Previously: War Secretary Stanton holds the Lincolns and janitor Gabby Zook captive in the White House basement. Private Adam Christy takes guard duties. Ashamed and distraught, Adam gets drunk and kills the butler who stops him from molesting the cook. Six months later Richmond falls to the Union. Everyone in the White House learns the war is over.
After Stanton left, Alethia went to Duff, putting her arms around his neck. She chose to ignore the slight stiffening in his back.
“Isn’t he a queer little man?”
“Yes, he is odd.”
“The war’s over.” She plopped into the chair next to Duff, leaning toward him. “The war’s finally over. I can hardly believe it. Can you?”
“No.” Duff stared at his food.
“Eat, eat,” she encouraged him. “You don’t have to worry about being as bony as Mr. Lincoln anymore.” Her giggles erupted. “I can’t wait to see you at your full, glorious size.”
He did not respond to her joke.
“You’re still worried about your past?”
Duff nodded.
“Then you don’t have to eat. Let’s go upstairs.” They stood and went to the door. “Your week has been so hectic. The long trip to Richmond, capped tonight with news of the end of the war—why, no wonder you’re let down.” She paused for a reply from him, but when none was forthcoming, Alethia continued, “You’re tired, that’s all. Why, after a good night’s sleep, you’ll be all rested and able to concentrate on our new life together.”
Duff climbed the service stairs quickly, Alethia noticed. Maybe he was eager to return to their bedrooms where they could be alone, the thought of which made her heart beat faster. Once they entered Duff’s bedroom, he went to the bed and slowly sat, his head sagging. Something was weighing on his mind, and Alethia did not know what it was. She joined him on the bed, her arm around his waist.
“I know I’ve said it before,” Alethia said in a whisper, putting her head on his chest, “but now that we have all the uncertainties of the war behind us, I want to say it again…I love you.”
Duff’s sad eyes stared into Alethia’s open face. She could feel his emotional intensity and leaned in to kiss him. He kissed back passionately for a second, then pulled away.
“No, I can’t do this to you,” he mumbled.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not worthy, Alethia.”
“Don’t judge yourself too harshly.” She shook her head. “You told me what you did. Yes, it was terrible, but war’s devastating, forcing good men to do unspeakable things. I forgive you.”
“You don’t know everything.”
“I know everything I want to know. We’re all flawed human beings. You may have killed innocent men, but you saved my soul. All that kept me going was the promise of living with you in Michigan.”
“You can’t go to Michigan.” Standing, he walked to the window and looked out onto Pennsylvania Avenue. Small groups of people were already gathering.
Alethia held her breath when he turned to speak.
“I’ve a wife and three children.”
“You’re married?” Alethia blinked in disbelief. “Oh.” She felt her heart collapse. “Mr. Stanton knew about your family?”
“Yes.”
How foolish she must have looked to Stanton, who had watched as she caressed Duff’s hands and looked fondly at him as he spoke. Stanton must have been laughing at her. Alethia loathed him even more than before. Her eyes turned hard as she focused on Duff.
“Will you tell your wife you deserted, you killed men for food, and you had relations with a woman who thought you loved her?”
Duff remained silent.
“Does she know you’re a coward?”
“Leave tonight,” he said softly. “Don’t wait until Friday.”
Alethia stood, straightening her back in an attempt to keep from crying.
Duff stood also. “I’m very fond of you, Alethia.”
“You seduced me.”
“I think we seduced each other.”
“You’re a coward.” She slapped him hard across the face.
Walking through the bedroom door, she slammed it and sat on her bed. She swore she would never cry again. Perhaps returning to Bladensburg was best. She would never be a fool again. Tad bounded in, rousing Alethia from her thoughts.
“Everybody knows now!” he announced. “Old Tom Pen, Mr. Brooks, Tom Cross, Charles Forbes, Alexander Williamson, Phebe, and Cleotis.” He came close to whisper, “I even talked to Mama through the billiards room door. She said she already knew. Ain’t it wonderful?” He paused long enough to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Oh. I didn’t think about how sad you’d be. I’m really going to miss you, Mrs. Mama. I’ll miss Mr. Papa too, but not as much as you.”
“I’ll miss you too, my love.” Alethia hugged him around the neck. “You see, I never had a son of my own. So you’re the only little boy I’ll ever have.” She pulled out a lace handkerchief to daub her eyes, then smiled and ran her fingers through Tad’s tousled hair. “I’ll keep up with you through the newspapers. I’m sure they’ll report where you go to college, when you graduate, and whom you marry.”
“That’s right.” His eyes widened. “We won’t ever get to talk to each other again. Even if we saw each other on the street we couldn’t even wave. You’ll know about me from newspapers, but I won’t know about you, unless you do something to get in the papers. Like marry somebody important.”
“I don’t think that’ll happen.”
“Do something big. What’s your name, so I’ll know it’s you?”
“Alethia Haliday.”
“That’s a pretty name.” He kissed her cheek. “I love you, Alethia Haliday.”

Previously: War Secretary Stanton holds the Lincolns and janitor Gabby Zook captive in the White House basement. Private Adam Christy takes guard duties. Ashamed and distraught, Adam gets drunk and kills the butler who stops him from molesting the cook. Six months later Richmond falls to the Union. The captives in the basement learn the war is over.
Alethia looked out of her bedroom window at the setting sun. She thought of the late afternoon, two years ago now, when she unpacked her bag. She had been afraid until she met Duff. The last year had been the happiest in her life, and she had hopes it would continue. She was a little sad that she would never see Tad again. He had been so wild when they had first met, but now he was a kind, loving child. Perhaps she would have her own child soon, if Duff proposed marriage. They would live in Michigan. She didn’t want to go back to Maryland.
“Molly,” Duff said at her bedroom door, “it’s time for supper.”
“I thought the crowds would never leave.” Alethia rushed to him and hugged him tightly. Looking up, she kissed him. “I missed you so much while you were in Richmond.”
“I missed you, too,” Duff echoed. His face seemed to darken. “You know, the war will be over soon.”
“Yes, I know,” Alethia replied, taking Duff’s large, rough hand in hers as she led him out the door. “I can hardly wait. We’ve so many plans to make, plans we were afraid to make before now.”
“I thought you might be doing that.”
“Of course. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of the day when all of this would be over.”
They entered the dining room, and Tad was already there. Cleotis appeared with their dinner of beefsteak, gravy, potatoes, and greens. Smiling graciously, he put the plates down and then poured milk for Tad and coffee for Alethia and Duff.
“Thank you, Cleotis,” Alethia said.
“My pleasure, madam,” he replied and left.
“I like Cleotis very much.” Alethia sipped her coffee. “He’s much friendlier than Neal—not that Neal was rude, but there was something aloof about him. Neal’s departure was so sudden. Do you know why, Father?”
“No. Perhaps he finally crossed the line of proper behavior,” Duff replied.
“Shouldn’t you have been told why?” she asked.
“Sometimes it’s best not to be told.”
“Anyway, I like Cleotis very much.” Alethia smiled as she cut into her steak.
As they finished their meal, Stanton opened the door and sat in the empty chair at the end of the table, his face as somber as ever.
“General Lee surrendered today at the Appomattox courthouse in Virginia.”
“The war’s over!” Tad exclaimed. “Good! I can finally—”
“Tad dearest,” Alethia sweetly interrupted, “have you finished your supper?”
“Yes, Mama.”
“Would you like to inform the staff the war’s over?”
“Yes, Mama.”
After Tad closed the door, Stanton listened for the little footsteps to fade. After what Alethia thought was an interminable pause, Stanton put on his pebble glasses and pulled out a notepad, opened it, and read slowly.
“Your debts will be canceled Friday, and you both can leave after sunset.”
“Thank God.” Alethia crossed herself.
“Thank me.” Stanton’s cupid lips turned up in a smug smile. “Both of you would have surely hanged if I hadn’t intervened.”
Alethia stiffened. Looking at Duff, she could not sense a direction to follow. In the last two years, she not only had fallen in love with Duff, but also had learned to lean on his judgment. At this moment, she found him indecipherable.
“So, it’ll be as simple as that,” Duff finally said. “We pack our bags, mount a carriage, and disappear in the night.”
“As simple as that.” Stanton’s eyes narrowed.
His tone bothered Alethia, until she thought of her new life in Michigan. Once they were on the steamboat up the Potomac, they could forget the lies, pretense, and, most of all, Edwin Stanton.
“Your duties aren’t over yet,” he continued. “There’ll be a candlelight parade tomorrow evening, so you’ll have to read a speech on the balcony.”
“Will Lincoln write it?” Duff asked.
“Yes, like the others,” Stanton replied. “And then the Cabinet meets on Wednesday and Friday.”
Alethia concentrated on experiencing spring in Michigan; frankly, affairs of government no longer interested her.
“Enjoy your supper.” Stanton stood. “Take everything with you; we don’t want any evidence that anyone other than the Lincolns have lived upstairs.”
No evidence left to show they were there, she repeated to herself; a disturbing notion. Shrugging, she decided not to dwell on that thought.