North returned to his apartment, which consisted of seven well-appointed rooms on the second floor of Number 10, climbed into bed and fell into a deep, if troubled, sleep.
The next morning, when he returned to the state floor, where the cabinet room was located, he spied Hartleb, already at work at his desk.
“Good morning, Excellency. I trust you are well today.”
“Very, thank you, Mr. Hartleb. And you?”
“The same, sir.”
“Very good. Let’s discuss my schedule for the day.”
“Colonel Black is already here, as you requested. He is waiting in the anteroom.”
“Please show him in.”
Black entered a few minutes later. North rose from his chair and went to greet him, extending his hand and, when taken, pumping Black’s hand vigorously.
“Colonel Black, my heartfelt congratulations on having accomplished your mission. I must tell you...”
“...that you didn’t think I would succeed?”
North smiled. “No, but I knew that if anyone could succeed, you could. You were selected from amongst our best young officers. I also knew, of course, that no matter how competent and courageous you are, your mission involved great risks.”
Black laughed. “There were a few, Excellency, here and there.”
“I’m sure there were. This afternoon, I’d like you to tell my staff the details. Tomorrow, I’d like also for you to attend a cabinet meeting to describe your activities to the ministers. My secretary will let you know the time of the meeting.”
“Of course.”
“My military adviser, Lord Germain, will be present tomorrow. I assume you know who he is.”
“Yes, the Secretary of State for the American colonies.”
“Exactly. As you may also know, up till now, I have put him directly in charge of our armies in America, and our forces at sea, as well. He will no doubt be unhappy with me because I kept him in the dark about your mission.”
“He was not aware?”
“No. And that is his complaint. That I went outside his chain of command.”
“I’m not currently attached to any army unit that is in America, nor to the sea forces that are there.”
“The very point I have made to him. Nonetheless, he is an ambitious man, and he thinks that the fact that this was done without his participation reflects poorly on him. He wants to sit where I sit, you see.”
“Is there some particular way I should comport myself, then, to avoid giving offence?”
“No, I simply want you to be aware that if he flies into a rage, it is nothing you have done or said.”
“Understood, my Lord.”
“Good. Now let me ask you, how was the trip from Portsmouth to the Tower?”
“It went well enough, especially at the beginning, when we were near Portsmouth. Washington rode a horse, closely guarded, and the marines put a strong perimeter in place. When we got close to London, though, word had somehow got out and there were crowds along the way.”
“I have heard they were unruly.”
“I cannot say for sure, my Lord. We were inside three ranks of marines. I could hear people shouting, but I could hardly see them.”
“Were the crowds friendly or hostile?”
“Largely friendly, so far as I could hear, but perhaps as much from curiosity as anything else.”
“Is he now safely in the Tower?” North asked.
“Yes.”
“Very good. In a few weeks, we will be having a ceremony here at 10 Downing for you.”
“A ceremony, sir?”
“Yes, for your promotion to Brigadier General. It is not something I can do on my own, but I will strongly urge it upon the Promotions Board and I’m sure the King will support it with enthusiasm. Which reminds me that the King would enjoy an audience with you.”
“I’m honoured, sir, both at the promotion if it occurs and at the opportunity to meet the sovereign. But it was enough for me just to serve my king and my country.”
“You have honoured and aided your king and country more than you know, Colonel. What are your plans now?”
“I hope to obtain a leave of perhaps a month to return to Bibury, where my sister and her children still live. I have not seen them in almost a year.”
“That sounds a wonderful plan. I wonder, though, if you might consider doing one more favour for your country before you take your leave, which I will plan to extend to two months.”
“What is that, sir?”
“Move into the Tower. I am concerned it is somehow not secure for Washington there.”
Black realized that Lord North was not really making a request of him. He expected him simply to agree to do it. Nonetheless, Black said, “If I may be so bold, my Lord, why is he being held there in lieu of a more secure place?”
“The King wants him there. For what I might call political reasons. It is as simple as that.”
“I will accept the assignment and hope to do my best.”