Lieutenant-Colonel Weston replied. "I know well enough that if you allow two sodomites to live in the same place they certainly won't be living chastely. Clearly they do not deny what I am saying."

"But you can't arrest someone without proof of a crime," another voice argued.

"I have enough proof," Lieutenant-Colonel Weston continued to insist. For a moment Nathaniel feared he would turn to Marie for evidence and force her either to lie or condemn them, but instead he motioned to his soldiers to move forward.

Nathaniel looked at Marie, who now had tears on her cheeks. "Make certain our customers have some coffee before they leave. I wouldn't want it to go to waste. Then make yourself safe."

She nodded, then flung herself at him and hugged him tightly. Nathaniel held her for a long moment, until two soldiers pulled her away. She shrugged them off and went to Henri, who still hadn't spoken, and they shared a tight embrace.

Nathaniel didn't resist when he was manacled and led to the door, likely something else that Lieutenant-Colonel Weston would use to argue his guilt. He glanced back and his gaze met Samuel's. He gave Nathaniel a nod. Meanwhile, Marie was sobbing against the bar. When he looked toward Henri, Nathaniel wasn't certain how to read his expression. He was silent and resigned, but also had a set to his jaw that spoke of determination.

They were marched to the jail separately and shoved into cramped and dirty cells. Nathaniel's cell had no window. The outer walls were hewn log and the wall that separated his cell from the next was made of boards, as was the one in which the door sat. Some light came in through numerous cracks, but the cell was very dreary. The only items in the room with him were a cot and a bucket that smelled like it hadn't been cleaned in some time.

The soldiers left him. Even Lieutenant-Colonel Weston did not stay to gloat over finally arresting him. Nathaniel was filled with an overwhelming sensation of being alone. He didn't know where Henri was and he could only hope that Marie would be safe. Additionally, it was possible that his establishment would be searched again and the musket found after all, if Lieutenant-Colonel Weston was still so concerned by his previous actions to want to hold him accountable for nearly causing a riot. He hoped it didn't come to that. One charge was going to be difficult enough to fight. If Weston did search the house and in that search he found the codes from Samuel and John, they would face a charge that could truly not be fought. Their hiding place was not terribly secure. He hoped Marie would be able to destroy them before they were found if indeed a search was made.

It was several moments before he heard a soft scratching on the wall between his cell and the next. His hopes soared that at least he was close to Henri and he quietly scratched back along the wall. Near the far back corner of the room he found an opening formed by a knot in the wood of the wall. It was enough space for him to nearly slip his entire hand from his cell into the next. Almost immediately he felt his hand grasped.

Then a familiar voice with a heavy French accent whispered, "Nat?"

Nathaniel sighed with relief to know that, for now, Henri was safe. "I'm here," he whispered in reply.

Henri gripped his hand tighter. "Do you suppose they will give us a trial or simply hang us?"

Nathaniel didn't want to consider the latter option. "I hope they will give us a trial. I like to believe someone would speak in our defense. I've heard some men have simply been fined and sent on their way again. I believe the court is not the strict domain of Lieutenant-Colonel Weston."

Henri sighed and didn't speak for a moment. Nathaniel discovered he could still reach the knot in the wall from a sitting position and settled back against the wall, arm stretched up.

"I'm sorry," Henri finally said quietly.

"What for?" Nathaniel questioned, truly confused.

"I am the one who pursued you and therefore put us here."

Nathaniel had to laugh, though it felt somewhat sad. "I assure you, Henri, I would have fallen victim to your charms of my own accord given more time. I would have delayed as long as possible given you being my employee, but it nevertheless would have happened."

Henri chuckled. "If I cannot feel guilty about that, then, I must also assure you that I had no relations on board the ship as I sailed to America. I was far too seasick most of the time, and when I wasn't sick I was too busy trying to rebuild my strength for the next sickness that I scarcely had time to think about anything else aside from why I was fleeing Paris."

Nathaniel shook his head. "I would think nothing of it if you had spent time with someone onboard the ship. I was nothing more than a name in your sister's letters to you then."

"I still don't feel it's right that you must hear such a lie."

"It being a lie is my sole concern with it," Nathaniel assured him. "If it were the truth I would not be bothered."

"I suppose I agree with you," Henri said quietly.

Neither of them spoke of the other reason they might have for being arrested. Lieutenant-Colonel Weston had made no mention of their activity in passing along information, which suggested that perhaps he didn't know. Nathaniel wondered if he had simply taken the first opportunity he could to arrest Nathaniel for causing the officer shame in his crowded tavern.

He sincerely hoped that the court process happened quickly enough for Lieutenant-Colonel Weston never to discover the true significance of the arrests he had made, even if it meant being put to death. Marie's protection was all that mattered to him, unable as he was to change Henri's and his own situation.