The following morning, Bethiah's father walked with her to Ms. Goodwell's millinery shop. There had been a time, before the war began, where she had felt quite content walking to the shop herself, but with foul men like Mr. Osborn about, she felt less so now.

When Bethiah arrived, she found Ms. Goodwell, a middle-aged, bespectacled woman, at work finishing a pair of gloves beside the window that allowed in the bright morning light. The shop was sparsely-stocked, as it had been since Bethiah had returned to the city. The shop also smelled, as usual, of mint, which Ms. Goodwell swore kept the pests away.

"I knew that could only be you," Ms. Goodwell declared, looking up with a smile. "And hello, Mr. Rogers."

Bethiah's father greeted her warmly, bid both her and Bethiah a good day, and left for his own work.

"Who are the gloves for?" Bethiah asked, curious, as she settled herself at the table where Ms. Goodwell was working.

"Oh, Mr. Bailey wanted a pair of fine riding gloves for his eldest daughter," Ms. Goodwell replied, continuing with her work as she spoke. "Her birthday is coming and he wanted to give her something made just for her. With all the shops closed as we are, he asked me directly if I'd make the set myself. If I'm asked, I can rightly say they are for a gift, not to sell. Of course, he offered extra pay to be discrete. I still say it's foolish to keep businesses shuttered while they attempt to sniff out the Tories, but I suppose that is one reason why women aren't permitted to serve in the government or elect the officials ourselves. We have too much sense."

"I'm certain your work will be lovely as ever," Bethiah told her, smiling. "I don't understand the politics myself, either." It seemed to her Osborn should have been arrested by that time if looking for Tories was such a concern.

Ms. Goodwell adjusted her spectacles and chuckled. "I'll make certain my work is excellent. I do have a reputation to uphold. I look forward to when we can finally conduct business more openly, if that day ever comes. I'll have much more to make and you will have a shop to run. I wish there was more for you to assist me with now."

Bethiah smiled faintly. "I will soon be moving to Boston and assisting Levi with his shop there. I hope to be leaving in the next few days."

Ms. Goodwell set her sewing aside and looked at Bethiah with surprise. "Oh? I thought you were planning to marry after the war."

"We decided it might be better simply to marry now," she explained. "To be truthful, I grow tired of Mr. Osborn attempting to convince me to break my engagement and marry him instead. Of course, I would never dream of it, but he will not stop insisting on it. Levi and I decided it would be best to use the war as an excuse to marry quickly and with a simple wedding. I truly would like to move on to the next part of my life, though it means leaving you and my father behind here."

She knew she could not explain the additional, far more personal reasons for the decision, and felt as if she weren't being entirely honest, but nothing else was hers to discuss, and could also endanger her friends. She usually trusted Ms. Goodwell with much, but she knew even their friendship might not be cause for that much trust.

"It will be disappointing to see you leave," Ms. Goodwell said, smiling and with the kind expression she often wore. "Though I couldn't be happier that you are finally marrying the truest friend you've ever had. Not that I consider you less of a friend, I must say. I do hope you visit us from time to time."

Bethiah smiled. "I consider you a true friend, as well. I will make certain to visit. I will certainly need to meet whomever takes my place at your shop, of course."

"Of course," Ms. Goodwell agreed. "I do believe you've chosen the better husband in Mr. Finley. Even if his father's business connections are dubious at best, at least the son has the good sense to back an American privateer. I do hope he continues to have success. Mr. Osborn, however, I have heard is a Tory. I haven't the faintest idea why he hasn't been arrested now that the British have left and General Arnold commands the city. Perhaps I should inform on him myself."

"I believe he claims officially to be a friend of neither side," Bethiah said. "Or perhaps he has bribed his way. I honestly wish he would be arrested, then perhaps I could use that as a reason to refuse him, as he does not consider my current engagement be an appropriate reason to reject his advances."

Ms. Goodwell went back to her work, shaking her head. "That man is a cruel fool. I wouldn't be surprised if he somehow had something to do with the death of his wife."

"Nor would I," Bethiah agreed. "Enough talk of him, however. I don't recall if you've ever told me if you've been to Boston yourself?"

"I have not," Ms. Goodwell replied. "I have heard many wonderful and many terrible things about it, of course. In some ways it is much like Philadelphia. I don't believe the Friends have had such a hand in the place as they have here, however, and of course they are far more apt to riot and be vocal against the British leadership there because of it. Or, the leadership that was there. I've heard among some that they are more apt to drink, and from others that it may be a hive of illegal trade."

Bethiah supposed there might be a reason for Levi to have been sent by his father to expand their family business to Boston if there was any truth to the rumor of illegal trade. "Levi also said it wasn't terribly different," she said. "I'm not concerned in any way about moving there," she added to make herself clear. "I will be perfectly safe with Levi there with me."

"Of course," Ms. Goodwell agreed. "I'm certain that with your assistance his shop will positively flourish, as well. I've taught you well, if I must say. I've also heard they have fewer Tories there because of how long the city has rejected the British control imposed upon it. That, I believe, would be rather fortunate."

"Very much so," Bethiah agreed. "You heard the news about Washington's army in New Jersey?"

Ms. Goodwell smiled. "I did. It was excellent to read. Those soldiers who infested our city needed to have such a defeat. It was very much deserved. Perhaps there will now be an end to the war soon. Perhaps the British will realize our army only grows stronger as time passes."

"I hope so, as well. The longer the war goes on, the more cities will be home to hoards of soldiers and their brutish ways. Even Washington's soldiers are still soldiers."

"Fortunately for him," Ms. Goodwell said with a chuckle. "Now, if you could make me a cup of that good smuggled tea I purchased quite legally from the elder Mr. Finley I would much appreciate it. Fix yourself a cup, as well."

Bethiah rose to prepare the tea without complaint. "I wonder if there will be much smuggling when the war concludes, if it concludes in our favor. I imagine there will be a trade agreement made with England in the end due to how popular their goods remain here."

"My dear, there will always be a place in this country's economy for smuggling. The only concern will be how difficult or easy it is to avoid those who enforce the law. No one wants to pay taxes or inflated prices on imported goods, no matter who the fees pay."

Bethiah was certain the Finleys would likely agree with such a declaration, and found she didn't much mind if her future continued to include such activities. After all, no one was harmed physically by the smuggling trade, at least not by design. The only difference the smuggling business would see would be who the tax collectors were collecting for. A government that was no longer across the sea would make it perhaps more difficult to conduct business, but she was certain they would find a way to continue. Even if the chaos of war made it easier to conduct business, she still hoped for the end of the war and the end of occupations and deadly battles.