Dearest Enemy. Nan Ryan

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      But no one would have guessed as much by watching her.

      “Why, Captain Rood, I'm flattered,” she said now, and favored the short, rotund captain with a dazzling smile. “I kept hoping that you would ask me.” She lowered her lashes seductively.

      “You did?” he said, his small, dark eyes widening with disbelief, his mouth stretching into a foolish grin.

      “Why yes,” she lied. “Shall we?”

      Captain Rood swallowed convulsively, took her hand and led her onto the floor. In his arms, Suzanna fought the revulsion she felt at having his bristly beard tickle her bare throat as he turned his face toward hers. That and the way he breathed, like a steam engine puffing to pull uphill. His hands were clammy and the brass buttons on his uniform blouse were pressing against her stomach. And, not surprisingly, he was a terrible dancer, totally without grace. He stepped on her toes at every turn.

      But Suzanna endured the ordeal with aplomb and listened attentively as the Yankee captain, in an attempt to impress her, spoke freely of the Union's latest deployment of troops.

      “Why, Captain, I'm afraid I've been a bit too sheltered. What exactly does ‘deployment' mean? And when and where will it happen?”

      His wet, fleshy lips now grazing her throat, the captain cheerfully did his part to educate her. And to set her mind at ease. “You have no need to worry, my dear, we greatly outnumber the Rebs.”

      “I'm relieved to hear that, Captain,” Suzanna said. “So, if there should ever be a battle in or around Washington proper, we townspeople wouldn't be in danger?”

      Captain Rood laughed merrily. “Ah, how charmingly innocent you are, Miss LeGrande. The truth is, you couldn't be in a safer place than right here in this heavily fortified Union city.”

      Suzanna nodded and bit the inside of her bottom lip. She could well remember the first days of the war, when Ty and Matthew had optimistically predicted that “we'll make Washington the new capital of the Confederacy.”

      When at last the music mercifully ended, Suzanna gave no indication of her troubled thoughts. She was glowing, as she had been all evening, her enormous blue eyes flashing with gaiety and good health. The talkative captain was left with the impression that this beautiful young woman found him quite interesting.

      That idea was solidified when a young major stepped forward to claim Suzanna for the next dance. Suzanna playfully winked at Captain Rood over her partner's shoulder. Then she quickly turned her full attention to the man in whose arms she now found herself.

      Suzanna charmed everyone.

      The enchanted officers laughed at her bold comments and saucy frankness. She could be wickedly funny and highly entertaining. She found it incredibly easy to dominate these would-be warriors and convince them to confide in her.

      But it was tiring, and she was glad when the evening was finally over.

      “What a fantastic performance!” praised Mattie Kirkendal when the last of the guests had gone and only she and Suzanna remained. “You were absolutely superb, my dear. Thank heavens you're on the right side of this!”

      “But I learned nothing of value,” Suzanna said with a weary yawn.

      “Don't be so impatient, Suzanna,” Mattie gently scolded. “Go on along home now and get some well-deserved rest. I'm planning a wine supper for Tuesday next. May I count on you to attend?”

      “I'll be here.”

      Eleven

      Suzanna had declared a strong alliance with the Union, and no one doubted her sincerity. A small number of friends and acquaintances she'd known prior to the war had stayed on in Washington because their loyalties lay solidly with the North. They took it for granted that the same was true of her. There was no reason for them to suspect otherwise.

      Suzanna easily insinuated herself into the social crowd of Washington. After attending only a couple of Mattie Kirkendal's soirees, she was added to the guest lists of other noted Washington hostesses. They jealously vied for her, insisting that she attend their gatherings. All agreed that Suzanna LeGrande was an asset with her beauty, charm and wit. Her mere presence ensured a lively party, with the gentlemen officers being entertained and thoroughly enjoying themselves.

      Suzanna played her part well. But it was not easy. Many times it was extremely difficult to act as though she were delighted with news of the war's progress. Such as on the hot, hot summer evening of July 4,1862.

      Suzanna was at a crowded soiree when a beaming Union officer strode into the great hall, leaped up onto the orchestra platform and raised his hands for silence.

      Then he eagerly shared this message. “Good news, my friends! The Confederate general Robert E. Lee has suffered a terrible defeat at Malvern Hill!”

      Suzanna was heartsick on hearing of Colonel Lee's defeat at the hands of the Union's Major General George McClellan. But she concealed her anguish. All around her whistles and shouts rang out from the joyous crowd, and many of the guests happily embraced. When the orchestra again struck a chord, the smiling Yankee captain who'd delivered the message stepped down off the platform and came straight toward Suzanna.

      She found herself swept up into his arms as he stated with a pleased grin, “McClellan's a military genius, no doubt about it.”

      “Indeed,” she managed to reply, smiling up at him. “Did General McClellan thoroughly trounce Lee then?”

      “Handed traitor Lee a crushing defeat! The Johnny Rebs suffered more than five thousand casualties without gaining a single inch of ground!”

      “Ah, that is wonderful! A stunning victory for us,” she stated, hoping she sounded genuinely joyful.

      “Yes, yes it was, miss.”

      “After the victory, did…?”

      “McClellan wisely retreated to the James River. He's encamped at Harrison's Landing.”

      “Oh? Is it safe for his men there?”

      “Couldn't be safer. They're under the protection of the big guns on all those navy warships anchored there.”

      “Thank goodness.”

      

      Throughout the summer and fall of 1862 and on into the New Year, Suzanna attended a neverending round of receptions and parties and balls, where she met and charmed her share of Union officers and sympathizers. She flirted and teased and promised more than she ever aimed to deliver. And she gleaned as much information as possible from the captivated officers.

      Suzanna pretended nonchalance and lack of interest when the conversation was of the war. But she hung on every word spoken regarding the conflict's progress, troop movements and coming battles. She memorized each place name, each mention of a direction or objective. She carefully committed to memory the names of men she'd not yet met, but whose daring deeds peppered the conversations of the officers with whom she danced. Such names as the well-regarded Captain Dan Stuart. Brigadier General Samson Weeks. Major General Skillman Bond.

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