Just Jane by William Lavender Page A

and my brother—what a man that would be!”
    She walked on, and Simon followed, saying no more.
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    The next day the children in Simon’s classroom found their normally attentive tutor surprisingly inattentive. He spent much time gazing broodingly out the window at low hills in the distance, leaving the students to do as they liked. That afternoon, he dismissed them early and went for a long walk over those hills, still brooding. And that night, after pacing for a long time in his silent rooms, he sat down at his writing desk, dipped pen in ink, and began a letter.
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Mr. John Murphy
c/o Grimsby’s Tavern
Walnut Street, Philadelphia
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Sir
,
This is to advise you that I expect to be in Philadelphia on Saturday next, at which time I would be pleased to confer with you further concerning a matter we recently discussed . . .

Chapter 14
    Rumors were flying in Charlestown that the British, stymied in the North, were turning their eyes toward the Southern colonies. Just before New Year’s Day, 1779, those rumors suddenly became reality. In striking contrast to their failed assault on Charlestown almost three years before, British forces attacked and quickly occupied Savannah, Georgia, a hundred miles to the south. No Loyalist or Patriot in South Carolina doubted there would soon be another British assault on Charlestown.
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    Thrilled the city would soon be back under British rule, Robert Prentice moved his family to their Legare Street home. He wanted to be among the first to welcome the Redcoats. And certain that those sympathetic to the rebellion would soon need places to hide, he suddenly felt a burst of compassion for his brother-in-law, Arthur Ainsley, and his cousin Hugh Prentice—both, in his view, sadly deluded. He wrote to them, urging that they renounce the insane notion of American independence before it was too late. Naturally, they would have to explain themselves when the British occupied the city. But Robert, whose loyalty was well known,
would gladly offer them shelter and help them reestablish themselves as loyal English subjects.
    The note to Arthur went with Clarissa and Jane to the Ainsleys’ house. Arthur’s simple reply declined the generous offer with sincere thanks. “He’s determined to sink or swim with this rebellion tide,” Clarissa reported.
    â€œAnd I must say,” Jane dared to add, “I believe he’ll prove a very strong swimmer.” This only brought an angry glare from Robert.
    The note to Hugh was delivered by Clarissa’s maid, Nellie, who always came over from the Ainsleys’ to Legare Street when the Prentices were in town. In short order, she returned with a brief note from Hugh.
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Thank you, Cousin, for your kind offer of protection. But I hardly think the British, if they come, would concern themselves with an obscure cabinetmaker like me. I will take my chances. However, I am glad to hear from you. Lydia and I send greetings to you and Clarissa, and to our dear cousin fane, whom we once had the pleasure of meeting
.
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    Robert threw up his hands in exasperation. “I don’t know which is the bigger fool, Hugh or Arthur. The devil take them both, I say!”
    He also did not know that Nellie brought a second note—for Jane. “A mutual friend, who has left here, wrote to me recently,” Hugh wrote. “He asked to be remembered to you, and he looks forward to seeing us all again soon.” It wasn’t much, but it lifted Jane’s heart with joy. Perhaps there was hope, after all, that one day she might see Mr. Cordwyn again.
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    After capturing Savannah with ease, the advancing British met months of fierce Patriot resistance. But by May of 1779,
they were poised at the outskirts of Charlestown. While their friends in the city eagerly awaited their arrival, the Patriot-minded prayed for another escape from disaster.
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    One hot night in late May, Robert Prentice paced the