!!Warning!!

°~1 Week Later~°

(Y/N POV)

I threw my hands to my sides, panting furiously. People around me began to clap. "You do this often?" I questioned Lafayette.
"No," he swiftly responded, "I'm an appalling dancer."
"Compared to me, you're magnificent." I wiped my arm over my forehead.
"Heh, tell that to Marie Antoinette..."

Rufus' house was rather large; I should've expected it, he's a man of high authority. Yet a strange one. As we walked hand-in-hand back to our table, Rufus chugged pint after pint. Women huddled in the corner, observing the men in their usual state.

"Tonight's the night, no doubt." I confirmed. "He's a mess."
"General Washington shall be pleased to hear from us." Lafayette directed my hand to a seat. "I anticipate good word."
"Good word, you think?" I checked him again. Now, he was swaying with an arm hooked around his friend's shoulder.

"Let's make it definite, shall we?" Lafayette took his glass, emptying half into mine. I raised my eyebrows, but he only shrugged and leaned back on his chair. "Drink."
"I'm not drinking all of that!"
"You must. Your breath will reek with the stench of alcohol, he'll certainly take a liking to it."
"But... All of it?"

"Of course, you're not a heavy drinker. This will only make you mildly inebriated to assure you can interact with him. Trust me, mon ami."
"I do, but..." I stared into the whirlpool, reminding myself of the day I was forced to drink in the camp to hide my identity. "Ugh, cover me."

I tackled the glass and drew my head to the side. It would be improper for a woman to start guzzling a drink all at once, especially alcohol. Lafayette stood up and towered over me. "Take your t-"
"I've got this." Regret consumed me the instant that the glass touched my lips. I was aware of how strong it was, but to have all in one was something. It felt like fuel was being poured into your mouth continuously.

Holding the urge to vomit, I took my last drop and smacked the glass onto the table. Instantly, I was feeling nauseous. My hands trembled as my vision rocked back and forth. "...Are you alright?" Lafayette asked. He supported my hunched back.
"Yes." I exhaled. "I'm getting up."

I cautiously pattered my feet against the floor. Lafayette grasped my arm to prevent me from falling onto my face. With the surge of fearlessness, I tugged my away. "I've got this." I repeated. I strode away from him, raising my hand up courageously. Even if the effects hadn't fully settled in yet, they were bound to soon.

Rufus recognised me, though did not rise from his seat. "Mrs Hurst!" he exclaimed. And abruptly, the confidence vanished. The men stared straight at me. "Or should I say, Olivia." They snickered at him.
"Taking another man's wife, are we, Monroe?" one teased. At that same time, he kissed a woman near to him on the cheek.
"Aye, better not get carried away with 'er, ey?" another poked fun at him.

Rufus shoved the man from his chair roguishly. He patted it, offering it over to me. Usually, I would refuse and allow the man his seat. Yet, I had to take my chance. I strutted past him and perched myself beside Rufus. He scooted closer towards me, weaving his hand around my waist.

"How much do you bet that Mr Monroe here won't make an escape back to London with her?" a more formal man muttered, though he too was drunk and the whole table could hear him.
"Aye, Rufus!" -The man on the floor stood- "Pretty lady that, like."

He gripped his hand tighter on my side. I winced quietly. "Watch your tongue, Smith, she's mine."

Hah, no.

"You would be lucky if you could get yourself a girl."
"And when the war's ended, like they say it will, we'll sail to America!" he sang.
The table laughed. "In no time, lad, it'll be over before you can blink an eye!"

I wished to intrude from curiosity, but kept my mouth shut. From their perspective, I was a commodity only to Rufus and I had to stay silent.

"Fools think the siege'll be in New York, I heard!" another spoke.

Siege?

"They're not the only fools, I pity Cornwallis for having to take orders from Clinton!"
"Think you'd rather have Washington, though?" they mocked. "He's unqualified!"
"So much that he'd feel we will attack at New York!"
Rufus chuckled. "No, the old man will never regard Yorktown!"

I widened my eyes. I couldn't care if they took notice. Yorktown... It was all so familiar. Finally, we were retrieving vital information that could save lives.

I just knew, judging by their statements of the war coming to a swift end...

We had to inform Washington immediately.

"I beg you to excuse me, my husband awaits-!"
"Oh, you're not going anywhere!" Rufus restricted me from my leave. He dug his nails sharply into my skin. "If your husband wants you, he can come and get you himsel-!" I slapped Rufus across the face; my hand stung violently. The men around the table glared in condemnation.

I couldn't apologise. I just couldn't. I fled back to the confused Lafayette, taking his hand and dragging him out of the room. I slammed the door and led him further down.

"What happened, are you hurt?!" he examined frantically.
"A siege." I confessed. "They're... They're planning a siege. At Yorktown."
"Yorktown?" Lafayette questioned. "That's improbable, the British wouldn't attack there-"
"Precisely why they are attacking there. They know that we would never check!"

I threw my head against a wall. "We must tell General Washington. And y-"
"I need to help. We will need to get back as soon as we can, otherwise..." He quickly shook his thoughts away. "Did they specify when?"
"Soon. A- All they said was soon!"

Whilst he crossed his arms in a thoughtful process, I panicked pressed against the wall. I kept guard of the door, for if Rufus found us out here, things could get even worse.

"That is what they said?" he assured.
"Yes."
"Oh my- Dieu nous sauve, what will we do? How will we return in such short time?"
"I- I don't know! I don-"

The door creaked open.

I contemplated running.

Lafayette had other ideas.

No hesitation, and he pinned me up against the wall with his lips forcefully placed onto mine. I struggled to push him away but he restrained my body into one position. I inspected the person present at the door: a man, one who I hadn't recognised. His face turned bright red and he made a departure back into the main room.

As soon as he was gone, I shoved Lafayette away. "WHAT WAS THAT?!!" I scrubbed my lips, the taste of alcohol making its return.
"Madmoiselle I am so sorry I-"
"Don't you ever do that to me again."
"I did not mea-"
"That was disgusting."
"I was making a diversion."
"That was all you could think of?!!"

I rolled my eyes, wiping the taste one last time. "Never mind, I have a potentially angry mob on my back and we need to get out of here."
"Right, yes, you hit Monroe."
"Right, he-"
"Explain later." Lafayette rummaged into his pocket and handed me a key. "Return to the house at once, a carriage should await us outside."
"What about you?"

"I'll keep Monroe and his friends from tracking us."

~~~~~~~~~~

Hello, so I've got some good news!

We've recently been assigned at our school to complete some work experience. If you don't know what it is, you can probably guess. Basically it's where you're sent off for a week or two to work somewhere for no pay. Yippee.

So I managed to get mine sorted, and I will be working in a nursery. I believe the ages range from 2-4. How is this good news, you ask? Well, not only will I discover if I would actually like to become a teacher or not, but it'll allow me to see the common behaviour of toddlers. It will certainly come in handy for future characters not only in this fanfic, but in future stories too, and will encourage character development.

So yeah! My work experience starts in July, however I'm super excited for this! It'll make a change from doing research all the time lol.