Midnight

Midnight Read Free Page A

Book: Midnight Read Free
Author: Beverly Jenkins
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anger filled him in much the same way that the brisk wind of the cold spring day filled the air. Guilt plagued him as well, and again he wondered if Primus’s fate would have been different had he returned home sooner. He set the thoughts aside and said aloud, “I’m sorry, Father. Sorry for the years we spent apart. Sorry for the rift between us. Sorry that I’ll never see you again.”
    The only reply was the wind. Nick looked out over the peaceful burial ground and fought to keep his emotions in check. He could not bring his father back to life but he vowed to find the person responsible for betraying him, and afterwards, maybe he could find peace.
    Nick bade his parents a solemn and silent farewell, and after mounting his horse rode off to pay a visit to Prince Hall.
    Nick found him at his home above the leather shop he owned, and after he introduced himself, the two men spent an hour or so discussing the events unfolding in Boston. As Artemis had said, Prince was open about his support for the rebels, mainly because he and the nation’s other Blacks, both loyalist and non, were hoping the end of slavery would be one of the issues dealt with should the colonists prevail. In the discussion concerning his father, Prince had an interesting theory.
    “I’m not one to pass along rumors, or to malign the innocent, but it is said that Stuart Kingston reports what he hears to the British. General Gage and his officers meet regularly at his inn, and Kingston refuses to support the ongoing boycott of crown goods that most residents have embraced. Do you know him?”
    “Yes. He and my father were enemies when I was younger.”
    “I’ve only known him a few years. Vain as a peacock and as bullheaded as King George. I knew Kingston and your father didn’t get along, but to betray him? To turn him in to the British? It’s unconscionable if the rumors are true.”
    Nicholas agreed and also wondered if the rumors were true.
    “And I will tell you this. Even though Kingston and I are Masons and lodge brothers, I can’t bring myself to trust him.”
    Nicholas was grateful for Prince’s honesty, but he was admittedly surprised to hear that his father and Kingston had continued their feuding. Nick had no idea why the two had been at odds for so many years. It was not something his father had ever discussed, but had Kingston hated him enough to turn him in to the British? “What do you know about Lady Midnight?”
    Hall paused and studied Nicholas silently before asking, “Why?”
    Nicholas told him what Primus had revealed to Artemis after his arrest.
    “I’d not heard of her visit to him that night, nor do I know her identity.”
    Nick studied him in turn. “And my being a stranger, you wouldn’t tell me if you did, would you?”
    Hall smiled. “I can tell you are Primus’s son. That’s the type of pointed question he’d ask. So my response is: I’ve told you what I know.”
    “An answer my father would have heartily approved of, I’m sure.” Nick found that he liked Hall.
    “These are serious times. One must be careful. You are Primus’s son, and by all rights my trust in you should be strong, but the war has divided many families against each other. Even Ben Franklin’s son has been found spying on him for the crown. We’ve learned not to take anything or anyone for granted.”
    “A wise policy.”
    “However, Kingston is sponsoring a small feast for our newly established Masons’ lodge. Would you like to come along as my guest?”
    “I would. Seeing him again might help me gauge how true the rumors might be about his involvement.”
    “Good. We’ll leave shortly.”

Chapter 2
    F aith was running from pillar to post getting everything ready for the afternoon’s gathering. After her usual predawn chores, she’d spent the day cooking the hens, preparing the winter vegetables, and making the bread her father and his friends would consume at the meal. Two long trestle tables had been moved into the

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